Lynskey GR250: Checkpoint

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Lynskey GR250: Checkpoint- by Grannygear

Editor’s note: Grannygear, our SoCal friend and editor over at TwentynineInches.com, is also a back road, gravel riding fan. He has written reviews for us previously and here we share his latest project- A titanium framed gravel road rig from Lynskey. His introduction to this bike can be found by clicking the link HERE.



Lynskey
The Lynskey GR250 ready for an adventure

Checkpoint- by Grannygear

After swapping all the parts over from the Salsa Warbird. which did come over just fine except for the bottom bracket, the Lynskey GR250 weighed in at around 22lbs with pedals and cages and so forth. I am not counting grams on this one, so good enough. I did note a bit more seat post extension out of the frame which is nice. The front center and cockpit of the GR250 is longer than on the Warbird. The slacker head tube angle and increased fork offset, when combined with a steeper seat tube angle, pushes the front wheel out a bit farther into space.

Lynskey
The lowered top tube lends to more seat post extension,but may cramp what you have going on in the triangle.

I began with the 100mm stem but speaking with Lynskey, they had suggested a slightly shorter stem, more in the 90mm range, as optimum for the GR250 and the frame numbers back this up. Time will tell.

One advantage of moving all the parts over from one frame to another- tires, wheels, etc – is that you get a very good feel for what the frame and fork are doing apart from the bolted on bits and pieces. So I should have an accurate assessment of any differences over the Warbird, both for good or for bad.

Of course the Revelate Tangle Bag came over as well, something that I only remove to wash or work on the bike, if then. How did I ever live without one of these bags on a bike? One thing I noted was that the slightly smaller inner triangle of the GR250 over the Warbird resulted in some interference between the seat tube mounted bottle and the bottom of the Tangle bag. Kind of a bummer, but I think I will accept that and enjoy the longer stick-out of the seat post. A compliant seat post like the Lynskey Ti post in a 27.2mm is a big, big part of how a bike rides in the saddle. Oversize (like 31.6mm) seat posts in aluminum and stiff carbon are great for beating you to death.

Lynskey
Chain stay tire clearance.

I could already see the increased tire clearance over the Warbird. The front is huge in that way and the rear nearly as much. In the next installment we will fit up some 650b wheels and tires and see how that all works.

After a quick spin around to check shifting, etc, and with too-long brake lines, and a bunch of spacers on the uncut steer tube, I headed out to see what was what. This is what I noted in the first 30 minutes. I mention that “30 minutes” as I have found that over the years, the first impressions of a bike are the truest. As long as the fit is not horrible or some function of the bike is compromised (broken suspension fork or such things), then what I first notice typically holds true to the end. Also, as the bike is ridden more, any differences between the previous thing you were riding fade a bit as you simply get used to or ‘tune in’ to the new one.

  • The Lynskey GR250 does not quite have the same level of ‘pop’ when pedaled hard, especially out of the saddle, as compared to the aluminum Warbird. Now I am not saying the “F word” here (Flex…not the other “F word”), as I do not see that happening at all with the Ti frame, but bigger aluminum tubes are usually very good at this zippy feel and Ti maybe not so much. It’s nuanced but apparent. The Warbird has less bottom bracket drop and that can give a bike more of a responsive feel out of the saddle as well.
  • The ride though, it is quite interesting. On pavement too, but especially on dirt, the GR250 really mutes the chatter/vibration coming into the frame and fork. It’s the oddest thing although I have heard this mentioned before with Ti bikes. It’s like walking across a hard floor with dress shoes on, and along the way, you kick a chair leg which jolts you a bit. Then you walked over the floor again, but this time with socks pulled over your dress shoes. The hard floor just seems ‘quieter’ and the chair leg you kicked again, while still a jolt, feels less so. “Quieter” is the word I would use and that feeling is very nice indeed, being less fatiguing over time I would bet. Even steel is not like this, even if the compliance is equal. It’s appealing.
  • The front end of the GR250 is smoother than the Warbird and I think a great deal of this is from the 3T fork. Remember that one of my goals was to soften that part of the bike a bit over the Salsa and I think that has been accomplished.
  • The seated compliance, to my mind, is about the same which shows that the Warbird was really well designed in this regard. I don’t think I gained or lost here. When you have a decently compliant frame and stack in a seat post and saddle that have some give, then that adds up nicely. Of course the tire is always the first line of defense here, making the most difference of all.

