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3T For BMW Exploro

Sheer Cycling Pleasure

3T brings sheer cycling pleasure to adventure seeking BMW fans with a 3T for BMW Exploro available in 2 color variations.

Posted by Rene Wiertz - 16 March 2020

As I mentioned yesterday, we live in a surreal world here in Bergamo, Italy. Here’s the backstory about how we ended up with this announcement today. Three years ago I first approached BMW, because I have always enjoyed driving a BMW car. I like its unique combination of performance, comfort, luxury and style. “The Ultimate Driving Machine”, as their slogan goes.

My idea was to collaborate on a project and let BMW customers experience the fun and freedom of gravel riding. As you can imagine, inside a huge company like BMW even just finding the right person to talk to can be an adventure.

Many discussions, ideas, approvals and more approvals would follow (they test and certify every little part on the bike, even if we have already. Really a great learning curve for a company like ours to go through, and helpful for all our regular projects). Then a few months ago, March 16 was picked as the day we would announce our project to the world.

And then Corona arrived, and Bergamo became the epicenter of the pandemic. Yet we still announce today. Why? Well firstly, because changing something with a big company like BMW is complicated and secondly, because doing nothing for a few months isn’t really an option.

As mentioned before, we have to keep our employees safe but also employed. That means that for all of us here, just like for our customers, suppliers and partners like BMW, it’s best if we somehow move on within the safety restrictions we all adhere to.

Back to the bikes. It felt like a great honor when BMW agreed to let us design a ‘3T for BMW’ bike. I saw a perfect fit for a special edition 3T for BMW Exploro, our “Ultimate Riding Machine”. With two striking designs and special components to further boost the performance AND luxury, these new bikes stand out from the pack.

The 3T for BMW Exploro is based on the fastest and most aerodynamic gravel bike frame on the market, and build with the world’s lightest aero carbon crank (made in 3T’s Italian carbon factory), an exclusive Brooks saddle and matching Brooks leather handlebar tape. The bike is finished off with Fulcrum wheels and Schwalbe G-One Speed tires to ensure a secure grip with maximum speed on any terrain. The Shimano GRX groupset specially developed for gravel bikes completes the bike. Full specs of the grey/grey/mint bike here, full specs of the grey/blue version here.

I am proud of the end result: 100% Sheer Cycling Pleasure!

 

The 3T for BMW Exploro retails for € 5.499 / US$ 5.499 and is available through select BMW dealerships, select 3T Experience Centers and online from 3T.bike (CLICK HERE for the grey/grey/mint version and CLICK HERE for the grey/blue version).  3T launch partners are:

 

United States

Contender

 

Finland

Toni & Toni Cycles

 

Germany

Enjoyyourbike

Zweirad Joos GmbH

Radsport Buchstaller

Christoph Schwerdt

 

the Netherlands

BikeSuperior

Joybike

 

Belgium

Fietsmijn

 

Croatia

BONK

 

Italy

Cicli Lazzaretti

Diliè Cicli

 

Taiwan

Marechal International

 

Japan

Asahi

 

Korea

Rubi Workshop

◄ Previous Story Life in the Red Zone
Next Story ► Mixing road & gravel – 1 set-up for everything

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Comments & Questions

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15 responses to “3T For BMW Exploro”

  1. N

    Neil Hutchison says:

    07 March 2022

    I’ve got my bike and it’s amazing. One question though, the manual says not to clamp the frame or seat post but in the video showing the rear wheel removal Gerard has the bike clamped by the top tube. Can you clarify the correct way to clamp the frame?

    Reply
  2. N

    Neil Hutchison says:

    13 September 2021

    Hi Rene, Gerard,
    I’ve ordered the blue 3T from my local BMW dealership and can’t wait for it to arrive. They look absolutely amazing and love the spec on the bike. I live in Scotland so there are endless amounts of trails with various surfaces for me visit. I had decided on a 3T Exploro after extensive research then saw the striking images of the 3T for BMW. I have no aspirations of owning a BMW car but appreciate their heritage, craftsmanship and quality.
    Thanks for designing and making a wonderful bike and for doing it your way and not following the others.

    Reply
  3. C

    Chris says:

    31 March 2020

    Don’t understand the negativity in previous posts. BMW has always been on the forefront in terms of materials and was one of the first manufacturers of EV’s (i3).

    I personally love the idea and know how great most BMW’s drive and value their emphasis on driver centric design. While I am not a big fan of the big SUV’s. This very much works with the idea of a bicycle colab. I wish I could get my hands onto one in down under. All the best.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      31 March 2020

      Hi Chris, that’s what I have (the i3, first generation). Exactly what an EV should be, small and light (carbon fiber!) and only teh range you need, not more. All of that so it can have a small battery.

      We can definitely get you one in Australia, just send me a note.

      Reply
  4. L

    Lukas says:

    25 March 2020

    Hello René, hello Gerard!

    First of all, this is almost the one year anniversary of me being the proud owner of a 3T Exploro in racing green. I have spent some of my happiest moments of 2019 on this bike and with all the craziness going on in the world right now, I realise how excruciatingly I miss it. Thank you for all the hard work that you have put into this company and this brand.

    On Gravel-related social media, there is the running gag going on about “is this Gravel?” to poke some fun at the more purist and elitist representatives of this cycling discipline. I do not count myself among them. Ride all the bikes, right? However, the marketing picture on your website of the business casual dude and his L’Oréal forming gel hairstyle riding the 3T in front of that obscene lump of a car is definitely the most un-Gravel thing I have seen in my entire life. Don’t get me wrong, the paint jobs look amazing (I especially like the grey/blue one), but the BMW logo on the bike? I’d cover it with a B’Twin sticker not to die of shame on the next group ride. The common denominator of your promotional video are Tuscan country roads – but the marketing target audiences of those who dream about powering over them in SUVs and those who dream about pedalling over them on Gravel bikes are not only fundamentally different, they even regard each other in scorn more often than not. In my humble opinion, a very unfortunate mix of premium products.

