Andreas Kirschner has been offering titanium bikes under the Falkenjagd brand since 2007 and always tries to set new trends. The company from Ismaning near Munich likes to go down unusual paths and Kirschner also likes to combine the racing handlebars with a Rohloff hub gear or a bottom bracket gearbox. The current flagship model is called the Aristos R and stands out above all with its unusual, flowing shapes, as is usually the case with carbon frames. The upper part of the head tube is crossed by a striking edge, which is continued in the top tube; this is somewhat reminiscent of the Trek brand face.
Falconry Aristos R: component from the 3D printer
The crown of the titanium fork fits perfectly into a groove at the transition to the down tube. The striking design is only possible thanks to the use of components from the 3D printer: according to Kirschner, the head tube, fork crown, bottom bracket shell and dropouts are fused from fine titanium powder. This enables shapes and hollow bodies that would be impossible to produce using conventional welding and forging technology. The actual frame tubes are pushed onto the connected tube connectors and welded to the pressurised parts.
The tubes, moulded using hydroforming technology, echo the shape of the junctions - creating a frame set that looks as if it has been cast from a single mould thanks to the fully integrated cables. The workmanship is perfect, the weld seams are barely visible on the brushed surface. The frames are produced in China. In cooperation with the supplier, Kirschner is able to make many things possible, for example, eyelets for mudguards and pannier racks are on board, the Aristos R is also available as a gravel bike with 40 millimetre tyres and there is even a version with a 14-speed Rohloff hub gear.
Chic, but heavy
Although the construction with matching titanium fork is not the lightest, it is extremely stable and very stiff in the bottom bracket. The fact that our test bike won the title for the lightest bike with the Moots This is due to the extremely lightweight construction with many carbon parts and the exclusive Super Record wireless groupset from Campagnolo. The price is correspondingly high, with more than 12,000 euros being asked for the high-end bike shown here. The entry-level model with Shimano's 105 Di2 groupset is available for 7600 euros. The bikes can be customised with a number of different drivetrains, wheels and add-on parts and are sold via direct sales, the Bike24 online shop or five dealers.
Advantages and disadvantages of the titanium wheel
- Plus: Perfectly finished, stable ride, many options in the modular system
- Minus: Relatively heavy frame set, moderate comfort, expensive
The Falconry Aristos R Speedgravel
- TOUR overall grade: 2.4
- Price: 12,123 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.4 kilos
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Geometry
- Seat / top / head tube: 501 / 555 / 137 millimetres
- Stack / Reach / STR: 567 / 385 millimetres / 1.47
- Stack+ / Reach+ / STR+: 627 / 561 millimetres / 1.12
- Wheelbase/caster: 1005/61 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit (1.0): Campagnolo Super Record (2x12; 45/29, 10-29 t.)
- Brakes (1.0): Campagnolo Super Record (160/160 mm)
- Tyres (1.0): Schwalbe Pro One 32 mm (eff.: 30 mm)
- Impellers: Parapera Carbon 28/Tune Prince
- Impeller weights: 1226/1592 grams (front/rear)
Other titanium wheels in the test
Jens Klötzer
Editor
