New Exploro RaceMax

[krzn]

I'm using a RaceMax with 11cm stem and 40cm handlebars for both road (80%) and gravel (20%). It's super snappy and agile on the road (for a gravel bike), and with wide tires (2.2") you can throw it at any gravel road you want. I've ridden easy to medium MTB single-trails on it, although I wish I had a wider handlebar for that.

[spud]

narrow bars and long stem make for a tough combination off road. Several times I've lofted the front wheel to get over a log or large rock and as soon as I did, the bars turned 20-30 degrees off center. I was able to the bars straight before the wheel landed, but still disconcerting.

[izweightless]

https://imgur.com/a/CKjMGeo

Quite proud of its weight at 7.8kg.

Current specs highlight include:
- SRAM Force D1 1x with 10-36 Rival cassette
- Alugear 42t single chainring
- EXS Handlebar 380x110 with Ti Wahoo mount
- S-Parts Titanium Bolts
- Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow Ti
- Time xPro 12
- Titanium Bottle Cage 18g (from Taobao)
- Tuff Helium G3 46
- Vittoria Corsa Pro Control 28c

Next upgrade Hope 160mm rotors

[pmoritz]

Hi everyone, new poster and fellow Racemax owner here.

Has anyone thought of upgrading the fork to the new integrale fork with integrated cable routing? After some research I concluded that it should be possible.. this new D-shaped steertube of the integrale fork requires a different headset but that's sold on the 3T website. Compared to the standard racemax headset the inner diameters are different (of course) but the other diameters are identical (IS42 top part, IS47 bottom part), so I cannot imagine why this would not fit. Any thoughts on this?

Of course this is only possible if the fork is somehow sold separately... either by 3T or the shop where I bought the bike.

EDIT: Well I got a response from the shop where I bought the bike.. they reached out to 3T and apparently they won't sell them the fork seperately. The fact that 3T wants to force customers into buying a new bike if they want integrated cables despite having the solution available is pretty sad.

[spud]

^ agreed - I checked it out myself and got the same response from 3T. A possible work around is to find a guy with an Italia frameset/bike who would let you use his serial # to order a new fork, but that's a pain in the ass. Between that and the marginal (for me) stack/reach numbers, it put me off buying one. Love the looks of them, and the tire clearance, but I'm not paying top dollar for a frame with external and ugly hose runs, and no internal storage.

[RotterdamNL]

Love the looks of them, and the tire clearance, but I'm not paying top dollar for a frame with external and ugly hose runs, and no internal storage.

Totally agree. Found 3T racemax on sale for 3900 eur (sram rival AXS two-by), but ugly cables is no go for me.
Unfortunately there are no are gravel bikes with internal storage. No i`m consedering Ridley ASTR, also not cheap, but looks clean

[spud]

Love the looks of them, and the tire clearance, but I'm not paying top dollar for a frame with external and ugly hose runs, and no internal storage.

Totally agree. Found 3T racemax on sale for 3900 eur (sram rival AXS two-by), but ugly cables is no go for me.
Unfortunately there are no are gravel bikes with internal storage. No i`m consedering Ridley ASTR, also not cheap, but looks clean

Tideace Noah appears to have storage in the downtube. I think as more mfgs introduce wide aero downtubes to shield waterbottles, the idea may gain more traction. I know storage costs weight and/or stiffness, but I don't care. I've got two road bikes, one reputed to be among the stiffest, the other among the softess, and I can't tell any difference in them during sprints, or at least not a difference that matters to me.

[Relientk1202]

Love the looks of them, and the tire clearance, but I'm not paying top dollar for a frame with external and ugly hose runs, and no internal storage.

Totally agree. Found 3T racemax on sale for 3900 eur (sram rival AXS two-by), but ugly cables is no go for me.
Unfortunately there are no are gravel bikes with internal storage. No i`m consedering Ridley ASTR, also not cheap, but looks clean

Tideace Noah appears to have storage in the downtube. I think as more mfgs introduce wide aero downtubes to shield waterbottles, the idea may gain more traction. I know storage costs weight and/or stiffness, but I don't care. I've got two road bikes, one reputed to be among the stiffest, the other among the softess, and I can't tell any difference in them during sprints, or at least not a difference that matters to me.

I’m considering the Rodeo Labs TD 4. It’s got internal storage, integrated bolt in frame bag mounts and multiple hose routing options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smartyiak]

I dunno if it's been asked, but are there any rumors of a "new" Racemax for 2025?

Clearly, they could up tire clearance, add storage and integration (ala the "Italia")...and fix the 2x chain drop issue.

I ask bc it seems like vendors are dumping the current one (sometimes up to 50% off). I haven't seen anything and internet doesn't seem to have anything either.

[mark82]

I dunno if it's been asked, but are there any rumors of a "new" Racemax for 2025?

Clearly, they could up tire clearance, add storage and integration (ala the "Italia")...and fix the 2x chain drop issue.

I ask bc it seems like vendors are dumping the current one (sometimes up to 50% off). I haven't seen anything and internet doesn't seem to have anything either.

I think they will announce it nex week at the rouler.
However, I have seen a post on instgram about it (which was taken down since). It said "the new 3t exploro racemax integrale is coming soon" I cannot include the picture here (I dont know how to) but there seems to be no storage. I cant tell if it is UHD compatible

[spud]

I'm guessing that incorporating down tube storage is difficult with filament/RTM construction. As for it being stiffer and lighter than prepeg construction, I'd have to see the data myself to believe it.

[RotterdamNL]

integrated cabels and two by builds with 50+mm clearence would be great upgrade.
i dont think we gonna see frame storage on race gravel bikes any time soon with it`s added weight and decreased stiffenes

[RotterdamNL]

new racemax already availible to order
https://3t.bike/collections/racemax-wpnt
frameset 3000 eur
complete build with grx di2 6200 eur
more info https://bikerumor.com/3t-racemax-gravel ... nt-colors/

[spud]

^ total MEH. They're offering some new paint colors, and internal routing (so they're not 3 years behind the curve). I guess it's a win in one respect since you don't have to spring for the $5600 Italia framset to get internal, but otherwise nothing to write home about. Pretty confident others will roll out better options in the near term (down tube storage, appropriate tire clearance, real world 2x compatability etc).

[pmoritz]

Currently thinking of integrating the cables using the Deda Gera EDG fork (since 3T doesnt want to sell me an Integrale fork ....). Its a gravel fork with similar design and also features a D-shaped steerer, so universal compatiblity.

Any ideas how the 395mm axle-to-crown of the Deda Fork would compare to the 375mm of the Racemax fork? (in terms of handling, change in stack...). The OG exploro has 395mm axle-to-crown afaik, but the overall geometry is different to racemax.

Another option would be to let a carbon specialist modify the fork (steer tube) with a small cutout + reinforcement for the rear brake cable... There are a few people in 3T Exploro facebook group who did this. Also a build by Twisted Wheels did this on Crux. Even with the reinforcement of the steertube it seems a bit reckless though...