Not everyone has the cash to buy the Tour de France wonder machines on the market. More people are seeing for a good value in a high doing carbon road bike. This is where bikes like the Kuota Kharma Race come in. Many of the features of the higher end models with a much more modest price tag. Four years ago a frame like this would have been on a 00 bike. Now the unblemished bike is less than half of that.
[b]Bike Review[/b]
The Kharma Race is available as a unblemished bike or frameset to build how you like. The unblemished bikes are available with Shimano 105 or Ultegra, or Sram Rival. I tested the Rival equipped bike. While a describe of the group will be for other article, it works flawlessly. Shifts are fast and literal, with a good lever feel.
The heart of any bike is the frame and what a heart the Kharma Race has. The swooping curve of the top tube draws the eye to the aero seat cluster. All the tubes flow into one another. Unusual for a bike of this price, the frame tubes are aerodynamically optimized to help you cut through the wind. This includes a cut out for the rear wheel in the seat tube and an airfoil shaped seat post. As wind drag accounts for over 90 percent of the resistance when riding on level terrain, every itsybitsy bit helps. The fit is a itsybitsy more relaxed than it's higher end siblings, with a slightly shorter top tube for a given size All of the tubes are shaped to give a good equilibrium in the middle of aerodynamics, stiffness and weight. And being an Italian design, a inescapable flare is apparent that you don't see from a lot of the big brands. You will stand out on the local group ride on a Kuota Kharma, as they aren't the suitable cookie cutter bike.
But that is just the construction. The ride potential is the real star of the show. When I stated earlier that this would have been a top of the line frame a few years ago, I wasn't exaggerating. I used to ride the Orbea Orca and that is what this bike reminds me of. Stiff but not harsh. Light and responsive. Handling is quick but not twitchy. Just very well equilibrium with a good road feel. When you jump out of the saddle to sprint or climb a hill, the power is driven to the rear wheel. This doesn't ride like a company's starter carbon fiber bike. If you put on a set of race wheels on, you will be able to contest any ride or race you have the legs for.
The build kit that comes with the bike is solid with Deda bar and stem, Selle San Marco Ponza saddle and Shimano R-500 wheels. You may find the need to swap cockpit parts as the fit of these won't be for everyone, but is usual with any bike. The only area I would advise upgrading if you want to race or just get maximum speed, is the wheels. The Shimano wheels are fine as a training wheel but the aren't either light or aero adequate for a race wheel. If you haven't ridden deep carbon fiber rimmed wheels then you won't find it an issue.
The Kharma Race fits my criteria of being a working class bike. It's light but tough. Good value with doing well above it's price tag.
Bike recap - Kuota Kharma Race Carbon Road Bike
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