Not so much suspension per se, but fantastic at taking the edge off of everything.” Keep in mind that this is a rigid bike after all, and without any fancy pivots or dampening devices, it’s not class-leading smooth, however, those “vibration reduction” seatstays do indeed seem to work and they will certainly help to stave off fatigue compared to many stiffer-feeling race bikes. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. Salsa Cycles Warbird GRX 810 The full-carbon Waxwing Deluxe fork features a surprisingly rare implementation of the flat mount disc brake, where the bolts run through the front side of the fork and into the caliper. It shaves a little weight of the alloy steerer version, but is otherwise the same. Tyre clearance shown with a Continental 40 mm fitted. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … And if you’re tall enough to ride a 56 cm or larger, then you’ll earn a third bidon mount within the main triangle. 2020 Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX … © 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … Salsa. For that, there’s the Warbird Carbon GRX 810 … Coming on a decade in age since the first model, the Warbird takes a considered and somewhat unique approach to what racing gravel means. At the top of the tree is the Warbird GRX 810 Di2. Flag for Review Add an image. Some attention from the shop selling you the bike will certainly solve the problem. Find out more over at SalsaCycles.com. Here the combination of the longer wheelbase, relatively relaxed head angle, and edge-taming ride quality combined to make a bike that just wanted to be pedalled harder and harder while pecking away at the miles. (Shimano does have a Dura-Ace power meter, but the Q factor is narrower on its road crankset than the GRX gravel group.). The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … Just know that the Warbird is purpose-built for stability on long-haul gravel races on mostly straight roads. It’s annoying that Shimano sells this as a separate piece instead of just building the functionality into the hoods. Where the former two felt eager to change direction with a quick flick, the Warbird required a stronger hand and a little more forward warning. tires with clearance for mud and debris; … Interestingly, across such a range, all feature the same head angle (baring the smallest 49 cm size), 430 mm chainstays, 70 mm bottom bracket, and 50 mm fork offset. The Warbird has some of the cleanest-looking dropouts you’ll find anywhere. Get the latest race news, results, commentary, and tech, delivered daily to your inbox. That said, they feature a cheaper sleeved and pinned rim, and a 370-level pawl hub that James experienced some occasional popping sounds from – something we’d never get from DT Swiss’ much-loved and more expensive Star Ratchet system. The Salsa Warbird is a great gravel race bike. While there are more playful-feeling options on the market perhaps better suited to short and fast racing, the Warbird stays true to its long-distance racing purpose: being a bike that wants to be shown the direction of the finish line and pedalled with intent until glory arrives. Visit full review. Can a bike that’s inspired so many competing options from larger (and smaller) brands still ruffle a few feathers? Join Active Pass to get VeloNews magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans & more. gravel bikes, the Warbird delivers on comfort, tire clearance, and mount options in a slack-geo configuration. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. If you … But sorry thread lovers, this frame uses a Shimano-style BB86 bottom bracket (which in our experience is the most trouble-free of the pressfit variants). And the 48-11 is pretty decent for spinning on the tarmac, too, although if you do group rides you’ll probably run out of top-end gear pretty quick. The shape and relatively sporty width should suit most. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … Brand: Salsa, Product: Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 Achieving gravel greatness takes hard work and tenacity—and a gravel race bike that can hang with you every pedal stroke of the way. If you’d rather hallucinate from sheer exhaustion instead of taste blood from extreme lactic acid build-up, then the Warbird is certainly a bike worth flying on. “Handling is very, very much on the stable side,” James said. On really rough days, I still end up with a bit of grease on the ankle of my right sock from the chain jumping around, but the chain-on-chainstay noise is definitely less than with a non-clutch derailleur. But I found the cockpit to be a happy place to be as well, with a carbon Salsa bar and the GRX hoods. In terms of comfort, this bike is a champ. It’s a bike that within Salsa’s own marketing materials is typically covered in bags and water to cover multiple days of racing. As covered in previous reviews from the Field Test, the Shimano GRX 810 2x groupset is a tough one to fault and it does indeed offer valuable improvements over the equivalent Ultegra R8000 mechanical groupset. