High-end aluminum framed gravel bikes....anything new out there?

Hi all:

I'm riding a 2020 Crockett right now.  It's snappy, and has a great ride quality, especially for the price.  There are a few things about it that could change to be more suited to the riding I do.  The point is it's a well thought out frame, made of nice aluminum, and I'm happy with it as a platform.  For reference, I also have a Ti salsa colossal and a steel sutra LTD in the lineup, so while not apples to apples, I spend time on different frame materials.

The Mason Bokeh immediately comes to mind, but I can't see one or ride one in the US without just ordering.

What else am I missing in the gravel world that is:

nice aluminum (not made to be as cheap as possible, has nice tubesets and hydroforming;
has sensible gravel geometry (clears 700x40, 70+mm bb drop, 72 or slacker HA);
available as a frameset only.

Thanks!

Hunter.

Salsa Storm Chaser
Niner  RLT9

Liteville 4-One MK1
Low MK gravel

No first hand experience with any of them, but both look nice :-)

There is the very light magnesium frameset from Vaast (A1). Only 68mm bbdrop though. Reportedly weighs a little over 1100gm in Medium.   

Only offering a 1x frameset version for the time being. 

I think Trek is near the top of the game for aluminum. I recently ordered, and then returned, a Niner RLT 9 aluminum frame. It is nicely made, although I didn't see in pics it has internal cable routing thanks to a not-fully-welded downtube-bb shell junction like a Salsa Journeyman, which I personally think looks kind of kludgy. But I mainly returned it because it's noticeably heavier in hand than a Crockett. It felt like it's in a no-mans-land between light frames and heavier steel frames. 
Crockett frame- 3.5 lb; RLT9- 4.5 lb; Surly Midnight Special- 5.5 lb.

I would buy a Canyon Grail AL if I was in the market for a new gravel only bike.  But, I'm probably a Canyon Fanboy - love the way their bikes ride, and their price point and their customer service.  

Ya know, head tube angle varies greatly by frame size, right?

One thing that struck me in reading about Salsa Warbird, is that they had used hydroforming of Aluminum to make their Aluminum bike roughly10% more compliant than their Titanium Warbird.  Dang!   

ss29er wrote:Salsa Storm Chaser
Niner  RLT9

These ^^^^^^

chas wrote:

One thing that struck me in reading about Salsa Warbird, is that they had used hydroforming of Aluminum to make their Aluminum bike roughly10% more compliant than their Titanium Warbird.  Dang!   

Ive read this several times.  Is there a source for this?  Also, does anyone know what year Warbird it refers to?

Wow, this thread turned out great!

My thoughts are, in terms of mass production, The Trek stuff probably is the top of the game.  If they redid the Checkpoint like the 2021 Crockett (t47, fixed rear end, tubeset from the emonda ALR) this would be a no-brainer.

I've checked out the Niner, and it just feels a bit kludgy and heavy compared to what I'm on.  I think the fit and options of the Niner are great, tho.

If there was a V4 Aluminum Warbird, that would be awesome and basically perfect. My biggest hang-up with the Stormchaser (and i'm seriously considering the Stormchaser) is the front ring and that the fork is supposed to be a rough go.  The literature says its a 38t max front ring.  that's not horrible or anything, but I already have some wolf tooth elliptical 42t that I adore and the gearing range with a shimano xt 40t cassette is pretty magic for where and what I ride.  If someone has first hand experience you can squeeze a bigger front ring on there with a certain crankset, I'm all ears (eyes, since this is a forum?)

Low and Liteville appear out of bikes forever.  And for that $$$, I'd just do a new Spooky or a rock lobster or a tonic and be done. Or any carbon frame. 

Interested to hear your thoughts!

Best

Hunter,

Re: Warbird compliance- it would have to be the V3 Warbird, I don't think there is a V4 aluminum (or I would own one).  It appears they went cheap (journeyman) and niche (stormchaser) and single material on the 'bird this go round.

300hp wrote:Re: Warbird compliance- it would have to be the V3 Warbird, I don't think there is a V4 aluminum (or I would own one).  It appears they went cheap (journeyman) and niche (stormchaser) and single material on the 'bird this go round.

Stormchaser includes hardware to go geared, although I have not seen much in the way of feedback from those who use it geared.  I feel like it is the easy step to having an alloy higher end offering (although as a frame only)

force10 wrote:

Ive read this several times.  Is there a source for this?  Also, does anyone know what year Warbird it refers to?

It was from an article I read that came out about the time shortly after they discontinued the Ti version.   They were making a big deal about their new (Al and carbon) compliant frames that were designed for chunky american gravel. 

Ti doesn't always mean complaint, especially in a production (not custom) setting.

My Salsa Colossal Ti is far from a compliant noodle.  It's the stiffest bike in my fleet.  It does a great job on road buzz, but it's not supple.  I'd bet the Emonda ALR with the same tires would be a more compliant ride.

chas wrote:

It was from an article I read that came out about the time shortly after they discontinued the Ti version.   They were making a big deal about their new (Al and carbon) compliant frames that were designed for chunky american gravel. 

Thanks.

300hp wrote:Ti doesn't always mean complaint, especially in a production (not custom) setting.

My Salsa Colossal Ti is far from a compliant noodle.  It's the stiffest bike in my fleet.  It does a great job on road buzz, but it's not supple.  I'd bet the Emonda ALR with the same tires would be a more compliant ride.

