XMCS - 2026 VRT

[Requiem84]

ooh the Aerys is the most interested I have been in a new frame in a long time! @Peter or @Requiem84, any info on when the size S might be available?

The AERYS:VRT then, as we got more Aeryses (plural?) coming ;-).

I haven’t heard clear dates, but I’d expect you can order size S in May. Peter is quite busy at Sea Otter, but he can confirm exacter timelines later.

[Pistonbroke]

Just spotted Patty at the xmcs booth on the GC performance sea otter video.
Looking good folks

[patliean1]

Sea Otter is not for introverts…

An interesting pattern I seen with the majority of Far East brands on display here is their efforts to be as inoffensive as possible. They don’t really initiate conversation and simply let the products speak for themselves. Even with eye contact. I know this is just cultural.

As an American who understands the dynamic needed in being approachable and speaking up, I’m happy to have done my small part in Peter’s booth to intrigued media folks and patrons. Sea Otter thrives on A-type personalities. It’s not just selling products. It’s really about offering an experience.

[Blueberry]

Aeris is latin for air. And when discussing what is important to XMCS as brand Peter and team came up first with aerodynamics. Craftmanship. Quality. It also reflects the lightness of air and the efficiency in the xmcs designs. We can throw more marketing mumbo jumbo at it, but that’s the gist of it.

So this frame now officially is the AERYS:VRT, which stands for Vortex. The other road frame and gravel aero frame have a 3 letter abbreviation too but I leave it to Peter if he wants to share already.

To me, VRT immediately makes me think, "vertical." VRTX or maybe just VTX would make a little more sense to me. I understand it can be subjective though, different people might read it different ways. I can imagine people might reading those as "vertex."

I ran into Peter and Pat at Sea Otter, it was exciting to meet them both! I hadn't realized they would be there The frame looks really great in person, I wish I took pictures.

[Bobinski]

Welcome AERYS!

Context: Aeris is latin for air. And when discussing what is important to XMCS as brand Peter and team came up first with aerodynamics. Craftmanship. Quality. It also reflects the lightness of air and the efficiency in the xmcs designs. We can throw more marketing mumbo jumbo at it, but that’s the gist of it.

So this frame now officially is the AERYS:VRT, which stands for Vortex. The other road frame and gravel aero frame have a 3 letter abbreviation too but I leave it to Peter if he wants to share already.

*Note: the fork placement of ‘VRT’ will change in position and size.

I am happy with the name and the frame looks just right.  Great colour choice for Sea Otter as well.
Now, can it fit my 63y old frame? My bike fitter and time will tell.

[tisun]

It’s probably orange to apple, but watching this video

https://youtu.be/XaUmi5xFo1M?si=008HR7pls9bz4hON

and seeing how X-Lab rep talked to the camera with confidence and commands I can see X-Lab will do well in US market. 

Sea Otter is not for introverts…

An interesting pattern I seen with the majority of Far East brands on display here is their efforts to be as inoffensive as possible. They don’t really initiate conversation and simply let the products speak for themselves. Even with eye contact. I know this is just cultural.

As an American who understands the dynamic needed in being approachable and speaking up, I’m happy to have done my small part in Peter’s booth to intrigued media folks and patrons. Sea Otter thrives on A-type personalities. It’s not just selling products. It’s really about offering an experience.

[Sakizashi]

It’s probably orange to apple, but watching this video

https://youtu.be/XaUmi5xFo1M?si=008HR7pls9bz4hON

and seeing how X-Lab rep talked to the camera with confidence and commands I can see X-Lab will do well in US market.

XLab is moving executives and brand personnel from Veo Mobility, which XDS also owns. So they have a decade of experience doing business in the US with a lot of their people either US-born or at least educated in the US for college / graduate degrees. They talk like Americans because they are Americans.

Their chances of success are already high because of that. It's not really fair to compare them to XMCS, which operates at a different scale (as far as I have seen on the videos and stuff) and doesn't already have businesses operating globally.

It's pretty amazing IMO, what XMCS is building from forums to bikeshops without having resources or scale to take from elsewhere.

[patliean1]

I actually attended the X-Labs party/presentation. It was interesting to hear the executives, marketing reps, and even the family members speak about their future here in the USA as an X-Labs brand. It is a family-owned operation after all.

