Bikes of Bentang Jawa
Nine decisions, ridden 1,500 km across Java — this is how 34 bikes answered them
Pick a component to see how the field splits.
Rubber
Tyre width is on record for 29 of the 34 bikes in the 2024 field.
Java's 1,500 km is tarmac, broken tarmac, and the occasional excuse for a road. Tyre choice is where riders place their bet — and the field bets narrow.
Width
Most of the field runs 28–32 mm
83% of the widths given in millimetres
29 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Most of the field runs 28–32 mm |
| Figure | 83% of the widths given in millimetres |
| Bikes documented | 29 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 85% |
Tyre width
30–34 mm is the busiest bucket, on 16 of 29 bikes
Bikes per width bucket, 2024. The 28–32 mm cluster above falls across 2 of them — no single bucket contains it.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 25–29 mm | 11 bikes (38%) — leading model GP5000 ×2 |
| 30–34 mm | 16 bikes (55%) — leading model GP5000 ×8 |
| 35–39 mm | 1 bikes (3%) |
| 40–44 mm | 0 bikes (0%) |
| 45–50 mm | 1 bikes (3%) |
Tyre make
Three in eight ride a Continental GP5000
Top 5 tyre makes by count, each with its own leading models.
GP5000 10 · Ultra Sport 1 · Ultralight 1
Corsa N.EXT 2 · Corsa Graphene 1 · Rubino Pro 1
Pace 1 · Pursuit 1
GravelKing Slick 1 · GravelKing SS 1
Pro One 2
of 28 bikes naming make and model
| Make | Models |
|---|---|
| Continental | 14 bikes — GP5000 10, Ultra Sport 1, Ultralight 1 |
| Vittoria | 4 bikes — Corsa N.EXT 2, Corsa Graphene 1, Rubino Pro 1 |
| Maxxis | 2 bikes — Pace 1, Pursuit 1 |
| Panaracer | 2 bikes — GravelKing Slick 1, GravelKing SS 1 |
| Schwalbe | 2 bikes — Pro One 2 |
| Other makes | 4 bikes |
The Frames
Frame type is on record for 32 of the 34 bikes in the 2024 field; what the frame is made of, for 14.
Road bike or gravel bike? Across Java the honest answer is "both, and it depends on the potholes" — but road bikes have the majority here.
Frame type
Road bikes lead the field
63% road to 28% gravel
32 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Road bikes lead the field |
| Figure | 63% road to 28% gravel |
| Bikes documented | 32 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 94% |
Road versus gravel
Road and gravel split 63% to 28%
Frame type, 2024.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| road | 20 bikes (63%) |
| gravel | 9 bikes (28%) |
| other | 2 bikes (6%) |
| mtb | 1 bikes (3%) |
Frame material
Recorded for 14 of 34 bikes — under half the field. Read what follows as a hint, not a verdict.
Frame material, where it is recorded
Of the 14 bikes that name a material. Shares are of those, not of the field.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | 5 bikes (36%) |
| Carbon | 4 bikes (29%) |
| Steel | 2 bikes (14%) |
| Titanium | 2 bikes (14%) |
| Other | 1 bikes (7%) |
The badge on the down tube
A make is on record for 34 of the 34 bikes in the 2024 field, across 21 different names.
Which badge is on the down tube is the one decision on a bike a rider can copy outright. What this section can say about it is decided entirely by the count above — how many of this edition's bikes named a make at all.
Most-ridden make
Specialized tops the start line
6 bikes, ahead of Cannondale on 4
34 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Specialized tops the start line |
| Figure | 6 bikes, ahead of Cannondale on 4 |
| Bikes documented | 34 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 100% |
Bikes per make
Specialized is the most common make, on 18% of bikes
Most common first. 21 makes are named in total — most of them by a single rider.
