The fact that the first touring bike with Pinion's affordable and brand new C-gearbox line comes from Kalkhoff is also a sign: The brand from Derby Cycles, one of Germany's largest bicycle manufacturers with an annual output of over 500,000 bikes, is one of the really big players in the market. This coincides exactly with the goal that the Stuttgart-based transmission specialists have also set themselves: Higher sales figures with solid, high quality make more cyclists happy. For less money.
Thanks to new production methods, Pinion has been able to reduce prices to manufacturers to such an extent that 12-speed Pinion bikes in the price category of a Rohloff bike are now possible. Kalkhoff's Endeavour frame platform is ideally suited for the implementation of the new mid-range Pinion C1.12 gearbox: The Endeavour has a sturdily built, compact frame that is also attractive and modern in design. The bike is well-balanced and safe, it doesn't have any outliers. The only thing to criticise would be the high vertical stiffness of the saddle and the relatively heavy wheels, which restrict the sporty riding style somewhat. The carrier attachment on the flat strap to the rear triangle still transports touring luggage stably. At more than 12 kilos, the carrier wobbles. However, its range of use is still very broad: from the daily commute to the weekend tour, the C-gearbox shows its strengths. Its inner workings are identical to the 12-speed version of the well-known P-Line: the huge total gear ratio of 600% and the gear steps of 17.7% have changed as little as the quality of the gears.
The new, slimmer housing shells are the centrepiece of the C-Line. These are manufactured for Pinion by a die-casting specialist from the region. Magnesium as a material makes a weight saving of around 30% (compared to the milled part of the P-Line) and extreme strength possible and, as it is powder-coated, is highly resistant to corrosion. At the same time, Pinion was able to design in adjustable cable inlets for better frame adjustment and an 8 millimetre shorter crank axle. A C1.12 therefore weighs around 300 grams less than a P1.12 gearbox. Its new price point puts the C1.12 between Alfine 11 and Rohloff bikes. We are excited to see how the market reacts!
Plus:
- Compact touring bike with Pinion gearbox
- reasonably priced
Minus:
- Vertical hard frame
- Heavy wheels
The article was published in Trekkingbike issue 6/2016.
