After a several year hiatus, Seattle's Noble Bikes is back again in 2018. Founded by ex-Raleigh employee Mark Landsaat, the company has an off-road ethos, with cyclocross, gravel and mountain bike models re-launching this year.
The small start-up—not to be confused with NOBL Wheels or Noble Wheels (or Ellen Noble)—had its cyclocross and two gravel models on display at the Sea Otter Classic. Noble's bikes adopt the mountain bike approach of "forward geometry" with longer top tubes and shorter stems, a trend that we're seeing with drop bar offerings from mountain bike companies, as seen with Kona's versatile Major Jake cyclocross bike and the Rocky Mountain Solo adventure bike. The bikes also use Noble's FM160 technology, which allows the use of flat mount calipers with 160mm rotors.
Noble's cyclocross bike is the aluminum CX3.
Noble's cyclocross bike is the alloy CX3 that comes with 160mm flat mount rotors and Stan's Grail tubeless wheels. Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
The $2,000 alloy CX3 comes with a SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes and Stan's Grail tubeless wheels. The company uses internal cable routing that includes plastic frame guides made using 3D printing, and Noble offers up the file for other manufacturers and builders to print on their own.
Noble's drop bar bikes have internally routed cables and come with SRAM 1x drivetrains. Noble uses a housing port that can be 3D printed and offers up a file for other builders to download and print on their own. Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
Noble offers two gravel models. The alloy GX3 retails for $2,000 and the carbon GX5 sells for $3,000.
Noble has two gravel bikes. The carbon GX5 is in the foreground and the alloy GX3 is in the background. Both come with 1x SRAM drivetrains and Stan's Grail wheels. Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
The GX3 comes with a Rival 1 drivetrain, while the GX5 upgrades to Force 1. Both bikes come with Stan's Grail tubeless wheels and have a claimed maximum tire clearance of 40mm.
The alloy GX3 gravel bike has clearance for tires as wide as 40mm. Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
Noble has also developed a Flat Mount 180 open standard for use primarily with mountain bikes. The technology allows direct mounting of flat mount calipers for use with 180mm rotors. More information about FM180 is available at: flatmount180.org.
See the slideshow below for a closer look at Noble's cyclocross and gravel bikes.
More info: noble-bikes.com
See what’s new this year with our coverage of the 2018 Sea Otter trade show.
Photo Gallery: Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes
The alloy GX3 gravel bike has clearance for tires as wide as 40mm. Noble Bikes Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
