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Kinesis Aithein Disc

Kinesis Aithein Disc unveiled

A brand new disc race bike (that you can't race) added to UK company’s range
by David Arthur @davearthur
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 17:09
5

​British brand Kinesis UK has been increasing its quota of disc-equipped road bikes in the past year, and it has snuck another new one onto its slick new website: the Aithein Disc.

The Aithein, launched a couple of years ago, has a claimed weight of just 1,041g. That makes it one of the lightest aluminium frames you can buy, and very nearly as light as some jolly expensive carbon fibre frames.

- 11 of the best 2016 aluminium road bikes

Kinesis Aithein Disc 3.jpg

Building on that success, and with increasing demand for disc brakes on race bikes, Kinesis has unleashed the Aithein Disc. Even though such bikes can’t actually be raced, there are cyclists still wanting the performance and fit of a race bike, but with the benefits disc brakes.

- Kinesis Aithein - First ride

The new Aithein Disc has a claimed 1,300g frame weight (for a 53cm), so a bit of a weight increase on account of the addition of the disc caliper mounts, and a likely beefing up of some of the tubing in key areas. The new frame also accepts up to 28mm tyres as well.

Kinesis Aithein Disc 3.jpg

Kinesis also says it’s has “tuned” the geometry to make it more stable. A 56cm frame has a 1005mm wheelbase, 68mm bottom bracket drop, 72-degree head angle, 550mm top tube and 405mm chainstays.

- Kinesis 2016: Racelight GF_Ti Disc, 4S Disc and CX Race launched at the Cycle Show

A cold forged rear disc mount accepts the new flat mount caliper design, and an adapter for post mount brakes and 160mm rotors is provided. It has developed a new fork with a full carbon fibre design with internal hose routing and a claimed weight of 450g.

Kinesis Aithein Disc 2.jpg

The gears cables are now internally routed (they’re external on the regular Aithein) and even the rear brake is concealed within the frame. It’s Di2 ready as well, as is required of most top-end frames these days.

Like the regular Aithein, the new version has a 31.6mm seatpost and quick releases at both axles. The rear wheel spacing is 135mm and the bottom bracket is a BSA threaded 68mm type.

- 2016's hottest disc-equipped road bikes

Kinesis is offering the new frame in five sizes (47-59cm) and two colours anodised black and metallic blue.

Kinesis Aithein Disc 1.jpg

The Aithein is available from 5th November and costs £749.99 for the frameset. We’ll get more details and a closer look at this new bike soon.

More at the company's shiny new website www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/Catalogue/Models/Racelight/Aithein-Disc

Kinesis UK
Kinesis
aithein disc
Aithein
disc brakes
David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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5 comments

Avatar
joemmo | 9 years ago
0 likes

I like the look of it but at only 200g heavier than the cheaper, sturdier and more versatile 4s disc frame it seems a bit niche.

Avatar
MamilMan | 9 years ago
0 likes

Seriously hope this isn't the finished article.

It still has the top tube lugs for a normal rear brake.

The front fork appears to be for a normal mount caliper and not flat-mount. Why have one standard on the front and another on the rear.

 

Finally. Black forks? That to me just screams they can't be bothered to finish the bike.

I'm in the market for a disc frame next year and this would have been on my list - hopefully production will see it finished off right.

Avatar
themuffle replied to MamilMan | 9 years ago
0 likes

MamilMan wrote:

Seriously hope this isn't the finished article.

It still has the top tube lugs for a normal rear brake.

The front fork appears to be for a normal mount caliper and not flat-mount. Why have one standard on the front and another on the rear.

Finally. Black forks? That to me just screams they can't be bothered to finish the bike.

I'm in the market for a disc frame next year and this would have been on my list - hopefully production will see it finished off right.

Spot on Sir ! It needs flat mount (like their Ti frame) painted forks and remove the guides for a rear caliper brake. Also why does it have a rear brake bridge? I also dont think the cable inserts are very tidy on the down tube, could they not line up the same. Bicycle designers need to look at the Rose Xeon CDX for an example of a neat and tidy bike. One more thing - why the 31.6mm seat post when everyone else seems to be going back to 27.2mm? I want to buy from a British company but they need to up their game. Maybe I'll wait until next years version.......

Avatar
matthewn5 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Interesting that compared to the non-disc Athlein, they've slackened the steerer angle and lengthened the wheelbase. Suggests that they see the disc riders as more chilled out and less racey.

Avatar
Dr_Lex | 9 years ago
0 likes

Shame that the colour shown (orange metallic) is a pre-production sample.

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