Kinesis Bikes

[RobJ]

I'm not in the market now for a bike/frameset but I've come across these guys in my searches a few times. For the price and features most of their models seem like a decent deal. Anyone have any experience with them? UK brand and sold mostly through Merlin and an others.

https://www.merlincycles.com/kinesis-tripster-at-disc-road-gravel-frameset-2017-102227.html?utm_source=Merlin+Cycles&utm_campaign=d2ce7e921c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_07_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efec82f678-d2ce7e921c-261835685&mc_cid=d2ce7e921c&mc_eid=b219a61211

[sparky33]

The AT sounds pretty good on paper, and the price is low enough for experimenting.

My general opinion is that a snappy stiff-in-the-right-places aluminum frame with huge balloon tires is a terrific combo, and here it is, maybe.

[Clean39T]

I'm not in the market now for a bike/frameset but I've come across these guys in my searches a few times. For the price and features most of their models seem like a decent deal. Anyone have any experience with them? UK brand and sold mostly through Merlin and an others.

https://www.merlincycles.com/kinesis-tripster-at-disc-road-gravel-frameset-2017-102227.html?utm_source=Merlin+Cycles&utm_campaign=d2ce7e921c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_07_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efec82f678-d2ce7e921c-261835685&mc_cid=d2ce7e921c&mc_eid=b219a61211

Kinesis have been metal masters for a long time - I had a Kinesis Max Light aluminum fork on my 26er in the mid-90s. I don't know all the history of why they are popular across the pond, but not found here much anymore. They get great reviews and have been on my short-list in the past - if only I'd stop finding great deals on used stuff over here...

[false_Aest]

Kinesis from 20 years ago is not Kinesis today. Also, I'm not sure that the Wiki information about Kinesis having a US factory is accurate. IIRC that was shuttered.

That said, I've seen the past few iterations at the Taipei Bike Show and they're making nice stuff (beyond their namesake).

It's pretty hard for a bike company to make an unrideable bike and really, you could do far worse.

Support in the US is nonexistent.

[93KgBike]

I'm not in the market now for a bike/frameset but I've come across these guys in my searches a few times. For the price and features most of their models seem like a decent deal. Anyone have any experience with them? UK brand and sold mostly through Merlin and an others.

https://www.merlincycles.com/kinesis-tripster-at-disc-road-gravel-frameset-2017-102227.html?utm_source=Merlin+Cycles&utm_campaign=d2ce7e921c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_07_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efec82f678-d2ce7e921c-261835685&mc_cid=d2ce7e921c&mc_eid=b219a61211

Wow. Carbon fork, internal cables, pretty decent price. I don't know where kinesium tubesets fall, but that's not much of a concern at that price point?

[jemoryl]

FWIW, some of the aluminum bikes sold by bikesdirect.com appear to be made by Kinesis. And I suspect they make frames for some others as well.

[ceolwulf]

I was always under the impression that UK Kinesis and Taiwan Kinesis were two completely different companies, is this not correct?

[owly]

The AT sounds pretty good on paper, and the price is low enough for experimenting.

My general opinion is that a snappy stiff-in-the-right-places aluminum frame with huge balloon tires is a terrific combo, and here it is, maybe.

Maybe. If the frame geo is right, that is a pretty good deal for an alu frame with great tire clearance options.

Purchased a carbon road fork from Kinesis UK a few months back. No issues.

[macaroon]

They're well regarded over here. They make some nice alu bikes along with a couple of Ti frames (that don't look that special). They've been making bikes for a long time.

Checkout the Aethein if you want a cheap, fast race bike.

[classtimesailer]

sometimes, I think the UK market is more sophisticated than the US. There is a lot of Asian product that invisible here that can only be seen through U.K. Dealers/distributors.

[ultraman6970]

Kinesis is good stuff, been in the market for a really long time.

[ldamelio]

Kinesis, Giant and one other company whose name escapes me make the majority of decent to high end alloy bikes that come out of the Far East, including many of those sold by the big name brands here in the USA. Bigger companies (Trek et al) design their own bikes and these guys build them. Smaller companies essentially just license and rebrand Kinesis, etc. frames. If it's what you're looking for, I wouldn't hesitate to buy. You're probably just saving a $500 brand decal.

[macaroon]

Kinesis is a UK brand owned by Upgrade Bikes, not a big manufacturer of bike frames in Taiwan (although it is probably also that, but they shouldn't be confused!