Founded in 2001, the Kuota brand is best known in Germany as the supplier of triathlete Normann Stadler. With the "KOM" model - the abbreviation stands for "King of the Mountains" - the Italian brand now wants to show at the Tour de France that it can build bikes for winners. Kuota is equipping a top international team for the first time in 2008: The Agritubel team around the eternal French Tour hopeful Christophe Moreau.
Formally, the "KOM" presents itself independently. Available in five sizes, the carbon frame - a monocoque construction with an attached Monostay rear triangle - has an extremely large-volume down tube, making it stiff and stable even when stationary. The fork rotates in a 1-1/4-inch bearing at the bottom and tapers to 1-1/8 inches at the top. Here too, the aim of the design is clear: high rigidity with the lowest possible weight.
The expectations before the measurements in the TOUR lab were correspondingly high, and the KOM did not disappoint. With high stiffness values, which also make the bike interesting for heavy riders, and a relatively low set weight (frame and fork including steering bearings) of 1,600 grams, the KOM would also have cut a fine figure in the frame test in TOUR 3/2008. The noticeable suspension comfort on the saddle, to which the carbon seat post included in the frame set makes a significant contribution, is also pleasing. At the front end, on the other hand, the KOM is unyielding - not untypical for a professional racer. The fork offers hardly any suspension, but thanks to its high lateral stiffness it still offers good guidance qualities.
In the practical test, the 6.5-kilo racer cuts an excellent figure. The agile bike willingly obeys steering commands, and quick evasive manoeuvres at high speeds hardly upset the chassis. The positive impression is reinforced by the exclusive equipment. The shifting and braking technology comes from the super-light Red groupset from SRAM and impresses with flawless function. The bottom bracket, which is packed with innovative technology, is also interesting. Kuota's own carbon cranks are connected to a titanium shaft; the crank length can be varied in three lengths - 170, 172.5 and 175 millimetres - thanks to tool-free interchangeable pedal threads - ideal for riders who want to experiment with different crank lengths. Also of interest are the chainrings, which, like the cranks, are manufactured by French specialist Stronglight. A ceramic coating is supposed to make them particularly resistant and at the same time easy to shift. In a laboratory test two years ago, the same chainrings performed very well on another crankset. According to Kuota, the crankset is the only difference between the test bike and the Agritubel team bikes. It uses a Red crankset from SRAM.
Two points of criticism that relate less to the frame than to the equipment of the test bike: The stiff Newton handlebars from Deda - a tried and tested aluminium classic that Lance Armstrong used for his Tour victories - in combination with the thin handlebar tape and the high-profile rim from Reynolds intensify the hard riding impression on the handlebars. The carbon wheels from Reynolds, designed for tubular tyres, reached us badly centred. Due to a side impact, the rear wheel rim touched the brake pads while pedalling. It is also questionable why the aerodynamically good rims were spoked with round spokes, which partially cancelled out the advantage of the high rims in the fight against the wind. However, such details can be customised with different equipment. The frame set including seat post costs 2,569 euros, in the Agritubel design 2,774 euros. In the configuration shown, the KOM leaves the shop for an impressive 5,970 euros. An expensive but attractive temptation.
PLUS: lightweight frame set, very stable ride, noticeable suspension comfort on the saddle
MINUS: expensive, zero comfort on the handlebars
Test bike frame size greased; **projected measurement from centre of bottom bracket to upper edge of head tube-saddle-head tube rise at 75 cm seat height (centre of saddle frame-upper edge of head tube); ***adjusted weight for frame size 57 and fork steerer length 225 mm; ****The grade includes further individual grades which we do not print for reasons of space.
Photos: Daniel Simon