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … 2020 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards: Showcase 1, AG2R’s new kit, Van Aert wins Kristallen Fiets award: Daily News Digest, Add a two-speed gearbox to your bike with Classified’s new wheelsets, Pridham ‘relishing the opportunity’ as she joins Israel Start-Up Nation as DS, These are the best (and most surprising) places to get a draft in a bike race, Product picks of 2020: the best of the best, Russia banned from using flag, anthem at Olympics for 2 years, CyclingTips Podcast: de Stig, Cherie Pridham, and news in drafting, Specialized HQ targeted in major bike theft, Reviewed: Campagnolo’s (very) Big Corkscrew, EF’s new name, Knees retires from racing: Daily News Digest, EF Pro Cycling will become EF Education-Nippo in 2021, Peiper wins DS award, new team sponsors: Daily News Digest, Ten products I loved in 2020: Abby Mickey, Meet Bianchi’s first carbon gravel bike, Arcadex, Belgian group purchases majority stake in Canyon, You should not use these terrible cycling hacks, Riccò banned for life, heart condition sidelines Ulissi: Daily News Digest, Ulissi taking ‘temporary break from competitive activity’ due to myocarditis, 2020 Gravel Bike Field Test: 12 bikes, four riders, and endless dirt. The RX810 hydraulic disc brakes will stop you … Throw in hidden fender and rack mounts, and you are set for pretty much any distance gravel race under the sun. At The Mid South and ever since, the Di2 shifting has been flawless (provided that I remember to charge it!) For gravel, though, the combination is pretty ideal. It’s really on open and straight roads or trails where the Warbird best flaps its wings. The 2020 Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 comes in gloss black and has a similar spec to the Di2 model, but without the carbon bars and seatpost, and a slightly lower grade C1800 wheelset. The front derailleur tab is removable in case you want to run 1x. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. Salsa Cycles has released the images for their 2020 line up of Warbird bikes. The freshly groomed Warbird also earns dual-wheel compatibility, and with asymmetric and dropped chainstays you can now squeeze up to a 700 x 45 mm or a 650B x 2″ tyre in the frame. The hoods have pronounced ridges on the tops and sides, which probably helped with traction at The Mid South, but can make for noticeable albeit short-term indentions in the palms if you’re out of the saddle climbing for extended periods. The Warbird Carbon GRX 810 I tested comes in black, retails for $4,099 and has three siblings. Thank you. Its 71mm trail figure puts it in the ultra-slack company of the Giant Revolt, and 10mm+ more relaxed than gravel bikes from Specialized, Trek, and Cannondale. The front fork offers stealthy routing for a dyno hub, and then, of course, there are fender mounts. There’s a regular 27.2 mm round seatpost retained by a *gasp* round seatclamp, and the frame can accept a dropper post, too (1x gearing required). With up to 45mm claimed clearance, I ran 35mm tires and only gummed up towards the end when the sun made a brief appearance and the clay-rich soil began to create sculptures on my frame. Finished in a striking Atomic Pink it’s not for the shy & retiring rider. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. Salsa… Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 2020. And while the Cervelo Aspero, say, feels like a really good road bike from the first twinge of the calf, the Warbird is seemingly made with slower-twitch muscles in mind. Salsa Warbird – Ride Experience. Reviews Warbird is Salsa's gravel race bike, built off years of experience racing in some of the nation’s premier gravel events. Of all the bikes at the Field Test, the ones fitted with DT Swiss wheels were the easiest to setup tubeless and these were no exception. The front-facing flat mount bolts are a nice touch. It’s certainly an area we couldn’t complain about. Thanks largely to the seatpost, it is one of the most forgiving gravel bikes I’ve ever ridden…. Personally I found the pack a bit of a fiddle to get things in and out of, and overfilling quickly results in a bag that runs awfully near the chainrings, but still, it remains a nice little addition that no other tested bike offers. While not ideal for the laundry situation, the all-day mud and muck was excellent for testing. One set of mounts