The Storck T.I.X. (This is cross, if you were wondering) isn’t particularly new; it’s a bike that has been in the Storck line-up for one year already, but a forward-thinking spec has ensured this is still a relevant bike for 2016 and beyond. We take a closer look below.
Designed from the ground up as Storck’s first ever ‘cross bike, the T.I.X. is currently sold in three carbon versions alongside a new-for-2017 alloy frame example. The comp, pro and platinum versions each represent three different grades of carbon lay up ranging from the most affordable and heaviest to the spendiest and lightest. Our test model, the Pro G1, sits dead in the middle of that range.
At £3,389 / US$4,808 / AU$TBC it’s definitely not cheap, but that’s hardly a word that’s synonymous with Storck. The spec is full of popular and proven parts as well as plenty of Storck’s own finishing kit.
Talking of numbers, the frame’s 69-degree head angle is on the slacker side compared to most of its competition, while five frame sizes mean there should be a T.I.X. to fit most people. The sloping top tube also leaves plenty of seatpost exposed — plenty of Storck’s own-brand MLP carbon post that is — a part that itself is designed to improve comfort.
The T.I.X. uses thru-axles at both of its wheels, although both the 135x10mm rear and 9x100mm front end are unusual choices. The front axle is worthy of mentioning for better reasons though, it features a delightfully simple way of speeding up wheel changes in the form of a Torx key that secures neatly into the axle itself via two o-rings. When you need to remove a wheel, the tool is already there — nice. Hopefully it won’t fall out after a few rides.
The T.I.X. rotates on DT’s Spline R23 DB wheelset, the 18mm internal diameter of its rims mean the Schwalbe 1.3in Rocket Ron tyres take the correct shape. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of room to clear the brown stuff too.
Resisting the 1x movement, the T.I.X’s transmission consists solely of Shimano Ultegra 6800 parts and pairs a 46/36t chainset to a 11-28t cassette. The brakes are Shimano’s non-series but Ultegra equivalent BR-R785 models with 160mm rotors and Ice Tech cooling fin pads. Storck hasn't skimped on the finishing kit either, with Fizik branded bar tape and a quality Selle Italia SLS saddle fitted as standard.
Our test bike tipped the scales at 8.090kg/17.84lbs.
The T.I.X is in as part of a grouptest for our sister publication Cycling Plus. We’ll be publishing a full review in the near future so stay tuned for that.
