The brand new Shimano GRX drivetrain is right here, and so is our check group. Initially, I had plans to construct up the T-Lab X3s with the brand new group, however that bike had been in our palms for almost a 12 months so it was time for it to move house. Again to the drafting board.
Whereas debating what to request to hold the brand new 12-speed components on, I assumed, “what higher bike to check out the brand new GRX group than the bike that I’ve been driving with the previous GRX group for years?”
That bike is an absolute favourite of mine: the Otso Warakin Ti. The one catch was that the pattern I had for my assessment was one of many very first frames that Otso had ever acquired from their body builder. In consequence, it was not suspension corrected and it didn’t have routing for a dropper publish.
Otso was one of many first manufacturers to supply a suspension-corrected gravel body with the power to run as much as 29 x 2.1” tires, and since they up to date the body I’ve been dying to attempt it out. As soon as the gravel bike stars aligned, I ended up with the newest model of the Warakin Ti body, a Fox 32 Gravel fork, and a whole Shimano GRX & Professional construct to tie all of it collectively. Time to get began.
Otso Warakin Ti All-Street / Gravel / Journey Body
As talked about, the Otso Warakin Ti is already one in all my favorites. I’ve solely ridden it in a inflexible configuration and with the non-suspension corrected geometry although, so this one is totally different. Constructed from seamless 3/2.5 B338 grade 9 titanium, the body options internally double-butted tubing on the entrance triangle. The end is fascinating however minimal with refined bead-blasted graphics. I’ve put the very first technology by hell, and it’s nonetheless driving – and looking out nearly as good as ever.
Should you order a body from Otso, you’ll be able to both select simply the body for $2,950, or add the Lithic Hilli carbon fork with triple mounts for one more $250. Frames additionally embody a Wolf Tooth Efficiency headset and seat publish clamp, all in your most popular coloration together with the bolt package and headset spacers.
I’m driving a 54cm – ensure you have a look at the geometry chart earlier than ordering. Despite the fact that it’s labeled a 54cm, it has an precise 53cm high tube and seat tube, and suits smaller than the dimensions would counsel. On the dimensions with headset, seat publish clamp, Tuning Chip dropout system, and rear axle, the body weighs in at 1,950g. The fork with crown race and axle provides one other 610g.
Fox 32 Taper Forged Fork
After driving the RockShox Rudy on the T-Lab X3-S, I couldn’t wait to get my palms on an journey bike with a suspension fork once more. The Fox 32 Taper Forged fork ended up being the start line for this construct, and I’m excited to match it to the RockShox Rudy Final. I simply want I might discover some olive decals to interchange the orange graphics to higher match the bike.
Shimano GRX RX820 1 x 12 Drivetrain
Onto the guts of the construct, the new Shimano GRX 12-speed group. The unique Warakin was arrange with the Shimano GRX 800 1x group with an 11-40t cassette. So the brand new group with a 10-51t cassette ought to present some welcomed vary. For the precise weights of the group, take a look at our authentic publish right here.
For this construct, I requested the 1x group with a 172.5 crankset with a 40t chainring. I additionally requested the dropper post-compatible STI lever – extra on that under.
Enduro BB
Initially, this group was supposed to go on the T-Lab X3-S, so it shipped with out a backside bracket (Shimano doesn’t make a BB386). After altering plans to construct up the Warakin, Enduro Bearings stepped up with one in all their XD-15 BSA threaded backside brackets for Shimano. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a brand new Shimano crankset spin so easily. Will probably be fascinating to see how this holds up comparatively.
Built-in Dropper Lever
Should you’ve frolicked on the GRX 800 shifters, the 12-speed model will really feel very acquainted. That is good, as a result of the ergonomics of the earlier model had been wonderful. The one criticism I’ve ever had with them is the sloppy match of the hood – which continues to this technology as nicely. After peeling again the hoods to attach the brake strains and bleed the brakes, it’s very tough to get the hood to cleanly match again into place.
You could have a alternative in relation to brake levers for a 1x group. There are two totally different LH levers – one that’s only a brake lever, and one that may be a brake lever and a dropper publish lever. In principle, this could make for among the best dropper levers for dropbars. The lever makes use of the identical movement as you’ll to shift, so it’s very pure and simple in multiple-hand positions.
Nevertheless, you’ll want to run the cable with the cable head up on the shifter. That may restrict you to what dropper posts you’ll be able to run since many have transitioned to operating the cable head on the seatpost. I discovered that the appropriate Shimano PRO Uncover 70 dropper publish was simply too lengthy for my saddle peak on this body. I had a CrankBrothers Highline XC dropper that was brief sufficient to run, however it requires the cable head on the publish so it’s not appropriate with the Shimano lever. Anybody with an extended seat publish extension seemingly gained’t run into this problem, however for us brief folks on frames with out a lot room for a dropper, it’s one thing to contemplate.
I haven’t given up on a dropper publish for this bike, however might want to type out the distant and publish compatibility first.
Brakes
Whereas the brakes look related, there are some substantial modifications. The pads now not use a flat blade screwdriver for the retaining pin, as a substitute shifting to a 3mm Allen bolt. Extra importantly, the whole bleed system had modified with a separate bleed port on the facet of the caliper, and a threaded ‘management valve’ on high. Now, you join the hose to the bleed port after which management the move of fluid by turning the Allen screw on high.
The brake pads themselves are additionally totally different and now function a considerable chamfer on the backside. This was seemingly executed to make it simpler to insert the wheel as it’s going to feed the rotor in between the pads higher. However because the pad materials is identical dimension, you’re going to see a smaller contact floor on the rotor. Initially, I assumed I had one thing fallacious with the caliper adapters on the brand new construct as a result of the pad seemed prefer it was sitting larger – it was simply the visible distinction of the chamfer.
C32 Carbon Wheels
The WH-RX880 wheels are a C32 mannequin, which merely means they’re carbon with a 32mm depth. You’ll discover the identical C32 designation on different wheels like these within the 105 lineup, however it’s the WH-RX880 quantity that distinguishes the mannequin (technically WH-RX880-TL-F12-700C). These tubeless wheels have a 25mm inner width, 24 spokes per wheel, and embody the mandatory Micro Spline freehub to be used with the cassettes wanted for GRX 12 velocity.
PRO Cockpit
Every time we get a brand new Shimano group to construct up, they may usually embody a whole PRO cockpit. It is a 44cm PRO Uncover 12 diploma flare aluminum bar with an 80mm Uncover stem. Their Gravel Consolation Tape was additionally included, which is definitely fairly good. It appears like a really strong, cheesy bar tape with a 3mm whole thickness. The backing is ‘Good Silicone adhesive’ which helps it keep in place with out truly sticking to the bar whenever you go to take away it. The tape can be further lengthy with 230mm rolls for wider bars or nearer wrapping.
The final a part of the PRO bundle is the Stealth Offroad saddle. The shorter saddle is available in 142 or 152mm widths, and it’s particularly padded for gravel & MTB racing.
Pedals
There aren’t any particular GRX pedals, however like different components of the group, it borrows from the Shimano MTB lineup. Shimano’s XTR pedals are an apparent alternative right here, and also you’ll have a alternative between the usual axle size, or one that’s 3mm shorter. That works out to 52mm or 55mm for the crank-to-pedal middle measurement.
Remaining Weight
Because it sits with a Zipp carbon seatpost, the entire construct with pedals and 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC tires is 22.5lbs. That’s roughly 1.25lbs heavier than the outgoing Warakin with a inflexible carbon fork, GRX 800 group, and related GRX carbon wheels.
