Kinesis frame - 4S or T2?

A bit of an update...

I swapped the Tektro brakes for my old Shimano R451s with half worn Koolstop pads, and the difference is huge - they now feel comparable (not as good as, but at least they are somewhere in the same ball part) to my Ultegras. Mine are silver, rather than a more aesthetically pleasing black. The best price for a pair is £22 at ribble, so I'll see if I can resist the urge to pander to the aesthetics.

I also took the bike (with my Campag Zondas swapped on for fun) out for a 90km ride this afternoon into the Surrey hills. What impressed me most was the handling - cornering is really confident and the bike is very nippy. It also feels quick, and my times were good despite feeling a bit tired today. The ride seemed a bit chattery compared to my summer bike (Cube Agree), and I came back with stiff shoulders that I don't normally suffer from. I think there's a bit of work to be done in set-up; the saddle could be raised and set back a little, I'm going to check and compare the bar width to what I normally ride.

All in all, I really like this bike, and I will definitely be using it more than just when it's wet!

I built up a winter bike using the 4S frame, Ultegra group and Superstar Pave wheels with full mudguards. Having used it throughout the winter, I have been nothing but impressed by the comfort of the ride.

I had a T2 for a couple of years and I wish I hadn't sold it, it was a super frame for the price but the 4s is another step up and a bit more worthy of a fancy build. I'm considering one but am waiting for the new disc and calliper compatible version to come out.

I bought a T2 complete bike a few months ago on the cycle to work scheme. Came in nicely at the £1000 limit. I am very happy with it and used it for winter 'training' rides and I am commuting with it at the moment.

The spec, with Tiagra and basic but bombproof wheels, is probably right for the frame. Inexpensive stuff that will keep maintenance costs down. I am going to ride mine through wet, salt and grime.

If you want better spec, you mention Ultegra, then go 4s. Me, I now want a new shiny new bike for summer with any saving from going T2. I think that won't come soon, but we can dream.

I've just taken (this Monday) delivery of a 4S for winter/wet weather riding, and I'm very impressed with it in a build with Kinesis' standard 105 kit. It goes well and handles the corners nicely. Even the Shimano RS10 wheels it comes with are surprisingly good for an £80 set! The front end feels good and stiff, and it dealt very well with the limited chance I've had to test out cornering on the descents so far (perhaps this is this the area where you'd spot most difference between the frames). I think it's also two or three hundred grams lighter. Paint job is very pretty (black/blue) even if it's a bit 'Sky'.

A couple of things that let it down are the saddle, which I'll probably upgrade to a fabric scoop in a matching colour scheme sometime soon. It also has a rattle somewhere near the headset/front brake are I need to take some time to isolate. Oh, and the supplied Tektro long drop brakes are pretty lousy when I'm used to Ultegra on my fairweather bike. I've got some Shimano long reach brakes in the shed that I'll probably try swapping on and maybe try some different pads to see if that improves things.

I haven't fitted the supplied mudguards yet, but there looks to be plenty of space around the 25 mm tyres it came with.

I've obviously gone for the 4S over the T2, if you're fitting Ultegra to it, surely it's got to be worth splashing out a little on the frame?

Enjoy!

No technical experience of either frame... But I think the 4S looks far nicer! The head tube on the T2 looks a little thin and "cheap"in comparison to the new tapered one on the 4s - This should make for a more comfortable ride too!

Both have mudguard clearance, racking ability and are abke to fit up to 28's for the winter... I think it's just all about which one you prefer the look of!