Get ready for a thrilling ride as Genesis, the UK's adventure and touring bike specialists, has just unveiled three exciting prototype bikes at the IceBike show in Manchester. Among these prototypes is a standout all-road model, the new Genesis Equilibrium, which is sure to turn heads and spark conversations. But here's where it gets controversial... Genesis is keeping us on our toes by not officially confirming the names of these new models, but we've got some pretty solid clues!
The all-road prototype is almost certainly the new Equilibrium, while the gravel bike is a revamped Fugio, and an eye-catching 32"-wheeled gravel bike will join the Vagabond range. For the sake of clarity, we'll refer to them by these names in this article, focusing on the Equilibrium, as it's right up road.cc's alley.
Ryan Carroll, chief engineer at Genesis' parent company Madison, has shared some fascinating insights into the development of the new Equilibrium. He explains how the project began with a focus on optimizing the bike by using different strength steels in specific areas. "We wanted to create a bike that offered a unique riding experience by combining materials strategically rather than relying on a single premium, ultra-stiff front triangle," Carroll says.
The down tube, bottom bracket, and chain stays were identified as key areas of focus, leading Genesis to custom-make the downtube in Japan with their own trusted supplier. "This heat-treated steel is top-notch," Carroll adds. The chainstays, made from heat-treated chromoly, work in harmony with the downtube to deliver precision and power.
Moving up the frame, the top tube is crafted from chromoly to provide riders with that classic, smooth steel feel and compliance. And let's not forget the new carbon fork attached to the sizeable head tube, which features a 1 1/4-inch taper to maintain those "proper" proportions, according to Carroll.
The bike is optimized for 40mm tires and wireless, electronic groupsets, with only the rear brake cable running through the frame.
Now, onto the juicy details of pricing and availability. While we don't have exact figures yet, we're told that fully-equipped versions of all three prototypes should hit the market later in 2026. Given the use of electronic, wireless groupsets in the new Equilibrium, we can expect a starting price that's higher than the current Equilibrium model with a mechanical 105 groupset, which retails at £2,699.99.
The new Fugio gravel bike will offer a budget-friendly option with mixed components, as well as higher-spec models with full Shimano CUES groupsets, all sharing the same frameset. As for the 32"-wheeled Vagabond, pricing details are still under wraps, but we're hopeful for more information in the spring.
We've put in our request for test bikes, so stay tuned for full reviews of all three models on road.cc and off.road.cc later this year!
And this is the part most people miss... the real magic of these bikes lies in the thoughtful combination of materials and the engineering expertise that went into creating them. So, what do you think? Are you excited about these new Genesis prototypes? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
