Ok, so I got fitted last week on a Serotta Size-Cycle for a new road bike. Decided to go steel, and have narrowed down my choices to Co-Motion and Serotta. Any opinions on these makers?
Serotta has a faster turn around, much more involved ordering process with schematics and fitting, and killer reputation. Looking at the CIII model.
Co-Motion has a longer turn around, less expensive, and not as well known. Looking at the Espresso model.
I have seen both in person, welds, paint, and overall finish on each is spectacular! I’m looking to up to $4k on the bike, and both these bike come in around that price. Don’t care about the wait for the bike, and the paint and finish seem to be about the same. So its down to fit, customer service, and overall quality. I’m guessing and can’t go wrong with either of them.
My mother just got a CIII. She loves it. I met Brian at Serotta, who does 100% of the steel frames up until they go in for paint & finish. He is a true craftsman. I got to see him doing some finishing work on some brake-bridge brazing, using a little strip of emery cloth to smooth everything out. I am sure if I saw the Co-Motion crew at work, I’d be equally impressed, but I can assure you that your Serotta will be meticulously built from start to finish by someone with years of experience doing nothing but building steel bikes.
They also have some incredible new options for paint schemes at Serotta. If you can dream it, they can pretty much do it.
Lastly, the drafter at Serotta (the guy who takes your fit and turns it into geometry) is incredible. He has been drafting bikes longer than I’ve been alive. Not only will your frame fit you right, it’ll handle like a dream, and be rock steady. The frame draft is probably more important than the actual fit, since making sure you have appropriate fork rake, stem, etc. is much more involved than just saying you need to be put in position XYZ.
My mother’s CIII with new Ultegra came to just under $4K. Turn-around was, I believe, about 6 weeks. (6-8 is what they normally quote, I believe).
As you can tell, I’m very happy with my Serotta and my mother is as well. Everything about that company is right.
Those are two nice builders. Now may I distract you and suggest look at www.bikeschool.com.? Go to the links page and look at the list of builders.Depending on where you live I would bet there is a builder in your area you could talk to. Vanilla, Sycip, Kelly,Don Walker, Spectrum, Sachs, Kirk, Davidson,Strong,Soulcraft, Rock Lobster, Ramblumtick, Curtlo. I would buy any of those frames in one second. Ramblumtick, Curtlo, and Rock Lobster all are under a grand for a frame.
If steel rings your bell my suggestion is to shop till you drop. Way too many choices out there.
Co-Motion will customize any of their models. They use different measurements though. Similar to the competitivecyclsit.com fit guide, where you measure your arms, legs, etc. Serotta using the info off the fit cycle (which I was fitted on). So far it sounds like Serotta is going to give me a much better fit, and is worth the extra $$$
I got myself a CIII last July/August from Paul Levine at Signature Cycles and turn around was 3 weeks. I have never seen/ridden a Co-Motion so I can’t say anything about them. Since I got the bike I’ve improved so much and its re-newed my love for biking. Even though I’m a major bike geek, I’m still very hesitant about changing any part on the bike because its so incredibly amazing as is. Fit is incredible. Period.
Before I had a chance to sell my old bike (which didn’t fit me properly), a friend of mine who was riding my bike hita car and cracked the frame. Since it was an aluminum bike it couldn’t be repaired and the manufacturer didn’t really offer any savings on a new frame. (No real surprise) BUT, if you sign up with Serotta’s Owner’s Club you get a sort of “real” frame insurance (and other bonuses). check it out: http://www.serotta.com/pages/ownersclub.html That alone makes me want to keep choosing Serotta in the future…
For those of you that have ordered a Serotta…what is the process? Did you guy just the frame and fork, or a complete bike? Did you have to pay for everything upfront, or just a deposit?
I think my mind is pretty much made up to go with Serotta, cause after all…its all about fit!
I dunno … for me, this is a no brainer: Serotta, without so much as even a slight nod to co-motion.
Serotta is the premier American frameshop. To get any more renowned you’d have to go with something like a Sachs, but his waiting list is measured in years.
I’ve had two Serotta. Both were great bikes. Better than great, actually.
The few co motions I’ve seen were fine. but i didn;t look at them twice.
I have purchased 4 Serottas so far and currently own three, a csi (signature steel frame), a rapid tour, and a CXIIcs.
In each case I purchased a complete bike, but I spec’ed what I wanted on the bike, wheels, grupo, headset, seatpost, etc. Kind of like a custom bicycle and not just a custom bike frame. The shop I purchased the bike from, then put it all together for me.
My shop permitted me to put down a deposit and I paid the balance when I picked up the finished bike.
Serotta’s mission is to build great bikes. They have supported professional racing teams ever since the 7 Eleven teams. Now mind you, I’m not suggesting they make the best racing bike, but they have learned much from supporting the elite riders on professional teams and this learning and technology trickles down into virtually every bike they make. Serotta has done more with round tube steel and titanium frames than any other frame builder. For over 30 years they have continued to push the envelope in trying to build even greater riding bikes.
Now, I’m sure Co-Motion makes a great bike, but personally, I think they take a back seat to Serotta.
In the final analysis, just because two high end bicycles cost about the same, doesn’t mean they are nearly the same in any other regard! They merely cost about the same.
Good luck. I can’t imagine that you would be disappointed with a Serotta purchase.
The process I went thorugh with signature cycles: was set up on the size cycle with the spin scan to evaluate postition angles and the cumlative effect on my performance.
Pick the model I wanted discussed price and characteristics of each.
Pick decals and paint scheme
Pay deposit
wait 4 weeks
Verify fit, set up, and that the frame is made to specs
pay final
ride away happy.
If you are within driving distance to New York city I suggest seeing Paul Levine at signature www.signaturecycles.com
Well, after checking out the fit process at Co-Motion a bit more, it seems Serotta is far superior. If I am going to be spending the cash for a custom, no point in not getting the best.
As the proud owner of a 1994/5 Serotta Legend Ti, please remember that any bicycle is still a bicycle. It is not magic, nor endowed with any magical properties. Manage expectations.
I got my bike through signaturecycles as well, so I ordered a complete bike. I’m sure if you have your own parts you can order the frame and depending on your fitter, you can have them build up a bike. Serotta only builds frames from what I understand; that way the fitter/dealer/(store) gets final say on every part for that exact/perfect fit. I’m saying this to re-iterate what I said before. When you see your fitter, he will put you onto a fit-cycle for the measurements AND they also try different stem/handlebars, seats, pedals to figure out what works for you. I’m sure you realize some handlebars bring the levers closer/farther etc. and this fine attention to the details is what makes going through someone like Paul Levine well worth it. The impression I got from him was that Serotta was the only company that was as thorough and precise in the bike building process and that is why he prefers to deal with them. As some others suggested, if you go see a fitter, I’m sure they would also be willing to work with you to have a custom bike built from another company. (ie. they probably know more)
Deposit, and 3 weeks later, picked up the bike. (If the bike isn’t perfect, you can have them send it back to Serotta to re-work from what I understand. See the serotta forum…)
Not close to New York…but Andrew at Hi-Tech Bikes here in San Diego seems to be awesome. He spend about 2.5 hours with me during the fitting. Refit my tri bike, and talked me through the entire process. Also told me how he would build the front end with the stem and such. I’m very confident in this skills…especially after riding my new fit on the tri bike!
He recommended Serotta, but didn’t pressure me in anyway to even buy from him. Now that, I like
I think I am doing a good job of managing expectations so far. I’m looking for the most comfy bike…I know the engine needs upgrading too, that’s a slow work in progress!!!