Belgie ULTRA

About two and a half years ago, I got one of the last Belgie Spirit (from Cycle Culture in Brisbane) before it was updated to the Ultra. My reason for buying this was to have the "one bike" that did everything. I looked around at a lot of options before test riding the Spirit. I had never ridden a Ti bike before and was hooked from the first few kms.

It was my original intention to do some gravel and bike-packing soon after buying, but COVID had something to say about that. So, I have been riding solely on the road and have been incredibly impressed with everything - comfort, handling, ride quality.

But I still had the itch to get onto the gravel, so I got myself a set of Curve Grav Al wheels and fitted them with 35mm tyres.

A few weeks ago, I finally did a weekend gravel bike-packing trip with some mates and am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. The Spirit showed it's true colours as an all-rounder with the extra weight of a saddle bag and frame bag seeming to make it handle even better and proved to me that the decision to buy this as the "one bike" was the right one.

I love the all-round abilities of the Spirit. And the guys at Curve HQ have been great with any questions I've had.

Cannot fault the service from the team at Curve and plan on spending the rest of my time riding the Spirit and recommending Curve to anyone looking for an all-round brilliant riding experience.

Nick

I took delivery of my Belgie Ultra last Saturday from Bike Dr., the local Agents in Perth.

After a few formalities I was out the door for a little spin. How was it?, asks Fletcher. “Like riding on an air cushion”, I say.

I spent quite a bit of time chatting with Steve Varga at Curve before I ordered as I was pretty anxious about an online buy, but we went through the options, I read everything availabile on line, and then took the plunge…

So, to the bike. It looks even more beautiful than I had ever hoped. Beautiful lines. It’s a real head-turner. I’m 56 so hard-ass carbon super bikes aren’t my thing.

The ride is seriously amazing. 30mm tubeless on G4T 45mm wheels are damn fast and super quiet.

Force AXS? Well I was a Dura Ace diehard so a departure to SRAM wasn’t without issues for me. I’m not going back!

This is no lightweight bike - 9kgs - but I am no lightweight either. Top end speed is equal to my light-weight carbon bike, and the damn thing climbs like a demon.

I am opting for a second wheelset with 33mm tyres for gravel do a quick change out has me on road or light gravel. Cannot wait to hit the dirt.

All up? I love it. Extraordinary value in this market and every adventurous soul needs one in the shed!

Hey Rhino,

Fuck me, what a bike. I've named it Bernard after Bernard Black from Blackbooks. I'm not at all sure what the connection is but I like the character of both. Things I like (a lot) :

Descending. I'm a bit of a scaredy cat descender because I've got weak bones but on this bike coming down the hills in the dandenongs felt really comfortable. Not in a cycle hoon kind of way but comfortable, measured and like a local who knows the roads.

Ascending. Perfect gear range. Nice.

Walmer bars. Very comfortable in and out of the saddle...it's a much more comfortable position for me with my limited mobility.

Sound of 45mm rims. It reminds me of the sound of Darth Vader's personal Tie Fighter. It's badass.

Tubeless roadfeel backed by titanium love - you just don't feel anything like the same amount of buzz from the road and also roll over some of the more minor gouges out of the road without really feeling them.

Electronic. Its neat. Nuff said.

Tarmac + Gravel. Both. Both works.

Also, nice to be looked after - my adoption experience was really nice - I came into Curve HQ, had a nice chat and a peppermint tea with Rhino and then took my bike out out for a spin behind the CUB brewery. I got lots of great advice about bike care and going tubeless.

The whole curve thing just works - nice bikes and good people.

Morgan

A new bike is never an easy decision and certainly one I don't take lightly.
I have owned steel, aluminium and carbon bikes. Always premium brands with top end running gear. I ride them for a few years a piece and generally put some solid miles under the tires in a mixture of terrain.
The decision to go Titanium wasn't hard. I had been thinking about it for years, so when I found Rhino at Curve, he patiently listened to me and we worked through what was going to suit my riding style and ambition.
The solution was the Belgie Ultra - And the result is stunning! There is only one word to describe this bike in my view and that is 'sublime'. The Ultra is a work of art that exudes beautiful engineering, attention to detail and an excellent finish - And that's just out of the box before you ride it!
On the road I cannot fault this bike. I am a larger guy, 193cm and 95 kg's so I am no sprinter, but I love a long ride with some challenging climbs and speedy descents. The Ultra has been sure footed on its Vittoria 700 x 30 tubeless tires on the Curve G4T wheels whilst providing an exceptionally comfortable ride, and immediate sense of confidence and reassurance. Handling for me has been a delight. Smooth and precise without any twitchiness or bad habits!
Honestly, in a world where we are bombarded with choice, I feel privileged to have found the team at Curve, and am now fortunate enough to be enjoying this Belgie Ultra - Quite simply a sublime ride.

There's a lack of reviews on the ultra so here are some very early thoughts after a couple of short rides.

I test road the Belgie V3 and Ultra and worried initially that with Ultra I would forego that urgent weapon vibe that an agressive racer like the v3 has...Where you go for a ride and think to yourself 'I'm an elite precision weapon and I will smoke these cars in the 50km zone'... and yes it doesn't have that, but I guess that's not what the Ultra is about.

It does have a different kind of weapon vibe though. Unbelievably planted through the corners, speed when you want it (but it's a bit like going from thrashing a 4 cyl car to hopping in a 6 and not noticing 0-60 in the same way), and the quality that jumps out most is hard to articulate... it's not comfort (which for some reason I find to be an offputting word when describing a bike... makes it sound slow maybe), it's sort of more like this is a luxury Robocop or terminator bike that makes you feel like you could cyborgbike-person your way from Melb to Syd...maybe chase some cars like the T1000 and scare people into thinking you can't/won't be stopped. Begs to be ridden longer distances, loves the road, loves light gravel. Love it.