There’s a new high-performance bike brand on the block named Avona, created by one of ARC8’s co-founders, and they launch today with a race-ready Callis carbon gravel bike. Avona also will have a short travel Silva trail bike later this spring, and a Velum road bike in the works, too. But for now, let’s focus mostly on what will make this new Avona brand unique – what they describe as a holistic approach to creating complete bikes.
Plus, they have some killer limited artist edition paint jobs.
And of course, we’ll take a detailed look at that Callis…
Who is Avona anyway?
There’s an obvious spoiler once you get a glimpse of the upcoming Avona Silva mountain bike. It’s such a unique design, long-time Bikerumor readers will immediately recognize it, and put two and two together.
So… Avona is the latest project of bike design engineer Jonas Müller – who co-founded ARC8 bikes with Serafin Pazdera in Switzerland back in 2019. While still freelancing for ARC8 it seems, Jonas has paired up with product manager Max Koch to start another, entirely separate brand where they could design top-tier, high-performance bikes – complete bikes.
Importantly, while ARC8 focuses mostly on frames/framesets, they created Avona to build complete bikes that maximized performance – from the rider to the components. There’s no point in having the fastest bike, if you don’t give it the fastest wheels, tires, and even chain treatment, right?
That seems like a no-brainer. But the vast majority of production complete bikes have their components picked by product managers, whose job is most often to balance: a target complete bike price, perceived value of spec’d brands, and often discount deals big component companies make to bundle together several products out of their catalog.
Think for example, about how many top-end bikes get spec’d with a SRAM AXS drivetrain, Quarq power meter, Zipp wheels, and Zipp cockpit parts. Those are generally all solid, high-performing components. But no brand can make all the top-performing products in all categories. That’s why you’ll see a lot of mountain bike brands spec’ing SRAM drivetrains but Shimano brakes.
And that’s now where small Avona can be even more picky and choosy about every item they spec on a complete bike.
They describe it as “a holistic approach to performance”.
What does that mean for the bike itself and the end consumer?
First off, it starts long before component spec, even extending to the frame design, too. It means Avona takes an analytical look at design priorities. Light weight is great, but there’s no denying aerodynamics plays a big role in the power riders have to put out to move forward. So they take a more comprehensive look at data to define performance. Some of their key findings are as follows:
- If you are just looking at Watts or KiloJoules over a total ride, aerodynamics dominate
- If you want to reduce efforts above FTP, other factors become more important
- For mountain bikes, descents are where the equipment can make the biggest difference
- We should never use anything but the best tires
- A waxed chain is worth more than an expensive groupset
So that ultimately fuels their bike specs. All bikes get aerodynamic optimization, even if they aren’t specifically aero bikes. Mountain bikes prioritize capable geometry and supple suspension over just chasing grams. Every bike comes spec’d with the best tires that Avona could find for each segment.
And every bike comes with a chain (and drivetrain) that has been cleaned of any factory grease, and coated with CeramicSpeed UFO wax to reduce drivetrain drag and keep it clean. They also all come with CeramicSpeed UFO wax lube to keep your drivetrain running fast!
But what about the bikes?
All-new carbon Avona Callis fast gravel bike
Avona describes their Callis as a “modern gravel race bike”.
That translates to responsive handling that is more all-road-leaning geometry than MTB-inspired. It also means plenty of tire clearance, but still quickest with fast-rolling 40mm or 45mm tires. Aerodynamic tube shape optimization and fork to frame integration, but not to a level that results in extra weight or an overly stiff ride.
