Aluminium road bikes in the test: Eight current models up to 2500 euros in the check
Julian Schultz
· 15.09.2023
Short & sweet
They are considered robust, come with maintenance-friendly technology and are available for relatively little money: Racing bikes with aluminium frame.
Despite these advantages, models made of light metal are steadily on the decline. The biggest criticism in the midst of the carbon age is the higher weight.
On average, an aluminium frame weighs around 700 grams more than a carbon frame. Simple add-on parts mean that the complete weight of a modern aluminium road bike often exceeds nine kilos. The strongest argument in favour of wheels made of light metal is the price: none of them cost more than 2500 euros.
Aluminium road bikes on test
We are in the year 2023 AD. The entire racing bike market is occupied by carbon racing bikes. The entire market? No! Almost all the major manufacturers won't stop producing bikes with aluminium frames ... However, more than 20 years after the start of the great carbon wave and in view of the current dominance of bikes with carbon fibre frames, one central question remains: What is the technical status of the welded constructions made of the light metal - and can they compete with the increasingly cheaper carbon frames? We put eight current aluminium bikes between 1500 and 2500 euros to the test.
The comparison with the Gallic village in the comic series "Asterix", which fights back against the Roman occupying forces by any means necessary, may be somewhat exaggerated. But the dominance of carbon racers is hardly less overwhelming than the former supremacy of the Romans in today's France. Especially in the competition bike segment, carbon fibre dominates the portfolios.
If you are looking for a sporty aluminium road bike, there are only a few models left to consider. The vast majority of aluminium bikes - not only in our test - now come under the umbrella of marathon models. For a very important reason in the true sense of the word.
Standstill in aluminium frame construction
The days when aluminium frames set lightweight records tend to be over. However, spectacular models continue to emerge. The lightweight CAAD models from Cannondale, which could and can compete with carbon fibre rivals, are the most notable. However, investments are mainly made in the development of lightweight, aerodynamically optimised carbon fibre frames.
What's more, the "black gold" is now much cheaper to buy than it was in the early days of carbon frame construction. From an economic point of view alone, it was worthwhile for bicycle manufacturers to bring highly developed aluminium bikes onto the market until around ten years ago.
A look at our brand list shows the importance of aluminium models today, even for a manufacturer like Cannondale, which once earned the title of aluminium pioneer with outstanding creations. Or maybe not. The US brand was unable to fulfil our test request and could not supply the CAAD 13 as the latest addition to the series because the test fleet for the German market only consists of carbon bikes.
Positive outliers
The strong focus on carbon racing bikes, even in the mid-range (see graphic) ultimately led to a standstill in aluminium frame construction. Because aluminium increasingly only came into question for very inexpensive bikes, the tubes - also due to the technical change from rim brakes to disc brakes - tended to become thicker-walled and heavier, making frame weights of around 1200 grams rather rare today.
Over the past 15 years, we have measured an average of 1551 grams for the frame of aluminium road bikes, with complete bikes weighing around 8.9 kilos and rising. The weights of Stevens Vuelta and Co. (see below) will probably remain top values.
But of course there are positive outliers that are technically well made and come close to comparable carbon competitors. Trek in particular shows what is possible with the new Émonda. The disc frame of the ALR 5 weighs 1278 grams, only the chassis of the Cannondale CAAD 12 with the same frame size was a little lighter in our test history.
The Americans have achieved this record figure thanks in part to the so-called hydroforming process: the aluminium tubes are pressed into shape under high pressure and with the help of a liquid, which makes it possible to achieve thinner wall thicknesses and save weight.
Aluminium road bikes in the test - there is an exotic bike
The fact that there is still a discrepancy to the lightest aluminium complete bikes in the TOUR test is due to the comparatively simple equipment of current aluminium bikes. While manufacturers equipped their models with high-quality groupsets and carbon wheels during the heyday of aluminium frame construction and were thus able to achieve weights at the level of modern professional bikes, simple and heavy components are usually installed today. The Trek is the only candidate with disc brakes to remain under 9 kilograms, while the other six disc racers are on average around 700 grams heavier.
An "exotic" bike is the Stevens Aspin, which is the only bike in the test with rim brakes, weighs 8.1 kilograms thanks to these brakes and is by far the lightest bike. However, the Aspin does not come close to the best mark of their Vuelta model, which the Hamburg-based company sent into the TOUR test a good ten years ago with a sensational 6.3 kilograms, or to the Santana Stylus, whose Scandium aluminium frame can easily compete with current carbon bikes in terms of weight. Apart from Stevens, only Canyon still offers its Endurace with rim brakes.
