3T Exploro RaceMax Italia 3x Reveals Next Level Raw Carbon Weave Gravel Bike

Already available in three half-painted/half-raw finishes (and a primer black Ready-To-Paint frameset), the previous RaceMax Italias all had a cosmetic unidirectional (UD) top layer of carbon that hid the filament-wound fibers below. Now the RaceMax Italia 3X pulls back that curtain to show exactly what it looks like inside.

3T Exploro RaceMax Italia 3x exposes raw carbon weave

3T has been making the top-tier of their Exploro RaceMax gravel bike at their HQ in Italy since 2021 using a unique automated filament winding manufacturing technology to create the dry carbon tubes and resin transfer molding to complete the frame in-house.

The result is a superlight and stiff frame made-in-Italy, with a suitably matching premium pricetag. But none of those RaceMax Italia framesets had really taken advantage of how great those crisscrossing carbon fibers could really look… until now.

As they’ve been refining frame production over the past couple of years, 3T started sending out RaceMax Italia framesets to their sponsored riders and a few of their premium Experience Center bike shops without the cosmetic UD top layer to showcase the unique construction. And it seems that with the process and finishing dialed, now you can get that raw finish too.

3T doesn’t officially mention actual weight savings, but the made-in-Italy RaceMax Italia was already said to be lighter with the same stiffness & strength as the standard RaceMax. And this RaceMax Italia 3X eliminates a complete wrap of UD fiber (whether or not that is supplemented or not by more filament-wound fiber) and the standard half paint job. It is said to just get a UV protective clearcoat over the fibers, “without hiding anything”. That’s gotta save some grams.

Next-level Raw Carbon Weave – Availability & pricing

The new raw carbon finish of the 3T Exploro RaceMax Italia 3X is available only as a frameset for 4999€ including a raw carbon (not filament wound in Italy) 3T Fango RaceMax fork and Ritchey-head seatpost, plus headset & thru-axles. It comes in just 4 sizes (51-58cm) and is also available in either 1x or 2x setups.

That’s the exact same price as the UD & painted or primed Ready-To-Paint framesets.

Read more about the 3X on 3T’s blog, or pick up one for a custom bike build from their website or your local 3T dealer bike shop.

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