The latest Look 795 Blade RS is a breakout design for the French carbon specialist.
Look has done everything you'd expect for a modern race bike – reduced the weight, made it more aerodynamic and upped tyre clearance.
It has also completely revamped the geometry and fit across the whole size range. The aim is to make you faster and more comfortable, whatever shape of rider you are.
All-new frame design
The new frame has seen a 15W drag reduction to 205W at 50kph, according to Look. However, the brand is keen to point out that the aerodynamic design was created with emphasis on a wide range of yaw angles. The aim was to make the 795's handling and speed consistent no matter what the prevailing conditions are.
In tandem with the aerodynamics, the new Blade RS has been made lighter, bringing the frame down to a claimed 890g in a size medium (reduced by 160g from the previous model), with the fork weighing 340g.
The frame and fork now have 34mm tyre clearance, and the rear dropout is UDH.
Look has also increased the stiffness at the bottom bracket and the head tube. It claims to have averaged out the stiffness figures across rival WorldTour bikes, saying the 795 Blade RS 3 is 10% stiffer than the average for both numbers.
Look has used a new carbon fibre layup and shaping for the fork legs and seatstays to engineer in vibration-damping flex.
The Blade RS 3 isn’t a cheap bike, and Look says it has been engineered to last. It surpasses safety standards, bringing the fatigue testing to 110% of the requirements of ISO 4210, with the impact test pushed to 160%. Look backs the Blade RS with a full lifetime warranty.
Look 795 Blade RS 3 – what you need to know
- 890g UD UHM carbon frame (medium), UDH-compatible, 34mm tyre clearance (front and rear), with lifetime warranty
- 340g fork available in three offsets
- 6.9kg complete weight (Size M, without pedals)
- 15W saving for the complete bike-and-rider system compared to the previous 795 Blade RS at 50kph
- 10% stiffer than the WorldTour average at the bottom bracket and front end
- More than 350 fit combinations; new Aero Carbon RS 3 handlebar (380/400/420mm widths, compatible with the previous generation's 360/440mm); seven stem lengths (80 to 140mm); 0 to 50mm headset spacers; new Aeropost 5 seatpost with two offset options
- Groupset options: Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Dura-Ace Di2; SRAM Force E1 AXS; Campagnolo Super Record 2x13
- Wheel options: Look R45S, Mavic Comete 50, Fulcrum Speed 57, Scope Artech 6.A
Geometry and fit
While the 795 Blade RS 3 retains the same handling geometry as the previous Blade, Look has reimagined the sizing and introduced more overlap across the six sizes. That means the majority of riders will have a choice of two sizes, combined with the three fork offsets.
The new Aero Carbon RS3 cockpit designed for the Blade RS 3 comes with three width options – 380/400/420mm – along with 0-50mm of stack adjustment. Stem-length options from 80 to 140mm in 10mm increments and two seatpost offsets result in 350 fit permutations.
You can effectively set up the Blade RS 3 with a high and balanced endurance bike ride position, right down to a low and forward position using the longest stem option, zero-offset post and zero stack.
Pricing and range details
The 'Your LOOK à la Carte' configurator offers full customisation, either through a Look dealer or directly from Look's website.
There are four colour options, including the bold Iconic Prisme, which celebrates Look’s heritage inspired by Piet Mondrian’s modern-art colour palette.
The range is topped by a limited edition of 50 bikes globally in the Iconic Prisme Replica with a claimed weight of 7.1kg, and built with Campagnolo Super Record and Bora WTO 60 Ultra Team wheels. It is an exact replica of the Team Cofidis bikes being raced at this year’s Tour de France. The limited-edition Iconic Prisme Replica retails for €13,990 / £13,299.
The 795 Blade RS 3 is available as a complete bike, starting from €8,490 / £7,990 (Shimano Ultegra Di2, Look R45S wheels) and rising to €13,190 / £13,299 (Campagnolo Super Record, Scope Artech 6.A wheels).
The 795 Blade RS 3 is also available as a frameset in all four finishes for €4,990, or €5,780 / £4,750 including the full Look cockpit.