    I wish all of you at 3T health and courage to affront those trying times ahead.

    Reply
  5. J

    JC says:

    23 March 2020

    How do you guys like that size of the G-One Speed tires, especially compared to the Compasses? I remember reading on the Open blog that you aren’t big fans of the 60mm ones.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      23 March 2020

      Hi JC, I just wrote about that here as well: https://blog.3t.bike/2020/03/12381/gravel-bike-tech-mixing-road-gravel-1-set-up-for-everything/

      I like the G-One speed, just not in the 2.35″/60mm width version.

      Reply
  6. M

    Mark S says:

    20 March 2020

    Hi Rene, 3T,
    I call it quite an amazing result that you, as 3T, managed to set up a collaboration with giant BMW! Regardless if you like BMW cars or not, 3T has created another beautiful Exploro. In my view, a unique opportunity for the BMW driver to widen his (or hers) view on mobility and spend more time outside the car than inside. And what is a better way to do that than on an Exploro?
    Although you can’t argue on taste, I can hardly imagine that somebody does NOT like the beautiful design of the new BMW Exploro. If you only assume that if 0,5% of BMW buyers also buy an Exploro, the bikers community will increase by 12.500 (supported by 3T 🙂
    I like my Exploro, even without a BMW, and hope that many future BMW drivers will take the advantage of the awesome Exploro to start ‘exploring the unexplored!’

    Reply
  7. N

    Nathaniel D. says:

    20 March 2020

    I love 3T. Both the Strada and Exploro are visionary. Gerard Vroomen’s pitch about the “bike of the future” with the Strada resonated with me, especially the commitment to 1x drivetrains, which I love. Now that we can get smooth shifting across 500% range, who needs two chainrings? And on top of that, these BMW editions are absolutely gorgeous.

    The only thing keeping me from buying is that the geometry doesn’t quite work for me. On a gravel bike I want to be able to run a 700c x 40 mm tire with no toe overlap. This requires a ~610 mm front center, which admittedly basically only exists on a BMC URS in my small size. Also, that slack seat tubes on 3T bikes make it tough to get the saddle-forward position in which I generate the most power (my flexibility is terrible). So here’s my appeal—I would love to see an Exploro with a long-reach, short stem approach. I love the slack head tube of the Small, but just a cm or two of reach would make this the perfect bike. I’ll cross my fingers.

    Reply
  8. A

    Anders says:

    16 March 2020

    As an Exploro owner, not a collaboration I’m very happy about. BMW is increasingly lagging behind on the technical side, by focusing to much on ol’ skool ICE cars and beeing left behind when it comes to electrification. The part that really gets to me though, is the quality, or should I say lack of quality in BMW’s recent designs. You can tell simply by looking at the main image, and the rather tasteless 8-series grille, compared to the very nice and simple Exploro design. Judging by recent efforts, its just getting worse, so sorry to say, this is a collaboration that hurts 3T as a brand.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      17 March 2020

      Hi Anders, I respect your position of course, although actually BMW has one of the best sustainability rankings in the car industry. For example Triodos Bank, one of the oldest banks focussed on sustainability and a blueprint for many similar banks around the world, puts BMW at the top of its ranking making it the exception in the car industry that they are willing to have in their investment funds. While I agree that they have catching up to do on some of the cars (and they are), on the production side they are the leader in energy reduction.

      And the i3 is still the most sustainable electric car on the market with regards to overall footprint, where they have everything from the manufacturing of the carbon fiber to the final car under control. Plus of course the fact is has a small battery, unlike the current race to build cars with the biggest battery so people won’t feel range anxiety on their 30 km commute to work.

      Reply
    2. T

      Tom says:

      18 March 2020

      For her comment: I have no idea about the car, technology and above all quality

      Reply
  9. C

    Chris Montana says:

    16 March 2020

    For me, this has put me off 3T as a brand. I am not a fan of the plethora of high-powered, ultra-thirsty cars (mostly BMW, Audi & Mercedes) that have become the status ‘norm’ on the streets of the UK. Bikes and cars in general don’t mix well on the streets. The Exploro is off my option list.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      17 March 2020

      Hi Chris, sorry to hear that. I’m not a fan of cars in general, but I can’t deny they exist and that they are mixing with bikes. In my opinion, the places they mix best is where the car drivers also ride bikes so they understand how they move, how fast, etc. Places like the Netherlands. Indeed I generally have no enjoyed riding in the UK nearly as much, or felt nearly as safe.

      That said, this is not a program to get 3T riders to drive more cars. While it would be presumptuous of me to think this will get hordes of BMW drivers to park their cars and ride exclusively from now on, every little bit helps. If we can get a couple of drivers to ALSO becomes cyclists, understanding will rise along with bike safety. Even simply seeing bikes in the showroom will hopefully make car drivers see cyclists more as “road colleagues” and less as an “enemy” as they are now often perceived (not in small part thanks to clowns like Jeremy Clarkson).

      Whatever you choose, i wish you fun and safe riding.

      Reply
  10. T

    Tom BA says:

    16 March 2020

    I usually don’t like all these collaborations between bike and car companies where you have to pay $4,000 extra just for a different paint scheme. But this one I really like because it’s a real performance bike, the special parts like the Torno and the Brooks stuff is awesome, and the price is still reasonable.

    Reply
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