When SRAM invited us as a launch partner for its new AXS group sets, one of the interesting features was the ability to mix road and mountain bike parts. That got us very interested in using AXS for the Exploro. With production preference first given to the pure road and pure mountain bike group sets, it has taken a bit of time, but now the mixed groups are finally available in sufficient quantities.
The unique personality of the Exploro – fast like a road bike yet ultra-capable off-road thanks to big tire clearance – screams out for a wide range of gears. In SRAM terms, that means you’d want to combine the Force AXS road shifters and lightweight brakes with the Eagle XX1 AXS wide range rear derailleur.
That setup works with a variety of Eagle cassettes, either the “insane range 10-50T” or the “still very large range 11-50T”. While on my mountain bike, I prefer 10-50T, on the Exploro I think 11-50T is actually a better choice, keeping the gears spaced a little closer.
To put the spec over the top, we opted for our 3T Torno crank. Specifically designed for ultimate aerodynamics in 1x, it is the perfect crank to get the most out of your Exploro’s on- and off-road performance. With its carbon arms, spider and axle, the Torno is not only very aero but also extremely light and strong.
Manufactured from scratch at our carbon factory near Bergamo, Italy, the Torno stands for the future of 3T. Given our limited production, it’s not a crank we spec on most of our bikes (the standard Force AXS crank is of course nice too) but for this limited run, it’s perfect.
In addition to the standard build, there is also an option to upgrade to our new DiscusPlus i28 LTD wheels (these are the wheels shown in the full bike studio and action shots lower on this page), which combine our Bulletproof hubs with lightweight carbon rims with a wide 28mm internal width. If you prefer to stay on 700c wheels, you could also opt for the Discus 45 | 32 LTD wheels.
Last but not least, a special edition needs a special color. So how about Caribbean blue / Burnt orange? With the matching fork, this color combination really stands out, no matter how much dust covers it.
Of course a bike is only as good as it rides, and in that department, this Exploro delivers like you are used to from an Exploro (click for full size images):
Like what you see? Questions about the specs? Let us know in the comments or check the spec list on the Exploro page.