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Fenix unfolds a drop bar e-Gravel Bike ready for anything

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The first couple times we saw Fenix, they showed off their full size road and mountain bikes (and one that can be either), including some with Plus-sized tires, that could fold into a standard airline-approved box. They were clever, for sure, but their new Zzyzx e-road bike is clever in a different way.

Pronounced Zee-zick, it integrates a Shimano STePS motor, lighting and high end build options onto custom Columbus and Reynolds steel frame made by Ted Wojcik in the USA. It also builds in extra water bottle and frame bag mounts, giving you extra capacity for adventure rides or long commutes. It fits 700×35 tires with full coverage fenders front and rear, gets a premium Supernova E3 tail light and an ENVE GRD carbon fork with integrated fender on all builds.

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The drive section was designed with a custom STePS mount that’s super compact, allowing them to keep the chainstays at just 432mm for sharper handling. The chainline is optimized for the 12×142 thru axle and disc brake spacing.

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Up front, you have the option of a Busch & Müller headlight ($250), or upgrade to a Schmidt Edelux II ($310). On the bar, they created a custom mount fitted to a K-Edge out-front mount to keep the STePS head unit in easy view.

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Don’t need water, fenders or bags? Take ’em all off and the Zzyzx cleans up nicely. Build kits for complete bikes include:

  • Ultegra Di2 / TRP Hylex / Velocity Aileron Comp / Panaracer GravelKing – $4,995
  • Ultegra Di2 R785 / Velocity Aileron Comp / WTB Exposure – $5,395
  • Ultegra Di2 R785 / Velocity Aileron rims on Hope RS4 Centerlock hubs / Schwalbe G-One – $6,125
  • Dura-Ace Di2 R9170 / Velocity Aileron rims on Onyx Racing CX hubs / Schwalbe G-One – $7,250

All Di2 bikes can be upgraded from road Di2 to XTR Di2 with an expanded range cassette, too. Full specs and deets on their website. Look for the bike in person at this year’s Philly Bike Expo.

FenixBykes.com

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26 Comments
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Joun K.
Joun K.
8 years ago

Where are the rack mounts!?

boom
boom
8 years ago
Reply to  Joun K.

Same thought. If it had rack mounts, this would be the ultimate commuter bike. Oh well…

WattsNotWatts
WattsNotWatts
8 years ago

I’m not sure if putting a bottle right above a battery is a great idea.

Isn’t gravel riding supposed to be a more inviting “chill-pace” sort of riding?

Brent Coe
Brent Coe
8 years ago

Those fenders won’t do sh*$ in rain. Hope the motor is good and watertight, because an awful lot of water is going to get thrown on it from the short front fender.

br
br
8 years ago
Reply to  Brent Coe

Easy enough to make a Gorilla tape mudflap, which is what I have. The rear fender should be good for keeping your back clean.

motarded
motarded
8 years ago
Reply to  Brent Coe

Im pretty sure Europe has rain too as E-mo peds are quit popular there

Ol'shel'
Ol'shel'
8 years ago

I’m developing a kit to put bicycle cranks on motorcycles so that the rider can feel like they’re getting a workout.

VazzedUp
VazzedUp
8 years ago
Reply to  Ol'shel'

+1, see pedals, its a bicycle.

phil saso
phil saso
8 years ago
Reply to  Ol'shel'

so good

wrymacdawg
wrymacdawg
8 years ago

what the fork?? say it ain’t so.

ImWithStupid^
ImWithStupid^
8 years ago

Good one…

heckleur
heckleur
8 years ago

It needs more shit on the handlebars

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
8 years ago

Hmm, not a single This-is-not-an-ebike-website comment yet. If this was a mountain bike, the anti-ebike-whiners would be out in full force.

RivMac
RivMac
8 years ago
Reply to  Flatbiller

Because the proper application of an ebike is commuting. This bike would most likely be sharing the road with cars. I love ebikes for commuting/errands.

An ebike on the road is where this quasi-motorcycle belongs.

The do not belong on a trail.

Thor29
Thor29
8 years ago

The only reasonable use for a bike like this is long commute distances. So like everybody has already said – where are the rack mounts? With a battery in the front triangle, you don’t have much space for a frame bag and you can’t stuff a laptop or anything bulky in a frame bag anyway. If it’s just for recreational rides, why do you need a motor?

nightfend
nightfend
8 years ago
Reply to  Thor29

So you can win all the Strava segments?

Jim
Jim
8 years ago
Reply to  nightfend

you can “win” segments in your mum’s car, well if you call that winning.
If you want to win join a club and do it properly.
🙂

The Oracle
The Oracle
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

For real. Trying to “win” on Strava is for people too scared to actually race.

motarded
motarded
8 years ago
Reply to  Thor29

What is long distance commuting? 20 miles one way, 40 miles one way? 80 miles one way? If 40 miles or less, do you really need frame bags or can a backpack hold your shoes and change of clothes- it has a motor so you will be putting in less effort and a backpack should be suitable

tree legs
tree legs
8 years ago

I need this for the 200 km audax I’m doing soon.

charlieotto
8 years ago

Can you take big batteries on the airplane?

br
br
8 years ago

The website doesn’t list a range. Is the bike ready for 100mi rides?

motarded
motarded
8 years ago

Is your local bike shop hazmat certified to inventory batteries?

motarded
motarded
8 years ago

Real question is, can I recharge my Vape through my ebike?

Scrambler
Scrambler
8 years ago

Zzyzx … Come on, that’s the old Hanebrink fork! Pick another name.

Michael Wagner
Michael Wagner
8 years ago

I still can’t believe people will pay this much for what is basically a gravel/commuter bike with a motor. I mean the cheapest version is $5k and the components are not exactly high-end.

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