Eddy Merckx Strasbourg: Tech specs
Body: Carbon
Value: €5,498 (as pictured)
Frameset value: £2,799
Groupset: Sram Rival AXS XPLR
Fork: RockShox Rudy XPLR
Sizes: XS-XL
Weight: 9.2kg
Eddy Merckx bikes arrived again with a bang in January this 12 months when the model was relaunched. A brand new vary of bikes was introduced together with street, all-road and gravel choices out there in metal, aluminium and carbon fibre.
Merckx bikes hadn’t disappeared utterly from the biking panorama however the previous a number of years had been quiet for the model after being acquired by the Belgium Biking Manufacturing facility mum or dad firm which additionally owns Ridley bikes. This implies Merckx bikes keep based mostly in Belgium, absolutely the model’s non secular dwelling.
Belgium ProTeam Group Flanders – Baloise has raced on Eddy Merckx for the previous couple of years, however the announcement in January represented an even bigger, official launching of a bigger Eddy Merckx vary. I spent a while within the earlier a part of this 12 months using the brand new Eddy Merckx Strasbourg carbon gravel bike to see the way it formed up. I might by no means ridden a motorbike with that well-known title on the downtube, and while I respect occasions have modified and Merckx is not behind the model anymore, it was nonetheless good to lastly swing a leg over a Merckx-branded bike.
The bike in query, the Strasbourg C (carbon) is, in accordance with the model, made for ‘extraordinarily difficult terrain’ and is the proper companion for tough and hard off-road rides. It is no secret an enormous vary of using varieties and terrain falls underneath the gravel bike umbrella now, and it appears the Strasbourg is aimed on the extra aggressive finish of the spectrum.
A part of the Eddy Merckx vary providing is customized spec choices through the model’s web site configurator. Clients can select from a carbon frameset priced at £2,157, six off-the-peg construct choices, or a spread of customized construct and paint choices to swimsuit preferences and necessities.
The precise bike I examined featured a RockShox Rudy suspension fork and as I rode it the bike priced at €5,498 (+ €499 for the fork choice over a inflexible Carbon mannequin) That is an honest lump of money, and I used to be eager to see how the brand new bike rode and if it warranted the value tag.
Design and Aesthetics
The Strasbourg mannequin is in accordance with the Merckx web site an ‘ode to an unforgettable stage victory within the 1971 Tour de France during which Eddy Merckx confirmed his class throughout a dash towards Roger De Vlaeminck on a dust observe.’ It is a faint hyperlink, however a hyperlink nonetheless.
Apparently the Strasbourg is at the moment the one gravel bike within the Merckx lineup however is on the market in metal, aluminium, and the carbon model we’re right here. It is also I believe a barely simpler and/or cost-effective method of doing issues in case you’re rolling out a brand-new bike vary. Though the identical mannequin in title, the fabric properties themselves and spec choices on supply ought to present an honest quantity of distinction between every model of the bike and convey out totally different journey and efficiency qualities.
Merckx despatched me a check construct of the Strasbourg to journey which was fitted with a RockShox Rudy suspension fork, the opposite choice is a 4ZA Oryx carbon disc fork. The Strasbourg as I perceive it will likely be out there with a suspension fork choice in time, however that is nonetheless unavailable on the web site configurator.
There are as talked about six off-the-peg spec choices to select from with a spread of digital and mechanical parts. Costs begin at £2,799 for a Sram Rival 11-speed construct and rise to £4,999 for a Shimano GRX800 di2 mannequin.
My check bike construct is available in at €5,498 with the Rudy fork choice, which provides €498 to the entire value. Construct-wise, my bike featured Sram Rival AXS 12-speed groupset with a 42T ring up entrance and 10-44T cassette. Forza Levanto carbon wheelset, Vittoria Terreno Dry 47mm tyres, Ritchey Enterprise Max Comp bars rounded out the ending equipment together with a San Marco saddle.