LynskeyOne thing to the negative was the reduced heel clearance right where the chain stays bend out around the disc rotor/drive train to meet the dropouts. I was hitting my heels as I pedaled, not every time, but too much to ignore. Now I pedal a bit duck-footed (heels in) and the left foot is even more that way due to an old injury that never healed right. So I am more sensitive to this than most. For a bit, I was thinking this was a deal breaker for me and the GR250. But I added 2 pedal washers (maybe 3mms?) on each side and took some play out of the pedal spindle that had developed over time and that has been 99% effective in eliminating frame contact. Shows you how close it was to begin with.

There is a ton of room between the inside of the chain stay at the brake rotor, enough to where that tube could be reshaped to allow for at least 5mm more heel clearance. In my opinion this needs to be done, but I may be outside the norm of most riders in this regard.

Lynskey
There is just something about those silvery-grey tubes.

I have been riding it over multiple surfaces now and I am very much enjoying the bike. It is smooth and very steady on dirt roads and gravel. The Warbird never gave me pause as far as stability, but the GR250 is a notch up in that way and I can get some speed going on here without feeling alarmed.

Lynskey
With the crank set/bottom bracket a bit lower in relation to the wheel axles, you get a more planted, stable feeling on the bike.

I have dived into some deeper gravel at good speed and found it holds a line really well, although that type of surface is not typical around here. The slacker head tube angle and the lower bottom bracket over the Warbird works in my favor in this regard. I think the 75mm of bottom bracket drop is a good thing as 42mm tall tires are getting that bike up in the air a bit.

I do think it is less of a road bike than the Warbird was. That extra stability and the longer front center, especially from the head tube angle/fork offset, means that fast turns on the road take a bit of effort to initiate. It’s turns like a MTB hard tail more than a road bike. I could have used the Warbird as a road bike with a tire swap and been okay if my priorities were not too pace line focused, but the GR250 would not be that bike for me. I did swap to a 90mm stem after feeling like my weight was too far over the front wheel and the reach to the hoods a bit much. The slightly shorter stem feel much better and the bike turns quicker now too.

As an adventure/multi-surface approach, the GR250 should be amazing. It is stable, comfy, and smooth, yet climbs with no hint of sway or bending about. I do think the tube set on the GR250, which it inherited form the very popular Lynskey R240, is very well put together for the task.

My last ride on the GR250 was post rain, where the big tires and disc brakes were killer on the muddy bike paths and gravel sections I rode over. It is really settling in to be a good dance partner and I look forward to getting it out on some longer days. I have a good feeling about this one.

Next I will have the trimming done and the 650b wheels fitted with a couple of sets of tires to see how that works. Be back then.

NOTE: The Lynskey GR250 frame and 3T fork were purchased by Grannygear and is being reviewed/tested for RidingGravel.com. RidingGravel.com is not being paid nor bribed for this review and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

Discuss and share your questions or thoughts about gravel bikes, gear, events and anything else on the Riding Gravel Forum.




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Author: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted hails from Iowa. Home of over 70,000 miles of gravel and back roads. An inaugural member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame and Co-creator of Trans Iowa in late 2004- Guitar Ted has been at the forefront of the growth of gravel events and riding since then. Creator of Gravel Grinder News in 2008, he produced the premier calendar of gravel and back road events. GT joined forces with Riding Gravel in late 2014.

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17 thoughts on “Lynskey GR250: Checkpoint

  1. Ted, ride the GR250 with a 42mm 650b tire and I think you will like it even more. I first rode min with 42mm 700c wheels and the handling felt just “odd”. Change to 43mm Rock and Roads on 650b wheel and it made a big difference how the bike felt and handled.

  2. That would be a significant BB drop…watch those pedals in the corners. The smaller wheel and tire is going to affect trail numbers and quicken handling I bet. I have noted that the 90mm stem was a great move. Feels much better getting some of that weight off the front end and it lightened up the steering.

    I will either be running a 47mm WTB Horizon tire or a 2.0-ish 650b MTB tire if I am on the lesser hoops.

    gg

  3. Just to clarify do you comments compare the GR 250 with the aluminum frame Warbird? How does it compare with the Carbon frame Warbird? I’m trying to decide between the two for my gravel road bike and need help deciding before the GR 250 sale is over!

    Great information, thanks!

