Rewel - Titanium made in Italy
It seemed a little insane, but that was exactly the good thing about it: 35 million TV viewers shuddered when tiler Raimund Weissensteiner hurtled down a ski slope at 122 km/h on "Wetten dass ...? in 1993. Because he was sitting on a bike from the Rewel forge, the frame builders Werner Pichler and Leo Santa could hardly save themselves from orders. The name still resonates today. Rewel is an institution in South Tyrol. www.rewel.com
Bike: Rewel MST
The crank shines in pompous gold, otherwise the eyes would probably look past the bike first. The frame is inconspicuous as it ducks over the black tyres. But there is no reason for restraint. The second glance sends one marvellous detail after the other to the brain and does not want to detach itself from the titanium frame. The discreetly polished weld seams are a showpiece. They form the seams between the meticulously cut tubes as if flowing into place. They are butted depending on the type of load. While the seat tube changes its wall thickness three times - down to 0.8 millimetres at the thinnest point - the top and down tubes manage with double butting. Here the wall thickness even drops to 0.6 millimetres. The seat stays are sagging, which should increase comfort on rough, bumpy trails. After all, the frame is designed to shake and rumble, which is revealed by the components alone: lightweight components and technical treats that only serve to maximise speed on the track. The wind blows vehemently across your face. The dual crankset from refiner PMP sends the power of the legs to the rear axle almost without loss, from where the forward command is converted into propulsion in a disciplined manner via the grippy Geax tyres. Changing direction is no problem, even in winding terrain, where the good torsional rigidity is also noticeable. The Rewel masters steep climbs on the small chainring without the rider having to feel like they're having a colonoscopy. No rearing up, no nervous shaking. Just smooth road holding. Whether it's actually the 2.2 tyres or the seat stays that filter out the small bumps remains the bike's secret.
Test summary: Finely crafted tool with no quirks or hiccups. Tip: use the custom option. It's available at no extra charge!
Price: 5380 Euro /Frame 1990 Euro
Weight: 9.8 kilos */frame 1575 grams
Material: Titanium
Delivery time: About 6 weeks
Geometry: Standard or as required
Equipment: Magura Durin, Sram XO
* Complete weight without pedals
