A 12 months and a half with the Fairlight Secan: An in depth evaluate

In March of 2022, I received in contact with Dom from Fairlight, and he hooked me up with a Secan 2.5 to make use of as a long-term check bike. My preliminary evaluate after about six months was the primary five-star ranking I gave to a motorcycle. Apparently, the one different bike I’ve provided that rating to was the Fairlight Strael, the model’s street providing. 

What follows is a way more in-depth have a look at the Secan. I’ve had it for over 18 months at this level, and it’s been used as a check mattress for a terrific number of totally different merchandise. It additionally got here out because the ‘finest for bikepacking’ in our Cyclingnews Awards, and nicely and really sits as one of many finest gravel bikes in the marketplace. Inside this fixed churn of setups, there have been just a few distinct flavours, and of those, there’s one setup the place I believe the bike shines one of the best. Any bike I’ve for a very long time undergoes a metamorphosis, culminating in what I consider because the bike’s pure, ultimate type. For some bikes it’s simple; my Bowman Palace simply wanted some higher wheels, traditional drop bars, and Thomson ending equipment to turn out to be probably the most noodly, uncomfortable old-school crit bike I may consider. Right here although, with a platform that’s fairly so versatile, it takes somewhat longer.

The excellent news for anybody contemplating buying one is that my total rating for the bike stays unchanged, and has gone up a hair. I nonetheless keep that it’s a five-star machine, and brought within the spherical it’s nonetheless one of the best gravel bike I’ve examined. Should you’ve already purchased one, maybe having learn my preliminary evaluate, then this may occasionally serve that can assist you get probably the most out of yours.

Design and aesthetics

Metal bikes have had one thing of a resurgence in the previous few years as riders transfer again in direction of what was for a few years regarded as an outdated materials. Quite than heavy, cumbersome beasts, trendy efficiency metal bikes can combine it with aluminium and carbon, whereas providing totally different qualities, and a sure aesthetic that, if we’re all being trustworthy with ourselves, is as vital as any efficiency benefits.

The Fairlight Secan is a really handsome bike. Skinny tubed street bikes look cool, however there aren’t sufficient factors of distinction for a lot of to face out from the gang with out costly {custom} paint. A thin tubed gravel bike, although? Visually that’s one thing somewhat totally different. Within the case of the Secan the attention is straight away drawn to that prime tube; diminutive, ovalised alongside the horizontal axis, with delicate graphics close to the seat tube. It seems to be splendidly fragile, and together with the skinny, wavy stays provides a traditional look to proceedings. Add in some thicker tubing for the downtube and headtube, and a thickly bladed carbon fork and also you get a frameset that’s a pleasure to behold, particularly when paired with some very massive tyres and within the off-white ‘putty’ choice you possibly can see right here.

Whereas the paint is beautiful, with understated graphics and logos that pop within the shiny orange, there are lots of many well-considered particulars within the frameset. Primarily, on this case, it comes right down to tubing.

Many metal bikes, together with top-of-the-range bespoke bikes, use off-the-shelf tube units, that means that to some extent the construct is constrained. Fairlight is large enough to warrant a {custom} tube set from Reynolds, while being sufficiently small to supply one thing nearer to a bespoke construct service Not solely are there ten sizes out there, in each regular and tall choices, however Fairlight may even match a motorcycle match for you freed from cost to be sure you choose the best choice. I actually have ridden a measurement 56R bike. 

I’ll not go into the tubing particulars in such nice depth as to scare you off, however the body is constructed from heat-treated Reynolds 853 metal. The warmth treating primarily makes the metal stronger for a given wall thickness, however the identical could be mentioned of any 853 frameset. The vital factor to know is that 853 is the poshest non-stainless metal tubing that Reynolds produces. The rear stays, it’s value noting, are 4130 cromoly metal, which I’m assuming is right down to the truth that they’re custom-shaped to fairly such a level. Rear triangles typically differ in composition from the principle tubes, and this isn’t any trigger for concern. My very own {custom} body has Columbus Zona predominant tubes, however then makes use of Dedacciai stays initially meant for fats bikes to enhance the tyre clearance.

Within the case of the Secan the downtube is ovalised on the backside bracket in a horizontal path so as to add further lateral stiffness the place it joins the BSA shell (an unsurprising however very good choice of B.B.), and equally ovalised on the headtube however in a perpendicular path to withstand braking forces and bumping on the headtube. Given the headtube is an space of extra stress than most different locations on a motorcycle body the headtube finish of the downtube has an additional butt on the finish, including somewhat further thickness internally on the weld space.

