3T Exploro Primo: Gravel all-rounder as it is written in the book

Timo Dillenberger

· 28.05.2024

Photo: Matthias Borchers

3T Exploro Primo

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The 3T Exploro Primo shines as an all-rounder and is our "sports bike" recommendation in the big gravel bike test. It is stylish and sporty, but also relatively heavy.

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Nowhere do the measured and perceived properties match as closely as on the Exploro. The eye-catcher is the brute-looking down tube support, which is probably responsible for the great torsional stiffness values. This in turn apparently allows the monostay rear triangle to be designed to be a little softer; despite the oval seat post, you sit safely and comfortably in the saddle, even over hill and dale. The fork blades and handlebars are a little harder, but with the STR+ value of 1.113, the steering axle is in front of the shoulders in the direction of travel, so impacts from below bypass the torso, so to speak, and the arms become efficient shock absorbers. That's a good thing, because after Trek and Marin, the 3T is the most front-heavy bike, and thanks to this balance, the rough Pirelli tyres also follow heavy manoeuvres in the dirt, but sometimes also ruts.

The Monostay rear triangle not only ensures carbon-typical comfort, it also has room for tyres up to 54 mm. The seat post of the 3T is part of the frame's aero concept.

Photo: Matthias BorchersThe Monostay rear triangle not only ensures carbon-typical comfort, it also has room for tyres up to 54 mm. The seat post of the 3T is part of the frame's aero concept.

And thanks to the comfort inherent in the frame, the narrower tyres are also okay. Their tread forms a kind of bridge in the middle, on which the tyres roll quite well even on asphalt, but the Rival groupset lacks the big gears for high-speed riding and a gear reduction for mountainous off-road riding. With a different chainring you could change the alignment in one direction or the other, the rear derailleur cannot shift more than the 42 teeth at the rear. The great handlebars with almost no flare and the lack of threads on the rear triangle speak in favour of the sporty orientation, and the efficient riding position also fits in with this. The 3T is the only bike with which we managed the 19 per cent gradient of the test lap on the drops.

If you are reasonably physically fit and have mastered a few basic riding techniques, the Italian is a stylish top all-rounder. The geometry, riding position and balance are exactly what we would expect from a sporty gravel bike.