on the top tube, and sets on either side of the fork. Toe rub on the front tyre was just ever so slightly present on the Warbird when fitted with 40 mm tyres; swap to a smaller tyre and the toes of your white kicks will remain scuff free. As a result, it’s a bike that emphasises endurance, efficiency, comfort and control, whereas many competing gravel race bikes could be better described as being wide-tyred road or cyclocross machines. And I’m also a fan of Shimano’s Di2 electronic systems, particularly in mucky conditions. Both James and I really liked the splash of colour over the raw carbon weave. This frame is ready to receive additional comfort through a more flexible 27.2 mm seatpost, or shock-absorbing additions such as those from RedShift, Canecreek or others. Speaking of that fork, last year it was quickly recalled off the market over safety concerns. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … So I put my Stages meter on the left side. Give the gift of VeloNews. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content, deals & events. For that, there’s the Warbird Carbon GRX 810 … Joining VeloClub not only supports the work we do, there are some fantastic benefits: There are few brands more influential in the gravel world than Salsa Cycles. 2020. Once innovative and ahead of its time, today the Warbird’s features come across as being fairly common and expected of gravel bikes in 2020. Reviews. Gravel Gear Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 review One of the O.G. Better yet, that smooth ride quality was obvious despite Salsa equipping a rigid and somewhat basic alloy post. For the price, it can’t compete with the likes of consumer-direct Canyon, but it’s not on the far Swiss end of expense like BMC, either. Similarly, most should find the WTB Volt Race to be a fine perch, if not a touch narrow. The smooth shifting of Shimano’s gravel-specific drivetrain complements the comfort and control of Warbird’s Class 5™ … In the grand scheme of the industry, Salsa is a relatively small bike company producing niche offerings, and so the economies of scale suggest the Warbird is never going to offer class-leading value for money. Events. As one of the early creators of the space, Salsa has an array of gravel bikes like no other brand, and within the 2020 range, the Warbird is one of nine bikes that fall somewhere in the broadening gravel spectrum. When gravel roads beckon, Warbird Carbon GRX 600 is a force to be reckoned with. Get 20% off membership →, 20 gravel bikes I’m excited about for 2020, The Grind: 20 gravel bikes I’m excited about for 2020, The Grind: The right amount of cush for gravel riding and racing. Combined with the sub-compact rings, the 11-34T cassette offers ample range. And bonus points to Salsa for gifting a bottle cage, large insulated bottle and Anything bracket with the Warbird. I also dig the little thumb buttons tucked in the inside of the levers. Effectively just cross country mountain bike hoops, they offer a 22 mm internal rim width, a sub 1,800 gram weight figure and a sealed bearing hub that’s easy to source service parts for. Salsa realised the production issues early, but as a result not many 2019 versions of this bike are out in the wild, and so the fourth-generation Warbird feels somewhat like an all-new model for 2020. You should not have to do this more than once. The bowed seatstays are a signature feature of the Warbird. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. The Salsa Warbird is a great gravel race bike. On the flip side of that stability, the Warbird reveals a small amount of understeer and sluggishness on tight and twisty singletrack, and in this sense, it’s certainly not the most playful hen in the pen. Much like Shimano Ultegra, Shimano GRX 810 is a workhorse groupset. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. Meep Meep. Asymmetric and dropped chainstays help with the increase in tyre clearance. The Salsa Warbird at The Mid South Photo: Brad Kaminski, 45mm tire clearance; pink paint only; slack geometry, Stable; huge amount of flex and thus comfort in the seatpost; GRX Di2 performs well in nasty conditions; mounts for days, Lax steering will be welcomed by some but might feel sleepy or stubborn to others; only comes in pink. How does Salsa love frame mounts? Brand: Salsa, Product: Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 Achieving gravel greatness takes hard work and tenacity—and a gravel race bike that can hang with you every pedal stroke of the way. Having a wide gear range with plenty of small steps between gears and an ability to make large changes with the front derailleur makes for good riding. It’s a trait most obvious when switching between the Santa Cruz Stigmata or Cervelo Aspero and the Warbird. Increased frame stiffness was a key upgrade for the fourth version of the Warbird. I ended up 12th overall /2nd in 40+. Clearly geared towards holding your line when your eyes are bleeding in the 12th hour of DK200.”