The Strasbourg body options 48mm tyre clearances and refreshingly a 27.2mm spherical seatpost and customary seat clamp, together with exterior brake hoses and a non-proprietary handlebar and headset association. This implies headset companies will likely be good and straightforward; helpful after muddy using and bike washing. But in addition it means altering out issues like handlebars, stems, and seatposts, ought to you could, is cost-effective and simply achieved.
I rode a dimension 54cm Strasbourg and geometry-wise the stack and attain numbers for the bike are 568 and 376 respectively. The stack quantity is strictly the identical as on The YT Szepter Core 4 dimension small mannequin I examined again in 2022 and that may be a related aggressively positioned gravel bike with a suspension fork that I obtained on nicely with using arduous off-road.
The Strasbourg includes a 71.5-degree headtube angle and a 73-degree seat-tube angle. A contact slacker on the seat tube and steeper within the head angle than the YT, making it really feel a bit of extra sprightly on the street. I really feel the Strasbourg geometry numbers strike a mix between off-road aggression and effectivity on milder terrain. It is also value remembering this bike can and will likely be specced with a inflexible carbon fork so there needs to be a stability within the numbers I really feel. Stem choices for the bike additionally vary from 90-120mm. Given the shorter body attain numbers I feel this works out on the cash, although clients, in fact, might spec a special size stem of their very own simply.
The Strasbourg body itself options three bosses on the down tube, two on the highest tube, , two on the seat tube, entrance and rear mudguard mount factors, and the inflexible carbon fork choice additionally has three bosses per leg. Including additional water bottles, baggage or mudguards for winter duties would not be a difficulty. There may be additionally a two-year guarantee, which extends to 3 with product registration.
Aesthetics-wise, I favored the gloss camo inexperienced and orange paint job my bike arrived with and it felt pretty on pattern gravel-wise. There are a number of inventory paint choices to select from or you may go full customized paint at no additional value. The body strains and tube shapes are fairly basic trying general, there are not any dropped seat stays or aggressive profiles and I like the best way the body presents general. The kinked seat stays might divide opinion and created a debate amongst my using mates however I do not take a lot concern with them.
Efficiency
My first off-road journey on the Merckx concerned some usually muddy and slick British winter circumstances and I in all probability tried to chew off a bit greater than the Merckx, in its present guise, might deal with in my native woods. Moist and really muddy circumstances proved a bit of an excessive amount of for the 47mm Terreno Dry tyres and I struggled with a critical lack of grip. My native using options some XC mtb trails and loads of muddy woodlands and if I used to be using the Strasbourg by way of a British winter and speccing a suspension fork, I might need some aggressive rubber so I might take pleasure in issues extra off-road.
In dryer spring climate I additionally tried to sort out as a lot technical off-road using as I might on the Strasbourg. Until it is a no-compromise race bike, I like a gravel bike to have the ability to cope with this sort of terrain and it additionally importantly checks what this bike is about. Steeper trails and technical terrain have been handled nicely and within the tackier, dryer circumstances the Terreno tyres supplied extra grip.
I examined the bike repeatedly on a quick minute-long descent which begins open and quick and culminates in a steep, slim rocky gulley which requires a few fairly particular line decisions to get arrange for. I rode this descent a number of occasions in a row pushing the bike arduous every time and it felt steady at velocity and hooked into the drops I felt assured on the technical decrease elements of the descent.
A tarmac climb leads again to the highest of this off-road descent and it made for a helpful off-road/on-road comparability. The Merckx feels sprightly sufficient on the climbs, but I felt assured I might get caught in and hammer it again downhill. It additionally served as a reminder I really feel that gravel bikes with 40mm suspension forks actually do not feel as sluggish on the street as a whole lot of us would possibly assume they do, myself included. Each time I journey one, I realise that except all-out velocity is your objective, it would not really feel prefer it’s holding you again an excessive amount of.
The Merckx hums alongside nicely on the tarmac too. Longer, road-only rides have been a superb check for this and the bike climbed nicely. I did not really feel the non-lockout choice on the Rudy fork detracted from out-of-the-saddle climbing or velocity on the flat notably, within the context of a normal street journey, not going arduous. The tyre and wheel combo on my bike make for a quick mixture and the Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres zip alongside rapidly at larger pressures on the street.
