Our test field deals with 10 touring bikes that are suitable for travelling and don't cost a fortune.
A bike that should also be manoeuvrable with luggage must look different from the usual carrot for city traffic or Sunday trips to the quarry pond. Firstly, there's the geometry: on long journeys, you don't necessarily want to sit wide in the wind; an aerodynamic, inclined body position saves energy and promotes the efficient power turnover of gyrating legs.
A wide handlebar allows you to mount all the little helpers you need on the road: bell, speedometer, GPS, smartphone, plug-in light or handlebar bag. Torsion-resistant handlebars with an oversize diameter of 31.8 millimetres leave too little space for all the mounting clamps and also show no mercy to sensitive wrists and elbows, especially on rigid forks. 25.4 millimetre handlebars, on the other hand, offer more space and can absorb impacts from rough surfaces thanks to their material flex.
The bikes in the test:
Centurion Accordo, http://www.centurion.de
Kona Sutra, http://www.konaworld.com
Maxcycles Monza Ltd, http://www.maxcycles.de
Poison Atropine Tourer, http://www.poison-bikes.de
Radon TLS 9.0, http://www.radon-bikes.de
Rose Activa Pro-I, http://www.rose.de
Stevens Randonneur Gents, http://www.stevensbikes.de
Trenga De MSL 9.0, http://www.trenga.de
