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A2 Bikes SP vs Argon 18 E117
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The A2 Bikes SP starts $1,284 cheaper ($3,115 vs $4,399 for the Argon 18 E117).
- Our verdict scores both 73/100 overall.
- Only the Argon 18 E117 has integrated storage.
- The A2 Bikes SP comes in 4 sizes, the Argon 18 E117 in 5.
A2 Bikes SP
Argon 18 E117
| A2 BikesSP | Argon 18E117 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | A2 Bikes | Argon 18 |
| Build | SP Shimano 105 | E117 SRAM Force AXS |
| Build notes | Drop #1 (fall 2026) build, sold in Matte Black only; the product page lists the shifters as Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed (bar-end) and the wheels as Vision Team 30 alloy, tubeless-ready. Claimed complete weight 21.0 lb (size not stated). A2 says this build comes with black bar tape and a fully black chainstay area, unlike the photos. Sold out in Drop #1; Drop #2 opens on 12 October 2026. | — |
| Price (MSRP) | $3,115$3,115$3,115 | $8,699$8,699$8,699 |
| Bike weight | 9.53 kg21 lb | — |
| Model year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Generation | SP (launched 2022, replaces the rim-brake Speed Phreak) | All-new E117 for 2025 (replaces the E-117 Tri Disc) |
| Launched | 2022-03 | 2024-09 |
| Discipline | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Yes |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 73 | 73 |
| Aero | 64 | 76 |
| Frame | 68 | — |
| Components | 72 | 62 |
| Hydration & storage | 45 | 70 |
| Fit | 82 | 78 |
| Practicality | 78 | 55 |
| Price | 100 | 94 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Hand-laid Toray T700 carbon fibre | Carbon |
| Fork material | — | Carbon |
| Frame weight | 1,250 g2.76 lb | — |
| Weight measured on | Size M, painted (A2 claim) | — |
| Frame sizes | S, M, L, XL | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Colours | Oswego Blue, Summit Gray, Matte Black (fall 2026 colour drop; the Shimano 105 build only in Matte Black) | Black Stealth, Flaming Red, Hypershift Blueberry / Silver (depending on build) |
| Also available as | — | E119 Tri+ Disc is the higher-end, non-UCI triathlon model |
| UCI frame approval | — | Approved 3 Dec 2024 as 'E117' (frame and fork), sizes XS-XL (5), code AR18-002 (UCI list version 2026.10.02) |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Disc | Disc, calipers integrated into frame and fork (Argon 18 Integrated Brake System, TRP hydraulics) |
| Max rotor size | — | 140 mm |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | — | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | PF30 | BB86 press-fit (86.5 mm) |
| Front axle | 12 mm thru-axle | 12 mm thru-axle (119 mm long) |
| Rear axle | 12 mm thru-axle | 12x142 thru-axle (161 mm long) |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Sold with Shimano 105 mechanical 11-speed or SRAM Rival, Force and Red AXS wireless 12-speed | Di2, eTap and mechanical routing; front derailleur with 50-58T rings (2x) or up to 64T single ring |
| Mechanical shifting possible | Yes | Yes |
| 1x compatible | — | Yes |
| Max chainring | — | 64T |
| Front derailleur mount | — | Removable front derailleur hanger |
| Cable routing | Fully internal cables and hoses | Fully internal |
| Electronic battery location | — | Inside the seatpost (internal battery holder) |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Integrated hydration | — | No |
| Hydration details | — | No in-frame reservoir. Hydration is by bottles on the frame's cage mounts, with a cage mount on the cockpit in a regular or forward position. On XS and S only short bottles fit inside the frame when combined with another bottle or the toolbox. |
| Integrated storage | — | Yes |
| Storage details | — | E-117 bento box designed to work with the integrated basebar, and a frame-mounted toolbox that takes tire levers, multi-tool, CO2 head and cartridge, and a TPU inner tube (tools not included). |
| Top tube bento box | — | Yes |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | A2 SAGS (Super Adjustable Gooseneck) stem, set to 70, 90 or 110 mm with A2's spacers, with a Vision TriMax SI-013 carbon aerobar (Force and Red builds) or a Zipp Vuka Alumina aerobar (105 and Rival builds) | Argon 18 integrated cockpit with 51 Speedshop custom extensions; the Shimano 105 build uses a carbon basebar with Profile Design Sonic/Ergo/39a aerobars |
