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Enigma Edge Frameset

8
£2,777.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Versatile, easy-to-ride titanium gravel bike finished to a high standard, with stunning ride characteristics
Stunning ride quality
High-quality finish
Plenty of mounting points
Good tyre clearance
Traditional mudguards will require a bit of fettling to fit
Weight: 
9,450g
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This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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Titanium alloy is an excellent choice for a gravel bike, and the Enigma Edge is a perfect example of why. It's finished to a very high standard, giving it that dream bike kind of look, one that you want to love and cherish, but with the robustness and damage-resistant properties that make it tough as old boots, allowing you to use it and abuse it. It's a big lump of cash, but with a lengthy warranty and a beautiful ride quality it'll be a pleasurable and rewarding investment.

If you're thinking of investing in the ultimate luxury bike frame material, check out our guide to the best titanium road bikes.

> Buy now: Enigma Edge frameset for £2,777 from Enigma

Enigma Edge: The ride

Here come the clichés about the velvety smooth ride characteristics of titanium bikes, but if you've ridden one, you'll understand. Enigma's designers have fully exploited those benefits as the Edge is a beautiful bike to ride. It has that suppleness of a titanium frame, that vibration-reducing smoothness that you can only really get from this material or a high-quality steel.

2023 Enigma Edge - head tube badge.jpg

It's a big bonus on a gravel machine, especially when the tracks are very dry and firm, and you get those corrugations left from past rainwater which can pass vibrations up through your wrists and arms. Yes, you can let your tyres down a bit, but you can't mask harshness from a poor frame.

The Edge is definitely a bike you can spend many hours on – it's adventure ready, if you like.

Enigma has still managed to build the Edge into a stiff frame, helped by the fact that it has chosen to use a T47 bottom bracket. The wider shell, compared with a traditional BSA threaded setup, means there's plenty of surface area to attach girthy down and seat tubes. Plus, the chainstays don't have to scrimp on material either.

2023 Enigma Edge - bottom bracket.jpg

Get out of the saddle and the Enigma feels responsive and tight through the lower half of the frame, resisting high pedalling forces.

There are no big surprises when it comes to the geometry (full details below), so the Edge is easy to ride pretty much anywhere without losing any of the fun factor.

The steering is well balanced – quick enough to take on technical descents on a loose surface at speed, with a good dose of predictability that allows you to keep on the right side of out of control.

The carbon fork is also stiff and tight, so you won't get large amounts of chatter or movement on rough surfaces or when you are braking hard.

At just over a metre in length, the wheelbase brings both stability and control. Even if you go into a bend a little exuberantly, the rear end tracks steadily, bringing some predictability. This is beneficial when the surface is wet and slippery, too; if you are struggling for traction on a wet trail, that stability allows you to stay in the saddle and control the rear end of the Edge with your hips while focusing on making it up that hill, or down one.

2023 Enigma Edge - seat tube junction.jpg

Weighing in at 9.45kg for this complete build – which isn't exactly top-end kit – the Edge isn't a heavy bike. This helps it feel efficient on climbs, and if you are out for a quicker blast it can get a wriggle on when you are out of the saddle giving it some.

It's a classic titanium machine in that its ride quality is stunning, and by not doing anything outlandish in terms of its design or geometry, Enigma keeps things simple. It's so easy to ride and have fun on that you can just spin the pedals and enjoy the scenery.

Enigma Edge: Frame & fork

Like pretty much every other titanium frame out there, the Edge uses tubing made from titanium alloyed with 3% aluminium and 2.5% vanadium, known as 3Al/2.5V, although this tubeset is custom butted (it has variable wall thicknesses) to Enigma's design.

2023 Enigma Edge - frame detail.jpg

Aside from being the best grade of titanium alloy for making bike frames, it is also incredibly hardwearing and doesn't need to be painted either, which is why you'll find most titanium frames are left au naturel. Enigma does offer various paint finishes, though, should you fancy a bit of colour.

The weld quality of the frame means you definitely don't need to use paint to cover anything up. The tube junctions are neatly joined together, and that weld quality is maintained around all of the other details, like the internal cabling junctions and bosses.

2023 Enigma Edge - top tube detail.jpg

Speaking of bosses, the Edge is well equipped too, especially if epic adventures are on your mind. You get three sets of bottle cage bosses, with the additional set under the down tube.