. Ergonomics are personal, but I dig the feel. ... Review Santini Guard Nimbus Rain Jacket. And when it did, the Warbird transformed into something that was composed, and frankly, clucking fast. Nicely played Salsa, nicely played. Nerd Alert Podcast: It’s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards! DT Swiss components are generally pretty reliable, however, this wheelset seemed a little on the cheaper side. This can be set up — if you buy a separate D-Fly Bluetooth accessory — to control your Garmin. Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2. Similarly, with a competitive weight (the frame and fork together are under 1,500 grams painted) and reassuring frame stiffness, the bike responds well to higher power outputs, and in many ways, it feels like a high-end endurance road bike – albeit one with more relaxed handling – when you’re out of the saddle and swaying the bike. The provided Anything bracket uses the bidon cage’s mounting points. On the plus side, it means the bike is hard to shake off its line, allowing you to relax your upper body on long, straight stretches of rough gravel road. Or put more simply, it’s a bike that favours choosing a line and sticking to it rather than re-adjusting at the last second. Warbird Carbon GRX 810. The Warbird’s cable routing prevents paint rub, while the internal routing keeps things wonderfully quiet. With regular component fitments, there’s plenty of scope to add even more comfort to this ride. The touch points are fairly basic, but also perfectly reliable. The DT Swiss C 1800 rolling stock is equally reliable, albeit less impressive. Do you value honest and independent product editorial? Some folks like to take gravel bikes on tame singletrack, and that’s a-okay in my book. I raced the Warbird this year at The Mid South, a.k.a. Let me count the ways: Three bottle mounts inside the frame. Gravel. What does this mean? 2020 Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810. And what does Salsa’s approach to a gravel race bike actually mean to the rider? Racing that is often straight, relenting and simply exhausting in its nature. On the negative side, this lazy geo means quick line changes or even sharp road corners take a little more intentional steering than other bikes. The cables could do with a cable tie or some shortening. It’s very clearly a bike that’s designed with a different mindset to many other performance-focused bikes, and as a result it has a number of unique characteristics to it. It’s a design that allows easier tool access and also means one less brake adapter plate needed. The Mud South, where torrential rains made for soupy conditions. There I was taking a photo of the Sedona scenery, and then this angry bird got in the shot. Brand: Salsa, Product: Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 Achieving gravel greatness takes hard work and tenacity—and a gravel race bike that can hang with you every pedal stroke of the way. I didn’t test the Cannonball tires much so I can’t speak to them here. Does the Warbird’s veteran-level experience give it any advantage in such a crowded market? And while many race bikes can require laser focus to keep them on-track, the Warbird allows you to switch off a little and either zone out, count down telegraph poles, or just focus on having one leg follow the other. The Warbird’s front wheel isn’t quite as far out in front as the BMC URS or Evil Chamois Hager, but all things being equal, the Warbird’s toe rub is less of an issue compared to its quicker-handling competition. As evidenced by the Warbird, it can be a tough thing to define what makes a gravel race bike, a gravel race bike. Top of the range is this Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 model. Gift a VeloNews membership and save 20% → 2020 CyclingTips Gravel Bike Field Test: Is MTB geometry good for gravel? Overall Salsa has made a bike that does exactly what it claims to. As covered in previous reviews from the Field Test, the Shimano GRX 810 2x groupset is a tough one to fault and … While we didn’t use them, the supplied tubeless-ready Teravail Cannonball 42 mm tyres were made for races like Dirty Kanza and should be a well-rounded choice that is well-suited to this bike. The Di2 electric shifting takes advantage of internal routing to keep the Warbird looking smooth and uncluttered. That said, and considering this is a unique carbon frame with a generous size range, Salsa has done a respectable job of hitting a competitive price point without going too cheep (intended) on the build kit quality. The GRX 810 model retails for $4,099. Shimano doesn’t (yet) make a power meter for the GRX group, but Stages does. It's designed to survive and thrive on anything from the often-hazardous B … Listed geometry figures are based on a 700 x 32 mm tyre. This newer model adds multiple mounts on the downtube, mounts for a bag on the toptube, everything cage mounts on the fork, and capacity for front and rear racks (requires a different Salsa seatclamp for the rear). Much like Shimano Ultegra, Shimano GRX 810 is a workhorse groupset. It’s safe to say that the current version of this fork is built quite differently to save Salsa from repeated heartache. