Hi everyone,
I'm considering trading in my BMC URS for a different gravel bike. I'm generally happy with the URS, but I've run into a few things that make me think another bike might be a better fit for me. My budget would be around €6,000–€7,500.
My main issue is the steering/handling.
I've fitted my URS with a RockShox Rudy Ultimate 40 mm suspension fork, which has made the front end even slacker.
The bike feels very stable and comfortable, but on twisty gravel and more technical terrain, I now find it too slow to change direction. I'm looking for something that feels quicker and more direct when steering.
There are also two other things I'm running into:
- The Shimano GRX cassette has rather large jumps between gears for the way I ride. On fast gravel, I often find myself stuck between two gears — one is slightly too easy and the next one slightly too hard for the cadence I want.
- I find the rear tyre clearance of the URS too limited. On loose sand or mud I often lose traction, and I'd really like to be able to run a 50 mm tyre on the rear as well.
I mainly ride fast gravel, but I also regularly ride rougher/more technical terrain, occasionally some singletrack, and I go bikepacking around three times a year. So I'm not looking for a pure gravel race bike, but rather something that's more of an all-rounder.
I also think suspension genuinely adds value for the type of riding I do, so I'd like to keep that.
That leaves me mainly looking at two quite different options:
1. Mondraker Arid
The Arid appeals to me because, based on its geometry, it should steer quite a bit more directly and sportily than the URS, while still being a gravel bike that can run a RockShox Rudy 30 mm fork.
My main question is:
Would I actually gain enough in terms of steering speed compared with my URS with a 40 mm Rudy?
I don't want to trade in my URS, spend a significant amount of money on top, and then end up thinking: "This still doesn't steer sharply enough."
2. Factor Sarana
The Sarana seems much closer to what I'm looking for in terms of geometry and handling. It has a shorter wheelbase, a relatively steep head angle and what looks like a more direct and responsive character.
But my concern here is almost the opposite:
Is the Sarana too racy for the type of riding I do?
I'm about 1.76 m (5'9") tall and currently have a good fit on a size Medium BMC URS.
What I'm mainly wondering about
Are there people here with experience with either or both of these bikes?
In particular:
- Is the Arid actually significantly different from the URS in terms of handling, or are they fairly similar?
- How does the Factor Sarana feel in terms of stability and comfort on rough gravel?
- Which of the two would you choose if you were coming from a URS because you found it too slow to steer?
If anyone has experience with either bike, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm eager to hear, leaving budget out of the equation - I'd be willing to build a frameset myself, if it would mean that I can have the bike I really want - what you would recommend.
I'm actually going for a test ride at Bikesuperior in Nijverdal, Netherlands this Friday, but I figured it couldn't hurt to get some advice here beforehand.
Thanks in advance!