2023 Enigma Edge - downtubw underside bosses.jpg

There are positions for mudguards and a rear rack as well, although those guard mounts aren't in the traditional position on either the frame or fork, so while it is still easy enough to fit full guards, the stays will require a bit of fettling.

2023 Enigma Edge - rear disc brake.jpg

The carbon fork might not have mounts on the outside of the legs for cages, but it does have internal routing for a dynamo light as well as the mudguard mounting points.

2023 Enigma Edge - cable routing 2.jpg

Other details include a dropped chainstay on the drive side to accommodate larger gravel tyres.

2023 Enigma Edge - dropped chainstay.jpg

Enigma reckons around 50mm is possible, although it does say things will be tight, and suggests 47mm of clearance is more realistic when taking into account various wheel and tyre combinations.

2023 Enigma Edge - fork clearance.jpg

A 45mm tyre hits the sweet spot, which to my mind makes the Edge very capable for the kind of gravel conditions we have in the UK.

2023 Enigma Edge - seat stays.jpg

As I said earlier, Enigma has specced a T47 bottom bracket, a kind of amalgamation of the dimensions used for a press-fit setup but with threaded bearings to stop any nasty creaks from water and dirt ingress.

The BB shell is investment cast and is designed to allow for the internal hose and cable routing.

Enigma Edge: Geometry

The Edge is available in six sizes ranging from a 50 through to a 60. That equates to top tube lengths of 497mm to 600mm. We have the 56, so a top tube of 558mm with a 540mm seat tube.

2023 Enigma Edge - rear.jpg

The head tube is 165mm, with a 71-degree angle. The seat angle is a little steeper at 73 degrees. All of this gives stack and reach figures of 602mm and 375mm respectively.

2023 Enigma Edge - head tube.jpg

The fork offset is 50mm across the size range, as are the chainstays at 430mm.

2023 Enigma Edge - fork.jpg

The overall wheelbase length for this 56 model is 1,033mm.

Enigma Edge: Pricing & finishing kit

Ownership of an Enigma Edge starts at £2,299 for a frame only, should you fancy creating your own build from scratch. Add a carbon gravel fork (£399), headset (£79) and seatclamp (£0) and you have a frameset for £2,777.

2023 Enigma Edge - down tube.jpg

Enigma also has some full build guide prices on its site beginning with Shimano GRX 810, Hunt Gravel X-Wide wheels, Maxxis Rambler tyres and C-Six finishing kit for £4,195.

A GRX 815 Di2 2x 11-speed build with similar finishing kit to the above but with an upgrade to Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel wheels is £5,645, or if you really want to push the boat out then a Campagnolo Ekar 1x 13-speed with Levante Carbon wheels is £6,000.

All of those prices are for the standard hand-brushed frame finish with satin bead logos, but you can upgrade any frame only or build option to a satin bead finish with brushed logos for an extra £225, or satin bead finish with mirror logos for an extra £340.

Our build is a Shimano GRX 810 1x groupset using a 42-tooth chainring and 11-42T Deore XT cassette.

2023 Enigma Edge - drive train.jpg

GRX is Shimano's gravel groupset range, offering 1x and 2x chainsets with smaller chainrings than you'd find on its road offerings.

2023 Enigma Edge - crank.jpg

The STI brake/shifter units are pretty close in terms of ergonomics to 105 or Ultegra, but the brake levers have a flat section on their frontal area which gives you extra grip when braking hard on descents. You also get raised grip sections on the hoods too, to stop your hands slipping in the wet or when they are sweaty.

2023 Enigma Edge - lever.jpg

The gear shifting is great – very precise even when covered in mud and grit, and, in my opinion, nicely weighted so you can feel that a shift has taken place up and down the cassette without having to look.

2023 Enigma Edge - cassette.jpg

The 160mm brake rotors and hydraulic callipers work extremely well, with loads of power and plenty of modulation.

2023 Enigma Edge - front disc brake.jpg

For the cockpit we have a PRO Discovery handlebar with plenty of flare to the drops, which gives a wider stance for more stability when riding on loose surfaces, and the shallow drop lets you get plenty of use out of them too.

2023 Enigma Edge - bars 3.jpg

The stem is a simple aluminium affair which is Enigma branded, and it does the job.

