Sean Kramer
When Greg LeMond won the Tour de France in 1986 on his Look KG86, the prospect of a carbon road bike amazed the biking community. Sure, the bike industry has been toying with the idea since the 70s, but it was manufacturing giant Look that pioneered a functional version of the material. Together with TVT, Look engineered a composite of Kevlar and carbon fiber layers.
Since then, Look has been optimizing the composition of the carbon component of the frames to cater to different biking styles. Many bike manufacturers took notice of this new technology and followed suit. Naturally, carbon fiber quickly became the leading material for bike frames and proves to be extremely useful in this day and age – not only in carbon road bikes and other transportation vehicles but also in large-scale industries like aerospace.
Carbon road bikes come in many variations, so the price range is also wide. You can have a decent carbon bike for as low as 700 USD; if you can afford to spend more, there are high-end bikes that reach the 10,000 USD ceiling. Fortunately, Amazon has a catalog of budget-friendly bikes that are packed with many pleasant surprises. Here we have gathered some of our favorites:
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The Best Carbon Road Bikes You Can Get Today
Despite Savadeck being a less-known brand, their products deliver excellent quality and performance and consistently garner good reviews. Savadeck offers the Ready Bike program, in which the carbon road bikes are pre-assembled in the factory before being shipped out, contrary to other bike manufacturers that require you to assemble the bike on your own. Once you receive the package, only the front wheel, seat post, and pedals need to be installed.
Savadeck uses quality materials from distinguished manufacturers like Shimano, Campagnolo, Toray, Michelin, Chosen, and Fizik.
SAVADECK WarWinds 3.0
The WarWinds 3.0 weighs 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg), which is a bit heavier than most carbon fiber bikes, but it feels light and easygoing anyway. This is one of Savadeck’s more basic carbon fiber bikes, but it still has a lot going for it. It has the signature aerodynamic design of the brand and the attention to detail manifests in the geometry, and even in the polishing.
Carbon road bike features:
- carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- SHIMANO speed control (9 speeds)
- Internal cable routing
- 40mm alloy bearing Wheelset
- Michelin pro sports tires
SAVADECK WarWinds 4.0
The revamp of the WarWinds 3.0 features the same Toray frame, internal cable routing, wheelset, and even the same weight, but this time it makes use of the Shimano Tiagra groupset.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- SHIMANO speed control (10 speeds)
- Internal cable routing
- 40mm alloy bearing wheelset
- Michelin pro sports tires
SAVA HERD6.0 Carbon Road Bike
The secret to the optimized functionality of Herd 6.0 lies in the Shimano 105 group set that smoothens out road impact, as well as the tapered head tube that improves torsion. Aerodynamic contouring allows the rider to go fast and smooth. The saddle and handlebars are oriented to give the rider extra comfort.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- SHIMANO 105 group set
- Internal cable routing
- 50mm carbon fiber bearing wheelset
- Michelin Pro sports tires
SAVADECK Phantom 2.0
The Phantom weighs around a pound less than the SAVA HERD6.0 at 8 kg (17.6 lbs) and packs almost the same essential specs. It is said to be a powerful, even aggressive, bike that has the signature aesthetic and unassuming value of the Savadeck bikes. As with other Savadeck bikes, this one is designed to be aerodynamic.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- Group set from Shimano Ultegra 8000
- Internal cable routing
- Tapered head tube
- 50/88mm carbon fiber bearing wheelset
- Michelin pro sports tires
SAVADECK Phantom 5.0
The Phantom 5.0 features the SRAM groupset instead of the usual Shimano products. It is lightweight (17.4 lbs or 7.9 kg) and has the same aerodynamic design and tapered head tube.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- Group set from SRAM
- Internal cable routing
- Tapered head tube
- 50mm carbon fiber bearing wheelset
- Michelin pro sports tires
SAVADECK WindWar 5.0
As one of the less expensive Savadeck models, the WindWar 5.0 really surprises you. Basically, it has almost the same specs as other Savadeck bikes, save for the wheelset, which is provided by Oval Concepts. It is on the heavy side, though, weighing 20.1 lbs or 9.1 kg.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- Group set from Shimano 105
- Internal cable routing
- Tapered head tube
- 40mm Oval Concepts bearing wheelset
- Michelin pro sports tires
Kestrel RT-1000
The RT-1000 is perfect for riders who go the extra mile but don’t necessarily compete. The geometry is relaxed, so you can ride comfortably even over lengthy tracks at an upright position, preventing back fatigue. The somewhat sloped top tube allows you to get on and off the bike without much trouble. The frame is constructed from Enhanced Modulus Hybrid (EMH) carbon, a product of Kestrel. It offers the advantages of a carbon fiber frame but with more leniency.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame
- Shimano group set
- Speed shifters
Kestrel Legend
The Legend is by far the most expensive product on this list. The bike makes use of Kestrel’s EMH carbon frame and is by far the lightest bike by Kestrel at 7.94 kg (17.5 lbs). This is ideal for racers and climbers.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame
- Shimano group set
- Speed shifters
- Shimano 105 group set
- alloy wheels
The Tommaso bikes are designed in Denver, Colorado, but they really began as an import product from Italy. As they expanded their business globally, the quality of their bikes was upgraded as well. They have their own carbon frame called the Superlight Monocoque Compact Carbon Frame made from topnotch Toray High-modulus fibers.
