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Chapter2 may not be the primary identify that involves thoughts once you consider high-performance biking, however the father and son Pryde duo know a couple of issues about efficiency. Perhaps you’ve heard of the ikonic NeilPryde watersports enterprise identified for its high-performance carbon parts on the earth of kite crusing and windsurfing?
The Chapter2 KAHA is the model’s first gravel bike, taking that information for high-performance carbon parts and making use of it to a quickly-growing gravel phase.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2.jpg?width=730)
Understanding the Chapter2 KAHA
Whereas Michael was nonetheless designing carbon for the water, he launched the biking division of NeilPryde in 2014, however shortly after, each Michael and Neil left the corporate to begin their subsequent chapter. With a brand new path and love for biking, Chapter2 was based in 2017 by Michael and Neil Pryde. The corporate is predicated out of New Zealand, the place the indigenous Māori individuals settled the islands within the early 1300s, and far of the branding pays tribute to the native tradition.
If you end up purchasing for a Chapter2 bike, you may discover it onerous to discover a full bike, and that’s as a result of they don’t supply them. Michael believes that promoting framesets and some choose parts permits the corporate to remain hyper-focused on the core of the biking expertise whereas permitting the shopper or native vendor to decide on the construct that matches their wants and terrain greatest.
Earlier than I break down the bike and provide you with my opinion of the trip, I wish to put it on the market that I’m not usually a fan of “race” gravel bikes. Whereas I do know they’ve a spot and lots of street riders dipping their toes into filth love them, I’m usually left feeling like I’m underbiking anytime I’m not on pavement. They’re usually very near endurance street bikes when a geo chart.
So whereas they’re enjoyable, really feel quick, and in some ways match the sensation of a street bike that matches bigger tires, I like a bit of extra separation as a result of I normally trip my common street bike off-road. Once I pull a gravel bike out, I’m searching for extra than simply extra rubber on the bottom.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-16.jpg?width=730)
With that out of the way in which, the Chapter2 KAHA, which suggests “energy & energy” in Maori, is their gravel race choice. I received a dimension medium to check, which has a 39.5 cm attain with a 57.1 cm stack. The general wheelbase is 102.4 cm and is designed to suit as much as 700×47 mm tires. The body options symmetrical drop chainstays with a size of 41.5 cm for a brief and compact rear to middle
The underside bracket drop is barely 70 mm, good for tight turns and obstacles, however a bit excessive for my liking. Whereas this might sound odd, the much less backside bracket drop you may have, the upper the saddle is from the bottom. The KAHA doesn’t make me really feel like I’m tremendous excessive over the bike, however it was a attain to the touch a toe on the bottom whereas remaining on the saddle.
How we constructed the Chapter2 KAHA
For the construct, Chapter2 went with a 1X, however the frameset can be suitable with a 2X. SRAM is at present main the gravel drivetrain market with its 12-speed wi-fi AXS line of parts. Nevertheless, whoever constructed our bike should have missed the SRAM memo that Eagle derailleurs should not suitable with the XPLR 10-44t cassette. This meant that the primary little bit of our testing was not ideally suited, and we lastly ended up swapping out to a 10-50t Eagle cassette.
We then received the chance to check a Kogel outsized derailleur cage. It seems it didn’t utterly treatment the tough shifting on the unique 10-44t cassette, however it did mack it considerably higher. Up entrance, the 40T chainring was good for the steep hearth roads in my space, however the actual racer sorts would in all probability want a 42T.
Chapter2 doesn’t supply full builds as I stated, so that is seemingly not a difficulty as you’d spec it nonetheless you see match.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-15.jpg?width=730)
A set of Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel X-Huge wheels are hookless and have a large 25 mm inner width. They pair completely with the 35 mm race-focused Vittoria Terreno Dry tires. They’re additionally nice for tires bigger than the max the KAHA can match. Better of all, these carbon wheels don’t break the financial institution at round $1000 for wheels which can be sturdy and beneath 1500 grams.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-14.jpg?width=730)
Most likely the one part I used to be most desirous about was the Chapter2 MANA-GRVL cockpit. The all-in-one carbon bar and stem combo should not widespread in gravel. Usually they’re very stiff and never ideally suited for tough terrain. I feel Chapter2 has achieved a reasonably good job of working in some stage of compliance.