+9 more not shown
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Specialized | 6 bikes (18%) |
| Cannondale | 4 bikes (12%) |
| Marin | 3 bikes (9%) |
| Polygon | 3 bikes (9%) |
| Wdnsdy | 2 bikes (6%) |
| Bombtrack | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Borneotrack | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Canyon | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Cervello | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Cervelo | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Colnago | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Eddy Merckx | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Elves | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Fairlight | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Litespeed | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Lynskey | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Pardus Bikes | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Scott | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Spedagi | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Trek | 1 bikes (3%) |
| Triton | 1 bikes (3%) |
| More | +9 more makes not shown in the chart above |
Where a frame was built is not something the record captures, so this section counts makes and stops there. The Indonesian-maker story the data can prove is stitched, not welded — it is in the bags.
The frames they brought
34 bikes, 32 different frames — almost every rider brought a different one
Grouped by make, largest first. Every make links to its bikes in the gallery.
- Aethos ×1 Road
- M5 ×1 MTB
- Roubaix ×1 Road
- Roubaix SL8 ×1 Road
- S-Works SL7 ×1 Road
- Tarmac SL5 ×1 Road
- SuperSix EVO ×2 Road
- CAAD 12 ×1 Road
- Topstone ×1 Gravel
- Nicasio 2 ×2 Gravel
- Nicasio Two ×1 Gravel
- Helios A7 2023 ×1 Road
- Path X4 ×1 Gravel
- Strattos S8D ×1 Road
Show all 21 makes
- AJ1 Disk ×1 Road
- Journey 1st Edition ×1 Gravel
- Audax ×1 Road
- Cargo ×1 Other
- Grail AL 7.0 ×1 Gravel
- Aspero ×1 Gravel
- Caledonia ×1 Road
- V3 ×1 Road
- Corsa 1993 ×1 Road
- Quendi ×1 Road
- Strael 3.0 ×1 Road
- T5 gravel ×1 Gravel
- Helix GR ×1 Gravel
- Spark Evo DI2 ×1 Road
- Addict ×1 Road
- Bamboo Bike ×1 Other
- Emonda SLR ×1 Road
- Groont ×1
34 of 34 name a model
| Make | Model | Count | Frame type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized | Aethos | 1 | Road |
| Specialized | M5 | 1 | MTB |
| Specialized | Roubaix | 1 | Road |
| Specialized | Roubaix SL8 | 1 | Road |
| Specialized | S-Works SL7 | 1 | Road |
| Specialized | Tarmac SL5 | 1 | Road |
| Cannondale | SuperSix EVO | 2 | Road |
| Cannondale | CAAD 12 | 1 | Road |
| Cannondale | Topstone | 1 | Gravel |
| Marin | Nicasio 2 | 2 | Gravel |
| Marin | Nicasio Two | 1 | Gravel |
| Polygon | Helios A7 2023 | 1 | Road |
| Polygon | Path X4 | 1 | Gravel |
| Polygon | Strattos S8D | 1 | Road |
| Wdnsdy | AJ1 Disk | 1 | Road |
| Wdnsdy | Journey 1st Edition | 1 | Gravel |
| Bombtrack | Audax | 1 | Road |
| Borneotrack | Cargo | 1 | Other |
| Canyon | Grail AL 7.0 | 1 | Gravel |
| Cervello | Aspero | 1 | Gravel |
| Cervelo | Caledonia | 1 | Road |
| Colnago | V3 | 1 | Road |
| Eddy Merckx | Corsa 1993 | 1 | Road |
| Elves | Quendi | 1 | Road |
| Fairlight | Strael 3.0 | 1 | Road |
| Litespeed | T5 gravel | 1 | Gravel |
| Lynskey | Helix GR | 1 | Gravel |
| Pardus Bikes | Spark Evo DI2 | 1 | Road |
| Scott | Addict | 1 | Road |
| Spedagi | Bamboo Bike | 1 | Other |
| Trek | Emonda SLR | 1 | Road |
| Triton | Groont | 1 | — |
Drivetrain
Chainring layout is on record for 25 of the 34 bikes in the 2024 field; the groupset itself, for 31.
17,000 metres of climbing is the whole argument. Gearing here is not about top speed — it is about still being able to turn the pedals on day five.
Chainrings
2× runs the field
96% of documented drivetrains
25 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | 2× runs the field |
| Figure | 96% of documented drivetrains |
| Bikes documented | 25 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 74% |
One ring or two
2× setups run 96% of drivetrains
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 1× | 1 bikes (4%) |
| 2× | 24 bikes (96%) |
Groupsets
31 of 34 name a groupset, and almost every one differs — 27 distinct entries. Shimano 105 repeats most, on 2.
