K
KrossEsker
gravel
01
Origin
Kross launched the Esker in 2019 to capture the fast-growing gravel segment, giving the brand a drop-bar off-road option for the first time. The name fits the terrain: an esker is a natural ridge of gravel and sand deposited by glacial meltwater, a landform common in Poland and Scandinavia. The Esker line spans entry (Esker 1.0) to performance carbon-fork builds, with the RS sub-line targeting competitive gravel events.
02
Specifications
- Frame
- Aluminium frame; 700c wheel clearance; rack and fender mounts; asymmetric chainstay; tubeless-ready
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano GRX RX810 2x11 (Esker 6.0); Shimano GRX RX600 mix on lower builds; SRAM Rival XPLR 1x12 (Esker RS 3.0)
- Brakes
- Shimano GRX hydraulic disc (Esker 6.0: GRX RX400); Tektro mechanical disc (Esker 1.0); SRAM Rival disc (RS builds)
- Wheels
- 700c; DT Swiss G540 622x24 rims (Esker 6.0)
03
The verdict
+Strengths
- DT Swiss G540 rims and Shimano GRX on the 6.0 represent outstanding value per component
- Genuine 45C tire clearance confirmed with rack/fender mounts for bikepacking versatility
- SRAM Rival XPLR on RS builds delivers dedicated gravel-spec 1x drivetrain
−Weaknesses
- Aluminium frame transmits more vibration than carbon on long gravel days
- Entry Esker 1.0 with Tektro mechanical disc is a significant step down from GRX hydraulic mid-range
- Limited brand recognition in Western European gravel events vs Canyon/Specialized/Trek
04
Tags
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