{"id":57787,"date":"2023-12-20T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1a2ea729-f69f-457a-bd02-c9ef0517f3f2"},"modified":"2023-12-20T10:46:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T09:46:10","slug":"curtis-am9-review","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/curtis-am9-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Curtis AM9 review"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Tom Law\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 December 2023 at 09:00 AM<\/p>

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The Curtis AM9 is a heavy-hitting trail-cum-enduro hardtail designed to combine nimble handling with rowdy-terrain control.<\/p>

With custom geometry as a no-cost option, or thoroughly modern stock numbers including a 64.5-degree head angle and 475mm reach on my size-large test bike, the AM9 can be tailored to your preferences.<\/p>

Curtis has been hand-building steel bikes<\/a> in the UK for more than 50 years. Today, the brand offers a range of stunning, fillet-brazed frames for a host of off-road and BMX applications.<\/p>

With Reynolds, Columbus and Dedacciai tubing brazed together by hand, the AM9 is not cheap. <\/p>

However, it\u2019s a versatile hardtail mountain bike<\/a>, with geometry that feels balanced, rewarding and ready to be pushed hard.<\/p>

The steel frame has a lovely compliant feel in the rough but with enough brawn to plough through anything in its path.<\/p>

Some care needs to be taken over how you build it though. Go burly with fork, wheels and tyres for a winch-and-plummet monster or play to its all-day comfort capabilities with a lighter, faster-rolling spec. <\/p>

Curtis AM9 frame<\/h2>
The AM9 is packed with detail, such as the name cut-out on the seatstay bridge. – Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Rather than welding the AM9\u2019s steel tubes together, Curtis fillet brazes them.<\/p>

It claims the benefit of this method is the tubes are airtight (apart from the seat tube). This means they won\u2019t rust from the inside out as welded steel frames can.<\/p>

Curtis says it has cherry-picked each steel tube for its ride-quality benefits. The front triangle is made purely from Reynolds tubing. This involves the brand’s 853 tubing for the top and down tube, while 631 is used for the seat tube.<\/p>

\"Curtis
Steel is real: Reynolds 853 tubes offer a wonderfully compliant, yet taut ride. – Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The use of 853 is claimed to be because of its high strength-to-weight ratio. Curtis also says it gives the bike a lively ride character.<\/p>

Dedacciai and Columbus steel tubes are used for the seatstays and chainstays. This is said to give the perfect combination of stiffness and compliance.<\/p>

The tubes may differ depending on a rider’s weight or riding style. For example, if you’re over 95kg \/ 210lb and ride particularly hard, straight-gauge T45 is used for the down tube and seatstays.<\/p>

Because each frame is made by hand, there are numerous customisation options. Buyers can choose from stock or custom geometry for the same \u00a31,550 base price. A range of options can be specified at an additional cost.<\/p>

\"Curtis
The test bike had fixed boost 148x12mm dropouts, but sliding dropouts are an option. – Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

These include candy paint colours or a smoked clear coat finish, standard or sliding dropouts and a custom frame number of up to six numbers or letters stamped into the dropout.<\/p>

The basic frame cost is a heady \u00a31,550. Candy or clear coat paint adds \u00a350, while the sliding dropouts for rear-centre length adjustment, or easy single-speeding, are \u00a3120 options. Adding bottle cage bolts costs an extra \u00a325.<\/p>

Curtis AM9 geometry<\/h2>
\"Curtis
Long, low, slack and ready for action, the AM9 is a versatile performer. – Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As implied by its name, the AM9 is built around 29-inch wheels<\/a>. To go with the big hoops, a 130-150mm fork is advised to suit its all-around, all-mountain intentions.<\/p>

Curtis will build the frame with any geometry you like for no extra fee, or you can choose from five stock sizing options, from S-XXL.<\/p>

Those wishing to alter the geometry can do so at no extra cost, giving you the option of choosing a shorter seat tube for modern, long-travel dropper posts<\/a>.<\/p>

Based around a 140mm-travel fork<\/a>, my size-large test bike features a moderately slack 64.5-degree head angle, 75-degree seat angle, 475mm reach, 440mm chainstays and a 460mm (18in) seat tube.<\/p>

The jumps between seat tube lengths on the AM9\u2019s frame sizes are limited, ranging from 406mm on the small through to a lofty 508mm on the XXL.<\/p>

In my opinion, the 457mm seat tube length on the stock size large is too long. If I was having a custom AM9 built, I would opt for a shorter length. The rest of the geometry is right in line with what I would expect for a bike in this category.<\/p>

<\/colgroup>
\ufeff<\/th>S<\/b><\/th>M<\/b><\/th>L<\/b><\/th>XL<\/b><\/th>XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>64.5<\/td>64.5<\/td>64.5<\/td>64.5<\/td>64.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>440<\/td>440<\/td>440<\/td>440<\/td>440<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>406.4<\/td>431.8<\/td>457.2<\/td>482.6<\/td>508<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>100<\/td>110<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td>130<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>306<\/td>306<\/td>306<\/td>306<\/td>306<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>616<\/td>625<\/td>625<\/td>635<\/td>643<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>440<\/td>455<\/td>475<\/td>485<\/td>505<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>