Moots Routt RSL

There's a feast of fine US components on this Routt RSL build. Moots hand craft their framesets in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, from US-sourced titanium, each one built with their hallmark precision welds. The RSL is their lightest, stiffest, most race-ready frame, sitting at the intersection of gravel and fast road riding, with clearance for up to 40mm tyres.

Titanium is a perenially popular choice for framebuilding, super tough and with just the right amount of comfort. Moots bring things right up to date with their 3D-printed disc mount/dropout, which gives all the strength and rigidity needed for precise braking without a shred of excess weight. Etched logos bring a fresh look to the raw Ti finish.

A Chris King headset and bottom bracket are always a great match for these handmade frames - again made in the USA, Chris King even produce their own ball bearings in-house. Similarly the ENVE carbon cockpit is a regular feature on our Moots builds, and justifiably so.

This particular build also features Klamper mechanical disc calipers from the legendary Californian CNC masters, Paul Components. We're not always fans of cheaper mechanical disc brakes, which can lack the power and modulation of their hydraulic brethren. But these are a whole different ball game. With oversized bearings and heat treated pistons the Klamper perform incredibly well, and for durability and ease of servicing they're a great adventure-bike option. No hydraulics to worry about, no need for bleeding, just a simple barrel adjuster for when the pads wear. They work well, and they're also a work of art, simply beautifully engineered.

Mechanical SRAM RED continues the theme of reliability with modernity. No batteries here, just cable-actuated shifting refined over decades.

photos by Bence Bujaki