When Look unveiled the 795 Blade RS on the 2023 Tour de France, the model embraced the development of prioritizing optimum aerodynamic design however in a extra versatile bundle. Relatively than choosing giant truncated tube profiles, Look managed to engineer smaller tube profiles to craft a motorbike reputed to ship constant effectivity all through a whole race. Undoubtedly, the Look 795 Blade RS remains to be an aero bike, however the newest iteration stays aggressive over a a lot wider vary of parcours. This adaptability helped it declare our Biking Weekly award for Finest Aero Bike of 2024. So, let’s check out precisely what makes the Look one of the crucial enjoyable highway bikes to experience in 2024.
Look 795 Blade RS: Development
It is undoubtedly a looker… sorry… however that purple paint job is beautiful
(Picture credit score: Future (Richard Butcher))
The place different manufacturers have opted for extra iterative modifications in current instances , Look went for a complete redesign with 795 Blade RS. The most recent technology aligns nearer with modern-day, all-around race bike parameters, with a robust give attention to aerodynamics with out compromising weight or stiffness.
The up to date frameset, whereas notably slender, suggestions the scales at 945 grams for a dimension medium. By at present’s requirements, that is actually on the heavy aspect. Many bikes, notably these launched in 2024 see body weights within the 700s, however the place Look has invested further carbon fiber, the returns have been vital. The brand new frameset options 25% Extremely Excessive Modulus carbon in particular areas of the body to refine each stiffness and compliance the place it issues most.
Look has visibly constructed up the underside bracket space, drastically enhancing stiffness in contrast with the competitors
(Picture credit score: Future (Richard Butcher))
Look says the Extremely Excessive Modulus carbon fiber within the 795 Blade RS has been used to attain “optimized responsiveness, effectivity, and luxury,” and the outcomes are spectacular. The 7% increase in backside bracket stiffness is markedly noticeable in comparison with different bikes I’ve examined this yr, and I feel this actually helps it to ship the snappy experience really feel I count on from an ‘aero bike’.
In addition to these comparatively slender tube shapes, aerodynamic enhancements are noticeable in its carbon cockpit, now full with totally internally routed cabling. It’s versatile too, with the separate bar and stem making customization barely simpler than on a totally built-in setup. Look says the design tweaks and optimised cockpit lead to a motorbike that’s 10% extra aerodynamic than the earlier mannequin.
The 2 piece handlebar and stem mixture seems to be sensible, and feels snug
(Picture credit score: Future (Richard Butcher))
It has additionally made some very important enhancements to the bike’s geometry. As you may count on from a flagship race bike, the 795 Blade RS options an aggressive, brief stack and lengthy attain setup, which I discovered to be good for on-the-rivet-riding. For a dimension medium, Look has managed to maintain the wheelbase at a comparatively brief 987mm for the 410mm chainstays. The importance of that is that on descents the bike modifications route good and rapidly, but stays steady on the rear finish, which offered me with a safe base from which to push the bike on technical roads, and whereas sprinting.
Look 795 Blade RS: the experience
So, how did the bike carry out? I have to say, the Look 795 Blade RS shocked me proper from the beginning, exceeding expectations in a number of classes. Regardless of its slender look, which initially made me doubt its capacity on quick, flat roads, the bike proved me flawed. It carried out exceptionally properly, combining aesthetics with spectacular velocity and effectivity.
A improbable instance of modern-day design, the 795 Blade RS deceived me with its seems to be, offering a quite magic carpet-like experience really feel on sooner roads. From the primary quick descent, I used to be instantly conscious of its unwavering dealing with, even at excessive speeds.
Dropped seat stays add compliance and enhance aero
(Picture credit score: Future (Richard Butcher))
Aero bikes are predominantly designed for fast-paced using after all, and to correctly take a look at that, I took the 795 Blade RS on my native chaingang. A diverse 38km loop, with the complete complement of harsh highway surfaces, steep climbs, and descents, together with a free-for-all last 6km allowed me to place the bike to the take a look at with somewhat extra anger. What this confirmed was the Blade’s sheer prowess on the subject of stiffness and acceleration. Look has been an necessary participant within the observe biking sport for a few years now, so on the subject of rigidity the 795 Blade RS now clearly shares a few of that observe DNA.
Sprinting revealed the bike’s capacity to speed up with none trace of motion from the underside bracket, one thing that I’ve discovered to be somewhat little bit of an Achilles on different race bikes I’ve examined this yr.
The bike’s refusal to yield aspect to aspect additionally does a stellar job of hiding the marginally heavier weight of the bike. Although the 795 Blade RS suggestions the scales at 7.48kg for a full Dura-Ace Di2 construct, the bike climbs remarkably properly, and I attribute this principally to how responsive the bike feels. Look has managed to create a motorbike that performs properly all-round, with stiffness to cater to probably the most explosive racers on the market.
Look 795 Blade RS: Worth
For all this, after all, there’s quite a big price ticket – £11,237 to be precise. Although that is firmly throughout the realms of different high gamers within the aero bike house, I do assume that when spec is taken into account, you might be paying a premium. An absence of an influence meter and barely narrower than modern-day customary Corima 47mm MCC Evo wheels makes the Look much less bang on your buck than a Canyon Aeroad, however there isn’t a doubt that you’re getting a premium product for the premium value.
