These are the aero racing bikes for around 5000 euros
No question: Most of the bikes in our comparison test look really great - just like the racing bikes of the professional cyclists on TV. Aerodynamic shapes on the frame and fork, impressive wheels with high rims, integrated cockpits and electric shifting groupsets: At first glance, the racing bikes for around €5,000 are in no way inferior to the respective top versions, which often cost more than twice as much. This should make a racer's heart smile - especially for those who don't want to spend a fortune on an aerodynamically optimised competition bike. Especially when inflation puts a damper on the buying mood and you are forced to do without.
The key question: Is the visual similarity also reflected in the technical quality? Can the - relatively - inexpensive candidates keep up with the top performers in terms of aerodynamics and weight, the two most important disciplines of a racer? Or is it better to steer clear of the inexpensive candidates in the competition segment and save up for a higher-quality model?
Our comparison of current models between 4300 and 5600 euros shows that a general judgement is hardly possible. In addition to type and price, the candidates qualified for this test based on their construction with carbon wheels. Nine manufacturers, from Benotti to Storck, met the requirements. Brands such as Cannondale or Radon did not have a rideable model available during the test period, while Orbea shied away from comparison with the competition. The bitter truth is that there are currently no other alternatives worth mentioning for around 5000 euros.
Aero road bike test: short and sweet
The competition bikes in comparison combine aero optimisation, carbon wheels and prices of around 5000 euros. In view of this, you would expect a neck-and-neck race for the TOUR test victory. However, it was already apparent in the wind tunnel that the bikes differed significantly. The impression was confirmed in the laboratory and saddle: almost a whole grade level separated the test winner from the bottom of the league.
Leaderboard
Fastest bike: Storck Aerfast.4 Comp
Lightest bike: Benotti Fuoco Aero SL
Almost 30 watts difference in aerodynamics
Although we have traditionally kept the brackets narrow, our tests in the laboratory, wind tunnel and in practice reveal some striking differences in quality. In aerodynamics alone, which accounts for a quarter of the TOUR score, there is a huge gap between the fastest and slowest models. Where it says aero, it doesn't always mean aero. In numbers: The Storck as the leader in this discipline requires 27 watts less pedalling power than the Focusto overcome the air resistance at 45 km/h. A competitive disadvantage could hardly be clearer. To the Izalco Max's credit, it should be noted that the Aerfast.4 plays a special role and pulls out all the stops when it comes to aero optimisation.
Only Canyon pushes forward into similar dimensions with the Aeroad. Most of the candidates lag behind the fast duo of the two direct-to-consumer brands, but don't completely lose sight of it and, with a performance of between 210 and 217 watts, definitely reach the level of more expensive aero specialists. In order to recognise the potential of the frameset, all candidates had to take to the measuring platform in the GST wind tunnel with our fast reference wheelset as standard (see graphic below).
Aero racing bikes around 5000 euros: Relatively heavy
Larger tube cross-sections and flat components drive up the weight of the aero-optimised specialists per se. Currently, only a few extremely expensive models manage the balancing act between speed and lightweight construction. The test candidates are relatively far removed from this; at an average of just over eight kilograms, they are several hundred grams above the level of the lightest aero competitors. After all, the Benotti, Cube and Stevens a seven before the decimal point; Corratec and Giant are even heavier than some gravel bikes. The CCT Team from the Raubling-based bike manufacturer is also the only bike to show weaknesses in terms of stiffness.
Another realisation: Heavy wheels make for heavy complete bikes. If you compare the weights of the test candidates without the wheels, they come closer together and point to the obvious tuning tip. In terms of suspension comfort, there is also light and shade - although all models have a carbon fibre seatpost. Canyon, Cube, Corratec and Focus react best to bumps. Their seatposts are either relatively filigree, which means they lose points in terms of aero performance, or they are extended far out of the frame, which results in a long suspension travel. However, none of the bikes are really comfortable, which is also due to the fact that the handlebars, stems and forks hardly give at all. On the Storck Aerfast.4, the flat aero seatpost only deflects by three millimetres under the test load of 80 kilograms; similarly on the Sensa and Stevens.
The fastest aero racing bikes for around 5000 euros
In the GST wind tunnel, the Storck once again proves its class, with 204 watts the Aerfast.4 outperforms even expensive professional material. In order to categorise the performance of the framesets, we measured all candidates with our reference wheelset in addition to the original wheelset. Almost all wheels benefit from the fast Zipp 404 (2018), with the Sensa achieving the greatest improvement. The Storck, Canyon, Cube and Benotti chassis already form fast combinations with standard wheels.
Conditionally suitable for racing
The test victory therefore goes neither to the fastest (Storck) nor the lightest bike (Benotti), but with the Cube to a model that performs well in all disciplines and delivers the best overall package. With a TOUR score of 1.9, the Litening Aero would also hold its own against more expensive competition bikes. It impressively demonstrates that you can get a race-ready sports bike in this price range. In contrast, the inexpensive versions from Corratec, Focus and Sensa can only be recommended to ambitious racers to a limited extent, as they fall measurably behind in the most important criteria and score almost a whole grade lower than the test winner in the final ranking.
The results of the aero racing bikes around 5000 euros in the overview
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
