NEW 3T Exploro Race Max First Look | The Next Generation In Aero Gravel Bikes

A few years ago, 3T made headlines when they released the original 3T Exploro. Touted as the first ever aerodynamically optimised gravel bike, the bike had massive tyre clearance, racey geometry, and those iconic aerofoil tube profiles. Well, one Dirty Kanza win and a few years later, 3T have released the second generation Exploro - the Exploro Race Max. Now with improved tyre clearance, better aerodynamics, and a new set of 3T Discus wheels to boot; could this be the fastest gravel bike ever?
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[@gcntech]

What do you think of aero gravel bikes? Let us know in the comments below 👇

[@gcntech]

@Carter Lewis It's a great option if you want 1 bike to do everything on! Just as quick as a road bike with the right tyres on but throw on some gravel tyres (or even 650b wheels) and you can take it almost anywhere!

[@elpoutre2522]

GCN Tech you can take all bikes almost everywhere, you don’t need a new carbonshitty bike every time a marketing guy creates a new micro segment

[@mattyvdb1]

Someone mentioned mud clearance on the rear wheel. It does look incredibly tight with the G-One on there! Is that a 700c wheel? Maybe I missed that. What are your thoughts?

[@kynasf]

It’s not bad looking in a slightly unconventional way, but the rear wheel clearance must limit how far off-road you can take it?

[@robbchastain3036]

Given that gravel makes us work harder than asphalt, I'd say we could use all the help we can get when the air wants us to slow our roll.

[@GeeFunk84]

Loved the random dog moment without skipping a beat in listing the specifics.

[@Boopop1024]

The man's a pro!

[@nanoketut2594]

What ia the frame Made of

[@paulthethi1341]

Great bike! It's a pity that there is no storage in that huge downtube. 3T - you missed a trick.

[@robertofernandezvazquez8755]

Is better to have the stiffness than the storage ;-)

[@NewPolishScientist]

Rear triangle clearance + mud and goodbye that beautiful paint job

[@OmarTan]

Yeah, and wouldn’t it cause the rear wheel to be stuck? And be a race breaking move if weather went bad?

[@chrisbridgeman7395]

Who needs to go as fast as possible on gravel anyway? You can go fast enough on a standard gravel bike...

[@makkomise]

Every time i hear the word "proprietary", i throw up a bit.

[@two-eyedRoy]

... Apple. XD

[@gamecat1923]

I''m with you there, Cannondale and their propietary headsets can do one too, just means spares are hard to get and expensive and if you don't like them, well no-one else makes them so you are stuffed.

[@mahiru20ten]

@Jeremy Powers Well, it makes spares hard to come by :(

[@carlosflanders518]

Been burnt several times by proprietary parts and their lack of availability. Never again.

[@adanielweaver]

@Jeremy Powers because part of the fun of bikes for me is fiddling with them and swapping things around, and proprietary stuff is hard to fiddle with.

[@HR-ws1rj]

Definitely the best looking gravel bike I’ve seen yet!

[@konstantinvincent4535]

What a gorgeous bike. Keep it up GCN, great video as well!

[@gcntech]

Thanks very much!

[@davidelibralesso4345]

It's amazing how much 3T leads in terms of innovation in the bike industry, still being a very small company. Congratulations to Gerard and Rene, incredible job!

[@gtom84]

Gravel bike with no space between rear tyre and the frame. Very useful! Good aerodynamics on tarmac but aero benefits go out of window when you have to stop and clean the mud to ride on.

[@FLMKane]

Carry a pocket pressure washer ?

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks, Jeremy, for showing us this new 3T bike and that sounds like a mighty fine public service, their chart of wheel/tire aeroness--fascinating how much difference that seems to make. And as far as RAM and VAN and even getting a TAN, I'm sure it is beneficial and all, but it'll take me a few vids to understand before I get there. But I'll get there and I do appreciate everything which creators like 3T are doing to improve our rides and experiences. And, oh yeah, I dig the aero gravel front derailleur on this bike, just lovely :)

[@alexeevfrancoismendoza1891]

Yup Gerard knew he F*cked up in making the first Gen strada 1x only, so much for 1x is the future ei?

[@targaW3007]

Amazing bike, the exploro is the best looking gravel bike since years. Well done 3T

[@YesItsKevin]

didn’t think the words “aero” and “gravel” would ever go together 😂😂😂

[@gcntech]

I think a lot of people would agree with you! I'm sure we can all agree it's a cool bike, though!

