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Seven XX upgrade takes their titanium disc brake frames to the next level

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Even if you’re not a self proclaimed ‘weight weenie’, as a cyclist you still probably care about weight. Right? While it’s common to mind the grams, it’s also common for modern frames to add a bit of weight as they transition to disc brakes, thru axles, tapered steerers, etc. That seems to be the inspiration behind Seven’s latest upgrade package called the XX.

Offered on titanium bikes like their Evergreen gravel build, the XX package claims to drop 170-255g from the weight of the frame without sacrificing durability or making it too flexy.

To get there, Seven’s engineers looked at nearly every design feature of the bike and picked off gram by gram. Asymmetric dropouts save about 60g and increase drivetrain stiffness. Asymmetric chainstays save another 6g and again increase drivetrain stiffness. Moving to an internal seatpost binder saves 33-45g and the 30.9mm titanium seatpost saves another 30g+ over a 27.2mm post. Inside the frame, 14g were removed from additional bottom bracket shell machining and 12g were shaved by enlarging the frame’s breather holes inside the tubes. A new flat mount brake caliper drops 13g, and the frame itself is slightly more compact with new tube butting and a modified tube profile section to take care of the rest.

Seven calls it the ‘apex of cycling weight reduction’ which can be added to any SL or SLX disc brake titanium frame for $995 starting immediately.

sevencycles.com

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mudrock
mudrock
6 years ago

So, even if your not a self proclaimed “weight weenie”, you’ll still want to shell out $995 to save 170-255 grams? Sure. It’s time to stop being a shill for the industry and view these press releases with a critical eye.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

not a critical design flaw, but the way that rear caliper is cantilevered off the dropout sure isn’t pretty, or structurally efficient.

DRC
DRC
6 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Maybe not pretty, but I think the tabs on the brake mount that overlap the dropout are taking all the force of the braking, so I’m sure it’s plenty strong.

danbuildsthings
6 years ago
Reply to  Tom

That’s the new flatmount standard. Other bikes just have it more integrated than this one.

Ryan S
Ryan S
6 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Still better than the disc bracket my old 2003 Trek Fuel used back in the day… The disc bracket that bolted to the rear dropout relied purely on shear strength of one lower bolt. Was crazy flexy, creaked, and caused alignment issues.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
6 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Blame Sram, Not Seven.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
6 years ago
Reply to  thesteve4761

Looked closer, now I see what you mean Tom. Yeah, not pretty or confidence inspiring.

mudrock
mudrock
6 years ago

Any cyclist with years of experience, who has transitioned from quill stems to threadless style headsets and stems will tell you a clamp holds tighter than a wedge. This recent trend towards internal wedge seat clamps is another stupid idea.

Dinger
Dinger
6 years ago
Reply to  mudrock

That one has me head-scratching too. I cannot see how that mechanism could possibly be lighter (or as effective) than a pair of welded on clamp bosses and bolt, or even a lightweight alloy clamp.

Ryan S
Ryan S
6 years ago
Reply to  mudrock

I’m by no means endorsing integrated wedge seat clamps, but you have to remember tolerances back then were a lot worse than they are today, which played a factor. Also friction compound didn’t exist.

JBikes
JBikes
6 years ago
Reply to  mudrock

Agree, especially on a metal frame. A small cut and a light, replaceable clamp seem to be a KISS approach.
I can understand the wedge styles on CF frames, but this one…not sure what I am getting and it looks bad too.

S
S
6 years ago
Reply to  mudrock

…but you save 33 grams! ……LOL, so glad I’m not a weenie!

Tom
Tom
6 years ago
Reply to  mudrock

that over complicated wedge system certainly does not save weight, and for all intents and purposes, creates a hinge in the top tube right in front of the seat tube. Again, probably not a critical design flaw, but just flat out stupid and wasteful.

Geoff S
Geoff S
6 years ago

(deleted)!

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
6 years ago
Reply to  Geoff S

Took the words out of my mouth.

Eggs Benedict a.k.a Darth Baller
Eggs Benedict a.k.a Darth Baller
6 years ago
Reply to  Geoff S

Shortening up the chain stays would do wonders for the appearance of this bike. Also, increasing the stack height to get rid of one or two of the stem spacers wouldn’t hurt.

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

Seven doesn’t understand chainstay length and will tell you that they know best with all of their data. With 455mm being on the short side of stays for their MTBs they are stuck in 2006.

b
b
6 years ago

A light weight post clamp is 10 g or less. Why mess with an internal mech that could fail or worse yet lead to frame failure? Yeah rememeber the days of stuck quill stems?

Birdman
Birdman
6 years ago

That’s gotta be the most well-photographed under chainstay shot. Nice curves, even nicer clearance!

Ryan S
Ryan S
6 years ago

Integrated seat wedges were done purely for aerodynamics; nothing here is aerodynamic. Titanium frames are admired for pure simplicity, not headaches.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
6 years ago

At the pricing they command, shouldn’t these savings just be standard?

blah blah blah
blah blah blah
6 years ago

have yet to see a seven that looks good/proportioned/right

WannaBeSTi
WannaBeSTi
6 years ago

I’ll say it… Seven, the bike looks great. I like the internal seat clamp. It’s cleanly executed.

Matt
Matt
6 years ago

(deleted)

DJ
DJ
6 years ago

I’ve ridden a Sola disc for years (heavily abused and responded well), a Seven Aerios that was great til hit by a car and now a Axiom Ultimate with the XX package delivering this week. Until I read the comments above I thought there was no doubt I’d be happy with the new whip, but geez… lots of haters. Reminds me of the Aesop fable of the man and son bringing the donkey through town… they couldn’t please all the people all the time and lost their donkey in the process.

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