crux - dsw comp - sram apex xplr (2026)

The Crux DSW is more than the lightest alloy gravel bike ever made. We took everything we learned creating the carbon Crux and used our patented D’Aluisio Smartweld to make it a reality in alloy. We’ve created the most capable, nimble, balanced, and responsive alloy gravel bike ever made for fast, fun, high-performance riding. And yeah, it’s the lightest too. Some may call it a carbon copy, but we call it the Crux DSW.

Lightest Weight

At just 1399 grams*, the Crux DSW is the lightest alloy gravel frame in the world. Combine that with our Fact12r Crux carbon fork and a build curated for performance, and a complete Crux DSW tips the scales at 9.37kg—no alloy gravel bike can compete.

*56cm in the lightest colorway. Production frames will vary.

Most Capable

More clearance means more capability—that’s why the Crux DSW has the same tire clearance as its carbon sibling—47mm and up to 2.1” on a 650b wheel. Combine this with the tough and light alloy frame, and Crux DSW can take you anywhere you imagine at full gas.

Ultra-Responsive

Responsive at the pedals. Supple in the saddle. We’ve used D’Aluisio Smartweld to fine-tune the properties of alloy to deliver a ride previously impossible without carbon and combine it with the same performance gravel geometry and race-influenced fit as the carbon Crux. A longer reach delivers better weight distribution for quick, confident handling, while a lower stack creates a performance first position. At 72mm of bottom-bracket drop, we hit the sweet spot between nimble and stable.

D’Aluisio Smartweld

D’Aluisio Smartweld - or DSW - is a patented engineering process that uses hydroforming to precisely match tube-to-tube joints for better, stronger welds and, ultimately, a lighter frame that can be twice as durable as a traditional alloy frame. Our Smartweld technique helps us create a unique single-piece downtube and bottom bracket for the Crux, shaving weight and amplifying responsiveness.

• Lightest: 1399g Crux DSW Frame (raw, unpainted). We took everything we learned creating the carbon Crux and used our patented D’Aluisio Smartweld to make it a reality in alloy. *56cm in the lightest colorway. Production frames will vary.
• Capable: 47c/650b x 2.1” tire clearance. More clearance means more capability. With Diverge-level tire clearance, Crux takes you anywhere you can imagine.
• Responsive: Nimble, supple, and reactive. Responsive at the pedals. Supple in the saddle. With performance gravel geometry and race-influenced fit inspired by Crux’s iconic history in ‘cross.

Technical Specifications