The highest tube is ovalised over its total size within the horizontal aircraft to withstand lateral forces and conversely add in some compliance alongside the lengthy axis of the body. The stays too, {custom} shaped, are pleasantly wavy which, in addition to being pretty to have a look at, permits clearance for a 50mm tyre on a 700c wheel, or a really monstrous 2.4” tyre on a 650b rim.

Three-bottle cages are a should for any bike with bikepacking ambitions. However choosing triple bosses somewhat than doubles on the bigger sizes so taller riders can decide to place their bottles in simple attain, is a simple element to level to that exhibits the thought that has gone into this body. I’d have favored to see the downtube bosses be a set of three to accommodate a cargo cage, however for carrying non-standard objects you need to use straps across the downtube to unfold the load extra evenly. There’s additionally modular cable routing so you possibly can run kind of any system you want, together with constructed dynamo routing. There aren’t any prime tube bosses, however I’ve by no means been one for a snack pouch anyway. Clip-on-ones work high quality if that is your chosen method, and you must draw the road someplace I suppose; every further boss is further work with the brazing torch, and provides price that will nicely not profit that many purchasers. After which there are the dropouts…

Dropouts normally are uninteresting affairs, however on this case, they’re custom-machined items made together with Bentley Parts, a one-man machining wizard based mostly in Yorkshire. As a lot as something they’re a beautiful piece of machining, however additionally they serve to offer individually replaceable items for the thru-axle mounts. The non-drive facet additionally contains the flat mount for the disc brakes, and both facet can be put in with a big {custom} washer that not solely dissipates the load from the mounting screws but additionally protects the paint on the mudguard and pannier rack mounting eyelets. This implies any points with the thru-axle threads, or the threads for the calliper mounts, do not spell the top in your frameset.

Lastly, a notice on geometry, earlier than we dive into the totally different setups. The Secan may be very road-like, so far as gravel bikes go. Within the beneath picture utilizing bikeinsights.com, you possibly can see the model’s street bike, the Strael, in black, and the Secan in white. Additionally included is a desk displaying the numerical variations between the 2, on this case from geometrygeeks.com.

As we will see, the most important distinction is within the chainstays and the top angle. A mixture of 12mm longer on the again finish, and a 1.5-degree steeper entrance end in an extended wheelbase to the tune of 34mm. For reference, the beneath picture is the Strael street bike overlaid with the 3T Extrema Italia, which is on no account that radical by gravel geometry. Under that’s the Strael in comparison with the YT Szepter, which is an excessive instance as gravel geometry goes. If that is all a bit a lot then simply take my phrase for it; the Secan may be very a lot on the all-road finish of the geometry spectrum, or what we will consider because the finest gravel race bikes. 

Efficiency

Right here’s the place I’m going to interrupt the bike down into three distinct guises, every with its personal efficiency notes. At one finish of the spectrum, we have now what can colloquially be deemed the ‘monster cross’ setup, with 650b x 2” ish tyres, no mudguards, and the inventory FSA Journey bars. Secondly, there’s what most likely constitutes a generalist setup: 700c wheels with one thing round 40mm gravel tyres and the inventory gravel bars – A easy swap of wheels and tyres from a monstercross construct. Lastly, there’s an allroad setup, with slick, or semi-slick tyres, full-length mudguards and narrower street bars. 

The monstercross setup

This was what I opted for from the get-go, speccing the check bike with 650b Hope Fortus wheels and Continental Race King tyres in 2.2” width. On the time I used to be residing on the sting of the Lake District, and had some massive gravel to play with; primarily MTB trails. 

The setup was definitely enjoyable, although to my thoughts there’s at all times a barely odd juxtaposition in using a motorcycle with what is actually street bike geometry, however with massive, wallowy tyres. It’s the identical feeling I had aboard the 3T Extrema Italia not too long ago, although that has geometry that’s extra attuned to tackling tough stuff. If you’re genuinely spending the overwhelming majority of your time on actually somewhat bumpy trails then this setup is completely sufficient. However when issues progress into steep terrain (mainly while you actually ought to have an MTB), the tyres start to write down cheques that the geometry can’t fairly money. 

The place I can see this coming into its personal is for one-off occasions just like the Atlas Mountain Race or comparable. The power to get into an aero place can pay dividends by way of common pace, and the massive rubber can eat up the rocky terrain. For me although, the variety of real-world eventualities the place this setup got here into its personal had been few and much between. Within the winter the added traction from massive tyres is nice, however when issues get slipper and extra techy then, once more, the geometry isn’t finest suited to this type of using. You’ll get via it, however when you get again to a street part you’ll most likely wish to be on 700×40 or so. 

