New Crux DSW: Specialized's sporty gravel bike now in its best aluminum

From being a pure cyclocross bike, the Specialized Crux opened its sights towards that more sporty gravel cyclist looking for a lightweight, stiff, and high-performance bike. A bicycle that now comes in an aluminum version with the spectacular DSW welds, acronym for D'Aluisio Smartweld, with which they achieve an incredibly light frame of 1,399 grams.

High-performance aluminum for the new Specialized Crux DSW

Based on its renowned Specialized Crux now, the Californian brand transfers that design to a frame of its premium E5 aluminum that incredibly precisely joins and shaves every gram without loss of strength through its DSW system that in the past has allowed us to enjoy incredible bikes made of this material.

Initially, Specialized achieves the lightest aluminum gravel frame in the world with only 1,399 grams, allowing the assembly with SRAM Apex AXS with which the complete bike will be marketed to remain at a spectacular 9.37 kg in size 56. A spectacular figure for a bike with an aluminum frame.

The key to these figures lies in the welding system of its DSW or D'Aluisio Smartweld aluminum tubes in which aluminum tubes are hydroformed to more precisely match the tube joints. With the tubes placed precisely for welding, only the minimum material needs to be added to consolidate the joint. All with full control of the process that eliminates the margin of error attributable to the welder, making it unnecessary to add extra material to ensure the reliability of the joint. Finally, the hydroforming of the tubes allows for saving welds of shapes that, for example, the down tube and the bottom bracket constitute a single piece.

This new Specialized Crux DSW does not give up features such as a very wide tire clearance of up to 47 mm or a geometry adjusted to also be able to mount 27.5'' wheels with the ability to use tires up to 2.1'' which undoubtedly increases the range of use of a bike that, despite everything, has in its genetics the speed and performance compared to the more adventurous Diverge, the other gravel bike in the Specialized catalog.

Speaking of geometry, it is worth mentioning that the Specialized Crux DSW has sporty dimensions, with a long reach and a fairly low head tube angle to achieve a very aggressive riding position.

All this together results in a gravel bike that is not only the lightest aluminum one but also offers excellent handling and great responsiveness, making the mantra of light, stiff, and reactive become an all-in-one in the Specialized Crux DSW.

Specialized Crux DSW: Setups and prices

Crux DSW

• Price: €2,700
• Weight: 9.37 kg
• Frame: Specialized E5 aluminum with DSW welds and hydroforming
• Fork: S-Works Fact carbon
• Groupset: SRAM Apex XPLR 12v 40T chainring, 11-44 cassette
• Handlebar: Specialized Adventure Gear
• Stem: Specialized 3D Forged aluminum
• Handlebar tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
• Wheels: DT Swiss GT540
• Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2BR 700x38c
• Seatpost: aluminum
• Saddle: Body Geometry Power Sport

Frame kit

• Price: €1,650
• Weight: 1.98 kg
• Frame: Specialized E5 aluminum with DSW welds and hydroforming
• Fork: S-Works Fact carbon