Last summer we got a sneak peek at Bombtrack’s latest Beyond Sus steel bikepacking adventure bike with the addition of some RockShox front SUSpension, but now it gets a more affordable aluminum version too. Plus, as a mid-season update, two of their most popular & versatile bikes get solid new SRAM builds…
Bombtrack Beyond SUS steel adventure bike with suspension
The new Beyond SUS is Bombtrack’s own favorite highlight of their February refresh, something of a more practical evolution of their original Hook ADV. We took a close look at it last summer at Eurobike, adding 40mm of RockShox Rudy travel to the already capable double-butted Columbus Cromor steel do-it-all adventure bike.
With room for up to 2.1″ mountain bike tires (27.5 on XS & S or 29″ on M-XL) and tons of cage, rack & fender mounts, the steel Bombtrack Beyond was already a no-nonsense monstergravel bike ready for anything from bikepacking to singletrack exploration.
c. Bombtrack, bike photos by Jason Sellers
Now, for $2790 / 2700€ with a short-travel suspension fork and a SRAM Apex mechanical group with TRP Spyre mechanical brakes, the Beyond SUS is seriously a dropbar bike with no limits.
The new Beyond AL is an all-new aluminum addition to the big-tire dropbar adventure bike family. Like you find in the rest of the Bombtrack line-up, the option for a double-butted 6061 alloy frameset saves a good bit weight over the steel analog.
The Beyond AL gets plenty of hydroformed shaping – like a curved & ovalized toptube, bi-axial flattened downtube, and wide-set curved & tapered fork legs – to keep stiffness where you want it for predictable handling, but without sacrificing compliance or rider comfort.
The alloy adventure bike gets internal routing for dynamo lighting, several sets of 3-pack anything cage mounts, toptube, and standard bottle cage mounts, plus full rack & fender mounts front & rear. Strap on anything you could need for an off-road overnighter or extender bikepacking trip.
The Beyond AL sticks with easy-to-manage modular external cable routing and is compatible with 1x or 2x drivetrains, but also adds stealth routing for a possible 31.8mm dropper post. It gets a T47 threaded bottom bracket, 12mm thru-axles, and flat mount disc brakes.
The alloy bike comes in just 3 sizes (S-L) with the smallest sticking to 27.5″ wheels for consistent fit & handling, while the larger bikes get 29er wheels. Max tire clearance is 2.25″ in either wheelsize.
The Bombtrack Beyond AL gets a similar Apex + Spyre mechanical build like its steel-suspended brethren. But with a $2290 / 1980€ price tag, it will save you quite a bit of money while also likely being a couple kilos lighter. No word yet on production bike weights.
Arise SG Apex
Here, the move is simply from a 10-speed MicroShift Advent spec to an 11-speed SRAM Apex build. Bombtrack loved how the MicroShift build helped turn their adaptable, sliding drop-out steel commuter into an all-road and even gravel bike. But the wider range of the Apex 1x 11-sp drivetrain and the move to a clutched derailleur simply makes it more versatile than ever, over more surfaces and over any terrain.
At $2300 / 2000€, the new Arise SG Apex is hard to argue with for all-purpose riding, with classic steel fork & small diameter tubing good looks. Slap racks & fenders on for everyday commutes or long-distance tours. Or fit up to 42mm tires (650b for sizes XS & S, 700c for sizes M-XL) for a bit of fast gravel grinding.
Hook EXT goes AXS wireless
Lastly, the new silver steel frames Hook EXT Rival AXS is essentially the same as the regular Hook EXT, except for a pretty big drivetrain upgrade – from mechanical Rival 11-speed to a new wider range wireless SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 12-speed groupset, featuring a 38T x 10-44T spread and hydraulic disc brakes.
The double-butted Columbus Cromor steel bike comes in 5 sizes (XS-XL) all with 27.5″ wheels & 2.0″ tires, plus all the mounts you could wish for (including a rear taillight tab).
For $3700 / 3600€, you get the Bombtrack Hook EXT Rival AXS with wireless 1x & hydro brakes, plus a tubeless-ready WTB wheelset & light, fast-rolling Ranger mountain bike tires. That makes it one of the more expensive Bombtrack gravel & adventure bikes, but it still looks like a pretty good value.
All four of the new Bombtrack bikes – Beyond SUS, Beyond AL, Arise SG Apex & Hook EXT Rival AXS – are making their way right now out to the international dealers and should all be available next week.
