By way of new gravel bikes, it appears the Philly Bike Expo was a great place to be. We’ve identified a few new mission from T-Lab Bikes out of Montreal for some time, however it was out at PBE that the X3-S lastly noticed the sunshine of day.
Photograph c. Ron Frazelle
T-Lab bikes launched their X3 flagship gravel bike again in 2018, and it’s nonetheless certainly one of Gravel Bike owner’s favorites. Nonetheless, T-Lab Co-Founder Rob Rossi states that since then, “our extra adventurous purchasers have been asking for a suspension gravel bike. So our design staff started working.”
The result’s the X3-S, the place the ‘S’ stands for Suspension. In contrast to some present suspension gravel bikes in the marketplace although, this isn’t simply the X3 with a suspension fork swapped in. Your complete entrance finish of the bike has been redesigned to supply the proper geometry and body efficiency that goes together with having a suspension bike up entrance.
Photograph c. T-Lab Bikes
Up entrance, you’ll discover that the X3-S is constructed round a 40mm journey Rockshox Rudy Final XPLR fork with a 45mm rake. Regardless of the truth that RockShox presents each 30mm and 40mm journey variations of this fork, till now, we’ve principally seen 30mm variations as unique spec – that’s as a result of a 30mm journey model will upset the geometry much less on a body that isn’t suspension corrected.
Right here, the X3-S is suspension corrected, and meant for the longest journey Rudy at 40mm. Although T-Lab states that it could actually safely run forks from 30-60mm of journey.
Photograph c. T-Lab Bikes
Simply as essential is the stiffness of the entrance finish. With a suspension fork at your disposal, you’re nearly assured to push issues more durable on rougher terrain. Which means the X3-S would profit from a stronger, stiffer entrance triangle, which T-Lab delivered. Because the suspension fork will make up for a bit much less compliance out of the body, the elevated stiffness ought to hold issues monitoring in the precise course when issues get rowdy.
The geometry of the X3-S can also be tweaked for extra aggressive using with an extended attain than the X3 meant for shorter stems (60-80mm). You’ll additionally discover a slacker 69º head tube angle, all to supply stability at excessive speeds on tough terrain, and making the entrance of the bike simpler to load whereas cornering.
Photograph c. Ron Frazelle
Just like the X3, the X3-S is really helpful to be constructed with a BB-386 backside bracket shell. T-Lab says this enables for optimum lateral stiffness and their exact machining eliminates the opportunity of any creaking. For those who actually need to have a threaded BB and are prepared to sacrifice some stiffness (and a few {dollars}), a threaded BSA backside bracket is obtainable as an choice. Additionally like different T-Lab bikes, the X3-S will likely be out there as a principally inventory construct – or all the best way to totally customized, together with the geometry and the paint.
The X3-S is obtainable as a 1x construct solely, and presents tire clearance as much as 700c x 50mm which matches that of the Rudy suspension fork. Made in Montreal, Quebec, the primary small batch of X3-S frames and full builds will likely be out there beginning January 2023.
We may even have an in depth first take a look at this bike coming quickly as we’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of a overview mannequin!
