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Short & sweet
Although the nine road bikes in the test are all equipped with Shimano's cheapest electric drivetrain, there are enormous price differences between the models.
Almost 2700 euros separate the cheapest from the most expensive bike. On average, the manufacturers charge just over 4000 euros for the carbon models. The times when a marathon bike was comparatively affordable are unfortunately over for the time being.
Incidentally, the price tags do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the quality. The split test victory also goes to the cheapest model, while two of the expensive endurance racers finish at the bottom of the table.
Road bikes with Shimano 105 Di2 on test
Brevet, granfondo or cycling marathon - you can call them whatever you like, but the "long things" have one thing in common: the length of the route, the metres in altitude and, not least, the experience of nature give them a magical appeal that cyclists can hardly resist. And if the equipment - and the form - are right ... Eureka! But what is the right equipment for the long distance? Just in time for the Start of the season for the most beautiful events we have tested nine current endurance road bikes that claim to be faithful companions for long rides.
All candidates are equipped with Shimano's 105 Di2. Like the top groupsets from the Japanese component giant, this now also shifts electronically and is ideally suited to a marathon bike thanks to its ergonomics, functionality and price. However, because the category has long been interpreted differently by the manufacturers, the models sometimes differ significantly, apart from the shifting technology.
Extreme price range
The first surprise comes even before the bikes roll into the TOUR lab. Not so long ago, it was still possible to roughly estimate the price of a road bike based on the groupset from the Shimano universe, but in 2023 this is hardly possible anymore. The price range of the test field extends from 2700 euros for the Canyon to 5400 euros for the Ridley; the Look 765 Optimum for 5390 euros is almost on a par.
Despite having identical groupsets, the two bikes from Belgium and France are twice as expensive as the marathon classic from Koblenz. Basso also puts a price tag on its Astra model that was only recently reserved for bikes with Shimano's Ultegra Di2. A Trek Domane SLR 6, which the Americans were unable to supply for the comparison test, is even priced at a fantastic 8,000 euros. A development that is as remarkable as it is unpleasant from the customer's point of view, which raises questions in view of the fact that the groupset alone is currently offered for around 1200 euros "street price". However, comparable models equipped with the Rival AXS component group from US manufacturer SRAM, which will be launched in 2021 - currently priced at around €900 on the road - are even more expensive.
Apart from that, the new ensemble of shifting and braking components is predestined to be fitted to an endurance bike. It is nominally the cheapest electric drivetrain in the Shimano portfolio, which means that complete bikes remain affordable in theory. Examples in the test field are Canyon and Cube.
In combination with fast carbon wheels, Storck also offers an attractive overall package on the tyres. In addition, the 105 with twelve sprockets offers the most important technologies of the more expensive Shimano groupsets. Shifting precision, weight, ergonomics and adjustment options leave hardly anything to be desired, which means that the gap to the 700 euro more expensive Ultegra, which is only 140 grams lighter, has narrowed considerably.
Easy ascents
Small compromises have to be made with the brakes, as there is no brake booster as with Ultegra and Dura-Ace and the levers have to be tightened more at high speeds. The combination options of crank and cassette are ideal for cycling marathons in mountainous terrain, as both a 1:1 ratio and a reduction ratio can be realised.
The test bikes all come with the 50/34 chainring combination on the compact crank and a cassette with twelve sprockets from 11 to 34 teeth, which is a good compromise for mountainous and flat terrain. It should be noted that the original 105 Hollowtech crank has hollow and therefore lighter crank arms; in order to save costs, some manufacturers switch to simpler versions. The Giant, for example, has a heavy version with solid crank arms.
Road bikes with Shimano 105 Di2 - well-deserved test victory
As with the prices, the test candidates also cover a wide range of characteristics that have long been typical of the marathon bike category. The classic virtues - high suspension comfort and an upright riding position - are best combined by the Canyon and Rose. Paired with a stiff and light frameset, the Endurace CF and Reveal Four deserve to win the test.
Storck is another mail-order company from Germany at the top, with the Fascenario.3 at the sporty end of the spectrum and benefiting from a remarkably low overall weight. Thanks to exclusive carbon wheels manufactured in-house, the Storck is more than a kilo lighter than all the other candidates, which weigh more than eight kilos - five even just touch the nine-kilo mark - and are therefore unfortunately quite heavy. You can feel the weight advantage in the saddle, especially on hilly terrain no other model can keep up.
The German mail-order companies Canyon, Rose and Storck put together harmonious overall packages on the bikes and thus outperform the partly more expensive competition. (Julian Schultz, Test & Technology Editor)
On the other hand, other candidates are more versatile, rolling on wider tyres ex works and thus allowing detours on gravel tracks or retrofitting thicker tyres and thus finally blurring the dividing line to gravel bikes. Mounting points for luggage and mudguards are also part of the standard repertoire on a modern endurance road bike.
The most extreme example is the Ridley, which has space for up to 38-millimetre tyres and can therefore be adapted to almost any surface. Because the comfortable Grifn, marketed by the Belgians as an all-road bike, falls a little short in terms of bottom bracket stiffness, it still has to rank behind the German test winner trio.
ConspicuousWith Basso and Look, the other two candidates for more than 5000 euros also have weaknesses. Despite carbon wheels and seat posts, the Astra and the 765 Optimum are among the heaviest and least comfortable road bikes. With slightly wider tyres, both could be adjusted to be a little more compliant, but you would have to spend a few extra euros.
Spoilt for choice
Concepts, prices, riding characteristics: The marathon road bikes in the test represent an exciting variety with different strengths and weaknesses. The following test reports serve as a guide to help you decide which candidate is best suited to your individual requirements and area of use. After all, the racer should not only be a faithful companion during the marathon, but also on the other 364 days.
Road bikes with Shimano 105 Di2 - The test bikes
>> Basso Astra
>> BH SL1 2.9
>> Canyon Endurace CF 7 Di2
>> Cube Agree C:62
>> Giant Defy Advanced 1
>> Look 765 Optimum
>> Ridley Grifn
>> Rose Reveal Four 105 Di2
>> Storck Fascenario.3 Comp 105 Di2
The results at a glance
How TOUR tests
TOUR tests all road bikes and most components in its own laboratory, which dates back to 1993. The measured values of many thousands of bikes of all categories form the backbone of the tests, which we are constantly developing further together with the Zedler Institute for Bicycle Technology and Safety.
Julian Schultz
Editor
