Parlee or Storck? Is there a winner?

[ringmaster]

I am down to these two brands as my options for a beautiful ~1000g carbon frame.

Is there a clear winner? It would be nice to support the locals with the purchase of the Parlee but the Storck is very appealing and German engineering has a certain appeal.

[cat4rider]

uh, the winner would be you...tough decsion, my wallet bleeds for you.

[lampshade]

I would go Parlee if you're in the US. Easier communication with the builder and easier repair process if you ever need it.

[terry b]

Originally Posted by ringmaster

German engineering has a certain appeal.

I agree when it comes to cars, but bikes?

Which models are you considering? Fully custom Parlee? Does Storck offer custom? If going stock, which one has better geometry for your needs? Does the Storck "5 sizes fits everyone" approach work for you? Below the Z1, does Parlee's "5 sizes fits everyone" approach work for you? Does Storck build their own frames or are they outsourced? Does that matter to you?

In this league a bike is pretty much a bike in terms of ride and performance. Seems like you should make the call based on the answers to the questions above. Both will work just fine.

I own a Z2, and it's a darn fine bicycle. Until I rode my custom Crumpton, I thought of that Z2 as the best CF bike I'd ridden. It wasn't built for me, but it turned out to be a heck of a ride. Never even considered Storck because for me, it was a "why bother" proposition. I don't think they bring anything unique to the table that can't be found easier, elsewhere.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by terry b

Below the Z1, does Parlee's "5 sizes fits everyone" approach work for you?

I'm pretty sure the "stock" Parlee Z2 and Z3's allow you to specify the seatpost size & headtube height, plus choose from a plethora of fork options. They're not "full custom" in the sense that you can't choose, say, a 57.78cm top tube or a 73.42° seat tube angle, but they still offer so many variables that it seems unfair to characterize them as only offering 5 sizes.

Originally Posted by terry b

Until I rode my custom Crumpton, I thought of that Z2 as the best CF bike I'd ridden.

Just curious: Do you think the reason you like the Crumpton better is because it fits better?

[ringmaster]

Thanks terry b Good sensible advice. I am looking at the Z2.

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Just curious: Do you think the reason you like the Crumpton better is because it fits better?

I am wondering the same thing. Can you give me an idea what you fell is better about the Crumpton?

[Cruzer2424]

Originally Posted by ringmaster

I am down to these two brands as my options for a beautiful ~1000g carbon frame.

Is there a clear winner? It would be nice to support the locals with the purchase of the Parlee but the Storck is very appealing and German engineering has a certain appeal.

Not mine... but it's still sexalicious.

[terry b]

Originally Posted by ringmaster

Thanks terry b Good sensible advice. I am looking at the Z2.



I am wondering the same thing. Can you give me an idea what you fell is better about the Crumpton?

Please don't take me wrong, my Z2 is an extremely nice bicycle. It was not custom built for me, it was a demo that had been built for another rider. But it was darn close to my sizing requirements.

I don't honestly know what specifically is different about the Crumpton, as I don't consider myself sensitive enough to go into all the nuances that we often see in bike reviews. For me, just about any $2500+ frame is going to be a winner if it's the right size.

But once in a while I throw my leg over something that for whatever reason really feels special. And usually they feel special for not feeling like anything at all. The highest praise I can give a bike is that it "disappears" underneath me. As in I'm moving along but the bike is largely transparent.

The Z2 pretty much did that. The Crumpton did it on the first pass down my driveway. I'm going to guess and say it's a combination of precisely the correct fit and Nick's skill in building the frame. I'm using similar surfaces (wheels, tires, saddle) between the two of them and yet there is just some hint of something intangible with that bike. I realize this sounds like hocus-pocus but that's pretty much the experience I had with it on the 1st ride and every ride thereafter.

I own a couple of bikes like this - Strong 953, Vanilla, Kirk and now the Crumpton. The Parlee comes really close as does my Look 595 which is interesting since it's a stock bike. The others I own are all wonderful, but just not at the same level.

I think you'll love the Parlee, I love mine.

[clgtide1]

I would also go with the Parlee. I ride with a guy who absolutely loves his. To me the best part about the Storck is that they are pretty rare. The downside seems to be in dealing with warranty issues. That being said my next bike will probally be a Canyon.

[GH-Mike]

My experience with my new Parlee Z3 is almost identical to how Terry B describes his Crumpton. While my quiver of bikes is not in the same league as his, I have had several bikes over the years including some very nice stock and semi custom rides. Not one of them approaches the Z3. I’ve tried explaining it to my friends as “I don’t squirm in the saddle; I’m comfortable in several positions, and it feels deceptively fast”. I did the full custom thing with lots of input from Parlee. Part of me believes that 80% of this is the fit and 20% is material, assembly, and execution. Finally I will say that the service I received was over the top professional and fun.

