BENNO BALLOONER D24
Have we met before?
Remember what it felt like to ride a bike as a kid? You probably felt the joy of balance and momentum - of your own propulsion! - and the sense of adventure and independence that you and this machine could unfold. OK, but we aren't selling a kids bike here. The Ballooner D8 is an engineers delight; a bike that promises plush comfort, versatility and a joyful accelerative kick. It could be your fair-weather commuter, it could be the perfect afternoon. You and that first pleasure of riding a bicycle: it's time to meet again.
RE-TIRE THE RACER
The bicycle tire is truly an amazing invention. It is filled with air because air pressure can provide a balance of comfort and efficiency. Most bikes use narrow tires for speed. But, how many bikes sacrifice comfort for speed? The Ballooner isn't a fast bike, but it definitely isn't slow either. Instead, it takes efficiency seriously. Efficiency isn't out to win races, it's more a state of whimsy and fun, it's a balanced ratio of pedalling and pleasure. The Ballooner also takes comfort seriously, borrowing the upright position of European bicycles with fearless tires that can jump onto gravel at a moments notice. The ride is plush, but efficient. It may not win races, but it will win the perfect summer afternoon. Â
THE BENNO BALLOONER D24
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
BALLOONER D24 VS BALLOONER D27
BALLOONER D24
MSRP $1199 (CDN)
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
3x8 Shimano Acera drivetrain, great quality but shifting can feel a bit 'thunky'
14-32 Tooth Freehweel has great climbing range but slower on the speed side
Mechanical disc brakes are powerful but tend to feel a bit "crunchy" in the lever and can fade in intense braking situations
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On first glance the difference between the Ballooner D24 and D27 may not look like much. However, one ride will ensure you feel the difference! The D27 has smooth and powerful hydraulic disc brakes and a lot more zip in the gear range.
HOW ARE THEY SIMILAR?
Lightweight aluminum frame designed for max comfort and efficiency
Wide high-pressure tires that feel plush and roll efficiently
Comfortable seats and grips
Comes equipped with fenders and kickstand
BALLOONER D27
MSRP $1399 (CDN)
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
3x9 Shimano Alivio drivetrain is great quality and shifts smooth and quiet
11-32 Tooth Cassette offers about 15% more range on the speedy side
Hydraulic disc brakes feel intuitive and smooth and offer unlimited power for total safety
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ACCESSORIES WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Your Ballooner is ready for the streets but make sure to protect it and yourself! Here is a list of accessories we recommend for the Ballooner, whether a good lock and antitheft wheel skewers, to fashionable bolt-on lights that are bright and hard to steal.
IN SUMMARY:
Why do we love the Ballooner? Because it makes cycling pleasurable again!
- It's a great quality bike that takes comfort and efficiency seriously
- It's wide tires are at once plush but also quick on their feet
- It's wide tires can also jump between gravel and concrete on a whim!
- It's wide tires also feel secure and safe in potholed city streets
- It's wide-range 3x8 drivetrain means there's no place you can't go!
- It's one fine looking machine!
From Our Buyer...
@testimonial
"Curbside has become rather famous for its fashionable no-nonsense city bikes, but we recognize that many of our customers want that wonderful upright feel without needing all sorts of serious commuting hardware. While Benno could be the perfect fair-weather commuter it's also a bike that puts a smile on our face and is a pure joy to ride"
LEARN MORE
ABOUT BENNO
Benno Bikes is the lovechild of Benno Baenziger, a Berlin-born bicycle designer who dreamed of living in San Diego with a surfboard under his feet. Perhaps there's a aesthetic connection between the pleasure of California surf culture and Germany's bike culture. As importers of German bikes we are no strangers to watching couples ride on bike paths, talking and joking and having a good ride. This is quite different from the North American bike industry which seems to revolve around solo conquest, whether winning races, riding a difficult trail, or achieving your personal best. There's nothing wrong with that, but there is a moment where riding a bike is like surfing a wave; a sheer pleasure, something mystical, something to do with balance and movement. Like ourselves here at Curbside, Benno is another voice in the market reminding the industry that cycling is for everyone, and that cycling is fun. His bikes may have aesthetic resonances of surf culture but underneath they are practical machines with a very German commitment to engineering. They are great fair-weather commuters, or, of course, they are a terrific way to meet up with a friend and catch up on the week ahead or behind. That's what cycling is all about!