Spotted on the Koga stand at Eurobike, the A-Limited is the latest in a line of lightweight, aluminium frames to appear on RoadCyclingUK.
“Not all top racing bikes are made from carbon,” say Koga of the A-Limited – and we’re inclined to agree.
It’s a drum we’ve been banging some time, not just at the top of the market, where we’ve already shown you high-end aluminium machines from De Rosa, BMC and Specialized, but also at the opposite end of the spectrum following reviews of the Cube Peloton Race and Kinesis Racelight TK3. Aluminium can be a viable alternative to carbon fibre at both ends of the market.
The A-Limited is made from TIG-welded 6069 aluminium, an alloy that combines low weight with high strength and stiffness, according to Koga. Its smooth welds make for a stunning finish, not least in the anodized blue pictured. Frame features include a PressFit bottom bracket, super-skinny seatstays design to take the edge of rough roads and well-proportioned seatstays, while the A-Limited comes with a rider weight limit of 110kg.
The frame has a claimed weight of 1,130g – comparable with many carbon fibre frames and with its aluminium rivals. Both the new Kinesis Aithein, currently on test at RCUK, and the long-standing Cannondale CAAD10 have similar claimed weights.
While the machine we saw at Eurobike was equipped with Campagnolo Chorus and Edco Oseous wheels, the A-Limited is part of Koga’s Signature collection which allows customers to order their dream machine using an online bike builder.
We’ve had some fun with it and built a bike with SRAM Red and Mavic Ksyrium SLR wheels for a claimed weight of 6.2kg and a 4,478 euro price tag. Opt for a more affordable build, with Shimano Ultegra and matching wheels, and the price drops to 2,398 euros and the weight rises to 7.3kg.
All in all, there are three Shimano groups (Dura-Ace, Ultegra and Shimano 105) and two SRAM groups (Red and Force) to choose from, along with six wheelsets and four tyre options, as well as an array of finishing kit.
Website: Koga Signature