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 Review. More so than a few extra millimeters of wheelbase, what’s noticeable about the Warbird is the relaxed steering. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. Salsa’s own handlebars have a good reputation. The Anything bracket extends off the downtube bidon cage bolts and places a small spares pack below the cage. The Salsa Guide carbon post deserves much of the credit here, allowing generous flex over rough terrain. The Grind: The right amount of cush for gravel riding and racing Ben Delaney. Priced at US$4,099, our 2020 Warbird Carbon GRX 810 tester sits second tier in the range and weighs 8.63 kg with the control Continental Terra Speed tyres (without pedals). A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. But in order to continue doing so, it’s important that we’re not primarily funded by the same brands and manufacturers who we critique. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano' newest shifting technology, while the Class 5‚Ñ¢ VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … Out of the box they’re extremely long and the way they cross over to opposite sides of the head tube had me rubbing my knees on them when riding out of the saddle. James and I were more positive about the 40 cm (measured at the hoods) Salsa flared Cowbell Deluxe handlebar which offers a compact drop, a short reach and a 12-degree flare – it’s a bar with a popular following in gravel circles and felt like a sporty and comfortable fit for the bike. As soon as it rolled … Salsa Warbird GRX 810 Di2 is the flagship build that costs a lot but justifies its price with speed, comfort, reliability, and efficient performance. The GRX groupset equips you with Shimano’s newest shifting technology, while the Class 5 VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber frame and fork put comfort … DT Swiss handles wheel duties with the CR 1600 aluminum models, which use a 350 hub with a Ratchet System 18 hub. If it were my own bike I’d be keen to gain that additional comfort with a different seatpost, however, it’s quite likely Salsa chose the rigid post it did for reasons of unquestionable reliability, especially once loaded with a heavy saddlebag. Get 20% off membership →, Gift a VeloNews membership and save 20% →, Give the gift of VeloNews. A lot like the Warbird Carbon GRX 810. At the top of the line, you’ll find the Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 with Shimano RX815 front … Salsa Warbird Carbon GRX 810 Di2 review Ben Delaney. This build has a 48/31 crank with an 11-34 cassette, which makes for Jeep-like low gearing for crawling up muddy, rooty, rocky hills. 2020 BMC URS Three gravel bike review: Ground broken, Cannondale Topstone Carbon long-term review: A superb ride, a few quirks, Santa Cruz Stigmata gravel bike review: A solid choice for everyday groading, Cervelo Aspero gravel bike review: Fast, light, and sleek, but also bumpy. The handling could be a dream or a bit of a bummer, depending entirely on your preference and how you like to ride. For the record, I’m a fan of 2x drivetrains, especially Shimano drivetrains. regardless of conditions. The provided Cowbell Deluxe handlebars were a good width, an efficient 40 cm at the hoods. This is an element that has remained constant with recent iterations of the Warbird, and the only geometry change the new Warbird V4 earned is one of the marginally longer (albeit with still relatively short reach figures) toptubes matched with slightly shorter stems. With coyotes near, the rocks and roads of Sedona, Arizona were quite a fitting place to see if the Warbird was anything like the RoadRunner. If you are looking for a comfortable, ride-or-race-all-day gravel bike with scores of mounts and a legit gravel lineage, then the Warbird is hard to beat. The functionality into the hoods power washing, the 937g wheels are DT Swiss are., especially Shimano drivetrains flat mount bolts are a nice touch terms of comfort, and in. 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