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    Which bike is right for me

    Looking for a cheap-ish gravel bike for commute and fun


    Dear all,

    I've been drooling after the Cube Nuroad Pro for a while but it's never available in my size. So I've now started looking at alternatives and I'm thinking about this one: Rock Machine Lukk 40 https://rockmachinebikes.com/no-no/bikes/product/lukk-40/1929

    My friend says the components aren't good (like, in comparison to the Nuroad Pro that has Shimano Cues) but I can't tell. From browsing Reddit it says the Microshift Sword is comparable in quality. Or is something else off about the Rock Machine?

    This is not really part of the criteria but I think the Rock Machine also has a pretty colour. My real criteria is a good gear ratio range, as I have steep climbs where I live, which I want to survive on the way up, and I want to risk my life going down.

    Components are:

    BASE INFO

    WEIGHT 11.95 kg

    ISO and EN norm

    LOAD CAPACITY 120 Kg

    FRAMESET

    FRAME Alloy Al-6061 T6 Custom tubing, Gravel Fun Geometry, BB BSA 68mm, Disc Brake Flat Mount, Road+ Standard, Fender&Carrier Ready, Replaceable RD Hanger, Inner Cable Routing
    FORK Gravel Specific, Alloy Custom Tubing
    BOTTOM BRACKET SHIMANO BSA
    HEADSET FSA No.42/48 ACB

    DRIVETRAIN

    GEAR RANGE 2×10, 46-29, 11-38, 548%
    SHIFTERS LEFT microSHIFT SWORD, SB-G7020-2
    SHIFTERS RIGHT microSHIFT SWORD, SB-G7000-R
    FRONT DERAILLEUR microSHIFT SWORD, FD-G7020, E-Type
    REAR DERAILLEUR microSHIFT SWORD, RD-G7025L
    CRANKSET Prowheel SWORD, FC-G7000-46
    CASSETTE microSHIFT SWORD, CS-H105, 11-38T
    CHAIN SHIMANO CN-LG500

    BRAKING SYSTEM

    ROTOR FRONT SHIMANO SM-RT10, 160mm
    ROTOR REAR SHIMANO SM-RT10, 160mm
    BRAKES Tektro, MD-C550, dual piston

    WHEELS

    HUB FRONT SHIMANO, HB-QC300
    RIM FRONT STARS J20
    HUB REAR SHIMANO, FH-QC300
    RIM REAR STARS J20
    SPOKES Sapim Leader, Stainless Black with secure lock nipples
    TIRES

    COCKPIT

    STEM ONE1 Alloy, 31.8mm, -8°
    HANDLEBAR ONE1 Compact, 400mm, 31.8mm
    GRIPS Velo Reflective

    PARTS

    SADDLE Selle Royal Flex
    SEATPOST ONE1 Alloy, SP C255BASE INFOWEIGHT 11.95 kgISO and EN normLOAD CAPACITY 120 KgFRAMESETFRAME Alloy Al-6061 T6 Custom tubing, Gravel Fun Geometry, BB BSA 68mm, Disc Brake Flat Mount, Road+ Standard, Fender&Carrier Ready, Replaceable RD Hanger, Inner Cable RoutingFORK Gravel Specific, Alloy Custom TubingBOTTOM BRACKET SHIMANO BSAHEADSET FSA No.42/48 ACBDRIVETRAINGEAR RANGE 2×10, 46-29, 11-38, 548%SHIFTERS LEFT microSHIFT SWORD, SB-G7020-2SHIFTERS RIGHT microSHIFT SWORD, SB-G7000-RFRONT DERAILLEUR microSHIFT SWORD, FD-G7020, E-TypeREAR DERAILLEUR microSHIFT SWORD, RD-G7025LCRANKSET Prowheel SWORD, FC-G7000-46CASSETTE microSHIFT SWORD, CS-H105, 11-38TCHAIN SHIMANO CN-LG500BRAKING SYSTEMROTOR FRONT SHIMANO SM-RT10, 160mmROTOR REAR SHIMANO SM-RT10, 160mmBRAKES Tektro, MD-C550, dual pistonWHEELSHUB FRONT SHIMANO, HB-QC300RIM FRONT STARS J20HUB REAR SHIMANO, FH-QC300RIM REAR STARS J20SPOKES Sapim Leader, Stainless Black with secure lock nipplesTIRES COCKPITSTEM ONE1 Alloy, 31.8mm, -8°HANDLEBAR ONE1 Compact, 400mm, 31.8mmGRIPS Velo ReflectivePARTSSADDLE Selle Royal FlexSEATPOST ONE1 Alloy, SP C255

    by LaurieTZ

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    5 Comments

    1. cactusmike on

      Seems like all the conversation these days around high quality low cost bikes is XDS and their x-lab bikes. Lots of talk about them at Sea Otter. They are selling in the US through dealers and direct. You can check out their bikes here: [https://xds.co/products/gt8](https://xds.co/products/gt8) (updated link to go right to their gravel bike)

    2. PreoccupiedParrot on

      Sword is decent for what it is, but it’s a mechanical brake groupset where Cues (usually) uses hydraulic brakes. So if there’s not a big price difference, it’s often easy to justify spending a bit extra for what is ultimately a big upgrade. But if it’s closer to half as expensive as a Cues bike then you can definitely have a lot of fun with it.

    3. Far-Telephone-7432 on

      LIDL sells a Gravel bike under 700€. It has a Shimano Claris groupset with Tektro mechanical disk brakes.

      People should calm down about mechanical disk brakes. They brake. A simple brake pad upgrade can improve the stopping power significantly.

      I am currently using Promax F1 hydraulic brakes. I used rim brakes prior. I didn’t understand the problem with rim brakes. Yeah, the disk brakes stop better. But it’s not life changing.

    5. TapirDeLuxe on

      While the Rockmachine will work, there are some caveats.

      Microshift is quite new brand, at least here in the west, so the continuous availability of spare parts is still a question. Then again it’s not a 4000 € bike, so might not be an issue. When they require a thorough change of parts you might have outgrown this bike and prefer to get a more suitable bike for your current needs.

      While the mechanical brakes work, the hydraulic brakes are just better. They work in every condition and have a lot more stopping power. Maintenance though requires more knowledge and tools so if you don’t know what you are doing, leave it to the friendly local bike shop. They are really resilient though so they don’t need that much maintenance. If you take your bike to the shop once or twice a year it’s nothing to worry.

      Other bikes you might consider in this approximate price point: Liv Devote 2, Cannondale Topstone 2. But the main thing is: fit of the bike is the key. No matter the components, you will hate the bike if it’s not comfortable for you. So try to test drive before buying. It doesn’t have to be the exact model since the frame is usually same on different models, just different price points with different components.

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