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Raleigh Mustang Elite

8
£1,000.00

VERDICT:

8
10
The Mustang Elite is affordable, adaptable and accessible – a good buy for the money
Weight: 
10,420g

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The Mustang Elite is one of the more affordable bikes in Raleigh's new gravel bike range. For £1,000 you get an aluminium frame, and it's a smart looking thing with a swoopy top tube and big tyre clearance, fitted with TRP hydraulic disc brakes and SRAM's Rival 1 drivetrain.

It's really a very good bike this – and don't let the whole gravel thing put you off, this is simply a good road bike for steady rides and commuting.

> Find your nearest dealer here

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If you're put off the idea of a road bike with skinny tyres (and they can be a bit intimidating to newer cyclists) and want a bit of added comfort and security on the UK's crumbling road network, the Mustang Elite might be a good choice for you.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - top tube decal.jpg

The gravel bike category has emerged from the US with plenty of hype, it's fair to say, but it has resulted in a new breed of road bikes that are well suited to cyclists who value comfort and assured handling over the outright speed and whippy handling of a conventional race bike.

What's it for?

The Mustang Elite does everything a regular road bike does, but it does it with the added comfort of the big tyres. The tyres, provided you run them at a suitably low pressure (I recommend about 65psi), give the Mustang Elite a very stable ride character. It isn't easily knocked off line and it doesn't jiggle you about on a rough road surface.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - fork clearance.jpg

If you're not concerned with top speeds and chasing segments on Strava, preferring to spend most of your time at a comfortable cruising speed, the Mustang Elite doesn't feel laborious. It may not have the outright acceleration of a lighter race bike, and its weight does stunt initial movement at lower speed, but here's the thing: it's not a bike designed for sprinting and riding everywhere as fast as you possibly can. It's intended for allowing you to enjoy cycling as a form of escape and adventure, for taking in the sights and enjoying the freedom and simplicity of getting around with just a jam sandwich powering the engine, rather than glory through suffering and all that nonsense.

For many cyclists, it's all you really need. It's right at home on the commute, with the frame accepting mudguards and a rear rack if you need or want them. It's fine on the weekend club ride and for sneaking in a couple of steady hours on a Sunday morning before lunch. Unless you really need the low weight and speed of a conventional race-inspired road bike, the Raleigh Mustang might actually be a more suitable choice.

But will it go off-road?

Why yes, it will. It won't rival a cyclo-cross or mountain bike on really tricky and muddy terrain, but for adding a gravelled track such as a canal towpath, a byway or countryside bridleway into your route, the Mustang Elite copes just fine.

There are surprisingly good levels of traction to be gained from the dimpled tread pattern of these new Schwalbe G-One tyres. Just enough grip to stop the wheels slithering about uncontrollably when it gets a bit slick underneath the tyre. Run them at lower pressures and they allow you to explore the sort of countryside terrain that would rapidly intimidate a road bike with skinny tyres.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - seat stay clearance.jpg

Best of all, this grip off-road doesn't come at the expense of performance and speed on the hard stuff. They whizz along just fine. And they really do whizz – they make an unmistakable sound at higher speeds that'll have you looking over your shoulder until you get used to it. They're a robust tyre as well, and they're tubeless-ready if you ever want to ditch the inner tubes at a future date. It's a smart tyre choice by Raleigh.

Even if you never plan to go near any off-road trails, the Mustang Elite is just fine as a 100 per cent road bike. Many of the roads where I live are rapidly regressing to the Roman roads they once were. Dodging potholes, piles of rocks and loose stones can be a tedious experience on a narrow-tyre race bike. But with the Mustang Elite, you don't have to be so precious and delicate about line choice.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - riding 2.jpg

How does it handle?

The Mustang Elite shares its geometry (the angles and lengths of the various tubes that make up the frameset) with the more expensive carbon fibre Roker. The slack head angle, low bottom bracket and long wheelbase provide the Mustang with fantastic handling; it's a breeze to ride, anyone will jump aboard and instantly feel at home with the handling.