Written more than once, all of them: Shimano 105 ×2, Shimano GRX ×2, Shimano Ultegra 6800 ×2, SRAM Force AXS ×2.
Shifting
Recorded for 9 of 34 bikes — under half the field. Read what follows as a hint, not a verdict.
Easiest gear
0.71 is the lowest in the field
30t ring on a 42t cog
23 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | 0.71 is the lowest in the field |
| Figure | 30t ring on a 42t cog |
| Bikes documented | 23 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 68% |
Hardest low gear
1.13 is the highest anyone risked
34t ring on a 30t cog
23 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | 1.13 is the highest anyone risked |
| Figure | 34t ring on a 30t cog |
| Bikes documented | 23 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 68% |
Lowest gear, easiest first
The easiest gear in the field is 0.71 — a 30t ring on a 42t cog
Smallest chainring divided by biggest sprocket. Lower is easier. Bars scale to the hardest gear in this edition (1.13).
- Borneotrack Cargo 30t × 42t 0.71
- Wdnsdy Journey 1st Edition 31t × 42t 0.74
- Marin Nicasio 2 31t × 42t 0.74
- Lynskey Helix GR 24t × 32t 0.75
- Canyon Grail AL 7.0 30t × 40t 0.75
- Polygon Path X4 32t × 42t 0.76
- Marin Nicasio Two 31t × 40t 0.78
- Litespeed T5 gravel 34t × 42t 0.81
- Specialized Roubaix SL8 44t × 52t 0.85
- Specialized Roubaix 34t × 40t 0.85
- Bombtrack Audax 31t × 36t 0.86
- Pardus Bikes Spark Evo DI2 32t × 36t 0.89
Show all 23 bikes
- Scott Addict 33t × 36t 0.92
- Colnago V3 33t × 36t 0.92
- Trek Emonda SLR 35t × 36t 0.97
- Polygon Strattos S8D 34t × 34t 1.00
- Specialized Tarmac SL5 34t × 34t 1.00
- Eddy Merckx Corsa 1993 34t × 34t 1.00
- Elves Quendi 34t × 34t 1.00
- Cannondale SuperSix EVO 36t × 34t 1.06
- Cannondale SuperSix EVO 36t × 34t 1.06
- Wdnsdy AJ1 Disk 34t × 32t 1.06
- Polygon Helios A7 2023 34t × 30t 1.13
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Borneotrack Cargo | 30t × 42t = 0.71 |
| Wdnsdy Journey 1st Edition | 31t × 42t = 0.74 |
| Marin Nicasio 2 | 31t × 42t = 0.74 |
| Lynskey Helix GR | 24t × 32t = 0.75 |
| Canyon Grail AL 7.0 | 30t × 40t = 0.75 |
| Polygon Path X4 | 32t × 42t = 0.76 |
| Marin Nicasio Two | 31t × 40t = 0.78 |
| Litespeed T5 gravel | 34t × 42t = 0.81 |
| Specialized Roubaix SL8 | 44t × 52t = 0.85 |
| Specialized Roubaix | 34t × 40t = 0.85 |
| Bombtrack Audax | 31t × 36t = 0.86 |
| Pardus Bikes Spark Evo DI2 | 32t × 36t = 0.89 |
| Scott Addict | 33t × 36t = 0.92 |
| Colnago V3 | 33t × 36t = 0.92 |
| Trek Emonda SLR | 35t × 36t = 0.97 |
| Polygon Strattos S8D | 34t × 34t = 1.00 |
| Specialized Tarmac SL5 | 34t × 34t = 1.00 |
| Eddy Merckx Corsa 1993 | 34t × 34t = 1.00 |
| Elves Quendi | 34t × 34t = 1.00 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | 36t × 34t = 1.06 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | 36t × 34t = 1.06 |
| Wdnsdy AJ1 Disk | 34t × 32t = 1.06 |
| Polygon Helios A7 2023 | 34t × 30t = 1.13 |
Mullet builds
1
bike ran a mullet — road shifters driving an off-road derailleur and cassette (GRX, Deore, XT, XPLR). It is the cheapest way to buy a climbing gear a road groupset will not give you.
