Curve Cycling, based out of Melbourne, Australia, has announced its latest gravel bike frameset – the CarboKev – made from a mix of titanium and carbon, with the carbon tubes bonded to 3D-printed titanium lugs.
Curve Cycling claims the use of titanium-lugged carbon tubes, in place the all-titanium tubes it commonly uses, results in lower weight and greater frame stiffness, along with long-distance comfort and precise handling.
The claimed weight of the CarboKev is 250g less than the brand’s all-titanium Big Kev gravel bike.
According to Jimmy Rostlund, Curve Cycling’s technical lead: “With CarboKev we iterated every lug profile, wall thickness and bond length. 3D-printed titanium lets us place material exactly where the stresses demand it; bonded carbon lets us tune the ride in ways a single material can’t.”
The CarboKev’s carbon down tube and chainstays are claimed to provide a stiff spine for power transfer and accurate steering. Meanwhile, the titanium top tube and skinny titanium seatstays are designed to provide vertical compliance to reduce fatigue.
Curve Cycling isn’t the only brand to have launched a carbon/titanium hybrid recently. UK-based J.Laverack has just announced its AM64 upgrade for a range of its bikes, which subs in a carbon seat tube in place of titanium to reduce weight and increase compliance.
Big tyre clearance and big price tag
The CarboKev frame can handle 29-inch tyres up to 2.2 inches (56mm) wide, dialling into gravel's hottest trend. It's designed to be paired with Curve’s Race 415i carbon fork and Race Carbon Walmer bars, which are yet to be launched individually and have a 400mm width.
The CarboKev is hand-built in Melbourne, with the carbon tubes sourced from New Zealand, while the titanium lugs and other parts are made in China.
Curve Cycling says bringing frame alignment and fabrication in-house is a major advance in its manufacturing capabilities, though.
With its small volume manufacturing, Curve Cycling says it lets purchasers choose their optimum sizing. Although it shows seven available sizes in its geometry chart, the frame can be custom-fitted to the rider, who can also choose options such as an integrated seatpost.
Curve Cycling CarboKev availability and pricing
The CarboKev can be purchased frameset-only or as a frameset package with bars, seatpost, and fork.
There’s a standard CarboKev Splatter Art colour, with a selection of colour options, plus custom paint options at an extra cost.
The full build is equipped with SRAM Red XPLR AXS, Curve G5T [G] Carbon gravel wheels built on DT Swiss 180 hubs, and Curve’s new Walmer bars.
Purchasers need to be patient though, with Curve Cycling estimating a 10 to 12 month lead-time, dependent on spec.
They also need deep pockets, with the frameset priced at AU$12,000 (before tax) and the frameset package AU$12,727.27 (also before tax).
Choose the complete SRAM Red XPLR AXS build and you’re looking at AU$26,363.64 plus tax, or AU$29,000 with Australian sales tax. That’s around £14,000 / US$19,000.
