Gravel bikes have always been a market that major manufacturers are constantly betting on, but in fact, the market is not so easy to accept this "four dislikes" products, which also explains why there are so few options and combinations of gravel transmissions.
The GR680 is part of the Gravel lineup, which also has 2 different speed segments, the 11S and the 12S.
Hand change
Based on the R610, there is almost no change in the overall hand change, the only difference is that the left-hand change does not have the function of a shift lever because it is a single-disc system.
In fact, in the spy photos that broke out some time ago, GR680 has a left-handed version that supports the lifting seatpost version, and after several inquiries, it was confirmed that the default version does not support the lifting seatpost, if there is a need to make a separate note when buying and placing an order, of course, Xiaobian did not play very wild, so this set of regular GR680 is in line with Xiaobian's riding style.
The riding position of a gravel is different from that of road bikes, as most gravel bikes have a bit of an outward angle to the handlebars, which results in a change in the ergonomics of the hand itself, such as the support position of the palm and hand contact is not at the top of the hand body but on the side.
In fact, most transmission manufacturers do not take this into account in order to save molds, and Gravel is more like a market incidentally, and it is still using the manual styling and ergonomics of road bikes, and even affects the shifting experience.
Of course, GR680 is no exception, because it belongs to the hand body of the same mold as R610, so there is no special optimization of the ergonomics when riding Gravel, but the anti-skid stripes with protrusions on the side of the hand rubber actually help to expand the curve bar for riding, and it simulates the grip and force of the outer skimming angle when riding before loading, which is no different from R610.
Because the GR680 is a sister product to the R610, it is also equipped with a modular design that can be quickly removed and a pull-back cylinder structure.
Back dial
Considering the gravel riding, some riders are really playing wild, the rear derailleur of the Suruida GR680 series is designed on the basis of the M620 mountain bike rear derailleur, these designs should be sought after by most riders, it uses a flat push structure, but it is different from the SRAM side push structure design.
The official information given by Suruida is that their designer team has adjusted the geometry of the inner and outer connections of the rear derailleur, and the trajectory of the entire shift is presented as a "trapezoid" rather than a "parallelogram", which allows the rear derailleur guide to reduce the additional friction between the chain and the rear paddle leg when in different gears.
GR680 rear derailleur has a built-in friction damping inside the P joint, and the damping force can be felt when the guide plate is actually broken by hand, and the stability needs to be tested several times to feel it.
Clamps
The caliper is no different from the R610, it is still the standard copper-based metal of the whole series, but because it is a more intense gravel ride, there will be a big difference in braking temperature, and it is also more able to test the upper performance level of this caliper.
I installed the GR680 on the gravel frame Snap Raze, which is a gravel frame that stands out in terms of function and design.
Xiaobian usually doesn't have the habit of wearing gloves when riding, so this time I also felt the comfort of the GR680's hand-changing head grip with my bare hands. This time, the editor selected the test point on the machine farming road next to the reservoir, which is very suitable for the use scenario of Gravel.
Because I am used to riding road bikes, so Xiaobian first chose a curved handle with an expansion of 6 ° for installation this time, the side of the GR680 hand change and the large fishroom fit of the palm of the editor surprised me, the support provided by the hand body is very good, but if the angle of expansion is larger, it may have an impact.
When dealing with complex road conditions, the GR680's shifting response is still very reliable and effective. The logic of the advance and retreat levers is completely separated, and the transmission can be controlled without thinking even when it is tired, even if 4 fingers are gently placed on the brake lever, there will be no confusion or misoperation.
However, Xiaobian thinks that the power of the GR680 brake lever transmission spring can be greater, so as to avoid misoperation when encountering violent bumps. It is worth mentioning that the concave and convex shape of this brake lever is very close to the blue factory GRX, and the fingers gently put on it to feel very easy and not awkward.
When it comes to a climb, the GR680 can only retreat 2 gears each time is highlighted, and the gear ratio torque needs to be quickly toggled continuously to turn the gear lever, otherwise the gear ratio torque can not keep up with the slope change of this steep slope, so GR680 can add another gear is a qualitative leap. At the exhibition before, Xiaobian also had feedback on this problem from the engineer team of Suruida, hoping that the follow-up products could be upgraded.
The difficulty of this downhill technical section lies in some gravel and slippery surfaces after rain, after some riding ahead, you can feel the temperature of the current GR680 in a performance range by pinching the brakes, good brake stiffness feedback and contacts, although the contacts are a little blurry, but enough for gravel riding.
There was some noise from the liner and disc, which may have something to do with the water splashed on the first ride and the fit of the disc, and I can't quickly tell why, but what I know for sure is that the GR680's braking does it all, whether it's a technical downhill or a corner where speed needs to be controlled.
The most impressive thing about the whole set is the performance of the GR680 rear derailleur, reliable damping reduces the possibility of chain drop and anchorage, because it can be compatible with the maximum 52T flywheel, the climbing ability of the GR680 rear derailleur is undoubted;
In fact, there aren't many options on the market for mechanical-hydraulic disc brake sets for gravel models, let alone products that are specifically optimized for gravel riding. We think there are plenty of reasons to put the GR680 in the range of valid options for the Gravel package, as it is a strong contender in the gravel mechanical hydraulic disc brake market due to its large enough cassette compatibility, excellent damping, and sought-after operating logic.
GR680 details
• 5-piece set: rear derailleur, left and right hand change, front and rear clamps
• Logical shifting experience
• Ergonomic grip design that has been studied for a long time
• 11/12 speeds available
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Suggested retail price: 11S 1588 yuan, 12S 1888 yuan
Editor: Yao