By Jack Evans

Published: Thursday, 16 June 2022 at 12:00 am


The Aurum Magma Essentia is a cheaper and more comfortable addition to Ivan Basso and Alberto Contador’s bike range.

The Grand Tour winners turned bike designers claim the Essentia retains the “essence” of the Aurum Magma.

The original Magma arrived in September 2020 as the duo’s first release and is an all-round race bike with a 800g-frame, costing almost £9,000.

The Magma Essentia shares the Magma’s aggressive geometry and is claimed to be as aerodynamic. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the Magma Essentia’s profile is very similar to that of the Magma.

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The frame has a mix of lightweight and aero elements.
Aurum

Like the Magma, it has a large, traditional rear triangle instead of dropped seatstays, which Aurum claims improves responsiveness when climbing, while D-shaped frame tubes are said to reduce aerodynamic drag.

The Magma Essentia is heavier and less stiff, though, according to Aurum.

The Magma Essentia frameset is optimised for 25mm to 28mm tyres but has clearance for 30mm-wide rubber.

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Aurum’s description suggests more of an endurance focus.
Aurum

Aurum says the Magma Essentia is for “advanced training” and, like the Magma, for competition.

But only the Magma is sufficient for “pro competition”, according to the brand.

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The bike is available in blue or grey colourways.

Aurum Magma Essentia specs

Starting at €5,699 for complete builds, the Aurum Magma Essentia comes with the new 12-speed Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2 or SRAM Force eTap AXS groupsets.

Unlike the Magma, the Magma Essentia is not for sale as a frameset only.

The Magma Essentia builds are about a kilo heavier than the Magma, with a claimed weight in size 54 of 7.7kg in the SRAM Force eTap AXS build and 7.5kg with Shimano Ultegra.

Both builds come with a choice of deep-section carbon wheelsets from Zipp or ENVE.

Aurum Magma Essentia Shimano Ultegra

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Choose from Shimano or SRAM’s second-tier electronic shifting.
Aurum
  • Cranks: Shimano Ultegra 52/36 12-speed
  • Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2, 12-speed
  • Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2, 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano Ultegra, 11-30t 12-speed
  • Chain: Shimano Ultegra 12-speed
  • Brakes: Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc
  • Brake rotors: Shimano Ultegra 160mm front, 140mm rear
  • Stem: Deda Zero 100
  • Bars: Deda Zero 100
  • Bottom bracket: Rotor PF4624
  • Seatpost: Deda Zero 100
  • Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5 Pass Tirox
  • Wheels: Zipp 303s / ENVE Foundation 45
  • Tyres: Challenge Strada TLR 25mm
  • Price: €6,999 (ENVE) / €6,299 (Zipp) (International pricing is to be confirmed)

Aurum Magma SRAM Force AXS

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The Force AXS build is 200g heavier than the Shimano alternative.
Aurum
  • Cranks: SRAM Force AXS 48/35t
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM Force AXS, 12-speed
  • Front derailleur: SRAM Force AXS
  • Cassette: SRAM Force AXS 10-33t, 12-speed
  • Chain: SRAM Force 12-speed
  • Brakes: SRAM Force AXS hydraulic disc
  • Brake rotors: SRAM Force Paceline 160mm front, 140mm rear
  • Stem: Bars: Deda Zero 100
  • Bottom bracket: SRAM
  • Seatpost: Deda Zero 100
  • Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5 Pass Tirox
  • Wheels: Zipp 303s / ENVE Foundation 45
  • Tyres: Challenge Strada TLR 25mm
  • Price: €6,399 (ENVE) / €5,699 (Zipp)

Aurum Magma Essentia geometry

Size485154565861
Stack (mm)506525545567589615
Reach (mm)370376384392400408
Seat tube angle (degrees)747323737373
Top tube (mm)515536551565580596
Head tube angle (degrees)7171.673737373
Fork Offset (mm)505044444444
Fork trail (mm)606059595959
Seat tube length (mm)453480504526547573
BB drop (mm)747171717171
Front centre (mm)570584580594608624
Chainstay length (mm)407407410410410410
Wheelbase (mm)96598097999310081024
Standover height (mm)728750782803826850