Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2 gravel bike in test: Race tourer for gravel and off-road

Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2: The facts

Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size(s): 700c (650b compatible)
Maximum tire clearance: 42mm (700cc) / 2,1″ (650b)
Axle dimensions (v/h): 12 × 100/142 × 12
Mudguard Eyelets: Ja
Luggage carrier eyelets (v/h): Yes / Yes
bottle holder: Down tube up, down tube down, seat tube
Other: Eyelets on the top tube

Weight wheels v/h/total (with tires and brake discs): 1.360g / 1.475g / 2.835g
Weight complete bike without pedals (size M): 8,61kg
Price: € 4.099

Sporty geometry meets touring features and plenty of tire clearance

With the Grix, Storck entered the gravel stage with a bang this year. To date, the German manufacturer, which is particularly popular with racing cyclists, has not had a gravel racer in its range. However, the Grix shows that it is wise to wait a bit before launching your first gravel bike. Because the carbon bike combines almost all the properties that you could wish for from a modern gravel bike - this was also shown by the noble one CX Extreme version of the bike in our high-end test field.

The Storck Graveler owes the fact that we can place the Grix in two test fields – of course with different equipment – ​​to its versatile carbon frame. Visually, this is kept nice and clean, of course with completely internally routed cables and thru axles - just as you would want from a modern bike with disc brakes. The frame plays its trump cards in terms of tire clearance and mounting points. At 42mm, the throughput for classic 28″ tires is big enough and most drivers should be able to handle it. However, if that is not enough volume, you have the option of installing smaller 650b wheels - then tires with a width of up to 2,1″ can be accommodated in the frame and fork.

It doesn't look any less good for touring fans and bike packers. There is space for three bottle holders on the main frame, eyelets for mudguards and mounting points for luggage racks. As a bonus, there are two screw connections on the top tube so that another bag can be attached here as well.

No matter how suitable the Grix is ​​for touring in some respects, Storck's roots are immediately apparent when it comes to the geometry. A rather sporty stack-to-reach ratio ensures that the saddle is significantly raised and that the seating position is stretched out. However, both could certainly be mitigated to a certain extent by spacers under the stem. At the same time, Storck does not make the mistake of giving the Grix a racing bike geometry - on the contrary. The rather slack steering angle, for example, speaks for a smooth running and good-natured handling, even off-road.

Top equipment with a light impeller system

When it came to the groupset, the choice fell on the Ultegra Di2, which is perhaps the most popular and most widely used group in the high-performance sector. Barely heavier than the Dura Ace, with just as good performance at a much more attractive price. Another advantage: With the Ultegra RX Di2 rear derailleur, there is also a variant with cage damping, which ensures higher chain tension and less chain slap in the field.

With the 50/34 compact crank and the 11-34 cassette you get a wide range that should also satisfy passers-by. Only the 1:1 mountain gear could be a bit sporty with a full load and steep gravel climbs.

We were amazed when we weighed the impeller system. At well under 3kg, it was one of the lightest in the test field. However, this is only partly due to the wheels themselves - because the DT Swiss C1800 are not particularly heavy, but certainly not the lightest in our test field either. The built-in Schwalbe G-One Speed ​​tires with a width of 30mm play a decisive role in the low LRS system weight. They are significantly narrower than most of the other tires from the competition and the Speed ​​variant is also a little less robust - that saves a few grams. Thanks to the 22mm wide rim and the generous tire clearance, changing to a tire with a little more volume is no problem at all; if desired also tubeless.

The seating area and cockpit are unexcited. With the 27,2mm seat post, we would have preferred a carbon version given the rather high price range. Not because the Grix is ​​overweight - on the contrary, at 8,61kg it's extremely light - but because a carbon post could certainly have added a little to the comfort. A classic aluminum stem with carbon handlebars is used at the front. So there's not the noble stem-handlebar unit that we know from the Grix Pro CX Extreme. The advantage here: The steering range can be adjusted much better to individual needs.

More tests, products and background information about the Velomotion Gravel Month:

Let's Gravel: The Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2

At first glance, the Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2 almost looks like a modern racing bike. This is not least due to its rather narrow tires, which at just 30mm actually come very close to the current road standard. The profile of the Schwalbe G-One Speed ​​is also manageable and is more suitable for light gravel use than for hard off-road tours. The big advantage, however, is that the tires roll just as well as classic racing bike tires and, thanks to their somewhat more robust construction, still offer the possibility of being on easy gravel roads and forest roads.

But it's not just the tires that give the Storck Grix Platinum a certain sportiness, but also the successful overall weight of a good 8,6 kilos. Because the performance is also strongly determined by the liveliness of the brisk gravler. This is due to its playful and direct handling, which makes technical passages child's play, were it not for the tires, which make you have to be a little more careful on gravel. Nevertheless, the good acceleration and agility of the Grix gave us a lot of joy.

While that Grix Pro CX Extreme but can benefit greatly from its voluminous tires and comes with a significant increase in comfort, the Grix Platinum seems comparatively hard. Nevertheless, the low-slung rear end provides the necessary comfort that is also needed on easier gravel roads. In our opinion, definitely sufficient with these tires.

Calling the Platinum a tourer definitely makes sense, because where else would you want to get from A to B as quickly as possible if not on multi-day tours and long rides. And the Storck Tourer definitely offers this. However, we would have wished for a little more smoothness for this orientation, since this Grix can get a bit restless at higher speeds due to its playful nature. With its successful accessory compatibility, the Storck Grix Platinum Ultergra Di2 is very versatile and will also appeal to bikepacking fans among gravel riders.

The Shimano Ultergra Di2 offers excellent shifting performance and goes well with the overall setup. With sufficient robustness, the group should also be sufficient for various gravel rides. But it shouldn't get too violent here either. So if you're not planning too extreme gravel tours and are more likely to be on the road with a mix of asphalt and gravel, you should have found a suitable companion in the Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2.

Other gravel bike highlights in the test: