Scapin Etika RC and Ivor - Sea Otter 2013

Made-in-Italy carbon frames with custom options

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Published: April 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm

At the Sea Otter Classic, Scapin showed off two new made-in-Italy carbon road frames, the Etika RC and the Ivor. Available in Europe for some time, Scapin is now available in North America as well via the Canadian distributor Stage Race.

Featuring a mix of monocoque and tube-to-tube carbon construction, the Ivor comes in stock and custom geometry. With the integrated seatmast, the Ivor weighs a claimed 1,100g.

"It's a truly handmade frame," said Stage Race founder Mike Yakubowicz, adding that Scapin is based just north of Venice, a hotbed of Italian cycling manufacturing.

As a general philosophy, Scapin builds bikes that are walk the line between race bikes and endurance bikes, Yakubowicz said. "They are not quite gran fondo bikes," he said. "They're a balance of race characteristics and stability."

Another shot of the frame shelve design: another shot of the frame shelve design - Ben Delaney/BikeRadar

A sculpted shelf for the housing on the Ivor

The Ivor features heavily curved seat stays that the company calls CFS, for 'comfort flex seatstay.'

While some of the other modern features aren't too remarkable — tapered heat tubes, PressFit bottom bracket, etc. — the carbon dropouts do feature a somewhat unique aluminum sheath, anodized to match the frame's highlights.

The frame is $4,925 (£3,229), and custom geometry is included in the price, as is having your name painted on the top tube. Delivery, at least to the US, is 60 to 90 days.

The etika rc from scapin weighs a claimed 950g: the etika rc from scapin weighs a claimed 950g - Ben Delaney/BikeRadar

The Etika RC weighs a claimed 950g for the frame

The Scapin Etika RC is a remake of the Hysak, which Cycling Plus said elevated 'Scapin to the pinnacle of Italian-built bikes.'

Now, the Scapin features an adjustable, proprietary seatpost, a claimed 950g weight and glow-in-the-dark paint. Retail is $4,395 (£2,880).

In North America, Stage Race is selling the Scapins as framsets or complete bikes with some unusual parts, including Xentis wheels and Ciamillo Gravitas SL brake calipers.