Test 2015: Aluminium wheels with Shimano 105 - Test 2015: Aluminium wheels with Shimano 105

Is the fate of the aluminium road bike frame similar to that of the steel frame? For more than a century, steel was the material from which racing bike frames were made - until the first competitive aluminium frames appeared in the 1980s.
the first competitive aluminium frames appeared. Initially derided as "cola cans", it took less than ten years for them to almost completely replace steel frames. Today, only tradition-conscious enthusiasts still want a steel frame. A development that some industry experts are now also predicting for aluminium frames. Anyone who took a look around the world's most important bicycle trade fair, Eurobike, at the end of August could not fail to notice that fewer and fewer - and almost only inexpensive - racing bikes with light alloy frames are being offered.

The PDF with the complete test report can be found below as a PDF download.

Competitive prices for carbon racers

One of the reasons for this is that racing bikes with comparably good carbon frames are available for less and less money. A prominent example: a manufacturer such as Cube charges €1,299 for its current carbon bike Agree GTX Pro with a complete Shimano 105 groupset. A competitive price that would have been impossible just a few years ago.

For a long time, it was thought that a good quality carbon frame had to be significantly more expensive than a comparable aluminium frame. This was mainly due to the time-consuming and almost exclusively manual production process. In addition, carbon was considered a scarce material whose global market price was deliberately kept high by the few manufacturers. Road bike buyers therefore generally got more bike for their money if an aluminium frame formed the basis, as this left more for the equipment. At the end of the day, aluminium racers were therefore usually technically better than carbon models for the same total price. In the meantime, however, there are more and more carbon bikes with frames of comparable quality and similar features to the aluminium bikes, but which are hardly more expensive. More and more fibre manufacturers are entering the market, raw material costs are falling and - thanks to increased manufacturing expertise - the costs for mould construction are also falling. Furthermore, as enormous production capacities have been built up in the Far East - not only in China, but increasingly also in Vietnam and Cambodia - which make it possible to manufacture at ever lower prices, the prices for carbon frames are inevitably falling.

As a fan of the light and robust material aluminium, one can only watch this development more or less inactive. Technically, aluminium is considered to be largely exhausted. A few years ago, the introduction of alloys such as 6069, which Cannondale uses for its CAAD10 model, gave aluminium a final boost in development. Frame weights of between 1,200 and 1,300 grams in a medium size are now possible, but it will hardly be possible to go any lighter. Industry insider Volker Dohrmann, brand manager at Hamburg-based manufacturer Stevens, points out that even in Asia there are fewer and fewer frame manufacturers who can process such demanding alloys.

Arguments in favour of aluminium

Michael Kaiser, Head of Development at Koblenz-based manufacturer Canyon, takes a similar view: "Confidence in carbon as a frame material has increased, and the quality of even inexpensive carbon frames has recently risen significantly. This makes it increasingly difficult to find arguments for aluminium frames." According to Kaiser, the German road bike market is even lagging behind other markets in this development. "In Germany, purchasing behaviour is more rational. Here, buyers tend to look at what the best overall package of equipment and frame is for them." In other markets, such as southern Europe, customers often make more emotional decisions. Here, the choice is much more often in favour of carbon, even in the low-cost segment, reports Kaiser.

Even if the trend towards carbon frames is likely to continue: There is currently no reason to say goodbye to aluminium frames. Carbon models as radically calculated as the one from Cube are still the exception. Aluminium models can still maintain their price-performance advantage. And there are still manufacturers who believe that this will remain the case for a while yet. These include the US brand Cannondale, which heralded a small aluminium revival in 2010 with the aforementioned CAAD10.

In addition to the lower price, the well-known arguments still apply to aluminium frames. Weighing between 1,300 and 1,500 grams, the frames are generally very robust, which not only pleases frequent riders, but also all those who often transport their bike by car or plane. In addition, riders of aluminium frames hardly have to worry about insufficient riding stability. All eleven test bikes are at a very high level and are therefore recommended even for very heavy riders. Aluminium frames also remain an option for tall riders. Carbon frames are rarely offered in sizes over 60 centimetres. However, some aluminium frames, in this test the models from Canyon, Koga and Rose, are built up to frame sizes 65 or 66.

Incentive to buy Shimano 105

Road bikes up to €1,500 will receive a significant upgrade in the coming season thanks to the new 105 groupset from Shimano. The number three in the Japanese component manufacturer's hierarchy now offers the same functional features as the more expensive Dura-Ace and Ultegra combos, but at a significantly lower price. The difference between a 105 model and an Ultegra bike with the same features is between 300 and 400 euros, depending on the manufacturer's calculations. Functionally, however, there are no differences between Ultegra and 105, at least when new. The grips feel just as good in the hand, the shifting is just as precise and the brakes are just as powerful and sensitive. In addition, the 105 has a high-quality look and does not look like a bargain. For sharp calculators, this means If you want as much road bike for your money as possible, aluminium bikes with 105 equipment are still an obvious choice for the coming season. However, the emphasis is on "still".

The test results of these aluminium bikes with Shimano 105 in comparison can be found below as a PDF download:

- Cannondale CAAD10 105
- Canyon Endurace AL 6.0
- Contoura Quota Ace
- Corratec Corones 11
- Koga Kimera Road AL 105
- Radon R1 4.0
- Rose Pro SL-2000
- Specialised Allez Comp
- Stevens Stelvio
- Storck Visioner
- Votec VR Comp

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