The first step towards a customised Seven frame set is a four-page form that needs to be completed. It asks for your body measurements and sitting position on the bike you are currently using. Riding habits, desired riding characteristics, planned uses, any complaints and, last but not least, the desired components are recorded. You then select a basic model and the decorative colour and can choose add-on parts such as pump tips or mudguard eyelets through to dismantling clutches for the frame. Customised paint finishes are also possible, but can sometimes considerably extend the delivery time. After a few days, Seven then sends a geometry proposal with saddle heights, stem lengths and even the number of spacers; if the customer finally approves this, the frame is usually delivered after a further six weeks.
In the case of the "Axiom SG" test frame, it costs 3,795 euros without the fork, which costs 599 euros with a customised pre-bend, and the 169 gram titanium stem, which is also made to measure, costs a further 549 euros. The seating position proposed by Seven only differed from the usual position by seven millimetres in the distance from saddle to handlebar; all other dimensions remained unchanged and were implemented in this way. Instead of a high spacer tower, the Americans used an upwardly extended head tube - a nice solution. The stem, on the other hand, has the standard geometry that the major component manufacturers also have in their programme.
We built the bike with components from the Seven range: the handlebars and seat post are made of aluminium and cannot deny their origin from the component manufacturer Oval. However, without the Seven decor, they cost around a third less. Campagnolo's new eleven-speed record, Shamal wheels with a titanium finish and the "Endurance" saddle from AX-Lightness complete the frame.
Because the riding position and saddle were familiar, there was no need to get used to the bike - from the first kilometre, the focus was on the riding characteristics. The bike's steering is balanced and the racer feels light-footed when pedalling. The weight, including pedals, bottle cage and SRM cranks, adds up to 7.5 kilograms. Due to the very short front end of the frame, there is a risk of foot contact with the front wheel when starting off or turning from a slow speed if you are a shoe size 42 or larger. A little more fork pre-bend could help here, especially as Seven can easily adjust the forks by gluing in different dropouts. On the 1,000 kilometres over Lanzarote's sometimes rough asphalt, the bike felt quite comfortable. On the other hand, the racer frightened the rider, who weighed less than 70 kilograms, with suspension bumps at higher speeds. Rapid descents require a firm hand on the handlebars, otherwise bumps or cracks and bumps in the tarmac can cause the frame to swing so much that the bike rocks. If possible, you should grip the lower handlebars with both hands and place your knees on the top tube to keep the bike on course downhill. The combination of frame and fork lacked the desired race-orientated design to fly downhill with pleasure over the pass roads of the TOUR-Transalp.
A look at the laboratory values confirms the experiences of the test rides. The head tube stiffness of the frame is on a par with classic steel frames, the fork is comfortable but not very laterally stiff. Despite the relatively steeply sloping top tube, the comfort value does not come close to top carbon models such as Specialized's "Roubaix", Canyon's "Ultimate CF SLX", Isaac's "Ultra Sonic" or the titanium competitors Van Nicholas "Aeolus" and Kocmo "Road Master".
The workmanship of the "Axiom SG" does honour to the noble material, the weld seams are impeccable and worth seeing. Furthermore, the frame is emphatically purist. Only the head tube badge and engravings at the dropout adorn the tube composite. The tubes are brushed and shimmer in a uniform titanium grey. The transition from the frame via the elegant Chris-King headset and the titanium spacers to the titanium stem is beautifully finished. Aesthetes may be disturbed by the clash of matt black (handlebars, seatpost and fork) and glossy black (frame decor, headset, brakes), but this is undoubtedly a matter of taste.
Seven's share of our test bike is an impressive 5,408 euros. For this, you get a very cleanly manufactured customised frame that doesn't stand out with its extravagant details or technology - not even in comparison to the titanium competitors that we tested in our test. Titan special in TOUR 12/07 had tested.
PLUS: Corrosion-free; very clean finish
MINUS: Tendency to build up; expensive
*test bike frame size greased; **projected measurement from centre of bottom bracket to upper edge of head tube/seat tube height at 75 cm seat height (centre of saddle frame-upper edge of headset cover); ***adjusted weight for frame size 57 and fork steerer length 225 mm; ****the grade includes further individual grades which we cannot print for reasons of space.
