High-quality craftsmanship and a long brand tradition are often just as important to fans of steel racers as technical values. The Venturi from Breezer fulfils such emotional needs. The history of this brand goes back to the early 1970s. Back then, founder Joe Breeze was part of a clique of bike-crazy hippies in California that became the nucleus of mountain biking. Later, Breeze was the first to mass-produce mountain bikes. Few people know today that he also built racing bike frames and was also a passable amateur racer, but this brings us full circle to the current Venturi model. Even after Breeze sold his brand to the bike multinational Advanced Sports International (including Fuji and Kestrel) in 2008, he is still involved in the development of Breezer models.
Steel meets carbon
The tube composite welded in Taiwan features details that are rather unusual for steel frames. The top and down tubes are flattened towards the head tube at the top and bottom respectively. The extra-wide bottom bracket shell accommodates a threadless BB86 bottom bracket. The steering bearings are integrated into the head tube, which allows the homogeneous connection of a carbon fork painted in the frame decor. The attractive retro paintwork is pleasantly impact-resistant and shows off the slim tubes to their best advantage. With a complete Ultegra groupset including wheels, the Venturi is well equipped. Whether the modern Ultegra harmonises visually with the classically filigree frame is certainly open to debate. Purists who don't like this mix can also get the frame set for themselves for 999 euros.
There is nothing to criticise about the handling - if you like the extremely stretched seating position and the agile steering behaviour. The riding stability is unusually high for a steel frame. Unfortunately, this also applies to the weight, which is hefty even considering the material. But that doesn't change the fact that the Venturi is an interesting option for anyone looking for a bike beyond the mainstream.
Price complete wheel 2,499 Euro
Price frame set 999 E uro
Weight 8.7 kilos
Reference/Info www.breezerbikes.de
Frame sizes** 51, 54, 57, 60 cm
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/74,5°
Seat/top tube/head tube 540/575/139 plus 15 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 980/50 mm
Stack/Reach/STR 550/411 mm/1.34
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing Oval, 1-1/8 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket Shimano Ultegra (50/34 t., BB86 Press-Fit)
Wheels/tyres Shimano Ultegra/Hutchinson Equinox
Handlebar/stem Breezer/Breezer
Saddle/post Oval R700/Oval R700 (27.2 mm)
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel (without pedals): 8.7 kg
Frame/fork/steering bearing weight 2.119/611/82 g
Standardised weight frame set 2.815 g: 5,0
Steering head stiffness 84 Nm/°: 2.3
Lateral stiffness fork 58 N/mm: 1.0
Bottom bracket stiffness 58 N/mm: 1.3
Comfort frame 217 N/mm: 1.7
Comfort fork 109 N/mm: 5.0
* The frame set accounts for 40 per cent of the overall score and the features for 60 per cent. Individual grades are included in these two assessments, only some of which are printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
** Tested frame size in bold.
*** Stack/reach: projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the headset; STR (stack to reach): Values between 1.45 and 1.55 indicate a sporty riding position, values below are race-like, above are comfortable.
**** Adjusted weight for frame size 57 cm and fork steerer length 225 mm.