I additionally discovered it simple to hook into an aero place on the Sram hoods, which have been angled in to observe the flare of the Ritchey bars. I obtained extra used to the Ritchey flared bars as time went on they usually swimsuit a spread of using, however for me, a narrower, unflared bar feels extra confidence-inspiring when using technical terrain. I’d look to swap this and it might be simply carried out at buy utilizing the configurator.
The Merckx would not have the all-out stiffness or racy feeling of a few of the quickest gravel bikes on the market so in case you’re available in the market do not count on it to really feel like a race bike. I felt it was nonetheless nippy on the street and lighter gravel and supplied an entertaining journey, however the geometry and efficiency have been as much as the duty once I pushed issues off-road.
Worth
Regardless of liking the bike and having fun with its journey qualities I am unable to assist however really feel it is a bit of bit on the costly facet at €5,498 as reviewed. For some comparability as it is a equally positioned bike, the top-spec YT Szepter Core 4 with top-spec Rudy Final fork, Drive AXS and AXS dropper (however no carbon wheels) is on the market for €4,000 in the meanwhile while a number of Canyon Grizl choices, some with Rudy forks sit underneath the €5,000 mark.
That mentioned, I acknowledge Canyon’s direct-to-consumer mannequin particularly permits for very aggressive pricing. However Merckx does supply a big vendor community for assist and aftermarket care through Belgian Biking Manufacturing facility and a spread of customized spec and paint choices at buy which helps.
It is a strong bike, but when persons are purchasing round they could nicely discover extra competitively priced choices. Other than the great efficiency, if the attract of a Merckx-branded bike and customized choices does it for you, perhaps it will swing it.
Verdict
I favored the Strasbourg and have loved using it, it is a strong all-around gravel bike and handled aggressive off-road using nicely. It was steady at velocity and handled steep, difficult terrain with confidence. With street tyres and mudguards which you even have the power to suit, it might additionally make a strong winter bike including additional worth to the acquisition.
The bike is billed as being for aggressive off-road using although and given the USP I feel issues might head within the aggressive path a bit extra to additional align efficiency with the Strasbourg mannequin description.
For the bike to totally dwell as much as its aggressive billing, I feel a couple of part tweaks to take issues additional on this path would assist. I’d be plumping for the Vittoria Mezcal tyres on the configurator for a begin – you would, in fact, match totally different or extra aggressive rubber of your individual. It could even be good to see a Sram AXS dropper add-on choice which might be helpful for aggressive using and would assist the bike measure up towards different aggressive off-road gravel bikes available on the market. The suspension fork choice is coming quickly as an choice, so maybe some extra aggressive spec decisions will be a part of it.
The person himself is probably not heading up the operation anymore, however I like seeing that title on the down tube dwell on. If potential customers really feel the identical then the Merckx Strasbourg could also be a beautiful proposition regardless of there probably being cheaper, equally specced bikes on the market. It is not the precise spec I’d select if I used to be utilizing the bike for aggressive off-road using, however there’s a good body and geometry on the coronary heart of the Strasbourg carbon which feels at dwelling each on the street or using aggressively off it, the precise path you wish to take your construct in is totally as much as you.
| Design and aesthetics | The Strasbourg is straightforward on the attention with one thing of a basic silhouette. Design decisions are all purposeful and make dwelling with the bike simple | 8/10 |
| Construct | A variety of choices can be found. I used to be proud of the entire part decisions on my check bike, even when they weren’t essentially what I’d select. | 8/10 |
| Efficiency | The Strasbourg carried out nicely on and off street, It was nippy sufficient on the street and light-weight gravel however dealth with difficult terrain nicely too | 8/10 |
| Weight | Within the ballpark for many gravel bikes with this sort of spec, aggressive sufficient | 8/10 |
| Worth | I really feel on this setup the Strasbourg is a bit of bit expensive in comparison with competitiors. However Merckx does have some engaging plus factors just like the customized paint providing and potential model attract going for it | 7/10 |
| Total score | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 78% |