2023 Enigma Edge - stem.jpg

At the back end there is a short-nosed Enigma saddle whose minimal padding and shape I got on with very well. Its titanium rails are attached to the C-Six carbon fibre seatpost which, just like the stem, does everything asked of it, even if they aren't really components to get excited about.

2023 Enigma Edge - saddle 2.jpg

Our build has a set of Hunt 4Season Gravel wheels. We've tested loads of wheelsets from Hunt over the years and have found very little to fault. That doesn't change here. With a 25mm internal width they are well suited to gravel tyres and have taken on every bit of terrain and conditions I have tasked them with.

2023 Enigma Edge - rim 2.jpg

The wheels are decked out with a pair of tan-wall Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S tyres which I was very impressed with when I reviewed them early last year. They are a touch on the weighty side, but for the wet winter conditions of the test period they have been brilliant thanks to plenty of tread depth for traction.

2023 Enigma Edge - tyre.jpg

Enigma Edge: Value

The price of the Edge reflects both the quality and the small scale sales volume of a company like Enigma. You can get cheaper framesets, but the Edge is similarly priced to others (and less expensive than some).

The Van Nicholas Rowtag that Mat reviewed back in 2021 has a frame, fork and headset price of £2,299. That's the same price as the Ribble Gravel Ti frameset recently reviewed by Suvi over on off.road.cc.

Suvi also reviewed the Landrace Tupelo frameset which she was very impressed with. A frameset comes in at £2,795, although it is more of an 'all-road' kind of design, with a maximum tyre clearance of 35mm.

The Orro Terra Ti has more tyre clearance than the Landrace, although it's still not quite as roomy as the Enigma. It's a lovely bike to ride, though, and available in a range of builds or a frameset for £2,599.99.

At the other end of the scale, you have something like Mason's Bokeh Ti, a titanium beauty handmade in Italy. A frameset will set you back a cool £3,800. I rode the latest alloy version recently, the Bokeh 3, while reviewing it for off.road.cc.

Enigma Edge: Conclusion

The Edge is an elegant-looking gravel machine with a great performance and a geometry that is so well balanced it works on pretty much every kind of surface. It's available in loads of build options, so you can also spec a bike to suit your style of riding.

Verdict

Versatile, easy-to-ride titanium gravel bike finished to a high standard, with stunning ride characteristics

road.cc test report

Make and model: Enigma Edge Frameset

Size tested: 56, 558mm

Frameset

Tell us what the frameset 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?

Enigma says, "EDGE is the latest addition to our collection of high-performance gravel bikes, meticulously crafted for riders seeking the ultimate off-road adventure. With its stunning hand-built titanium frame and unrivalled strength, EDGE is the perfect choice for those who demand the very best in durability and performance.

Thanks to its impressive off-road capability, EDGE offers an unbeatable ride experience, catering to the needs of even the most hard-core gravel riders. Whether you're tackling steep inclines, powering through rugged terrain, or cruising on smooth cinder tracks, EDGE has got you covered.

One of the most impressive features of the EDGE is its clearance for tyres up to 50mm, allowing for superior traction and stability on any terrain. And with several new technical features, such as a beautifully crafted investment cast T47 threaded BB for easy internal cable routing, sculpted rear thru-axle dropouts for a super-smooth look and a single-side drop-chainstay yoke for extra clearance, EDGE offers enhanced agility and tyre options, making it the perfect choice for even the most demanding of gravel riders.

So, if you're looking for a top-of-the-line gravel bike that can keep you ahead of the pack, look no further than EDGE. With its stunning aesthetics, superior durability, and unmatched performance, EDGE is sure to be your go-to bike for all your off-road adventures."

The Edge is a well-designed and built frameset with plenty of mounting options should you fancy an adventure.

