If you look hard at Interbike 2013, many small brands were showing off new cyclocross-related products that were overshadowed by their road and mountain bike offerings, but were sitting there waiting for folks like Cyclocross Magazine editors to dig out.
Origin 8 had one such product on display. The company has released their most recent iteration of their full carbon disc brake ‘cross frame and fork for 2014. This latest frame carries on the legacy and horizontal top tube of the steel Origin 8 CX700—and adds a full disc brake carbon fork and disc mounts to the mix. Going from steel to carbon represents a big jump up in price and a change in target customer for the brand known best for accessories.
Red and carbon, but not Speciailized. Origin 8 goes upscale with the CX700 Pro carbon disc brake cyclocross frameset. © Molly Hurford / Cyclocross Magazine
The CX700 Pro carbon cyclocross frame is decidedly a lot more race-oriented than its steel brother, with full carbon monocoque construction using 12k-weave full carbon design. It has a 1.5 to 1-1/8 inch tapered head tube with an integrated headset and replaceable derailleur hanger.
Neat internal cable routing. © Cyclocross Magazine
The frame is equipped with a PF30 bottom bracket shell, but lacks the sculpted bottom bracket / chainstay junction of some modern bikes like Specialized, Focus and Fuji, and instead has a small shelf behind the seat tube that looks like it might collect a bit of mud on sloppy days.
Origin 8 has developed its own fork for the build, a shift from the Enve and Easton forks that adorn most disc-equipped frames. The fork looks stout and ready to handle the asymmetrical braking forces of disc brakes.
The frameset is available in four sizes ranging from 51 to 59cm and all sizes have a 60mm BB drop, a bit high compared to the average modern cyclocross frame.
The frame features top-tube cable routing for both derailleurs, allowing the cyclocrosser to use the top-pull Shimano CX70 front derailleur without a pulley. The frame also offers bottle cages for commutes, road rides, and sneaking into events designed specifically for only gravel bikes. [Ed. note: Yes, that last bit is a bit of sarcasm.]
No canti boss here, this bike is disc-only. Top-tube routing allows for a top-pull CX70 front derailleur. © Cyclocross Magazine
The frameset is expected to retail around $1500—competitive with other brands’ carbon disc framesets—but perhaps not the value leader that the company’s steel CX700 is, which retails for under $400.
More info: Origin-8.com
