I have ordered a fire sale size large F5 Pro from RANS. I figured I would start a thread on it here in the Technical forum, and post some details as I build it.
 
I've been casually looking at new bikes since my Corsa hit the 25,000 mile mark. Aluminum frames aren't known for lasting forever. I'm plainly not as hard on equipment as many riders, but I'm no lightweight rider, either (my weight ranges from 183 to 191 pounds). I hadn't expected to buy anything this quickly, and to be honest, until Paul posted about the RANS garage sale, the F5 wasn't on my radar at all. My new bike was always going to be another high racer, but the F5 is probably the least sexy high racer I could have picked. The more I've thought about it though, the more sense this size large F5 makes for me.
 
A major consideration is the rougher roads I find myself riding on since I moved to Gun Barrel City. A steel frame, with a slightly longer wheelbase than the Corsa, and 700C wheels, is bound to provide a bit better ride. An F5 isn't any heavier than a Corsa, and I should be able to achieve a very similar riding position, so the new bike shouldn't slow me down any.
 
One criticism of the F5 is the added flex that its 2" round main tube has over the 2" x 2 1/2" ovalized tube of the Bacchettas. I have no doubt that for a rider of Kent Polk's strength, this kind of flex would be a major negative. I'm strong, and there's no doubt I could flex the bottom bracket for a few seconds but, lung damaged old f*rt that I am, it would only be for a few seconds. Then, I would be back to the easy spin that is standard for me. I always favored spinning over mashing, anyway, so I don't think the flex of the F5 frame will be too much for me at all.
 
I had always favored a medium size high racer frame over a large. I'm within the range that will fit either size. I'm 5' 9" tall (almost two inches shorter than when my spine wasn't shaped like a mountain trail), but have long legs and arms for that height (Greg alternately calls me a gorilla and spider). My xseam is ~43". But the Euromesh seat I love is a tall seat, and with a 700C high racer, seat height does become a major consideration. With a large frame, a rider ends up further forward on the bike, and on a stick frame high racer, that equals higher off the ground. But a large frame does center your weight better between the wheels, and that plus the fact that a large has a longer wheelbase, improves the ride.
 
This F5 has no seat or wheels. It is also missing the v-clamp and seat angle. I ordered those two parts with the bike. I'll start out with the Euromesh from my Corsa as a seat, and see how that works out. It's a tall seat. If it proves to be too tall on this 700C bike, I may get something else for it.
 
As for wheels, I plan on getting or building some which have the Velocity A23 rims. These rims are 23mm wide, 4mm wider than the standard 19mm wide road rims, and improve the profile and ride of 23mm tires enough that I'll likely start out running them. Imagine that, being able to take advantage of all the shopping deals you can find on 700C 23mm tires. I love the 559 A23 wheels I built for the Xstream (that are actually on the Corsa right now). With an odd size like that (MTB rims on road spaced hubs), I just ordered the parts and built them, but with 700C wheels, there are such great deals to be found on already built wheels that use the A23 rims, there are some you can buy for less than you can build a set, so I may buy already built wheels.
 
I'm presuming the F5 comes with a RANS B-41 handlebar. I also own a RANS three way adjustable high racer bar. I've always liked the narrower Bachetta tweener bar better than either of these though, so I may buy one. If anyone has the narrow Bachetta bar, I would consider trading the B-41 for it (I'm thinking I'll hang on to the pricier adjustable bar; you never know what future projects will demand).  
 
I think this bike will go very well with my new Team RANS jersey, too.   I'm not sure what model year the bike is. Perhaps the serial number will tell me that. I'll update as I build.

Quote from goatstick on Mar 7^th, 2014, 1:24pm:

 
That's nice to hear, Kent. The argument for the larger ovalized main tubes has always been that they're less flexy, but I always figured the F5 would be plenty solid enough for me. Sounds like that's the case.
 
If my Euromesh seat proves to sit too high, one of your seats would no doubt be a great choice to replace it, although it would seem out of place to buy a seat that costs so much more than what I paid for the bike.  

Quote from Bud_Bent on Mar 7^th, 2014, 4:20pm:

For a particular diameter and in the vertical direction that generally should be the case but increasing the circular cross-sectional tube diameter can go a long ways and should provide a more stable tube in all directions. For example, while the Corsa is pretty strong vertically, Greg can testify that I used to get my old Corsa into such a massive headshake by torqueing the boom sideways that I'd have to quit pedalling to get the bike back under control. I don't see the F5 doing that.
 
But then I tore off the left front wheel boom at the weld on a TerraTrike once. But again, maybe that's not saying much since that weld design was a disaster area anyway.

Yeah I watched Kent deflect the boom on his corsa downwards at least three inches taking off at a stoplight.  Crazy.
 
I can't speak for the pro, but the f5 I've got is stiffer than the corsa for sure, and rides like a caddy.  Smoothest ride I've had outside the vk2 which was flexy as hell.  You made a good choice imo.  Great one actually.

Yes, I've always heard that the strongest of riders could flex the boom of a Corsa. I've never felt mine flex. And it sounds like the F5 boom may be more solid than I'd heard, so I'll likely never flex it, either.
 
I'm going to measure on the Corsa, the bottom bracket height, height to the lowest part of the seat, and the height of the back of the seat. That will give me a base for comparison with the F5. Bacchetta's website says 32" for the Corsa bb height, and RANS' website says 34" for the F5. If my seat also ends up 2" higher, that may indeed be a seat height issue.
 
I notice that RANS' website says the F5 frame is made in USA. I thought I remembered that they had moved production of the F5 frames offshore somewhere down the line, but maybe not. I never figured I would spend enough to ever buy a new American made bike frame again, but perhaps all I needed was the right garage sale.