Belgian custom bikebuilder Jaegher adds new top-tier stainless steel FL.X Ascender Phoenix to their road bike line-up, leveraging 3D-printing and Artificial Intelligence to give the bike the smooth curves we expect from modern carbon bikes. Calling it a “step into the future”, the new stainless steel Jaegher Ascender Phoenix road bike is made-to-measure for each buyer with a 3D-printed headtube, ‘tailfin’ seat cluster, and dropouts that add up to seamlessly smooth good looks. And of course that classic lifetime steel ride…
Jaegher Ascender Phoenix custom stainless steel road bike
I always love to ogle beautifully-crafted handmade steel bikes. And we never really tire of seeing cool 3D-printed parts find their way into the bike building process. So Jaegher’s latest creation is our kind of jam.
Debuted over the weekend at their home Velofollies show, Jaegher created their latest fully-custom Ascender Phoenix road bike by mixing the latest in manufacturing tech up against the most advanced iteration of the most classic bike building material.
In order to match 3D-printed stainless steel parts with a fully-customizable fit, they let a parametric model powered by AI tweak the shaping of the headtube, seat cluster & dropout alignment. Then, they can just pop in the straight top tube and seatstays. Weld it all up, and the end result is as curvy as carbon, with all that makes stainless steel bikes great.
Ride it hard for a lifetime. High stiffness, yet tuned compliance. No corrosion or crash damage worries. And no paint needed, really. Although, Jaegher does some great paintjobs that highlight the beauty of stainless steel without going overboard.
Tech details
Matching 8 round stainless Columbus XCR steel tubes to 4 custom 3D-printed parts, Jaegher seamlessly TIG-welds a frame in Belgium that combines all the best characteristics of a modern road bike with the lively ride and timeless durability of stainless steel. What’s more, Jaegher claims that it weighs just 1400g.
Plus, the Ascender Phoenix features the latest standards. Fully integrated internal cable routing for wireless drivetrains. Customizable 30-35mm max tire clearance depending on the buyer’s needs. A T47 threaded bottom bracket.
Additionally, it sticks with proven standards where they work best. 12mm thru-axles and flat mount disc brakes. A 27.2mm seatpost (with an internal clamp built into the seatlug). An IS headset fits the 1.5″ tapered steerer Enve carbon fork. And a clamp-on front derailleur hanger for clean 1x or 2x builds.
Jaegher Ascender Phoenix – Pricing, options & availability
The new made-in-Flanders Jaegher FL.X Ascender Phoenix sells for 6950€ for the frameset, with fully custom geometry. That then includes the stainless steel frame and carbon fork.
Plenty of complete custom bike options are also available, with a Builder’s Choice SRAM Force AXS build featuring Enve Foundation wheels totaling up to 13,590€.
Bikes require a 1250€ to get the ball rolling. Jaegher frames typically have a 7-10 week lead time, while complete bike builds add anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month extra. Officially, the first new Ascender Phoenix frame deliveries are slated for “the summer of 2024”.
