BlackHeart Gravel AL: Is this the Best Value Gravel Bike 2024?

[@outdoorbros_]

How would you build your BlackHeart Gravel AL?

[@dcv9460]

Cerakote Dessert Camo color - SRAM XX Transmision - 45mm tires - Redshift stem - Ritchey bars 😎

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@dcv9460Desert Camo FTW!

[@notpablo8369]

​@@dcv9460+1same build if the Gravel AL have the same cable routing as the Allroad 😁😁 if full race mode, fsa gravel cockpit and wheel then sram wide groupo

[@ricksantana1016]

Well for 2024 this whip is definitely on my “saving for fund” Although for upgrades I would add my coefficient handlebars KOGEL BB and pulley, I would swap the saddle for a fizik argo tempo…

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@ricksantana1016 Love it! Since we build to order, we can customize almost anything and happy to source parts that aren't currently on the options list 🖤

[@KevinCook-u9t]

Not a great value at $2k for an aluminum frameset. There are GRX equipped AL gravel bikes from reputable manufacturers for this price and lower on sale. There doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable or new here just another gravel bike with paint options. $200 up charge for a paint match fork on a $2j frameset seems offensive when for $2k I can get a fully painted carbon frameset.

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure you can find custom paint at this price. And the problem with aluminum bikes is they are typically made very cheaply with low end spec builds. We think the combination of custom paint, design touches, and the option to spec with high end parts sets this bike apart. And I think if you compare to similarly spec'd carbon bikes, especially with mid tier groupsets and carbon wheels, you'll find the Gravel AL is $1,000 to $3,000 cheaper than carbon competitors.

[@LuisManuelHdez]

100% agree! This is why the bike industry is failing. They need to come back down to earth😂

[@damo5219]

​@@blackheartbikecoI partially agree. Im looking for a quality aluminium with premium groupset, and wheels, but don't need, or care for an expensive paint job. For me, its the quality of the ride...not how it looks.

[@sobr21azzaro]

@@damo5219 - but for others it is. They didn’t set out to make just you happy. 😉

[@ploughmyfield]

NO, is isn't the best value gravel bike. Its $2000 for the frameset! not a great review at only 100 miles ridden. If you had said 1000miles that would be more convincing. Off to buy a lighter carbon Giant revolt, or something also that as not as good value but a lot cheaper.

[@auricschiller]

OP testing Allied, S-works, too much and not paying attention to more common bikes. A $2k aluminum non custom frame is the high end of the market. Even Mason Cycles stuff is cheaper.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

If you've ridden enough bikes, you don't need even 50miles to judge it unless you're worried the frame is gonna fall apart. *it's definitely not a value bike at $2000 though😂

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately we see a lot of carbon cracking during crashes off road. Carbon can be super strong, just look at mountain bikes, but companies often try and make carbon gravel bikes too light (i.e. thin) which makes them vulnerable to cracking in a crash, which is going to happen when riding gravel.

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@auricschillerCorrect, this is not a race to the bottom, cheaply made aluminum frame.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@blackheartbikeco it's not like aluminum doesn't crack just as easily in a crash(when a tube takes an impact). And it's not uncommon for a dented aluminum tube to have a crack you can't see on the inside...a tube that will randomly fail on you without warning

[@josephjanssen9498]

lot of haters in the comments 🤣. I enjoyed reading Blackheart's replies! If you don't like this content, then don't watch it 🤣 @outdoorbros keep doing you! you have a good channel with really great insight.

[@LeConcerto]

My ears perked at the price but it seems $2k is for the frameset only. Neat offering though.

