The first test bike of our sportive preview month has arrived: the Kinesis Racelight Granfondo Ti.
Constructed from Ti3AL/2.5V-grade titanium, and with a geometry suited to the comfort-over-speed demands of a cyclo-sportive, this is a handsome beast indeed. Naked titanium is a finish that whispers “class”, perhaps in the voice of Joanna Lumley. Elegant details like the engraved head tube, titanium seat clamp, and uniformly neat welds suggest a construction to match the pedigree of the material. Time will tell. The most striking features are the curved seat stays but the general appearance is of a machine that doesn’t do “brash”. The gently shaped forks, for example (Kinesis’ in-house DC21), lack the extravagant curvature of, say, Pinarello’s, but are entirely in-keeping with the GF Ti’s understated beauty.
The GF Ti is sold as a frame and fork set, with supplied seat post, seat clamp, and integrated headset. Our test machine arrived with a no corners cut specification from Campagnolo, FSA, Reynolds, and TRP. The Reynolds Assault carbon clinchers are 32mm deep, placing them squarely into a category of every day use from which deeper (though admittedly more aerodynamic) rims might be excluded. An FSA SLK cockpit adds another dose of weight saving, absorbent carbon to the front end, while the Kinesis micro adjust seat post promises something similar at the rear. Campag Athena levers and mechs provide the shifting, and the brakes are from TRP. An FSA SLK carbon crank adds another dash of style and contributes to a low overall weight.
We’ll also be testing carbon offerings for the sportive market from Cannondale (the Synapse Apex) and Stevens (the Ventoux) this month, so check back regularly. A “first ride” review of the GF Ti will follow soon.
