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Koga Kinsei Pro in the TOUR individual test
With a total of 26 medals at the most recent major track cycling events, the "Dutch Cycling Team" is one of the most successful nations. Harrie Lavreysen alone stood out as a true title hamster at the World and European Championships, winning six gold and one silver medal since August 2022. Lavreysen, also decorated with two Olympic gold medals from Tokyo, is the constant for the Dutch on the track oval. But what does the 26-year-old's impressive medal haul have to do with the new Koga Kinsei to do? Our test provides the answer to these and other questions.
In contrast to track cycling, where Koga has enjoyed one success after another as a supplier to the Oranje team, the bike manufacturer from Heerenveen has hardly attracted any attention recently with competitive road bikes. Over the years, fewer and fewer Dutch models have rolled into the TOUR test lab. However, shortly before the company celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, Koga is back with a striking new launch: the Kinsei not only has the same model name as the successful track bike (loosely translated from Japanese: "made for gold"), but also incorporates key aero elements of Lavreysen & Co's workhorse.
Goal: best aerodynamics
To achieve this, Koga utilises the leeway provided by the (no longer entirely) new technical regulations of the UCI cycling association and gives the road racer an emphatically aerodynamic frame design, similar to that of the Orbea Orca Aero, Simplon Pride II or Storck Aerfast.4. The flat, moulded head tube section in particular emphasises the idea of a streamlined profile in a very striking way. The area between the seat tube and seat stays is also extremely flat. Naturally with one overriding goal: the best aerodynamics.
In the TOUR test in the GST wind tunnel in Immenstaad, however, the Kinsei fell somewhat short of the expectations raised by its racy looks. The required pedalling power of 210 watts for 45 km/h is a good value, but not a very good one when measured against the rapid further development in terms of aerodynamics. Despite the sophisticated tube shapes and fast high-profile wheels from DT Swiss, the fastest production bikes in the TOUR test, which include the aforementioned bikes from Simplon and Storck, are up to eleven watts behind. One reason for the shortfall: the flat head tube is very long - this means a lot of surface area for headwinds and therefore higher air resistance.
A side effect of the flat design can be seen when looking at the scales. Like the Orbea and the Simplon, the Koga also weighs in at just under 8 kilograms, with the frameset alone weighing a hefty 2100 grams. That's quite a lot, both compared to more moderately designed aero bikes such as the Canyon Aeroad CFR (1450 grams) and in comparison with fast race all-rounders such as the Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 2 (1370 grams) or Specialized's S-Works Tarmac SL7 (1294 grams). Despite the high-quality equipment, the Kinsei scratches hard at the 8-kilogram mark.
Koga Kinsei Pro - High-quality equipment
The bike shows its strengths on top-flat terrain and whizzes over the tarmac with good road holding. The emphatically upright riding position, which is reminiscent of long-distance marathon racing bikes, is somewhat unusual at first. Thanks to the slightly sloping carbon handlebars from the US component specialist Control Tech, you can still lean far over the cockpit and get into a sporty racing position. However, the Koga reacts somewhat harshly to bumps and potholes at high speeds; the suspension effect is mainly due to the voluminous 30 mm tyres, which just about fit through the frame and fork.
In the final analysis, the sensational Kinsei Pro also performs well thanks to its high-quality equipment. The Dutch manufacturer, which has been part of the Accell Group since 1998, bolts Shimano's electronic Dura-Ace to the Pro version. Thanks to the powermeter crank, the power can be called up in real time on the bike computer. Measured against the track version, the price of 9999 euros seems fairly calculated. After all, Koga only charges almost the same amount for the frame set and cockpit of the Oval racer. Cheaper versions of the Kinsei cost around half as much as the top-of-the-range model, but they break the 8-kilo mark due to heavier components. You can only really ignore this if you have thighs as muscular as Harrie Lavreysen.
Koga Kinsei Pro - facts and reviews
- Price9999 Euro >> available here
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1451/533/122 grammes
- Frame sizes** S, M, L, XL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 530/575/172 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 619/382 millimetres/1.62
- Wheelbase/caster 1005/54 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace (160/160 millimetres)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** DT Swiss ARC 110 Dicut 50/Continental Grand Prix 5000 30 millimetres (front/rear: 1202/1603 grams)
Measured values & individual grades*****
- Weight of complete wheel 7.9 kilos Grade 3,0
- Steering head stiffness 88 Nm/° Grade 2,0
- Lateral stiffness fork 42 N/mm Grade 3,0
- Bottom bracket stiffness 58 N/mm Grade 1,3
- Seatpost spring stiffness 326 N/mm Grade 3,7
- Aerodynamics****** 210 Watt Grade 1,7
>> The Koga Kinsei gets an overall TOUR score of 2.0
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer information Test size bold.
***Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube;
STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position.
****Impeller weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if necessary.
*****Single noteswhich are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
******Aerodynamics Theoretical pedalling power required to overcome air resistance at 45 km/h, measured in a wind tunnel with a pedalling leg dummy.
Julian Schultz
Editor