Of course I want to be very careful what I speak on in here. What I can say is their business model is very different than Peter's. X-Labs has very deep pockets. Very corporate. Their high-level objective it seems is to focus on expanding their dealer network to shops around the country. X-Labs is maneuvering like any other Western brand, so it makes sense why their Sea Otter booth was exceptionally inviting. Their engineer whom I spent 20 minutes talking with about their bike lineup was super friendly and informative. I hope in the future I have a chance to demo and review one of the latest bikes. But I can tell you right now they aren't interested in a lower-level Youtuber like myself. So that should tell you everything you need to know on how they want to position themselves in North America.

This makes me have so much respect for what Peter has been able to accomplish. He literally functioned as a one-man show at Sea Otter. From setting up and disassembling his booth, to working the booth alone all day in the sun for 4 days straight. All while being on an 11-hour jet lag. In fact I think Peter may have been the only booth at entire Sea Otter that was completely managed solo.

What does all of this mean for Peter and XMCS? I don't know LoL. But with Chinese brands finally on the big stage in America, 2027 will be an important year for XMCS.

[Requiem84]

From my POV it’s important that XMCS stays true to itself. It’s very much rooted as an engineering company, where ‘no-nonsense’ is one of the key words.

Already when working on the AERYS branding we were conscious not to over do it. Xmcs should remain - my view - a bit understated, where the engineering speaks for itself.

If it becomes a slick marketing operation, it will feel fake. Because it would just be a façade. I don’t think it needs a smooth X-labs sales rep, I think the straightforwardness and in a way simplicity is stronger.

With all of these things, when you grow it’s important to stay true to yourself.

And also: be careful what you wish for. We all want a wind tunnel tested aero frame if sub 200w, which weighs 600g, in aggressive and relaxed geo, for 900usd, with recessed ht bearings, in spectactular paint schemes etc. If you try to do it all, it won’t work.

[Leon1234]

Hi, I am also quite new to this thread. Where can the M and L frames be ordered? Is it the https://www.xmcs.nl website, because i can only find the GT frame on that site. Thanks for the help

[Requiem84]

Hi, I am also quite new to this thread. Where can the M and L frames be ordered? Is it the https://www.xmcs.nl website, because i can only find the GT frame on that site. Thanks for the help

You can best send XMCS itself a message, as I don’t have much visibility on the frames, lead times etc yet given they are so new.

Drop Allen a note here: allenli@xmcarbonspeed.com

[Icyseanfitz]

Any updates on release or finalized pricing on this? Might build a race bike for next season

[patliean1]

Apologies for leaving folks in the dark.

1. I'm told a full range of sizes will be available this Summer. Peter is waiting for the wind tunnel results from Silverstone. And while I highly doubt the results will have any influence on the further production of frame sizes, he probably is just being cautious. Plus Peter has been busy preparing for Euro Bike 2026.

2. Pricing will be somewhere between $1800-$1900 incl handlebar and basic custom paint option.

3. I've been riding the AERYS for the past 4 weeks and it's a super solid bike. Fast and it feels well rounded. The deep headtube is fantastic in a tailwind. And also not so ideal in 40kph crosswinds which are common this time of year here in Chicago. No frame with this type of headtube is above its crosswind challenges. Would be happy racing with this bike if I wasn't so nervous crashing a newly released design.

4. The main hurdle preventing me from offering a full review is I'm waiting for Peter to release a 20mm setback seatpost next month. In short, I can't really get the saddle far enough back behind the bottom bracket due to the 74° seat tube angle and the supplied zero setback seat post. This is totally a me problem. Most riders don't have a 9.5cm saddle setback like myself. And no I didn't choose the wrong frame size. It's why I personally advocate for 73° seat posts. But maybe just the trend towards being more over the BB isn't something I can get behind (no pun) personally. Anything less than a 9cm saddle setback and my knees start screaming at me.

[Icyseanfitz]

That price increase is the real stickler tbh, I've no doubts at all on quality and would be happy to spend more considering how good my cs-r01 has been, but when you go over 1500 for a frame you really start to incorporate resale into the decision, brands like Tavelo and winspace hold better mindshare in that regard and are seen as a more known bet.

[tjebakka]

That price increase is the real stickler tbh, I've no doubts at all on quality and would be happy to spend more considering how good my cs-r01 has been, but when you go over 1500 for a frame you really start to incorporate resale into the decision, brands like Tavelo and winspace hold better mindshare in that regard and are seen as a more known bet.

Between 1800 and 1900 dollars including handlebar (by the way, those are relatively expensive compared to frame + fork) and a custom color sounds pretty good if you ask me. Sure, it's a lot of money and the brand is lesser known, but still cheaper than a flagship model Tavelo or Winspace.

Maybe we will see a price drop to $1200 just as the Gran Tourismo.