Last Updated on 6 January 2026 by Cycloscope
Cervelo Áspero 5 – our Review! 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 many of the features that make their road bike so popular and supercharges them to make it handle off-road riding.
The handling of 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 rear derailleur clutch, an essential accessory for bikes 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 an excellent bike for riders who 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.
The Cervelo Aspera 5 made it into our list of
> 11+1 Best Gravel Bikes for Women – Gravel Grinding for All Budgets
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
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 differences among the Cervelo Aspera models are 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 brakes, in other words, the groupset.
Cervelo offers gravel riders an option between Shimano GRX and SRAM eTap; the Apex 1 version is also available, but it hasn’t been included in this list 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 |
Check Also
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What type of bike is the Cervelo Aspero?
The Cervelo Aspero is a performance-oriented gravel bike designed for fast gravel riding and racing, combining road-bike-like handling with enough clearance for modern gravel tires.
What tire sizes can the Aspero fit?
The Aspero supports clearance for up to approximately 42 mm tires on 700c wheels and larger tires on 650b wheels (up to about 49 mm), giving flexibility for mixed terrain riding.
Is the Aspero suitable for bikepacking or heavy loads?
No — it’s primarily aimed at fast gravel riding rather than touring or bikepacking. Mounts for racks and complete luggage setups are limited, although they often include bottle mounts and room for a top-tube bag.
Does the Aspero frame have aerodynamic features?
Yes — Cervelo integrates aerodynamic tube shaping and tidy cable routing to reduce drag and improve efficiency at speed, a design influence from their road bikes.