"That's a fancy bike!" Our test rider heard these and similar reactions again and again during his rides on the Celes. The classic frame geometry and the shimmering metal obviously seem to resonate in the middle of the carbon age. In the product range of Pilot, a bike manufacturer from the suburbs of Eindhoven, the Celes takes its place as a race-orientated bike. Another road model is the Veturi, which is suitable for long distances. Seiren also has a spectacular concept from the 3D printer in the starting blocks.
The competitive nature of the Celes, which Pilot was only able to test after the Velofollies bike show at the end of January, is emphasised above all by its weight. At just over eight kilograms, the Pilot is no lightweight and a few weight classes away from high-quality carbon racers. Comparison with the competition with titanium frames but the lightest bike. The frameset (titanium frame: 1743 grams, carbon fork: 449 grams) is slightly lighter than the Moots Vamoots RCSwhich was also convincing in this discipline and comes close to well-made aluminium frames.
Lightweight body with carbon parts
High-quality carbon fibre add-on parts further reduce the weight of the Celes: the cockpit, wheels and seat post are all in-house developments and, like the stiff and superbly finished frameset, are produced in Asia. Shimano's Dura-Ace rounds off the extremely lightweight construction. This results in impressive acceleration, and the short wheelbase means that corners can be taken relatively directly. The riding position is orientated towards sporty marathon bikes.
Although the Pilot is "only" fitted with 28 millimetre tyres - the competition sent road models with 32 millimetres and more to the TOUR test - the Celes has very good suspension. In addition to the tubeless tyres from Vredestein, the comfortable carbon seatpost in the standard 27.2 mm size is responsible for this. The handlebar/stem unit, on the other hand, absorbs impacts relatively unfiltered. Wider tyres would also make the front more compliant; a maximum of 32 millimetres is possible.
The Dutch company offers the Celes as a complete bike (from 7750 euros) or frame set (from 2850 euros), with the latter option only including the titanium frame as standard. For an additional 4000 euros, the Pilot is also available with a customised frame. For our build, a four-figure sum is just about due. A price level that lighter carbon competition bikes with comparable equipment also reach - but which exude less elegance.
Pilot Celes at a glance
- Price: 9500 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.2 kilos
- Frame sizes: 51, 54, 57, 60
- TOUR overall grade: 2,2
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 490/540/151 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 569/371 millimetres/1.53
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 628/550 millimetres/1.14
- Wheelbase/caster: 985/63 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit (1.0): Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.)
- Brakes (1.0): Shimano Dura-Ace (160/160 mm)
- Tyres (2.0): Vredestein Superpasso TLR 28 mm (eff.: 30 mm)
- Impellers: OHR Cycling R45
- Impeller weights: 1320/1709 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Weight (3.3): 8220 grammes
- Driving stability (1.3): 8.67 N/mm
- Rear comfort (2.0): 173 N/mm
- Comfort front (3.0): 104 N/mm
- Cadence/bottom bracket stiffness (2.0): 55 N/mm
Julian Schultz
Editor
