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.

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

Size XS S M L XL Weight 10.55 kg

Amazing head badge 50 mm wide 650B tires Can also accommodate up to 700 x 45C tires Can accommodate a front luggage rack

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.

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.

Curve Kevin of Steel III

Size: XS S M L XL Weight: 10.55 kg Price: € 5,500

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.

You can find out more about at curvecycling.com.au

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! ↩

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Tobias Hörsch Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker

Become a GRAN FONDO supporter and let’s shape the bike scene together and make GRAN FONDO even better! Are you with us? Become a supporter now!