The LOOK 675 is one of the most innovative – and eye-catching – bikes on the market.
The 675 was initially unveiled in Liege ahead of the 2012 Tour de France. We were there to see it – and now one has arrived at RoadCyclingUK HQ for review.
LOOK have never been afraid of innovation, be it the advent of the first clipless pedal system in 1984 or, 28 years later, the 675, which has a unique stem which sits flush with the toptube. The 675 is LOOK’s take on a sportive bike – albeit one which sits at the upper end of the market – thanks to a design which, according to LOOK, marries stiffness and comfort.
‘Integrated efficiency’ is the LOOK 675’s strapline and the integrated A-Stem stem is at the heart of the bike. This is the first time a stem has been integrated with the frame on a road bike and it’s a striking design – your eye is immediately drawn to it. LOOK say that integrating the stem makes for a more responsive ride as the steering is more direct, and the 3D forged and machined aluminium stem itself stiffer.
Adjustment is a key concern, but the A-Stem allows for -15 and +15 degrees of height adjustment, while the stem is available in lengths from 80mm to 120mm.
As for the frame itself, comfort is a key consideration and the 675 utilises LOOK’s Dual Comfort and Stiffness Concept, whereby tube sections are flattened without reducing their diameter to, according to the French manufacturer, improve both lateral rigidity and vertical flexibility, that means it should be comfortable without sacrificing stiffness. We’ll find out.
Otherwise, the 86.5mm PressFit bottom bracket promises plenty of power transfer, while the internal cable routing has interchangeable passages to accommodate both mechanical and electronic groupsets. Cables exit neatly from beneath the bottom bracket, while the Di2 battery is strapped to the underside of the downtube. The seatpost clamp is also neatly integrated with a frame which isn’t short on attention to detail.
As for geometry, despite its name, which should place it directly beneath the 695, the 675 sits between the 566 and 586 models in LOOK’s range. That means the geometry is less racy when compared with the 695 (which won RoadCyclingUK Bike of the Year in 2012), with a shorter and higher position as a result.
St. Albans-based distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure handle LOOK’s operations on these shores and the 675 is available through UK retailers in one build: Cofidis team colours with a Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels, for £3,799. It’s also available as a frame and stem kit for £2,399
Our machine came direct from France and is dressed in an electronic Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset (in its compact guise, another nod to the 675’s position as a sportive bike) with Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLE wheels, Mavic Yksion Pro GripLink tyres, Fizik Ardea saddle and aluminium 3T Ergonova Pro handlebar for €5,689. LOOK can also build it up with Shimano Dura-Ace (mechanic and Di2) and SRAM Red, with a number of wheel options. See the LOOK website for details.
As for the bike’s aesthetics? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but our verdict – stunning (although a quick straw poll on RCUK’s Facebook page revealed the 675’s futuristic look is not for everyone). A black, naked carbon finish, black-on-black decals and flashes of yellow throughout, not to mention the yellow Jagwire cable outers. The LOOK 675 looks undeniably fast, time for us to find out if it proves so on the road.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Price: €5,689 (as pictured), £3,799 with mechanical Shimano Ultegra and Mavic Aksium wheels, £2,399 for the frame and stem
Website: LOOK
UK distributor: Fisher Outdoor
