Product Details
The 3T Exploro RaceMax is truly a bike that defies categorization, offering the versatility of two bikes in one sleek package. Whether you're tearing up the road or conquering gravel paths, the RaceMax delivers unparalleled performance. As a road bike, it’s stiff, aerodynamic, and ready to sprint, while as a gravel bike, it comfortably accommodates larger tires, providing you with the flexibility to venture off the beaten path with confidence.
Tires are more than just rubber that meets the road—they are a crucial element of the RaceMax's design. 3T approached tire integration with a holistic mindset, recognizing that the choice of tires not only impacts comfort and grip but also plays a significant role in aerodynamics. The way air flows from the tires and wheels to the frame can make a noticeable difference in speed and efficiency. To achieve this, 3T didn't just rely on standard tire labels. They conducted hundreds of measurements to understand how real-world tire and wheel dimensions interact with the frame. This meticulous process led to the development of WAM (Width as Measured) and RAM (Radius as Measured), two critical dimensions that allowed 3T to engineer the RaceMax frame for optimal performance. By focusing on these real-world measurements, they ensured that the bike would deliver top-tier aerodynamics while accommodating a wide range of tire sizes.
Armed with precise tire data, 3T sculpted the RaceMax's frame to deliver RealFast Aerodynamics. The rear triangle is designed to optimize airflow while providing ample mud clearance, making it perfect for varied terrain. The narrow headtube reduces the bike’s frontal area, minimizing drag. The multi-shaped fork integrates the direct mount brakes, shielding them from the wind, while the seatstay is carefully aligned with the seattube to streamline airflow over the tires and wheels. The massive downtube starts slender at the headtube and then broadens to guide air smoothly around the water bottles. This attention to detail results in a bike that is fast in real-world conditions, accounting for various speeds, wind directions, tire widths, and even the presence of mud.
The RaceMax frame is all about versatility. With 35 to 45mm WAM tires, it offers a race setup that rivals the best road bikes, delivering a blend of speed and stability across multiple surfaces. This configuration is ideal for most multi-surface rides. However, the "Max" in RaceMax takes things further, allowing you to fit tires up to 61mm wide. This capability provides unmatched traction and control, making it the perfect companion for more rugged adventures. With just one wheelset, the RaceMax transforms into the ultimate all-rounder, enabling you to seamlessly switch between road and gravel with ease. Add a second wheelset with wider tires, and you unlock a world of riding possibilities, from smooth tarmac to challenging off-road trails. The 3T Exploro RaceMax isn’t just a bike; it’s a gateway to new adventures, limited only by your imagination. If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can give us a call during shop hours, or send an email to info@contenderbicycles.com.
KEY FEATURES
- Dual Purpose Design
- RealFast Aerodynamics
- Tire Integration and Versatility
- Customizable Riding Experience
*Please note that bike specifications are subject to change without prior notice |
PERFECT AERO CUTOUT | Close-fitting cutout to shield the rear wheel and achieve the most speed. |
MIND THE GAP | No oversized gaps between front tire & downtube for better airflow transition and less turbulence. |
HUGE CLEARANCE | The original Exploro set today’s standard for 54mm tire clearance. The RaceMax has 61mm! |
75MM DOWNTUBE BASE | Lower downtube aero profile is 75mm wide to fully shield water bottle. |
46MM DOWNTUBE NECK | Upper downtube necks down to 46mm to pick up the airflow coming off the front tire. |
SIZE-SPECIFIC DOWNTUBE | Reduced depth on smaller sizes to keep frame compliant and keep space for bottles. |
NARROW HEADTUBE | Headtube is sized like a road bike for a small 1 1/4” steerer for optimal aerodynamics. |
BIG STEERER | Inside that narrow headtube is a big 1 1/2” steerer for best strength and stiffness. |
MINMAX HEADSET | To fit this big steerer inside the narrow headtube, we use the custom MinMax headset. |
MINIMALIST CROWN | Fork crown shapes haven\'t changed much since brakes were attached there. Now that we have disc brakes, we don’t need that bulk of material and can reshape the crown for better strength, stiffness and weight. Plus better aerodynamics. |
