Price: $2,380 (Frame)

Price: $2,380 (Frame)

Weight: 1.950g (Frame/Fork)

Components: Full Dura-Ace


Frame & Fork: Carbon with aluminum lugs, LDS Pro 4 with carbon steerer

Geometry: 73º head tube, 72.5º seat tube, 57cm top tube

Sizes: 49cm – 61cm (tested 57cm)

Comments: “Stealth.”

www.kmi.ca

Founded in 1952 in Nevers, France, the Look Co., gained fame as it
revolutionized the cycling industry with the introduction of its patented
clipless-pedal system. In 1986, the French company was first on the scene
with carbon frames.
In past years at the Tour de France, the Kelme, Credit Agricole, and CSC,
teams with riders such as Stuart O’Grady, Laurent Jalabert, and Oscar
Selvilla rode these bikes to great successes. It was the powerful La Vie
Claire team in the ’80s who first scored major European victories with
these bikes.

The 2002 KX Carbon frame bike arrived at my house with full Dura-Ace
components and top-of-the-line Mavic Ksyrium wheels. The “look” once
complete is one of a stealthlike, ultra-cool-looking, ultra-modern
“rocketship.” This bike definitely turned heads. Only two colour schemes
are available on this bike: gray/carbon (which this one was) or red/gloss
carbon.

Dressed with diamond-shaped tubing, which is supposedly more resistant to
twisting and flexing, the entire frame is made of high-resistance carbon,
save for the aluminum lugs. These fibres are said to be stiffer and
stronger than aluminum or titanium, resulting in a longer-lasting frame.
The fibres are multidirectional and can be laid out according to specific
stress points on the frame.

Therefore, there is extra reinforcement and increased stiffness in
high-stress areas such as the bottom-bracket shell and head tube. This head
tube houses an integrated headset and is capped with aluminum lugs, as is
the rest of the frame, which are also supposed to resist twisting and
flexing forces upon the frame. And to further undermine inferior metals,
carbon does not oxidize or corrode.
Rolling down the driveway and off on the first of four long rides on this
“rocket,” I was struck by the truism that holds for other carbon machines:
they seem to ride themselves. These bikes have an uncanny ability to glide
forward, almost like skis when you’ve nailed exactly the right wax for a
day of cross-country skiing.

Powering along on the KX Carbon, the feel of power from the drivetrain is
evident and the stiffness of carbon is unmistakable-and this bike has lots
of it. Completing the kit is the high-modulus 1-1/8-inch-diameter
carbon-fibre Look stem, which comes with a one-inch adaptor if you wish to
transfer it to another bike. The Ergo carbon seat post is new and extremely
easy to adjust to the smallest measurement. Also available is a Selle
Italia gel saddle with “Look” embroidered on it and custom Look handlebar
tape to finish the bike off.
The fork, which has a carbon steerer, is the LDS Pro 4. Famous for its
quality forks, you often find Look forks on other companies’ frames.

As I put the KX through its paces, the lightness of the bike affected how I
handled it on the road: tracking through corners, descents, and climbs felt
different, smoother, and more stable, imparting a comforting feeling that
all power was being channeled to the rear wheel and that none was wasted.
The bump absorption was duly noted straight away, as all can appreciate a
forgiving ride. The need to handle the noise factor (a common problem with
any bike) was all but forgotten when blessed with so much carbon.
Overall, this is a very stylish, comfortable ride that emphasizes
performance and longevity, as long as you keep the rubber side down.