Reviews

Lynskey GR 250 frameset

Rugged beauty meets versatility from titanium experts Lynskey

Lynskey are world renowned for their titanium frames and have now added a gravel machine to the range. It’s a beaut too – as we’ve come to expect from the Tennessee-based firm. In many ways titanium could be the ideal material for a gravel frame – being tough as nails with a naturally compliant ride quality – and if anyone’s up to the task, it’s Lynskey.

The Lynskey GR 250 is sold in the UK primarily as a frameset, but here we have it built up complete with 3T Luteus carbon fork, Rolf Prima Vigor wheels and a SRAM Rival 1 Hydro groupset, with an all-round finishing kit provided by 3T and WTB. It gives you a flavour of what you can do with the GR 250.

While this particular build will fetch in the region of £4,455, each bike can be custom built to customer specs, so it’s the frame that takes centre stage here. First of all, we’re struck by how beautiful the titanium tubeset is, with ultra-neat welds really allowing the frame to shine.

Just as well, because you can specify what finish you’d like from satin, brushed, polished, industrial mill, custom painted, or even with etched Lynskey graphics. This means you can really tailor the look of your GR 250 frame to your specifications – but it’s not just about how it looks that really matters.

The frame is constructed from a triple-butted, 3AL-2.5V titanium tubeset with what Lynskey call an ‘adventure-oriented’ geometry, so there’s a long wheelbase and relaxed angles to make life easier when the going gets rough. In Lynskey’s own words, it’s ‘designed for the rider to be in the cockpit rather than on the bike’, hinting at how easy it’s supposed to be to ride over long periods in less-than-perfect conditions.

The frame also benefits from acres of tyre clearance thanks in part to the tube design as well as the native support for disc brakes – 45c if you go with 700c wheels – so while you can get a road-oriented ride from the frame, it’s capable of far more. You can also opt for thru-axles at the rear dropouts, or convert it to quick-release – it’s up to you.

Given its endurance-style intentions, and the inherent properties of titanium that maintain a super-smooth ride, it’s easy to labour under the false assumption that this is a metaphorical sofa – all soft and lazy. Well, maybe it is to an extent, but it’s one of those stylish sofas you get from a high-end Scandinavian design house – it’s also all function with plenty of hidden performance.

Lynskey GR 250

Price: £1,799.99 (frame only)
Website: Lynskey
UK distributor: Hotlines

Naturally, this will be defined by the spec sheet you opt for, but the frame itself features an oval downtube that’s designed to maximise stiffness at the bottom bracket, while neatly flared stays take care of the base of the rear triangle. The heavily-shaped seatstays are designed to build in some comfort without losing the stiffness you need to get a thrill from time to time.

Ultimately, it’s both the rugged beauty and flexibility of the GR 250 frameset that impresses us most.

Massive potential tyre clearance, a geometry that’ll see you through the longest days, married up to titanium tubing, with just a hint of road-ready stiffness so you can get a lick on. For the new age of gravel-busting riders, what’s not to like?