Tested: Teschner SE-33

It’s a storied name in Australian frame building. After a hiatus of several years, Teschner is riding again with the release of the special edition SE-33. Peter Maniaty recently put one (as in, literally, build #1), through its paces.

Designed in Australia. Moulded in Europe. Hand-finished in Adelaide. The Teschner SE-33 is a limited edition series of 33 carbon road framesets, each individually numbered and custom specified to commemorate 33 years since the brand was founded by Peter Teschner in the early 1990s.

Background

Scrolling through the Teschner honour roll makes for impressive reading. Partnering with the AIS for many years and piloted by riders the calibre of Michael Rogers, Steph Morton, Cameron Meyer, Jack Bobridge, Jordan Kirby and more, its frames were ridden to no less than 24 Australian National Titles, 11 USA National Titles and 10 World Championship Titles (road and track) between 1996 and 2010, whilst also featuring at three consecutive Olympic Games. After 20 years at the helm, Peter Teschner actually sold the business in 2011, before promptly buying it back just three years later. Whilst Peter, now in his 70s, says he never truly left the industry, the SE-33 is very much part of a wider relaunch for the business that carries his name.

“The SE-33 is a commemorative project, but it’s also part of a longer-term strategy to reignite the Teschner brand. After reacquiring the business in 2014, I set everything aside for several years. But my passion for innovation was reignited when I joined the bike division of an additive manufacturing company back in 2017,” Peter reflects, outlining his involvement in an array of projects in recent years that, amongst other things, includes the world-first development of 3D-printed bicycle lugs in Scalmalloy, a high strength scandium-aluminium-magnesium alloy. “Innovation has always been my passion and Teschner has thrived by collaborating with individuals and companies who share that drive. The SE-33 is a testament to that.”

First Impressions

Emerging from beneath a mountain of bubble wrap and protective foam in direct proportion to its lofty price-tag, the SE-33 is striking and intriguing in equal measure. As I slowly build it up in my living room, three things stand out. First, it’s incredibly light. The Medium frame weighs just 750 grams and the forks a mere 290 grams, whilst the total build without pedals and bottle cages is a feathery 6.5kg – that’s 300 grams under the current UCI weight limit. Second, the variegated copper leaf hand finishing on the otherwise black tubing is lustrous and exquisitely detailed, with its perfectly imperfect pinstripes catching the light as I move around my work stand. Finally, the Campagnolo gruppo and wheelset are pretty much as good as it gets. This is clearly a unique, and yes, expensive, bicycle.

Styling

Designed in-house by Teschner, the SE-33 presents as a classic double-diamond frame. 100 per cent wireless shifting (more on that in a moment) makes the build entirely cable free, with only the ends of the internally routed brake hoses interrupting the otherwise sleek silhouette. Resisting much of the ubiquity of contemporary carbon builds – there’s a distinct absence of kammtails, dropped seat stays and oversized tubing, for example – it certainly gives off some serious retro vibes, contrasting with what is actually quite an advanced ultra-light monocoque frame. Turns out this is not accidental.

“Teschner Bikes has never followed trends,” explains Peter Teschner. “That’s why the SE-33 moved away from the popular fast-back seat stay design seen on many carbon frames that are almost indistinguishable from each other. Instead, it features a conventional seat stay design and a unique finishing process using metal leaf foils for decals and pin-striping under an epoxy clear coat – a laborious, four-day task that really sets it apart.”

In terms of colourways, the variegated copper leaf pinstripe and decals are available in nine different shades. Gold leaf and painted options are also available.

Frame & Geometry

The SE-33 frame and fork boast reasonably conventional geometry with a standard steerer and headset allowing for one or two-piece cockpit configurations. Look closely and, yes, there is some contouring going on, most noticeably the down tube and a subtly tapering top tube, but it’s all pretty understated. The bottom bracket junction is robust enough, yet still relatively compact by today’s chunky standards. At just 977mm the wheelbase on the review frame (548mm top tube) is also quite compact, whilst the head tube measures on the shorter side at just 125mm, equating to a reasonably low stack of 534mm. Reach is about average at 384mm.

