A road bike is a road bike if it runs smoothly, weighs little and looks classy. The only question is: What does it have to cost at least to fulfil these characteristics? In the past, 1,000 marks was considered the absolute lower limit. In view of rising prices everywhere, has this now quietly and secretly become 1,000 euros? Or does 500 euros still suffice as an entry-level price for sporty road bikes? TOUR has tested three road bikes at 499 euros, 799 euros and 999 euros as examples and clarifies how much bike you get for the money.
SHORT & SHORT
Below the 1,000 euro mark, every euro saved is felt above all in the equipment - much more so than with price jumps in higher categories. While the most expensive test bike from Cube shines almost exclusively with the high-quality and durable 105 groupset from Shimano for its price range, the bike from Bocas, which is half the price, doesn't even have a complete entry-level Sora groupset from Shimano - and cheap third-party parts, such as the brakes in this case, have an immediate impact on the overall impression. If you don't want that, you'll have to enter the price range of the Jan Ullrich "Vuelta": Campagnolo's complete entry-level Xenon groupset is already available here. All in all, all three bikes are well made, offer stable frames and components that work perfectly when new. The fact that they weigh between ten and eleven kilos has to be accepted at these prices, but triple chainrings help them over the hills. For a taster of road cycling, 499 euros is enough; for 300 euros more you get a beautifully finished frame and significantly better brakes. If you want to have fun in the long term and have your sights set on many thousands of training kilometres, the 999 euro "Peloton" from Cube is a good choice.
The bikes in this test:
Bocas Roubaix (499 euros), Cube Peloton (999 euros), Jan Ullrich Vuelta (799 euros)
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