Road cyclists won't know much about the name Alutech. However, one or two mountain bikers will probably rub their eyes in amazement when they see the Gravelbike Punk 2.0. The label from northern Germany has been an established name in the German bike scene for decades. Trademark: Locally welded aluminium fullys with plenty of suspension travel and a martial welded look.
Although company boss Jürgen Schlender has experimented with carbon here and there, the Punk is currently the only bike with a carbon fibre frame in the Alutech product portfolio. Anyone who now thinks that Schlender has transferred the hardcore attitude of its gravity bikes to gravel bikes may be surprised at the end of this test report.
The Alutech Punk 2.0 in detail
- Price: 6499 Euro
- Application: Gravel bike
- Wheel size: 700C/28"
- Tyre width (installed / maximum): 45 / 50mm
- Weight of complete bike: 8.5 kg (size XL)
- Maximum permissible system weight: 130 kg
- Warranty: 2 years
- Number of bottle cage mounts: 4
- Compatible with dropper post: yes
- Compatible with front derailleur: yes
- Special features: Fidlock frame storage compartment, fork flip chip, UDH derailleur hanger
Born out of passion
It is of course no coincidence that former downhiller Jürgen Schlender jumped on the gravel bandwagon early on. The founder of Alutech is an enthusiastic gravel biker himself and has already travelled all over Europe on his creations with racing handlebars. Schlender is an adventurer through and through: The trained haute couture tailor taught himself how to build frames.
Alutech's aluminium frames are now being welded in Germany again. The carbon chassis of the Punk 2.0 is manufactured overseas according to precise specifications. Customers can choose from various paint finishes and decals on the website. If you want to go wild, get in touch with the small team and realise your individual dream body.
Practical: Alutech has integrated a frame storage compartment into the down tube of the Punk. The "boot" contains a tool bag, which Schlender's wife sews by hand from old Alutech pavilions and advertising banners for reasons of sustainability. There are mounting points for bags on the fork and top tube.
The frame triangle has also been equipped with mounts for bottle cages and luggage. The chassis can also accommodate mudguards if required. Connoisseurs will be pleased to know that all the screws on the frame are made of titanium. The advantage: less weight and high quality. There is only one option for cable routing on the Punk through the headset. The bottom bracket is screwed into the frame via a large, service-friendly T47 thread.
Equipment
Alutech offers the Punk 2.0 in different equipment variants and five different frame sizes (S / M / L / XL / XXL). You have to invest between 3499 and 6999 euros for the carbon gravel bike. Our test bike, which costs 6499 euros, is characterised by the following equipment:
- Gear system: Sram Force XPLR AXS Full Mount, 1 x 13
- Cassette / gear range: Sram Force XPLR 10-46T / 460 %
- Crank / chainring size: Sram Force 1 / 40T
- Brakes / disc size: Sram Force XPLR / 160/160mm
- Wheels: DT Swiss GRC 1400 Dicut 30
- Tyres: Maxxis Rambler Exo Protection 700 x 45c
- Seatpost / Diameter: Twinworks Carbon / 27.2 mm
- Cockpit / length / width (upper/lower link): Zipp / 90 mm / 460/525 mm
Data from the BIKE test lab
At BIKE, we go to unprecedented lengths to test bikes. We are the only trade magazine in the world to operate its own test laboratory. The data obtained supports our impressions from the practical test. When it comes to geometry data, we don't just rely on the manufacturer's specifications, but also use the laser measuring device ourselves.
- Complete weight: 8.75 kg (size XL, without pedals)
- Wheel weight: 3565 g (incl. tyres, tubeless milk and valves, cassette, brake discs, thru axles)
- Impeller acceleration: 2487 kg x cm² (the lower the value, the better the acceleration)
Geometry
- Seat tube length real: 565 mm
- Steering angle: 72.5°
- Seat angle: 73.5°
- Top tube length: 585 mm
- Head tube length: 145 mm
- Chainstay length: 435 mm
- Wheelbase: 1040 / 1045 mm
- BB drop: -79 mm
- Caster: 63 / 74 mm
- Reach: 401 mm
- Reach+: 563 mm
- Stack: 593 mm
- Stack+: 660 mm
- STR: 1.48
- STR+: 1,171
How the Alutech Punk gravel bike rides in practice
The Alutech Punk 2.0 is fun to look at and feel right from the start. The fact that the light green speedster is the most expensive bike in our latest gravel bike test field at just under 6,500 euros definitely pays off. From the storage compartment with Fidlock locking system and large access opening to the equipment details, such as the SQlab saddle, the quality and workmanship are absolutely convincing.
The only drawback: As the down tube is very voluminous, accessories in the storage compartment tend to rattle as soon as the corresponding bag is not fully filled. For example, if there is only one multitool in the down tube, it rattles loudly through the resonance body.
The new Sram Force XPLR AXS groupset, on the other hand, leaves nothing to be desired and sorts out 13 nicely graded gears. With a 460 per cent gear range, everything is possible, from fast descents to tough climbs. The wireless drivetrain with the new full-mount technology works reliably even under load and in hectic situations.
The riding position on the Punk is one of the biggest surprises of the test. Mountain bikes from Alutech are known for their radical geometries with slack steering angles and long wheelbases. The company's gravel bike takes a completely different approach. Due to the short head tube, the Punk is the only bike in the test group to undercut a stack value of 600 millimetres. In addition, the reach of 401 millimetres is rather discreet.
The result: the pilot sits short and low. Although the cockpit can be raised using stem spacers under the positively angled stem, the seat length is shortened further at the same time. The concept is great for agility. Together with the titanium bike from Radon, the Alutech shares the steepest steering angle of the comparison. The Punk reacts quickly to steering inputs. Scurrying around the roots in the forest and lobbing uphill over the steps? Easy!
Added to this is a very good, lightweight wheel/tyre combination. No other bike corners as nimbly as the gravel bike from Alutech. On twisty courses, the joy of turning is great fun. But watch out: If you're not careful, your toes will hit the front wheel when turning in. The steep steering angle and short wheelbase mean that the bike doesn't run very smoothly when the terrain gets bumpy and the ride gets fast.
The wheelbase could even be shortened by five millimetres using a flip chip in the dropout of the fork. However, we cannot recommend this. The low, steep front also has another downside. On high-percentage gradients, you start to feel like you're going to roll over. When the Punk rider turns into the trail, he should definitely know what he's doing.
The Punk can also do high-speed rides on flat terrain. Head down into the wind and full throttle is the motto. With the lightest overall and wheel weight, the gravel bike is up to speed in no time at all, short counter-climbs are a breeze - great for after-work rides with plenty of vigour!
Unfortunately, the compressed riding position is more of a curse than a blessing on long rides. Compared to the sometimes significantly longer and flatter bikes from Santa Cruz, Propain and Pivot, the rider is somewhat folded up on the Alutech, which can lead to discomfort in the lower back and fingers falling asleep during long periods of sitting.
Conclusion Alutech Punk 2.0
The lightweight, beautiful Alutech would be my first choice for a quick after-work ride. The agility and turning ability of the Punk are first class. The short and steep geometry is not ideal for all-day rides and bikepacking. Even in demanding terrain, the gravel bike from the MTB brand has surprisingly few safety reserves. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
Pro
- Lightweight, functional, high-quality equipment
- Acceleration and sprinting qualities
- Good workmanship and beautiful details
- Top agility and manoeuvrability
Contra
- compressed seating position is not for long journeys
- Low front makes off-road handling difficult
- Foot can hit the front wheel
- Accessories rattle in the storage compartment
Jan Timmermann
Editor
