When someone suggested € 15,000 for 7,150 g of pure Heroin, we were certainly game and duly sat twiddling our thumbs right until the moment when the Heroïn H1 dropped into our office for a world exclusive test ride. The priciest bike on test, true to its name the Heroïn dishes up soaring highs and unexpected slumping lows.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike for Mallorca?
Imaginé en France, fabriqué en Italie, Heroïn is the latest boutique French bike brand to join the road biking ranks after a launch in 2016 by the high-flying French duo consisting of engineer Rémi Chenu and entrepreneur and big hitter Marc Simoncini. With a Parisian showroom, select retailers in France and their own online shop, Heroïn have set their sights on the global scene.
As soon as the bike dropped into the office in its gigantic cardboard box, we were enrapt. One of just 349 produced, the H1 Limited Edition arrived so ready-to-ride that we didn’t even have to screw on the Dura-Ace pedals.
At 7.15 kg, the featherweight Heroïn H1 wins plaudits with its balanced riding position and sublime comfort that go hand in hand with its agility and light-footedness. The bars and stem are a masterclass in front end design, overshadowing even Canyon’s H36 Aerocockpit. The Dura-Ace rim brakes perform brilliantly on the in-house carbon rims, providing easy-to-modulate and controlled braking. The H1 handles masterfully, which is testament to the homework that the team at Heroïn have invested in this feat of engineering.
However, fitting the bike wasn’t as easy as expected due to the overly complex seat clamp that’s integrated in the toptube, although saddle height is fortunately a one-off act. The bars, with their premium yet still pre-production set-up, displayed a few teething troubles that Heroïn have assured us – through detailed diagrams and explanations – will be alleviated when the bike goes to production.
The Heroïn H1 Limited Edition in detail
Drivetrain Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Rims/Hubs Project Heroïne/Tune
Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace
Tires Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance Black Limited Edition, 700x25C
Weight 7.15 kg
Price € 14,900
More Info heroin-bikes.com
Heroïn H1
Conclusion
Beyond just a spectacular design, showing all the right proportions and a joy to take to the tarmac, the sinfully expensive Heroïn H1 is a veritable dream bike. However, given the high cost, it’s likely to remain a dream for most. We just hope the French brand succeed in sorting out the teething problems with the bars and seatpost clamp for this subtly extravagant steed.
Strengths
+ Comfortable, brilliant to ride, speedy, handles brilliantly
+ Design
+ Distinctive look
Weaknesses
– Seatpost clamp
– Price ?
– Pre-production cockpit
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike for Mallorca?
All bikes in test: BMC Teammachine SLR01 | Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod Ultegra Di2 Disc | Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2 | Cervélo S3 Disc Ultegra Di2 | Festka Spectre Space Odyssey Edition | Giant TCR Advanced Pro Disc | Lapierre Xelius SL 700 Ultimate | Rose X-Lite CDX 8800 | Standert. Kreissäge | Stelbel Antenore | Trek Madone 9.5 Ultegra Di2
This article belongs to the GRAN FONDO Issue #004. For the full interactive experience we recommend reading it in our magazine app for iPhone & iPad – it’s awesome – and free!
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Words: Robin Schmitt, Manuel Buck, Benjamin Topf Photos: Julian Mittelstädt, Valentin Rühl
