OVERVIEW
The X-Lab AD9 lands at a fascinating inflection point in modern road cycling. Aero bikes have historically demanded compromises—extra weight, harsher ride feel, and a bias toward flat, high-speed riding. The AD9 challenges that orthodoxy. After extensive saddle time across a wide range of benchmark bikes—from the Cannondale SuperSix EVO to the Specialized Tarmac and the outright aero-focused Cannondale SystemSix—the AD9 emerges as a genuine hybrid of categories rather than a compromise between them.
THE COMPANY BEHIND X-LAB
XDS, the Chinese parent company behind X-Lab, is not a newcomer to bicycle manufacturing. They’ve been a major OEM force for 30 years, producing frames and components at scale. What’s changing now is their direct push into high-performance branded bikes. Their vertical integration of carbon frame and component manufacturing is being leveraged to build their in-house production of cranks, wheels, handlebars and more, all under the Branta name, so look out for some impressive products brandishing the Branta logo in the coming years.
Check out a video on the XDS Factory Tour, quite an eye-opening experience.
The X-Lab project represents a shift toward innovation-led, performance-focused development paired with aggressive pricing. Their business model is also notable—they are leaning into a retail-supported distribution strategy rather than a pure direct-to-consumer approach. This matters. It ensures customers have access to proper bike fitting, after-sales service, warranty support, and expert advice—areas where brands like Canyon have fallen short. As an independent retailer, we see the importance of our assistance, coaching, support and guidance with the local cycling community and we're glad to see XDS focusing their big launch outside of the Asian markets through established bike supplier and retail channels.
XDS is still building out its infrastructure in Western markets. As dealer networks, service systems, and brand presence expand, costs will inevitably rise. That makes the current pricing window particularly compelling.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Astana team build of the AD9, equipped with Vision wheels, tips the scales at an impressive 7.5kg out of the box (no pedals or cages). For a bike with this level of aerodynamic shaping, that’s a standout figure.
The upcoming Australian release of the newest AD9—expected late May—introduces further refinements. The switch to Branta wheels and the inclusion of a power meter are significant upgrades, and early indications suggest the overall system weight will drop even further. That’s a rare achievement in the aero category, where deeper tube profiles and wheelsets have traditionally driven weights upward. The frame will remain unchanged, even keeping the Astana Team Color in the range, but adding new colors of full bikes and framesets. Check them out here.
The DuraAce groupset is flawless, hard to beat the easy shifting and lightweight build, plus the solid braking. I'm used to flicking back & forth from 105 di2/Ultegra di2 bikes & Sram-equipped bikes and you know it when you're riding DuraAce.
The Branta one-piece bar & stem on the X-Lab models is made in all the popular size combinations, but the AD9 comes with a narrower spec than most bikes which is the trend, especially for aero road bikes. My 54cm came with width measurements at 37tops/41bottoms, so definitely tucked in from the wind while out front in a group against the wind. We're working on developing a program for swapping bar/stem sizes to better optimize bike fit, and as a shop we prioritise fit and final setup, so watch this space.
This being the 2025, earliest release version of the AD9, it came with Vision Metron 64SL wheels. Some people will love the super loud freehub, I prefer a more subtle announcement when I decide to freewheel within a group, to each his/her own. They are fast, you can feel it when hitting a brisk headwind. I would have these as my flatlander/lower wind/fast group ride days.
HIGHLIGHTS
The defining highlight of the AD9 is its balance. It genuinely bridges the gap between traditional aero bikes and modern lightweight competitive race bikes. The aerodynamic tube shaping is evident, but it doesn’t come at the expense of ride quality or climbing efficiency; it’s comfortable for all-day road riding, but lightning fast & aero when it gets competitive.
Acceleration is a key strength—noticeably quicker than older-generation aero platforms. The bike feels lively under power, making it well suited to rolling terrain, aggressive group rides, and race scenarios where repeated efforts matter more than steady-state speed.