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

I’ve got the 2018 model, I can vouch for how fast the older model is, and never fails to get attention at the local coffee shops.

[@mahiru20ten]

Well, someone apparently made a gravel bike with a disc wheel on the back, too. So yeah, aero gravel is actually a thing.

[@brody5211]

Thomas which model they are shit cool

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

Brody I have the 2018 Exploro Team with Force/Rival 1x setup.

[@alanbarba8804]

I've love this bike since it was first launched and looks amazing with these updates - wonder the reasons why the chose to not make the front gear cable go inside the frame and the fork.

[@benb1824]

I want one! That rear cutout just looks so slick.

[@fuchsy4498]

Damm, that bike ist absolutely beautiful. As I just getting into cycling (don't even have a road bike yet), I'm really learning how ecpensive this sport can be.

[@louie3369]

Beautiful bike I hope someday to have one

[@cdalesupersix]

That was like listening to a manufacturer's brochure. Complete with excited emphasis.

[@erikharrington3514]

Lust worthy for sure! I love the idea of a super fast gravel bike. Nowadays, I ride my gravel bike more than my road bike but I ride mostly on the road and connect long rides with sections of gravel or single track. Agree with the increased stack height. Both 3t exploro and open up had too low of stack height. Most people I’ve seen with these bikes require quite a few spacers. The demographic for most of these bikes is middle aged men. Our backs are not what they used to be especially when raging against the dying of the light in a gravel event! As far a functionality? A number of people have brought up concerns about mud clearance and wearing on the frame. This is not much of a concern for me because I live in a dry climate and do not ride much mud. I’m also guessing that there is probably plenty of clearance if I ride my standard 40mm ramblers. Would I buy one? No. Why? I already have a perfectly functional war horse.

[@pauljozefak7540]

I‘m buying one and exactly for same reasons you brought up. Also using smaller tires so no worries about clearance.

[@ryanolson8295]

Awesome looking, predictable direction gravel bikes will take. Looks like the bike to have at the moment for racing but is a little heavy at 9kg.

[@gauloisrefractaireenexilvo4366]

This new bike is a beauty. J is the best sales rep on YT. Sold!

[@bobzuidema3560]

All these great details 3T thought about and still there is partially external cable routing, if only I could get my head around that...

[@joelzylstra2971]

I love it! I’d buy it in a minute!

[@somenification]

I would hit like twice if I could for the Presenter and his enthusiasm :D

[@benb1824]

Truly gorgeous machine, that rear cut out looks wicked.

[@Hella-ob8fz]

I really love that bike but the cockpit bugs me, I feel like it should have an integrated, one piece bar and stem. Paint matched would be nice.

[@Henrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

how's the mud clearance for the rear wheel?

[@jimhansen5395]

Looks sketchy on the seat type/seat stay area. Not something that would work well in thick mud.

[@e3dave744]

Would you except ‘none existent ‘ as a measurement . Good looking bike though

[@markrushton1516]

Pretty much zero.

[@klassmjk4]

Nonexistant

[@markrushton5106]

So it's gravel bike that can't go on mud or gravel because the rear wheel area will clog with mud,dirt or gravel . So it's a bike for smooth dry road then.

[@HyperbeastXion]

as a few others already mentioned...the gravel and mud will just shred your seattube and not so what, nice stuff to be presented, like a concept car, but not for riding "gravel" in any case

[@TheFusfusfus]

Like for the "dog coming to get some petting" moment :D

[@Hardcaslte]

lol he didn't even stay. Just walked up like "hey pet me. OK OK enough, See ya later."

[@SergioCristancho]

this one is just one insane beauty machine... tons of desing behind one simple bike, ... is there a bike test upcomming JPows? taking this 3T to the extreme? I would like to see that video! and then WAM! and RAM!

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I hope there's going to be a GCN Does Science episode on WAM and RAM soon. Potentially a great way to cut through the mess of manufacturer stated sizing.

[@heedeimanaga]

That golden retriever though!

[@davidsoftley4648]

Great presenting, especially seamlessly handling the photo bombing dog. 👏

[@troiwhalen7961]

Hey all. Can anyone confirm exactly which crank brothers pedals those are? Thx

[@gaborpapp6253]

Whats the width of the tires?

[@giannitelliroberto6103]

big like for the random dog

[@crossoctopus]

Frame will be shredded in two seconds with that clearance

[@brauljo]

1:12 Huh just like the Open Wide. 1:24 Huh just like the Open Wide. 1:58 Huh just like the Open Wide (and Up[per] and Mind). 2:04 Why was it ever not fixed? 2:32 How is 31.8 mm a narrow top headset? Most bikes are 28.6 mm at the top and 31.8 mm at the bottom. 3:44 Nice, I didn't know SRAM released a 10-36 cassette.

