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Facts
Summary of Reviews
We have read all expert and user reviews on the 3T Exploro. In summary, this is what cyclists think.
26 reasons to buy
- The Exploro was a fast bike on gravel, roads and singletrack.
- Gravel handling was deft and receptive, allowing the Racemax to be flicked around.
- On-road handling was described as agile, without being twitchy.
- With massive 650b tires, the Exploro flew across singletrack.
- Clearance allows for tires as large as 650b x 54mm, 27.5 x 2.1 or 700c x 40mm.
- The Exploro is designed to work equally well with 650b gravel or 700c road wheels.
- Exploro builds range from lightweight to ‘featherweight’. They ain’t heavy.
- The Exploro kept up with the pack as an asphalt-bound road bike.
- Exploros are available with either 1x or 2x drivetrains.
- SRAM’s Force 1 groupset covered everything from road flats to steep dirt climbs.
- ‘Sqaero’ aero tube shaping claims to shave effort off gravel rides.
- Internal routing ensures that cables look clean and function the same way.
- Bolts are provided for three bottle cages and a bento box.
- The 3T Charlie Exploro seatpost is very secure once adjusted.
- On the Pro GRX, gear range went plenty low for loaded dirt climbs.
- A tester said the Racemax conquered gravel climbs effortlessly.
- A reviewer described the Exploro’s truncated, aero-tubed aesthetic as ‘bold’.
- To please varying tastes and needs, 9 builds and 2 framesets are offered.
- A bikepacking expert said the Exploro was fast, even when loaded with bags.
- Even with big 700c x 40mm tires, mud clearance was ample.
- An elastomer ring around the saddle-clamp provided jounce-relief.
- Squaero tubing is modelled on real gravel speeds and conditions, including mud.
- On the Pro, WTB Riddler tyres were good all-rounders, on-road and off.
- Wide and flared 3T Superghiaia handlebars made the Exploro manoeuvrable.
- Where 3T Discus Plus wheels were fit, they were described as “bombproof”.
- The ‘Hang-Loose’ removable derailleur made rear-wheel removal simple.
19 reasons not to buy
- The Exploro could get very pricey, especially when looking at LTD or Team models.
- Minimalist design means that there are no eyelets for racks or fenders.
- The 3T Charlie Exploro seatpost mechanism was complicated and somewhat fiddly.
- Some testers found the ‘Hang Loose’ derailleur mechanism annoying and messy.
- The Exploro’s aero tubing reduced main triangle space for framebags.
- On the Pro, unflared Superergo handlebars were more road than gravel oriented.
- For one tester of an LTD, their seat-clamp bolt creaked disconcertingly.
- A reviewer felt that tires had to be inflated for either gravel or road performance.
- Short chainstays made the Exploro feel skittish over fast off-road sections.
- Aero benefits seemed exaggerated to some riders.
- The Exploro can not be expected to be as fast and light on-road as a pure road bike.
- 3T’s Aeroghaia handlebar offered less hand positions than many pure gravel bars.
- On very steep climbs, the Exploro’s front wheel could lift off the ground.
- The seatpost wobbled for one tester. Another said it broke easily.
- On an earlier model, a tester saw the seat clamp as weak and difficult to access.
- Quick handling and stiffness were tiring factors on long gravel rides.
- Both the saddle clamp and stem/bar combo loosened for a long-term reviewer.
- Testers complained of a lack of confidence on fast off-road descents.
- A bikepacking expert bemoaned a lack of fork mounts.