Kinesis KR510 SPF frame +fork

If you're looking for a new race steed that won't leave you with moths in your pockets, you could do a lot worse than Kinesis' new Alu/Carbon road platform, the KR510. There's plenty of good technology crammed in, and Kinesis' reputation of producing high quality frames at a decent price looks to be safe with this one.

The KR510 is built from 7005 aluminium alloy using SPF techniques. Que? SPF is Superplastic Forming technology and it’s used to shape the top tube, down tube and seat tube. Unlike hydroforming, where high-pressure hydraulic fluid is used to mould the metal, SPF uses pressurized gas. Kinesis reckon this allows them to produce more complex and lighter tubing.

There’s certainly a whole lot of tube shaping on display here. The top tube is a… crikey, it’s hard to describe. It’s almost triangular in cross-section except that the top face is actually three different faces and the other two sides are curved. Not at all triangular really, then. It tapers considerably as it slopes downward towards the seat tube junction.

The down tube has a teardrop profile up front but it morphs into a triangle (really this time) by the time it reaches the bottom bracket, while the seat tube, though mostly round, extends backwards through its mid-section to curve around the rear wheel in a semi-aero kind of a way. Out back you get wishbone carbon fibre seatstays that plug in just behind the seat tube and replaceable dropouts to reduce the chances of a drivetrain mishap ruining your entire frame. The welds are pretty smooth and the painted finish is neat too.

There’s nothing too strange about the geometry. Our large 56cm model (measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube) came with a 57cm effective top tube, a 17cm head tube and 72.75°/73° frame angles.

The fork is Kinesis’ new RC05 which comes with deep-section carbon legs, an aluminium steerer and machined dropouts, while a Cane Creek-manufactured headset and an alloy seat clamp complete the package.

You can build up the KR510 frame however you like, but ours came with components mostly from Kinesis distributors Upgrade: Reynolds Solitude wheels and Vittoria tyres, Oval bar and stem, TRP brakes. The gearing is provided by Campagnolo’s Centaur groupset.

The first thing you notice about the KR510 is the weight. The complete bike (without pedals) hits the scales at 7.68kg – or 16.9lb in old money. The frameset comes in at around 1.5kg (3.3lb). That’s seriously impressive for a bike of this price. And if you wanted to reduce the all-up grammage some more, you could easily spec lighter kit; for example, the deep Reynolds Solitude rims are built to be aerodynamic more than featherweight.

Happily, the light weight doesn’t come at the expense of frame stiffness, and this is a bike that jumps into life when you climb aboard and bang out the power. There’s minimal flex through the centre section even when you’re riding out of the saddle – no noticeable twisting here. And that lack of weight is a real advantage when you hit the hills, helping to keep your climbing that little bit livelier.

The fork performs well too. The legs are skinny enough to really cut through the air but they’re taut enough to stay straight when you throw the bike around tight downhill bends and they behave when you slam on the brakes. We like.

The Kinesis is a winner in terms of comfort too. Most people will get on fine with the mid-height front end and a bunch of headset spacers will offer plenty of scope for adjustment. There’s enough twang in the frame and forks to smooth out uneven road surfaces without you getting too jolted and jarred, helping you stay fatigue-free during long rides. A comfy perch like our Fizik Arione is obviously good news there too.

Do the carbon fibre seatstays bring much to the party? Probably not. We’ve never thought they add much in terms of ride quality. But, hey, they look cool and that’s worth something.

Verdict

Lightweight performance at a very reasonable price. The KR510 is a very light frame for the money and could easily be the basis of a 16lb race bike with the right kit. For £649 it's a definite contender for your cash,