The NEW Priority 600ADX is the ultimate Pinion internal geared, Gates belt-drive, ADVENTURE bikepacking machine!
The Priority 600ADX is the new, undisputed champion, and best value of the bikepacking world.
The combination of a Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt and Stainless CDX sprockets with the sealed Pinion C1.12 gearbox means NO chain, NO derailleur, and NO multi-sprocket freehub. The 600ADX is 99% maintenance FREE with no rust, no greasy components, longer component life, and no fragile parts to leave you stranded on demanding bikepacking adventures – or your daily commute.
This newly updated model has been tested by adventure cycling legend Ryan Van Duzer. The new model includes design changes and component upgrades based directly on the extreme success of the first generation 600X and the input of these owners.
Here is a transcript of the latest video from Ryan Van Duzer, introducing his design inspiration: the NEW and IMPROVED 600ADX from Priority Bicycles:
Today we are talking about the brand-new Priority 600ADX.
This bike is the culmination of four years of adventures, research, and feedback from the owners of the original Priority 600X. In total, the updates are based on tens of thousands of hard bikepacking miles.
What are the main differences between the new Priority 600ADX and the original 600X?
First, the 600X was an AWESOME bike and I’ll be forever proud that it’s the first bike I ever designed with my friends at Priority Bicycles. But I am equally proud and excited that we were able to use the input of 600X riders when designing the new 600ADX!
The first change is the frame geometry. We shortened the seat tube and added more angle to the top tube. The small size will now better fit shorter riders down to 5’3”. Then there are Medium and Large sizes, plus we added an Extra-Large frame size for the riders up to 6’5”.
The 600X was designed for comfort over long days of riding. When you are bikepacking for 7 to 10 hours, day after day, you want an upright riding position. We kept that riding position but also changed the head tube angle to be a bit more aggressive for better handling in technical terrain.
I've been riding the Priority Bicycle 600ADX prototype for the past three months. I just rode this bike 500 miles through New Mexico and it feels so good. It's snappy and it's fun and it's comfortable.
Another big change from the first generation 600X is the front fork. The new 600ADX has the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 suspension fork.
This new fork has 100mm travel and offers a lightweight, smooth, and plush ride experience. There is one air chamber that allows you to adjust for your weight and the rate of rebound. The fork has a lock out for riding pavement sections. The Marzocchi fork is built in the Fox factory, so maintenance and parts are accessible in most any bike shop that services Fox shocks. Low-maintenance design and serviceability was the priority.
Low maintenance is the primary feature of the original 600X and the new 600ADX – and that is due to the sealed, oil-bath Pinion gear drive combined with the Gates carbon fiber belt.
The Pinion internal transmission is manufactured in Germany and was designed by Porsche transmission engineers. They set out to design an efficient, dependable drive train that was protected from the elements and trail debris - and they 100% succeeded!
I have been riding a Pinion and Gates setup since 2018, first on the Priority 600 commuter bike, then the 600X, and now the new 600ADX.
I am a believer. I absolutely love it because it is not only very, very low maintenance but it has huge gear range. From 1st gear to the 12th gear the gear ratio spans a 600% range. In comparison, the widest mountain bike 12-speed freehub range is just over 500%. All this means that you can nearly pedal up a wall!
The other half of the drive train is the Gates carbon belt drive. The biggest benefit is that the belt is run dry – you never need to oil it. Just hose off the mud and dirt with water. In addition, these carbon-fiber belts last three times longer than chains and are quiet.
The Pinion C1.12 geared transmission is mounted at the lowest point of the frame for optimum weight distribution. We also added a gusset in the Pinion mounting bracket to add stiffness to the frame.
The Priority 600ADX comes standard with easy-rolling but sturdy WTB Ranger 2.4-inch, tubeless-ready tires on 29-inch rims. There is plenty of frame clearance to go up to 2.6-inch tires if you prefer.
You may know that Pinion now offers an electronic shift model. This is found on the Priority HXT hardcore mountain bike and the new Gemini gravel bike. But we kept the mechanical shift Pinion drive with the handlebar twist shifter on the 600ADX based on the durability and simplicity. When you're out on an adventure for many weeks or months at a time this is one less thing to worry about.
The big benefit of the twist shifter is that you can shift across multiple gears instantly – two, three or ten gears at a time, if you want.
Another little thing, we changed all the mounting bolts for the frame braze-ons to low profile bolts with wide, flat heads from the stubby Allen bolts on the original bike. We kept all the accessory mounting points on the top tube, the underside of the frame, and even the rear seat stays.
The rear hub has been upgraded to a 174mm boost spacing. This allows for a wider thru axle and perfect spacing of the single rear sprocket. The single speed freewheel has been upgraded and always has twice the drive pawls engaged to handle the transfer of power from the crank through the belt to the wheel. The rear wheel spokes are also perfectly spaced and symmetrical for the strongest construction, versus a freehub rear wheel with an asymmetrical spoke pattern.
The 600ADX uses excellent Shimano TRP hydraulic disc brakes. We’ve included thicker brake rotors for durability and more reliable stopping power. You will also note that the rear brake line now runs along the outside of the top tube instead of being routed internally. This just makes servicing much simpler. External cable routing now also applies to the optional dropper seat post.
The handlebars are the same as the original 600X. They have a 20-degree rise and a 17-degree back sweep which has been proven to be comfy for hours in the saddle. And we still include the WTB Volt saddle – which has also been proven to be comfortable over thousands of miles.
The Priority 600ADX is equipped with a kickstand, but the mounting plate is stronger with bolts through the lower frame stay. The kickstand is super handy, but is removable, of course.
The combination of these changes has increased the rider and gear weight rating to 300 pounds. The bike in the large frame size weighs 34 pounds. This is not a superlight road bike, but a bike that is designed to be durable and dependable over thousands and thousands of miles of loaded bikepacking on demanding terrain where breakdowns are simply unacceptable. At the same time, the new 600ADX has the strongest, low maintenance drive train on the market.
This second-generation Priority 600ADX improves on the original 600X in so many ways. We made refinements to the geometry, changed a few components, shaved weight in some areas, but added strength in others.
I'm incredibly grateful to the team at Priority Bicycles for trusting my vision. Best of all, this new and improved model will be selling for the same price as the original! It is available NOW. The current price is $3,500 – which is a lot for many people. But comparable custom, Pinion-drive mountain bikes typically cost $5,000 and more!
To learn more about the 600ADX, please visit PriorityBicycles.com for more details.
Thanks, Ryan! Stay tuned to the GreatOutThere blog for upcoming ride reports on the new 600ADX from Priority Bicycles!
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