Customer Reviews

K2 Mainframe 5.0 Road Bike (700c Wheels, White, Medium)

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My riding buddy just bought an 08 Closeout on a K2 Mainframe from REI. He scored it for $1099 in the Denver store. I also test rode it, and I was extremely impressed with the bike for the money. It was just as comfortable as the Specialized Roubaix, but actually accelerated much better. I'm a 295lb clydesdale, and I noticed no significant frame flex either. It muted cobblestones on the test course with ease.
The parts spec was awesome, for the money. It was a full 105 groupo, cranks, brakes, derailleurs, shifters, wheelset, and all. K2 didn't try to slide any lower groups, or no name parts anywhere into the mix. The only sub-par part on the bike was the saddle. It will be the first thing anyone will want to replace. Its a horrible piece of junk, with no soft-tissue relief whatsoever. It could pass as a medieval torture device. The stem and seat post are K2 branded parts, but they're not too bad. The handlebar is made by Kore, and its a bit skinnier feeling in your hand than I prefer, but $15 worth of gel tape would easily fix that. The stock bar tape is pretty ugly, so most people will want to re-wrap the bar right away anyhow.

For the $1099 price, he can easily afford to upgrade the saddle, post and stem to Thomson... and slap on a nice leather Selle Italia saddle. He'll still come in $300 cheaper than a similar stock, Specialized, Trek, or Cannondale.