Festka Spectre Gravel review: a gloriously rapid and welcoming off-road ride – but the price is scary

The Festka Spectre Gravel shows a fast gravel bike doesn’t need 50mm+ tyres. Amazingly low weight and finessed handling make this Czech superbike frighteningly quick everywhere. 

The Spectre Gravel takes its design inspiration from the brand's stiff/light road race frameset. 

Festka uses exclusively Japanese carbon fibre and a filament-winding process to its own specifications. It claims the process enables it to tune the ride quality to individuals, alongside the fit.

It all comes together in a bike that’s very special. It's road-bike rapid on tarmac and smooth gravel, yet the quality of the frame and fork mean it revels in the rough, too. 

I haven't experienced many race-ready lightweight gravel bikes that are this versatile and this much fun to ride. However, it comes at a price very few will be able to afford. This fully custom bike would cost £13,900 / $18,553 / €16,900, including the preliminary consultation and full bike-fitting service.

Festka Spectre Gravel performance 

The first thing that hits you when you get on the Spectre Gravel is the weight, or lack of it. The 7.58kg weight for my size-large bike may be bettered by the likes of Specialized’s S-Works Crux at 7.25kg, but the Spectre’s ride outclasses the Crux. 

The Festka's steering responses are very keen, but not twitchy, thanks to the relaxed 71.5-degree head angle and 64mm trail. With a 1,036mm wheelbase, it feels road-bike agile, too. 

The steering geometry numbers are one thing, but it’s the intoxicating blend of stiffness where you need it and compliance elsewhere that both reduces vibrations and takes the sting out of harder-edged ruts, roots and rocky sections.  

The build on show here was put together by UK bike fit specialist The Bike Tailor. It doesn’t cut any corners.

The SRAM Red XPLR AXS drivetrain matches a 44-tooth chainring with a 10-46 13-speed cassette. I found the gearing ample for everything on- and off-road, with the direct-mount (UDH-compatible) derailleur performing flawlessly and quickly in all conditions and all weather. 

The bike’s responses are quick. It’s a wonderful bike on which to attack trails, short sharp climbs, and long stretches of smooth gravel and tarmac. It accelerates quickly and softens poor surfaces brilliantly. A lot of that is down to the frameset, but plenty more comes from the unique Biturbo wheels.  

These have a D-shaped rim and six-aerodynamic spokes that are flow-optimised into the hubs. They have an effective rim depth of 39.5mm that’s 31mm wide externally and 26mm internally. 

Bike Ahead claims the wheels are optimised for tyres up to 58mm (2.3in) wide, although the Spectre, like most gravel race bikes, has a maximum of 50mm. 

Here, they are shod with 40mm-wide Tufo Thundero gravel tyres. While these may seem narrow by modern gravel standards, in the damp yet drying conditions of UK spring I’ve been impressed by how rapidly they roll and the level of grip.  

I’ve also used the Thunderos on my own gravel bike, and while I wouldn’t recommend them for year-round riding, as a summer tyre they are one of the quickest-feeling I’ve tried. 

The Biturbo wheels are similar to Black Inc’s Five wheels, in that you get the feel of a deeper aero carbon rim without the downside of crosswind interference or pressure.  

They may look a little different from standard gravel wheels, but I liked how they rode. They're stiff without feeling hard or harsh on rougher surfaces, yet fast with it. However, if you’re a rider who competes in UCI-sanctioned events, they aren’t legal in road racing or cyclocross due to not having the minimum UCI requirement of 12 spokes. 

The Spectre is a joy to ride fast; its steering response, combined with the frameset’s blend of stiffness through the bottom bracket and compliance elsewhere, builds confidence. I was as happy sprinting through singletrack trails and rooty woodland as I was on wider gravel roads and tarmac.  

It has none of the nervousness of aero-gravel bikes such as the previous-generation BMC Kaius, or the hard-riding stiffness of the S-Works Crux. 

The lightness means it’s an easy bike to flick around. I’ve never tired of the fun of bunny hopping over roots, flicking the rear out over obstacles and generally getting the Spectre purposely out of shape.

There is one big issue with the Spectre Gravel, however, and that’s the price. A fully custom made-to-measure carbon frameset doesn’t come cheap, starting at £6,950 / $9,500 / €7,900. 

This full-custom build by the Bike Tailor is priced at £13,900 / $18,553 / €16,900, including the preliminary consultation and full bike-fitting service. 

Its more mainstream competition would be bikes such as the S-Works Crux at £11,700 / €12,800 / $11,999, or Cannondale’s Lab 71 SuperX at £12,500 / $12,499 / €12,499.  

For something a bit more exotic and in line with the full-custom approach, its competitor would be the likes of Italian custom carbon builder Sarto and the Raso Gravel at £8,210 / $8,250 / €7,750 for the frameset. A complete bike in a similar spec costs £14,190 / $17,290 / €13,990.  

Our current gravel bike of the year, Parlee’s off-the-peg Taos in a similar high-end specification, is priced at £12,890 / $12,490.  

Is it worth it? Well, that depends on how deep your pockets are. It's a fantastic bike with a sublime combination of low weight and quick yet stable handling, and it takes the sting out of rough surfaces brilliantly. If I could afford the Spectre, I wouldn’t think twice. 

Festka Spectre Gravel bottom line 

The Festka Spectre Gravel occupies the rarefied space of fully custom carbon gravel superbikes.

It won’t appeal to everyone, but if you have the resources to indulge in a bike created specifically for you, that can be specified, built and finished to your exact wishes, I can’t think of a better blend of exclusivity and performance than the Spectre Gravel.  

It delivers such a brilliant balance of lightness, handling, comfort and speed. The Spectre Gravel offers five-star performance without a doubt, but the price prevents a full five-star rating.