Bike test: Excelsior Touring urban roadster
Bike test: Excelsior Touring urban roadster
Upright roadsters are ideal bikes for urban areas. Yet they’re rare in the UK, especially at the prices post-pandemic newbies might stretch to. Not so Germany…
This entry-level Excelsior has everything you need for everyday travel – comfortable riding position, mudguards, rack, chainguard, kickstand, dynamo lighting – for just €289.95 (approx £263). Bargain!
Assuming you can find one; it’s not sold on British high streets. I spotted it online at Holland Bike Shop,where it cost a mere £223.52 at time of writing. Sadly the delivery charge was £180! You could hop on a ferry to one of Excelsior’s Dutch dealers for less. It was also listed on Amazon for £300, plus £20 delivery. Not bad.
Like most roadsters it’s heavy. The well-made frame is steel of unknown provenance, probably hi-ten, and most of the bits are also steel. Yet on the right terrain – flat roads and cycle tracks – it cruises along easily enough.
The riding position provides a commanding view of the traffic and is very comfortable for short trips. It forces you to relax. There’s little I’d change, except to have a lower bottom bracket to make it easier to get a foot down at the lights.
At 60in, the Excelsior’s single gear is about right if you steer clear of hills, where it’s exhausting. The rear hub incorporates a coaster brake, which works well but complicates setting off as you can’t spin the cranks into position. For sudden stops there’s a front V-brake.
What defines the Excelsior Touring, other than its stately ride, is its equipment. I’d probably upgrade the 7mm-rail rear rack but the shiny steel mudguards might last forever, the kickstand is strong, and the chainguard is OK. The Axa Duo sidewall dynamo is decent and powers a smart front LED lamp with a switch and a rear one with a stand-light. There’s even a pump!
Verdict
A comfy urban dreadnought that’s difficult to get hold of in the UK. New cyclists need access to affordable, practical transport like this; existing ones might find it changes the way they think about cycling. Recommended.
Other options
Elephant Bike £280+
Bag yourself a refurbished Pashley Mailstar with drum brakes and 3-speed gearing. Your purchase donates another to Africa.
Pinnacle Californium 1 £350
Sidepull brakes and 1×7 gearing but it does have guards, a basket, and a sensible riding position.
First published in Cycle magazine, August/September 2020 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.
Our test promise
At Cycling UK and Cycle magazine, we are proudly independent. There’s no pressure to please advertisers as we’re funded by our members. Our product reviews aren’t press releases; they’re written by experienced cyclists after thorough testing.
Tech spec
Excelsior Touring
Price: €289.95
Sizes: 55cm diamond, 45cm or 53cm step-through
Weight: 16.9kg (37.2lb) as shown
Frame & fork: Hi-ten steel frame and fork with fittings for mudguards, rear rack, frame lock and dynamo
Wheels: 47-622 Mitas Flash tyres (47-559 for 45cm step-through), 662×20 aluminium rims, 36×3 zinc-plated spokes, 100mm solid-axle Joytech front hub, 108mm solidaxle Velosteel singlespeed coaster-brake rear
Transmission: Plastic pedals, 170mm alu’ chainset with 38t chainring, square-taper BB, KMC Z 3/32in chain, 18t sprocket. One ratio: 60in
Braking: Velosteel coaster brake, Promax V-brake
Steering & seating: Herrmans grips, 640×25.4mm City Cruiser steel handlebar, 25.4mm Zoom aluminium quill stem, VP threaded headset. Selle Royal Moody saddle, 28.6×300mm steel plain seatpost