Pickenflick vs tempest

im looking for a titanium, do it all gravel bike

theres so many beautiful ones from boutique manufacturers but all sadly out of my budget

i have been looking at the on one Pickenflick and have been unable to find a used one, so I’m considering buying new.

does anyone know the difference between the on one Pickenflick and Planet X tempest…. are the frames essentially the same? Has anyone ridden both?

i prefer the look of the tempest but I’m not too fussy

any other suggestions?

cheers

Get the Tempest – it’s a better thought out and newer frame design that’s the PnF.  It’s also hot a much better name.

I was coming to that conclusion, I wish I wasn’t as the spec I’d like (but can’t afford) is available on the tempest, Sram force and 650b wheels

anyone got a mate at Planet X that can get me discount? Haha

Haven’t ridden the Tempest, but saw one up close at Yorkshire True Grit, and it looked great.

If you ended up with the Pickenflick, I don’t think you’d be disappointed … I’ve had mine since January and it’s by far my favourite and most ridden bike.

The pickenflick is one of my all time fave frames. Covered around 7k miles over two years on one and don’t think I’d ever sell it.

I’ve not ridden a tempest so can’t compare

Thanks for replies, it’s good to hear positive experiences

just need to figure out how much I can justify spending

What’s the tyre clearance like at 650b? Seems a bit pointless dropping a wheel size to only gain ~3mm of width? Probably saves some weight, but isn’t the point that you’re supposed to match the original diameter of a CX tyre to keep the rollover whilst adding width?

Most 650b gravel bikes seem to use 47-55mm tyres.

You can get a 2.1 wtb nano 650b in a PF. Not sure what that is in metric sizes. Plenty room in frame, fork tighter but does fit.

Good point, I’m only looking for the option to run 2.1 front and 1.95 rear, for more off-road use

I’ve got Specialised Trigger 700x47c in my Pickenflick. A little tight at the arch of the fork, but no rubbing (and as it’s a very shallow tread, no mud build-up). TBH, not sure I would want to go wider (and in fact, may revert to my Continental 42c tyres as the sweet spot for grip/rolling speed/ lightness.

2.1 at front was a close fit. Ok I’m dry conditions but If you’re going 1.95 rear and expect to be going through and collecting mud id go 1.95 front too, just to have a bit more space.

Can’t comment on the Tempest but the Pick has been fine for me since very early 2014. If buying second hand check tyre clearance. A 35 mm CX tyre leaves a couple of mm gap at the chainstays. Mud needs 32 mm really. But it is a cx bike so a big tyre isnt needed.  A 40 mm Nano won’t allow the wheel anywhere near the drop outs. Maybe its the age?  Maybe Brant can comment.

Fork finish is poor.

I use a shim and a 27.2 seatpin.

Mine is mostly my road bike but has done a few CX races, gravel andthings like the HONC.

Watch prices/spec. They change all the time.

Is the Pickenflick plain gauge? whereas the Tempest states its triple butted.

Early frames are different to the later ones. I have loads of room with 40s using a 30mm rim.

not sure if the pickenflick is butted but the frames weights are very close so would think they’re similar or the same tube.

Can’t comment on the Tempest but the Pick has been fine for me since very early 2014. If buying second hand check tyre clearance. A 35 mm CX tyre leaves a couple of mm gap at the chainstays. Mud needs 32 mm really. But it is a cx bike so a big tyre isnt needed.  A 40 mm Nano won’t allow the wheel anywhere near the drop outs. Maybe its the age?  Maybe Brant can comment.

Think the earlier frames had tighter clearance than the current ones. Mine is under a year old and easily has room for 700 X 42 rubber (currently got 47s in there) … so no such worries with the current frame for 33/35 mm tyres.

I have a Tempest with 142 bolt through drop outs and it is ace! Loads of clearance for wide 700 so 650b no problem. Beautiful finish and rides superbly. Amazed they haven’t seemed to catch on like the Pickenflick. Done 24 hour plus audaxes and light trail riding/ touring on mine and it is so versatile have 2 wheel sets, wide and comfy with tough tyres and fast light and lean… get one!

cheers again everyone… Ben, your last post is a pretty convincing sell

imgetting pretty close to blowing my budget and ordering a tempest

do Planet X ever do any big discount codes?

Do PX ever do discounts?😂😂😂😂😂

The prices change every day. Catch them right and the deals are good.  If you miss a deal, ring them up and haggle. That worked for me.

