Ari Suncrest Review: A Lightweight Climbing Bike

Ari Bicycles hasn’t had a lightweight climbing bike since the old Fore CR5 (which was a ton of fun to ride). Now, almost 8 years later, they have finally introduced a new lightweight climbing bike, the Ari Suncrest. Sitting as a new model in their drop bar lineup, the lightweight Suncrest has delivered as a no-fuss lightweight climber on all the biggest climbs and descents around.

Ari Suncrest Features:

• Lightweight carbon frame (656g small, raw)
• Race-fit geometry for optimum performance
• Deliberate carbon layup for added comfort
• Standard seatpost clamp and English threaded bottom bracket
• 35mm tire clearance
• UDH compatibility for current and upcoming drivetrains
• Compatible with electronic and mechanical drivetrains
• Headset cable routing allows easy fit adjustments
• Limited lifetime warranty and Love it or Return It Guarantee
• Available in 5 sizes
• Weight: 17.1 lbs (Pro Race, size large, complete)
• MSRP: $3499-$7999 (Suncrest Pro Race $5999, as tested)

Setup and spec

As usual, Ari isn’t messing around with the parts spec on the Suncrest or any of their other bikes. With the Suncrest Pro Race build I’ve been testing, you’ll find the full suite of SRAM/Zipp parts with an Ergon saddle. The lone Ari-branded parts are the zero-setback carbon seatpost and the seatpost clamp. Outside of that, you can expect all the top brands money can buy and at a competitive price — on par with the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 AXS.

The parts spec is replete with components I’ve spent thousands of miles riding. For a deep dive into the wheels and groupset, I’d suggest reading my Zipp 303 S and SRAM Force AXS reviews. Ari has also made the wise choice and opted for the integrated Quarq power meter for optimized training and racing. Aside from the 45mm deep wheels, the Ari Suncrest’s lone wind-cheating bit is the new Zipp SL 80 Race drop bar. Fast-rolling Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 30c tires ensure the rubber side stays down and are set up tubeless from the factory.

These days, fully-internal cable routing is standard fare, but not all internal routing is created equal. The Suncrest has the sweet spot of cable routing, with the cables entering the head tube and inside the upper upper bearing, thus allowing stem changes or stack height adjustments without disassembling the brake lines and re-bleeding them. And, you could make it even cleaner with a different stem, like the FSA SMR Road Stem or similar design. This design allows the cables to tuck neatly from the Zipp SL 80 Race handlebar and into the head tube.

The Suncrest frame features an approachable geometry that can accommodate more riders who don’t have pro-level flexibility. To obtain my proper fit on the size large with the 575mm stack and 395mm reach, I have a zero-setback seatpost and a 100mm stem with 15mm spacers. The stack and reach figures are a little taller and shorter than the Ari Veyo, for reference. While not identical, the geometry is more akin to the Cervelo R5 than the Specialized Tarmac SL8. I think the sparkly blue color with light blue logos looks great. I saw the black/gray color at Ari HQ and I’d be torn choosing between the two.

With a traditional frame profile, the Suncrest’s seat stays attach at the top of the seat tube as opposed to the drop stays we commonly see today (including the Ari Veyo). This not only simplifies the layup for the lightest frame possible, it also maximizes stiffness and responsiveness — all desirable qualities in a climbing bike. The entire package is respectably-light and packed with components and features that would set you back thousands more from the big-name brands.

To the mountains

There’s no shortage of climbs in Utah and I’ve got a wide array of short and long ones to choose from — including Suncrest (the climb for which the bike is named).  Before venturing to the local ascents, I took it relatively easy on a short one just to get acquainted. After that short spin around the hood, I didn’t mess around and went right to one of my favorite climbs – Three Falls. It’s an 800 ft. ascent averaging 5.5% grade with some pitches above 10%. On the way there, I got a taste for how the Suncrest would handle curvy descents and in a heartbeat, I knew we were going to get along just fine.

