About The Parlee Taos Tier Three Carbon SRAM Force XPLR AXS Gravel Bike

The Parlee Taos Tier Three is a race-ready gravel bike built around a one-piece UD carbon monocoque frame and fork, designed for washboard, loose descents, and technical singletrack rather than smooth gravel roads alone. Parlee's human-centric carbon lay-up filters out high-frequency vibration, which matters on a 100-mile day when fatigue compounds. This Tier Three build pairs that chassis with SRAM's Force XPLR AXS electronic groupset, a 40T chainring and 10-46T cassette, and a ZIPP 303 XPLR S / Goodyear XPLR Inter 45mm wheel-and-tire package — a spec for riders covering mixed terrain without needing a second bike for the rough sections.

Geometry carries as much of the story as the components. A 430mm chainstay, ~68.75–69.75° head-tube angle, long front-center, and low bottom bracket put the Taos in confident-descender territory, while a fork flip-chip (45/51mm axle-to-crown) lets a rider adjust handling for a given course or tire choice. Tire clearance extends to 50mm, well beyond the 45mm Goodyear tires it ships with, leaving room to size up for rougher routes.

Who It's For

        Riders doing long, rough gravel days (50–100+ miles) who want a frame tuned for descending and singletrack, not just fire roads

        Riders who want electronic shifting and a wide-range 13-speed cassette (10–46T) for mixed climbing and fast-rolling terrain

        Riders running 45–50mm tires who want frame clearance to match

        Not the ideal fit for riders whose gravel riding is mostly smooth, non-technical roads, where a lighter, road-biased frame may suit better

What to Look For

        Fork flip-chip setting (45mm vs. 51mm axle-to-crown) changes handling — pick based on terrain and tire size

        Crank length runs 165–175mm on a T47 bottom bracket (optional CeramicSpeed upgrade) — confirm fit before ordering

        Seatpost offset differs by spec (Parlee carbon, 25mm offset, vs. FSA SL-K, 0mm) — match it to your current saddle position

Key Features

The frame and fork are molded as one-piece UD carbon monocoques, with a 142mm rear thru-axle, UDH compatibility, and a 100mm thru-axle fork with hidden cabling. The fork's flip-chip changes axle-to-crown height between 45mm and 51mm.

Shifting comes from SRAM's Force XPLR AXS electronic groupset: a 13-speed rear derailleur, 10–46T cassette, and 40T chainring on a Flattop chain, covering gravel's steep pinches and flat sections without a front derailleur — a braze-on mount and blanking panel are included if a rider wants to add one. Braking is SRAM Force AXS hydraulic disc, with the fork rated for 160mm or 180mm rotors.

The wheelset is ZIPP's 303 XPLR S, a hookless carbon rim on center-lock hubs, paired with 45mm Goodyear XPLR Inter tubeless tires that ship with sealant already installed — lower rotating weight and lower pressure without pinch-flat risk on rough or loose surfaces.

The FSA K-Wing AGX bar and SMR-II stem support integrated or semi-integrated routing, keeping cables off the frame's exterior. Headset bearings are Enduro stainless as standard, with a CeramicSpeed upgrade path available for both headset and bottom bracket.

Rider Intent Summary

        Biggest strengths: Descending-oriented geometry, electronic shifting with wide-range gravel gearing, and tire clearance that outpaces the stock 45mm setup

        Tradeoffs: Ships as a 1x-only build; riders wanting a 2x setup will need to add a front derailleur separately

        What makes it different: A one-piece monocoque frame/fork and an adjustable fork flip-chip give this a level of geometry tuning most gravel frames at this tier don't offer

Victory's Take

We'd point riders toward the Taos when their gravel routes get rough — washboard, loose descents, occasional singletrack — rather than when they're mostly on smooth double-track. At Victory Bicycle Studio, we'll fit the cockpit and fork setting to the terrain you actually ride before it leaves the shop.

What you get

  • Frame - One-piece, UD carbon monocoque
  • Fork - Full carbon, front axle Flip-Chip 45/51mm
  • Component Groupset - Sram Force XPLR AXS, 13-speed
  • Wheels - Zipp 303 XPLR S carbon wheelset
Parlee Taos Tier Three Carbon SRAM Force XPLR AXS Gravel Bike

Parlee

Parlee Taos Tier Three Carbon SRAM Force XPLR AXS Gravel Bike

Regular price $8,990.00 USD
Sale price $8,990.00 USD Regular price

Specifications

Frameset
Frame

One-piece, UD (uni-directional) carbon monocoque frame and fork

- 142mm thru-axle

- UDH compatible

- Flat mount disc

Fork

Full carbon

- Front axle Flip-Chip 45/51mm

- Integrated crown race

- Hidden cabling

- 100mm thru-axle

- 160/180 rotor compatible

Wheels
Wheelset

Zipp 303 XPLR S carbon

- Hookless

- Center-lock disc

- 176D/76D hub

Tires

Goodyear XPLR Inter

- 700x45mm

- Tubeless ready (comes stock with sealant for set up)

Drivetrain and Brakes
Rear Derailleur

Sram Force XPLR AXS, 13-speed, 46T max cog

Front Derailleur Option

Braze-on, removable, includes 1x blanking panel

Crankset

Sram Force XPLR

- 40T

- Available in 165, 170, 172.5, 175mm lengths

Cassette

Sram Force XPLR, 10–46T, 13-speed

Brakes

Sram Force AXS, hydraulic disc

Cockpit
Handlebars

FSA K-Wing AGX carbon bar

- 31.8mm diameter

- Integrated routing compatible

- 76mm reach

Saddle

Ergon SR Allroad Pro, carbon rails

**Specifications subject to change without notice

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the bike packaged and how long does delivery take?

