Bikesdirect Mulekick 853

9 replies · 3,740 views

zen_
110 posts
#1Nov 29, 2019, 2:09 PM
Been eyeballing this bike for the past few weeks. Reynolds 853 steel frame, full GRX 800 drivetrain, decent wheels, and good tires as built for $1800. A rep stated a medium weighs 20 pounds, which seems believable since an owner of a Whipshot 853 (Force 1) also said 20.5 pounds with pedals.

However, it does seem that the geometry is that of a CX bike rather than a contemporary gravel machine that has a lower bb drop, and longer overall wheelbase. Just curious what some thoughts are on this, as I am looking to do a lot more 100+ mile training rides and races next year. Is the difference between this bike, and say, the AC Cosmic Stallion night and day, or just splitting hair?

0
owly
328 posts
#2Nov 30, 2019, 12:42 AM
I'd tend to think if you're going to run a 32mm+ then you'd start to feel too tall in the saddle with the Mulekick's bb drop.

Cosmic Stallions' much better in my opinion. However I don't like that chainstay length for long training rides.
0
ljsmith
762 posts
#3Nov 30, 2019, 5:44 AM
The 140mm head tube really stands out to me, you’re gonna need a ton of spacers.
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chas
1,305 posts
#4Dec 2, 2019, 11:21 AM
I have their old fantom cross bike which has very similar geometry (go figure). It’s a fun bike, not too stable, not too twitchy (some super stable bikes have to be a little manhandled to get them to turn.
My biggest gripes with it are: Its aluminum (not a problem for your bike), and the head tube is too low at 115 (not a problem on your bike). So I wouldn’t change anything. I like a little higher bottom bracket because I hate pedal strike (and I corner aggressively). I don’t find a disadvantage to a high one, but hate a low BB. The head tube only looks ~10mm lower than a Roker, Warbird, or Open U.P.
This bike looks good for racing – should have decent power transfer and ability to dodge obstacles at speed. Obviously its not super slack or low or tall if that is what you desire in a bike.
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epzamora
114 posts
#5Dec 4, 2019, 7:21 AMedited
Now, I'm pretty new to all of this, but I'm thinking this is a CX bike being sold as a gravel bike. Even the text descriptions throughout keeps falling back to calling it a cross bike. Take a look at the geo chart for Motobecane's full-on CX Whipshot geometry. The numbers are the same. Just throw on the new Shimano "gravel" group, and call it a gravel bike?

The biggest difference is the wheelbase, short compared to current gravel bikes. What about tire sizing? How big would you like to go? You could certainly "dominate" with the 40c tires, or down as small as 25 for maximum speed (again, with those numbers thrown about, seems to be a CX bike). Not sure what kind of gravel you have, or where your rides take you now, or possibly in the future, but i sure would like to know i could run 650b x 2.1 in the future.

I'm guessing here, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this not may be the most ideal bike for "100+ mile training rides and races."

eric/fresno, ca.
2
writingjacob
3 posts
#6Dec 24, 2019, 5:09 AM
They sell a pretty cheap bike called a Gravel X3 that has Gravel geometry. My friend has one, it's not half bad.
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zen_
110 posts
#7Dec 25, 2019, 9:30 PM
epzamora wrote:Not sure what kind of gravel you have, or where your rides take you now, or possibly in the future, but i sure would like to know i could run 650b x 2.1 in the future.
I'm guessing here, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this not may be the most ideal bike for "100+ mile training rides and races."

eric/fresno, ca.

Looked to me like the Whipshot versions with 35c CX tires barely had any clearance left, so I'm not sure how they even jammed the 38/40c Gravel King in there. I gave it quite a bit of thought, and ended up getting a Tamland 1 instead that I'll upgrade. Just seemed like a better choice for long rides on mostly straight, fast midwest gravel even though the specs are lower, and it weights 2-3 pounds more.
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epzamora
114 posts
#8Dec 26, 2019, 12:32 AM
zen_ wrote:
I gave it quite a bit of thought, and ended up getting a Tamland 1 instead that I'll upgrade.

Those Tamlands get nice reviews. What do you see upgrading first?

eric/fresno, ca.
0
zen_
110 posts
#9Dec 26, 2019, 9:50 AM
epzamora wrote:

Those Tamlands get nice reviews. What do you see upgrading first?

eric/fresno, ca.

I'm going to swap out the 105 5800 shifters with mechanical brakes for 105 7000 shifters with hydraulic brakes, and get one of the Ultegra RX800 rear mechs with a clutch. Would be nice to get GRX parts, but they are still quite expensive as aftermarket parts.
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epzamora
114 posts
#10Dec 26, 2019, 11:45 AMedited
I hear ya. That's a good part upgrade plan.

I had 105 5800 shifters/derailleurs with TRP Spyre brakes on my Search XR, my first experience with 105. The TRPs are very good mechanical brakes, but I wanted hydraulics eventually. My immediate upgrade priority was for some lower gearing though, so placed an order with my LBS for the 46/30 GRX 600 crank, with the GRX derailleurs, thinking come tax return time next spring, I may revisit the GRX hydraulic brakes upgrade issue. The bike came stock with the Praxis Alba crank. My LBS upgraded me to a Wheels Manufacturing BB, less plastic he said.

He also ordered the brakes without my asking, one of the 800 series brake levers, said I could buy them, pay off as I can, or not, my choice, no pressure. GAH. TEMPTATION. I went for it.

This "he" of my LBS is the shop owner. He's become a friend, and has the same bike I do, though one size smaller, a 2018 Norco Search XR with the Reynolds 720 steel. We've been leap-frogging each other lately with bike upgrades. He had gone 650b before i started frequenting the shop, and then i went 650b six months after buying the bike (on closeout, so he knocked $400 off the bike). I went with a Redshift Stopshock stem, he now has one. I went with Zipp Service Course SL bars, he now has that too. He went with a dropper post with suspension, drilled out the frame for the internal version, i'm tempted to do that now as well.

Even though a good LBS is very helpful, often with a standard 10-15% off discount, never get too close to your LBS. They can be a drain on your finances lol

eric/fresno, ca.
1

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