Another major highlight is value. The AD9 retails for $10,999AUD here in Australia. With pricing sitting approximately 30–40% below comparable offerings from established brands, the AD9 positions itself as a disruptive force in the premium road segment.
Some of the key specs on the AD9 packed into the $10,999 pricepoint:
- · Hi-modulus T1100 carbon frame & fork
- · Branta carbon wheels with carbon spokes, around 1300g/pair
- · Branta carbon crank with power meter
- · Dura Ace Di2 groupset
- · One-piece Branta carbon stem/handlebar (narrower than traditional sizes)
ON THE ROAD
Out on the road, the AD9 delivers a ride character that sits squarely between a Tarmac and a SystemSix. The handling is sharp, intuitive, and predictable—very much aligned with the Tarmac’s race pedigree. The geometry reflects this too, with similar wheelbase and front-center figures that promote responsive steering without becoming nervous.
What’s surprising is how easily the bike accelerates. Traditional aero bikes like the SystemSix excel once up to speed, holding momentum with authority, but often feel sluggish getting there. The AD9 flips that dynamic. It accelerates more readily, reaching high speeds faster, though it doesn’t quite carry the same “steamroller” momentum at peak velocity. For most riders, that trade-off is a net gain—especially in real-world riding conditions with constant changes in pace. I often relay a story about my first Urban Pedaler shopride on the Cannonndale SystemSix several years ago... We were rolling turns on a completely flat section nearing Frankston and I took a turn for a few seconds and pulled to the left and gave a chicken wing to the guys behind me and... nothing. I looked over my shoulder, expecting to see a line of riders coming up to pass and although I had let slightly off the gas after my pull, I had still opened up about a 10m gap on the riders behind. The aero advantage was "WOW", and that set a new bar in my mind. The AD9 feels like it has most of that aero feel, but it's easier to get there because of the quite substantial difference in overall weight. So it doesn't hold the momentum like the SystemSix, but it's easier to crank that puppy up to that high speed - a fair trade-off and a performance upgrade that most people have never felt first hand.
The weights that we’re measuring on some of our frame-up builds are very impressive, so the climbing speed is also worth a mention. I’ve done several 1hr+ climbs here in Victoria on the AD9 so far and it’s a solid climber, not to be underestimated.
There was one thing that probably didn't suit me perfectly… Compared to the SuperSix, which features a longer front-center and feels exceptionally planted while descending at high speeds, the AD9 felt a bit less so, and I was a little shakey at times. Admittedly, it's a different bike, and this would be almost definitely due to the combination of a few things, like a lower front end, 37cm wide bars (on a 54cm bike), 60mm deep rims, rough patches of pavement and gusty/windy conditions, but also because of a slightly shorter front center and geometry differences. That said, it remains highly competent and confidence-inspiring—just with a slightly more agile, race-oriented feel.
OVERALL
The X-Lab AD9 is not just another aero bike, it’s a recalibration of expectations in the industry. It blends the handling and road feel of a performance, competitive road bike with much of the aerodynamic efficiency of a pure aero road bike, delivers some impressive weights, and all at impressively competitive costs.
It’s not without nuance. Riders who want the best all-round performance may still prefer something like the SuperSix, and those chasing maximum momentum retention might lean toward a pure aero platform. But for the vast majority of performance-focused riders, the AD9 hits an exceptionally compelling middle ground; a bike that can be ridden equally well in criteriums, group rides, and big days in the mountains.
If current pricing holds—even temporarily—it represents one of the most disruptive value propositions in the road cycling market today.
MARKET IMPACT
The AD9’s launch has not gone unnoticed. Following its presence at Sea Otter Classic 2026 in Monterey, industry chatter has been consistent: this feels like a reset moment. When a bike delivers this level of performance at a significantly lower price point, competitors are forced to respond.
Over the next few years, it’s likely we’ll see pricing pressure across the high-end road category, along with renewed scrutiny on what constitutes real value in a performance bike.
