Argon 18 Sum 2023

The Argon 18 Sum is the Canadian brand's new do-it-all lightweight aero road bike that it claims will get you ahead on the climbs, keep you there on the flats, and power you through the sprints. It provides impressive performance, with comfort that belies its looks and sharp handling, but something doesn't add up with the pricing and the sum of its parts.

Note: Argon 18 says the Sum will be available to buy in spring 2023.

With the Sum, Argon 18 claims to combine the lightweight performance of its Gallium Pro with the aerodynamic benefits of its Nitrogen, both of which are set to be phased out. The form is similar to others, with dropped seatstays and a slim profiled main triangle designed to accept fully internal cable routing.

If you're interested in this sort of machine, check out our Best Aero Road Bikes buyer's guide.

The frameset is available in two versions: an upper-level Pro with a 'Pro Level Layup' composite construction, and an 'Elite Level Layup', as on the Sum that we have to test. The weight of each version differs slightly, with the Pro being slightly lighter, 890g vs 850g for a medium size.

The Sum we're testing is the Rival AXS model, which costs £5,399 and weighs 8.14kg without pedals. The weight isn't exceptional, but the components used indicate that there are numerous ways to reduce it if you wished to.

The ride

When I first took the bike out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the tyres, and how narrow they were: 25mm tyres on 20mm ID rims don't suggest a comfortable ride. How could I be so wrong? Definitely a case of appearances being deceptive.

The rear was impressive in how well it smoothed things out while riding, even with inner tubes and at pressures higher than I would normally use on a tubeless setup (90psi vs 70psi). It isn't a completely magical carpet ride, but for a race-orientated bike it is extremely impressive.

The weight isn't anything to write home about, but the bike manages to convey a sense of urgency while climbing. The wheels on our test bike aren't the ones it will be shipped with, but they appear to demonstrate the bike's capability well, with very little lateral flex, which helps provide a better understanding of the frame's potential.

Cornering and descending are highlights, and with a few drier days to really test and enjoy the handling, it is a stable ride that provides confidence on the faster downhills.

The more I rode the Sum, the bigger my smile became, as it continued to deliver in virtually every area and on every ride that I tested it on. It feels sharp and smooth, and it encourages you to push harder, resulting in a speedier ride.

That said, I would like to have been able to test it with a fully tubeless setup and see what difference increasing the tyre width to 28mm could have made, especially on our typical British roads.

The 'Argon Fit System', as Argon 18 refers to its geometry, is designed to provide consistent performance and handling for all riders. The head tube angle for the size small frame on test is 72.1 degrees, the seat tube angle is 74 degrees, and the reach is 389mm. Those are comparable to the Specialized Tarmac, which is likely the major rival – 72.5 degrees, 74 degrees, 383mm – with minor variances visible across all sizes.

Fit preference can vary from person to person, and I found that the size of the bike I tested was ideal for my 168cm, height and 56cm inseam. That isn't what the Argon 18 size chart would suggest, though, with the XS frame size recommended for riders up to 175cm and with a 79cm inseam. The seatpost fitted well within the minimum and maximum guidelines, so I wouldn't depend too heavily on the size guide.

Frame

The Sum frame has lowered seatstays, a sculptured seat tube, and a head tube that flows into the down tube, giving it a very similar look to rival models.

The hour-glass head tube is different to most, but still allows the frame to accommodate the FSA ACR headset system and internal cable routing. Although the cockpit is entirely internally routed, the choice of a conventional handlebar as opposed to an all-in-one bar and stem combo makes for easier swapping if something doesn't suit.

Argon 18 has also specified its 3D headset system, which allows the stack height to be adjusted in a different way to traditional round spacers, and, Argon 18 claims, increases stiffness.

The system uses an integrated section, essentially taking the place of a headset top cap, in a choice of three sizes: 0mm as fitted, 10mm or 20mm.

You need to choose the height before routing internal cables, although there is still the option to increase the handlebar height as the FSA ACR headset system has split headset spacers – assuming there is sufficient steerer tube length remaining.

All Argon 18 Sum and Sum Pro builds use SRAM AXS groupsets, but they can accommodate Shimano Di2 or a mechanical groupset if you want to switch. Or you can just buy the frameset, which might be the best option for many in terms of value, as I shall get on to later.

The seatpost clamp is hidden and accessed under the top tube, but it's simple to use and remained secure throughout testing with no movement or noise. The seatpost itself is slim, with a D-shaped design, and the top tube that holds it in place is barely wider, giving it a very sleek appearance.

The test bike is equipped with 25mm tyres, but Argon 18 claims that 32mm tyres can fit – in fact it says 'Max tire size 30c (32mm). This is less than some, but I believe it is adequate for the type of riding the bike is intended for.

A press-fit BB86 bottom bracket is unlikely to appeal to everyone, and many riders might prefer a threaded option to make BB changes easier.

