force gravel bike Look G85 Cezal Force AXS Bike

The Look G85 Cezal Force AXS Bike is LOOK Cycle's flagship gravel platform, built on a carbon frame and fork that draws from the French brand's road racing carbon heritage going back to 1986. "Cezal" references the Cezallier plateau in France's Massif Central — volcanic highlands, rough tracks, and relentless rolling terrain that shaped what the bike needed to do. This is a fast gravel bike designed for speed across mixed surfaces, with the range and spec to handle a full day of varied riding.

The carbon frame runs 50mm tire clearance — the factory-spec 700x45 Hutchinson Touareg tires leave 5mm of additional room, and the frame will accept up to 50mm in a single-ring configuration. Geometry is modern gravel-race: head tube angles of 69.5° to 70.5° (slacker than road, stable on loose terrain), a consistent 425mm chainstay across all five sizes, and reach values that step from 360mm at XS to 400mm at XL in 10mm increments. The seat tube angle holds at 74° throughout the size run, positioning the rider forward enough to pedal efficiently on sustained climbs without sacrificing control on descents. LOOK also designed the G85 Cezal to accept suspension forks up to 60mm travel without altering the frame geometry — an option for riders building a more technical configuration.

One of the G85 Cezal's most deliberate details is an integrated downtube storage compartment with a waterproof internal pouch. Gravel riding creates a constant minor friction around where to carry flat kit, nutrition, and small tools without bolting bags onto a carbon frame. LOOK routes storage directly into the carbon structure — cleaner than any frame bag, quieter over rough terrain, and sealed against weather. Internal cable routing runs throughout the frame and fork, keeping the exterior lines uncluttered and protecting housings from debris accumulation on long rides.

SRAM Force AXS XPLR 13-Speed Drivetrain

This build ships with the full SRAM Force AXS XPLR E1 groupset — XPLR (Cross-Land Performance Racing) being SRAM's gravel-dedicated drivetrain architecture. The rear derailleur pairs with the XG-1371 cassette running 10-46t across 13 speeds. On the G85 Cezal's 40t single chainring, that produces a gear range of roughly 460%: the 40x46 combination handles steep sustained gravel climbs while 40x10 spins out at respectable road pace on pavement transitions between trail sections. Shifting is wireless throughout, with the Force AXS E1 levers handling front and rear with no mechanical cable runs to the drivetrain. SRAM Force hydraulic disc calipers provide consistent stopping in wet and dry conditions without the maintenance demands of mechanical systems.

Fulcrum Soniq Carbon 2WF Wheels

The stock wheelset is the Fulcrum Soniq Carbon 2WF — Fulcrum's gravel-specific carbon wheel built on their 2-Way Fit tubeless-ready rim standard. Carbon wheels are a meaningful spec distinction at this price point: the Soniq Carbon reduces rotational weight and adds lateral stiffness compared to an alloy alternative, which is most perceptible on sustained climbing and in high-speed descents where wheel flex becomes noticeable. The factory-fitted Hutchinson Touareg 700x45 tires are a capable choice for the majority of gravel use cases — grippy on loose surfaces, efficient enough on hardpack to ride road connectors without penalty.

Cockpit and Contact Points

The handlebar is a Deda SuperZero Gravel alloy bar with a flared drop shape that widens hand positions for improved control on rough descents while maintaining a natural road position on the hoods. The stem is LOOK's own LS3, paired with the LS1 UD Carbon seatpost at 27.2mm diameter — a slightly compliant post diameter that takes the edge off long-day road buzz. The saddle is the Look/San Marco Shortfit Offroad, a short-nosed design suited to the forward, rotated gravel riding position. The T47 threaded bottom bracket shell handles SRAM DUB and most major crankset standards.

LOOK Cycle is a French brand with roots in clipless pedal development (1984) and carbon frame manufacturing (1986), and the G85 Cezal applies that accumulated material expertise to the demands of modern gravel riding. At $7,500 with carbon wheels, 13-speed wireless SRAM, and integrated downtube storage, the G85 Cezal Force build is spec'd for riders who want a gravel bike capable of racing and capable of exploration — without making trade-offs in either direction.