All bikes are securely packaged to ensure that damage doesn't occur during shipping. All parts of the bike are padded and if needed, zip tied to minimize or eliminate movement inside the box. Once a bike is handed to the shipping company (usually Fedex or UPS), depending on your location, delivery will range from 1 day to 8 days. If you do choose the option for Professional Assembly or White Glove Delivery, this can add anywhere from 2 days to 5 days to the lead time.

Can I finance the purchase of my new bike?

Yes.  Simply select the Shop Pay Installments option which will allow you to buy now and pay later.  Shop Pay Installments is powered by Affirm.  If you would like to determine your spending limit, simply download the Shop app or the Affirm app on your smartphone and after you create an account on one of these apps, the app will let you know what is your spending limit.

Can I return the bike if it doesn't suit my needs?

Our return process is as follows. The customer is responsible for the return label ($150). Once the returned bike arrives at our warehouse, our team will inspect it and make sure it is in new condition and undamaged. Once we verify, we will process the return and issue a refund to the original payment method on file. To clarify the amount refunded, it would just be the amount of the bike (and tax if applicable) less the $150 shipping label that we provided, but the original shipping is not refunded. So if the original bike cost $4,500 and shipping was $150 (so you paid $4,650), you would be refunded $4,350 (the $4,500 less $150 for the return label) assuming the bike was returned in new and un-used condition and within the 30 day return period.

What does the warranty of my new bike or product cover and what is the warranty period?

Depending on the bike or any product, different companies have different warranty policies.  If you do ever have an issue with your bike or any product, simply email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we will assist with any warranty issues and clarify the warranty for the affected product.

Can I have my bike serviced at any bike shop?

Typically, to avoid any issues with your warranty, you should bring your bike to a certified mechanic or bike store for that bike (i.e. if you have a Trek bicycle, you should bring the bike to be serviced to a local bike store that is an authorized Trek dealer).  If you need assistance, simply email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we can direct you to a certified dealer of your bike.

Do you ship bikes internationally?

We unfortunately do not ship bikes outside of the 48 contiguous states of the United States. We do recommend for international customers to open (or use a current account) account with a freight forwarding company. If you use a freight forwarding company located in the U.S., make sure to put your billing address for a dedicated credit card as the same address as the freight forwarder so that you don't have any credit card or payment method issues).

Once you do this, simply place an order with us and we can ship to the U.S. address as long as the credit card doesn't get rejected. Once the freight forwarder has the box/order/shipment, you would instruct them to then ship to you in your home country and they would charge you their own shipping charge to ship to your international address.

Do you offer free shipping?

We do offer free shipping on non-bike orders over $100. We do not offer free shipping for bicycles unless it is a one time promotion. Generally, bike shipping will cost $150 and that covers just the shipping of the bike with no assembly. If you were to bring that bike to your local mechanic or bike store, you would pay them their assembly fee. If you choose our Professional Assembly option for $200, our service technicians would assemble the bike before shipping and then re-pack the bike safely for transit. When you receive the bike you would attach the front wheel, attach the seatpost/saddle, and raise the handlebars and clamp them. Those three items do have to be detached to minimize or eliminate the chance of damage in transit.

How much does shipping cost?

For orders of parts, accessories, apparel, etc. on orders under $100, shipping is a flat rate of $9.99. Regular bike shipping without assembly is $150, bike shipping with Professional Assembly is an additional $200 (so $350 in total which includes the $150 of regular shipping). Our White Glove Delivery option is $699 and that will cover the assembly of the bike and our White Glove Delivery partner delivering your dream bike to your front door, ready to ride!

How can I track my order?

When you place your online order, you will receive an instantaneous email update with your order number and order details, and shortly after, you will receive a follow up order email with the tracking number for your order.  If you still need assistance with your order, feel free to email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we will respond asap.

What happens if my package arrives damaged?

If your package arrives damaged, email online@victorybicyclestudio.com with pictures of all angles of the box and pictures of the damaged product and we will work with you to either send a new replacement asap and coordinate return (or re-imburse you for labor or costs incurred to fix the issue at your local bike store).

Are pedals included with the bike?

If you do not see pedals in the bullet point product specs on the product page, the bike does not come equipped with pedals.  Many manufacturers do not spec bikes with pedals, so they are often purchased separately.

If I only pay the $150 for bike shipping, can I assemble the bike on my own?

Victory Bicycle Studio highly recommends that you bring your bike to your local certified bike store for the brand of the bike that you purchased. If you do attempt to assemble the bike and damage occurs, this may result in your warranty not being honored. For that reason, we do highly recommend to select our Professional Assembly option for $299.