Just in: Red Bull Pro-2000

We’ve just got our oily mitts on Red Bull’s new £849 road bike, the Pro-2000 – there are definite advantages to sharing a building with the UK importer (they sit just around there on the other side of the stairs, look). At first glance, it seems like you get a whole lot of bike for your cash here.

The frame is made from triple-butted, heat-treated 7005 T6 aluminium and, like all the Red Bulls we’ve ever seen, it features a down tube that’s clearly been stolen off a building site. We’re not saying it’s heavy – our complete 58cm bike weighs in at a highly reasonable 8.56kg (18.8lb) – but it takes the definition of chunky to a new and even chunkier place. Chunksville, perhaps.

We’ve not slung a leg over it yet, but everything about the Pro-2000 says, ‘stiffness’. That chunky down tube becomes rectangular in profile at the bottom and forms a huge joint with the BB shell, while at the top end there’s a CNCed gusset – also chunky, naturally – where it meets the head tube. As well as providing reinforcement, this acts as a cable guide with integrated cable stops.

The head tube features an oversized 1 1/4in lower headset bearing – again, for extra rigidity – and there’s another gusset heading backwards from the top of the head tube/ top tube junction. The chainstays are big old boys too while the welds all round are meatier than a mixed grill.

On the spec front, you get Shimano’s mid-range 105 groupset components virtually everywhere with a traditional-style 52/39T chainset. Red Bull haven’t skimped on the rest of the kit either: high-value Mavic Aksium wheels, decent Continental Grand Prix tyres, FSA cockpit and seatpost, Fizik Aliante saddle… Hang on! Now that we’re listing it, this is really good value!

Of course it's all very well it looking good on as a spec list and quite another when it comes to actually performing in the real world in all its smooth welded greenness. That said, a well thought out spec list married to what looks to be a well put together frame does at least promise well. If it delivers on that promise the Pro-2000 will certainly be a bike to consider in the performance bang per buck category for anyone whose funds don't quite reach to spending £1000.

Right, we’re slinging on the Lycra and heading out to see how the Red Bull performs on the road. Watch this space.