This carbon Advantage Jumbo is the primary manufacturing gravel bike to embrace 750d wheels, and we received an unique likelihood to be the primary to test-ride it. Sure, this can be a new wheel dimension. Sure, the tire and wheel choices are nonetheless fairly restricted. However particularly for taller riders, 750d might make some sense. So we wished to provide it a better look…
Advantage Jumbo 750d big-wheeled carbon gravel bike
The driving issue of an all-new wheel dimension is tire and rim availability. WTB set this ball in movement once they rolled out their prototype 750d x 40mm Nano final summer time earlier than the MADE present, with alloy i25 750d wheels to match. Then at MADE, we received a better take a look at the customized titanium Moots CRDD gravel bike that showcased the brand new wheel dimension. However 750d hasn’t fairly taken the world by storm simply but, and that CRDD nonetheless hasn’t made it into the official manufacturing line-up in Steamboat.
Nonetheless, WTB has added a fast-rolling Byway 750d semi-slick now, too.
Larger wheels imply higher rolling over tough terrain, the flexibility to run decrease tire strain, and thus improved grip. Everyone knows how 29″ wheels had been a game-changer that made 26″ out of date. (And WTB was the first to make a 29er manufacturing tire, a Nano too!) And for a gravel bike that additionally simply means smoother using over those self same washboard gravel roads. Plus, for longer-distance using, these bigger diameter (and thus heavier) wheels ought to assist preserve momentum, too.
However the different actual massive profit here’s a higher match for greater riders. And never solely as a result of it appears extra proportional.
And Advantage has you lined now!
Geometry, not so completely different than we’re used to
The Advantage Jumbo 750d might have a lot greater wheels than we’re used to. However the geometry right here isn’t all that completely different. Advantage did in actual fact design this big-wheeled bike for taller gravel cyclists, nevertheless it’s actually not all that massive. Design, and prototyped in titanium (which can even be supplied down the street), now the carbon bike is prepared. The L will match quite a lot of medium to taller riders, the XL & XXL although are fairly completely for taller riders who may need bother becoming on a traditional bike.
The smaller of the three sizes on supply – the Giant that I examined – has a shorter body Attain and decrease Stack than the M Grail that I not too long ago examined, however barely longer/larger than the M Ruut or M Yasei. The Giant Jumbo’s match on paper is a bit between a M & L in my thoughts.
It will get fairly quick 435mm chainstays to handle these extra-large wheels. And comparatively steep 70° head angle and 72° seattube, once more to assist in giving this extra-wagon-wheeled bike a quick really feel. The bigger 750d wheels and further rubber are invariably going to be heavier than 700c, so the faster dealing with is there to forestall a sluggish really feel.
Jumbo 750d – Tech particulars
Advantage developed this all-new carbon Jumbo 750d body from scratch with the identical Carbon body producer that has been making their standard 700c carbon gravel framesets since round 2015. Nevertheless it’s additionally not a lot greater than an adventure-ready 700c gravel bike, so you may nonetheless run 700x50mm gravel/XC tires for a extra standard setup.
- 1100g body (claimed, dimension L)
- full carbon 1.5″ tapered steerer fork
- 1.5″ IS headset with full inner cable routing
- common derailleur hanger (UDH) with T-type direct mount compatibility
- T47 backside bracket
- 27.2mm seatpost, with a 31.8 standard seatpost clamp
- flat mount FM160 disc brakes, 180mm rotor potential within the entrance solely
- Street Enhance thru-axle spacing – 12x110mm entrance & 12x148mm rear
- 750d x 45mm max tire clearance, or 29×2″ / 700c x 50mm (+5mm clearance within the fork)
- 1x solely, with a 46T max chainring (47.5mm chainline)
- 3-bolt downtube & 2-bolt seattube bottle cage mounts, plus toptube bag mounts
Advantage Turbo 750d Carbon Gravel Wheels
An enormous a part of making this 750d challenge make sense was lighter wheels. As quickly as WTB was able to announce their 750d Nano gravel tire to the world final summer time, after all, they wanted a rim to mount it to. Simply making a barely bigger diameter i25 aluminum rim was straightforward sufficient. However the tires are already going to be about 10% heavier than 700c, and the wheels had been going to be even heavier as a result of want for extra spokes and wider hubs.
So from day 1, Advantage got down to make lighter carbon 750d rims, as nicely. Opening up their very own new mildew, Advantage opted for a lightweight 35mm deep carbon rim, with a 25mm inner hookless bead. That helped them shed just a few hundred grams off the whole wheelset. The extensive carbon rim gives good assist to the WTB tires, initially designed over 7 years in the past for narrower rims.
Advantage says an enormous profit to the bigger diameter wheels is definitely the broader Enhance hubs and longer spokes, which do an excellent job at absorbing gravel street buzz whereas sustaining good lateral stiffness for predictable dealing with. Advantage constructed the carbon wheels I examined with CX-Ray spokes (a number of the greatest within the trade). However additionally they examined a brand new wheel construct with carbon spokes that might be considerably lighter, whereas protecting the wanted energy & stiffness.
- 25mm inner
- hookless tubeless bead – 660mm bead seat diameter
- 31mm exterior x 35mm deep with a traditional blunt nostril aero profile
- 495g per rim (claimed)
- full wheelsets constructed up with alloy Bitex Street Enhance hubs with 12mm thru-axles
- 28 straight-pull Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes per wheel, anticipated to be lighter with carbon spokes
- full wheelset weights of round 1650g now as I examined
750d vs. 700c sizing comparability
The Jumbo doesn’t really look all that jumbo in actuality. I’d say proportion-wise that this Giant with 750d wheels appears fairly just like a traditional Medium gravel bike with 700c wheels. So how does this massive wheel dimension examine to the rollout or circumference of different wheels in our workshop?