Another small but frustrating feature is that the rear derailleur hanger is held in place by a tiny bolt. It feels secure with the axle in place, but there is a lot of movement with the wheel out, and I would be especially careful when removing or refitting a wheel to avoid it breaking off.

Groupset

Both Sum builds feature SRAM AXS 12-speed groupsets, Rival on this Elite level model and Force on the Pro.

With a 48/35-tooth chainset and a 10-30 cassette, it has a wide range that I found adequate for steeper climbs of up to 25%. The SRAM Rival setup can accept a larger 10-36 cassette if desired, whereas the Force version is limited to a 33-tooth maximum.

Shifting performance is adequate but not exceptional; compared to Shimano Di2, I found it to be a little slower and noisier, both while shifting and during normal riding. The Rival shifters require a little more effort than the Force or Red AXS versions, but this is something you can adjust to. There are some advantages, and overall I find the shifting style to be very intuitive, with a simple app connection where adjustments can be made if wanted.

The SRAM Rival brakes are impressive, providing plenty of power along with good feel and modulation, and very little noise in the wet or when riding out of the saddle, which may suggest good fork and frame stiffness.

The only thing I question is the use of a 140mm rear disc, as there is little real benefit to using a smaller rotor size, and I think more riders would benefit from a 160mm on both front and rear.

Finishing kit

As I said earlier, Argon 18's decision not to have a bespoke integrated cockpit setup makes it easier to swap out the handlebar if it doesn't suit. It's an alloy FSA Energy SCR compact, with a comfortable flattened ergonomic shape on the top, and enough space for computer, light or other mounts on either side of the stem.

On all widths, the compact bar has a 123mm drop, 78mm reach, and 4 degrees of flare. SCR stands for Semi-Integrated Cable Routing, which completely conceals the brake cables through the handlebar, stem, and frame.

I found the Argon 18 handlebar tape to be sufficiently grippy in all weather conditions, but it is quite thin and one area where front end comfort could be improved easily and inexpensively. Our guide to the best bar tapes has some you should consider if you don't have a favourite. 

The Selle Repente Quasar saddle is one that I tested as a standalone product here on road.cc and found comfortable. The overall shape is similar to that of a Specialized Power, with a short overall length and wide rear.

Wheels & tyres

The Argon 18 Sum comes as standard with a Vision Team 30 wheelset and Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR 700x25 tyres, but our test bike came with DT Swiss E1800s. These have the same 30mm rim depth as the Visions and are a similar weight, with the Visions a claimed 1,900g and the DT Swiss a claimed 1,800g. Neither are particularly light wheelsets, so this is one area where you could save quite a bit of weight.

The wheels lack the immediate acceleration of a lighter set, but they have felt stiff and do not detract from the overall ride experience and confidence that the frameset inspires. Although I can't provide feedback on the Vision Team 30 wheels, an upgrade to a lighter set would undoubtedly make a noticeable improvement.

As well as the wheels being different to the standard spec, our test bike came with one non-tubeless Rubino Pro tyre and one Vittoria Corsa TLR, both 25mm, so I wasn't able to test how the bike rides with a full tubeless setup.

While the ride is surprisingly comfortable, it could be improved by switching to a slightly wider tyre and a tubeless setup, which would allow the pressures to be dropped slightly without fear of pinch punctures. The result, I suspect, would be an incredibly comfortable and fast bike.

Rivals & Value

So far, so good. The Sum is a bike that performs admirably in almost all situations, and while it isn't particularly light, it is difficult to fault as an all-rounder.

But, and it's a big but: the price.

The Sum is a tough sell at £5,399 for a bike with a Rival AXS groupset and some relatively basic finishing kit and wheels.

It is not alone at this price point, with the Specialized Tarmac SL7 Comp, which shares the same groupset, costing £5,500. But Cannondale's SuperSix Evo is £4,500, and Trek's Emonda SL6 is £4,300, both with Rival AXS groupsets.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the price is a problem Argon 18 has created itself. At the time of writing, a frameset costs £2,799, and if you factor in £1,500 for a Rival AXS groupset, £300 for Vision Team 30 wheels and a modest £300 for finishing kit, you will save yourself £500. I asked a local bike shop what it would cost to build a bike from scratch, for those who might not want to do it themselves, and was quoted £175, to include all internal cable routing. This would still save £325, and that's without looking around for better component prices.

Conclusion

The Argon 18 Sum performs admirably compared with other bikes of a similar design, and I really loved riding it. On twisty downhills, it handles beautifully and has a snappy feel. The Rival AXS groupset performs adequately enough, and the setup benefits from being wireless.

However, even though it is £100 less than the similar Specialized Tarmac, it still leaves you wondering about the overall value, when you consider that it would be less expensive to buy the frameset and all the components separately, even taking into account the cost of getting someone to build it for you.

Verdict

A superbly confident, fast and comfortable bike, but a question mark on the pricing...