The BOMBTRACK HOOK is a gravel road bike designed for nimble riding enjoyment.

Combining the suppleness of a chromoly frame with responsive geometry, and incorporating a full carbon fork and modern standards, this bike delivers road bike-like performance despite being a gravel bike.

This article will delve into the BOMBTRACK HOOK's frame design, specifications, and which riders it's best suited for.

BOMBTRACK HOOK | About the Model, Price, and Size

【Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price】¥341,000 (tax included)
【Colors (2 colors total)】Metallic Black, Metallic Red
【Sizes (approximate height guide)】XS (150-161cm), S (160-171cm), M (170-181cm), L (179-190cm)

What Kind of Gravel Bike is the BOMBTRACK HOOK?

The BOMBTRACK HOOK is a gravel road bike designed as a gravel racer.

It adopts a design that uses 650B and 700C wheels depending on the frame size to achieve the best operability and comfort. This ensures natural balance and comfortable riding for all sizes.

The front features a double chainring setup, ensuring precise shifting and a wide gear range. This allows for sustained speed on long gravel roads and uphill climbs on undulating courses.

It's a gravel bike that embodies Bombtrack's "sweet spot," balancing speed, comfort, and load-carrying capacity.

Difference from HOOK EXT | While they may look similar, their design philosophies are distinct

BOMBTRACK's gravel line also includes the "HOOK EXT" model, but while the EXT is designed for bikepacking and long-distance touring, the HOOK is positioned as a gravel racer that prioritizes nimbler riding performance.

These two bikes are often mistaken for being merely different spec versions of the same frame, but that's not actually the case. To be honest, I made that mistake myself at first.

In fact, the HOOK and HOOK EXT are models with different design philosophies from the outset. While they can be easily confused due to their similar appearance and names, knowing this distinction is helpful when making a choice.

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Chromoly Frame Design Focused on Riding Performance

The frame uses Columbus chromoly tubing.

Double-butted tubes, which are thicker at the stressed ends and thinner in the middle, achieve both lightness and strength.

Furthermore, by combining modern designs such as large diameter tubes, a tapered head tube, and a T47 bottom bracket, it offers the supple ride quality characteristic of chromoly and the responsiveness of a race bike.

Gravel racer geometry designed for performance

The geometry also reflects a design focused on riding performance.

The BB drop, which determines the center of gravity, is set slightly higher. This creates a smooth acceleration feeling when climbing and starting off.

Additionally, the wheelbase is relatively compact, providing nimble handling during cornering and line changes.

Full carbon fork and dynamo compatibility

The front fork is a full carbon fork, with the steerer tube also made of carbon.

In addition to weight reduction, the thicker diameter of the lower steerer tube ensures rigidity, providing stable handling even when loaded or on rough terrain.

Furthermore, the fork is compatible with "Internal Hub Dynamo Cable Routing," allowing the cable for lights to be routed internally without being exposed outside the frame, resulting in a clean wiring setup.

Size-specific wheel design and wide tire clearance

The HOOK optimizes wheel size according to frame size.

By using 650B for smaller sizes and 700C for larger sizes, it achieves appropriate geometry and a comfortable ride for riders of all heights.

Furthermore, it features generous tire clearance (MAX: XS-S 650B×42C / M-XL 700C×42C), accommodating large-volume tires for comfort and off-road capability.

Wider tires absorb road vibrations, allowing for stable riding on gravel and rough surfaces.

Mounting options for touring

The BOMBTRACK HOOK offers numerous mounts for touring and bikepacking.

It features direct mounts for top tube bags, triple cage mounts on the fork, bottle cage mounts on the downtube and seat tube, and is also compatible with rear racks and fenders.

This versatile design allows for both light, unencumbered riding and loaded touring, offering a high degree of freedom.

The supple ride feel of the chromoly frame, geometry designed for performance, and a full carbon fork with modern features.

The BOMBTRACK gravel bike philosophy is evident in how well it's crafted for not just comfort, but also solid riding performance.

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Basic Specifications Supporting Gravel Rides

The complete bike's basic specifications feature Shimano GRX (2×10 speed).

The front gears are a double chainring (46 / 36T) setup, providing a wide range of gearing suitable for everything from speed on paved roads to climbing gravel ascents. This practical gear setting allows for smooth pedaling even on steep climbs.

The brakes also feature Shimano GRX hydraulic disc brakes, offering excellent braking power and control for confident riding on gravel and descents.

Different tire specifications for each size

It's important to note that tire specifications vary depending on the frame size.

XS – S: WTB Resolute 650B × 42C
M – XL: WTB Venture 700C × 40C

By optimizing the wheels and tires for each size, natural handling and comfortable riding performance are achieved across all sizes.

The specs themselves aren't unusual; they're a well-balanced and straightforward configuration for the performance needed for gravel riding.

However, this model doesn't give a strong impression of being an "entry-level gravel" bike.

It's more likely to appeal to riders who already own a main bike, like a road bike or MTB, and are looking to add a gravel bike to their collection.

For users who already have an entry-level gravel bike and want to step up to a model with higher performance, customizing based on the frameset might be an interesting option.

It's a complete bike designed for riding, allowing you to fully experience the joy of gravel riding.

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Summary | For those who want to enjoy "riding gravel"

The BOMBTRACK HOOK is a chromoly gravel road bike designed as a gravel racer.

It combines the suppleness and responsiveness of a Columbus chromoly frame with geometry designed for performance, a full carbon fork, and modern standards.

Unlike bikepacking-oriented models like the HOOK EXT, it's positioned as a gravel bike for enjoying nimble riding.

It's a bike that can broaden the enjoyment for those who want to ride in different terrains than road bikes or MTBs.

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