Megamo West 10: Solid gravel bike without major weaknesses

The West model series is the middle class of the Spanish manufacturer Megamo, here with a modern 1 x 12 Apex groupset, but unfortunately otherwise hardly middle class in any other respect. The frame has the slackest seat tube angle of the carbon models in the test and is also slimmed down with a long, thin seat post. You'd expect a super comfortable seat, but it's more on a par with the Fuji Jari Carbon 1.3, Corratec Allroad C2 or Conway GRV 9.0. But it is the heaviest carbon bike, not only in this test, but in the test lab ever, with the wheels accounting for almost half of the weight, more than five kilos at tandem level. The gear ratios are almost as short as those of the Bulls Machete.

All of this is more the key data of a cruiser than a sports bike; the short wheelbase and stack to reach ratios of a racing bike say otherwise. The short, wide chainstays make the rear end stiff and manoeuvrable, but leave hardly any space between possible bags and the heels. Speaking of which, the Megamo West 10 was the only bike on which we touched the front wheel several times with the tip of our foot despite wearing standard size 43 shoes. It's quite difficult to assign a core competence here, the bike doesn't have a huge flaw apart from the in-house cheap wheels, but unlike its competitors, it can't do anything really well. Even if the frame is well made, there seems to be something conceptually wrong with the geometry. The overall weight, tyres, drivetrain and brakes don't make up for it.

Step like the Koga, sitting like the Trek, shifting like the VSF, load distribution similar 3T and manoeuvrable like the GiantThe "West 10" has many good features, but unfortunately they don't fit together. If you deduct the RRP of the Sram groupset and wheels, the Megamo would cost around 1500 euros, which is too much.

Big comparison: 16 gravel bikes in the test

• 3T Exploro Primo (Tip: sports equipment)
• Bergamont Grandurance Expert >> available here
• Bulls Machete
• Canyon Grizl CF SL 6 AXS (Tip: Test winner)
• Conway GRV 9.0
• Corratec Allroad C2
• Fuji Jari Carbon 1.3
• Giant Revolt Advanced 2 (Tip: All-rounder) >> available here
• Koga Colmaro Extreme >> available here
• Marin Headlands 1 >> available here
• Megamo West 10 >> available here
• Merida Silex 700 (Tip: Offroader)
• Rondo Ruut AL1
• Rose Backroad GRX RX820 (Tip: Test winner) >> available here
• Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 (Tip: Price/performance) >> available here
• VSF Fahrradmanufaktur GX-500 >> available here

Megamo West 10: Note & Details

• Note: 2,5
• Price: 2649 Euro >> available here
• Weight of complete wheel: 10.48 kilos
• Frame sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL (test size greased)

Geometry

• Seat/top/head tube: 545 / 550 / 150.8 millimetres
• Stack/Reach/STR: 579.3 / 363.4 millimetres / 1.594
• Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 633 / 563 millimetres / 1,124
• Wheelbase/caster: 1025 / 70.4 millimetres

Equipment

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Apex (1 x 12; 40, 11-50 t.) | Grade: 3.0
• Brakes: SRAM Apex (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.5
• Tyres: WTB Riddler 700-45c (eff.: 43.5 mm) | Grade: 2.0
• Impellers: Black Jack Ready GR
• Impeller weights: 2061 / 3000 grams (front/rear)

Advantages & disadvantages of the Megamo West 10

• Plus: Choice of tyres, new Apex groupset, lifetime warranty possible
• Minus: uncomfortable, front wheel too close to the frame, heavy cheap wheels