We recently popped along to the Sportline open house show to check out the new 2018 Genesis Croix de Fer, CDA, Fugio, Flyer, Vagabond and Day One and much more.
Most of the lineup stays largely the same for 2018, but there's a few big changes to the equilibrium and a new Volare disc. Check out the full scoop below.
2018 Genesis Croix de Fer 10, 20, 30 and Ti
The long-standing, somewhat legendary Genesis Croix de Fer — the horizon chasing, LEJOGing, commuting, do-it-all steel adventure wagon — retains the same spec as last year, but sees a fresh look across the board.
We took out the top-end, 105 5800 hydro groupset-equipped Croix de Fer 30 for an ogle and think that it looks rather resplendent in its new ‘Tarka Green’ paint job that it shares with the Flyer.
The bike retains the same lovely brass barrel adjusters on the down tube, full accompaniment of rack and mudguard mounts and generous clearances.
It will no doubt irk some that the Croix de Fer is still using quick releases.
Genesis says that it decided to go down this path because so many people use the Croix de Fer for touring, and the worldwide availability for spares is much, much better for regular QR wheels.
For those looking for a frameset that is a little more up to date spec wise, Genesis recommends prospective buyers check out the new Fugio (more below), which comes in only a little bit more expensive than the Croix de Fer and with a largely similar build and geometry. Though this uses a carbon fork instead of good ol’ steel.
We were also really quite taken by the new two-tone grey and white paint job of the cheapest Croix de Fer 10 — a considerably less austere look than last year’s olive drab.
And of course, the Croix de Fer Ti stays in the lineup with the same brushed finished as before.
As in previous years, the lower end Croix de Fer 10 is built with Genesis’s own Mjölnir tubeset, with the 20 and 30 using Reynolds 725. A 725 and Ti frameset is also available.
- CdF 10: £999.99
- CdF 20: £1,299.99
- CdF 30: £1,799.99
- CdF 725 frameset: £499.99
- CdF Ti: £3,499.99
- CdF Ti frameset: £2,099.99
Genesis Equilibrium Disc 20
The sportive rider's favourite, the Equilibrium Disc has been slightly updated for 2018.
While the geometry remains identical to the 2017 bike, the bike is now thru-axle at both ends and features a new carbon fork, with a new straight legged design (the old fork had a distinctive ‘kick’ outward near the crown) and moves the mudguard mounts to the outside edge of the legs, improving clearances.
Genesis claims that this fork is its own design, rather than the usual open mould design paired with many steel frames.
The top-end Equilibrium Disc 20 pictured is built with custom drawn Reynolds 725 tubing and a Shimano 105 hydro groupset.
The cheaper but equally handsome Equilibrium 10 is built with Genesis’ own Mjölnir tubing and features a Tiagra 4700 groupset and mechanical TRP Spyre disc brakes. A 725 frameset is also available.
- Equilibrium Disc 10: £1499.99
- Equilibrium Disc 20: £1999.99
- Equilibrium Disc 725 frameset: £849.99
Volare
A disc version of the much loved 931 stainless steel tubes Volare was conspicuous by its absence in last years' Genesis range, but 2018 sees a disc option for the frameset, and boy-oh-boy is it a looker.
The beat-blasted stainless frameset is beautifully finished, with the smoothest welds we’ve seen in some time, lovely minimal branding and nifty, yet unobtrusive, looking thru-axle dropouts.
The bike also shares the lovely brass down tube adjusters used on Genesis’s other steel bikes and routing for both Di2 and mechanical shifting.
The bike is designed to be an out-and-out race bike with no provision to fit mudguards and a chunky BB86 press fit bottom bracket shell.
Of course, such luxury comes at a price and the frameset is priced at a slightly eye watering £2199.99.
A non-disc version of the Reynolds 931 frameset is also available, as is a Reynolds 853 disc and non disc frameset.
We’re pretty smitten with this one and Matthew would very much like one as a test bed to build a long-term bike on. Please?
- Volare 931 disc frameset: £2199.99
- Volare 931 frameset: £1799.99
- Volare 853 disc frameset: £1199.99
- Volare 853 frameset: £999.99
Flyer
Despite being one of the simplest and cheapest bikes on show, the 2018 Genesis Flyer was one of our absolute favourites.
Long a favourite winter trainer and super-simple commuting machine, 2018 sees some slight changes to spec for the Flyer, most notably adopting a set of handsome Clement Strada LGG tan-wall tyres that bring a “a touch of old school cool to the party”. We think these really help to bring out that lovely new colour.
Forward facing, Campagnolo-style dropouts will make for easy puncture repairs and the custom, full cover mudguards should keep things running clean. While most will probably tweak to suit their riding terrain, the 42x17 fixed/free drivetrain should suit all but the hilliest locales.
