austex

Gunnar has expanded the Hyper line from the -X to the -XX and -XC. I am looking at the -XX for a couple reasons. Has S-bend chainstays that the caption says " increase tire clearance (to 55mm between the stays) as well as heel clearance", and the interchangeable rear frame ends for Q/R or thru-axle (though proprietary bits are also a bit of a potential downside). I'd likely do a custom fork, reducing axle-crown from design-spec of 395mm to 385, to lower the bb from 70mm drop to 74-ish drop, steepen head angle a tad (from 72.5 on the 54cm, haven't done the trig yet), and 65-ish rake for low trail. Also thinking three wheelsets - 559-51, 684-42 and 622-28 for flexibility.

Hyper-XX

Tom

Flamme Rouge

Not sure why the Gunnar Hyper-XX doesn't get more love... maybe lack of a marketing budget?

Changing wheelsets (and tires) will give a ton of flexibility and make for a solid "do anything" bike. It will take a 29er wheel with a 2.0 tire if you're riding really loose stuff, but 700c with +/- 40mm seems to hit a good spot for reducing weight to take on hills/accelerations and float (and I know they're the same diameter, just sayin').

Steel frames are never as light as carbon or alloy or Ti but a 21-pound build is not hard on this frame. Even going with 105/5800 Hydro should still keep it in the lower 20s.

I'd personally look at a Whisky fork. I've got several buddies riding them hard with good results. The headtube will take a tapered headset. If you reduce axle-crown you lose some of the choice for a larger front tire. You might have the width but not the height under the crown.

You'll prolly get a different BB drop depending on tires/wheels. Not sure I'd overthink it. I've had bikes from 67 to 80mm drop. Lower gives more stability but unless you're regularly descending at 45+ mph I don't know think you'll have a problem at 70.

Would be great to hear what you decided, or if you went in a different direction.

cyanotic

There is a very nice review at GravelCyclist. I can't post URL's yet as a new user, but a search on their site for Gunnar will bring it up.

cs1

When you come down to it is steel really that much heavier than AL? Maybe a pound in a frame. CF maybe several ponds. But I'm not really seeing AL having that much of a weight advantage.

TimothyH

Featured Bike: Gunnar Cycles Hyper-XX | Gravel Cyclist: The Gravel Cycling Experience


-Tim-

NoGears

Depends on the frame. I had a steel frame that was 6.5 pounds. Rode awesome but heavy. My current aluminum bike frame is just a tiny bit over 4 pounds. So that's a 2+ pound difference. Whether it matters to you is one thing...but there can be quite a difference. For some 2+ pounds is a huge deal. I weigh too much for it to really matter much.

Texico

The Hyper-XX has really piqued my interest as well. I currently have an older Tamland which is QR front and rear, and eventually I will be looking for a lighter weight gravel frame with thru-axle compatibility. The Hyper-XX is currently at the top of my list.

As regards the weight of steel frames, I also own a Gunnar Roadie in 56cm and the frame is ~3.8 lbs. It all comes down to which frames you are comparing. A decent carbon frame and a "high end" steel frame like a Gunnar, with the cost for both being the same at ~$1200, you're really only looking at 1-2 lbs difference. Even with higher end carbon frames you're paying a lot more for a different carbon layup but not a significant weight savings.

fietsbob

Gunnar is Waterford's Tig welded line, they are OK. don't worry.

austex

Thanks for the thoughts. Economic circumstance has postponed a purchase.

Not too concerned about larger 700 tire sizes - for fatter, I'm going 584 or 559 rim size. And I do like 75mm BB drop, which 10mm shorter a-c should about accomplish.

OP Tom

twinsies

Resurrecting this thread to post my new Hyper-XX. Steel grey metallic paint with reflective logos which for some reason my phone's flash turned yellowish in these photos. Whiskey #9, Ultegra R8020, Roval CLX32. Weighed in at 22.3lbs as pictured with fenders (sans lights and seat bag). Really happy with it so far!

RocThrower

That's a great looking bike, twinsies! Solid build specs and I love the way that grey metallic paint turned out.

austex

Couple ??s @twinsies - What headset are you using? And bottle cages are King stainless, yes?

And a comment - I see flat-mount caliper on fork and post- on chainstay. Paragon Machine Works has apparently introduced a flat-mount/12mm thru-axle insert for the chainstay should you want to match the calipers.

twinsies

Thank you, I'm happy with the aesthetic as well.

Headset is FSA Forty. You are correct King Cage Iris bottle cages. They are excellent cages IMO.

I did not know the Paragon product existed, thanks for that. Is there a performance reason for that part or is it just a match/visual kind of thing? From what I've read there's no performance differences between post- and flat-mount.

austex

No particular performance reason, mostly because brakes are typically sold in matching sets. Takes some effort to get one flat-mount, one post.
Flat-mount does limit one to 160mm rotors, though typically one wouldn't use larger rear than front rotor.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...hlight=paragon

ph0rk

FSA, or Cane Creek?

(Because that text sure looks like Cane Creek).

twinsies

You're right, Cane Creek 40 tapered headset.

hexron

Resurrecting this thread to say this is the bike I want to build almost exactly. What's the wheelset and brakes?

twinsies

Ultegra R8020 groupset (and brakes), Roval CLX32 wheelset

gus6464

Is it two different bikes or same one?

austex

One bike, but from original post (#10) "...Steel grey metallic paint with reflective logos which for some reason my phone's flash turned yellowish in these photos...."

hexron

Holy wheelsets batshram!

KeatonR

Beautiful bike. What's the max tire clearance?

Also, would it be hard to get a bike like this down to closer to 20 pounds?