I was just wondering. This bike has basically remained unchanged for years now. What has it been, 8 years (more)? I can’t think of a carbon fiber bike that has stood the test of time like the Talon. It is still very popular and holds it’s own with most of what you will find in 2008 for a comparable price point. That bike has been a real winner for Kestrel.
Mike
AFAIK, yes.
I really like my Talon. Most stable handling road bike I’ve owned and my fastest tri bike. It works for me. What more can I say.
I’m interested to see where the company goes from here now that they are under new ownership.
Seems like there was a hint from the Kestrel rep about a tri geometry Talon and improved internal cable routing. That would be a great move for them. I rode my Talon for a couple of years in pancake flat Florida panhandle. I really did not realize how well it handled until I took it to the mountains in north Georgia and rode Hogpen Gap and some other climbs. I was blown away by the handling and really happy with how it climbed (stiff). Solid bike all around an a design that was ahead of it’s time.
Mike
Doubt it. The OCLV Trek 5000 series was out for like 15 years.
I think the Talon is older than 8 years. Also, I am not familiar enough with the OCLV Trek but how much has that design changed over the years. The Talon is basically unchanged, which is what I was talking about.
The Calfee Tetra is only slightly changed from the days when they were sold under the Carbonframes brand name.
The Calfee website claims it is oldest continuously produced model of carbon fiber bicycle frame in the world.
I think the Talon is older than 8 years. Also, I am not familiar enough with the OCLV Trek but how much has that design changed over the years. The Talon is basically unchanged, which is what I was talking about.
Talon was introduced late '01 so it’s 6-odd years old, and the OCLV had evolved with bb shell, fork steertube, and layups, but there has been some evolution with the Talon as well with layups, so the OCLV frame’s life was over twice as long and I"m sure there are some frames by makers like Aegis that are more than 7 years old.
Fair enough. Not too many carbon bikes out there with that kind of life span. Nowadays, 4 years is a long time.
Mike
The Calfee Tetra is only slightly changed from the days when they were sold under the Carbonframes brand name.
The Calfee website claims it is oldest continuously produced model of carbon fiber bicycle frame in the world.
I read this too. I’m totally un-impressed w/ Calfee’s in general, but they do make this claim.
I don’t know much about Calfee but I thought they were generally regarded as very good bikes. What’s the issue?
I bought my first Kestrel 200SC in 1991. I got a lifetime warranty replacement frame in 2000, a full 10 seasons later. They were still making the 200SC in 2000 and continued to make it for a few more years. My guess is that the Kestrel 200SC was the single longest running Carbon fiber frame (monocoque at that) whose mold did not change over decade.
Dev
I’ve always tought of them as a “custom automaically = good company.” Just besause something is custom doesn’t mean is has to be good (though Calfee may be, I don’t know much about them either). Just the few I’ve seen seem very “blah.” They were probably ground breaking several years ago, but seem unchanged. I don’t know, call me “new fashioned,” but I like my carbon shaped and monocoque (which is why C-dale’s ‘Super Six’ fails to impress me too).
I think if you ever climbed aboard a Calfee or Parlee you’d understand what all the fuss is about. They have always impressed the hell out of me.
On the other hand, you’ll get my 2003 Talon SL when you pry it from my cold, dead hands…
I’m not sure where this rumor that carbon fiber does not hold up. My race car, which is CF, is 7 years old and fine. I also have a Profile Design carbon road bike from 1990 and it still is in great shape!
Personal preference I suppose. I REALLY like the look of a nude carbon Calfee. Might be my next bike. Problem is though that my Talon works so well and will probably never break, so no reason to upgrade.
I regret having sold my Kestrel Talon road bike last year. It was a great bike. I think Kestrel will continue to be around and guess who is selling Kestrel now? Performance bike dot com. I can see them selling quite a bit when they throw that occasional 20% off coupon code out there. I think Kestrel did a nice job improving their graphics and paint schemes as well and I am looking forward to seeing their new tt/tri bike that they are projecting to be released in a couple of years.
I think if you ever climbed aboard a Calfee or Parlee you’d understand what all the fuss is about. They have always impressed the hell out of me.
On the other hand, you’ll get my 2003 Talon SL when you pry it from my cold, dead hands…
I’ve never ~really~ ridden either of the two. I’m sure they’re great; I’m just not really a custom type of guy. I own 4 Giants and have owned, let’s see, 7 over the years (and my wife has 2 Giants right now and has owned 4). That’s more my style.
guess who is selling Kestrel now? Performance bike dot com.
Wow. I hadn’t nosed around there for awhile. I they do some discounts, plus the 20% thing, I’ll buy an Airfoil and convert my Talon back to road setup.
The Airfoil in the white this year is a very sweet looking bike. What size do you need so that I can beat you to it when I get my 20% off coupon 
I’d love to try an airfoil, but it’s 650 wheels in my size. I did the two-size stable for a while in the late 90s…it’s a pain in the ass. And when I got a PowerTap in 2003 that sealed the deal…it’s 700 on all bikes for me. So any true tri-geometry bike for me is going to have to come in 700 in my size.