Latching on to the current trend for long distance events and sportives, Kinesis adds the Gran Fondo model to its range complete with a more relaxed geometry and notably less aggressive position than a pure racing machine.
Kinesis builds the Gran Fondo with butted Easton GX2 scandium tubing complete with flared head and down tubes for extra front end rigidity and slender carbon seat stays for more long distance comfort. A bit of extra clearance leaves room for a set of full mudguards but still with standard brake callipers, albeit at the blocks’ maximum drop. Double eyelets at the rear dropouts and braze-ons at the top of the seat stays also make for easy installation of a rear rack.
The Gran Fondo
Kinesis’ new KR510 frame sits roughly in the middle of its road range but nonetheless features a revolutionary new manufacturing method to form its heavily sculpted tubes. Unlike hydroforming whereby a pressurised fluid is used to expand the tube walls out against a mould, the Kinesis SPF process uses pressurized gas. Kinesis claims the swap allows for more radical moulds and more predictable wall thicknesses, thus yielding a lighter and stronger tube.
The new Kinesis KR510 is a mid-range aluminium race frame
Also new for 2009 are two women’s-specific models: the KR210 road frame and XC210 mountain bike chassis. In keeping with current industry trends, both naturally come with specific geometry but also some subtle flowery details in their paint schemes. Another frame to get a new look is Kinesis’ range topping KR810, which now comes in white as well as bare carbon.
Kinesis' flagship KR810 frame is now also available in white