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Fara F/AR integrates all-road gravel bike with quick release, strapless bikepacking bags

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags
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Norwegian Fara Cycling steps up their all-road and gravel bike game with the newly integrated F/AR and its strapless, magnetic quick release bikepacking bags. Developed from the ground up to be a fast mixed-surface endurance bike for anything from weekend rides to ultra-distance racing, the new F|AR fulfills the key goals of Fara’s two-year Oslo Project – to build the ultimate adventure weapon for mixed-surface adventures.

Fara F/AR carbon ultra-endurance all-road gravel bike

In what seems to be one of their first bikes truly developed from the ground up, Fara founder & ex conti pro racer Jeff Webb says he worked with an “industry leading frame designer” to create the new frameset. Based on Webb’s past work for Cervélo & ongoing collaboration with Factor/Black Inc, we can only guess as to who that really means lent their experience to creating this new F/AR.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, complete
c. Fara Cycling

What we are sure of… Fara’s goal was a lot about blurring the lines even further between road & gravel bikes, building a versatile fast touring, bikepacking, and all-around all-road bike. Webb admits that much of that versatility comes down to tires, so the F/AR was optimized for 32-35mm road & light gravel tires.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, endurance road geometry

And with a few minor tweaks to their previous all-road geometry without having much impact on the quick handling ride, the new F/AR manages a max 700c x 38mm slick tire clearance. (They also offer the F|Gravel for full off-roading capability and even bigger knobby tires.)

Integrated bikepacking bags

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bag Fidlock mounting studs

One of the most unique aspects of the new all-road bike is its seamless bikepacking bag integration – claiming to be “the first bike company to develop both the frame and bag designs simultaneously“. We’ve highlighted some similar work from Fern+Gramm, Open+Gramm, Giant+H2PRO & Salsa, plus Niner being maybe the only other strapless and bolt-on complete setup.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags

But Fara wanted even more versatility to do long tours without sacrificing on everyday riding, so they worked with magnetic attachment specialists Fidlock & bag maker Roswheel to codevelop a quick-release, secure pack setup in tune with the bike’s intentions.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags

Complete details on the bags & pricing remain thin, but look to be similar to Roswheel’s standard road line and include a variable size frame bag (S 2.3L, M 2.6L, L 3.2L & XL 3.6L), a 15L seat pack & 12L handlebar bag. Of course, all are custom fit to the Fara F/AR frame sizes, and feature fast on-and-off with magnetic Fidlock attachment.

All-road & Gravel – Tech details

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, frameset detail

The full carbon frame & fork mix fibers to get to its target stiffness:comfort balance, at a claimed frame weight of just 980g (M/53cm) plus a 390g fork. Beyond that max 38mm tire size, there are stealth full-coverage fender mounts with room inside for up to 35mm tires or 32mm studded tires and the made-to-fit Fara Fenders.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, green frameset

There are of course Fidlock stud mounts for the bags, plus regular bottle cage bosses, under downtube cage bosses, toptube bento fuel bag bosses, and 3-pack Anything/Versacage mounts on the fork legs. The mounts out back can also be used with a light rear rack.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, frame details

The F/AR features integrated fully-internal cable routing through the 1.5″ Token S-Box integrated headset (1x & 2x, electronic & mechanical compatible), a downtube rock guard protector, flat mount disc brakes, standard 12mm thru-axles, a BB386 bottom bracket, and 27.2mm seatpost with conventional external clamp.

Fara F/AR – Pricing, options & availability

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags angled

As anticipated based on all the bike images available being computer renderings, the new Fara F/AR won’t be ready to ride until at least the end of May 2021. The first batch of sample bikes are expected next month (Feb 2021).

But, the Fara F/AR is being offered for pre-order now for anyone looking to get one of the first complete bikes – in four stock frame sizes, four frameset colors, and Fara’s standard component size customization options.

Fara is also offering a limited 100 complete bikes in this raw carbon with reflective pearl accent Signature Series design, including the bags with a refundable 10,000 Norwegian Krone (~950€) deposit. Only accessible here.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, Ultegra

Regular complete bike builds will start at 3500€ with a 2x mechanical Shimano Ultegra groupset, alloy Fulcrum wheels with 32mm Panaracer Gravel King Slicks & a 3T cockpit.

Fara F-AR all-road bike, carbon ultra-endurance all-road and gravel bike with integrated bikepacking bags, Red AXS

Electronic Di2 or AXS groupsets, carbon Black Inc wheels & cockpit make it easy to get that total up to over 8000€ and a claimed complete weight down to 7kg if your wallet allows.

launch.FaraCycling.com & FaraCycling.com

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luddite
luddite
3 years ago

Every damn day the same. You read down a post, looks interest, all good….then you get to the BB and they put a PF in.
Fara even specs a Token Ninja threaded adapter as standard on the gravel model, so they accept the issue, but still don’t put a real BB in?

Jaap
Jaap
3 years ago
Reply to  luddite

What’s wrong with press fit?

ROBOKFC
ROBOKFC
3 years ago

I’ll be waiting for the thru axle version.

Robert Axle Project
3 years ago
Reply to  ROBOKFC

We’ll get right on that.

Jaap
Jaap
3 years ago
Reply to  ROBOKFC

Maybe read the article

Greg
Greg
3 years ago

As with anything, the devil is in the details, especially when it comes to fit, practicality, usability, noise and interference, etc. I’ll wait for the real thing

Solarider
Solarider
3 years ago

Have they just accidentally launched a new groupset? Those levers and mechs don’t look like the current Rotor hydro groupset. Appreciate they are only renderings, but still……

Tony
Tony
3 years ago

Tolerances and inconsistencies for the bike industry for press fit to be an actual, proper interference fit is why press fit is a dumb choice. Threads are Better, because 41.00mm actually means 41.28 or 41.56mm. Threading is much more forgiving

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