Product Review
Bombtrack Hook EXT-C Build & Review
Build and review of the brand new 2019 Bombtrack Hook EXT-C carbon gravel bike. In this video Cyclist Pete takes you through the build, the components used and finally his thoughts on this ultimate custom gravel bike. Built as a do-it-all gravel monster, will this beast be able to handle everything from racing to bikepacking trips or will it fall tragically short of soaring expectations?
Posted on: August 9, 2020
Comments
Hi Pete,
I watched your Bombtrack movie and liked a lot. I was wondering what would cost me to build a bombtrack EXT C using say mid-range components (RIVAL) and good aluminum wheels that I can use both with 50 mm and slick tires. I can get the frame shipped to me for $1,300…was wandering if the bike build similar to yours would be somewhere between 2,500 to 3,000 max. Let me know your suggestion, and how to go…BTW locally, I can get a 2020 topstone carbon with RX ultegra for 2,400 (it sells for $3,300)…but I am kind of liking more bombtrack…
Yo Aaron,
Glad you liked the video! Yeah, I think you could build it about 3k with mid-level components. But I think you might need to get everything on the cheap, a bargain website for the groupset and maybe find used wheels/other parts. You might need to assemble everything yourself also, to stay under budget. Special tools are required for some of the hydraulic stuff and bottom bracket, if you haven’t done those before. But you could just have a shop do those two things and assemble the rest yourself. I’d say go for it if you want to, custom bike building is really fun and rewarding.
Hi Pete,
Thanks for the response. I haven’t seen the response earlier as I was away for few days. It looks like the best opinion is to get either topstone with king-pin suspension, with RX ultegra and ability to have 650×48 tires if wanted. This bies brand new will cost me $2,400, which is $900-1000 less than MSRP. Another option in this price range is OBED Boundary (OBED formerly OCOEE bikes) carbon with GRX600 groupset on sale for aroung $2,400 as well. The third option for the same price is a niner RLT carbon 3 star with rival components. Which of these 3 based on the intention being an all around (all road) bike would be your suggestion. Biggest discounts currently I can get with topstone and niner.
Also, I have seen this less known brand and probable a bit less capable due to limitation on tire size…Framed Gravier carbon with Appex components and mechanical brakes…price is attractive $1,700 on sale and what is most interesting you can get this frame for $700.
Thanks and let me know what you think.
Agron