State the frame and fork material and method of construction

FRAME MATERIAL: Custom butted, Size Specific, Grade 9 3Al 2.5V CWSR Ti Tube Set

FRAME FINISH: Included Hand Brushed with Satin Bead Logos

AXLES: 12mm x 100mm Front, 12 x 142mm Bolt Thru

BOTTOM BRACKET: Investment Cast T47

BRAKE MOUNT: Flat Mount, 140 or 160mm Rotor

SEAT TUBE INTERNAL: 31.6mm or 27.2 with a shim

SEAT TUBE EXTERNAL: 34.9mm

HEADSET: Integrated ZS44 Upper / EC44 Lower (Chris King Inset 7/8)

TYRE CLEARANCE: 700c Max 50mm

FRONT DERAILLEUR: 34.9mm Band On

SEATPOST: 31.6mm or 27.2 with shim

Overall rating for frameset
 
9/10

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

Exceptional build quality with tidy welds and neat additional details.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

There are no surprises with the geometry. It is very typical compared with a lot of gravel bikes for the main reason that it works. The Enigma has balanced handling and a surefooted chassis, while still remaining fun to ride.

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

The height and reach are typical of a gravel bike of this size.

Riding the bike

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

Very comfortable. The butting on the tubing gives a supple ride feel.

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

The stiffness in the lower half of the frame means the Edge is responsive to hard efforts.

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

That stiffness translates into good efficiency overall, especially as a fully built up bike is a decent weight.

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? On the fun side of neutral.

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

Easy-to-live-with handling that is direct and easy to control on all kinds of surfaces.

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

How did the build components work with the frame? Was there anything you would have changed?

Every component used in the build complemented the frame and fork. I liked the wide flare of the handlebar and the Pirelli tyres were very capable for the wet and muddy conditions I rode the bike in.

Your summary

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Its price reflects the quality and the small scale sales volume of a company like Enigma. Framesets from the likes of Ribble and Van Nicholas are cheaper, but the Edge is similarly priced to others mentioned in the review.

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:
 
5/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

This is a very good all-round gravel and adventure frameset; it has a great ride quality and isn't overpriced for the quality of the build and finish.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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10 comments

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 9 months ago
0 likes
Quote:

and you get those corrugations left from past rainwater which can pass vibrations up through your wrists and arms. Yes, you can let your tyres down a bit, but you can't mask harshness from a poor frame.

since the front wheel is connected via the forks and stem to the bars, how can the frame possibly affect the amound of vibration felt at the wrists and hands? I can well believe it may be more comfortable at the saddle, but the amount of damping at the rear end is not going to do much for your hands.

So is this comment about masking harshness of poor forks? And of course the properties of titanium make little difference to the carbon forks anyway.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to wycombewheeler | 9 months ago
0 likes

Arguably the headset bearings closely couple the frame and forks enough to transmit high frequency vibration.

**Arguably**. Im with you though...

Avatar
IanEdward | 9 months ago
0 likes

I'm rarely inspired by the looks of modern gravel bikes but even with the dropped chainstay that's a lovely looking bike, looks quite 'racy' compared to some other gravel bikes? Still looks compact and fast even with 45mm tyres.

 

Avatar
jackseph | 9 months ago
0 likes

I have (what I think is) the predecessor to this frame, an Escape, and it is very very good.

Avatar
kg | 9 months ago
0 likes

I'm dying to get some idea of the 'stunning ride quality' declared in title and synopsis, but that's as far as any description got.
I'm still none the wiser on what or how that ride quality was concluded
A mystery.

Avatar
Sredlums replied to kg | 9 months ago
1 like

I'm wondering if you actually read the article?

The whole first part under 'Enigma Edge: The ride' is about exactly that. You may find it too vague or too little or whatever, but saying 'that's as far as any description got' is just plain nonsense.

Avatar
Tony Farrelly replied to kg | 9 months ago
0 likes

…did you try reading the 11 paragraphs at the start on what it's like to ride?

Avatar
Sredlums | 9 months ago
4 likes

A titanium railed saddle, carbon seatpost, carbon wheelset, but the kit "isn't exactly top-end".
Yes, I know there are more expensive/exclusive/lighter parts than this, but still this feels out of touch with what the general cyclist rides and can afford.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to Sredlums | 9 months ago
0 likes
Sredlums wrote:

A titanium railed saddle, carbon seatpost, carbon wheelset, but the kit "isn't exactly top-end".

The wheels are alloy.  The saddle and seat own brand OEM items, probably £100 tops at wholesale prices.   Seems a fair assessment to me.

Avatar
Sredlums replied to Secret_squirrel | 9 months ago
0 likes

I stand corrected on the rims.
Fair enough, I guess, all in all you are right.

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