The opposite qualm I’ve with this setup from the manufacturing facility is that 650b is turning into one thing of an outdated normal. If you would like a motorcycle that may roll over something in a drop bar construct then there are others on the market that do that higher now in 700c. The 3T Extrema Italia, whereas considerably costlier (double the value, for reference), handles this big-tyre MTB adjoining stuff higher.

My tip, having run this setup for a superb few months, is to spec the bike with 700c wheels, and will the necessity for actually massive tyres current itself then you possibly can match a set of first rate alloy 650b wheels and tyres. I can’t fault the Hope Fortus rims although; the hubs are glorious and the edges are sturdy. The one factor to keep in mind is that they’re MTB wheels, so include 6-bolt rotors. Should you’re swapping between 700c gravel wheels and these (and lots of different 650b wheels for that matter) you’ll both want adapters or simply a wholly new set of centerlock rotors.

If you’re dead-set on working 650b then the distinction in tyre weight and casing could make to the journey really feel is larger than it’s with smaller-sized tyres. After working the inventory Continental RaceKing tyres I swapped them out for a set of Rene Herse Juniper Ridge tyres (650b x 48 knobblies) with the superlight casing. Certain, they by no means actually sealed, however the further suppleness and diminished weight made the bike really feel rather more vigorous. If I used to be working 650b on a long-term foundation that is what I’d match.

Common gravel

Swapping to 700c wheels instantly made the Secan really feel extra confident. Once more, it’s to not say it’s dangerous the least bit with 2.2” MTB tyres, however the geometry of the bike felt higher suited to the quicker, extra agile feeling that skinnier rubber and carbon wheels supply. Whereas the extra squish of huge tyres definitely helps, you do get barely higher rollover with 700c to offset this. Usually, there wasn’t something I felt I couldn’t journey with a 700c x 42 that I may journey with a 650b x 2.2”. 

With this setup, the geometry of the bike begins to sing in concord with the part selections. The dealing with is great. It’s quick, you’re over the entrance of the bike as you’d be with a street bike so you possibly can lean onerous on the entrance tyre (tyre selection as ever does make an enormous distinction). On street sections you don’t really feel such as you’re losing power by being sat too upright; issues typically really feel extra environment friendly. On this guise, too, the 2x GRX looks like the suitable selection. I’m nonetheless a staunch 2x believer until I’ve received the choice of working one thing excessive like GX Eagle. It’s extra road-like within the really feel, although has glorious vary. I did dabble with a wider vary double within the type of a Rene Herse sq. taper crankset, and whereas I loved the gear ratios it supplied, the tendency of the system to work free over tough terrain was annoying, to say the least.

At this level, you possibly can start to suit mudguards, as you’re not maxing out the capability of the body and forks to fairly such a level. Usually talking, I most popular to simply depart a set of Velo Orange full-length metallic fenders on year-round, one thing which you are able to do should you decide to a single wheel measurement. You are taking a little bit of a success on tyre width, however staying clear is definitely worth the value. That is additionally the setup I ran whereas bikepacking, one thing I not often do as a result of I benefit from the consolation of a heat mattress and tend to overdo it and break my expertise. I did run a Tailfin for one journey however discovered the load was too rear-heavy, and the elasticity of the body created some somewhat nasty pace wobbles, so should you do load it up with a set pannier rack make sure to profit from the fork mounts too. It’ll be much less aerodynamic, however the dealing with will likely be way more variety.

I additionally assume, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, that is the place the bike regarded its finest. Silver fender, a silver crankset (sq. taper points apart), a leather-based saddle, matching leather-based bar tape, and tanwall tyres was really a sight to behold.

The allroad setup

That is more and more what I’ve most popular utilizing the Secan for. Particularly because the winter attracts in and I’m much less drawn to ploughing via precise mud and pretending it’s gravel, becoming a superb set of quick wheels (Hunt 25 CGR), full guards, and a set of fats slicks (Rene Herse Barlow Move – 700c x 38, with the endurance casing) makes using the mulchy, gloomy B-roads that I really like rather more nice than on 28c tyres. 

The true killer tweak for this setup, and one which I needed I’d opted for from the beginning, was becoming a set of narrower bars (primarily after a motorcycle match). When initially speccing the Secan I opted for wider-than-stock 44cm bars, which to be trustworthy felt somewhat cumbersome for normal using. Swapping to a set of 38cm bars (Professional Vibe ones, as a result of why not) was genuinely transformative, not least as a result of it mirrored my street place identically. Having an aero contact regarded cool for certain, however I’m certain any pace advantages had been extra right down to a narrower frontal place.

