Fraxion 100% tested by Grinta.be

Originge Fraxion GTR: 100% tested

French brand Origine continues to make a name for itself with bikes that give a lively riding feel. The Fraxion is the youngest in line, and even this bundle of aerodynamic muscle can be steered as lightly as a hungry hawk.

Bart, Origine's Benelux manager and the man you, as a customer, can turn to with any question, brought the gray Fraxion GTR to the Grinta! offices. Grey may not be the best color to highlight the Fraxion's lines - very easy to modify in the online configurator! - but the bike also looks powerful and aggressive in this color. With a 900-gram frame and 485-gram fork, you can easily configure a lightweight racing bike. Despite the streamlined tube shapes, the weight remains low because Origine avoids overlaps and imperfections in the carbon construction.

The seatpost also has an aerodynamic shape and is secured with an internal clamp. It's easy to use, but we'd been told a slightly over-cautious figure for torque, which caused the seatpost to fall out on the first ride. We feared for the rest of the ride, but with the torque wrench on the higher recommended number, we didn't have to look at it on the next few rides.

This Fraxion did even better with handling. It was phenomenal right from the start. Every once in a while, we get the privilege of trying a bike that makes us smile from start to finish, and the Fraxion is one of that small selection of bikes. The French developers didn't want to give this model the heavy, clumsy riding character of many other aerodynamic bikes, and they've succeeded brilliantly. Not only is there plenty of speed in this bike, but it also comes out of the starting blocks very fast and always makes you want to go in search of more speed. It's often claimed in these types of tests that this or that bike makes the rider feel faster. Well, the Fraxion consistently brought our speedometer two kilometers per hour higher than normal.
This indicates that the bike is by no means lacking in stiffness, but that wasn't the only thing the engineering team focused on. The Fraxion has been given just enough nervousness to give it a lively riding feel. As a result, it doesn't feel like a dead object dangling beneath you as you mash the pedals, but feels like a quick-reacting spring that acts as an extension of your body. Whoever we let ride, he or she always came back with the comment that it was a hyper-fast, direct bike that invited us to keep riding. It also held its own on the cobbles, and that's also down to this flexibility at crucial points in the frame. As a result, this is a bike you can use both on the flat and in the mountains, on bad surfaces and on good ones.


An embarrassment of riches

The Fraxion has a longer top tube than other Origins, and a 72.5-degree head tube angle and 73.5-degree seat tube angle. These are, of course, partly responsible for the precise and direct steering behavior, but not too nervous. The frame is available in four sizes, but with online ordering, you'll be assisted if necessary by someone from Origine to certainly arrive at the right sizes. For example, there's a seatpost with and one without recoil, while the length of the corresponding stem is also easy to choose yourself. Handlebars and stem are separate, again facilitating adjustment options. Cables run through the ACR system, which not only increases options in terms of alternative cockpits, but also guarantees steering flexibility.

The configuration with the latest version of the Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain doesn't detract from the bike's capabilities. Gear changes happen extremely quickly, and you can't catch it on a mistake. Because there are now only cables between the battery and the derailleurs, you lose the Di2 cables on the handlebars, which of course makes installation easier. The new shifters fit perfectly in the hand, so we can only be positive about this new Shimano launch.

The Orion C50 Pro wheels are the highest in the range from Prymahl's own brand of Original wheels. The set weighs in at 1,530 grams and uses attractive CNC-machined hubs. The freewheel engages quickly every time, which is always a pleasure. Thanks to their good construction, the wheels have a significant effect on the bike's acceleration capacity. In terms of crosswind sensitivity, especially in gusty winds, they're in the middle of the pack, but of course you can always choose the version with lower 35-mm rims. The wheels in our test bike came with Continental GP5000 TL tires mounted tubeless. They're renowned for their low rolling resistance, making them ideal for such a fast bike. The leak resistance of the tubeless construction is a nice bonus.

Conclusion

Accelerating and staying up to speed are two strong points that give any bike good points, but the finesse of the ride feel and liveliness allow the Origine Fraxion to rise above the crowd. The configurator's many options allow you to achieve a final result that's completely to your taste, budget and riding style. What's more, in this tool you see not only the price change, but also the weight each time you modify the configuration. The Fraxion's aggressive lines, attractive price and numerous choices make this Origine an attractive option if you're looking for one of the fastest bikes on the market.
Our test bike with Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100, Prymahl Orion C50 Pro, Conti GP5000 TL, Selle Italia SLR Boost CarboKeramic and Lizard Skin is priced at 6,657 euros and weighs 7.3 kilograms without pedals or bottle cages. Prices start from 3,536 euros.

Positives

Lightweight for an aerodynamic bike
Unique, lively driving feel
Faster instantaneous speeds
Numerous configurator options

Negative points

Impossible to separate from this bike