Monday 5 November 2012

Prototype Planet X Pro Carbon XLS Cyclo Cross

I've been lucky enough to have been riding around on a sample Pro Carbon XLS for a good while now, and now it's on sale can finally spill the beans.....

UPDATE: new production version of the XLS


Constructed from 12k carbon it's a full carbon disc cross frame that is aimed fair and square at the race-savvy cross rider. It's the sharpest feeling cross bike I've ridden with snappy handling and a very stiff response to hard out of the saddle efforts. A large (PF30) bottom bracket area contributes to this stiffness, as do the boxy rear chainstays and the tapered headtube (1.25 - 1.5") that keeps things solid upfront too.

Cable routing is all internal across the top tube with no under bottom bracket cabling to keep things clean and tidy, as well as helping to cut down on maintenance after drownings with the jet wash. The top tube itself is one of the most comfortable I've ever carried with, being unencumbered with cables and perfectly flattened to lay neatly across your shoulder. The rear disc tabs are at the rear (rather than in the rear triangle), allowing easy access too for pad fettling.

Clearance is great up front and rear, despite the 'racy' tolerances between rear tyre and bottom bracket area, and during mudfests has presented no significant problems despite some build up in that area. The absence of cantilevers and bosses more than makes up for any build up of mud there and my bike has kept working fine even when conditions are really bad.






The beefy headset, stiff bottom bracket and boxy stays mean this frame just flies under pressure - compared to alloy cross bikes I've had the difference in stiffness is startling. It's not a harsh ride on rougher surfaces, just purposeful, giving you lots of feedback about what surface conditions are like. It builds up light too - with higher end components and carbon wheels it's happily threatening sub 18lb territory and so carrying feels superb on that comfy top tube.

It's just too tempting not to make comparisons  between the XLS and it's sister company's One One Dirty Disco that I've also been riding. Both are superb race bikes with surefooted handling, good behaviour in the mud and light, practical (ie robust) carbon frames. Whilst the Disco also makes for a good all-round off-road riding bike, eminently suitable for 3 Peaks duties and long off road rides alike, the  XLS perhaps veers a little more toward an out and out racer, feeling sharp and edgy and just itching to be ragged round a lap.

Pic: Jo 'Hanglebads'


It is worth pointing out the difference in sizing - my 56cm Disco has a longer top tube and taller head tube than my 57cm XLS which partly contributes to that planted, stable feeling compared the smaller, more chuckable XLS. It's horses for courses - I've raced both on cross laps, ridden both on long rambling off road rides, and 3 Peaks trained on both. I don't have a favourite - they both do the job, whenever and  wherever. You takes your pick....

13 comments:

Bianchista said...

wow, if I had a spare couple of grand id LOVE to get this bike, looks gorgeous!

Dave said...

You really are the luckiest man on the Planet ;-)

Looks cool, and the improvements to the top tube and cable runs were the only areas that the Disco fell down on.

Great!

Dave said...

You really are the luckiest man on the Planet ;-)

Looks cool, and the improvements to the top tube and cable runs were the only areas that the Disco fell down on.

Great!

Neil. said...

I've been racing my Disco since Jan. If I were improving it, I would work on the cable routing, top tube shape and would sometimes like it a bit more flingy-abouty (like my spare Ridley).

Are you clairvoyant Mr X?

Adam Cooper said...

Good review but if you had to choose the DD or the XLS could you?

crossjunkie said...

If you are asking me to choose between Disco and XLS........? Well........

I suppose I would go for an XLS but only because I have a superb Planet X Ti prototype that is the best 3 Peaks bike I've ever ridden. In other words, the XLS would do cx race duties and the Ti, the Peaks.

BUT, if I just had one bike to choose from to do 1 hour 'cross races AND the Peaks then the Disco would probably win, just, It simply does the lot, with ease.

Anonymous said...

How wide of a tire can the XLS accommodate?

Any chance of getting a 42c tire in there?

crossjunkie said...

It won't take a 42mm tyre but to be honest most modem cross frames won't either, at least the race oriented frames. The Planet X Uncle John would As it has excellent clearance.

Max tire would be 35mm if you want a little clearance.

Anonymous said...

hmm I thought I would need the 54cm but you got me worried now and it jumps to a 57cm. 5'10" any thoughts? ride 54 cross and 56 road typically

crossjunkie said...

I'm 6' 5". The 57 is definitely on the small side for me but it works and I get the same position as my 56 Disco. I can only suggest measuring seat tube, TT and head tube on your road/cx frames and seeing how they compare.

Jimmy said...

crossjunkie, did you happen to weigh the forks before installing? They look quite similar visually, but the Dirty Disco fork is listed at 460g while the XLS fork is listed at 769g!

crossjunkie said...

I haven't had a fork weighing session but the XLS has an alloy steerer fork so those figures are probably right.

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