Gear Review: Pierce the Wind on a Javelin Narni

author : Writebrained

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Imagine gliding on a fresh stick of butter just placed on a hot frying pan. Now imagine sliding along an isolated country road almost effortlessly. You’ve just imagined yourself on a Javelin Narni.

By By John L. Garner
B.T.com Gear Reviewer
 

Javelin is a small, high-performance frame builder with a rich racing heritage. Many victories have been achieved on Javelin bikes throughout the years - including victories unknown to most people, since Javelin-built frames were often repainted and re-badged with other manufacturers' labels for their sponsored athletes.

The 2006 Javelin Narni is equipped similarly to the 2005 but priced $400 less. The Narni is unique among the competition with carbon/aluminum blended frame and impressive parts specifications.

Foreplay
Admit it. Triathlon can be a sexy sport. Can a bike be sexy? I say, “Yes.” Not that idle objects are often sexy, but the Javelin Narni is rarely idle once experienced.

Looking for a snazzy bike to compliment your groovy tri suit? Looking for a bike that will merit second looks in the transition area? Looking for a bike that won't break the bank and is a great value? Then take a whirl on the Javelin Narni. The engineers at Javelin created a mid-priced tri-bike with some high-end characteristics like butted aluminum aero tubing, carbon seatstays, a Zero aero carbon fork, Oval one piece aero bar, Campagnolo Centaur shifting components, carbon cranks and a Velomax/Easton Vista SL wheelset.
 

Although local tri-mythology heralds red bikes as looking the fastest, the yellow and black aero tubed Narni frame looks wicked fast. The Oval aero bars and Easton rims combine to personify a bold look. The Campagnolo Centaur bar end shifters outfit the bike with an aggressive appearance that leaves admirers with no doubt that this bike was produced for speed.

If not purchased through a javelin-authorized dealer, you will need to make arrangements to have your bike assembled by a trusted local bike store. For a list of dealers in your area, click here.

The Act
Imagine gliding on a fresh stick of butter just placed on a hot frying pan. Now imagine sliding along an isolated country road almost effortlessly. You’ve just imagined yourself on a Javelin Narni. At just over 18 pounds (61cm), the combination of aero tubing, feather-light carbon, and sturdy aluminum creates a sleek ride that feels less like riding an appliance and more like a natural extension of the body. The Campagnolo 12-23, 10-speed cassette is great for riding the flats. Shifting is effortless and errorless. For additional details on the components group, go here.

If the Javelin Narni has a weakness, it is the Tektro brake pads. Stopping can be a little jerky and erratic. Rob from Javelin advised that the brake pads are easily interchanged with Shimano pads.

Compatibility
Compared to the all aluminum bike frames commonly found at this price range, the Narni delivers unprecedented comfort for a tri bike. The carbon components seem to seek out and suck up the bumps and dips in the road. Most tri-bikes wear out their welcome after 30 plus miles by sending a message directly through the butt, via the brain, entitled pain. The Narni is engineered like a tri-bike but rides more like a road bike. In fact, the Narni’s ride is smooth enough to make it your everyday bike. If you only have enough cash to buy one bike or want to consistently train on the same bike you will race on, strongly consider the Narni.

The Morning After: No Regrets
Narni is a scenic, medieval town in Italy on which C.S. Lewis based an imaginary land called Narnia. Narni is also a sharp, mid-level tri bike created by Javelin with a smooth and sensibly-priced retail sticker.

Before getting on the Narni, I thought an affordable "carbon-like ride" was just an invention of someone’s imagination; a marketing ploy dreamed up by some overweight guy in a suit on Wall Street.

I was wrong. See for yourself - nothing flies like a Javelin.

Javelin Narni (2006) (www.JavBike.com)
Category	Score	Notes
Value		If you can find a better value, buy it!
Appearance		Sharp.
Components		It’s Campy. As noted before, the Tektro brake pads may be a weakness.
Factory Packaging (shipping)		Timely but better packaging needed.
Ride		Smooooooth.
Customer Service		Solid.
Overall		When the worst thing you can say is that the packaging should be better, you’ve got yourself a pretty good product.

Technical Data
Javelin butted 7005 aluminum aero tubing with FSA integrated headset in a Hammerhead headtube, carbon seatstays and S-bend chainstays. Featuring a Zero aero carbon fork, Oval A700 one piece aerobar, 650c and 700c sizes, Campagnolo Centaur shifting components, carbon cranks, Velomax Vista SL wheelset.
 

A Note on the Author: John L. Garner (a.k.a. Writebrained) is an Illinois State Trooper assigned to work in a Special Victim’s Unit. In addition to triathlons, he enjoys freelance writing, family, and teaching. He is an official reviewer for BeginnerTriathlete.com.

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date: April 3, 2006