One factor I get requested quite a bit, particularly once I solicit questions on Instagram to help within the creation of a long-term evaluate, is whether or not this actually can be utilized as a street bike. In the summertime, on a beautiful day with clean tarmac, there’s no query that I’d somewhat be on a devoted street bike, however that doesn’t imply the Secan isn’t succesful. I’m a particularly lucky younger man in that I’ve entry to many pretty bikes, however the skill of the Secan to completely sing on the street, notably on damaged tarmac is what actually endears it to me. It’s a bike that may do nearly every thing with aplomb.

If I used to be setting this bike up afresh and anew I’d positively make use of the dynamo choice, however given how typically I swap wheels this wasn’t possible.

A cyclocross apart

One setup that I wish to have tried (and possibly will sooner or later) is to set the Secan up as a cyclocross bike. There’s a rising disparity now between devoted cyclocross bikes from the likes of Ridley, Stevens et al., and gravel bikes. Nonetheless, the Secan’s road-like geometry received me fascinated about simply how nicely it may deal with the precise calls for of a cross-race.

Sadly a lingering again situation means I can’t hack the excessive torque, low cadence using that cyclocross calls for, however that doesn’t imply I can’t make some educated guesses… again to the geometry charts we go for only a brief second. What we have now beneath is the Secan overlaid over the 2022 Specialised Crux. Whereas Specialised markets the Crux as a gravel bike, it’s nonetheless utilized by among the world’s finest ‘cross riders on the pointy finish of probably the most aggressive races. Simply wanting on the overlay you possibly can see that the geometry is kind of an identical, save for a shorter seat tube, so whereas I haven’t been capable of check it but, I’m completely sure that should you fitted a set of Problem Grifos and lined up for a muddy hour in a park on any given Sunday you’d be onerous pushed accountable the bike should you don’t get the outcome you need.

What’s it prefer to stay with?

Right here’s the opposite large feather within the Secan’s cap: The whole lot is straightforward. The hoses are exterior, although the Di2 wiring isn’t. Should you’re working cables they are often totally housed to stop corrosion, and once they do want swapping you don’t must fiddle feeding issues via the body. The headset bearings are normal, the seatpost clamp is exterior so should you spherical a bolt or have one other sort of catastrophe then you definitely’re not sacrificing the body. The seatpost, too, is spherical. Had I not been working Di2 I’d have most likely experimented with swapping in a suspension seatpost just like the Redshift ShockStop.

It’s one thing I additionally praised the Strael for, however the Secan maybe much more so permits me to scratch that improve itch. I really like messing round with setups and since every thing is regular, I can fly free and unencumbered and simply throw elements at it and see what works. Briefly, it’s a dream to stay with.

Worth

Upwards of £4,000 (within the preliminary guise) is quite a bit to spend on a motorcycle that’s for certain, however when set in opposition to the price of top-end racing gravel bikes it’s not really that a lot. Moreover, when thought of as a motorcycle that may realistically be an Audax bike, primarily a street bike, an extremely racer, mild tourer, gravel bike, cyclocross bike and mean you can sort out terrain hitherto the protect of cross nation mountain bikes it represents fairly astounding worth. 

Having examined a terrific many bikes since initially penning my evaluate for the Secan I speculatively advised that there have to be different bikes which can be equally versatile on the market. Now, although, I’m much less certain. I believe the one bike that comes shut is the Vitus Venon Evo, which without delay is a superb street bike and a cracking racy gravel bike. It’s in the identical value vary, however the tyre clearance is extra restricted so can’t deal with the actually tough stuff fairly so nicely. Likewise, the brand new 3T Extrema Italia can home equally huge rubber, and in a 700c format, nevertheless it’s double the value and the geometry lends itself much less to on-road or racy gravel using. Mainly, I can’t consider a motorcycle that does so many issues in addition to the Secan.

Verdict 

Should you’ve made it this far, congratulations… Should you’ve skipped to this bit, truthful sufficient. The brief story is that I discover the Secan to be a chic bike. It affords unparalleled versatility, and whereas it might probably definitely deal with the tough stuff in a monster cross setup. I positively assume it shines extra when arrange both as a quick gravel bike or an allroad rocket ship. If you’re out there for one then I recommend you go for 700c.

It’s, to all intents and functions, excellent. There’s nothing I’d change, aside from how I initially specced the bike, to start with, however that’s a private choice to a level and in addition exhibits simply how versatile the shopping for course of could be. Not many manufacturers supply the extent of customisation on the buy stage. Weight is the one disadvantage, with the inventory construct sitting at 9.77k and having ridden lighter gravel bikes I can say it’s not going to be a dealbreaker.