[@blackheartbikeco]

Correct, $2K frameset with ENVE fork, carbon seatpost, and custom frame paint. Builds are competitive with carbon offerings, even saving a few thousand dollars over some big brands 🖤

[@pepitopepito2967]

yeah same here. so how much exactly is this bike and build specs. after watching robert’s podcast with Zach, blackheart is in my short list as my first gravel bike

[@notpablo8369]

blackheart product predictions: next is monstercross frame, then xc hardtail 🤭🤭🤭🤭

[@ArteUltra1195]

The bike looks stunning and seems like fine value for money, but taking a look at the geometry chart, I don’t get who this bike is built for. It is ridiculously stretched and low at 401mm reach and 555mm stack in a size 54. Those are aggressive aero bike numbers. My neck hurts thinking about riding this bike, why do people even want to suffer on gravel, just leave that part for the roadies

[@blackheartbikeco]

It's definitely a performance position, but note that the bike is designed for a shorter stem in line with modern design. In comparison to our Road Ti the stack is +10mm and you'd run a 20mm shorter stem. So who's it build for? Fast and aggressive riders. For a more relaxed position you'll want to go with our Allroad Ti or AL🖤

[@mireia3208]

It is the trend, a horrible trend, that started when people began to gravel-race. I ended up building my own fully custom Ti gravel bike (btw, the frameset was significantly cheaper than this), with 379mm reach, 540 top tube, and a whooping 600mm stack. A whole lot of 5 cm taller than the blackheart and a more sane saddle-to-handlebar drop height Those are the numbers I would love to see and unfortunately I don't.

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thanks for taking it for a spin Chris! 🖤

[@mlara03celtics]

@blackheartbikeco how can we get a visual on the colors?

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@Gary_is_ainm_dom they route into through the headset and then into the fork / down tube

[@bpisan]

Alloy frame with no gimmicks, looks slick, and can be spec’d with nice parts. 👌🏻💯

[@auricschiller]

So are they sponsoring you or what? Disclosure of that if so would be good.

[@blackheartbikeco]

No sponsorship. We sent the bike for Chris to test, did not have any influence on the content, and did not see the video before it launched.

[@aaronedgeart]

Now that most of us are running larger tires on bicycles, aluminum certainly has its place again (harsh factor removed with more rubber, IMO). Bike looks nice, great review!

[@blackheartbikeco]

Exactly! Light, durable, and $1,000s cheaper than some of the big brand carbon offerings 🖤

[@aaronedgeart]

For realz@@blackheartbikeco

[@chrisgriffin7156]

I would buy if they had this in their titanium. The current titanium al road doesn’t have enough tire clearance for my needs.

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thank you for the feedback. We chose aluminum as the ride benefits of Ti diminish once you're running 45mm wide tires at low psi. Aluminum is lighter and cheaper, and for most folks a gravel bike is a 2nd or 3rd bike, so we feel value matters in this category 🖤

[@chrisgriffin7156]

@@blackheartbikeco I have a 15 lb crux for racing but I like the thought of a gravel bike that will look good even if I beat it up in the winter. The aluminum is cool though!

[@BrianMcDonald]

I love the clean look of the frame and all the paint options, but I would have liked to see more mounting bolts for top tube bags and such especially in an alloy frame. I don't think I would have been able to choose this over the Fezzari Shafer carbon gravel bike I got with Force AXS/Transmission XX as it came out to be cheaper than the Blackheart. Would be nice to see them offer some mullet builds since they have the UDH on it.

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thanks for the feedback. You can always use a strap on top tube bag. We have a Force/X01 mullet build available and will adding transmission offerings. Double check the math on that one. Our Force AXS/XO1 build with Zipp 303s wheel upgrade is the $25 cheaper than the bike you mentioned, and ours includes and ENVE fork and custom paint 🖤

[@BrianMcDonald]

@@blackheartbikeco I think I'm going to hold out for a potential road ti build!

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@BrianMcDonald Not a bad idea either ;)

[@BrianMcDonald]

@@blackheartbikeco can I get some cargo mount bolts on a road ti? 😋

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@BrianMcDonald Robert Axle project thru axle with mounts 🖤

[@fredrichards3998]

Sounds a lovely bike. Chris your review are so beautiful said. 👏👏

[@ChiefExecutiveOrbiter]

$2000? you smoking... clickbait. This is why the industry is going under.

[@blackheartbikeco]

$2,000 for a custom painted frame with ENVE fork and carbon seatpost is hard to find, no?

[@Natuh21]

Rofl 2000 usd and great value on the same sentence, come on! 3rd bike? For most riders a gravel is a do it all, specially if u swap tires or wheels if u can afford them...