300hp wrote:Ti doesn't always mean complaint, especially in a production (not custom) setting.

My Salsa Colossal Ti is far from a compliant noodle.  It's the stiffest bike in my fleet.  It does a great job on road buzz, but it's not supple.  I'd bet the Emonda ALR with the same tires would be a more compliant ride.

I'd like to ride a ti colossal.  I've long thought it would be an ideal road bike.

I've long agreed with that.  It's my ideal road bike, for sure.  A bit more gravel on the geometry side, and fits a 31mm tire nicely.  It's really a cool machine, and a set of the new GP5000 tires should really wake it up.

force10 wrote:

Ive read this several times.  Is there a source for this?  Also, does anyone know what year Warbird it refers to?

Here is the source (since I commented on it so often over the last 5 years):

"the carbon Class 5 VRS frame results in a 9% vibration reduction compared to the previous titanium Warbird frame. The aluminum frame takes advantage of the same Class 5 VRS system and also sees a 6% improvement over the titanium Warbird as well."

Reference (from 2015):  https://bikerumor.com/2015/02/21/all-new-salsa-warbird-gravel-racers-take-flight-plus-powderkeg-mountain-tandem-is-ready-to-roll/

FYI, Class 5 VRS is named after a grade of gravel popular in the Midwest.  Many of us know it all too well.  ;-)

There no longer is an aluminum Warbird, the Journeyman replaced it.  I do not think the Journeyman uses the VRS.  The Stormchaser does use the VRS.

chas wrote:

Here is the source (since I commented on it so often over the last 5 years):

"the carbon Class 5 VRS frame results in a 9% vibration reduction compared to the previous titanium Warbird frame. The aluminum frame takes advantage of the same Class 5 VRS system and also sees a 6% improvement over the titanium Warbird as well."

Reference (from 2015):  https://bikerumor.com/2015/02/21/all-new-salsa-warbird-gravel-racers-take-flight-plus-powderkeg-mountain-tandem-is-ready-to-roll/

FYI, Class 5 VRS is named after a grade of gravel popular in the Midwest.  Many of us know it all too well.  ;-)

Many thanks.  I appreciate the effort.

300hp wrote:Hi all:
...What else am I missing in the gravel world that is:

nice aluminum (not made to be as cheap as possible, has nice tubesets and hydroforming;
has sensible gravel geometry (clears 700x40, 70+mm bb drop, 72 or slacker HA);
available as a frameset only.

Thanks!

Hunter.

 

Two alloy gravel frames that I've been interested in are Giant's Contend AR, and Revolt (not the carbon-framed Revolt Advanced). 

I have no affiliation with Giant, but have owned 2 different Giant Reigns over the years, and I think Giant hydroforms alloy about as well as anyone.  My now ancient 2011 alloy Reign small frameset was light, and weighed under 7 lbs w/ an air shock, which was less than my carbon 2015 Evil Following w/ air shock.  I could get the Reign's rear brake rotor to rub the pads while cornering, presumably from rear end flex, but I never experienced that with the Following.  My point is that Giant has been making light and compliant alloy frames for a while now, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your preferences.   

Contend AR Pros:  

• Alloy frame 
• Spec'd for 38mm tires, but has clearance for smooth treaded Teravail 42mm tires, as shown on Black Water Cyclist's video review here 
• 80 mm BB drop 
• 3 smaller sizes (XS, S, M) have 71.5 to 72 degree head angle

Contend AR Cons (relevant to OP):  

• larger sizes (ML, L, XL) have 72.5 head angle  
• Not offered for sale as a frameset, per Giant USA's website 

BWC reviews the 2020 Contend AR 1 (msrp $1550 for 2020 model, with 105 hydro group, alloy wheels, 21.6 lbs w/o pedals) in a separate 20 minute video here.  BWC gets total bike weight down 19.5 lbs by swapping to lighter 1600 g wheels, then drops weight further to very respectable 17.4 lbs, by swapping the stock 105 parts to a SRAM Red 22 parts.  All in all, he gives the Contend AR 1 a very favorable review, albeit with lighter wheels and Red components. 

********** 
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to dig up much online from riders about Giant's alloy Revolt, that's sold only as the complete Revolt 2 in the USA for $1000 (2020), and now $1200 (2021).  Guitar Ted goes over the basics for the alloy 2020 Revolt 2 (starting at 7:15) in this Andy's Bike Shop video here.  

Maybe Guitar Ted can give more info about how the Revolt 2's alloy frame feels, if he's had a chance to ride one.  

Revolt 2 pros: 

• Alloy frame 
• Spec'd for 45mm tires, and should fit 45s with room to space, per Guitar Ted in the video linked above 
• 70 mm BB drop 
• 70.5 to 71 degree head angles, depending on frame size  

Revolt 2 cons: 

• Not offered for sale as a frameset, per Giant's USA site.  

The 2021 Contend AR complete bikes (all Contend AR models share the same frame) start at $950, and the complete 2021 Revolt 2 retails for $1200--pretty low prices for complete bikes.  If my local shops ever get any, I'd pay the difference to upgrade the stock bars for the more compliant D-Fuse bars, then I'd sell as much of the new-take-off components and stock wheels for as much as I could get, and build up the frame however I wanted.