XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[Bobinski]

You need the FD mount for a chain catcher.

My vielo is designed for 1x. I haven’t ever dropped a chain in 3y of use. Perhaps I just got lucky

[gaisdergerman]

I like the frame much, but I don't like that you have too buy a aftermarket pouch.

Feels like it's not complete.

[Requiem84]

I agree and have mentioned the same. Any complete bike that I sell will always come with a pouch.

I will arrange the pouches myself for now.

[spud]

Requiem - what length stem are you running on your GRT? And a very subjective question - how do you find the front end handling, compared to your VRT? My old gravel bike with a 120 stem steers like a truck, like it's got WAY too much trail. Just stiff and unresponsive. I"m not looking for a crit bike, but want to make sure I don't duplicate the heavy steering.

[Requiem84]

110, steers a bit lazier than the VRT, but even on the road it works for me. You can throw it into corners. Wouldn’t want faster steering, would impact the stability on gravel. I’m pretty ‘on the nose’ in terms of fit. Even with the 74 degree STA, my saddle is in max forward position. That also impacts the handling obviously.

What’s the HTA on your current frame and what is the fork offset? Or maybe better, which frame is it?

[spud]

The specs are lost in the sands of time (at least 12 years old) - it's generic open mould. HT angle is 72, don't even know what the rake on the fork is. Handling is fine except for how the front end feels out of the saddle. Even my modern long travel MTB feels lighter on the front end w/ a circa 68 degree HT angle and short stem. I'm confident the handling on the XMCS will be good, especially if I keep stem length down to 110

[hubba]

I'm running 110mm stem on my Yoeleo Altera that has 71 degree headtube and I like the handling. At first it felt a bit slow but got used to it quick. I ride my road bike less these days and when I do it feels quite twitchy. I think road bikes have generally too steep ht angles.

I think optimal for me would be 90 to 100mm stem on the GRT which I would run if I decide to get it. I've sent email to xmcs if they could share some pictures how it looks with a logo as I don't want unbranded looking frame.

Whenever I go view the GRT on the xmcs website the whole experience is really making me consider other options. But I haven't found any other options that would tick all the boxes. Especially the bb drop and seat tube angle one of them always sucks on the other 57mm clearance frames.

[Requiem84]

Logo

[tmhbrl]

Logo

V
A
A
R
C

another new brand from Chiner?? 

[Kyuss]

Logo looks horrible.

[Requiem84]

And another logo option released today.

[hubba]

Did someone else design the Aerys logo? That looked good. All the logos from xmcs are not great, some made by forum members were better. Please get someone do a decent logo and I will buy this frame.

[Requiem84]

Aerys was designed by us. Current designs XMCS.

The logo set-up is not my persomal cup of tea, but a lot of people like it. In your particular case, I’d buy either a RTP frame and get on the frame what you have in mind, or send Xmcs what you have in mind and ask if they can do a custom painting for you.

One thing I learned quite quickly is that you cannot please everyone. Quite some people were not fond of Aerys either.

[frewster]

The second logo looks good. Easier to read but still has some style to it.

[AlmanL.]

Or you choose the retro Carbonspeed decal, like I do 

As I opened the box, I was surprised, cause I thought it came with the new XMCS logo. But for now I decided, it don’t look so bad.