Standert Kreissäge RS review: a striking alternative to the best carbon race bikes

The Standert Kreissäge RS impresses with its race-bike handling and speed.

Standert’s sales model also enables riders to pick their ideal specification, which is a plus if you’re looking to build an aluminium race bike with all the kit you need and nothing you don’t.

With a Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupset and DT Swiss ARC 1400 Dicut wheels, as tested, the Kreissäge RS is priced relatively competitively at £5,560 / $6,599 / €6,599.

Aside from a strong sense of rigidity, which can border on harsh on poor tarmac, the Kreissäge RS is a valid alternative to equivalently specced carbon race bikes.

Standert Kreissäge RS frameset

The Standert Kreissäge RS frame is made of Dedacciai scandium aluminium tubes. This is paired with a carbon fork, which is commonplace among high-end metal-framed bikes.

Each tube has been custom-drawn for the Kreissäge RS, which Standert claims aids the bike’s performance in terms of stiffness.

The curvy seatstays are striking, while the top tube transforms gently in shape along its length – a flatter ovalised shape is present at the head tube junction.

By most standards, unless you’re a die-hard fan of aero bikes, the classically styled Kreissäge RS can be considered ‘good looking’ too – although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The scandium component in the aluminium frame (the proportion of which is unspecified) is said to make it 10 per cent lighter, and a degree stiffer, than the standard alloy used in the Kreissäge.

The frame features fully integrated cable routing, with hoses passing through the Deda Elementi cockpit and into a port in the headset.

Standert says the frameset is designed to run electronic groupsets only.

A Kreissäge RS frame is claimed to weigh 1,360g in a size 54cm, with the fork adding a further 380g.

The bike has clearance for 700x30c tyres, although there’s space to squeeze in 32mm-wide rubber if you don’t mind threatening Standert’s two-year, or extended five-year, warranty.

That’s par for the course for alloy race bikes, with the Cannondale CAAD13 also having space for 30c tyres, while Specialized’s Allez Sprint has clearance for 32c rubber.

A T47 threaded bottom bracket standard has been chosen, while the fork features a tapered 1-½ to 1-⅛in steerer.

Standert says the Kreissäge RS is suitable for a 105kg total system weight, which is below the often-seen standard of 120kg.

Standert Kreissäge RS geometry

The Kreissäge RS’s geometry springs no surprises given its racy focus.

On my size-58cm test bike, steep 73.5-degree angles feature at the head tube and seat tube (the 56cm and 60cm size frames are the same).

These mirror a size-58cm Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 – as good a reference point as any for race bike handling – while the reach is 4mm shorter and the stack 11mm lower on the Standert.

Standert allows you to specify the stem length and handlebar width for free at point of purchase, which gives some room for manoeuvre in terms of fit.

The same applies to the seatpost – which can be had with zero or 20mm setback – while the bike can be supplied with 5, 10, 20 or 30mm of spacers.

Standert recommends certain component sizes to match the frames, although it’s worth taking these with a pinch of salt. Ultimately, your own bike-fit requirements and your desired handling characteristics should dictate your choice.

Standert Kreissäge RS specification

Standert doesn’t sell the Kreissäge RS in off-the-peg specifications – instead, the brand uses a custom programme to build the spec you want (subject to availability).

In theory, the brand can then offer competitive prices (versus RRP, at least) on components, because it’s sourcing them directly from brands or distributors.

Likewise, if you know what you want, you may also stand to save some money by not needing to buy new components to swap in later – as you might with bikes from brands that don’t offer such customisation options (such as Canyon, for example).

Of course, you can also opt to buy a frameset and piece together a compatible build from your own wheeling and dealing or existing spare parts.

As it is, I tested an Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupset married to a DT Swiss ARC 1400 Dicut 50 wheelset.

These components represent a level below the flagship spec you might find on a professional’s race bike, but are better value and don’t compromise real-world performance.

For €319, a single-sided 4iiii power meter can be fitted to bikes with Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 and Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupsets, while a SRAM Force AXS groupset can be specced with an integrated Quarq power meter spider (which measures total power from both legs) for €380 extra.

Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 and SRAM Red AXS groupsets come with their dual-sided power meters as standard, though.

700x28c Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR tyres were specced, set up tubeless.

Standert’s custom builder locks you into a Deda Elementi two-piece cockpit – a Superzero RS handlebar with either a Superbox DCR or -17-degree angled Vinci DCR stem.

A Zipp Service Course SL carbon seatpost is specced at the rear, but as I’ve mentioned, the free choice of sizing and setback is a plus across all the touchpoints. I also had a Fizik Argo R1 Adaptive saddle fitted.

My test bike didn’t come with trimmings such as bottle cages or an out-front computer mount, and was fitted with standard bearings (as opposed to CeramicSpeed upgrades) throughout.

The total weight comes to 8.36kg.

Varying costs

Delivery costs vary, rising from €85 domestically in Germany to €550 for shipping to Australia.

Those outside the EU are also liable for any relevant customs charges and tax.

This can make nailing down a price slightly tricky, but my representative example came to €6,803.62 including shipping to the UK. That doesn't include import duties and taxes, or currency exchange.

Standert Kreissäge RS ride impressions

The Standert Kreissäge RS is an impressive race bike that I’ve found very entertaining to ride.

The handling is sharp and responsive, and (unsurprisingly) largely mirrors what you’ll find in the best race bikes.

I quickly felt confident pushing into corners and on descents, which isn’t ever guaranteed, and found I could rise out of the saddle and get the light-feeling reaction I wanted.

The ride position was easy to get on with – aggressive, but not so extreme that it didn’t offer any respite when I wanted to sit up on the tops.

While the frameset’s aerodynamics are inevitably compromised by the relatively traditional alloy tube shapes, the specification as tested here yields tangible speed.

Like most people, I’m not at the level of a Cat 1 racer or professional, so in reality riding a bike that enables me to get close to the most out of myself is likely to be more effective at improving performance, than any single spec choice or tube shape.

The scandium alloy frame felt stiff, which no doubt played into its quick responses, although it didn’t feel as uncompromising as a carbon race bike when I gave it full beans.

Of course, it’s technically possible to make an alloy road bike as stiff as a carbon race bike, but it’s well recognised that to do so would incur a substantial weight penalty. I think Standert has hit a decent balance here.

The relative weakness comes over rougher tarmac, where the Kreissäge RS exhibits something of a rigid quality.

The ride is informative, helped by the excellent wheels and 28mm cotton-cased tyres, but the difference between the Kreissäge RS and its rivals is clear.

Of course, the Kreissäge RS isn’t designed to be particularly cosseting, but I wonder what difference being able to use wider, 32c road tyres (for example) might make to the ride quality.

Standert Kreissäge RS bottom line

The Standert Kreissäge RS is a very good race bike.

It handles with a good deal of sharpness and feels confidence-inspiring to ride. This is only ever challenged when dealing with rougher tarmac, where it can feel a little rigid, so it might not be the best race bike for those who can only have one bike.

The practical hurdles of owning a Kreissäge RS are a stumbling block if you don’t live in the EU, though, which is a shame if the bike sounds like ‘the one’.

However, that shouldn’t detract from what is an impressive race machine – a bike that I would expect to excel on the crit racing circuit, at the very least.