T-Lab X3 could be the best Titanium Gravel Bike: Won't destroy your Wallet

2025 t-lab x3 titanium gravel bike review — 2025 T-Lab X3 Titanium Gravel Bike

T-Lab Bikes

“Our gravel bikes are what put us on the world map; they continue to redefine what’s possible with regards to high performance durability for off-road adventures. Through our unique Ti shaping capability, we can deliver unmatched stiffness and responsiveness while maintaining titanium’s legendary comfort and impact resistance. Designed for maximum tire clearance, enhanced stability and versatility, our gravel bikes bikes will allow you to push the limits on any terrain—whether you’re racing, bikepacking, or finding new places to explore.” – T-Lab Bikes

In this video, JOM of Gravel Cyclist presents his real-world, no BS review of the made in Canada, T-Lab X3 Titanium Gravel Bike.

2025 T-Lab X3 Titanium Gravel Bike Review

Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription

“Designed for maximum tire clearance, enhanced stability and versatility, our gravel bikes bikes will allow you to push the limits on any terrain—whether you’re racing, bikepacking, or finding new places to explore.”

“The 2025 X3 delivers unmatched multi-surface performance and comfort, given an enhanced maximum tire clearance of 700x50c. Featuring UDH compatibility and now available with the option of going fully internal for your cable routing. Exceptionally responsive and smooth.”

Written Ride Experience, or See Video Above

Tipping the scales at 19.5lbs / 8.8ks with these excellent Baumier GT24 carbon wheels with Pi Rope hubs and spokes, review of this wheelset coming later, King titanium bottle cages, Panaracer Gravelking SK tires in 700c x 45mm, and Shimano XTR Pedals, I have absolutely no quibbles about the bike’s weight. Titanium bikes are heavier than carbon bikes, but the durability of titanium cannot be faulted. Both materials have their advantages, but that’s not the point of this article.

Ride quality and improvements of each preceding generation of the X3 have added up to the point I feel where I feel it would be difficult for the boffins at T-Lab HQ, aka really smart people, to improve this bike any further. A serious first world problem. It’s got the big tyre clearance of 50mm which will cover the dodgy road needs of most riders, but I generally get about most of the time on 43 or 45mm tyres, but having that wiggle room for mud clearance is really nice.

t-lab x3 titanium gravel bike review 2025 — 700c x 50mm of Tire / Tyre Clearance

I ride one-handed a lot slinging a camera about the place, not really recommended, but the X3’s predictable handling and stable platform make it a bike you can feel confident riding pretty much anywhere. I have ridden the previous generation of this bike at the crazy Rock Cobbler event in Bakersfield, California, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring this latest X3 to that party.

The X3 feels responsive whether I ride it in or out of the saddle, and it’s a bike I can chuck about the place. It doesn’t follow the trend of longer top tube shorter stem bikes, which in some examples results in a bike I find to be lumbering, floppy, and sloppy, and generally a bit uninspiring and boring to ride. Any time I pop a leg over the X3, I’m excited about the ride, the fun, and breaking away from the reality of my regular work life… I do work 40 hours a week. Adding to this, you have a unique bike that isn’t the same boring stuff everyone else is riding, and in my case, I love the green and gold Australian themed livery; T-Lab can build and paint something special for you too.

Whether you’re into performance oriented riding with your mates, gravel racing, ascending steep, or not so steep climbs, or stooging about the countryside as I love to do, the X3’s versatility on all fronts has gotten better with this latest design.

Something I plan to do soon, and there will probably be video; think slapping on a Tailfin rack, the Tailfin trunk bag, a Routewerks handlebar, and the Dark Speed Works top tube bag, to the X3. This provides the perfect setup for slack packing aka credit card packing, aka me riding point A to B, and staying in a hotel / motel… but without the bike weighing a ton, and riding like a clapped out, ill-handling minivan.

Another fact, the X3 is capable enough to be one bike to do it all. A second pair of wheels shod with 700c x 32mm roadie tubeless tyres, instant pavement going road bike, you get the picture.

Wrapping up, pricing on this example is somewhere around $US 6,500 with Mavic’s excellent Allroad wheels, which I have reviewed. Certainly, this isn’t a cheap bike, but when you compare it to other bespoke builders, some of these other brands are charging upward of $US 6,000 for a titanium frame only… learn more about T-Lab Bikes at their website.