All-rounder with Gates drive: The Stevens Boulevard Luxe in the MYBIKE test

Practical and good, just not square - that's how the Stevens Boulevard Luxe from Stevens could be described succinctly and aptly. The modern all-rounder has everything that an everyday, universally usable bike needs: a rigid aluminium frame with load-bearing tubular profiles and internally routed cables, which are nevertheless easy to replace thanks to the continuous outer shell. A well-functioning steel suspension fork, at least when new, with 63 millimetres of sensitive suspension travel and a lockout option defuses rough roads, kerbs and manhole covers. In addition, the sophisticated ergonomics and relaxed, sporty riding position are part of the DNA of Stevens bikes.

A practical test of the Stevens Boulevard

The Stevens Boulevard rides smoothly and easily, the steering is a little sluggish. The suspension fork and the soft gel saddle effectively decouple the bike from bumpy surfaces, but on the other hand they don't provide much concrete feedback and thus create a somewhat doughy ride feel. The high weights of the suspension fork and wheel require a relatively large amount of effort when steering. The solid but heavy bike is therefore best used at moderate speeds and on short distances. The thick Conti tyres impress with their low rolling resistance, high damping, good grip and low weight. The custom luggage rack from Racktime also proved to be very stable. Even a test load of 22 kilos did not upset it (or the test rider).

Uphill, the Nexus eight-speed hub of the Stevens Boulevard showed unsurprising weaknesses: As with the Alfine hub, the first gear has a very long ratio. As the lowest gear, it is only really practical for short climbs of around ten per cent if you are also carrying luggage. But even unloaded, you can breathe a sigh of relief as soon as the route is flat or downhill again. The Nexus shifts somewhat sluggishly and not very crisply, which is also due to the twist grip, and offers three (large) gears less than its big sister Alfine. A spring assists when shifting towards lighter gears, so it is a little easier in this direction: good if you can feel your strength waning on the mountain. However, the Nexus is hard to beat in terms of simplicity, low maintenance and, last but not least, price.

The Boulevard Luxe in everyday life

The cheaper CDN belt, plastic pulley on the crank and steel pinion on the rear wheel also help to keep the overall price of the Stevens Boulevard low and make the low-maintenance belt hub gears accessible to more cyclists (there is also a lady version of the Boulevard). If the Stevens remains within its range of use as an affordable all-rounder on tarmac roads with a relaxed riding style, the first belt drive will probably outlive the bike around it. On cobblestones, the swinging mudguards are annoying, vibrating against the tyres because the thin aluminium struts are unable to cope with the relatively high mass of the mudguards. And the front light is very dim: in total darkness it does not provide enough brightness for a relaxed ride and a patchy light field.

The most important details about Stevens Boulevard

• Model: STEVENS Boulevard Luxe
• Price 1399 Euro
• Frame sizes H: 48, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64 cm; D: 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 cm
• Test bike weight: 16.5 kilos
• permissible total weight: 130 kg Frame Aluminium, welded
• Fork/FW: Suntour NCX-D LO, steel spring/63 mm
• Circuit: Shimano Nexus 8, twist grip, Gates CDN
• Translation: 50/24 teeth, 306 %
• Belt tension: Slider axle pieces, set screws on both sides
• Brakes/ø: Shimano MT200 Disc/180, 160 mm
• Tyres: Conti Contact Urban 47-622
• Lighting system: Shimano DH-3D37, B&M Myc, Toplight 2C+

Advantages and disadvantages

• Plus: Sophisticated bike concept with high-quality frame and low-maintenance drive
• Minus: Shaky mudguard struts; dim front light

Conclusion on the Stevens Boulevard

Stevens and Gates prove that the advantages of belt hub gears can also be realised in the lower price segment. The Boulevard Luxe is an uncomplicated all-rounder that is suitable for everyday use and is optimally complemented by the low-maintenance belt drive.