Spoken to them…. no haggling success!

the search continues…. £1500 max budget and that’s stretching it

any other options?

the search continues…. £1500 max budget and that’s stretching it

Look in PX Clearance bikes. They have the Tempest V1 at £1499 (L or XL). Pickenflick 2×11 HRD SRAM Rival for £1299.

The Tempest V3 is also available at ‘only’ £1599 in SRAM Rival.

Not much more searching needed in my view!

I know, been tempted to push but today but… don’t want 2×11 and not sure about rival… had force on my last bike but that pushes me over budget…. ahhh decisions decisions.

Out of interest, does anyone know the difference between the tempest v3 and v2 ( v1 apparently was rear qr but can’t find what changed from v2 to v3)

I may have answered my own question….

9mm rear axle to thru axle

flat mount brake

think that’s it though

Rival works well (but I’ve not had anything higher)

(2×11 also works well actually … I’d originally wanted 1×11 but they didn’t do that version on Finance at the time)

Pickenflick Rival 1 (ie 1×11) is only £1399. Force 1 is only £1599 (ie only just over your budget).

TBH, you are not going to get a better value Ti bike for your budget, unless you’re lucky and get something second hand. Given it is something that you’re likely to keep for a few years, the groupset is always something you can upgrade at some point down the line

All good points…

shame there’s nowhere I can see the tempest and Pickenflick in the flesh.

i would normally rather buy 2nd hand but can’t find anything at all

the force Pickenflick is hellishly good value!

Whereabouts are you? I’m in Leeds so welcome to come and view/ride my Pickenflick if you’re anywhere close by (and are of average height)!

Cheers for the offer, much appreciated but I’m in Cornwall

There’s not A pickenflick. Mine’s one of the early ones and I run up to 650×2.2 speedkings / 650×2.1 Kenda spikes / 700×42

If they made my frame with through axles* I’d buy it in an instant but until they do you can prise mine from my cold dead hands.

*My spike tyres and rotors sometimes grind a bit if it’s really gritty and I’m really cranking and I think bolt throughs would help.

I have had a Tempest since June and would highly recommend it.  Plus points over the Pickenflick:

Thru axles front and rear on the tempest which are much better than qr when using disk brakes

Greater clearance on the gravel fork specced  on the tempest over the cyclo cross fork on the Pickenflick

I have run 700c wheels with 40 c tyres for road riding including a few club runs and although heavier than my carbon bike it very comfortable over long distances.

Also did the Yorkshire True Grit with 650b wheels and 49c gravelkings and it was perfect, flew past people with skinnier tyres with little risk of pinch flats. I have also run it on the road with WTB horizon 47c tyres and it is just as fast as 700c on the rough roads round Harrogate.

email me if you want some photos of the bike

richwak@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks for the last two replies… really helpful.

i have concluded that I want to buy a v3 tempest (force) but sadly it’s  too far over budget…. I will try and be patient and see if any discounts appear

It’s a small detail, but the Tempest appears to have mudguard and pannier mounts whilst the Pickenflick doesn’t; this would make a difference to me if I were in the fortunate position of being able to afford either.

I have concluded that I want to buy a v3 tempest (force) but sadly it’s  too far over budget…. I will try and be patient and see if any discounts appear

Make sure you sign up to the PX mailing list as you do get regular notifications of their deals. I’d been watching the ‘discount cycle’ from them for a couple of years, regular discounts but some better than others. Cheapest I ever saw the Pickenflick was early December last year (when I ordered mine), which correlated to the same period the year before.

Also, they often do 0% finance offers, which spreads the pain a little.

Save up. Stop drinking. Ask for money for Xmas & birthdays. Work out how much you want it!!

Hi,

Thought it best to tag onto the end of this thread rather than starting another one.

I’m pretty close to hitting the buy button on one of these bikes. I will probably go for the tempest over the pickenflick mainly due to the thru axles and mudguard mounts although budget may yet dictate that I end up with the pickenflick.

However I have a few question for owners of both.

Firstly what size is everyone on? I’m 6’3 with a 33″ inseam so according to the size charts I’m in XL territory. My mtb (Cannondale F29) is a large which feels good and my road bike (Ribble 7005 Sportive) is a 58 which I sometime think is a tad short but it’s my only ever road bike so I have nothing to compare against. Anyone with any advice on sizing?

Also, does anyone know what the max chain ring size is on either of these bikes. I’m looking to go 1×11, either force or rival. They both come with a 42 tooth chainring but just curious if bigger can be fitted if the need arises.

Cheers for any help, Rob.