[Val_Garou]

Originally Posted by terry b

I agree when it comes to cars, but bikes?

If we bring the Rohloff hub into it, then yes, there's a certain Teutonic something at work in the bike world, too.

[terry b]

Originally Posted by Val_Garou

If we bring the Rohloff hub into it, then yes, there's a certain Teutonic something at work in the bike world, too.

Well, yes - cars, Rohloff and Ritter chocolate.

[Troy16]

First two thoughts that came to mind after reading your thread title was why Storck and why not Crumpton? I know Crump did not make your final 2 but for me I go Crump #1, Parlee 2nd, and Storck, a very very distant 3rd. Just me.

[ringmaster]

Originally Posted by Troy16

First two thoughts that came to mind after reading your thread title was why Storck and why not Crumpton? I know Crump did not make your final 2 but for me I go Crump #1, Parlee 2nd, and Storck, a very very distant 3rd. Just me.

Just not very familiar with Crumpton. Why them over Parlee?

[terry b]

Originally Posted by ringmaster

Just not very familiar with Crumpton. Why them over Parlee?

Because Nick Crumpton builds a darn fine CF frame, is easy to work with, is price competitive and delivers on time.

Not that Parlee doesn't do those things too.

Just another possibility to consider.

BTW - is the Storck custom? If not, in the price range we're talking you should only consider build to fit.

Here are mine, side by side.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Troy16

First two thoughts that came to mind after reading your thread title was why Storck and why not Crumpton? I know Crump did not make your final 2 but for me I go Crump #1, Parlee 2nd, and Storck, a very very distant 3rd. Just me.

Someone's gotta mention Calfee in this rarefied company...

For that matter, how does Aegis fit into this picture? ("this picture" being high end custom built carbon frames.) Are Aegis frames considered in the same league as Parlee, Crumpton, Storck, Calfee?

[JMac]

Terry-- what color is your parlee, black or somehting else, can't tell from the pick. Thanks.

[AlexCad5]

Storck top tubes seem to be a bit long. For a while an outfit was discoing some out of Santa Barbara, but the fit was not good for me. How about Ruegamer. Now those are beautiful custom frames. Probably priced like those expensive Parlees, but with much cooler paint.

[terry b]

Originally Posted by JMac

Terry-- what color is your parlee, black or somehting else, can't tell from the pick. Thanks.

Black - clear coat over the weave.

[NealH]

A couple of very nice looking bikes there. No wonder choosing between these could give one a headache. Perhaps flipping a coin is the best way to choose. It would be one of those rare times that you win regardless of which side the coin lands on.

[kyler2001]

Originally Posted by clgtide1

I would also go with the Parlee. I ride with a guy who absolutely loves his. To me the best part about the Storck is that they are pretty rare. The downside seems to be in dealing with warranty issues. That being said my next bike will probally be a Canyon.

Speaking of warranty issues and Canyon. I spent months trying to get a quality frame from them http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=96753. If I were you, I'd invest in a more quality proven company. BTJM.

OP, Storck does not have any custom frame options and come with a 3 year warranty and a crash replacement program. Parlee offers custom and semi custom with what I believe is a lifetime warranty (except on SL models http://www.bikefanclub.com/forum/sho...hp/Number/4428 but this might have changed).

[finman 50]

Parlee is King, I got a Parlee Z3 this spring and have nothing but good things to say about the whole experience. My LBS and the folks at Parlee were truly interested in making sure the whole process worked. I think that's key, that you can pick up the phone or email and address any concerns you have. For example, on the custom paint, I worked with Aland Edwards[ allan@creativecycleworks.com ] I'd recommend looking on the web at the Trek Project One and getting some ideas and then working it out with Parlee and the LBS.

I had road tested Two Serrota s Ti, Ti/carbon and then the Parlee. To me the Parlee just wants to spring into a sprint. I had a Giant TCR that was custom fitted to me and was not expecting to really feel the difference. I was wrong, going that extra mile for a totally custom frame made a BIG difference. I went with all carbon components including handle bars, stem & seat post. That may explain why my Parlee was so much smoother than the Giant TCR.

On the Parlee, it's just me and the road carving the turns.
[IMG]Parlee Z3 Taxi .jpg[/IMG]

[finman 50]

I've got some pretty good pictures of my bike but not sure how to post them. It's on the lines of a taxi.

[NealH]

Originally Posted by finman 50

I've got some pretty good pictures of my bike but not sure how to post them. It's on the lines of a taxi.

1. At the bottom of the screen, click on "advanced".
2. Click on the down arrow just to the right of the "paper clip" (attachment) icon.
3. Click on "choose file", any one of them.
4. Find the picture file where-ever you have it on your computer.
5. Be sure the picture is within the file size limitations (390 Kb I believe). If it is too large then resize it. There are numerous resizer programs on the net.

[finman 50]

Parlee Z3