Cervelo Áspero 5 – a Review for 2023! Specs, weight, tire clearance, models’ comparison
Áspero-5 Force eTap AXS 1 VS Áspero-5 GRX Di2 VS Áspero-5 Red eTap AXS 1 VS Áspero-5 Red XPLR eTap AXS
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How we write our reviews: most of our reviews are based on first-hand long-term use or short-term test by a member of our team. For some new models or build variations, we rely on our experience with similar models and our team's experience in understanding bike geometry and components.
| frame material | Carbon Fibre |
| weight | 8.41 kg (56 cm frame) |
| max tire clearance | 700 x 42mm or 650b x 49mm tyres |
| tire size | Panaracer Gravel King SK, 700c x 38mm |
| drivetrain | 1×11 Shimano GRX 600 42t x 11 – 34t |
| brakes | Shimano GRX RX810, hydraulic disc |
| smallest available size | 48cm |
| price | $4,000 |
The beautiful Cervelo Aspero 5 is a homage to Cervelo’s steeped history of making exquisite road bikes, with a slight sprinkle of the adventurous.
The Aspero takes a lot of the features that make their road bike so popular and supercharges it to make it handle off-road riding.
The handling on the Aspero is similar to that of a road bike, which is perfect if you are used to riding on the tarmac.
The snappy handling is caused by the head tube angle being steeper than you usually find on a gravel bike. This is not always good for a gravel bike, especially if you are relatively new to riding on uneven surfaces.
A significant upgrade on their tarmac-only predecessors is the Shimano GRX groupset. It offers incredible confidence and provides silky-smooth changes, even over bumpy services.
It also comes with a clutch on the rear derailleur, an essential gadget for bikes that will be used on uneven surfaces.
The clutch stops the chain from slapping against the frame and causing the chain to slip or, worse yet, damage the paint on the frame (something you want to avoid on a paint job as beautiful as “Purple Sunset”).
The Cervelo Aspero is a great bike for riders that like the roadie feel but want a bike that can do much more. It is not for the faint-hearted as it was crafted with speed in mind, but if you want a hair-raising bikepacking adventure on a beautiful bicycle with a paint job that makes it come alive in the sunshine, then look no further.
Buy the Cervelo Aspero GRX 810 2x for less than $4,000!
The Cervelo Aspera 5 made it into our list of
> 11+1 Best Gravel Bikes for Women – Gravel Grinding for All Budgets
2023 Cervelo Aspero Models
- Áspero-5 Force eTap AXS 1
- Áspero-5 GRX Di2
- Áspero-5 Red eTap AXS 1
- Áspero-5 Red XPLR eTap AXS
2023 Cervelo Aspero 5 Comparison table
| Áspero-5 Force eTap AXS 1 | Áspero-5 GRX Di2 | Áspero-5 Red eTap AXS 1 | Áspero-5 Red XPLR eTap AXS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRP | $6,900 | $7,400 | $9,000 | $9,700 |
| Category | Gravel | Gravel | Gravel | Gravel |
| Frame | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Fork | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Wheel Size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Wheel Material | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc |
| Groupset | Force eTAP | GRX Di2, GRX 800 | RED eTAP | RED XPLR eTAP, RED eTAP |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 11 Electronic | 1 × 12 Electronic | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Power Meter | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | |
| Max Speed | 50 km/h | 61 km/h | 50 km/h | 56 km/h |
| Seatpost | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid |
Cervelo Aspero Specs
Here the difference amongst the Cervelo Aspera models are really minimal. They all have the same components and accessories, except the JY-BB 24 bottom bracket in the Shimano version (Áspero-5 GRX Di2) and the different saddle on the Áspero-5 Force eTap AXS.
| Áspero-5 Force eTap AXS 1 | Áspero-5 GRX Di2 | Áspero-5 Red eTap AXS 1 | Áspero-5 Red XPLR eTap AXS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber |
| Fork | Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail | Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail | Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail | Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM Dub | JY-BB 24 | SRAM Dub | SRAM Dub |
| Headset | FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2 | FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2 | FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2 | FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2 |
| Stem | Cervélo ST32 Alloy | Cervélo ST32 Alloy | Cervélo ST32 Alloy | Cervélo ST32 Alloy |
| Handlebar | Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon | Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon | Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon | Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon |
| Saddle | Prologo Dimension NDR T4.0 | Prologo Dimension NACK | Prologo Dimension NACK | Prologo Dimension NACK |
| Seatpost | Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon | Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon | Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon | Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon |
Groupset
Most of the difference between the 2023 models of the Cervelo Aspera stands here, in the drivetrain and brakesets, in other words the groupset.
Cervelo gives the gravel riders an option between Shimano GRX and SRAM eTap, the Apex 1 version is also available but it hasn’t been inclused in this list with the aim to keep it compact and readable.
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide 12 spd | Shimano GRX 815 Di2, 11 spd | SRAM RED eTap AXS Max Wide 12 spd | SRAM RED XPLR eTap AXS 12 spd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano GRX 815 Di2, 11 spd | |||
| Crank | SRAM Force AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T | Shimano GRX 810 48/31 | SRAM Red AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T | SRAM Red AXS 1 with Power Meter 40T |
| Power Meter | SRAM Force AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T | SRAM Red AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T | SRAM Red AXS 1 with Power Meter 40T | |
| Shifters | SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD 12 spd | Shimano GRX RX815 Di2, 11 spd | SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD 12 spd | SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD 12 spd |
| Cassette | SRAM Force 12s XG1270, 10-36 | Shimano HG800, 11 spd, 11-34 | SRAM Force 12s XG1270, 10-36 | SRAM Force XPLR 12s XG1271, 10-44 |
| Chain | SRAM Force, 12 spd | Shimano CN-HG701, 11 spd | SRAM Red, 12 spd | SRAM Red, 12 spd |
| Brakes | SRAM Force HRD | Shimano GRX RX815 Hydraulic Disc | SRAM Red HRD | SRAM Red HRD |
Wheels
| Rims | Reserve 32mm DT370 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready | Reserve 32mm DT350 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready | Reserve 32mm DT350 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready | Reserve 32mm DT350 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38 | Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38 | Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38 | Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38 |
| Disk Rotors | SRAM Paceline 160mm | Shimano SM-RT800, 160mm | SRAM CenterLine XR 160mm | SRAM CenterLine XR 160mm |
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