The weight differences between the test bikes are in the details: the new Allez Sport from Specialized may have the second lightest disc frame after the Émonda, but the simple wheelset is up to 600 grams heavier than the competition. A counter-example is the Reveal AL, which Rose presented shortly before the editorial deadline as the successor to the popular Pro SL. At 1900 grams, the frame reaches the level of robust gravel bikes, but the wheels are surprisingly light. The Fuji SL-A also shows the differences in the fork, which, although it is made of carbon like all other test models, weighs up to 100 grams more.
High weight as a mortgage
The many red-coloured partial scores (see table below) in the total weight are unfortunately also noticeable outside the TOUR lab. With the exception of Stevens and Trek, the bikes are comparatively sluggish. You have to bear in mind that most of the models are designed as marathon bikes due to their frame geometry and, with the option of fitting tyres up to 35 millimetres wide, they also allow for detours onto rougher terrain.
However, we would have expected a little more riding dynamics from the racers for around € 2000. After all, carbon racers are also available in this price category, which are several hundred grams lighter and therefore more lively.
For more riding fun, it is advisable to invest in better wheels for almost all models. The Specialized in particular, the second cheapest road bike in the US manufacturer's otherwise rather high-priced range, would benefit from this. The Allez Sport, the Cube Attain and the Rose Reveal would all benefit from a change of tyres. The trio roll on cheap clincher tyres that are difficult to pull over the rim and offer little suspension.
Unclear supply of spare parts
Canyon's Endurace shows just how useful high-quality tyres are: the 32 mm Schwalbe tyres (and especially the carbon seat post) make the marathon bike from Koblenz the most comfortable bike in the test - and ultimately give it the top score in our comparison together with the Stevens. Another tuning tip is therefore obvious: simple round carbon seat posts are available for less than 100 euros.
Overall, the overall scores of the eight candidates are close to each other in tenths. Almost without exception, the robust frames are stable, with only the Specialized revealing weaknesses in the fork. Fans of the Bowden cable will be delighted with the mechanical Shimano groupsets: Tiagra, 105 and Ultegra work flawlessly, are easy to maintain and differ mainly in weight and gear range from more expensive electric versions.
However, some manufacturers use cheap individual parts such as simple stainless steel discs, which decelerate somewhat less powerfully. The supply of spare parts is unclear for the coming years, as the eleven-speed versions of 105 and Ultegra are among the discontinued models in the Japanese component manufacturer's range.
The Tiagra could also disappear from the market in the future and become part of Shimano's new ecosystem called CUES (Create Unique Experiences). The new product line brings together various individual components that can be combined with each other and are low-wear. The standard has already arrived in the mountain bike sector, among others.
No chance against carbon?
To summarise, the bikes tested represent an affordable alternative for price-conscious cyclists. With mounts for mudguards, some models are also suitable as training or winter bikes or, thanks to their indestructible construction, as a promising basis for self-assembly. However, there is one thing that the aluminium racers in the test do not manage to do: fight back against the carbon bike superiority by all means.
Aluminium road bikes in the test - the results at a glance
Aluminium road bikes in the test - the individual ratings of the bikes
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Cube Attain HPA SLX
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Fuji SL-A 1.3
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Canyon Endurace 7
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Radon R1 Disc Ultegra
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Rose Reveal AL Ultegra
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Specialized Allez Sport
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Stevens Aspin
- Aluminium road bikes in the TOUR test: The Trek Emonda ALR 5
The lightest complete aluminium wheels
It's been a few years since record-breaking lightweight aluminium road bikes came onto the market. A look at the TOUR test archive.
6300 grams | Stevens Vuelta
Lighter than the UCI allows: Stevens combined a lightweight frame (1185 grams) with high-quality components. Tribute to lightweight construction: The Vuelta showed deficits in riding stability.
7530 grams | Cannondale Caad 12 Disc
A racing bike with Shimano's Dura-Ace components and carbon wheels for 4000 euros? Cannondale once made this possible with the CAAD 12. Still the lightest complete aluminium bike with disc brakes today.
The lightest aluminium frames
1104 grams | Santana Stylus
Too much lightweight construction is not good either - this was the realisation with the Stylus from tandem specialist Santana. The thin-walled aluminium tubes weakened the riding stability of the racer.
1231 grams | Cannondale Caad 12 Disc
Honour to whom honour is due: In addition to the lightest complete disc bike, Cannondale also has the lightest disc frame: At 1,231 grams, the chassis of the CAAD 12 hung on the TOUR scales.
Julian Schultz
Editor
