OPEN WI.DE. EKAR Review
- Price: $6,200
- Frame: Carbon
- Tires: 700c
- Gear: 1×13
What we like about it: The top-quality lightweight carbon frame, combined with high-end Gravel components, gives it better performance than any other bike in its class.
What we don’t like about it: The selling price is a bit expensive, which may be difficult for riders on a budget to accept.
Rating: (4.9/5)
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR’s TRCinTRS™ technology gives its frame great stiffness and light weight.
Combined with the Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed components weighing only 2385g and a wide range of outer tires, it enjoys a light ride and a strong ability to handle difficult surfaces.
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications as well as other versions of this bike.
Additionally, at the end of the review, we will also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, don’t hesitate to follow us.
Riding Experience
After I got the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR for the first time, I thought it was really cool, and the matte finish was something I really liked. I can’t wait to get on it and ride it on complicated roads.
For this reason I took OPEN WI.DE. EKAR and booked it via Skyscanner to DuPont State Forest, which is about 130km long and each section of the route has a different style of terrain, either on open roads, boulder-strewn roads, or, of course, dense forests.
Climbing
When riding OPEN WI.DE. EKAR on the upward climbing sections, I could feel that my launch was very direct and crisp.
This was due to its excellent geometry, which allowed me to keep my center of gravity very stable.
Then the lightweight carbon frame and short rear wheelbase made my overall ride feel very light and helped me save a lot of effort on the climbs.
On top of that, the Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed kit, with its 38T cassette and 9-42T flywheel, allowed me to use the largest combination of flywheels on the steeper sections and climb up without too much effort.
In conclusion, I think the climbing performance of the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR is what I like. I can feel that every time I pedal, it feeds back to the ground, thus assisting me in going over every ramp with ease.
Decline
The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 700x40c outer tire absorbed some of the shock as I steered the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR down the rock-strewn route.
Besides, the material properties of carbon, which has a certain amount of deformation, reduced the bumpiness of my ride on such surfaces.
Also, the tension of Campagnolo Ekar’s rear derailleur was strong enough to firmly ensure that the chain would not fall off because of shaking.
The Campagnolo Ekar hydraulic brakes with 160mm discs on the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR were quite strong and sensitive as I crossed the gravel on an open descending road.
Its linear and smooth braking feel was also something I really liked. I did not overheat the brakes and the braking force was not weakened in this long downhill section, although I took the brakes frequently.
All in all, the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR is a good-looking gravel bike coupled with top performance.
Specification
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR has a total of (XS-XL) 5 sizes of top-quality carbon frames to choose from, and is paired with the same top-quality Gravel components.
First, the looser geometry and compatibility with a wide range of outer tires gives it the ability to ride on winding trails and conquer all kinds of extreme terrain.
The downward curved rear fork design can absorb some of the road vibration on bumpy roads, and the shortened wheelbase at the rear has flexible handling and more direct power feeling.
Moreover, OPEN WI.DE. EKAR has multiple mounting holes on the frame to enhance the loading capacity to handle long rides. It supports a maximum loading weight (passenger + luggage) of 120kg / 264 lbs.
Video
Other versions
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR uses a top-quality carbon frame and can be paired with mountain bike-like tires, giving it a strong ability to handle complex roads.
For this we offer a gravel bike under the same brand that also has an ultra-light carbon frame, but with better long-distance riding ability in terms of geometry.
OPEN U.P. EKAR
OPEN U.P. EKAR and OPEN WI.DE. EKAR both use TRCinTRS™ technology. Therefore, the hybrid carbon fabric stacking method makes OPEN’s frames both lightweight and durable.
First of all, the OPEN U.P. EKAR is a gravel bike for riding on mixed surfaces and most gravel routes.
It has more possibilities than a pure gravel bike like the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR and is able to be used as a road bike when replaced with a road wheelset.
You can see in the geometry that the OPEN U.P. EKAR has a better ride launch feel, giving it a faster ride, while the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR has a looser geometry and will be more powerful off-road.
These are two equally top of the line gravel bikes. If you want a faster ride, then the OPEN U.P. EKAR will be more suitable; if you are after a more complex route ride and exciting drop, the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR is more suitable.
Below, we will list the specific parameters of the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR in detail and some other brands of gravel bikes with similar price tags for your reference.
What do we like about it?
- Top-quality lightweight carbon frame with top-quality Gravel components gives it a lighter weight than similar bikes.
- The 650b wheelset supports up to 2.4-inch outer tires and the 700C wheelset supports up to 46c outer tires, making it easy to handle even the toughest gravel roads.
- There are multiple mounting holes to enhance the bike’s loading capacity and make it more capable of long distance riding.
- Internal cable routing design make the appearance look more neat and tidy and daily cleaning more convenient.
- TRCinTRS™ technology gives the body frame a light weight and excellent strength.
- Smart mount attaches the caliper directly to the fork without any adapters, lighter, cleaner, stiffer and safer.
What don’t we like about it?
- The price is a bit expensive and may be difficult for riders who do not have a budget to accept.
FAQ
- What is the version of its flywheel?
It uses a 9-42T version of the cassette flywheel.
- How many types of wheelsets are available for this bike?
Wheels with 700x40c Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tires, or 650b with Vittoria Peyote / Barzo 27.5×2.1″ tires.
- How to choose the right size?
