Wintertime is bargain time: many retailers and manufacturers are now offering hefty discounts to clear out warehouses and shops. The Dynamics "RSL Comp", for example, costs just €777 instead of €1,299. 500 less - is this a cheat pack or a real bargain? We took a closer look.
The basis of the racer from Dynamics, Zweirad Stadler's own brand, is a discreetly sloped, relatively heavy aluminium frame, which is at least reassuringly rigid in the steering head and bottom bracket. The geometry has been chosen so that the cyclist can sit more upright, the saddle is only slightly higher than the handlebars. Ideal for beginners who are not yet so used to the flat racing position and also for frequent riders who want to sit comfortably.
The thin seat post matches this, which - in contrast to the fork at the front - leaves the frame at the rear with a bit of comfort. The width and shape of the handlebars match the 57 centimetre frame, there is plenty of room for the hands on the top bar and the Shimano shifting brake levers harmonise with the curve of the "Pro" brand handlebars, which is not surprising as "Pro" is Shimano's accessory brand. The almost fully installed 105 groupset from the Japanese company completes the impression of a problem-free, reliable road bike for all days, which also cuts a fine figure as a second bike for the winter thanks to the mudguard eyelets. The shifting precision is good, and even with the beginner-friendly triple chainring suitable for uphill riding, gear changes are as smooth as butter. It should be noted, however, that the triple crankset is labelled "FC-R-600" and is one step below the 105 groupset; the crank arms are not hollow forged. However, no savings were made on the brake and shift cables. Even the higher quality Ultegra or even Dura-Ace groupsets from Shimano don't have better ones. The brakes are firm, almost biting. Only the non-welded joint of the Rigida rims creates a slight rubbing sensation when the brakes are applied. The Michelin tyres with the model name "Dynamic" fit the Dynamics well, but are inflexible in the casing, roll heavily and weigh a lot: they contribute to the high total weight of the bike of 9.8 kilos, which would no longer be up to date in the class up to 1,300 euros.
The coarse adjustment of the saddle clamp is not practical, as the mounted saddle could not be aligned horizontally. The high weight in particular, as well as the poor comfort value on the fork, significantly reduce the overall score. The originally advertised price of €1,299 therefore suggests that it was only intended to be crossed out immediately; for that price you can get good bikes with Shimano's higher quality Ultegra equipment elsewhere. For 777 euros, however, the "RSL Comp" is a very attractive offer - especially as the price also includes Shimano SPD pedals.
PLUS: Stable ride; suitable for uphill riding; comfortable riding position
MINUS: Weight; caliper clamping; brake rubbing
Price: 777 Euro
Reference/Info: Zweirad-Center Stadler, phone 0941/3788-147, www.zweirad-stadler.de
Frame sizes:* 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63
Seat/steering angle: 74°/72,5°
Seat/top/head tube: 540/575/180 mm
Wheelbase/caster: 1,020/60 mm
Frame height/camber:** 595/145 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork: Dynamics aluminium/carbon
Steering bearing: Aheadset
Brakes/gears: Shimano BR-R 650 (105 level) / Shimano 105, 3x10
Bottom bracket: Shimano 105
Wheels/tyres: 105 hub, 32-hole, Rigida "Flyer" rim / Michelin Dynamic
Handlebar/stem: Pro XLT/No name
Saddle/seat post: Bike/No name
Pedals: PDM-505
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL GRADE
Weight of complete wheel: 9.8 kilos (without pedals)
Frame/fork/steering bearing weight: 2.131/561/134 g Standard.
Weight frame set:*** 2.811 g: 5,0
Steering head stiffness: 109 Nm/°: 1.0
Lateral stiffness fork: 45 N/mm: 2.3
Bottom bracket stiffness: 81 N/mm: 1.0
Comfort frame: 305 N/mm: 2.7
Comfort fork: 109 N/mm: 5.0
EVALUATION****
Price/performance: VERY GOOD
Frameset: 2,8
Equipment: 2,4
*The tested frame height is printed in bold.
**Projected dimension from centre of bottom bracket to upper edge of head tube/saddle/head tube rise at 75 cm seat height (centre of saddle frame - upper edge of head tube).
***Adjusted weight for frame size 57 and fork steerer length 225 mm.
**** The individual grades are included in the overall grade with different weightings, which we only partially indicate for reasons of space.
(Photos: Matthias Borcher, Daniel Simon)
