LOOK bikes

[Ballistic]

Can anyone throw any light as to why LOOK bikes don't seem to be very popular in the UK?

I was all set to buy a Colnago C64 disc but after trying a LOOK 795 Blade RS disc at a recent dealer demo day, it appealed to me more being a great ride and I've ended up buying one. The dealer said that it's a make they don't sell many of and every year they consider whether to carry on selling them.
There doesn't seem to be many LOOK dealers in the UK.

I'm also considering trying some LOOK Keo peddles on this bike (I've always been a Shimano spd guy so far). Has anyone made the switch and can give me some feedback?

[Jimbo.]

Fuggin’ expensive and looks only a mother could love.

Why drop all that dollar on a Look, when you could probably drop 2/3s that amount on something from the big brands that will be every bit as good (if not better), has a lifetime warranty and can be sourced from just down the road?

[keith2.2]

I rode a friends' 675 RS and it was enough to convince me to get another bike (ended up getting Bianchi XR4 but lets not talk about that) - it just seemed to tingle - really lovely bike to ride despite being on oval chainrings and a couple of sizes too small. Quite a niche brand I supposed bit why not stand out from the swathes of Canyons / Specializeds / Treks.

I can't comment on look pedals - but I have to use look cleats because I run Garmin pedals. The cleats are bloody awful - they're made of chocolate. I'm planning to switch to crank based powermeter so I can either go back to my Shimano or use Speedplay.

[oddball1313]

I love the smaller brands like look - I know Giant and Specialised make great bikes but everyone rides them. I think if your spending big bucks it’s nice to ride something no one else is, it just makes it feel more special. Just splashed out on a really top end BMC Teammachine - never seen one in the flesh in my area of the country and that suits me. I think the Look bikes fit in the same category (I tried a 785rs huez at a demo day. Weighed 6kg, super stiff beast of a bike, lack of finish made it look a bit like a prototype but couldn’t fault it as machine that just wanted to fly) I’d enjoy the rarity of your new bike, you’ll get more comments than turning up at the cafe riding one of the big 5

Edited by oddball1313 on Sunday 20th October 19:19

Edited by oddball1313 on Monday 21st October 08:34

[anonymous-user]

Gcn and road bike action have done pieces about the look factories in Tunisia and france

https://roadbikeaction.com/being-there-inside-the-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKkueqcKmQ

[DS240]

I like the look pedals.

I’ve been using the Keo 2 max carbon pedals and about to put some Keo blade carbon pedals on my new bike.

Not really had any issues with the cleats, but I do try and take care walking about on them.

I think look bikes are nice. They seem much more prevalent in the indoor track racing side of things.

[nofuse22]

Love keo pedals (have the carbon ones) but durability is terrible: i cycle in london and reckon I change them every 6 months or so. Nearly had a disaster at the marmotte this year as they had completely worn down..

[anonymous-user]

They obviously don’t really need the UK market, better to leave it to brands like Specialised and Giant who are happy to pump millions into marketing and “concept” stores whilst Look keep the Central European market.

They are true innovators in carbon, pretty much the first manufacturer to use the material for frames, first with aluminium lugs, then using the traditional weave method not pre-prey carbon sheets. They know more about it than most of the others combined. I think they made the first composite ski bindings and went from there to pedals, then frames. The new 795 is as nice as any other high end bike and you’re getting something a bit special and niche.

Time are the same, been working with carbon for years before the high street brands but are nothing in the UK.

And the Mondrian colour scheme looks awesome.

[Ballistic]

Jimbo. said:

Fuggin’ expensive and looks only a mother could love.

Why drop all that dollar on a Look, when you could probably drop 2/3s that amount on something from the big brands that will be every bit as good (if not better), has a lifetime warranty and can be sourced from just down the road?

This will be the frame for my custom build - looks pretty good to me (this is an example pic of the rim brake version. Mine will be the disc version with the thru-axles)

I have tried most of the current crop of mainstream superbikes over the course of this year and the 795 is the one that appealed to me the most;
a) The medium fits me like a glove and I felt very comfortable on it.
b) Does a good job of soaking up the road buzz.
c) Looks good IMO
d) I found that most of the bikes that I tried had a nervous, quick, twitchy steering. Having lost a lot of confidence due to a few speed wobbles, I'm looking for my next bike to feel stable which the 795 does.
e) Due to LOOK only being a minor player in the UK, it's not likely that I'm going to see the same bike at the local café or on a club run.

