Shafer

I'm 6'2" and the large was definitely the right size. The geometry is just about perfect for all kinds of riding--dirt, tarmac, smoother singletrack, and even 4x4 jeep roads when I wanna beat myself up. It's slacker and longer than some of my buddies gravel bikes and while not quite as speedy on the uphill I can rip down way faster. The bike is incredibly stable at speed and when pushing into corners. The frame is STOUT. Very little frame flex or harsh feedback. The part spec for the money is a major selling point but the geometry and frame construction are really dialed. I only have two gripes. Frist, I wish the Fezzari carbon bars that come stock on the bike were wider (460-480) with a little bit more flare. The 440's feel too narrow for me when I'm venturing off the beaten path. Second, I don't really love the seat clamp. It looks clean but I'd prefer a standard collar style clamp. Overall, really impressed with how capable this bike is.

I've put about 250 miles on the X0 Transmission build with a PNW dropper post - a mix of pavement and easy singletrack. The bike is reasonably light, climbs well, is stable at speed, and handles easy singletrack well.

The build kit is a good value, although I have two nitpicks specific to off-road. 1) a cheaper, large range one-by would be nice. Microshift Advent X with an 11-48t cassette would do the trick. 2) I would appreciate 180mm rotors front and rear. The fork is drilled for 140mm rotors and has an adapter to bring it to the stock 160mm rotor.

The stock wheels (Fulcrum Rapid Red 900) were just okay, but the Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel X-Wide wheels I replaced them with are noticeably lighter, faster engaging, and more comfortable. I’ve tested low profile knobby tires measuring at 49.5mm on 25mm inner width rims, and the rear tire rubs when cornering. However, the fork clearance is okay for dry conditions.

I'm really pleased with my Shafer Elite Rival AXS XPLR. Arrived with a bent derailleur hanger, which was taken care of right away. Bike is smooth and handing is predictable. It’s light and fit and finish is top notch, if not a little plain. The group set is absolutly brilliant. Shifting is smooth and fast. Couple of preferences, the Selle Italia X is pretty uncomfortable and I prefer bar tape with a little more cushion.

I went with the Shafer is because I'm a tough fit. I have short legs and a long torso with wide shoulders, I did a professional pre-fit, and there are only a handful of bikes that even come close to fitting. The 23-point fit could potentially save me $ in stuff I have to change. However, because of my tough sizing, some parts I needed to make the bike fit fell outside thier stock. Specifically, I needed a 17-degree stem to get my correct x/y, and 165mm crank arms for inseam. The only part I saved $ on was the wider bars needed.

I bought this bike about a month ago and it’s been awesome. Ridden all over Utah and the PNW already and it handles any gnar that I’ve thrown at it.

Feeling incredibly grateful that I was able to get my order in very shortly after they were released as the demand for these bikes has driven the projected delivery times out to around a year for most sizes. This was my first direct to consumer bike purchase so I was a bit anxious. My LBS wasn't able to get a bike I was interested in, and with Fezzari's 30 day love it or return it guarantee, I felt I had nothing to lose.

After riding the Shafer now for the past 4 months, I am absolutely thrilled with how this bike handles. I'm far from the best bike handler, but this bike's stability inspires confidence no matter the conditions. From pavement to loose chunky gravel to even sand, mud, and snow....this bike handles it all while also remaining quite capable on twisty single track. The frame quality is on equal par with all of the bigger brand name bikes I've ridden over the past 16 years.