The 71-degree head angle is slacker than a conventional road bike, and the bottom bracket drop is 75mm, which compares to 69-70mm on a road bike. Those numbers instil the Mustang Elite with the sort of stable and easy handling that is lacking in many road bikes.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - frame detail.jpg

Don't get me wrong, I love tearing around on a fancy race bike, but the Mustang won me over every time I rode it. It does nothing untoward or erratic, no matter how hard you push it. It's just an easy and comfortable bike to ride.

Steering response is good, with a tolerable level of feedback from the carbon fibre fork with its tapered head tube. There are oversize thru-axles at both wheels which help to resist flex through the frame and fork. You can detect this most noticeably on out of the saddle climbs: there's no brake rub at all. The thru-axles also make it easier to align the disc rotors when fitting the wheels – handy for travelling.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - front hub.jpg

I detected more road feedback through the aluminium frame compared with the carbon frame of the Roker. Basically, these two models have identical equipment and geometry, it's just the frame material that is different. The carbon Roker does provide a measurably smoother ride. Perhaps not enough to warrant the extra £1,000 if you're on a tight budget, though. and the Mustang is certainly not uncomfortable.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - seat post detail.jpg

Where they do measurably differ is on the scales. The Mustang Elite is 1.5kg heavier than its more expensive sibling, and you do notice this on the climbs. But really, you'll only notice this if you ride the Roker Pro and then jump immediately onto the Mustang Elite and ride up a 20% climb. And you're highly unlikely to be doing that. Most of the time the weight isn't a factor, and the wide-range SRAM gearing ensures you've got enough gears to winch up any climb.

Does the SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain work?

Yes, very well. SRAM's single-ring drivetrain was born in the mountain bike world and it's made a smooth transition onto gravel and cyclo-cross bikes, where the slightly reduced gearing is less of a bother than it is on top-flight race bikes. Some of the jumps on the huge 10-42t cassette can be a bit troublesome, but most of the time you find a suitable gear, and sit and spin away. The majority of the time I found I was in the right gear, so SRAM has clearly thought carefully about what ratios to offer.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - drive train.jpg

The 44t chainring sounds small compared with a 53t chainring, but with the 10-tooth sprocket there's more than enough top-end speed for most. Basically, you have to be going like the clappers to really run out of gears, and if you're doing that on a regular basis, then you can easily swap the chainring for a bigger one. Or find some hills.

How well does it stop?

It stops very well, thanks to the TRP Hy/Rd hydraulic brakes. They're a fully self-contained design, so they're compatible with regular cable-pull brake levers. The power and feel is not quite as good as a proper hydraulic setup like you get with Shimano or SRAM's hydro disc groupsets, but it's a step above other mechanical disc brakes.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - rear disc detail.jpg

Disc brakes have found a natural home on bikes like this, because of the control of the extra braking performance, and also because they allow the frame and fork to accommodate wider tyres. There's also plenty of clearance between the frame and tyres for mudguards or mud.

I like tubeless. Can I convert the wheels?

Raleigh has fitted the bike with its own-brand RSP AD3.0 wheels which feature an aluminium rim that is tubeless-ready. Also tubeless-ready are the Schwalbe tyres, so to convert to tubeless it's just a matter of removing the inner tubes, fitting the supplied tubeless valve, adding some sealant, and tubeless you go.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - rim.jpg

Anything else?

The Raleigh RSP branded aluminium handlebar, stem and seatpost aren't anything fancy but they do the job just fine. The handlebar has a nice shape with a compact drop which makes it usable when riding off-road when you need a bit more control. More of a flared drop would increase off-road control even more.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - bars.jpg

The bike has all the necessary eyelets to accommodate mudguards and it'll take a rear rack, plus there are two sets of bottle cage mounts.

Raleigh Mustang Elite - cable route 3.jpg

What of its rivals?

This is a competitive price point and the gravel bike category is getting more popular all the time. The Mustang Elite has to fend off competition from the excellent GT Grade Alloy 105, which costs the same and also features an aluminium frame and wide tyres, and even the same TRP hydraulic disc brakes. Both offer a very similar riding experience and both provide mudguard and rack fittings if those are important to you. For me, the Mustang Elite pips the GT Grade because of the tubeless-ready wheels and tyres, and the simpler SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain.

