The mountain separates the wheat from the chaff: until just now, we were still rolling through the countryside on largely flat approach roads. The first really steep ramp brutally forces us to switch to pedalling. No gear left, the gear lever is at the limit. Now it's time to get out of the saddle and put all your weight on the pedals! In the tough rhythm of turning the cranks left, right, left, right, the luggage at the rear pulls to the side, the tyres bounce over loose stones, up the rough alpine path. Skilful physical effort is now required on the handlebars to ensure that we don't waste any energy going uphill.
- FALCONRY HOPLIT PI
- IDWORX ALL ROHLER TI
- KOGA WORLD TRAVELLER-S
- NORWID GOTLAND
- PATRIA RANDONNEUR ZONA
- POISON TAXIN
- TOUT TERRAIN BLUERIDGE XPLORE
- VELOTRAUM SPEEDSTER SP2
Capable and competent
A touring bike has to be able to cope with this. Whether titanium, aluminium or steel, touring bike frames are rigid and stable thanks to thick walls and large tube diameters. This makes them heavier than possible, but more durable and more resistant to dents than lightweight touring bikes. All eight test bikes generate the necessary lateral stiffness from the frame and forks, which means that the ride is not unsafe even when changing loads quickly with luggage. Structural stability is one of the most important criteria for touring bikes. An efficient gear system with a wide gear range and well-spaced gear steps is just as essential. Of our eight test candidates, two use Pinion's twelve-speed gearbox and three rely on the 14 gears of the Rohloff hub. Two out of three randonneurs with racing handlebars have 2x11 derailleur gears for propulsion. Only Poison combines a racing brake lever, single chainring and MTB-like eleven-speed cassette. With luggage at the latest, the intermediate gears that save pedalling power at the right speed are missing on long climbs or constant ups and downs in hilly terrain. Poison also offers the option of a double crankset, but in the test field Patria and Velotraum achieve a wider gear range with a low weight, which noticeably increases the riding dynamics.
"Travelling by bike creates lasting experiences that often shape entire biographies. A specially designed bike with reliable, durable technology makes this enjoyable and fail-safe. Investing in a high-quality touring bike therefore makes sense as long as the dividends are right."
Jochen Donner Test editor
The disadvantages of derailleur gears are the inevitably higher maintenance requirements and the earlier wear of the drivetrain. Closed gears and belt drives do this better (Falkenjagd, Koga and Tout Terrain). The regularly stepped gears of Rohloff and Pinion stand for harmonious power delivery under difficult conditions. At the same time, the effort required for cleaning and maintenance is lower. The Norwid seems a little indecisive here: its Rohloff hub is driven by a chain. Its handmade frame also does not allow for belt mounting due to the lack of a separable chainstay. Idworx, on the other hand, relies on a special solution: a specially manufactured chainring made of hardened knife steel is paired with a specially hardened chain. According to Idworx, this promises greater durability than a Gates belt. It also eliminates occasional belt problems such as squeaking, incorrect belt tension or skewing due to inaccurately aligned rear triangles. The counterparts to the drive are powerful brakes. All suppliers rely on high-quality disc brakes. In most cases, 180 millimetre brake discs are fitted. They overheat less quickly on long downhill stretches and thus help to guarantee long-lasting braking performance downhill. This is particularly important when travelling with luggage. 160-millimetre discs, such as those on Koga, Patria and Poison, are undersized for heavy riders (from around 85 kilos) with luggage.
Individuality costs
The candidates are technically well equipped. Many components can be selected from the modular system. After all, touring bikes are a long-term investment, and we are in the top price segment: a customised selection is part of the package, provided it makes technical sense. However, the price level is fierce: the eight-thousand euro mark has been exceeded, with bikes costing an average of 5,407 euros. Although our selection is not representative, it is nonetheless meaningful. A price increase in raw material, transport and labour costs had already become apparent in previous years and was to be expected. However, the pandemic has ignited the turbo: The initial disruption of supply chains, followed by an extreme increase in demand, has led to a distribution war in the bike industry, with transport costs and times multiplying at the same time. There is no end in sight to this development, and it won't get any cheaper. But the purchase price will be forgotten at some point. Then a perfect touring bike enables all the more intense experiences and adventures. And that's what counts in the end.
You can download the complete comparison test of the touring bikes from MYBIKE 4/2021 including all individual ratings as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
