Bike Check: Curve’s Custom GMX+
Big-tire gravel bikes were definitely the trend at Bespoked Dresden this year, but this custom Curve GMX+ that Jimmy let me shot was in a category of its own. This expedition machine was running chunky 2.8” Teravails, with room for up to 3.0” of full-on tire goodness.
The GMX+ is usually intended as a drop-bar bike for long bikepacking trips deep into the wilderness, but this client had a very different idea. First, a flat-bar setup! Second, sliding dropouts and a belt drive pass though for single-speed or internal-gear-hub capability. Just imagine how wild and fun a single-speed titanium monster with 3.0” tires would be.
As Jimmy described so well, this isn’t a “go-fast” bike (even if I’m pretty sure you would glide over pretty much anything with these tires). It’s designed to be all-terrain capable and comfortable enough for long days in the saddle. Despite the lack of a rack in this build, these custom bags by Alonukis Frameworks give just a small taste of the bike’s carrying capabilities.
But where we’ll really focus regarding this bike’s loading capacity is with the Curve Seek VGM 430 fork. Instead of the traditional rivnuts found on each side, this updated VGM version uses 6061 aluminum inserts that run straight through the fork leg and are directly bonded to it.
The result? Each leg is rated for a maximum of 8 kg across the three inserts, giving you up to 16 kg of load on the fork alone. Not that you should put that much weight up front, but at least now you know it can handle it.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Custom Curve GMX+
Curve Seek VGM 430 PM Fork
Groupset Sram XPLR with
10-52 Cassette
Crankset
Hope Evo
Seatpost and Saddle
Thomson Seatpost, SQ Lab Saddle
Stem and Handlebar
Ritchey Stem and Tumbleweed Persuader Bar
Wheels Carbon rims laced to Chris King hubs
Brakes
Growtac Calipers and Paul Love Levers
The cockpit is wide, minimalist, and clean, featuring a Tumbleweed Persuader Bar, and Paul loves the brake levers paired with Growtac calipers, super popular at this edition of Bespoked, as it seems everyone has given up on doing brake purges. Finally, some discreet blip styled shifters on each side to control the SRAM XPLR derailleur, keeping shifting simple and precise.
I’d call this bike a “very refined utility vehicle”, built for anything and everything off paved roads, whether it’s taking you to the far side of the globe or just to your local farmers’ market. The final touch of hand-painting the logo on the raw titanium frame might be my favorite part, and I wish we could see more of that!
It’s like a truck!
🎞: Kodak Color Plus 200
📷: Leica M6
📍: Dresden