While the Ari Veyo is lightweight, the Suncrest is silly light. Certainly, that light and stiff frame can be felt when the road tilts upwards as all power transfers directly to the wheels. There is no messing around as I can lay down all my power and climb up anything in the area. It’s helpful that the 10-36t cassette was included, which provides lower than 1:1 gearing in the 35T small chainring and extends the usable range of the 48T large chainring.

Due both to the gearing and the snappy frame, I powered through lots of pitches in the large chainring without batting an eye. Standing climbs are comfortable and responsive — with the bike feeling like an extension of my body. Standing or seated, the Suncrest feels 100% like a climbing bike. I did notice a little bit of front rotor rub when standing on the steepest pitches. I changed from the Zipp 303 S to the Forge+Bond CR 45’s, with Industry Nine hubs (above), and that rubbing went away.

Much to my dismay, I’m not getting any younger. But, as a fit 49 yr-old, the Suncrest is allowing me to push the envelope on many local climbs with some of the best times in years. Is some of that in my mind or is there something about this lightweight climber? I think it’s a little bit of both and I’ll take everything I can get.  It really is an adept climber.

Descends like a champ

Any climbing bike doesn’t live up to the hype unless it can descend on rails. In talking with the Ari team, they could have gone lighter, but optimized ride quality and solid handling over the lightest chassis possible. I know that sounds trite with a sub-700g frame, but it feels planted and that feeling is on purpose.

In my experience, the Pinarello Dogma F10 has the most locked-in descending chops of any bike I’ve ridden and the Specialized Venge Pro is a very close second. Beyond that, the Ari Suncrest isn’t too far behind. Any lateral movements are met with immediate, yet controlled, turns. There is no noticeable over or understeer. I can simply see the line and point the bike there and it holds it. It does lack a little bit of pop coming out of corners, but I really appreciate how stable and planted it descends — no matter how hard I push it.

Surprisingly-fast on rolling terrain

When it comes to undulating terrain, I typically lean towards aerodynamics. And, while having a more aerodynamic bike does help, an efficient and responsive platform makes up much of that ground and can exceed those aero gains for mere mortals, like myself. I love how the Suncrest responds on flat roads and then it provides extra pop for those rollers that suck the life out of you when pushing hard.

To go along with some of the fastest climb times in recent years, the Suncrest has also crushed several rolling segments, including the one below where I nabbed a PR after 74 attempts. I’d say that’s not too shabby for a “climbing bike.”

Certainly, the 45mm deep Zipp 303 S wheels with Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tires and the aero touches of the Zipp SL 80 Race handlebar do provide added speed, but this is no aero bike and it holds its own when pushing extra watts. In my roll-to-stop tests, the wheel/tire combo rolls among the best wheel/tire combos I’ve tested and that undoubtedly provides a performance boost.

Comfort that matches performance

Let me cut past the marketing hype a little. This is a climbing bike. it’s also a no-nonsense traditional frame. Yes, they have engineered some compliance into the frame, it is a taut ride. Is it rough and jarring? Absolutely not. But, it’s definitely less comfortable than the Veyo with its drop stays and aero tube shapes.

When pointed through the roughest local roads, it feels composed but those bumps can be felt. I really appreciate that the geometry is a touch more upright, which adds to the comfort. If your bike doesn’t fit right, everything else is out the window.

Tire clearance is another part of the comfort story. With 30mm tires rolling modern air pressures (55-58 psi), comfort is inherent to the wheel/tire combo. I swapped to the wider Forge+Bond CR 45 wheels with Pirelli PZero Race TLR RS for a couple of rides and the comfort improved by a hair, but not notably. So yeah, the chassis is responsive and taught without being harsh.

Ari has spent a ton of time revising current models and introducing new ones, like the Suncrest. For a small, growing brand, they maximize every engineering cycle and really do punch above their class and this new climbing bike will put a lot of smiles on a lot of rider’s faces.

Fit/Setup: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs and chose the size large with a 100mm stem, zero setback seatpost, 44cm wide bars and 15mm stem spacers. I inflated the GP 5000’s to 55 psi front and 58 psi rear. 

Buy Now: Visit AriBikes.com