Falkenjagd Aristos GT Gravel - Titanium Frameset - 2023

Cycling 01/2023 - Test winner! (Grade: 1.1 Very Good!)

(in the test equipment variant with shifting / brakes: Campagnolo Ekar | wheelset: Campagnolo Levante, carbon | cockpit / seatpost: Parapera)

GT as in Gravel Tourer: For gravel and bikepacking

In the good old days of the automobile, GT stood for "Grand Tourisme": large four-seaters with plenty of space and a powerful engine that were particularly well suited for touring and travel. The Aristos GT is very much in this tradition - even though it has no engine and only two wheels. The latest addition to the Aristos family is also predestined for touring and travel, in the form of bikepacking, the modern form of touring cycling, often off the beaten track. GT therefore stands at the Aristos for "Gravel Tourer".

The Aristos GT combines the "classic" geometry of CX bikes with the integration of R bikes, all with a focus on accommodating luggage. And the Aristos GT sets new standards for titanium bikes in terms of price/performance ratio.

Features of the Falkenjagd Aristos GT titanium Gravel frame

• Falkenjagd titanium frame
• Parapera carbon fork
• Acros stainless steel headset 1.5", integrated, for standard aluminum & titanium stem
• incl. thru axles

Details of the Falkenjagd Aristos GT Gravel

Insensitive to dirt, water and salt, titanium is the optimal material for an all-round gravel bike that can be used as a touring bike as well as for weekend excursions.

Optimal for storing luggage

The Aristos GT has largely integrated cable routing, like the R-series bikes. However, the integration on the GT serves less the design and the "clean" look, but to better accommodate luggage - for example, a handlebar bag. On a "normal" cockpit, the cables are in the way here to easily attach the bag. On the GT, the cables are routed through the head tube; when installing the 3D stem of the R series, all cables disappear completely.

Also to better accommodate luggage, there are two threaded eyelets for top cases on the top tube: practical to accommodate necessary small items such as phone, money, papers and bars that you want to access quickly. Thus, the GT has four mounting points available on the main frame: On the top tube, on the seat tube, and two on the down tube (front and rear).

Geometry: classic - modern

The geometry of the GT is based on the CX and the R, so combines classic elements with integration. The rear triangle and fork are designed for 28-inch wheels, for tire widths up to 45 millimeters, or 40 mm with mudguards. The tubes of the frame are rounder than the CX, which not only provides a more "classic" look, but also allows the lower price, because here the installed double or triple butted tubes are cheaper than tube sets with multiple deformation, as it is applied to the Aristos CX.

Also for price but also for weight reasons, the GT comes with a carbon fork. It is lighter, thereby cheaper, and offers three threaded eyelets on each side for so-called "AnyCages", small cages for attaching light luggage or even additional bottle cages. Unlike the titanium fork on CX and R, however, no front rack can be mounted. A special feature of the new fork is the "FlipFlop" mount for the front wheel, which can be used to change the forward travel, and thus the riding characteristics of the bike: more agile in the rear position, smoother in the front.

Cockpit

The cockpit of the GT offers particularly ample space to accommodate a handlebar bag, without annoying cables and cables. Unlike the Aristos R, the head tube is kept straight here to facilitate the integration of the cables, but also to reduce costs.

Bottom bracket and rear triangle

At the request of many customers, the bottom bracket of the GT is no longer designed in the "Pressfit" standard, but as a "T47" with thread. This means that 30 mm aluminum shafts can also be installed, which makes the frame-fork set even more attractive for anyone who wants to build their dream bike with different components. In addition, the bottom bracket has the "service flap" known from the R on the underside, with which the cables are more accessible.

Comfort: good feedback

Comfort should not be neglected in a touring-oriented bike to allow the rider to enjoy a fatigue-free ride for as long as possible. Good vibration damping is indispensable on rooted paths, rougher gravel roads, all-road use or fast "hardpack".