I've asked Rose, will let you know
And my frame is on the way
You can also have what Gemini surmised about the weight gain...
The updated X68 revision incorporates design cues reflecting the Tarmac SL9 frame styling. Visually, this means broader aero profiles around the head tube junction, deeper fork legs, and slightly filled-in fairings around the seat tube/bottom bracket area to improve wind-tunnel efficiency.
1. Fork & Front-End Structural Reinforcement
On early iterations of the SL8-style X68, users and testers noted that the forks were pushed to dangerous sub-340g limits with very thin carbon layups. Following safety feedback, manufacturers increased the wall thickness of the steerer tube and fork blades—bumping uncut fork weights from ~340g to ~415g+ alone. Added carbon around the deeper head tube junction contributes a significant chunk of that extra weight.
2. UDH Dropouts & Metal Hardware Inserts
Transitioning the rear triangle to accommodate a true SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) spec requires a much beefier, denser carbon structure around the drive-side dropout, along with heavier aluminum insert hardware to support high-torque derailleur mounting.
3. Increased Surface Area (Deeper Aero Profiles)
To mimic the SL9's refined aerodynamics, tube profiles around the top of the down tube, bottom bracket junction, and seat post collar were widened. More surface area naturally requires more carbon cloth and resin to wrap the mold.
4. Manufacturing Safety Margins (Wall Thickness)
Mass-producing ultra-light ~800g frames with cheaper T700/T800 carbon grades leaves zero room for error. Open-mold factories frequently add extra resin and structural layers after initial production runs to lower warranty claim rates, prevent frame cracking around the bottom bracket, and ensure pass marks on ISO impact tests.
