Bombtrack Beyond: which model should you choose for the way you travel?
Quick orientation table
If you have landed here, you have probably already understood one thing: under the Bombtrack Beyond name there are bikes that are very different from one another.
The choice is not so much about the level of build kit, but about the terrain you want to ride and the way you travel.
| If your main use is... | Model to consider |
|---|---|
| Gravel roads, forest tracks, smooth dirt roads and long mixed-surface connections | Beyond 1 Adventure |
| The same kind of riding, but with more control and comfort on continuous rough ground | Beyond SUS |
| Trail & Adventure Off-Road riding, high-volume tyres and important luggage loads | Beyond+ |
| The same Beyond+ philosophy, but with a build already oriented towards expedition use | Beyond+ ADV |
| Very heavy loads, equipment-heavy travel or cargo-adventure use | Beyond+ Midtail |
| A more pragmatic, budget-oriented approach | Beyond AL |
Want to see the models, colours and availability currently in the range? Browse our selection of Bombtrack bikes and frames.
Why does the Beyond family exist?
At first glance, many Beyond models look similar.
Large wheels, a robust frame, travel-ready mounts, load-carrying capacity.
In reality, over the years Bombtrack has built a family of bikes designed to solve different problems.
The real question is not which Beyond is best.
The real question is when a simpler platform stops being the most coherent choice.
To understand this, it helps to start from a basic distinction: the difference between gravel, adventure and touring bikes.
Read more: Adventure vs Gravel vs Touring
When is a gravel bike no longer enough?
A modern gravel bike can handle a lot.
Gravel roads, mixed routes, light travel, bikepacking and long days in the saddle.
But there is a point where the issue is no longer speed or efficiency.
It becomes the bike’s ability to keep working well when the surface gets worse for hours or for days.
Rocky tracks, washboard, broken forest roads, heavy luggage, high-volume tyres and remote routes often require a different platform.
This is exactly the territory where the Beyond family was born.
Not to go faster.
But to keep working when the terrain stops cooperating.
Beyond 1 Adventure
The Beyond 1 Adventure is the entry point into the Beyond philosophy.
29" wheels, stable geometry, clearance for generous tyres and a platform designed for long-distance travel on mixed surfaces.
It is the most natural choice for riders who tackle:
- dirt-road touring
- gravel roads
- forest tracks
- road connections
- multi-week trips
It is not designed for technical trail riding.
It is designed to cover distance when dirt roads become the norm.
Within this platform you will find both complete bikes, Beyond 1 and Beyond 2, as well as the Beyond Adventure frameset for custom builds.
Beyond SUS
The right question is not whether the SUS is better than the Beyond Adventure.
The right question is:
Do I really need a suspension fork?
When the surface becomes continuously rough, with washboard, rocks and repeated vibrations for hours, a suspension fork can improve control and comfort.
If your trip mostly takes place on gravel roads and smooth dirt tracks, a rigid fork remains a simpler, lighter and easier-to-manage solution.
The SUS exists for riders who often find themselves in that grey area between travel and off-road riding.
Beyond+
With Beyond+, the terrain changes completely.
Here we enter what we define as Trail & Adventure Off-Road.
Read more: Trail & Adventure Off-Road.
Much higher-volume tyres, more stability-oriented geometry and high load-carrying capacity make it possible to tackle routes that would put a traditional gravel bike in difficulty.
The question that often leads towards a Beyond+ is:
How much does tyre volume really matter?
The more broken, remote and physically demanding the terrain becomes, the more tyre volume stops being a detail and becomes an integral part of the solution.
The Beyond+ family includes both complete bikes and the related framesets for custom builds.
Beyond+ ADV
The ADV is not a different platform.
It is a more specialised interpretation of the Beyond+.
Fork, cockpit, wheels and components are already oriented towards remote and demanding use.
This does not mean it can reach places that are out of reach for a standard Beyond+.
It simply means it starts from a build very close to what many expedition riders would eventually create themselves.
Beyond+ Midtail
The Midtail is probably the most distinctive project in the entire family.
The integrated rear rack and extremely long rear triangle place it in a category of its own.
It is not simply designed for travel.
It is designed to carry a lot.
It can make sense for:
- long expeditions
- travel with heavy loads
- photographic or professional equipment
- cargo-adventure use
- daily transport combined with travel
It is a platform with very few real equivalents on today’s market.
Beyond AL
The Beyond AL follows a different logic.
It does not try to replicate the feel of steel.
It does not try to be the most specialised version in the range.
It is simply the most pragmatic Beyond.
A platform that keeps the general philosophy of the family, but with a more accessible and function-oriented approach.
How to really choose
If your main terrain is made of gravel roads, forest tracks and mixed-surface connections, Beyond 1 Adventure remains the most natural starting point.
If the surface gets consistently rougher and comfort becomes a priority, Beyond SUS may make sense.
If the trip involves remote dirt roads, high-volume tyres and important loads, the reference point becomes Beyond+.
If carrying cargo is an integral part of the project, Beyond+ Midtail plays a completely different game from all the others.
In short
The right question is rarely:
Which Beyond is the best?
More often, it is:
Which Beyond makes sense for my trip?
Between a compact forest road, a remote route, an alpine crossing with luggage or a cargo-adventure use case, the differences can be huge.
The right platform is not the most expensive one.
It is the one that keeps working well in the context it was designed for.
If you are unsure between two models, we can help you interpret geometry, load capacity, compatibility and possible builds, starting from the real use you have in mind.
Bombtrack Beyond FAQ
1) Do I really need a Beyond, or is a gravel bike enough?
If your riding is mainly on gravel roads, rough asphalt and compact dirt, a modern gravel bike may be enough. The Beyond range starts to make sense when the surface gets consistently worse, the load increases or the trip becomes more remote and demanding.
2) What is the difference between Beyond 1 Adventure and Beyond+?
The Beyond Adventure is designed for dirt-road touring and mixed-surface travel. The Beyond+ is closer to the Trail & Adventure Off-Road world, with higher-volume tyres, more stability and a better ability to manage broken terrain and important loads.
3) How much does tyre volume matter for off-road travel?
The rougher, more remote or sandier the terrain becomes, the more tyre volume affects comfort, traction and control. This is why Beyond+ platforms use much more generous tyres than Beyond Adventure models.
4) When does a Midtail really make sense?
The Midtail starts to make sense when carrying cargo becomes an integral part of the project. Very long trips, professional equipment, cargo-adventure use or the need to carry more material than usual are the scenarios where the platform shows its advantages.
5) Is it better to start from a frameset or from a complete bike?
It depends on your intended use and on the components you want. A complete bike allows you to start with a proven build straight away. A frameset makes sense when you want to choose wheels, fork, drivetrain and components very precisely according to the trip you are planning.