I can already hear the comments… Pashley? Wasn't that the brand behind the wicker-basket bearing Princess? That lot who made the Royal Mail’s rides when I was a kid?
I do like a nice steel bike, and I love to see the custom creations at Bespoke or NAHB, but I've never really wanted one, not since I was a poor student in 1994 when I lusted after a classy (now classic) steel Colnago. That's now changed with this lovely looking machine.
Now, admittedly, Pashley has made some very cool bikes; there’s the Hipster gold-star bearing Guv’Nor, and who can forget the super-cool mountain bike TV series made famous by the talented Tongue brothers' antics.
Things started to look up when Pashley announced the Roadfinder at the start of this year, which appeared to be a solid, do-it-all classic British road bike, albeit with a nice, stylish twist and a hint of the new technology Pashley introduced alongside its traditional manufacturing expertise.
In Pashley’s 99-year history, however, it appears the brand has learned a great deal. This new bike showcases its frame-building mastery and sets the agenda for what we can expect from the Stratford-upon-Avon-based manufacturer in the future.
Cutting-edge in steel
The new Roadfinder SL is something very special. Not only is it one of the best-looking new bikes of 2025, it’s also steel, and under the skin it’s made with the sort of craftsmanship and tech know-how that would shame the most exclusive boutique frame builders.
The tubeset comes from fellow West Midlands outfit Reynolds, in the shape of its legendary seamless 853 tubeset, custom drawn for Pashley in this SL version. That’s combined with 3D-printed stainless steel junctions, along with cast pieces. The mixture of materials means a multitude of fabrication techniques.
So, every Roadfinder SL frame has traditional brazing, TIG welding and even silver soldering to join its component parts.
The frame weight is down to around 1,600g, which is very light for steel, even more so when you consider the Roadfinder SL is a disc frameset with 12mm thru-axles, mudguard eyelets and a UDH dropout.
Fantastic ferrous
Pashley’s attention to detail is evidence of a brand that’s serious about making one of the most advanced steel frames available.
The brand says it re-evaluated every component of the frame fabrication. This involved redesigning and removing material from every 3D-printed element without compromising its structural integrity. It also involved a new custom 853 tubeset produced in collaboration with Reynolds – made exclusively for the Roadfinder SL.
The special tubeset developed with Pashley takes in the smallest of details. "Positions of tube butts and wall thickness all came under additional scrutiny for weight reduction; the top tube, for example, now has reduced butt lengths and a central portion that is only 0.4mm thick,” Jon Cumberpatch, lead designer at Pashley, explained.
It's all in the details
Every element of the frame has come under scrutiny, without compromising style. Take the left-hand rear dropout; it still bears the signature casting Pashley ‘P’ emblem, but internally and structurally, Pashley has worked to reduce the weight by 30g.
With a combination of laser-cut pieces and lots of 3D printing rendered in stainless steel, the Roadfinder SL is the most advanced steel frame Pashley has ever produced.
Other details, such as a 3D-printed stainless steel front derailleur hanger, help reduce weight, while the frame is solidly up to date with a threaded T47 bottom bracket and UDH rear dropout.
The frame is designed for internally routed brake hoses and electronic drivetrains. So, once Pashley had fabricated the frame with its multitude of routing ports, it needed to make sure the steel isn't vulnerable to corrosion.
Pashley CEO Andy Smallwood explains: "Once the fabricated frame is finished, we shot-blast it in-house to clean and remove any impurities as well as adding further marginal improvements to the frame's strength and durability. We then send it for electro-coating, which completely covers the frame inside and outside in a 2-micron thick durable layer to fully protect from corrosion and act as an initial base ahead of painting."
That's a huge improvement in anti-corrosion compared to a standard primed and painted frameset.
The wet-paint process is then applied with graphics and logos stenciled and painted rather than decals. This also gives Pashley lots of options with regard to custom colours and customisation options.
Minimal manufacturing miles
Pashley has been fabricating steel frames at its Stratford factory for 99 years. Unlike many of its rivals, it hasn’t seen the need to move manufacturing overseas for cost savings.
The tubesets come from Reynolds in Birmingham, a distance of only 26 miles (42km), and the 3D-printed stainless parts are produced locally too. The whole fabrication, painting and assembly process is done in-house, too.
It’s impressive to think that your first ride out on a Roadfinder SL could well be the longest distance it has ever travelled.
Realistic prices
What would you expect to pay for a handmade, state-of-the-art, custom tubeset and 3D-printed steel frame from a boutique builder?
I’d suggest thousands for the frameset alone. So, when Pashley gave me the UK price list for the Roadfinder SL, I had to double-check it hadn’t made a mistake.
The bike shown here, with Shimano Ultegra Di2, Parcours carbon wheels, Zipp carbon bar, seatpost and stem, finished with Vittoria Corsa tyres and a Brooks Cambium saddle and bar tape, costs £5,495.
With bikes starting from £3,950, the range-topping Campagnolo Super Record 13-equipped bike is £8,995. I can’t think of another handmade steel bike that gets close to that sort of value.
- Pashley Roadfinder SL Shimano 105 Di2: £3,950
- Pashley Roadfinder SL Shimano Ultegra Di2: £5,495
- Pashley Roadfinder SL Shimano Dura-Ace Di2: £8,495
- Pashley Roadfinder SL Campagnolo Super Record 13-speed: £8,995
- Pashley Roadfinder SL frameset: £1,795
Custom coming soon?
I like the idea of a handmade steel bike made in Shakespeare’s home town that could cut it with the most exclusive handcrafted boutique builds for a fraction of the price.
Smallwood told me that, because of the new techniques and technology used on the Roadfinder SL, along with having complete control over the whole manufacturing process, Pashley is looking into offering full-custom options around the new range of performance bikes.