Here we provide you with a size chart, but of course you do not have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| < 5’5″ | XS |
| 5’2″ – 5’8″ | S |
| 5’5″ – 5’11” | M |
| 5’10” – 6’3″ | L |
| 6’2″ – 6’8″ | XL |
Specs
Build
| Fork | Your choice, U.P.: 8.2kg (Medium, 700c, with inner tubes), WI.DE.: 8.2kg (Medium, 700c, with inner tubes), U.P.P.E.R.: 8.0kg (Medium, 700c, with inner tubes) tubes |
| Bottom Bracket | Campagnolo Pro-Tech BB386EVO |
| Headset | included in your frameset of choice |
| Stem | ENVE Road, 80 (S)/90 (M)/100 (L)/110 (XL)mm |
| Handlebar | ENVE SES AR Road, 40 (S)/42 (M)/44cm (L&XL) |
| Saddle | fi’zi:k Tempo Argo R5-150mm, black |
| Seatpost | ENVE 0-offset, 27,2, 300mm |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed |
| Crank | Campagnolo Ekar 170mm (XS/S), 172.5mm (M), 175mm (L & XL) |
| Shifters | Campagnolo Ekar hydraulic |
| Cassette | Campagnolo Ekar 9-42T 13-speed |
| Chain | Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed |
| Brakes | Campagnolo Ekar hydraulic with 160mm rotors |
Wheels
| Rims | HED Emporia GA Pro 650b, HED Emporia GA Pro 700c, ENVE AG25 gravel 700c |
| Tires | Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 700x40c, Vittoria Peyote/Barzo 27.5×2.1″ |
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click View | Wheelset | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon | Click View | 700c Carbon | Carbon | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Giant Revolt X, Advanced Pro 1 | Click View | 700c Carbon | Carbon | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension | Click View | 700c Carbon | Carbon | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Lauf Seigla – Ultimate | Click View | 700c Carbon | Carbon | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 Electronic |
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR VS Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon
Both the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR and the Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon are top-of-the-line carbon fiber gravel road bikes, with the latter’s unique handlebar design providing 20mm of shock travel.
The former uses Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed components and the latter uses GX Eagle AXS 12-speed, so the WI.DE. EKAR has a wider choice of speeds and smoother shifts.
However, the Diverge Expert’s electronic shifting is much easier to set up and maintain.
On the choice of brakes. The Campagnolo Ekar and SRAM Rival eTAP brake components on both bikes are reliable and trustworthy, capable of stopping a moving bike in an instant.
I think both bikes are excellent and they sell for the same price, so it’s worth going for either one.
Learn More: Is Specialized Diverge Comp E5 Worth Buying? [Specialized Diverge Comp E5 Review]
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR X01 vs Giant Revolt X, Advanced Pro 1
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR X01 and Giant Revolt X, Advanced Pro 1, are two bikes that excel at different fields.
The latter features a RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR 40mm shock absorbing fork for better vibration filtering. This makes it more comfortable to ride on more complicated roads than the WI.DE. EKAR X01.
When it comes to the drivetrain components, the former uses Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed components with more speeds than the latter’s GX Eagle AXS with a smoother feel.
In terms of brake components, there is not much difference between these two bikes, both with strong braking ability.
Finally, the former’s geometry combined with its lighter weight will make it a lighter and more energy-efficient bicycle, and will be more comfortable than the latter on longer rides.
Between these two bikes, if you are looking for more complex road riding then the Giant Revolt X, Advanced Pro 1 is better; if you like long distance riding and want a more relaxed ride OPEN WI.DE. EKAR X01 is the way to go.
Learn More: Is Giant Revolt Advanced 3 Worth Buying? [Giant Revolt Advanced 3 Review]
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR vs Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension
Comparing the OPEN WI.DE.EKAR to the Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension, the latter has a Rock Shox Rudy Ultimate 30mm shock-absorbing front fork that gives it better shock absorption on gravel surfaces. It’s also better for off-road riding than the former.
Next, the Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension uses SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS components while the WI.DE. EKAR employs Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed components. The former is easier to adjust, while the latter has more speed options and is lighter in weight.
In the end, of these two gravel bikes, I would still prefer the overall performance and lighter riding OPEN WI.DE. EKAR as it is more suitable for long distance riding.
Learn More: Is Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 Suspension 1by Worth Buying? [Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 Suspension 1by Review]
OPEN WI.DE. EKAR vs Lauf Seigla – Ultimate
Lauf Seigla – the Ultimate has a special Lauf Grit 3rd gen Carbon fork that provides 30mm of damping travel. But there are still some concerns about the durability and reliability of this shock absorption.
In terms of drivetrain, the former Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed has a lighter weight and a more dense shifting experience than the latter SRAM Red AXS XPLR. However, the latter’s drivetrain is a little more convenient and simple to adjust.
As to braking, WI.DE. EKAR uses Campagnolo Ekar which is more linear in feel than Lauf Seigla – Ultimate’s SRAM Red Flat mount, and also uses mineral oil in the tubing which has a longer shelf life and almost no corrosion.
For both gravel bikes, if you prefer unique styling then the Lauf Seigla – Ultimate will satisfy your preferences, but I fancy the reliable performance and light weight of the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR.
Summary
Above is my ride review of the OPEN WI.DE. EKAR. In our opinion, it’s a gravel bike with a top-notch carbon frame and top-notch components. That’s why we gave it a 4.9 rating.
Of course, if you’re interested in exploring other similar bikes, we have reviewed a variety of bikes at different price points that you might find interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews as well.
Lastly, if you enjoy our content, please consider sharing it with your friends! If you find our content helpful, you can also click on the subscription button below to receive updates via email. Thank you for your support！
