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I'm considering jumping into the gravel/CX camp and have my eye on the XLS. https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV/planet-x-xls-sram-rival-11-hydraulic-cyclocross-bike#
Any owners care to share their thoughts? Good? Bad? What's Planet X typically like?
Alternatively, if anyone has any suggestions for similar price range, I'm all ears.
Excellent value. Limited tyre clearance - you won't get anything much bigger than 33mm on the back. The internal cable routing is not great and I've struggled to get good shifting on mine.
What’s Planet X typically like
There's plenty of threads on that topic already (I bought mine 2nd hand)
Cheers. I've tried searching the forum but the new search is woeful, unfortunately.
33mm on the back seems particularly small, no? I assumed it would go up to 38 at least? I guess that's why they introduced the Space Chicken...
33mm is the UCI imposed limit for CX racing, so pure CX race frames tend to be built around that. If you're after more of a "go anywhere" bike, you'd probably do well to find something with a bit more clearance for bigger tyres.
As for the search, type this into Google:
"site:singletrackworld.com planet X customer service"
I've had one for 4 years. Great bike. I have G Ones 38mm front and 35mm back. Tried a 38mm on the back and lost a bit of paint! I've 'modified' mine so I can run a shifter cable in it's outer case through the frame and down the chainstay, and it seems to work fine.
reviews say it is a racy frame and not quite as relaxed as a long distance gravel touring bike, but I've done 100 mile rides o nit without complaint.
Frame seems pretty bulletproof, i regularly forget I'm on it and leap off something that I'd normally reserve for the suspension bikes!
If I had the choice now days I'd probably save my pennies and get a Sonder Camino ti because of the better clearances and I have flared drops on mine now anyway because they much better off road.
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Love mine! Only had it just before Christmas,It had a pair of Hope tech XC wheels on which swung me 😁
Dead comfy compared to my old Uncle John and so fast!
Plus it's in Ned Flanders colours 😂
Had mine nearly a couple of years, sram 22 hydro version. Great bike and my most used . Got a 35 mm at the rear as mentioned no room for any bigger. I find it a comfortable bike, no problem being on it all day. The stock wheels, fulcrum racing db had pretty gash bearings and I've now got shimano & hope with aileron rims otherwise completely standard. Not sure what I would replace it with, probably won't unless I break it and haven't really looked at competitors - the ability to take a larger rear tyre would probably be a factor but not that big a deal
Love mine, but i will say that compared to other brands they are a bit short in the top tube & fitting mudguards is an arse.
Also, if they aren't having a sale then wait for one as everything is always discounted on there at some point.