CervéloP5X
Replaced by Cervélo P3X / PX-Series
Cervélo's first triathlon-only superbike, shown at Kona in October 2016 after three years of development. Freed from UCI rules, it drops the seat tube and seatstays, curves the down tube around the front wheel and builds storage for food, tools and three bottles into the design. Composites were made with HED and ENVE. A two-piece cockpit gave a very wide stack and reach range and folded for travel in a dedicated case. It ran to model year 2019, when the lighter P3X took its place.
- Last MSRP
- $15,000$15,000$15,000
- Builds
- 2
- Sizes
- 4
- Frame weight
- —
Design sketch, generated from the manufacturer's photo
Our verdict
Overall
out of 100, average of 7 categories
A landmark beam-style tri bike with storage for a whole Ironman and a huge fit range from its two-piece cockpit. It is now a used buy only: 11-speed builds, tyres limited to 25 mm, cable-actuated brakes and a proprietary front end and storage make parts and servicing harder.
Scored Oct 2026
- + Wide fit adjustment
- + Integrated hydration and storage
- − Proprietary parts, harder to travel with or service
AI-drafted from the specs on this page and reviewed before publishing. Scores are relative to every bike in the catalog when they were given, so they drop as newer bikes and parts raise the bar.
- Aero
- 78/100
- Frame
- 66/100
- Components
- 74/100
- Hydration & storage
- 84/100
- Fit
- 86/100
- Practicality
- 48/100
- Price
- 54/100
Aero claims and front-end integration
Carbon grade, weight and warranty
Groupset, wheels and power meter
Hydration and storage in the frame
Sizes and adjustment range
Travel, standard parts, servicing
From the cheapest complete-bike MSRP
Frame & platform
Frame & fork
- Frame material
- Carbon
- Frame sizes
- S, M, L, XL
- Also available as
- P5 (UCI-legal TT and triathlon bike)
Compatibility & standards
- Brake type
- Flat-mount disc (140 mm mounts)
- Wheel size
- 700c
- Max tire width
- 25 mm
- Bottom bracket standard
- BBright
- Front axle
- 12x100 thru-axle
- Rear axle
- 12x142 thru-axle
- Front derailleur mount
- Removable front derailleur hanger (Cervélo FDM-P5X)
Hydration & storage
- Integrated hydration
- No
- Hydration details
- Carries up to three bottles (AeroGeeks lists three 25 oz bottles); no internal reservoir.
- Integrated storage
- Yes
- Storage details
- Smartpak top-tube bag and Stealthbox storage; AeroGeeks lists room for a full Ironman's nutrition, two tubes, CO2, tools and weather gear.
- Top tube bento box
- Yes
Fit & adjustability
- Aerobar system
- Two-piece foldable integrated basebar and aerobars
- Pad stack adjustment range
- 112 mm of sliding stack adjustment; flipping the basebar changes its height by 80 mm
- Pad reach adjustment range
- 91 mm of reach adjustment
- Extension options
- 0-12° extension tilt
- Effective seat angle range
- 74-81°
Aerodynamics
- Manufacturer aero claims
- AeroGeeks reported Cervélo's claim of 30 g less drag than the P5 averaged from -15 to +15 degrees yaw and up to 90 g at 0 degrees, after 180 hours of wind-tunnel testing and CFD on more than 150 iterations.
Travel, maintenance & warranty
- Travel & packing
- The cockpit folds and a dedicated Cervélo travel case was offered ($849).
- Headset bearings
- 1-1/8 in upper (30.2x41x6.5, 36°x45°) and 1-1/2 in lower (40x51.8x7.5, 36°x45°)
- Derailleur hanger
- Integrated rear derailleur hanger
- Proprietary parts
- Integrated two-piece cockpit, frame-specific storage
- Sold via
- Through about 80 selected Cervélo retailers at launch
Design sketches
Builds & components
Highlighted rows differ between builds. Green marks the best value.
P5X SRAM Red eTap | P5X Ultegra Di2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price (MSRP) | $15,000$15,000$15,000 | $11,000$11,000$11,000 |
| Type | Complete bike | Complete bike |
| Notes | Launch build and price as reported by AeroGeeks; BikeRadar gives $15,000 for the top build. Other markets were not priced at launch. | Launch price for the second build, due in December 2016 (AeroGeeks and BikeRadar). |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Red eTap | Shimano Ultegra Di2 |
| Speeds | 11-speed | 11-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake calipers | TRP HY/RD | TRP HY/RD |
| Type | Cable-actuated hydraulic disc, flat mount | Cable-actuated hydraulic disc, flat mount |
| Rotors | TRP TR160-25 | TRP TR160-25 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Mount | Center Lock | Center Lock |
| Notes | Listed by AeroGeeks as TRP-25 Centerlock 2-piece 160 mm | Listed by AeroGeeks as TRP-25 Centerlock 2-piece 160 mm |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | ENVE 7.8 | HED 6.9 |
| Included extras | ||
| Storage / bento | Cervélo Smartpak top-tube bag and Stealthbox | Cervélo Smartpak top-tube bag and Stealthbox |
Ownership checklist
1 of 3 known checks pass, 4 not published by Cervélo. Why these checks
- ✕
Threaded bottom bracket
BBright
- ✕
UDH derailleur hanger
Integrated rear derailleur hanger
- ✓
Standard 12×142 mm rear axle
12x142 thru-axle
- ?