[@lechprotean]

This looks like an SUV of bicycles - in theory ticks all the boxes, but isn't actually designed to ride in rough, muddy terrain...

[@NeoPayneHK]

if they made this frameset well i mean well QC i would love one

[@helloferdi]

7:08 - 650gr per pair? Surely thats a single wheel?

[@rp6760]

Also dont believe it. Maybe 650c wheels perhaps?

[@Paddyhudson]

I think he was just referring to the rims, not the full wheel.

[@OmarTan]

Jeremy is awesome at presenting a new bike btw!

[@RoninCycling]

The next time y'all are in Colorado you should check out Alchemy Bicycles in Denver. They make carbon and titanium bikes; road, gravel, mtb, and all road.

[@teunluijbregts2533]

Looks like a nice holiday bike for the Alps. Maybe I should go there and test this thing - you know for objectivity reasons 😏😏

[@leftylum]

Anyone else laugh their head off during the free wheel soundcheck when Jeremy says "Wooo"

[@DrewKime]

When he joined GCN Jeremy was pretty upfront about thinking the sound check was silly. Then he started doing it ironically. Now I don't think even *he* knows if it's still ironic.

[@ΧρήστοςΠαπατριανταφύλλου]

did I hear the weight of the wheels is 650g/pair?! if true, they should cost as much as space ship. They sound cool though

[@dmbiscuit]

Very excited for the RAM / WAM data set

[@manny1922]

Lord of the bikes, One bike to rule them all!! Is this now a new trend a swiss army knife-bike?

[@Vii_DT]

5:48 that valve could benefit from valve extender though.

[@galenkehler]

That wouldn't be aero... theres plenty there :)

[@simonguard5087]

Look forward to your next review after you've ridden it!

[@carlbot6227]

Those tires are really smooth

[@newboysgeneration6198]

*3t exploro is a stunning bike especially the one that was released in colaboration with bmw I would love to have one*

[@randellhayes6686]

Love your sound check!

[@williammorris4419]

did you say the wheelset (both wheels ) only weighs 650 grams? isn't that the weight for one wheel?

[@niezbo]

So... is there any difference between gravel aero and road aero bike? I suppose frame can accommodate bigger tires, but that's all about. Or is it?

[@roblodge3818]

Great video Jeremy, do you know if this colour is only available in the US?

[@tallulahbeaverhausen4382]

I find these 3T bikes beautifull !

[@gcntech]

They're stylish, aren't they!

[@elpoutre2522]

And with a Pressfit BB for a bike designed to ride on dirt, they make sooooooo much sense don’t they?

[@williammorris4419]

@@elpoutre2522 I''ve raced a pressfit xc bike for years and had absolutely no problem whatsoever.

[@elpoutre2522]

@@williammorris4419 good for you. Is mommy proud? You should tell the whole bike industry they are wrong to switch back to threaded BB cause you didn’t face creacking problem.

[@endianAphones]

Extra thumb up for JP giving the weight in KG!

[@manji001]

MUST. RESIST. PURCHASE. 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@FLMKane]

Just get a better bike.

[@roadglide]

Jeremy, Jeremy! Beautiful bike sitting there. Gorgeous. Probably fantastic on the road too. But that seat tube is giving a RAM WAM thank you mam to that rear tire don’t you think?

[@TheDoosh79]

I think we're nearly at the 'Jumping The Shark' point with these bikes. I mean, it looks cool sat there leaning against your wall, but yet more proprietary parts, silly unrealistic clearances, not to mention it will probably cost as much as a house deposit. It's just a fashion statement/status symbol now.

[@jascollinscork]

I would love to see Jeremy and Connor Dunne do a video together..... bet it would be mental..... but quality🤔😁😍

[@schuey999]

How did you get this color combination with 2x? It seems 3T only offers the white with 1x.

[@slwsnowman4038]

61mm tires...isn't that just a rigid mountain bike with drop bars?

[@roydarnell3683]

A rigid AERO mountain bike with drop bars....lol

[@elpoutre2522]

Don’t say it out loud, it is supposed to be a new segment on bike sales, the super duper aerogravelenduranceracetouring bike you have to by because obviously your current bike is just garbage now this one is out and until the new one in two years.

[@markmurphy5678]

Magnificent looking machine

[@craigthomasutube]

Can you tell me why you like the Argo seat? I’m looking for a new saddle.

