The STEVENS Comet was a perfect example for hanseatic understatement, says TOUR in its current March 2016 edition. The top road bike model makes no use of visual extravaganza but rather excels with inner values: ”With around 900 grams (less than 2 lbs.) the frame is among the lightest carbon frames, its stiffness is outstanding, even its suspension is alright.” (The frame was weighed and measured in 56cm size; editor’s note: The Comet in Stealth Black, due to less paint, weighs only 795 grams (1lb, 12oz).

How the TOUR test is conducted
In its March 2016 edition Tour tested the STEVENS Comet as one of 15 classic competition-ready road bikes near Lake Garda in Northern Italy. They also sent the bikes to the wind tunnel and compared them to the aero race bikes from previous issues. Because besides classic high-end race bikes like the STEVENS Comet and endurance bikes like the STEVENS Ventoux, especially the market share of aero-oriented road bikes was growing. At least the professional peloton was using an increasing number of aero bikes.

In the wind tunnel the aero bikes, of course, had delivered a better performance throughout. That advantage is especially of use on straight, flat courses. But even in hilly terrain wind cheating properties can be significant. The choice of wheels alone - deep section rims instead of flatbed rims - can make a difference of up to a minute on a 100km (62mls) course with 2,000m (6562ft) of climbing, is what Tour has calculated on a simulated course.

Yet, the classic-look road bikes’ average weight in the test was about 500 grams lighter. The average weight of the bikes like the STEVENS Comet was around 6.5kg (14lbs 5oz) – which is around 300g (10.5oz) less than the legal race weight of 6.8kg determined by the UCI. Also the classics are less complicated technically because they do not require specially tailored technical solutions. This is what TOUR pointed out in their review of the Comet: ”Another great benefit is Stevens’ comprehensive toolbox; not many other manufacturers offer these many options.”

A Matter of Price
Outfitted with a complete Campagnolo Super Record the Comet sells for 5,499 Euros, which is the third-most inexpensive among shop sold bikes with about the same weight in a price range between 4,400 and 9,999 Euros.

If, when, would …
Tour about the choice of wheels: ”In case of the test sample a faster wheelset would have made sense.” The Campagnolo wheels were well-proven, solid and quite light but their low rim profile ”was not the strongest in cheating the wind”. So the rating could have been better than 2.2, because: ”There is nothing to complain about this bike that really rides well”, the editors said, who concluded their statement: ”Isn’t it all about what counts the most: the feeling that rider and machine become one single unit?”

Conclusion: Light and stable. Many modular options. Rather affordable.

The STEVENS Comet is available in the STEVENS Custom Program in many spec options with nine gruppos and ten wheelsets – also with aerodynamic deep section wheels like Mavic Cosmic Carbone Pro Exalith, Mavic Cosmic CXR 60C or DT Swiss RC 38 Spline C. Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 und 62 centimeters.