Works with mechanical shifting
- ?
Fits third-party aerobars
Two-piece foldable integrated basebar and aerobars
- ?
Rear disc wheel compatible
- ?
Fit kept when packed
P5X geometry
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stack | 468 mm18.4″ | 496 mm19.5″ | 524 mm20.6″ | 552 mm21.7″ |
| Reach | 386 mm15.2″ | 404 mm15.9″ | 423 mm16.7″ | 442 mm17.4″ |
| Seat angle min | 74° | 74° | 74° | 74° |
| Seat angle max | 81° | 81° | 81° | 81° |
| Head tube length | 76 mm3″ | 97 mm3.8″ | 126 mm5″ | 156 mm6.1″ |
| Chainstay | 405 mm15.9″ | 405 mm15.9″ | 405 mm15.9″ | 405 mm15.9″ |
| BB drop | 75 mm3″ | 75 mm3″ | 75 mm3″ | 75 mm3″ |
| Fork offset | 53 mm2.1″ | 43 mm1.7″ | 43 mm1.7″ | 43 mm1.7″ |
| Front centre | 582 mm22.9″ | 587 mm23.1″ | 614 mm24.2″ | 642 mm25.3″ |
| Standover | 689 mm27.1″ | 720 mm28.3″ | 746 mm29.4″ | 775 mm30.5″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
Side view & pad range
Drawn to scale (how to read it).
How the geometry rides
The P5X in size M against the middle size of 29 other bikes: tendencies from geometry, not a ride review (how to read this).
- Front centre587 mm23.1″
shortestlonger than 50% of 29 bikeslongest
- Chainstay405 mm15.9″
shortestlonger than 48% of 53 bikeslongest
Good to know
Design
HED and ENVE helped design and make the composite parts. Brakes were TRP's HY/RD cable-actuated hydraulic discs on flat mounts with thru-axles front and rear.
SourceCompatibility
Cervélo's archive lists 25 mm as the maximum tyre width front and rear, with 33 mm of frame clearance.
SourceHistory
Launched at the 2016 Ironman World Championship in Kona. BikeRadar reported development from 2013, more than 150 design iterations and 180 hours of wind-tunnel time, with the first bikes going to about 80 retailers (35 in North America).
SourceHistory
For 2020 Cervélo dropped the P5X name, saying the '5' is reserved for its top bikes; the PX-Series took the P3X frame and paired it with the P5X's collapsible basebar.
Source
P5X FAQ
Is the Cervélo P5X UCI legal?+
No. The Cervélo P5X is not UCI legal. That is fine for non-drafting triathlon, but it cannot be used in UCI-sanctioned time trials. Also available as: P5 (UCI-legal TT and triathlon bike).
How much does the Cervélo P5X cost?+
Manufacturer prices (MSRP): $11,000–$15,000 across 2 listed builds and framesets: P5X SRAM Red eTap and P5X Ultegra Di2.
What sizes does the Cervélo P5X come in?+
4 sizes: S, M, L and XL.
What seat angle does the Cervélo P5X have?+
The effective seat tube angle can be set between 74° and 81°. 74-81°.
Does the Cervélo P5X have integrated hydration?+
The Cervélo P5X has no integrated hydration system. Carries up to three bottles (AeroGeeks lists three 25 oz bottles); no internal reservoir.
Does the Cervélo P5X have integrated storage?+
Yes. Smartpak top-tube bag and Stealthbox storage; AeroGeeks lists room for a full Ironman's nutrition, two tubes, CO2, tools and weather gear. A top tube bento box is integrated.
What is the tire clearance of the Cervélo P5X?+
Up to 25 mm tires on 700c wheels.
Which groupsets are compatible with the Cervélo P5X?+
Bottom bracket: BBright.
What builds of the Cervélo P5X are available?+
P5X SRAM Red eTap: SRAM Red eTap; P5X Ultegra Di2: Shimano Ultegra Di2.
Is the Cervélo P5X easy to travel with?+
The cockpit folds and a dedicated Cervélo travel case was offered ($849).
Is the Cervélo P5X aerodynamic?+
AeroGeeks reported Cervélo's claim of 30 g less drag than the P5 averaged from -15 to +15 degrees yaw and up to 90 g at 0 degrees, after 180 hours of wind-tunnel testing and CFD on more than 150 iterations.
Sources
- https://www.cervelo.com/en-US/support/P5X%20DISC%20MK1
- https://www.bikeradar.com/news/cervelos-p5x-explores-a-life-without-uci-limitations
- https://aerogeeks.com/?p=9163
- https://bicyclingaustralia.com.au/bikes/cervelo-release-futuristic-p5x-superbike/
- https://aerogeeks.com/2019/09/05/cervelo-2020-tri-and-tt-lineup-first-look/
- https://www.cervelo.com/en-US/support/archive
Cervélo P5X data last updated · How the data is checked ·