NERVE 600sl

by MARK · 21/10/2014

NERVE 600sl Preview

by Mark Tearle

The full custom carbon fibre, Nerve 600sl

Fully custom. Check! Build to your specification. Check. Custom carbon. PHWOAR! Rubs thighs!

We introduced NERVE bikes in July and had an extended opportunity of having a play on the carbon flagship bike, the NERVE 600sl, in the dying embers of summer.

As we reported, Mark Reilly and his team at NERVE are offering fully custom bikes on a commission only basis in a number of materials, from traditional Columbus and Reynolds steel, the mystical Reynolds 953 stainless steel, titanium and carbon, all hand crafted from the NERVE facility in Newhaven, Sussex.

Fully custom means that you get a bike to fit you, your riding style, your build preference and any colour way combination that your imagination and bank balance will allow.

The demo 600sl that I’ve been riding boasts an incredible light weight, at 679g for a medium size 54cm frame and the full build – 3T bars and stem, NERVE branded carbon seatpost, Reynolds Attack carbon wheels shod with 25mm Continental GP 4000 tyres, Columbus Grammy fork, compass headset, Prologo saddle and bar tape, and full Campagnolo Super Record grupo – weighing in at just a pip over 6kg.

The first impression of the bike is of restrained and understated cool; traditional round tubing shapes with internal cabling, EPS/Di2 ready. Without wanting to get overly romantic it’s a thing of pure beauty.

The stylised rounded tube shapes in the front triangle are brought into the 21^st century with a fatter down tube joined to a tapered head tube and a beefy BB86 bottom bracket junction, the rear triangle has tapered squared chain-stays with pencil thin seat stays and 27.2mm seat post.

I’ll report back in a few weeks with my thoughts and impressions of riding this truly enigmatic wonder-bike.

NERVE 600sl Frame, fork and headset – £2999