PURE-ROAD FORK LENGTH | With the shorter crown, we can make our forks 25mm (1 inch) shorter than other gravel bikes. Exactly the same as a road fork. This offers better stiffness, lower weight, an easier steering geometry and better aerodynamics. |
DOUBLE-DROP CHAINSTAYS | Dropping the drive-side chainstay improves tire & crank clearance. Dropping the other side as well creates a much more efficient structure behind the BB for higher stiffness & strength as well as lower weight. |
THREADED BB | Our bikes come with threaded BBs for the best alignment and to avoid any issues. yet we do so without threads in the frame as they cause other issues. Read more about our solution here. |
DIRECT-MOUNT REAR BRAKE | Standard frames require an adaptor to use a 160mm brake rotor. We have integrated that into the frame, meaning you don’t need any extra pieces to attach the brake. |
DIRECT-MOUNT FRONT BRAKE | Standard forks require a flip-flop adaptor to set the correct brake rotor size. Our direct-mount pre-sets the caliper for 160mm rotors without any extra pieces. |
INTEGRATED FENDER MOUNTS | Invisible until you need them. Custom fenders coming soon. |
CLEAN PERFORMANCE | Self-adjusting bolt angle for higher clamping forces with lower torque. |
RITCHEY RAIL CLAMP | The new standard for gravel bikes, available for round and oval rails. |
Build Spec
Component | Sram Force AXS 2x | Sram RED AXS 2x | Sram Force AXS D2 1x GX | Sram Force AXS D2 1x XX1 | Shimano GRX 2X DI2 | Shimano GRX 1X DI2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Levers/Calipers | SRAM Force AXS HRD eTap Shifter / Brake Lever and Caliper D2 | SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD Lever/Caliper | SRAM Force AXS HRD eTap Shifter / Brake Lever and Caliper D2 | SRAM Force AXS HRD eTap Shifter / Brake Lever and Caliper D2 | Shimano ST-RX810 GRX Left Brake/Shift Lever + CALIPER | Shimano ST-RX810 GRX Left Brake/Shift Lever + CALIPER |
Crankset | SRAM Force Crankset - 172.5mm, 2x 12-Speed, 48/35t, Direct Mount, DUB Spindle Interface, Iridescent Gray, D2 | SRAM RED 1 AXS Crankset - 175mm, 12-Speed, 42t, 107 BCD, DUB Spindle Interface, Natural Carbon | SRAM Force Crankset - 172.5mm 1x | SRAM Force Crankset - 172.5mm 1x | Shimano GRX FC-RX820-2 Crankset 170mm 48/31t | Shimano GRX FC-RX810-1 Crankset 172.5mm, 11-Speed, 42t |
Derailuer F | SRAM Force AXS eTap Front Derailleur - 2x12-Speed D2 | Red AXS Front eTap Front Derailleur - 2x12 | NA | NA | Shimano FD-RX815 GRX Di2 Front Derailleur | NA |
Derailuer R | SRAM Force eTap AXS Rear Derailleur D2 Medium Cage | Red AXS Rear eTap - 2x12 | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Rear Derailleur 12-Speed Long Cage 52t | SRAM, XX1 Eagle AXS, Rear Derailleur | Shimano GRX RD-RX815 Rear Derailleur - 11-Speed, Long Cage, Black, With Clutch, Di2 2x | GRX 1X DI2 REAR DERAILLEUR |
Chain | Sram Force chain | RED AXS Chain | SRAM GX Chain | SRAM X01 Chain | HG701 chain | HG701 chain |
Cassette | SRAM Force AXS XG-1270 12-Speed Cassette 10-36t | SRAM Red AXS XG-1290 12-Speed XDR Cassette | GX Cassette 10-52 | X01 Cassette 10-52 | Shimano XT CS-M8000 11-Speed Cassette 11-42 | Shimano XT CS-M8000 11-Speed Cassette 11-46 |
Rotors | SRAM Force Rotor 160 x 2 | Sram XR Rotor x 2 | SRAM Force Rotor 160 x 2 | SRAM Force Rotor 160 x 2 | Shimano GRX SM-RT64 | Shimano GRX SM-RT64 |
Battery/Extras | Batt/Charger | Batt/Charger | Batt/Charger | Batt/Charger | Battery/Wires/Charger | Battery/Wires/Charger |
Size | XXS | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
Rider Height* (cm) | 142-157 | 153-167 | 164--177 | 175-185 | 183-196 | 192&Up |
Rider Height* (inches) | 4’8”-5’2” | 5’0”-5’6” | 5’5”-5’10” | 5’9”-6’1” | 6’0”-6’5” | 6’3”&Up |
Stack | 520 | 542 | 564 | 584 | 604 | 632 |
Reach | 355 | 366 | 377 | 385 | 393 | 404 |
Fork axle-crown | 370 | 370 | 370 | 370 | 370 | 370 |
Head angle | 69.0 | 69.5 | 71.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 |
BB drop | 79 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 75 | 75 |
Seat angle | 74.5 | 74,0 | 73.5 | 73.0 | 72.5 | 72.5 |
Seattube length | 436 | 463 | 490 | 518 | 545 | 572 |
Toptube length | 506 | 526 | 546 | 566 | 586 | 606 |
Wheelbase | 998 | 1008 | 1008 | 1014 | 1024 | 1044 |
Front center | 596 | 606 | 606 | 611 | 621 | 641 |
Rear center | 415 | 415 | 415 | 415 | 415 | 415 |