The Curve Kevin of Steel III is one of two steel bikes in the test field. In addition to Columbus tubing, the gravel bike from the Australian brand relies on voluminous 650B Pirelli tires and an electronic 1×11 drivetrain from Shimano. The motto is Race, Ride, Seek – our test reveals whether it works for the Curve.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
The Curve Kevin is the local in this group test – at least in part. While Curve Bikes hail from faraway Australia, our test bike was built in Girona, in the legendary bike shop The Service Course, where Curve is sold. So the guys and gals there should know what works on the test tracks around Girona. The workmanship of the Columbus steel tubes is good, without being on the same masterful level as the Stelbel.
Our test bike, which weighs a whopping 10.55 kg in size L and costs roughly € 5,500 in this setup, comes with a Shimano GRX RX810 Di2 electronic drivetrain. The bike has to be modified for use with Di2 gears because the predominantly external cable routing is incompatible with them as standard. With a gear ratio combining a 40 t chainring and 11–46 t cassette, most eventualities are well catered for. There is even a little more margin for steep ramps than on the test bikes with SRAM XPLR groupsets. Only when things get fast does the Curve lack a higher gear.
The cables of the Curve run completely externally, except for a small stretch in the fork. This is an advantage for servicing, but, especially for gravel, a lot of dirt will quickly collect here.
The workmanship of the Curve Kevin is very good. Even at the bottom bracket, where many welds meet, everything looks clean.
The head badge on the Curve Kevin is unmatched and definitely one of the coolest in the bike industry.
Curve Kevin of Steel III
€ 5,500
Specifications
Seatpost PRO Vibe
Brakes Shimano GRX BR-RX810 160/140 mm
Drivetrain Shimano GRX RX815 Di2 1x11
Stem PRO PLT 80 mm
Handlebar PRO Vibe 420 mm
Wheelset ENVE G27
Tires Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 650 x 50B
Technical Data
Size XS S M L XL
Weight 10.55 kg
Specific Features
Amazing head badge
50 mm wide 650B tires
Can also accommodate up to 700 x 45C tires
Can accommodate a front luggage rack
The hoods of the Shimano GRX Di2 derailleur are very long and offer great ergonomics. Even people with wide fingers can get 3 fingers behind the brake lever.
Carrier, mudguard, light – the Curve Kevin isn’t stingy with mounting points or options. There are also three bosses on each leg of the fork.
The Curve Kevin is the only bike on which we let the 140 mm rear brake disc slide. Due to its intended use, which isn’t aimed at top speed or absolute performance but playful handling, they are sufficient.
The name says it all – with the Curve Kevin of Steel III, you don’t need to worry about your reputation and you can shoot across the trails in whatever way you please.
The tires are Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M in 650x50B, which, with their lugged tread and larger size, fit the playful character of the Curve Kevin well. The tires are mounted on ENVE G27 Gravel wheels. They are light and have a generous 27 mm inner width, supporting the voluminous tires well and providing an excellent basis for rough gravel use.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 500 mm | 530 mm | 560 mm | 580 mm | 595 mm |
| Top tube | 542 mm | 555 mm | 565 mm | 575 mm | 590 mm |
| Head tube | 115 mm | 125 mm | 136 mm | 150 mm | 170 mm |
| Head angle | 71.0° | 71.5° | 71.5° | 72.0° | 72.0° |
| Seat angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Chainstays | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm |
| BB Drop | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 68 mm | 68 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,018 mm | 1,027 mm | 1,037 mm | 1,043 mm | 1,059 mm |
| Reach | 372 mm | 381 mm | 388 mm | 394 mm | 403 mm |
| Stack | 554 mm | 565 mm | 575 mm | 591 mm | 608 mm |
Pants Albion Three Season Tights | Shoes Giro Sector
For the handlebars, the Service Course crew uses a 420 mm wide PRO Vibe aluminium handlebar. This solid part fits the image of the Curve well due to its compactness, but, unfortunately, only fits visually. The width and the lack of flare don’t suit the character of the bike nor its gravel use.
With the comparatively narrow handlebars, a good portion of control and safety is lost. Otherwise, the bike feels indestructible thanks to its stable construction, offers good grip in corners and when braking, and its good-natured handling ensures a high level of confidence. With this confidence in mind, you can then also explore the limits of its playful handling. The Curve Kevin is an agile bike but doesn’t offer the best precision due to its bulky 650B tyres. On the other hand, it shines with agility, steers willingly and directly, and is particularly fond of tight corners and frequent changes of direction. Despite being one of the most playful bikes in the entire test field, its smooth ride and straight-line stability at higher speeds is more than adequate. Only when riding slowly do you need to maintain a steady hand on the bars.
When it comes to speed, the Curve Kevin isn’t amongst the frontrunners. On the one hand, this is due to the bike’s character, which prefers technical and playful routes. On the other hand, it is also due to its rather ponderous acceleration, which puts it in the lower third of the test field. The bike’s high weight and the bulky Pirelli tires contribute to this. Despite their aggressive profile, these have an almost smooth centre tread and thus provide decent efficiency. Nevertheless, high speed is not the Curve’s forte. If the bike isn’t allowed to play in the corners, it prefers to roll relaxed at medium speeds.
Tuning tip: wider, flared handlebar for more control
The tires also play an important role in the comfort of the Curve. Due to their large volume, together with the good damping of the frame, they offer a good level of comfort that absorbs vibrations and small impacts very well and also noticeably defuses coarser impacts. With such voluminous tires, the right air pressure becomes all the more important. If the air pressure is too low, the bike quickly becomes spongy. If you ride with too much air pressure, comfort quickly drops. With optimally adjusted tires, the Curve offers sufficient comfort and fun on gravel tracks.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Curve Kevin GRX Di2 conclusion
The Curve Kevin is a playful and fun bike that is particularly enjoyable on flow trails or winding gravel and forest tracks, where it gets to climb and descend regularly. Here, it convinces with its lively handling and the right tire choice for sufficient comfort and control. If you’re looking for high-speed graveller or like to do sporty all-road riding, you should look at the faster bikes in the group test. Overall, the Curve’s range of applications is too narrow to win the test.
Tops
- wide inside width of rims
- playful character
- looks that are reminiscent of old-school mountain bikes
Flops
- handlebars are too narrow and without flare
- weight makes for ponderous acceleration
You can find out more about at curvecycling.com.au
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
All bikes on review: 3T Exploro Ultra (Click for review) | BMC URS LT ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE (Click for review) | Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension (Click for review) | Cervélo Áspero GRX Di2 (Click for review) | CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT (Click for review) | Curve Kevin of Steel III | Falkenjagd Aristos R (Click for review) | Felt Breed 20 (Click for review) | FOCUS ATLAS 6.8 (Click for review) | GIANT Revolt Advanced 0 (Click for review) | OPEN WI.DE. (Click for review) | Ridley Kanzo Fast (Click for review) | ROSE BACKROAD EKAR LTD (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict Gravel Tuned (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Crux (Click for review) | Stelbel Nina XCr (Click for review) | Storck GRIX.2 Platinum (Click for review) | Wilier Rave SLR (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker
