The 2024 Bike Show Season - Presented by Curve Cycling

In 2024 Curve Cycling is proud to present both prototype bikes and new models at four premier bike shows around the world. You will find us and our immaculate new titanium creations at:

1. SPOKEN: Melbourne, Australia, 14-16 June, formerly the Handmade Bike Show Australia
2. MADE Australia: Melbourne, Australia, 28-29 June
3. BESPOKED Manchester, UK, 28-30 June
4. BESPOKED Dresden, Germany, 18-20 October 

Read on for more information about our 2024 concept bikes.

CarboKev (BESPOKED Dresden)

A hyperactive mix of 3D printed titanium, carbon fibre, experimental physics and 90s sneaker culture!

This is the one we have been waiting to reveal. The Curve Cycling CarboKev is a very special concept gravel race bike that blends the stiffness of carbon with the comfort of titanium. With the same geometry as the recently released Curve GXR4 (aka Kevin) and Curve AIR Kev models, the CarboKev offers the huge tyre clearance of a modern gravel bike (up to 29 x 2.0" and even wider up front), but with some experimental elements that we're eager to test in the field.

The carbon lower frame construction provides a super solid foundation, drastically improving stiffness and power transfer. The upper frame, where comfort is important, makes use of titanium, which is more compliant. Our goal is stunningly improved power transfer compared with a wholly titanium frame of the same weight, but without completely sacrificing the comfort on endurance missions that Curve riders demand.

We think of the CarboKev frame in two zones: the stiffness zone and the comfort zone. The lower section comprising the downtube and chain stays is the stiffness zone. The upper section, comprising the top tube and seat stays is the comfort zone. We've used the right materials in the right places to optimise the ride quality - carbon in the stiffness zone and titanium in the comfort zone. It's hopefully the best of both worlds. Time will tell and we can't wait to hit the trails to find out.

The CarboKev deepens Curve's commitment to complete more involved frame construction activities on-site at Curve's Australian HQ. The CarboKev is constructed from titanium frame components and 3D printed parts crafted by our titanium production partner in China, and carbon tubing from a new partner in New Zealand. The frame construction was completed in Melbourne, Australia at Curve's HQ, with component and tubeset preparation, alignment and bonding handled by Curve Squad members, Jimmy Rostlund and Taylor Patrick.

The artwork and paint, inspired by sneaker culture, was completed by Steve Varga, a co-founder of Curve, at his very own paintshop, Candy Factory Paintworks, on-site at his farm in Muckleford, Victoria. Steve is still heavily involved in Curve and he now also paints our custom painted frames, helping customers bring their dream bikes to life.

While this frame is significantly lighter (> 250g before paint) than a comparable wholly titanium frame, we suspect it will be strong enough to bomb a Red Bull Rampage run, which our carbon tube partner knows a thing or two about. Further fine-tuning will happen as our testing plan continues.

Technical Detail:

• Hybrid carbon and titanium construction with heavy use of 3D printed titanium components. Carbon tubes are bonded to 3D printed titanium lugs using an adhesive that is mind-blowingly strong across a wide temperature range. You could leave your bike in the back of the car on a hot Aussie summer day and your frame will not debond.
• Extremely strong double-lap joins used throughout (with one single-lap exception - can you guess where?) to ensure the strongest possible bonds between carbon and titanium.

• 3D printed titanium T47 bottom bracket cluster with integrated chain stay yoke and power pyramid.
• Fully 3D printed titanium headtube with double-lap socket for the carbon down tube.
• All 3D printed parts have had wall thicknesses individually tuned to balance weight and strength.

• Fully integrated cable routing using one-off prototype versions of our existing Race 415 carbon fork and Carbon Walmer bar. The fork steerer has been modified with a 3D printed titanium sleeve and reinforced to accept internal cable routing without the need for an oversized top bearing.
• Standard gauge straight carbon tubes for the downtube and chain stays from New Zealand. 3D printed titanium “Bend-Aids” to add the required bend for crank clearance. The large diameter downtube and large oval section chain stays were selected for stiffness, not weight savings.
• We’ve used a slimmer carbon seat tube and thinner wall on the carbon seat post than on our AIR Kev model to add more compliance.

• Ovalised carbon seat stays are bonded into a set of 3D printed SRAM UDH and Transmission compatible dropouts, also with double-lap joins. The dropouts draw on the same visual appearance as our CNC machined counterparts used on the AIR Kev and GXR4 models, but 3D printing allows the engineering freedom to hollow out and lighten the parts. The left dropout takes a brake caliper in position for a 160 mm rotor without needing an adapter.
• Titanium upper-frame construction with Grade 9 titanium tubing. Ovalised and butted top tube for vertical compliance and lateral stiffness. Smaller diameter (14 mm) seat stays than we have used on a production bike before, chosen for compliance and comfort.

• Headtube for IS42/IS52 headsets
• Bottom bracket cluster - T47 with integrated yoke and double-lap sockets
• Dropouts - SRAM UDH and Transmission compliant
• Cable ports (on frame and fork)
• Chain stay Bend-Aids (prototype use only)
• Steerer reinforcement (in testing)
• Internal bottom bracket cable guide
• Seat post topper on Curve AIR seat post
• Seat clamp

Build Details:

• Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Dry 29 x 2.0"
• Fork: Curve Race 415 (clearance for up to 29 x 2.4")
• Drivetrain: New SRAM RED XPLR AXS 1x13 drivetrain
• Stem: Darimo IX4AL Custom
• Seat post: Curve AIR
• Wheelset: Curve G4T with DT Swiss 240 hubs
• Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror 

AIR Belgie 3D (SPOKEN, BESPOKED Manchester & Dresden)

This year Curve welcomes a new era for high-end road bikes with fully-internal cable routing and refined 3D printed titanium details. Like the recently launched AIR Kev gravel bike, the AIR Belgie 3D features hybrid titanium / carbon construction. The 3D in the title, refers to the full 3D printed headtube, the feature differentiating this model from the AIR Belgie. While this bike is a rolling work of art, like all Curve bikes, it is built to be ridden. Designed with stiffness, performance and durability in mind, a less robust earlier prototype even passed EFBE's daunting test regime. This bike will handle serious endurance missions. You will see it piloted by Curve's Sales Director, Ryan Flinn, in this year's 2,400 km Pan Celtic Race in July. 

AIR Belgie (SPOKEN, MADE Australia)

The AIR Belgie is a high-end road bike with hybrid titanium / carbon construction. The elegant internal routing is achieved with a standard 42/52 mm headset using the Columbus Trittico system. Most internally routed metal bikes make use of a larger top headset bearing which allow brake hoses and cables to fit between the steerer and top headset bearings. The cleverly shaped steerer on the Columbus Trittico fork allows a more elegant finish with a smaller top headset cup. While it's a subtle it results in a more refined internal routing execution. The AIR Belgie has a conventional welded headtube constructed with precision CNC machining. This distinguishes it from the AIR Belgie 3D which has a fully 3D printed top tube.

• Ti/Carbon hybrid frame construction bonded in-house at Curve HQ
• 3D printed "power pyramid" at the seat tube / bottom bracket interface
• 3D printed UDH dropouts
• Sleek 3D printed front derailleur clamp which drastically improves front shifting
• Precision CNC machined head tube and T47 bottom bracket 
• Ti/Carbon hybrid seat post with a 3D printed topper
• Fully-internal cable routing using the Columbus Trittico fork, bar and stem system
• Latest SRAM Red 12-speed groupset
• Prototype G5T paintless carbon wheelset 
• Artwork and paint by Candy Factory Paintworks

AIR Kev (SPOKEN, MADE Australia)

The AIR Kev is Curve's race oriented version of the much loved Kevin model (aka GXR). With a hybrid carbon / titanium construction, and 3D printed "power pyramid" at the seat tube / bottom bracket interface, the AIR Kev has the improved stiffness expected from a gravel race bike. Not just a stunning bike the AIR Kev can handle serious cycling adventures. To date, AIR Kevs have braved and survived mixed terrain bikepacking adventures across Europe and remote outback Australia.

• Ti/Carbon hybrid frame construction bonded in-house at Curve HQ
• 3D printed "power pyramid" at the seat tube / bottom bracket interface
• Precision CNC machined head tube, UDH dropouts, yoke and T47 bottom bracket 
• Semi-internal cable routing
• Race 415 fork, the stripped-down incarnation of the Ride 415 with internal routing and no cargo mounts
• Ti/Carbon hybrid seat post with a 3D printed topper
• Curve Carbon Walmer Bar
• SRAM Red / Eagle Transmission mullet groupset
• Artwork and paint by Candy Factory Paintworks

Titanosaur 36er (BESPOKED Manchester & Dresden)

Named after the largest of the dinosaurs, the Titanosaur is Curve's gravel bike for tall people. It's a 36-inch wheel titanium bike with fine-tuned geometry to ride like a conventional 29er. You'll notice a super swept out front end, ultra wide Walmer Bar (750 mm at the drop) and a very short stem - each of these features were decided with purpose to improve handling. With a size range from MD right up to XXXL, the size chart caters for riders up to 222 cm or (7' 3").

Originally designed as a bike to smoothly roll over corrugated outback tracks, after assessing the commercially available tyre options, the Titanosaur has found its niche as a gravel bike for tall people.

This is not a bike for introverts. It works better than walking a puppy on the beach for meeting people. Even those on the street who do not ride, will ask the question, "that's not a normal bike is it?".

Tall cyclists, especially taller than 196 cm (6' 6") have a hard time finding bikes with conventional wheels that will fit. To get the right fit, the head tube needs to be stupidly long and the frame dimensions start to get out of proportion with the wheels. Not with the Titanosaur.

Descending on this bike is mind-blowing. With two enormous gyroscopes spinning beneath you, the Titanosaur is incredible stable at speed - nothing seems to bump it off its line. The large tyres roll smoothly over the rougher terrain as well - it feels like you've unlocked some sort of stabilization mode! 

Beware though, there is only one viable tyre option on the market for serious off-road use, and it's not a great one. Passable but just not great. Hopefully, if more 36ers are created more tyre options will become available in the future.

• Full titanium construction including a prototype titanium fork
• Curve Walmer Bar - 750 mm wide at the drops
• Prototype Coop Hoop 36 inch carbon wheelset, named after Australotitan cooperensis, the largest Australian dinosaur
• Vee Tire Co. T-Monster 36 x 2.25" tyres. Even though these are wire-beasd tyres, we have found they work fine when set up tubeless
• Hope 203 mm / 180 mm front / rear rotors for improved braking - very important for large wheels at speed. Although with careful riding for lighter riders (under 85 kg), a 180 mm rotor at the front works sufficiently well
• Our show bike is kitted out with a SRAM Force / Eagle groupset (with 1.5 chains!) and finished with a Thomson stem and seat post
• Dinosaur-inspired artwork and paint by Candy Factory Paintworks
• This bike is a reminder of one of the key selling points of titanium. Titanium is timeless. It does not corrode. A titanium frame can be easily made brand new again with some polishing or paint. While this frame is a few years old, a stunning custom paint job and polishing the raw titanium makes it indistinguishable from brand new. Next time you see a Curve titanium bike, ask yourself, "is it a 2024 model, or a 2021 model?", you will not know

Uprock v2 (MADE Australia)

This year Curve Cycling welcomes back the much loved Uprock model with version 2 framesets and complete builds available in July 2024. With its modern XC-inspired geometry the titanium Uprock v2 is ready to rip up the local trails.

Over the years, our customers have demanded a wide range of drivetrains, from Rohloff belt drive builds to the latest SRAM transmission systems. The gap in performance between post mount and flat mount braking systems has closed in recent years, too. To handle the wide range of options we have developed a modular set of precision machined aluminium dropout inserts. By switching the inserts you can transform your Uprock v2 from a singlespeed build with flat mount brakes to a geared bike with a SRAM T-Type derailleur and post mount brakes. The barely-visible coupling in the drive-side seat stay allows a belt to be fitted elegantly.

The Uprock v2 is optimised for 120 mm travel forks. For those who want to ride rigid, the new Seek 500 rigid carbon fork is the perfect option. With a 500 mm axle-crown, off-set adjustment, and unmatched leg-mount technology, which allows an unbelievable 8 kg to be mounted on each side, the Seek 500 fork is the perfect suspension corrected rigid fork for bikepacking.

• Modern XC-inspired geo
• Optimised for 120mm travel forks or our Ride 500 rigid carbon fork featuring VGM technology allowing 8 kg of load to be mounted to each fork leg
• Sliding dropouts with a full complement of aluminium CNC inserts available to order (boost, non-boost, QR, Rohloff-specific, UDH/T-Type specific, hangerless for singlespeed builds, post mount and flat mount)
• Belt drive split in drive-side seat stay
• Single-sided CNC yoke
• Curve-certified external cable routing
• Stealth-port for dropper posts (31.6mm) and blind seat tube bidon bosses (cannot thread through into the seat post area)
• Available in: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL

Tech Details

All Curve Cycling frames are made from GR9 3Al-2.5V titanium tubing. 3D printed and CNC machined parts made are made from from GR5 6Al-4V+ titanium.

Curve's proprietary "Power Pyramid" sits proudly atop the bottom bracket of the AIR Belgie 3D, AIR Belgie and AIR Kev. This meticulously designed 3D printed pat joins the bottom bracket shell to the carbon seat tube, and features a double-lap (double shear) joint to ensure superior bond strength in an area of the frame that sees high dynamic loads and stresses from pedaling. Thanks to the design freedom afforded by additive manufacturing, we've kept the structure hollow and carefully chosen the external and internal wall thicknesses to optimise the strength-to-weight ratio. The flared design adds to the aesthetic and helps stiffen the bottom bracket area resulting in improved pedaling performance.

The 3D printed titanium seat post topper featured on all AIR seat posts has a hollow construction. Like the power pyramid, it also features a double-lap bonded joint to ensure a strong mating of carbon and titanium. The topper uses Enve's 2-bolt clamping system which is less prone to slipping compared to their previous 1-bolt system.

The humble front derailleur clamp is an underappreciated part in the complete bike build kit, but it has an important role to play in the front shifting experience. We have deepened our appreciating of this fact through our recent 3D printed experiments. By stiffening the connection to the seat tube, Curve's 3D printed front derailleur clamp turns shaky front-shifting into definite, confident and precise gear changes on and off the big ring. We kept the design as minimal as possible with a countersunk mounting bolt and hidden clamp bolt. The clamp is designed to lock in the derailleur, providing solid support for its main body. It also has a special tang that eliminates the need for the small plastic wedge provided with SRAM AXS front derailleurs.

With the AIR Belgie and AIR Belgie 3D prototypes, we have expanded on the AIR Kev concept and introduced hollow 3D printed UDH dropouts. The AIR Belgie 3D also incorporates a fully 3D printed head tube for an elegant front end.

For the dropouts and the head tube, we've leveraged the design freedom afforded by additive manufacturing, keeping the structure completely hollow and carefully experimented with varying wall thicknesses to add strength where necessary and shaving weight where possible.