34 of 34 documented
Carrying it all
At least one bag is on record for 28 of the 34 bikes in the 2024 field.
This is where Bentang Jawa stops looking like every other ultra. Tailfin and Apidura are here, of course — but so are Bandung and Jakarta workshops stitching frame bags to order, one rider at a time.
Indonesian-made bags
Indonesian makers are on 29% of bagged bikes
4 local makers, 11 bikes
28 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Indonesian makers are on 29% of bagged bikes |
| Figure | 4 local makers, 11 bikes |
| Bikes documented | 28 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 82% |
Indonesian makers on the start line
Every local brand in the dataset, and how many bikes carried it.
URBNCASE
Carried on 5 bikes in the field
- bags
Satset
Carried on 4 bikes in the field
- bags
Sekayuh
Carried on 2 bikes in the field
- bags
Eiger Adventure
Carried on 1 bike in the field
- bags
Local versus international
29% of bag-carrying bikes used an Indonesian maker
Counted per bike. A bike running both is counted in both columns.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Indonesian makers | 11 bikes (29%) |
| International brands | 27 bikes (71%) |
Bag brands
Apidura is the most common bag brand, on 54% of bikes with bags recorded
Bikes per brand.
+13 more not shown
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Apidura | 15 bikes |
| URBNCASE | 5 bikes |
| Satset | 4 bikes |
| Brooks England | 3 bikes |
| Rhinowalk | 3 bikes |
| Tailfin | 3 bikes |
| Sekayuh | 2 bikes |
| 2 | 1 bikes |
| Bontrager | 1 bikes |
| Chrome | 1 bikes |
| costume | 1 bikes |
| Doubletrack | 1 bikes |
| Eiger Adventure | 1 bikes |
| GRVL | 1 bikes |
| HBRNG | 1 bikes |
| Holman | 1 bikes |
| Honey | 1 bikes |
| no | 1 bikes |
| Pitbags | 1 bikes |
| Rapha | 1 bikes |
| Rockbros | 1 bikes |
| Sekayuh.id | 1 bikes |
| Topeak | 1 bikes |
| Urban | 1 bikes |
| Uswe | 1 bikes |
| More | +13 more not shown in the chart above |
Cockpit & contact points — what we know least
In the 2024 field, aero bars are on record for 26 of 34 bikes, saddles for 14 and pedals for 7.
Six days on a bike means the three places you touch it matter more than the frame does. It is also the part of a bike a caption describes least completely: the frame and the tyres get named almost every time, the saddle and pedals far less often.
Aero bars
Most of the field rides on its elbows
18 of 26 recorded ran aero or rest bars
26 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Most of the field rides on its elbows |
| Figure | 18 of 26 recorded ran aero or rest bars |
| Bikes documented | 26 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 76% |
Aero and rest bars
69% of documented cockpits carry aero or rest bars
Once a time-trial affectation, now a place to rest your elbows.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| aero bars | 18 bikes |
| no aero bars | 8 bikes |
Bar setup
Written out one bike at a time
25 bikes describe their bars
25 of 34 documented
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Written out one bike at a time |
| Figure | 25 bikes describe their bars |
| Bikes documented | 25 |
| Bikes counted | 34 |
| Share documented | 74% |
Saddles
Recorded for 14 of 34 bikes — under half the field. Read what follows as a hint, not a verdict.
Pedals
Recorded for 7 of 34 bikes — under half the field. Read what follows as a hint, not a verdict.
The road these bikes crossed
West to east across Java, self-navigated and self-supported, solo or in pairs — this is what the field rode to close the distance.
Distance
1,500 kilometres
west → east
Climbing
17,000 metres
on the organiser’s profile
Cutoff
156 hours
≈ 6.5 days riding
Support
0 vehicles
fully self-supported
Line traced from bob aria bharuna's ride on RideWithGPS — a GPS-measured 1,502 km with 17,365 m of climbing. That's a separate, equally valid measurement from the race facts above, not a correction to them; those are the organiser's, from bentangjawa.cc.