With its meticulously crafted titanium tubes, the Chiru Allure is the gravel race model in the lineup of thirteen bikes built by Pierre-Arnaud Le Magnan. While the build is customizable via the configurator, the frame kit can be paired with either a titanium or carbon fork. The designs and technical choices are original, resulting in a dynamic, versatile, and enjoyable racing bike.
Text by C. Leroy, photos by A. Krassovsky — Le Cycle // No. 592
With sixteen years of experience in the market, Chiru Bikes began its journey into titanium with the Divider model. Since then, the brand has offered titanium frame kits—ranging from road bikes to full-suspension mountain bikes—always with a focus on adventure, ultradistance, and racing. The Allure is a frame designed to deliver power and speed in gravel races. It is made entirely of 3Al/2.5V, Grade 9 titanium. While the dynamic and shock-absorbing properties of this material are well known, it’s important to keep in mind that the entire design of the tube shapes and geometry of this Chiru model is geared toward a competitive gravel racing DNA.
“The front triangle tubes are extremely complex to manufacture, and to date, only one factory in the world is capable of producing them.”
Pierre Arnaud Le Magnan
Other models in the lineup are available for more comfortable rides and those specifically designed for adventure. Here, we see tubes with very specialized cross-sections designed to enhance lateral and vertical stiffness or to utilize buckling to dampen vibrations. Also noteworthy is the 100% internal cable routing, which enhances the Allure model’s clean, minimalist look. The CEO explains that“the front triangle tubes are extremely complex to manufacture, and to date, only one factory in the world is capable of producing them.” Not only are the shapes unique, but Chiru’s use of triple-wall tubes with variable cross-sections for the front triangle—along with optimizations to the head tube, bottom bracket shell, and rear dropouts—has significantly reduced the frame’s weight. It’s worth noting that the frame is heavier than a competition-oriented carbon model (such as the Orbea Terra Race, Trek Checkpoint SLR, or Specialized Crux), as the Chiru weighs 9.46 kg in this configuration with the Classified system.
Here we have the titanium fork, which adds about 200 g but allows for tire widths of up to 50 mm. The carbon forks are lighter, but keep in mind that with a custom build, you can make the Chiru Allure even lighter. In terms of finish, the welds are well executed, and the overall build is exceptionally meticulous and beautiful. The workmanship on the tubes, bends, dropouts… every part of the Chiru is remarkably crafted. Its geometry is quite innovative, featuring a short rear wheelbase with 420 mm chainstays, combined with a long front wheelbase of 1,047 mm. The goal is to maximize pedaling efficiency while allowing you to ride faster through technical sections.
So there’s no problem driving fast, but it’s still a pretty demanding car—let’s say, a sporty one.
On trails and roads, the Allure is very efficient, and you need to have “strong legs” and be in good shape to put out the watts on the bike. The efficiency is definitely there, and it’s enjoyable to feel the pedaling be so effective, but be careful not to overdo it—especially on long riding days—or you’ll feel the full brunt of the Chiru’s racing character. So there’s no problem riding fast, but it’s still a fairly demanding bike—let’s call it sporty. In fact, the comfort is also on the sportier side, and shock absorption is less pronounced compared to competing models—the geometry and fork account for this—but that, too, is part of its intended purpose. Shock absorption is moderate, but you can compensate by adjusting the tire selection and pressure. And in terms of comfort, the 45-mm tire width—even up to 50 mm with the titanium fork—will provide ample shock absorption.
The CEC titanium fork is impressive for just how massive it is. Despite its enormous dropouts, it doesn’t compromise handling precision, and when cruising, it provides satisfying steering response. You don’t feel the 9.46 kg while riding. You quickly get used to the Classified chainring-changing system, which is quite intuitive. The mechanism is integrated into the rear hub and offers a gear ratio of 1:1 – 0.7:1. You’ll need to adjust your budget for a set of wheels, but again, with this model, you can customize the setup however you like.
Although modeled after a performance bike, the Chiru Allure is a versatile bike for both off-road and on-road riding; with tires designed for pavement, you’ll find yourself pedaling and easily picking up speed. It’s almost like an all-road bike, which adds to its inherent qualities… Still, the brand clearly positions it as a gravel race bike. In any case, the bike is very well-balanced in many aspects of riding. This Allure model really shows its dynamic potential on trails, and we found it to perform better on fast, rolling terrain than on technical, rocky singletrack. Not that it isn’t comfortable there, but some competitors are better in that regard.
Backed by a lifetime warranty, the Allure offers a wide range of configurations to suit your goals. It’s compatible with 1x or 2x drivetrains, add the Enve All-Road carbon fork paired with 32 mm tires for rides involving more road sections, or choose the CEC titanium fork and 40 or 45 mm tires for fast gravel rides on challenging terrain. The hanger is UDH-compliant.
This is a custom-built bike, featuring high-end titanium craftsmanship, and the price reflects that. With the frame-and-fork kit costing nearly €4,000, this Chiru is reserved for those who are already passionate about the sport and know exactly what they want to achieve. The result is top-notch for a gravel bike, one that can deliver more on the trail—and do so in spectacular fashion.
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