With the Juniper, the newcomers not only promise a gravel bike "that will give you a real kick in everyday life". Gjovalin Pepaj and Sven Hecker, the two founders with a background in mechanical engineering, also claim to be completely climate-neutral with Sciu. Among other things, the CO2 footprint is supported with a reforestation programme. The Hanseatic company cooperates with the organisation Prima Klima, which supports forest projects worldwide. Sciu estimates CO2 emissions of 250 kilograms for the production of a complete bike with a carbon frame. By comparison, the production of a car generates tonnes of CO2.
Extremely upright sitting position
The closeness to nature is also expressed in the English model name of the gravel bike. The Juniper is intended to be as versatile as the spice plant and to be a vehicle suitable for travelling and long distances. The riding position is extremely upright, with an STR ratio of 1.67, the Sciu is at the upper end of the scale. The springy carbon seat post, which requires a lot of torque to clamp, and high-quality Schwalbe tyres support the high level of comfort. Thanks to the large tyre clearance of up to 53 millimetres, the Sciu is equipped for rugged terrain.
Our test rider also praised the comfortable carbon handlebars: thanks to the flared bar ends, the bike is easy to control even on bumpy roads. One small drawback: The one-piece handlebar/stem unit is not part of the standard equipment of the Juniper 5, which according to the manufacturer is fitted with a simple aluminium combination from SQlab. The gravel handlebars from the ergonomics specialist have a rise of 25 millimetres and a flare of 14°. This means that the handlebar rises 25 millimetres from its centre to offer more comfort on long distances. The flared handlebar ends offer more control on demanding terrain.
The relatively low weight of the frame set is remarkable, weighing only 1,700 grams despite numerous threaded eyelets for mudguards, pannier racks and bags. Chassis from comparable bikepacking specialists are sometimes several hundred grams heavier. Simple aluminium wheels from Syntace spoil the fun somewhat, but with a total weight of 8.5 kilograms, the stable Juniper can be ridden at a faster pace. The relatively low stiffness of the entire frameset, which is produced in China contrary to the idea of sustainability, is less of an issue off-road. However, heavier riders will probably want a slightly more stable base.
MTB crank on gravel bike
The long 175-millimetre crank arms of the single drivetrain from SRAM are unusual. Compared to the standard road bike size (172.5 millimetres), the cadence is slightly lower, which our test rider got used to after a few kilometres. However, he found the so-called toe overlap, where the shoe comes into contact with the front wheel when it is turned, annoying.
The Juniper 5 with Force AXS is the mid-range model and is available for €4,499. The basic and top versions also feature electronic shifting with drivetrains from SRAM, while the high-end version also comes with a set of carbon wheels. The prices: 3599 euros for the Juniper 3 with Rival AXS and 6799 euros for the Juniper 7 with Red AXS.
Sciu Juniper 5
- TOUR grade: 2,0
- Price: 4499 Euro
- Weight: 8.5 kilogrammes
- Info: www.sciu-bikes.com
Weights & geometry
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight: 1101/489/110 gram
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL (test size greased)
- Seat/top/head tube: 550/575/175 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 623/372 millimetres/1.67
- Wheelbase/caster: 1035/67 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force AXS (1x12; 40, 10-44 teeth)
- Brakes: SRAM Force (160/160 millimetres)
- Wheels/tyres (weights): Syntace W25i/Schwalbe G-One Bite 45 millimetres (front/rear: 1619/2093 grams)
Measured values & individual scores
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.5 kilogrammes | Grade: 2.3
- Steering head stiffness: 83 Nm/° | Note: 2.7
- Lateral stiffness fork: 38 N/mm | Grade: 3.7
- Bottom bracket stiffness: 47 N/mm | Grade: 3.3
- Seatpost spring stiffness: 111 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
- Spring rate fork: 61 N/mm | Grade: 1.3
Julian Schultz
Editor