Tommaso Ghisallo
The Ghisallo packs performance and value in one bike. With a newly implemented four-arm crank design and internal cable routing, this bike is ready to take on more adventures. Through a meticulous selection of gears (Tiagra 4700) Tommaso was able to produce this high-performing but affordable bike. It weighs 19.8 lbs or 9 kg.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon frame
- Shimano Tiagra groupset
- Oval Concepts chainrings and cassette
- Shimano wheels
Tommaso Aggraziato
The Aggraziato marks the shift of Tommaso to using all-Shimano components – while the mix-and-match of gears is perfect for value bikes, keeping to an all-Shimano system gives the rider vastly improved smooth riding that is unfailing. The Aggraziato has also been inducted into Tommaso’s Elite Engineered Carbon Series (EECS) of bikes.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon frame
- Shimano Ultegra group set
- Shimano RS10 wheels
Tommaso Corvo
The Corvo is fast and dependable, thanks to the years dedicated to upgrading its components. Now, the lightweight Monocoque frame and aerodynamic HCT carbon fork makes for a comfortable ride that doesn’t compromise anything. The Power Propulsion Stays and Flex Elimination System allows for smooth power transfer.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon frame and fork
- Shimano 105 group set
- Oval Concepts crankset and chainrings
- Shimano wheels
Tommaso Superleggera
The Superleggera is a follow-up to the 9000, which was a favorite in the biking community. Tommaso retains the features that have propelled its bikes to a high standard but doesn’t forgo innovation by adding top-of-the-line Shimano components. These gears not only allow the rider to conquer difficult ascents, but also have fun at trails. It weighs around 18 lbs (8.2 kg).
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon frame and fork
- Shimano Dura Ace groupset
- Ultegra crankset and cassette
- Dura Ace derailleurs and speed shifters
- Mavic Aksium wheels
BEIOU 700C
The BEIOU 700C carbon road bike weighs 8.3 kg (18.3 lbs) and is fairly strong and lightweight. It comes in a stylish matte finish.
Carbon road bike features:
- Carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, wheelset and seat post
- Shimano 105 group set
- Internal cable routing
- 23mm aluminum bearing wheelset
- 60 TPI tires
Essential tips: Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Road Bikes
1. Hang on, what’s in a “carbon fiber”?
Before being constructed into the composite form, carbon fibers are actually just a polymer called polyacrylanitrile (PAN), which is subjected to high temperatures, producing a set of extremely thin fibers. They are sold or distributed as sheets, either woven in multiple directions or positioned in one direction (aptly termed “unidirectional”).
Around the world, only six companies produce the bulk of this material. These raw fibers are then molded into different shapes with the resin (or Kevlar, among other types). Another way to process carbon fiber frames is to put together some tubes and bond them with lugs.
2. What qualities signify good carbon quality?
Typically, a carbon fiber frame is lightweight, durable, stiff, and moldable. To understand better the comparison of carbon bikes, we need to familiarize ourselves with a couple of terms:
Modulus – a measure of the ability of a material to resist elastic deformation. A high modulus indicates a stiff material, while a low modulus indicates a ductile material.
Tensile strength – gives an idea about the durability of a material. The higher the tensile strength, the more durable the product.
3. How do I choose the right carbon fiber composite?
Manufacturing companies usually have a grading system for their carbon fibers, basing on the two measures above. The Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association (JCMA) grades carbon fibers according to increasing modulus as “low”, “standard”, “intermediate”, “high”, and “ultrahigh”.
4. Are carbon fiber frames ‘all-carbon’?
Since carbon is stiff, brittleness is often a problem. There are many compromises to be made in the design of a frame: high-modulus materials are placed in the sides of the down tube and medium-modulus materials in the head tube. Good carbon engineering produces lightweight frames with good torsion and bottom bracket shells. Of course, it is also important to consider cost-effectiveness as well.
Carbon road bike are awesome rides for road biking! Make sure to grab yours now! Happy biking!
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