Ride Quality

A hand-built carbon frame makes the Diamondback Haanjo Comp Carbon a strong competitor in the gravel bike reviews. Weighing in under 21 pounds, the climbs on the Haanjo are pure joy. Our gravel test course featured a beautifully pitched, long gravel climb, which the Haanjo mastered with surprising ease. The 71 degree head angle rides slack (45 mm fork offset), making for a confident and smooth front end. The longer top tube (560 mm on the 56 cm) perfectly opens up the rider for the climb and descent. The frame feels perfectly stiff and a bit snappy, while also not communicating every vibration from the road (38c tires, fat bar tape help).

Stiffness-to-Weight/Power Transfer

At 20 pounds, the Haanjo feels light on the climb, or hoisting onto a roof rack. Compact FSA Gossamer cranks with a FSA bottom bracket provides a stiff and stable deck. The Haanjo specs a very enjoyable handlebar, the DB X-Durance Gravel Bar. Thick in the palm, wrapped with absorbent tape (EVA cork with gel) and stiff on the out-of-saddle sprint. The frame and fork are both full carbon, with endurance geometry, creating a stiff yet light ride.

Climbing/Efficiency

Haanjo Comp Carbon offers an unusually pleasurable climb. The reasons are many. The bike is stiff in all the right places, with a hand built carbon frame. The geometry is a bit slack, a bit long, and wide open on the bar. On top of that, the Haanjo is light. Add in the Schwalbe G-One 38s, and you have in-the-saddle quality climbing on nearly any surface.

Descending/Handling

When you first dive in on the downhill, all of the qualities that made for excellent climbing also make for enjoyable descending. Slacker angles on the front side, wide tires, a longer frame with wide bars combined for joy. Then you reach for the Shimano 105 ST 5800 brake levers, which activate the TRP Spyre mechanical disc (160 mm front and rear rotors), and your descent becomes significantly less enjoyable. These brakes don’t match the performance found on the rest of the bike — and pale in comparison to even lower-end hydraulic disc brakes — which hinders its overall performance and at times makes descending more stressful than fun.

Components: Drivetrain, Shifting and Brakes

FSA Gossamer Compact 46/36 (2×11), with Shimano 105 front and rear derailleurs, and Shimano 105 shifters provides an ideal range of gears from climbing and descending (Shimano 105 11-32 cogset). The 105 is reasonably crisp, and entirely functional and reliable in shifting. The TRP Spyre brakes didn’t provide adequate stopping power, forcing the rider to be extra vigilant. They may break in and perform better, though our initial reaction was unfavorable.

Wheelset

The 700X40c Schwalbe G-One tires, wrapping HED Tomcat Disc 24 hole rims an appropriate setup for this bike. The wheels held up well to hard gravel riding, but may not be the strongest for large riders with 24 spokes. The G-One tires are a gravel rider favorite: Low rolling resistance, great traction, sticky in the corners.

Value

You have a lot of choices once you eclipse the $,2000 price point. The Haanjo is worthy of consideration as an all-around solid bike, and an excellent frame. Components are reasonable (minus the brakes), a good value especially for the weight conscious.