    DS

  4. @DS…Aluminum Gen II Warbird. I have no time at all on the carbon one. Sorry. If I were to speculate, I would put the carbon version Warbird ahead as a pure race bike, but the GR250 ahead as an all-rounder gravel bike with bikepacking/adventure/light touring on the menu.

  5. Great write up so far, looking forward to your thoughts on the 650b wheelset/tires on this bike.

    Do you happen to know what finish (satin, industrial mill or brushed) is done to the titanium on the bike in the photos? I’m in the same boat as Derek…trying to order this bad boy before the sale expires this weekend.

    Also, is the bike you’re testing a size Medium-Large or a Large? I ask because I feel like I’m falling right in between those two sizes…I’m just over 6′ (but not quite 6’1″), but with a shorter torso and long legs. How tall are you?

    Thanks again for this review, it’s been incredibly helpful as there’s not much info on this bike yet.

    RM

  6. @Rocco M…Glad I could help. As far as I know, this is an off-the-rack, right out of production frame as I did not arrange any special finish. That said, I have to assume it is the default finish. You could always check with Lynskey about that.

    It is a Large or what would be a 58cm in most other brands. I am 6’2″ with moderate length legs but longer upper body and arms, so the 53cm in the ST length gives me abundant ‘stick-out’ of the seat post for a nice ride and the near 58cm ETT is bang on with a 90mm stem. I would say that the bike, IMO, handles much better with a 10cm shorter stem than I had on the Warbird, but the ‘Bird had a slacker ST angle and likely a bit less reach. On the Salsa that 100mm felt just right, but on the GR250, it felt slow and heavy and the reach to the hoods was too much for more adventurous days.

    On my road bike, a custom steel Curtlo, it is a 58cm ETT and 73° ST angle much like the GR250 and I run a 100 stem on the Curtlo, but it has a 72.75° HT angle and I want more reach to the hoods anyway. Not many rutted fireroads on my typical road rides.

    SO you might plan around a slightly shorter stem than might be typical in a road bike, taking the geometry and intent of the GR250 as a whole, and go from there. If you bought too small a frame, then I don’t think that, say, a 110mm stem to correct that, would play well.

    Just my thoughts anyway.

    gg

  7. @Scott…honestly it was an offer from Lynskey that was unexpected but timely and the price was very good. The Moots Routt 45, IIRC, was not out yet when I was pushing the go button on the GR250. I also do not favor the higher BB and longer CS of the Routt 45 and as much as I like Moots and all, I can’t justify that cost. Maybe others can. Litespeed? Hmmmm…not on my radar. I do like the new Why Cycles R+ though.

    So a lot of the choice was a combo of timing, price, and features. Make sense?

    gg

  8. Thanks – I have a carbon bike now and have been thinking about going to a TI bike. The Lynskey is high on the list. They are not to far from me. Have not looked at the Why.

    1. An update is in the works. If you haven’t noticed, SoCal is getting a LOT of rain lately, and that has been putting the damper on rides for Grannygear of late,

      Stay tuned! Grannygear will be back with more as soon as the weather allows!

  9. @grannygear, I recently bought a GR250 and noticed the same issue with my left heel occasionally tapping the chainstay. It is a very rare occurrence (it happened once in a 5 hour ride yesterday), and I think I can end the issue altogether by moving my cleat slightly. If that doesn’t completely eliminate the issue, I’ll use the Crank Brothers long spindle kit, which adds 5mm to the Q on both pedals. Just thought I’d mention that you’re not the only one.

    Other than that minor issue, I love the bike so far. Lovely workmanship, very stable geometry, reasonable weight (my XL weighs in at 23lbs including innertubes, 40mm tires, and bottle cages). I’m anticipating many great seasons of gravel grinding on this bike.

  10. Just bought a GR 250, frame is a medium large, I am 5,11, size 10.5 shoe. Love everything but the chainstay clearance. I did one short 10 mile break in ride on dirt road and every so often my heel on either side clipped the chain stays. I tried adding two washers, same issue. This bike just plain needs about 5-10 mm more clearance on the stays unless your feet are under size 9. Plan to call Lynsey and see how they want to handle this. You should not have to play musical cleats to have adequate clearance.

  11. You guys have me thinking twice … re: chainstay clearance. I am 6’ with size 12 feet! I’m looking at a large frame … any thoughts? These frames are hard to find. Also considering salsa Cutthroat and Warbird.

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