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Masi gets dirty w/ new CXGR gravel road bike, plus fresh Evoluzione paint & spec

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2015-Masi-CXGR-cyclocross-gravel-road-bike

Masi’s venturing into the gravel adventure road bike scene with the new CXGR, a double butted chromoly frame made to tackle the rough and tumble terrain we’re longing to see more of.

They’ve done cyclocross bikes in the past, and this one is closely based on those, except with spec aimed at longer, somewhat more relaxed rides exploring backroads and trails. To do that, the smaller size frames get slightly slacker head and seat angles and a bit more BB drop, and all sizes get 7mm longer chainstays. That gives the bikes a bit longer wheelbase for more stable handling compared to the racy nature of CX bikes. It’s also available in a wider variety of sizes ranging from 49cm up to 60cm. All come with their RS Cross carbon fork with 7075 alloy steerer.

The best part? The price puts it well within reach of the gravel curious…

Retailing for just $1,469, it’s decked out with Shimano 11-speed 105 shifters and derailleurs with an FSA Gossamer compact crankset, all turning an adventure ready 11-32 cassette. Brakes are TRP Lyra mechanical. The cockpit is Deda EL (alloy), and wheels use Weinmann rims with wire-bead Clement X’Plore USH 35c tires. To us, that’s a smart use of resources, putting a quality drivetrain on board wheels that’ll get the job done until you’re ready to upgrade to a lighter weight tubeless setup.

2015-Masi-Evoluzione-Ultegra-Di2 road bike

The Evoluzione remains their top level carbon race road bike, and for 2015 it gets updated graphics and spec. Last year, they had a Di2 model that topped out at $11,000. That’s great to have, but it’s not the stuff that sells day in and day out, so they reined it in a bit. Now, it tops out at $6,500 with Dura-Ace mechanical and Ultregra Di2 (shown) models, and start out just over $2K with a Shimano 105 build.

We spoke with Masi’s new marketing communications person, who came from Schwinn and is also assisting with product development. He indicated Masi’s brought on quite a bit of new talent lately and that we should be expecting some big things from them over the next couple years. Can’t wait!

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22 Comments
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jeff
jeff
9 years ago

Obviously the talent they picked up wasn’t the graphics person, those bikes paint schemes are hideous!

Apart from the graghics and paint though, the bikes look good and seemed to be well priced.

upsidedownbiker
upsidedownbiker
9 years ago

Bravo for trying something different with the paint schemes. Unfortunately it was poorly executed.

pmurf
pmurf
9 years ago

It’s like Cinelli’s Caleido scheme, sans the exercise in restraint. I guess “Italian style” covers all manner of sins.

DorkDisk
DorkDisk
9 years ago

You cannot fake Italian flair

King County
King County
9 years ago

Test markets in downtown Rome proved the graphics to be a huge hit.

King County
King County
9 years ago

I have a Masi Soulville and think it is a cool bike, but would have refined it a bit.

s
s
9 years ago

agreed, the spec and price look good, and I’ve been looking seriously at one of these type of bikes –
but the graphics & paint are just ghastly.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

bruce gordon should get royalty checks

SpasticFantastic
SpasticFantastic
9 years ago

Yeah, it’s too bad the paint isn’t all blacked out, ’cause that would be really innovative.

c
c
9 years ago

Agree great to see some bold statements in an otherwise sea of boring bikes. I would maybe have done a little editing but not bad at all.

Agreed with Matt
Agreed with Matt
9 years ago

A lot of mis-matched graphic styles going on there.

cracked-frame
cracked-frame
9 years ago

Hey look! Running cables NOT under the down tube on a gravel bike. Keeping them out of the mud/mess. Somebody is thinking.

ShopMechanic
ShopMechanic
9 years ago

Not a fan of the gravel bike’s graphics, but I love the look of that road bike! I’d love to see more innovative paint jobs like the one shown on the Evoluzione.

KrisKross
KrisKross
9 years ago

Completely sick of all black paint schemes. These bikes are great. Or are the boys afraid of color? Yes , black is so macho.

Oscar Ruiz
Oscar Ruiz
9 years ago

Masi is owned by HARO. Ive selling bikes for years and few offer as good of a value as masi, well specd, price is brilliant and lifetime warranty. They have always had not too great color designs though.

Dougal
Dougal
9 years ago

Apart from the fork I really like the paint/graphics job on the gravel bike. The fork graphics just doesnt work at all for me.

Willis24
Willis24
9 years ago

I have tried and really don’t see the attraction of drop bars on rough terrain. Especially the rutted and boulder strewn gravel roads where I live. On the last big ride I did with that style of bike, there were 29ers riders passing me left and right. I thought, why am I not riding mine… so now I do. Glad I learned you can ride any bike you want on gravel and hope to save others the same blunder.

Jonathon
Jonathon
9 years ago

Nice kink in the chain!

jeff
jeff
9 years ago

I do like mostly black bikes, most of my bikes are either all black or black with some color. I have nothing against different color schemes, but those bikes, especially the road bike, is fricken ugly. Some are even trying to say its ” Italian inspired”, we Italians have way better taste then that. Cinelli has some artist inspired designs on some bikes and components, and I think thats where some think the Italian flair comes in, but those bikes are trying too hard to be cool and look ridiculous in theyre effort.

Nell
Nell
9 years ago

That chain has a kink in it

ceebee
ceebee
9 years ago

the real ones are made here: http://milano3v.com/

CoreyK
CoreyK
8 years ago

I just test rode a 2015 CXGR yesterday. It was a quite responsive ride considering the frame geometry, and very comfortable with minimal adjustments. If you like steel frames for this type of bike, this ought to be one to consider.

Graphics were as bad in person as in the pictures, but you could fix it by 50% just by swapping out the bar tape. The frame itself has very nice paint, and the brass brazing being visible and tying into the copper paint panels is a really nice touch.

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