Parlee, Moots, Waterford comparison: Bikefanclub.com

Hi folks:

Here is the first report of the three-way test that I said Iâ€™d be doing in the Z2/Z3 photos thread. First, itâ€™s been one heck of a winter here in Massachusetts; it seems like we would get a few inches of snow every 4-5 days. Thus, I apologize for not getting this test going sooner.

This gives my first impressions of the way the Parlee Z3, the Moots Vamoots Compact, and the Waterford 1200 compare strictly to each other in terms of their ride characteristics. In order for riding position to not be a variable, I have done my best to duplicate saddle height, horizontal saddle position relative to the bottom bracket, reach from saddle to bars, and height of the bars relative to the saddle. I have 59 miles on the Parlee, 67 miles on the Moots, and 112 miles on the Waterford.

First, I want to describe in more detail the parts spec for each bike. My Waterford 1200 (c. 1995) is a classic lugged steel frame built with Reynolds 753, and has a flat-crown Reynolds 531 fork. It is equipped with Dura Ace 8spd of the same vintage. For the purpose of this test, I am using Mavic â€™04 Ksyrium Elite wheels with Michelin Pro Race tires. An American Classic post, old school Rolls ti-railed saddle, Profile H2O quill stem, and 3T bars, and my Look PP96 (hey, I have 4 pairs and theyâ€™re still going strong, what can I say) round out the package. Without the pedals, the 54cm bike weighs 19.7lbs.

The Parlee Z3 has a King headset and Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork (Parlee typically sells its framesets as a frame/fork/headset package). It has Mavic â€˜04 Ksyrium Elite wheels with Michelin Pro Race tires. The bike is equipped with Ultegra 10spd, Ritchey Comp oversized post, Ritchey Pro bars and stem, and Iâ€™m using my saddle and pedals. Without pedals, and with its showroom Arione saddle, the Parlee weighs 17.4lbs.

The Moots Vamoots Compact has an FSA Orbit Extreme Pro headset and Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, Mavic â€™04 Ksyrium Elite wheels with Michelin Carbon Race tires, and is equipped with Ultegra 9spd. A Ritchey Comp post and Ritchey Pro bars and stem, along with my saddle and pedals round out the bikeâ€™s spec for this project. Without pedals, and with its showroom Flite saddle, the bike weighs 18.3lbs.

I thought it would be good to use the Waterford as my standard for comparison, partly because I have been riding it off and on for 10 years, and also because many of you have probably ridden and/or still own a top-of-the-line lugged steel frame similar to this. I felt that my familiarity with this bike would give a good basis with which to compare the Parlee and Moots. Prior to this project, the bike had been hanging in my garage for about a year as I was mostly riding a ti bike. Once I tuned it up and put the Ksyrium Elites on, I couldnâ€™t help but smile as I became re-acquainted with my old friend. My Waterford has a solid, reassuring feel that great steel bikes have, yet manages to smooth out road buzz just enough to give me comfort balanced with good road feel. Sprinting up the small hills of the rolling terrain around my house, I can get the front derailleur cage to rub a bit, but itâ€™s nothing that would bother me. Not surprisingly, I feel the handling is very predictable; it holds a straight line when I want it to yet swerves around the inevitable pothole with a little sway of my hips.

When I got on the Moots, I could tell after the first few pedal strokes that it would do an even better job with road vibration than the Waterford. In fact, I double-checked the Mootsâ€™ tire pressure before the second ride just to make sure that variable remained constant. Ripple bumps that would rattle the Waterford a bit would be smoothed out some by the Moots (and the Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork) to my liking. Sprinting up hills, it seemed I could cause about the same amount of chain rub as the Waterford, but I really wasnâ€™t focusing on drivetrain rigidity on any of the bikes for the first few rides. However, I definitely appreciated that the Moots was 1.4lbs lighter that the Waterford during the short climbs of these rides. Acceleration also seemed easier due to its lighter weight. Handling was, like the Waterford, nice and neutral, which I personally prefer.

While the Waterford and Moots shared many great qualities, my first impression of the Parlee was that it had great qualities that were decidedly different. On my first ride, I noticed that it not only smoothed out ripple bumps like the Moots, but it also muted road buzz. The closest comparison I can think of is the change in a carâ€™s hum as you abruptly transition from one type of highway paving material to another smoother, quieter type of paving material. During the first ride, I initially found myself wanting that road buzz back, but as the ride went on, I began to get used to, and even like, the quieter ride. During my second ride on the bike, I really didnâ€™t give the more muted ride a second thought; it was what it was and I liked it. I didnâ€™t notice any drivetrain flex during short sprints, but again I wasnâ€™t focusing on that during these first few rides. The other quality that I noticed was that the Parlee felt a bit more light and nimble that either the Waterford or the Moots. The bike responded more instantaneously to my body English, especially in the middle of a couple of sweeping turns where I had to dodge some potholes in those turns. This trait gave the bike an edgy feel feel for me; I had to pay more attention to what I was doing. I think that its combination of geometry and light weight is what gives the Parlee its edgy, racier feel. That made this bike fun during these initial rides. However, Iâ€™ll be willing to bet that Iâ€™ll need to concentrate more to hold a straight line, especially at the end of a long ride when Iâ€™m tired. Weâ€™ll see.

Anyway, thatâ€™s it for now. Iâ€™ll be adding more as I put more miles on the bikes. Iâ€™m also thinking of trying to quantify some of these subjective observations.

Roy

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Roy Cervantes
Grace Bicycles
www.gracebicycles.com