We saw two German super bikes at Core – the Storck Aernario Signature Edition and this, the Lightweight Urgestalt.

Lightweight are best known for the super-light – and super-expensive – carbon fibre wheels and the Urgestalt, they say, is designed to work in balance with their – ‘Frame My Wheels’ is printed on the toptube.

While all Lightweight wheels are made in Germany, the Urgestalt is manufactured in Taiwan, Lightweight’s David Bergmann told RoadCyclingUK. The reason, he says, is that while Lightweight are experts in the manufacture of high-end, carbon fibre wheels, the know-how in frame production is in the Far East, and manufacturing the Urgestalt in Germany would double its current £3,899 price tag.

Quality control remains at the top of Lightweight’s list of priorities, however, and, once a batch Urgestalt frames are ready to ship, they send three engineers to Taiwan to perform destructive tests. They also pick one frame out of production, saw it in half, and check the carbon fibre layup is as requested. Once back in Germany, every frame goes through five quality assurance tests.

The UCI-approved frame has a tapered 1-1/8″ to 11/2″ headtube, a PressFit bottom bracket and clearance for 25mm tyres. The geometry is described as “sporty”, with a 56cm frame having a relatively low 15.5cm headtube and a compact 989mm wheelbase.

Claimed weight for a 54cm frameset (frame, fork, seatpost and headset) is 1,340g, or just 790g for the frame in isolation. That ensures the Urgestalt is among the lightest frames in the world.

While the bike we saw at Core was built up with Shimano Ultegra Di2, Bergmann says the Urgestalt specced with SRAM Red, Lightweight Obermayer wheels, and an Ax Lightweight saddle, handlebar and stem will weight just 5.5kg.

Website: Lightweight