Ibis

Hakka MX Disc Ultegra Di2 R8070 650b & 700c Complete Bike

We spent a good bit of time debating around the office as to whether the Ibis Hakka MX Disc Ultegra Di2 R8070 Complete Bike holds its own in the category of gravel grinder or cyclocross speedster. Some of us looked at the beefy tubes and tire clearance and saw nothing but off-road adventures, while others argue that its road-inspired geometry would best be suited for race days at the CX course or graded gravel. But then something magical happened — we came to a consensus — with two wheelsets the Hakka MX can defy our hasty categorizations, and so we bring you this iteration not just with one Reynolds wheelset, but two — one with a wagon-wheel 700c for catapulting you to the finish line of gravel races left and right, and a second with plush 650b wheels to soak up abusive trails and load up for weekend trips in the desert, exploring unseen canyons coated in petroglyphs.

If you've been passionate about the cyclocross scene for some time, chances are you've had a crush on the Hakkalugi at one time or another. While the Hakka MX's roots don't sprout up too from the Hakkalugi tree, it rebels against its forefather with geometry tweaks and updated standards that we're pretty sure you'll find infatuating. Straying away from cyclocross and delving further into offroad exploration, the Hakka MX embraces stiffness with 142 x 12mm thru-axles, as opposed to the 135mm dropouts of the past. It further stiffens things up with the new T47 bottom bracket, which combines the stiff shell of a PF30 with the tried-and-tested reliability of a threaded bottom bracket for a squeak-free hold while you ride. A wider range of crank diameter spindles can be used on the T47 bottom bracket without sacrificing bearing diameter and larger spindles forced in a standard diameter threaded shell. The bigger shell also yields larger contact areas between the tubes offering greater drivetrain rigidity. . Rear, removable, fender mounts at the bottom of the seatstays and the rear of the bottom bracket shell will come in handy during a muddy gravel race, winter training, or commuting.

Engineers at Ibis mountain bikes have been building exclusively from carbon fiber for several years now and their expertise with the material means they know how to build a stiff, light, durable, and responsive frame. A tapered headtube provides the perfect foundation of unyielding stiffness needed for excellent tracking, hard braking, and out of the saddle climbing. The included ENVE fork contributes to the stiffness while working in tandem with the frame to absorb the jolts from washboard descents and all the rocks and roots found off the beaten path. Internal routing ports set up the Hakka MX for a clean finish, while a new internal Di2 battery mount enables us to put together this particular build with a smooth-shifting Ultegra R8070 Di2 electronic groupset. This newest iteration of Ultegra Di2 sets you up with many Dura-Ace-esque refinements, like slimmer profile and reworked shift levers positioned for better access when you're on the hoods.

But it would seem that we're beating around the bush a bit, and while the frame updates pique our interest, the ball is driven home by the two Reynold ATR carbon wheelsets that come ready to roll on this build. These two wheelsets enable you to transform your single bike into two different machines — a race-ready cyclocross steed, equally at home at your weeknight road ride as jumping hurdles in a mud pit — and a plush ride that begs to dive down the gravel roads less traveled, rekindling a nostalgic sense of adventure that many of us lost after childhood. Both crafted from Reynolds' meticulously laid carbon, the wheelsets offer you two different personalities. We opt to pair the smaller 650b wheels with an extra-plush 47mm tire to offer you a bit of pneumatic suspension on rougher terrain, while pairing the 700c hoops with a slimmer 28mm tire for road prowess — though the bike can accommodate up to a 40mm 700c tire, should you be wanting to add a little more supple traction to your wagon wheels.