- 750d x 40mm on a 25mm inner rim measures 43mm extensive and is 756 in diameter, for a calculated circumference of 2375mm.
- A 700c x 40mm tire is measured at 2190mm round at 697mm in diameter,
- a 29er (additionally 700c) x 2.4″ XC tire measures 2305mm in circumference for a 734mm peak general
- a 29 x 2.6″ enduro tire measures 2320mm round to return in at 738mm in diameter.
So sure, 750d is kind of a bit greater than traditional 700c – and can make you 8% sooner with the identical gearing and tire dimension. However in comparison with a correct 29er mountain bike tire, you’re taking a look at a wheel that’s solely about 1cm greater in radius, or an axle that’s 1cm larger off the bottom. It’s a large enough distinction I couldn’t match the 750d wheel within the gravel bike I’ve fitted with a 2.4″ mountain bike tire.
Placing the 29×2″ mountain bike tire that Advantage says will match within the Jumbo would solely have a few 3% change in your high pace vs. the 40mm tire. In actual fact, it could be just one.5% smaller than the 34mm WTB Byways that I test-rode.
Driving Impressions: A First Trip Evaluate
OK, however how does it trip?
Final week, I took one of many first two pre-production Advantage Jumbo 750d to acquainted gravel roads and singletrack mountain bike trails on the outskirts of Prague to see the way it dealt with. With out taking a look at geometry tables, I simply set my saddle peak and rode away. And my first impression, was wow, this bike is massive. Then, I spotted the saddle was slammed all the way in which again, and a bit too low. So, shortly placing the saddle in the correct spot, instantly it felt like I used to be on the right-sized bike hastily.
The bike is undeniably massive, nevertheless it’s not likely the geometry. The geo and match of the bike had been fairly near what I’d need in a contemporary gravel bike with a brief stem and a comparatively slim bar. (I’m 185cm tall, and typically trip a big gravel bike, however usually dimension right down to a medium.) I used to be comfy on the Jumbo 750d, however in the beginning of the trip once I moved from doubletrack forest roads to singletrack, I might immediately really feel that it was extra work to maneuver these massive wheels by means of twisty spots, and fast ups & downs
The Jumbo made clean work of an in any other case bumpy discipline crossing. The large wheels rolled over roots within the path like they weren’t there. They smoothed chunky rocks, too. Even with these comparatively low-volume, 36mm extensive (marked 34×750) WTB Byway semi-slicks. And but, it was nonetheless manageable on tight sections.
However this can be a bike that begs for quick open stretches…
Shining on open grime & gravel roads
Yeah, this can be a bike meant to rack up kilometers. On longer, straighter sections I might spin the large wheels in control, and they might effortlessly keep there. Perhaps described as barely sluggish on technical singletrack, on the gravel roads this bike was really designed for, it was downright quick and steady. All-day consolation involves thoughts.
My solely actual draw back is that I might reasonably swap on an 80mm stem (vs. the 100mm Redshift) and a narrower handlebar (vs. Advantage’s personal 46cm extensive carbon Rodla loop bar that’s 10cm wider within the drops.) However Advantage expects they’ll promote most of those as framesets anyway.
These massive wheels are all the time going to be a bit slower to show, so a bit faster dealing with cockpit setup would do wonders to steadiness that out. I used to be pleasantly stunned by how a lot grip I received out of the slick & slim Byways. However except you’re using extra asphalt than gravel, the 40×750 Nano is the most effective tire selection for the Jumbo. Now, we simply want extra individuals to purchase into the 750d idea, so extra light-weight tire choices will come to market!
At 9.1kg full with 1650g wheels, it’s not a lot heavier than standard gravel bikes, and not one of the parts listed below are ultra-fancy, weight weenie tech. So there’s weight to be saved if you would like. In any case, I had a straightforward time maintaining with a pal on an 8.5kg 700c gravel race bike with 1550g aero wheels that sells for about 10% greater than the Jumbo.
Advantage Jumbo 750d – Pricing, choices & availability
So, it appears just like the Czech gravel specialists at Advantage Bikes are the primary to deliver a 750d manufacturing gravel bike to market. And actually, it simply appears like a traditional, well-proportioned bike.
The brand new Advantage Jumbo 759d carbon gravel bike is out there to pre-order now right here in all three sizes (L-XXL). Framesets retail for ~1600€ (40,000czk). However in actuality, solely the Giant mildew is already 100% completed and examined. So, pre-orders for these first L framesets would be the first out there, with deliveries to start out this October. Advantage is finalizing the XL & XXL body molds now, and people sizes are anticipated to ship to prospects in January 2025.
Full bike pre-orders are additionally potential now. The whole Advantage Jumbo 750d Rival GX Mullet AXS bike construct like I examined with carbon 750d wheels sells for ~4800€ (120,000czk). Advantage will supply extra full bike builds, as soon as the frames can be found in inventory. Advantage usually ships its frames, wheels, and full bikes throughout the EU. And typically works with patrons additional afield as nicely.
Advantage has toyed with the design of a fourth Medium dimension that they might make out there sooner or later if there’s actual shopper demand. Additionally they talked about opening gross sales of their full carbon forks down the street – if customized metal, aluminum, or titanium body builders wish to supply a 750d choice to their line-up. Advantage even designed the Challenge 750d carbon fork so as to add 3-pack something cage mounts sooner or later, if the 750d bikepacking scene takes off in an enormous method.
Are you prepared for greater wheels once more? Tell us within the feedback under!
