At a glance Great performance, good value for money and a strong yet comfortable carbon ride, perfect for road racing, triathlons or just flying through the countryside
Tested by
Simon Hoppe, GB age group triathlete
Performance
Many cyclists are turning to triathlon for their next challenge. And just like roadies, triathletes are renowned for constantly seeking to gain an edge over the competition using cycling technology and innovation. The great news is that this doesn't need to come with a heavy price tag. As Kuota's entry level carbon racing bike, the Kharma allows you to enter the world of racy carbon fibre, without breaking the bank. The feeling of riding through the countryside at speed, on a super fast, carbon fibre bike with the wind in your hair, is an experience not to be missed for any cyclist! I have been testing the Kharma for the last four months over all types of terrain and weather conditions in training and racing all over the UK and here's how it held up.
Firstly I should point out that the standard
Kharma is £1500 and is race ready straight out of the box.
However, I have customized it with a Sram Force groupset, Easton
EA50 SL wheels and Easton Deltaforce tri bars and Fizik Arione
seat. This adds about £500 to its original price and for me
it is worth it.
The Kharma's reasonably light frame (1120g, smallest frame size) is constructed from a monocoque structure and 3K carbon weave and comes with a 3 year warranty. Independent German frame testers EFBE rate the Kharma as a Top Performance frame and I agree with this assessment. I have ridden several personal best times on this bike and it's very comfy to ride. This is one of the advantages of carbon fibre - it provides both performance and comfort, a fantastic combination.
The Easton EA50 SL wheels provide good strength and performance at a very reasonable price (£240) and amazingly, have not buckled in the three years that I have been using them, despite using them for training and racing at high speeds over roads of varying quality. The Sram Force groupset does exactly what you want it to do, changing gears and brakes smoothly, effectively and reliably. I have also found it easy to adjust and service. I chose Easton Deltaforce tri bars as for a more affordable price (£240) than other models they provide a comfy, aerodynamic and flexible riding position, which is key to setting fast times.
The seat has
revolutionized my cycling! It is a Fizik Arione and provides a
unique combination of size, weight and what's more, that elusive
quality in racing bike seats - comfort over long distances. I can
ride 50 miles on this saddle before I start to feel any
discomfort.
The Kharma is available in seven semi sloping sizes from 45-61cm and as with all Kuota's bikes you can custom order, crank length, stem size, bar width, cassette size and even bar tape and tyre colour so your bike not only fits you properly but also looks great.
All in all, the Kuota Kharma disproves the notion that you have to spend well over £2,000 to get a race ready triathlon bike. The best advice I could give to anybody looking to buy a racing or triathlon bike is to buy the bike with the best (lightest, strongest, most comfortable) frame you can afford and then upgrade it as you get more into the sport. A pair of "go faster" wheels and tri bars are the most effective way to add speed and comfort, however, one of my favourite quotes in relation to bike purchases is "it's better to have a thousand pound legs and a ten pound bike than a thousand pound bike and ten pound legs."
Basically, the cheapest, most effective way to go faster, is to get fitter, but if you can afford £1500 to enjoy the buzz of riding through the countryside or want to shell out for something great to race on, then I'd definitely recommend the Kuota Kharma. This bike has helped me clock several personal best times whilst giving me a comfortable ride and not breaking the bank.