Avona Callis – Tech details
- 950-1020g frame weight (S-XL range, with clearcoat), plus 463g fork (uncut steerer)
- designed for fast gravel, but tough enough for adventure racing, too
- CFD optimized & wind tunnel tested aerodynamics
- 1x or 2x with removable front derailleur hanger
- max 46T single or gravel compact double setup (SRAM extra compact road double will also fit)
- max 50mm tire clearance
- internal frame storage through hatch under the downtube water bottle mounts
- bungee cord on the back of the hatch door for flexible, easy-access storage
- fully integrated cable routing through the Token headset
- proprietary aero seatpost, but…
- BSA threaded bottom bracket
- UDH for Full mount or conventional derailleurs
- a total 44W claimed power savings (reduce aero drag, plus lower rolling resistance, plus decreased drivetrain friction) at 35km/h compared to the last gravel bike Jonas brought to market.
Avona Callis gravel – Options, pricing & availability
Avona specs their bikes for holistic performance, but they still want to provide customization possibilities for their customers. Starting off, the framesets come in a standard Rosé:Blue fade paintjob or simple clearcoat over raw black UD carbon. There’s also a ready to paint version without clear as a blank canvas for custom paint jobs. And Avona will regularly run super limited editions like this #savethepostalservice artist series bike. Frameset prices start at 3600€, including a one-piece house-brand Faserwerk Luftschneider handlebar+stem cockpit combo.
Complete gravel bikes are offered now with SRAM Red AXS Xplr, powermeter cranks, 50mm carbon DT Swiss GRC1100 wheels, the Faserwerk cockpit for 10,000€. Or pick a much more affordable Shimano GRX Di2 2x build with Faserwerk carbon gravel wheels for just 6000€.
Three more complete builds will be available from June. SRAM Rival AXS with affordable alloy DT Swiss G1800 wheels & Hutchinson Caracal Race tires for 4600€. Rival AXS plus Newmen Advanced G.34 carbon wheels for 5500€. Force AXS with 50mm deep DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels for 7000€.
Continuing the build customization, all SRAM builds can be swapped to a mullet setup with a GX AXS Eagle derailleur and 10-52T cassette at no extra cost. Bikes come standard with the Hutchinson Caracal Race semi-slick that Avona discovered was incredibly fast-rolling on Bicycle Rolling Resistance. But you can also swap in Schwalbe G-One R or 35mm Continental GP 5000 TR road slicks if you prefer.
All framesets & complete bikes can also be tweaked for fit with stem length, bar width, crank length & seatpost offset to suit the buyer.
Avona Silva lightweight carbon, short-travel trail mountain bike
Coming later this summer is a short travel full-suspension mountain bike that looks an awful lot like the ARC8 Evolve FS. That’s not a huge surprise since Jonas Müller designed them both. And as he told me, you don’t abandon a great suspension design just because you start a new company.
Silva Tech details & pricing
This all-new Avona Silva is slightly longer travel to handle a bit more down country and trail riding, with 105-115mm or rear wheel travel matched to 120-130mm of fork travel. Avona describe it as the “lightest full suspension frame on the market”, saving 150g over the Evolve FS of a very similar design.
But with a slack 65° headtube angle this will be a light bike built to shred.
Framesets will start at 3500€ including a Fox Float SL Factory shock and the unique 1-piece Faserwerk Baslerstab handlebar cockpit that bolts straight to your steerer tube. Complete mountain bikes will start at 5500€ with XT and climb to 12,000€ with XX SL, powermeter, Flight Attendant builds. All get 34/35mm forks for descending capabilities and super fast Wolfpack tires standard.
Avona Velum carbon road bike
Quite similar to the Avona Callis gravel bike, this Velum is meant to be a fast all-rounder carbon road bike. Again it gets optimized to balance aerodynamics, stiffness, weight & comfort – without overly focusing on just one parameter.
Avona says the Velum is still in development, but weights are expected around 730g for a raw carbon 54cm frame. There will be room for up to 35mm tires, making it pretty all-road-ready, but with modern road-race-worthy geometry. Some details include full internal routing, an extra-thin aero seatpost for vertical compliance, plus a threaded bottom bracket.
More details are expected towards the end of summer, but pricing should be about the same as the gravel model, and road bikes will be available before the end of this year.
