Upgraded Argon18 Gravel Bike: Has One of the Top Gravel Bikes Enhanced Its Performance?
Informal Take:
Welcome folks! Let's dive into the revamped 2025 Dark Matter gravel bike from Argon 18, a bike that's shaking up the gravel scene with some bold moves and a dash of MTB flair. This bad boy sports an all-terrain design focused on control, comfort, and versatility - think rugged bikepacking adventures and pushing the limits of gravel.
The Nitty-Gritty
You know those sweet MTB buzzwords - longer, slacker, lower - yep, they've joined the gravel biking world too. Dark Matter's new geometry aims to provide better handling over uneven terrain, increasing speed on technical descents, and reducing fatigue on long rides.
And hey, it's 2025 - wider tires are in, and the Dark Matter doesn't disappoint, taking up to 57mm wide rubber, with 50mm as standard. Argon18 claims improvements in aerodynamics, boosted comfort, and reduced frame weight by a cool 150g, thanks to tweaks in lay-up and dropped seatstays. What's more, there's secure frame storage in the downtube, freeing your bike from unsightly bags.
Quick glance at Instagram shows us that quick-thinking rider Chris Hall has fitted a Fox suspension fork on his Dark Matter, ready to race in the challenging Traka event in Girona. This spy pic hints at the Dark Matter's possible transformation into a beast that blends XC mountain biking and gravel riding.
Get Your Hands on One: Availability and Cost
The Dark Matter lineup will consist of three models, ranging from £3,500 to £6,500. The SRAM-equipped versions will debut first, with Shimano-powered options following soon after. Each bike is built for a 1x groupset and offers multiple mounting points for water bottles, racks, and mudguards. But if you're a double chainset fan, fret not - the frame is compatible, although no frame-only options have been announced yet.
- Dark Matter SRAM Force XPLR AXS - £6,500
- Dark Matter SRAM Rival AXS - £4,500
- Dark Matter Shimano GRX - £3,500
So there you have it, folks! The updated 2025 Dark Matter is not just a revolution in the gravel world but a blurring of lines between gravel and XC mountain biking. It's built for long, challenging rides, and ready to take on the unknown - are you?
- Incorporating the latest technology, the Dark Matter bike isn't just building hype in the gravel scene, but it's also attracting a following in the XC mountain biking world with its compatibility for suspension forks like the one fitted by rider Chris Hall.
- As for gadgets, the Dark Matter bike prides itself on features such as secure frame storage in the downtube to keep your gear organized, while the wider tires, ranging from 50mm to 57mm, showcase the bike's advancements in aerodynamics and comfort, also improving handling on uneven terrains.