At 10.42kg (size large, claimed), the Flyer isn’t a particularly feathery option, but that’s not really the point of a winter trainer, is it?
We’ve not reviewed a Flyer since way back in 2011, so we’re hoping to get this one in for test soon.
- Flyer: £749
Other 2018 Genesis bikes
We didn't have time to cover all of Genesis's huge range of bikes for 2018, but keen to do some heavy lifting for you, we've picked out some of the highlights. The rest of the range can be found here on the Genesis website.
2018 Genesis CDA
The Genesis CDA — the alloy sibling of the Croix de Fer — stays much the same for 2018, but gains a range of new colour options and an upgrade to beefy 40mm wide Clement X’Plor tyres.
Genesis has kept the price point of the CDA below that magic £1,000 mark, so it may be an ideal option for those looking to buy a do-it-all drop bar bike via a Cycle to Work scheme.
- CDA 10: £849.99
- CDA 20: £949.99
2018 Genesis Vagabond
The Vagabond has always been something of an oddball, with even Genesis admitting that it is a “Frankenbike... the result of a passionate night between a road and mountain bike.”
Flying in the face of fashion, Genesis has unashamedly equipped the Vagabond with a good ol’ 2x drivetrain. There’s no denying that a 1x setup has its benefits, but when riding with a heavy load, we’re always happy to have a bail-out granny gear.
The Vagabond is also available as a frameset.
- Vagabond: £1,099.99
- Vagabond frameset: £449.99
2018 Genesis Day One 10
The Day One is best viewed as essentially a singlespeed or hub gear friendly version of the Croix de Fer and has found favour with maintenance-phobic commuters for years now.
The Day One 10 is the cheapest option in the range, again built around Genesis’s own Mjölnir tubeset and comes with mudguards as standard.
- Day One 10: £699.99
Datum
The popular Genesis Datum arrives with very little change for 2018, and who can blame Genesis for not meddling with this proven design.
There’s the same carbon frame and fork shared across all three models, which we know delivers nimble handling and is happy both on and off roads.
Each Datum model also wears 32mm Clement Strada tyres and features hydraulic disc braking as well as making use of the company’s own-brand flared handlebars.
The range headlines with the £2,699 Datum 30, which features mechanical Ultegra, flat-mount hydraulic discs and Fulcrum Racing Sport DB wheels. Genesis claims a weight of 9.48kg / 20.89lbs for this model.
Those looking to spend a little less (£2,399) will be faced with the Datum 20, which comes built with a complete Shimano 105 groupset complete with hydraulic discs, a Jalco wheelset and similar finishing kit to the more expensive bike.
It’s also claimed to be a bit lighter than the more expensive model too, at 9.15 kg / 20.17lbs.
The most affordable bike in the range is the £1,999 Datum 10, which shifts down to a Tiagra groupset yet retains hydraulic braking. Otherwise it’s pretty similar to the Datum 20, which makes for an impressive claimed weight of only 9.48kg / 20.89lbs — that’s the same as the most expensive Datum!
- Datum 30: £2,699
- Datum 20: £2,399
- Datum 10: £1,999
Fugio
New for 2018 is the Fugio, a steel-framed adventurer with 650b wheels and plus-sized tyres.
Take a glance across to the geometry charts and you’ll figure it’s as near as damn it to a mountain bike with a drop handlebar.
Available in one £1,999 build or as a particularly bright frameset for £799.99, the Fugio looks like a fun way to munch scenic miles.
The cromoloy frame and carbon fork both use 12mm thru-axles, while the former uses distinctive asymmetric chainstays to bridge clearance for the 50mm of Clement X’Plor tyres that are fitted as standard.
The complete build Fugio pairs Shimano’s 105 hydraulic groupset with a Jalco wheelset and plenty of solid Genesis finishing kit. Practical touches include three bottle cage bosses, full internal routing for a dynamo or Di2 gearing and mudguard eyelets.
The complete Fugio is supposed to total 11.32kg / 24.95lbs.
- Genesis Fugio: £1,999
- Genesis Fugio frame: £799.99
TarnTanium frameset
If you like your hardtails long’n’low but consider steel a little too real then perhaps it’s time you took a closer look at the new TarnTanium. Or, if you’re an existing Tarn owner then it might just be time to sell that kidney.
That’s because Genesis has reimagined its Tarn mountain bike frameset from double-butted titanium in a frameset that’ll retail for £1,999.
Like the regular Tarn it arrives with a 120mm suspension-corrected carbon fork and is ready to accept plus-equipped 650b hoops or regular 29in wheels thanks to boost spacing at each axle.
- Tarn Ti frameset: £1,999