[@blackheartbikeco]

Love the idea of N+1 for sure. However, there are people out there that like to have a road bike, mountain bike, and a gravel bike. For those who do, we're trying to offer a different option that can save some money on higher end builds.

[@carlgoetzinger6876]

58cm olive drab colour, 1x sram, redshift stem/seatpost. That’s it. Simple. Clean. Good luck prying my stubborn ass off of it!

[@blackheartbikeco]

Sounds like the perfect build to us! 🖤

[@carlgoetzinger6876]

@@blackheartbikeco let’s make it happen! I’ve got a Canadian winter to try and ride through!

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@carlgoetzinger6876 will be in Toronto in Feb. Let's ride if you're local 🖤

[@carlgoetzinger6876]

@@blackheartbikeco I’m a few hours away, but if I’m able to make it I’d love too. Even to come and shoot some photos of your bikes would be a dream!

[@mlara03celtics]

I would purchase one tomorrow if I didn’t have my steel gravel bike. I might have to put my Jamis up for sale. I need a speedier commuter than the heavy Jamis.

[@bernardo9202]

You need to do longer videos. They go too fast, and I'm still waiting for more info. Another great and informational video, congrats. What handlebars does the bike come with?

[@blackheartbikeco]

Builds can be spec'd with semi-integrated FSA or Zipp bar and stem. Or fully integrated with ENVE In-Route bar and stem or BlackHeart barstem. Lots of choices 🖤

[@JoelWhite]

@@blackheartbikeco Is the barstem available as a stand alone part? Not seeing it on the website, but looks super clean.

[@blackheartbikeco]

@@JoelWhite Sorry, we don't sell our barstem separately

[@17cream]

Nice bike, but just too expensive compared to the competition

[@duttyvegan]

Big thumbs up 💯👊🏾🖤

[@blackheartbikeco]

Thanks @duttyvegan 🖤

[@MarcioSa12]

2:04 that chain is one link too long.

[@BenZCardiff]

No. Not even close.

[@evdb7246]

Total cr*p - this is the same guy that raves on and on about the Crux, the Mog and whatever other bike he's riding. They can't all be 'the best'...

[@auricschiller]

Mr. "I'm never buying an SL8" and a week later bought one. He needs to get his opinions back down to earth.

[@evdb7246]

@@auricschiller 100% - this guy is a joke....no better than those sponsored athletes....."oh, this is the best bike ever"....then changes sponsors next year...."no, now this is the best bike ever"...gross

[@seedsower678]

@@evdb7246 ,...Actually, it is you two clowns who are the joke. This guy does an excellent job of reviewing and giving an explanation, comparison, and his educated opinion of the bikes he rides. He is very well spoken, passionate about bikes, and gets right to the point. The KZbin community is lucky to have him. You two need to grow up and learn to show some respect.

[@Gary_is_ainm_dom]

He has dentist type money and be building up crazy expensive builds I do appreciate the reviews on smaller brands though like Blackheart 😊

[@blackheartbikeco]

In Chris's defense, you'll probably find lots of people who rave about the Crux and Mog haha. Lot's of companies are making great bikes. It's up to you to decide which one is right for you 🖤

[@cliffy232323]

that’s it?

[@pepitopepito2967]

how much is this bikes as spec? surely not 2k. more like in the 5k?

[@brianskies]

$2k just for the frame :( lol thought I found my bike but nvm!

[@blackheartbikeco]

We offer ton of spec options since we build to order in Truckee, CA. Builds start at $3,149 with higher end specs offering $1,000 to $3,000 savings over some big brand name carbon competitors.

[@mfa81]

Why are these bikes getting so long?

[@blackheartbikeco]

Long top tube + short stem + slacker head tube angle = more stable while maintaining nimble & intuitive handing, and less toe overlap on smaller frame sizes. Proven in mountain bikes, applied to gravel bikes 🖤

[@marcsaint-pierre8775]

So you can have a longer wheelbase. This helps with stability going defending on technical trails. Sone of the new monster/gravel bikes are heading into MTB territory in this respect.