[@2409markus]

i dont quite get why you would need a aerobike that spins out at ~45kmh but I guess the niché of high speed roadbikes that can ride on small pebbles but cant go fast anymore needed to be filled.

[@williammorris4419]

check out Dylan Johnson's videos and tests in wind tunnels. watts lost or gained..

[@lwittrock1]

Great run down on the new tech!

[@saleemwaheed9956]

WAM! RAM! Thank you Mam! Gorgeous and fast!

[@ericedelman3601]

Great review, Jeremy!

[@TheCTusten]

A beautiful bike! However, no doubt about it, your Pinnarello, gravel bike is easily the prettiest bike in it's class.

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

Hi Jermey cool video and bike . I may have missed it but , are the rims tubeless ready or tubeless only ? And wholly smokes 29mm internal deer gawd dems is some wide wheels .

[@bikepacking330]

Beautiful

[@oliverbergen6505]

Great look...

[@tertius3751]

I really like to know how many Watts i have to push to drive 40km/h with this bike on tarmac, maybe compare it with a top dog race bike like a specialized venge.

[@jcha22]

Did they send the bike but say you can’t ride it?

[@Paddyhudson]

Definitely a candidate for the "Only bike you need" category....of course I'd still need a commuter....and a mountain bike...and maybe I'd have reason to try a TT bike now.................

[@sheilastallard]

Love it!! But I doubt it make my husband any faster!!!

[@danTesDan]

9kg? jeezzz going up yearly , i ll stick with a 6.8 kg canyon disk ultimate /or endurane

[@okantichrist]

When he mentioned fender mounts I was thinking so where do you mount the Marshall amp 😂😂😂

[@OmarTan]

Seriously, it’s a nice looking bike but did no one complain about that cable routing from previous versions?

[@jamesmilne4233]

Yes it's an advertised product, but Jeremy (other than Ollie) has international class integrity. So what he says is based on a lifetime of experience, backed up with... hang on he never actually said he had ridden this bike... Could we be on the verge of organising Jeremy walking through Bath wearing triathlon pants to the sounds of "shame, shame..."

[@u.e.u.e.]

Are the wheels 650's or 700's? What is the tire width out of the box?

[@anthonyzee6578]

Think of all the Weetabix you can stuff in that downtube.

[@MrBJPitt]

Hahaha

[@roydarnell3683]

650g per pair for the wheels?? YEAH RIGHT!!! 2650 is probably closer.

[@traviswold8524]

I was looking for this comment before saying it myself. They'd be lucky if a single hoop weighs this much

[@galenkehler]

The wide downtube doubles as a fender also

[@MD0886]

so they went full out aero but somehow still equip it with round handlebars?

[@SILVERSNOWMAN72]

Looks nice but limited appeal, quite a niche limited market maybe designed specially for the DK200?? Can't think where else it would strive!

[@AnarchoKapital]

Can't wait for Carbonda to copy it.

[@robertofernandezvazquez8755]

?

[@AnarchoKapital]

@@robertofernandezvazquez8755 Carbonda is a Chinese frame manufacturer. They have made great copies of the Open Up and Open Wide.

[@mejdrichj]

JP, you gonna show us how it rides???

[@DaveCM]

Wouldn't the 60c width be dependent on being a 650b and not dependent on the drive train? There is no way you are going to fit a bigger tire on that bike. It is crazy close to the seat tube. Also, I have no idea how, on the same frame, going to a 1x would increase tire clearance.

[@pedrocaetano5032]

How wide are the tyres you have on the video ?

[@danflanagan9536]

does this aero bike have any compliance ?

[@rehablab7694]

OMG how cool is this!!

[@CARPETFIBBER]

I would love to ride that,

[@TryboBike]

I'd be ashamed of myself if I shipped a bike with the FD so high above the chainrings. It totally seems as if the FD was for a bigger rings here. Does this even shift?

[@Numeriwar]

Did sram fix the noisy cassette and chain drop at FD?

[@uluchay]

Poor guy at 5:35 wanted more pets

[@jonienglish3231]

what is this Tire Size ???

[@jaydesimone4297]

Is the weight of those wheels at 7:08 correct? 650 g/pair?

[@yonseimatt]

Not to criticise Jeremy- great job again by the way- but isn't 1x and 2x pronounced "1 by" and "2 by" according to convention these days? Or is that just SRAM marketing? I agree with other comments below re mud clearance- it seems that gravel and aero may in fact be mutually exclusive...