JPJPJP said:

Gcn and road bike action have done pieces about the look factories in Tunisia and france

https://roadbikeaction.com/being-there-inside-the-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKkueqcKmQ

I have seen the GCN video, which is a great insight into LOOK's expertise in carbon technology and frame making.

pablo said:

They obviously don’t really need the UK market, better to leave it to brands like Specialised and Giant who are happy to pump millions into marketing and “concept” stores whilst Look keep the Central European market.

They are true innovators in carbon, pretty much the first manufacturer to use the material for frames, first with aluminium lugs, then using the traditional weave method not pre-prey carbon sheets. They know more about it than most of the others combined. I think they made the first composite ski bindings and went from there to pedals, then frames. The new 795 is as nice as any other high end bike and you’re getting something a bit special and niche.

Time are the same, been working with carbon for years before the high street brands but are nothing in the UK.

And the Mondrian colour scheme looks awesome.

I totally concur with everything you've said.

Many thanks to everyone that's contributed to this thread so far.

[rastapasta]

I have the same issue. Eery one and his or her dog has a specialized. its like the Hyundai of cycling. Giant are the same. Even Pinarello are becoming super common.Look on the other have a distinct shape and style and to be honest are one of the view bikes i would go out of my way to buy. I have a Cannondale supersix evo and while i love it and have a soft spot for the brand, for Look i've a semi.

Absolutely beautiful machines. 695 is my dream machine and so long as I have legs and can breath i will some day have one.

[Jimbo.]

“... you’ll get more comments than turning up at the cafe riding one of the big 5...”

And there you have it. Cafe stop bling-slinging.

[rastapasta]

Jimbo. said:

“... you’ll get more comments than turning up at the cafe riding one of the big 5...”

And there you have it. Cafe stop bling-slinging.

show up to work in a Lancer Evolution TME, Lancia delta integrale or a Burns Special Impreza and the petrol heads will be making comments. same with bikes, would a Look ^95 do a better job than a Trek Edmonda, ?? probably not, they are bikes FFS, but sometimes we should allow ourselves to follow our own tastes and, in the concept of bikes, if we appreciate something Like the Look and have the cash to buy, then by all means go buy it. Simple as. You'll always have begrudgers, but thats just jealousy. if you appreciate beauty in the remit of roadbikes and like the Look, then by all means go and buy one. lord knows I will some day.

[Jimbo.]

I’d be buying a bike to ride, not to attract comment from others.

Will it have “Breathtaking” wheels as well?

[lufbramatt]

Sachin Hambini (as much as I can't stand his juvenile insults and foul language he seems to know what he's on about from a technical point of view) seems to rate Look as being one of the few brands that are engineered and manufactured properly. Having seen a couple they are beautifully made and I'd love to own one.

[Harpoon]

lufbramatt said:

Sachin Hambini (as much as I can't stand his juvenile insults and foul language he seems to know what he's on about from a technical point of view) seems to rate Look as being one of the few brands that are engineered and manufactured properly. Having seen a couple they are beautifully made and I'd love to own one.

I watched Hambini's "Sunday Roast" video at lunch today - the schoolboy in me laughs when he starts ranting, whilst the professional in me cringes and wonders how he's not been sued yet!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGuoFxBV32I

[Matt_N]

Harpoon said:

I watched Hambini's "Sunday Roast" video at lunch today - the schoolboy in me laughs when he starts ranting, whilst the professional in me cringes and wonders how he's not been sued yet!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGuoFxBV32I

He’s a big fan of Cervelo

[lufbramatt]

He also got very weird when he did the aero wheel test and fell out with FLO wheels, then started making up solicitors letters and pretending to be someone else ("another member of his team" yet posting with the same account) on various forums to defend himself. All very WTF. The trouble is the technical stuff he does is quite interesting and makes sense.

Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 22 October 10:23