Summary
- The original Kanzo Fast, launched in 2020, was one of the first gravel bikes designed for speed rather than adventure. The 2.0 updates it for how gravel racing looks six years later.
- Three headline changes: tyre clearance goes from 42 mm to 58 mm, the frame loses 150 g, and the geometry is revised from Ridley's ASTR platform.
- Ridley's own tests: the 2.0 on 55 mm tyres is 2 W slower than the original on 38 mm for the bike alone, and 7 W faster with a rider on it.
- 1x electronic only. Four sizes. Three builds from €5,499 to €11,699, frameset €4,499.
- Frame material and weight are not stated in the launch material.
Why a second Kanzo Fast
In 2020 an aero gravel bike was a strange idea. Gravel was about bikepacking and 40 mm tyres. Ridley, which had the Noah Fast on the road, decided racing off road would go the same way as racing on it and built a gravel frame with aero tubes. It was right, and the Kanzo Fast has been the reference point for the category since.
What changed is the tyre. Gravel racers now run 45 to 55 mm tyres because the rolling resistance gains on rough ground outweigh the aero cost. The original Kanzo Fast maxed out at 42 mm. That is the problem the 2.0 solves.
The 58 mm clearance
The new frame takes a 58 mm tyre, which is a 29x2.3 mountain bike tyre. That is among the most generous clearances of any gravel race bike. Ridley is clear that the bike is not designed around one width: run 58 mm for rough courses, or something narrower to gain mud clearance in a wet race.
The benefits of a high volume tyre are known. Lower rolling resistance on rough surfaces, more grip, more comfort, fewer punctures. The cost is aero drag, and that is the trade Ridley's wind tunnel work is meant to address.
What Ridley's aero numbers actually say
Ridley tested at its Aero Performance Lab and published two figures, both at 36 km/h.
Bike alone. The Kanzo Fast 2.0 with 55 mm tyres is 2 W slower than the original Kanzo Fast with 38 mm tyres. Read that carefully: a bike wearing a tyre 17 mm wider gives up only 2 W. The aero work on the frame has almost entirely cancelled the penalty of the fat tyre.
Bike plus rider. With the new geometry putting the rider in a lower, longer position, the 2.0 on 55 mm tyres is 7 W faster than the original on 38 mm.
Two caveats. These are manufacturer figures with no independent verification yet. And the second figure depends on a rider position that not everyone can hold for a six hour race. The honest conclusion is that the frame makes the wide tyre free in aero terms, and the geometry might make you faster if you can use it.
The aero shapes come from the Noah Fast 3.0: an enlarged aero down tube, a longer head tube, and profiles tuned for airflow around a wider tyre.
Geometry
Ridley started from its ASTR all road platform and changed four things.
- Lower bottom bracket, to compensate for the bigger tyre raising the bike.
- Fork rake adapted to the larger effective wheel radius, for more precise steering.
- Chainstays kept as short as possible. This is possible because the frame is 1x only, so there is no front derailleur to clear.
- A steeper seat tube, to move the rider forward and make the aero position easier to hold.
The numeric geometry chart is published on Ridley's site. Four sizes only, which BiciDaStrada notes is at least one fewer than the main competitors. If you sit between sizes, that matters; our Ridley gravel size guide covers the Kanzo range.
Storage and details
Down tube storage compartment with two padded pouches. Top tube mounts. Compatibility is exclusively with 1x electronic drivetrains, which is a clear statement about who the bike is for and also why it starts at €5,499. The frameset includes CeramicSpeed SLT headset bearings and the 4ZA Nimbus Pro integrated cockpit.
Builds and prices
| Build | Groupset | Wheels | Cockpit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanzo Fast 2.0 | SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x13 | DT Swiss GRC1400 Dicut | 4ZA Nimbus Pro | €11,699 |
| Kanzo Fast 2.0 | SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1x13 | Forza Skiron RS | 4ZA Nimbus Pro | €6,999 |
| Kanzo Fast 2.0 | SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1x13 | Forza Skiron CG40 | Forza Cirrus Pro | €5,499 |
| Frameset | 4ZA Nimbus Pro included | €4,499 |
Colours and build can be customised through Ridley's configurator. The Force build at €6,999 is the one most racers will look at: same frame, same cockpit, and the Forza wheels are Ridley's in house brand with a good record.
What Ridley has not said
The launch material does not state the frame material, though the aero shaping and the Noah Fast lineage make carbon a safe assumption. There is no frame or complete bike weight beyond the 150 g saving. Availability is not stated. We would want the weight before comparing it with the Factor Elara, which quotes under 1,100 g for the raw frame.
Is the original now obsolete
No. If you race on smooth gravel and are happy at 40 mm, the first Kanzo Fast is the same idea with a proven frame and a growing pre-owned market. Its 42 mm limit is the only real constraint, and for many European events it is not one. The 2.0 is the bike for riders who have already moved to 50 mm tyres and are fighting their frame to do it.
The Ridley Kanzo collection on Bikeroom lists both generations and the Kanzo Adventure. The Ridley collection covers the wider range, and the Noah Fast collection shows the road bike the 2.0's aero shapes come from. The gravel category has the alternatives from other brands, and our groupset explainer covers the SRAM XPLR systems specified here. Our IBF 2026 roundup puts the 2.0 next to the other gravel launches from Misano, the evolve CIMA GR included.
If you are deciding between a new 2.0 and a pre-owned original, talk to our concierge.
Sources: BiciDaStrada.it, 27 August 2026; Ridley official site.
