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These are the four affordable road bikes in the test
Springtime is racing bike time! When the roads are gradually cleared of the sharp chippings and the temperatures are back in double figures, many pedallers are eager to get outside - often with the desire for a new "work tool". However, the anticipation can fade faster than the crocuses sprout from the ground. "This is no longer my road bike world", we hear from quite a few readers - triggered by the price trend for road bikes, which only knows one direction across all categories and technical qualities: upwards. As a specialist magazine, we can only escape this to a limited extent.
TOUR tests what the market has to offer. Nevertheless, we regularly look for topics and bikes that show that road cycling is not only fun when the racer costs tens of thousands of euros. At the start of the 2024 season, four models with a clear focus on price and frame material rolled up for testing: according to the list, the bikes cost less than or around €2000 and are based on modern carbon frames. These two criteria are only combined in very few racing bikes. With well-known international brands such as Giant, Specialized or Trek, such bikes cost at least 2500 euros and more.
A look to Italy is futile, traditional manufacturers such as Bianchi, Colnago, Pinarello or Wilier design and produce their racing bikes almost exclusively in the super-expensive high-end segment. Other major specialist brands such as Bulls or Merida also have no carbon racers under or around 2000 euros on offer. Direct mail order company Radon updated its range during the test period. That leaves the four bikes in the test from Canyon, Cube, Stevens and Van Rysel.
Short and sweet
Small budget, small selection: The number of racing bikes with carbon frames under 2000 euros is manageable, with only a few manufacturers still offering models at this attractive price. Even large specialist brands or direct mail order companies are already attaching price tags with significantly higher amounts to their cheapest carbon racers. Our four test candidates between 1599 and 2058 euros show that you can also get really good sports equipment on your bike at these prices.
Four marathon bikes with carbon frames
In addition to price and frame material, the quartet have in common their orientation as marathon bikes suitable for long distances, with individual deviations. The Stevens, for example, tends towards a competition bike due to its comparatively stretched seating position. The Van Rysel also has a sporty riding position. Canyon and Cube send prototypical representatives of the endurance category into the race with an emphatically upright riding position, making them predestined for long days in the saddle.
In the most important criterion of a marathon bike, ride comfort, the bikes show some clear differences. Almost traditionally, the Endurace CF 6 has the best suspension over bumps. The cheapest carbon model in the Koblenz range benefits from high-quality carbon components: both the flexible seat post and the stylish one-piece cockpit are unique selling points in the € 2000 class. The simpler aluminium components of the competition transmit vibrations more noticeably to the rider.
The Stevens in particular receives hardly any support from the tyres. The reason: the Izoard brakes with rim brakes, which limits the maximum tyre clearance. Although the Hamburg-based company makes full use of this with nominally 28 millimetre wide tyres on the test bike, the tyres, which are available at extra cost, remain narrow on the narrow aluminium rim. The other wheels effectively roll on tyres at least 30 millimetres wide. In the style of modern all-road bikes, the Canyon and Van Rysel are approved for tyres up to 35 millimetres wide, which expands their territory to include gravel roads. On tarmac, the handling characteristics of the quartet are very similar.
Cheap road bikes: quite heavy despite carbon fibre
The framesets achieve almost identical results on the stiffness test bench and are also made for heavier riders. According to the manufacturer, the maximum rider weight is just over 100 kilograms. This makes the bikes uncomplicated companions in all road bike situations, even newcomers and less experienced cyclists need not fear exalted steering or riding characteristics, smooth straight-line stability is the defining characteristic. The robust bikes take their toll in the form of a relatively high overall weight - with the exception of the Stevens, which is around one kilogramme lighter than the Canyon, Cube and Van Rysel thanks to the rim brakes.
The three bikes also have this weight disadvantage compared to the next most expensive bikes in their respective model ranges, which is due to the comparatively heavy frames and the cheaper aluminium components. The wheels of the disc brake racers are particularly heavy. At almost 3800 grams, the wheelset of the Canyon reaches the level of stable gravel wheels. The shifting and braking components used - predominantly Shimano's mechanical ten- and eleven-speed groupsets - are not technically state-of-the-art, but this hardly detracts from their functionality and therefore also the riding pleasure.
Of course, mechanical or electronic transmissions with twelve sprockets and a wider range of gears are now in keeping with the times and are available from all manufacturers. The advantage of Shimano's Tiagra and 105 groupsets is their uncomplicated and maintenance-friendly technology. There is little need to worry about the supply of spare parts, as experience has shown that wear parts from Shimano are readily available for years.
Conclusion on the affordable road bikes
To summarise, the manufacturers offer rock-solid road bikes. For a manageable budget, the models largely dispense with technical gimmicks, but do not necessarily need to shy away from comparison with more expensive bikes when it comes to the basics. A Pinarello Dogma X that is more than seven times (!) as expensive (see test in TOUR 4/2024) ends up behind Canyon and Stevens in the TOUR grade due to its lower stiffness values, just ahead of the Cube and Van Rysel. Spring can come.
The inexpensive carbon bikes do not evoke great emotions, but they score with rock-solid riding characteristics that come close to the level of significantly more expensive racing bikes. Functional, rather simple equipment makes the bikes relatively heavy. - Julian Schultz, test editor
An overview of the test results of the affordable road bikes
The sub-scores from 4.0 are in red, so you can see which bikes are out of the question for you due to weaker individual scores.
*LL = for life, CR = crash replacement, RA = racing exclusion
Julian Schultz
Editor
