Keenly priced gravel machine comes in three specs

By Paul Norman

Published: Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 12:00 am

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Saracen Bikes has reintroduced the Levarg, a rowdy gravel bike designed for terrain that sits at the rougher – and in the brand’s words, more fun – end of the gravel riding spectrum.

The new Saracen Levarg (yes, Levarg is gravel backwards) has a hydroformed alloy frame with a carbon fork and comes in three builds, including a flat-bar option.

All use the same frameset, with a slack 70.5-degree head tube angle and a 1,097mm wheelbase for a size large, which Saracen says makes the Levarg perfect for shredding. There’s a spare port for a 30.9mm dropper post.

There’s a wide array of mounting points, including on the fork legs, three sets of bottle mounts on the down tube on larger frame sizes and dual-position mounts on the down tube and seat tube. The Levarg is set up to carry plenty of hydration for off-grid adventures, as well as load-lugging and bikepacking.

All three versions are kitted out with 47mm 650b Maxxis Rambler gravel bike tyres.

Three spec levels

Top of the tree is the £1,699.99 Saracen Levarg SL, which is kitted out with 11-speed Shimano GRX 810 derailleurs, a GRX 600 crankset and GRX 600 shifters.

The in-series 46/30t crankset and 11-34t cassette should give plenty of low-speed grunt to tackle steep clilmbs and the GRX RX400 hydraulic disc brakes should help with descents.

The standard-spec Saracen Levarg is priced at £1,299.99 and comes with Shimano GRX 400 10-speed shifting with a GRX 600 46/30t crankset and 11-34t cassette giving the same gearing as the Levarg SL. The shifters are Shimano Tiagra and the brakes are subbed out for TRP Spyre C mechanical disc brakes.

Saracen

Finally, the Saracen Levarg FB not only comes with flat bars, it has a single-ring Shimano Deore 10-speed groupset with a Prowheel 42t chainset and an 11-42t cassette.

The brakes are Shimano MT-200 hydraulics. Saracen reckons the Levarg FB is a bike to take you from city riding out into the woods. It’s also an option some riders may prefer over drop bars for the ease of access to the controls and its price, which drops to a penny under the £1,000 mark.

Unlike the previous-generation Levarg, there is currently no option to spec the bike with a suspension fork.

All three Sacaren Levarg bikes are available immediately.

Saracen Levarg gravel bike specs and prices

Saracen Levarg SL

Saracen

• Frame: Hydroformed alloy
• Fork: All-carbon with bag mounts
• Groupset: Shimano GRX-600/GRX-810 rear derailleur
• Gear ratios: 46-30t crankset, 11-34t cassette
• Wheels: Jalco XCD22 alloy rims on Formula hubs
• Tyres: Maxxis Rambler Silkshield 650b x 47mm 60 TPI
• Brakes: Shimano GRX BR-RX400 hydraulic disc
• Bars: Saracen Flare Alloy 31.8mm 16-degree
• Stem: Saracen Alloy 31.8mm, 70mm
• Saddle: Saracen Custom Crmo
• Seatpost: Saracen Alloy, 30.9mm
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colours: Cream
• Price: £1,699.99