Call me crazy, but I’m not seeing how the Kuota is different than any other Asian cookie cutter frame out there being sold by various other companies.
I’m just not getting it…what makes them different or better?
because of the Norminator ( said in my best Arnold impression)
.
Good question, I guess Normann winning Hawaii on it twice has certainly helped.
I was skeptical about them (still am I guess). I do like the look of the bike, I like the external cables for their ease of use, I like vertical dropouts as well. But yeah, I wondered what you have wondered. That said, lots of people (people that I know are very picky about what they ride) are on them. Not that I base my decisions on other’s, but it says something when someone who is knowledgable and who could afford to ride anything chooses that.
They are ISO 9001 certified, which is actually a big deal for lots of companies outside of the bike industry. It forces companies to implement processes and audit trails to improve quality.
End result - customers get better bikes with few problems more often.
I don’t mean to hijack, but what is ISO9001 certified> I have seen that on 18-wheeler trailers and all kinds of other stuff but never had any idea what it meant. It sounds good though.
- carbon
- norman
- italian?
mostly based on perception I would say (not to suggest it’s a bad bike but this is what I think drives purchases).
Dear Whistleblower,
I am surprised to read your post. I guess everyone has their opinions, but I always hope that someone really takes a close look at the subjet before populaizng their thoughts.
I have never ridden a Lucero, I can not comment on it, other than it appears to be a good looking bike. Same goes for the P3C.
From the naked eye, along with a scale, I think the Kalibur really sets its self apart from the other bikes. What really sets its self apart is the ride. Logistically, I wish I could make it a lot easier for triathletes to test ride the bike. Unlike sampling a bar or gel, getting fit on the bike is a lengthy process.
Everyone that takes the time to ride a Kalibur immediatley falls in love with the bike. To potentially combat and answer your own question I am going to entice you to ride a Kalibur. Let me know where you live and I will arrange a dealer to have a bike set up for you. Because I already know what your response will be after the ride, it is worth me giving you a free pair of KUOTA sunglasses (6 different lenses) for an updated reply to your own question here.
Sure, Normann wins on Kuota. That helps sell the bike. If CSC rode a sub par bike, Cervelo would not have 300 bikes in the coral in Kona. Kuota has that difference that you are looking for. The proof is in the pudding.
Let me know if you want to test ride a Kuota!
Sincerely,
Paul
Hey Paul,
How would you compare the ride of the K-Factor with the Kalibur?
TSP!
THe Kalibur is a monocoque mold. This bike is a bit stiffer than the K Factor. The angles are a bit more agressive along with a shorter head tube.
The Factor is priced at $2100. The Kalibur is at a very valuable $3700 (d/a mix). I thnik both of these bikes can not be beat in these price catagories.
I actually created a spreadsheet analysis for all bikes and their specs along with prices. It is very interesting to see everything on one page. Anyone out there that would like a copy of this, please email me at pthomas@euro-spek.com and I will send you a copy. Very cool!
Keep turnin the cranks!
Paul you forgot about my baby the Kharma…how could you do that? He is so sexy and I do not do him justice. He has relatives throughout the World and at my small venues sometimes we make up 20% of the population 
as do CATS depending on the race.
I can’t help it that I like all things Italian (yes I know he comes from somewhere in Asia but he has been christened Italian).
To the OP: All I know is I no longer suffer from low back aliments from all the rumbling on the aluminum thing I used to ride. I used to dread going for a ride on my old bike, but with my Kuota baby well, it is pure love.
I don’t mean to hijack, but what is ISO9001 certified> I have seen that on 18-wheeler trailers and all kinds of other stuff but never had any idea what it meant. It sounds good though.
It means having staff dedicated to filling in bits of paper. Sometimes it seems that the actual processes of manufacture are of secondary importance
they look good, i put a lot of emphasis on that as i think that the performance benefits amongst the better bikes are marginal. you have to look at whatever you get for a couple of years, it should look good for what it csots.
after buying one i have also found out that the customer service is great, something i didnt think about at the point of sale but am glad exists now. i had a bubble in the clear coat that worsened over time that the importer worked with me to fix it.
Paul,
I seem to remember something this past fall regarding a new color option on the Kalibur…white? Am I correct, and if so do you have any pics?
.
Uncle Phil,
thats my ride for next year. What a good looking bike!
Normann
I’d love to hear an answer to this/these questions as well. Maybe I’m cynical, but I’m always wary when simple question can’t be answered simply. (Or go unanswered.)
That’s what I’m planning on getting as well…I’ll just be going a lot slower than you.
yeah, it should be a simple answer, if it is ISO certified then identifying the location shouldnt be a big deal.
You aren’t going for the fancy custom paint job like you did the past few years???