Produced using resin transfer moulding (RTM) in Portugal, of all places, the SE-33 frame is crafted as a single, seamless entity with no joints, welds or glues. Regarded by many as the gold standard in high modulus carbon frame construction, RTM frames are well-known for their extremely high tolerance levels, uniformity and consistency.

“After an extensive search and testing I located a manufacturer in Portugal capable of delivering our vision for the SE-33,” Peter points out. “A European-made, RTM monocoque carbon frame that’s lightweight and disc-brake optimised.” Without giving away all his secrets, Peter also explains the Portuguese production facility is no stranger to crafting high-end frames, partnering with several other well-known European and US brands.

Wheels & Components

Every SE-33 is custom specified and finished to meet the exact requirements of the purchaser. In the case of the review build it’s top notch all the way, headlined by a sublime combination of Campagnolo’s 12-speed Super Record Wireless groupset, Hyperon Ultra 37mm carbon wheelset, 3D-printed Selle San Marco saddle and Deda Elementi Super Leggera carbon components. Shimano Dura Ace/PRO and SRAM/Zipp options are also available, as well as Campagnolo Record and Chorus if you want to bring the price down a little.

Laced around whisper quiet black aluminium hubs with CULT ceramic bearings, the lightweight Hyperon Ultra wheels (1,240g for the pair) are seriously impressive and fabulously versatile.

But the undoubted star of the review build is the Super Record Wireless groupset which, with an eye-watering price tag of over $8,000, is worth more than many fine road bikes on its own. As you’d expect, shifting is precise and silky smooth.

But when it comes to stopping power, well, it’s simply the most brilliantly-modulated disc braking I’ve ever experienced.

Gone are the once-iconic Campy thumb shifters, phased out since the previous version of Super Record EPS, replaced by twin buttons on each of the ErgoPower levers. Bluetooth communication between the levers and derailleurs means shifting is 100 per cent wireless; however, in an odd bit of Italian design, the front and rear derailleur batteries are completely different and, hence, not interchangeable. Doh.

The compact 48/32T Super Record crankset (50/34T and 45/29T options are also available) features hollow carbon cranks with a titanium axle. Recommended tyre size is 28mm, however, for tyres up to 32mm Teschner can supply a 3D-printed carbon stone/chip shield for the seat tube and BB shell areas on request.

The Ride

Smooth, smooth, smooth. Gliding along without a care in the world, it’s clear the SE-33 is a wonderfully balanced all-rounder. The handling is assured. The braking magnificent. The ride position is reasonably relaxed and, overall, comfort levels are definitely on the cushier side of stiff.

Whilst a long way from being a purebred speed machine, performance is still lively and responsive enough to keep things interesting for most riders and ‘sports luxury’ would probably be an apt overall descriptor. Acceleration is above average, no doubt aided by the ultra-low weight, and it really picks up when you ask despite the relatively modest girth of both the stays and bottom bracket junction.

On the flip side, speed holding is probably a rung or two below that of a more specialist aero build; I regularly found myself working just that little bit harder to hold the wheel in training pace lines compared with my usual (more aero-oriented) road bike. None of this was unexpected, mind you.

Given the sub-7kg featherweight, something I absolutely did expect was for the SE-33 to fly up the climbs. Whilst overall ascending performance was very good, it never quite reached the levels I’d anticipated, or hoped for, when tackling my usual review inclines in and around Sydney.

I put this to Peter Teschner who explained, as a high-end special edition, the design philosophy for the SE-33 was to create a true all-rounder—“Something to be enjoyed, admired and leaving you with a smile on your face every time you walk into the kitchen after a ride,” he said – rather than a high-performance racing or climbing machine. Against this measure, Teschner has absolutely succeeded, for the SE-33 delivers an enjoyable riding experience across the board, without ever quite rising to ‘class leading’ in any one category.

Summing Up

Yes, the Teschner SE-33 is a bicycle. But it’s also a statement. Rather than simply mimicking the world’s major frame manufacturers, it’s a limited edition road machine tailored for discerning riders who place high value on custom design and craftsmanship – and have jersey pockets deep enough to pay for it. The understated retro shaping is juxtaposed by bespoke hand finishing and high-end components at every contact point, all meticulously specified and detailed. The result? An entirely worthy reboot of a significant name in Australian frame building.