YT's Jeffsy Primus 27 and Saracen's Levarg gravel bike
Our round-up of the very best tech stories of the week
It was a big week for new bikes and prototypes and we were on hand to gather all the details. The big news came from Boardman and its new prototype gravel bike that broke cover at Dirty Reiver with old-school cross-country tendencies. Component brand PRO added two new saddles to its range, YT Industries unveiled the Jeffsy Primus 27, while Saracen re-launched the Levarg gravel bike complete with a flat-bar version
- Gravel bike vs mountain bike: what are the differences?
- The best gravel and adventure bikes you can buy for under £2,000
- Gravel bike vs mountain bike: what are the differences?
PRO adds two saddles to its range
PRO MSU 1.3 E-MTB Saddle, by PRO bike gear
A saddle is one of three points of contact with the bike and, for a relatively small price in the grand scheme of things, they are worth every penny. PRO has launched two new saddles tailored for enduro and electric mountain biking. The brand has also given its saddle range a name overhaul making it easier to choose your next PRO saddle. The new PRO MSN 1.3 Enduro is a mountain bike-specific, short-length saddle and puts the rider in a neutral position. So the ‘M’ is MTB, the ‘S’ is for short length and the ‘N’ is for the riding position it aims to provide. Clever, hey?
The other saddle is the PRO MSU 1.3 E-MTB. The ‘U’ stands for upright. Both saddles feature a carbon-reinforced base, stainless steel rails and an abrasion-resistant PU cover over PU padding. The saddles retail at £119.99.
Saracen’s Levarg returns with three models
2023 Saracen Levarg, by Saracen
After a brief hiatus, Saracen has reintroduced the Levarg gravel bike and added a flat-bar option among its three new models. We reviewed the previous version a few years ago, and there have been plenty of updates since then. The three models include the Levarg, Levarg SL and Levarg FB.
The lower-end models feature a 2x setup with Shimano’s Tiagra 10-speed system and mechanical brakes, whereas the SL model gives you 11-speed with hydraulic brakes. The FB is a different breed with flat bars and a neater 1x Deore drivetrain system.
If the flat bars make you raise an eyebrow, it's worth reading Liam's feature titled, "Are gravel bikes old-school mountain bikes?"
Boardman creates a modern 90’s mtb/gravel bike
2023 Boardman TRVL prototype Dirty Reiver hero, by Suvi loponen
What’s your ideal gravel bike? Maybe something that handles like a mountain bike but with the agility and performance of a gravel machine. Something that gives more grip on the front and soaks up jagged stones scattered across the path?
Boardman’s new gravel bike ticks all of these boxes with a retro colour to transport the mind to a state of reminiscing. The fork offers 30mm of travel and the narrow 700mm bars are designed for a more upright riding position. Riders can get all that was great about the old-school cross-country mountain biking but with modernisation, such as a dropper post, tubeless tyres, a 1x drivetrain and super-powerful disc brakes. The TRVL will be available in drop-bar and flat-bar versions towards the end of the year.
YT Industries releases the Jeffsy Primus 27
2023 yt industries jeffsy primus 24.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Smaller in size but just as capable, the new Jeffsy Primus 27 is aimed at the next generation of youth riders coming onto the scene. Built to take on the extremely rough-and-tumble terrain that comes hand-in-hand with gravity riding, the bike is perfect for smaller shredders who frequent the bike parks or chase that finish line at an enduro event.
The Primus range features three models representing three distinct wheel sizes (Primus 24, Primus 26 and Primus 27) with front and rear travel ranging from 130mm-150mm and SRAM taking care of the drivetrain and braking system.
You might also like:
Author block
