Planet X is well-known for producing bikes that present astonishing value for money.
However, even to our jaded and deals-weary eyes, we’ve been left scratching our heads wondering how the brand can possibly be making any money on this bike.
For just £2,599.99, the Planet X Pro Carbon Disc Ultegra as pictured packs in a full Shimano Ultegra R8020 hydraulic disc groupset, a Fulcrum Airbeat 400 carbon wheelset and a suite of perfectly inoffensive alloy Controltech finishing kit.
If you forgo the upgrade to the carbon wheelset, the same package would set you back just £1,799.
What is Bike of the Week?
Every week, we bring you a detailed first look at one of the latest bikes (or framesets) to arrive at BikeRadar HQ – from road to commuting, gravel to enduro, and anything in between.
This is our chance to introduce the bike and everything that makes it unique before hitting the road or trails.
Head to our Bike of the Week hub for previous editions.
Planet X pitches its latest version of the Pro Carbon – which has been in its lineup in one guise or another for just about forever – as an all-rounder, presenting a good balance between weight, stiffness and comfort.
Weighing a claimed 1,100g for the frame and 440g for the fork in an unspecified size, all hoses and cables are internally routed on the bike, entering the down tube just behind the head tube.
Fans of not being frustrated when maintaining their bike will be delighted to see the bike uses a standard threaded bottom-bracket shell and an external seat clamp. The latter is amusingly aero-profiled, with a strange extended rear portion – every watt truly is a prisoner in the cut and thrust of bicycle racing!
A notable spec highlight on our test bike is the Fulcrum Airbeat 400 carbon wheelset.
You’ll have to cough up £800 to upgrade to these from the stock build but, for the performance-minded among us, they present remarkably good value for money.
According to Planet X, the wheels are an OE version (original equipment, which is supplied direct to manufacturers) of Fulcrum’s well-liked Wind DB Wheels. These retail at £1,100 and as far as we can tell (name aside) they appear to be identical.
The wheels are built around 40mm-deep rims that are 21mm wide internally. With a 26.9mm external width, these will be aerodynamically optimised for 25mm tyres if you’re playing by the 105 per cent rule.
Of course, aerodynamics isn’t everything – squashy 28mm+ tyres can make a big difference to comfort and, thus, speed. Our test bike is fitted with a pair of 30mm-wide Jack Brown Mile Muncher tyres. These have a light checkerboard pattern, which is said to improve grip on greasy surfaces.
The wheels weigh a claimed 1,640g for the pair, which presents a 300g saving over the claimed weight of the standard Fulcrum Racing 800 wheelset.
As evidenced by its mucky appearance, our senior road tech editor Warren Rossiter is currently testing this bike with a full review to follow very soon. Stay tuned.
Planet-X Pro Carbon Ultegra with Fulcrum Air DB wheel upgrade specs
- Size tested: XL
- Weight: 8.37kg
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra R8000, 50/34 crankset, 11-32 cassette
- Wheels: Fulcrum Airbeat 400 carbon disc
- Tyres: Jack Brown Mile Muncher 30c
- Stem: Controltech RAS-99 alloy, 100mm
- Handlebar: Controltech RA-540DB-6 alloy 44cm
- Saddle: San Marco Monza Start
- Seatpost: Controltech alloy 27.2mm