> Check out the best 2016 gravel and adventure bikes we've tested here

The Mustang, with the same frame, is also available at £650 with a Shimano Claris groupset, and the Mustang Sport, at £800, has Shimano Sora parts. Those two models feature regular double chainsets and mechanical disc brakes. The Mustang range tops out with the £1,500 Comp, which upgrades to a SRAM Rival 1 hydraulic groupset and American Classic wheels.

Verdict

The Mustang Elite is affordable, adaptable and accessible – a good buy for the money

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Raleigh Mustang Elite

Size tested: 56cm

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

Frameset

Frame: AL6061 double butted alloy, thru axle, tapered headtube, Gravel geometry

Fork: Gravel specific all-carbon fork with tapered alloy steerer and 15mm thru axle

Headset: FSA

Groupset

Shift Levers: SRAM RIVAL 1X

Brake Levers: SRAM RIVAL 1X

Rear Derailleur: SRAM RIVAL 1X

Front Brake: TRP HY-RD Semi Hydraulic disc

Rear Brake: TRP HY-RD Semi Hydraulic disc

Crankset: SRAM S350 1X 44T - Crank Length 170mm 52-54cm, 172.5mm 56 - 58cm, 175mm 60 - 62cm

Bottom Bracket: SRAM GXP

Freewheel/Cassette: SRAM 10-42 Cassette

Chain: SRAM X11

Pedals: Road Cage

Wheelset

Front Wheel: RSP AD3.0 Tubeless Ready

Rear Wheel: RSP AD3.0 Tubeless Ready

Front Tyre: Schwalbe G1 folding 700x35c

Rear Tyre: Schwalbe G1 folding 700x35c

Inner Tubes: 700x 35c presta valve

Components

Stem: RSP+ alloy aheadset

Handlebars: RSP+

Tape: Velo anti-slip, shock proof bar tape

Saddle: Selle Royal Sirio

Seatpost: RSP+ carbon micro adjust

Seat Clamp: RSP alloy

Raleigh says: 'SRAM's 11 Speed 1X Rival groupset offers simple, reliable and silent shifting. SRAM's X-Sync technology keeps the chain tight at all times and stops the chain from 'slapping' the frame when on rough ground. With no front derailleur it is almost impossible for the chain to come off and with a massive range of gears; 1X will keep you spinning on any terrain.

'TRP HY-RD Semi-hydraulic brakes offer excellent power and modulation in all conditions and have received glowing reviews from all who have tried them

'Schwalbe's premium Gravel 1 Tyres have been developed to roll very fast on tarmac and offer top level grip and puncture protection when the terrain starts to break up

'American Classic TCX Tubeless rims are fast, light and durable. They are ready to convert to a tubeless setup giving you even greater protection against pinch punctures'

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Raleigh says: 'Our Mustangs live on diet of tarmac, pot holes, mud and gravel. The Gravel Road geometry of our aluminium frame keeps you comfortable during a long day in the saddle

'A longer wheelbase and lower bottom bracket height produce excellent handling when traveling over uneven ground at speed

'An all-carbon fork with tapered steerer helps to absorb vibrations while keeping the front end of the bike light and stiff with smooth handling. Thru axles provide extra assurance when pushing your bike to it's limits and ensure that the disc rotor is always in the correct position'

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Top notch build quality.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Double butted aluminium frame with a carbon fibre fork.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Slack head angle, low bottom bracket and long wheelbase define the Mustang.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

Perfect fit.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

The big tyres, when run at low pressures, make it a comfortable and relaxing bike to ride. The aluminium frame is noticeably firmer than the more expensive carbon fibre Roker in the range.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The thru-axles at both wheels contribute to the direct and stiff feeling exhibited by the Mustang.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Yes

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

No

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Very relaxed, even a little slow.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It's a very easy bike to ride, with the relaxed geometry producing slower and less twitchy handling than a road bike.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

The tyres are fantastic. The wheels are tubeless ready, and I'd recommend binning the inner tubes and going tubeless.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

A carbon seatpost 'might' provide a slightly smoother ride.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

There isn't anything I'd immediately want to change.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
6/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
8/10

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels and tyres for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for value:
 
8/10

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
8/10

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Use this box to explain your score

Bags of comfort and relaxing stability make the Mustang Elite a really good bike for the cyclist who puts comfort above speed.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180cm  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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