Ok I tried to be smart and buy the G/F a great bike for xmas, a Kestrel Talon SL… however there are a few problems witn the Kestrel she is a bit concerned about.
Without going into detail I have an offer from a guy in the UK who will swap the Kestrel for a 2002 Litespeed Siena.
What bike would you prefer a new 2004 Kestrel Talon SL or a New 2002 Litespeed Siena (the model without Carbib stays)?
The one that fits better.
I second that. The one that fits better is always best. The Siena’s a titanium frame, too, so it’ll last a lifetime.
T.
They BOTH fit her.
The Kestrel is a great fot bit it is ‘twitchy’ in her words. The Litespeed is literallty identical in spec.
Thanks, and Thanks?
If she does not like the Kestrel (“twitchy”) and the fit is identical (non-issue). I think you have an answer you just need it validated. What is the difference in MSRP? What are the component groups on each bike (identical too)? BK is right in that titanium will last for ever. I have got a Litespped tachyon just waiting to be built back up again if the right owner presents itself.
Not a hard choice for me. Go with the litespeed. If she doesn’t like a bike she is less likely to ride it, and if she likes the litespeed, go with it.
I rode the Kestrel compared to ‘my’ Kalibur it is very twitch.
Does anyone have a 2002 Siena?
p.s sorry for the typo’s back from Thai keyboards to Espana keyboards!
Litespeed for sure 
.
OK I will try again.
I bought a 2004 Talon SL for my GF, was for me to play iwth over xmas but my Kalibur arrived (present to me).
I left Spain just after the bike arrived to go to Thailand, why I was gone my GF was setup on the bike by a ‘tri’ shop in La Coruna, Spain. The bike fits great with plenty of standover and a balanced position. Afte a few rides she asked the shop guys to make it ‘slower’ to steer. Bad new is they cant make it slower to steer, I trued, and I find it ‘twitchy’ to steer.
I have never owned or ridden a 2002 Litespeed Siena nor do I know if they are ‘twitchy’ I was hoping to get an answer?
Put on a fork with more rake. Say move from a 40mm to a 43 or 45mm rake. It will make the bike more stable and less twitchy. It’s also less of a hassle than switching bikes, components, shipping etc.
Stick with the Talon man, do as previously suggested, swap the fork out for one with more rake.
Personally, I’ve never liked the kestrel fork anyway.
If it’s still a problem you may want to try a slightly longer stem, but only if it keeps her center of weight balanced.
The Litespeed Sienna is a fantastic bike and would recommend it, but as everyone else has mentioned women always make up their minds and stick to their opinion, whether its the colour etc, once they make their mind up…it’s a done deal.
The Litespees will last and gives a good ride quality, a few weeks ago an issue was raised about the longevity of Kestrel frames.
If you don’t have any problems getting the Talon, I’d go with Kestrel…
there’s this guy that wanted to buy a Kestrel but they didn’t had his size and would take them quite a long time to get his bike here in Portugal so he gave up on it.
I don’t dispute the Litespeed isn’t a nice bike, but in this case and didn’t recommend it for a couple of reasons.
I have nothing against Litespeed, and if I had the money to buy a road bike, there’s a good chance I’d end up on one, but if you are looking for a real tri-bike for a lady, and money doesn’t appear to be a problem, I’d have to say go with the Talon SL.
I’d go with the Litespeed as well.
I’d also be wary of advice to increase fork rake to make the bike feel less twitchy. Increasing fork rake reduces trail. Reduced trail is usually associated with a “twitchy” feeling bike.
Twitchy? What size stem?! I could see how a short stem could cause this problem.
Get measurements, Buy by fit.