What I appreciated most was the bar form and the marginally wider stance within the drops. I felt snug within the hoods, however after I wanted a bit extra leverage and compliance, I may transfer into the drops. These bars have a pleasant spherical really feel which I additionally discovered handy when mounting equipment like a light-weight or out entrance laptop mount. Total they’re very “race” oriented however work effectively for common gravel using too.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-13.jpg?width=730)
Experience impressions
As I stated earlier, a lot of my native gravel using is both very simple and extensive hearth roads that almost all street bikes with 30 mm tires can roll no drawback, or it’s undermaintained double or single monitor. Each usually embrace some steep climbing, so the 40t chainring was good.
I used to be impressed with how effectively the KAHA carried out on each technical climbing and the actually easy however steep climbing. The quick rear finish stored numerous weight over the rear tire and allowed me to push a bit more durable with out shedding traction, even with the smaller and almost slick Vittoria tires.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-4.jpg?width=730)
The descents are the place my dislike of “race” gravel bikes kicks in. Just like the climbs, the descents are additionally very steep. I consider myself as a reasonably good descender, and I actually get pleasure from them, however like most different “race” gravel bikes, I felt like I used to be at all times on a nice line of too quick with an excessive amount of response. Whereas I do know not everybody has this form of terrain, for me, it’s much more amplified as a result of our descents are lengthy, very lengthy, and lots of will likely be effectively over 20-Half-hour, even at pace.
If a descent is fast, it’s not a lot of a fear, however when they’re over 10 minutes, it might probably sort of suck the enjoyable out of what I feel is the perfect half.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-3.jpg?width=730)
On the subject of flatter terrain or rolling terrain, the Chapter2 KAHA is a great deal of enjoyable. It’s fast to reply to energy enter, and it feels quick. The bike has sufficient wheelbase size that it’s secure for many however feels responsive after I make a fast deviation round a fast-approaching rock or impediment.
I’ll say having a little bit of off-road expertise and being conversant in what the bike will do when the terrain is essential. A race bike like this may solely amplify errors and may go away some riders preventing the bike.
Whereas I didn’t do a lot testing on bigger tires, I did slide a set of wheels onto the bike that had been fitted with 45 mm tires, and it was a decent match within the rear. The fork appears to have a bit extra clearance than the body, however total the bike appears to be like like it can match the claimed 47 mm. It received’t go away a lot room for mud or particles, however they are going to match.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-6.jpg?width=730)
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-7.jpg?width=730)
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-8.jpg?width=730)
Total I spent much more time on the Chapter2 KAHA than I had anticipated. It was enjoyable and quick on the street in addition to on the filth. The one-piece cockpit carried out higher than I had anticipated it will within the gravel. Higher but, the spherical tube form of the bar portion made it simple to suit lights, making it an excellent choice for these trying to prolong the trip into the darkish.
With extending the trip in thoughts, the Chapter2 KAHA is without doubt one of the few “race” gravel bikes available on the market that additionally has a load of mounting factors. I’m no bikepacking knowledgeable, however I feel somebody may load this factor up. For that, you may want much less “race” gears, however that’s the fantastic thing about not promoting full bikes.
![Chapter2 KAHA](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-2.jpg?width=730)
The final piece of the body that I haven’t touched on is the interior down tube storage. There’s a door that the down tube bottle cage is hooked up to. It has a lever and utterly removes the door for a big opening. The body comes with a instrument roll form of accent, however you might even simply toss a couple of spare tubes in there if you happen to wished. It was surprisingly roomy and a good way to scale back the necessity for a saddle bag. Simply don’t throw small issues in there. It may result in them bouncing round and making numerous noise.
![Chapter2](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-9.jpg?width=728)
![Chapter2](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-10.jpg?width=728)
![Chapter2](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-11.jpg?width=728)
![Chapter2](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter2-KAHA-2-12.jpg?width=728)
Conclusion
I had numerous enjoyable with the Chapter2 KAHA. I’d say it affords extra versatility than most race gravel bikes. I like the truth that Chapter2 doesn’t supply full builds as a result of it permits the top rider to actually get what they want from the start with out having to do expensive upgrades. I do know many riders just like the comfort of an entire bike, however a customized construct is numerous enjoyable and a good way to set your self aside within the bunch.
Throughout our testing, Chapter2 even lowered the value of the KAHA, making it a good higher worth. The KAHA Frameset is US $2,499 (NZD 4,079, EUR 2,999, and CAD 3,199.) The MANA-GRVL Bar is now optionally available at US $450 (NZD 739, EUR 499, and CAD 579.)
For more information, go to www.chapter2bikes.com.
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