| Third-party aerobars possible | — | Yes |
| Pad stack adjustment range | Riser spacers up to 70 mm on the Force and Red builds; a 25 mm and a 50 mm spacer (up to 50 mm) on the 105 and Rival builds | Integrated cockpit: pad stack 550-674 mm (XS) to 628-751 mm (XL). 105 build with Profile Design bars: 583-612 mm (XS) to 661-690 mm (XL) |
| Pad reach adjustment range | 140 mm of fore/aft pad adjustment (A2 states 120 mm on the Rival build page) plus the 70/90/110 mm stem settings | Integrated cockpit: pad reach 405-504 mm (XS) to 442-541 mm (XL). 105 build with Profile Design bars: 401-486 mm (XS) to 478-563 mm (XL) |
| Extension options | Ski-bend extensions with tool-free angle adjustment | 51 Speedshop custom extensions with a 30° grip angle |
| Seatpost type | A2 SASP (Super Adjustable Seat Post) with a sliding head | E-117 aero seatpost with Ritchey clamp for 7 mm round rails; clamp is specific to the 2025 E-117 and E-119 Tri+ Disc |
| Saddle position range | Up to 120 mm of saddle travel on the SASP head | — |
| Effective seat angle range | — | 78° |
| Fit notes | Product pages give a rider range of about 155-193 cm (5'1" to 6'4"); the size guide's cards run from 160 cm (S) to 196 cm (XL). A2 offers a free remote fit call and free size exchanges within 30 days. | Argon 18's 3D system offers different head tube heights per size (the geometry chart lists 0 mm and +35 mm head tube lengths). Arm-pad stack and reach ranges depend on the cockpit fitted. |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | A2 says the disc-brake SP saved 5 W in the wind tunnel against its rim-brake predecessor, the Speed Phreak | — |
| Testing method | CFD and wind tunnel (A2 statement; no figures published) | — |
| Tube profile | Truncated-airfoil (kammtail) down tube, seat tube and fork | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | — | Top: ACB 4545 40.5 x 49.5 x 6.5 mm 45°x45° stainless bearing (SKU 201188); bottom: MR168 1-1/4" 45°x45° bearing (SKU 80100) |
| Derailleur hanger | Proprietary (SP derailleur hanger sold by A2) | Proprietary (Argon 18 'TA Type A' hanger, SKU 80802; direct-mount version SKU 80832) |
| Maintenance | Ships 92% assembled: the buyer fits the seatpost and cockpit and adjusts the brakes with the included 5 Nm torque wrench and A2's video guide (A2 also recommends a 10 Nm wrench). A2 says most shops finish the build for USD 50-150. | Integrated calipers are TRP hydraulic units bled with TRP mineral oil and take Tektro F10RS pads (Shimano K02S/K04S also fit). Use only the supplied brakes. |
| Proprietary parts | SAGS stem, SASP seatpost and derailleur hanger | Integrated brake calipers and levers, cockpit, seatpost and clamp, bento box and toolbox |
| Frame warranty | Limited lifetime frameset warranty for the original owner (not transferable); crash damage is covered by a crash replacement policy giving 30% off a new frame | 3 years for the original owner (frameset, fork, seatpost, handlebars), extendable to 5 years by registering online within 30 days; 1 year on headset, brakes, seatpost collar and paint |
| Sold via | Direct from A2 Bikes in Portland, Oregon (USD 99 flat shipping to the lower 48 states), sold in limited colour drops; a few preferred dealers and demo bikes | Dealers |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | Shimano 105 R7000 | SRAM Force AXS E1 |
| Launched | 2018 · replaced by Shimano 105 R7100 (2023) | 2025 · current generation |
| Speeds | 11-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | No | Yes |
| Wireless | — | Yes |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end | SRAM AXS Wireless Blips |
| Position | Extensions (11-speed bar-end shifters) | — |
| Crankset | Shimano RS520 | SRAM Force AXS Power Meter |
| Chainrings | 50/34 | 48/35 |
| Crank length | — | 165 (XS, S) / 170 (M, L) / 172.5 (XL) |
| Power meter | — | SRAM Force AXS Power Meter |
| Bottom bracket | PF30 | SRAM DUB PF 86.5 Road |
| Standard | PF30 | BB86 press-fit |
| Front derailleur | Shimano 105 R7000 | SRAM Force AXS E1 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano 105 R7000 | SRAM Force AXS E1 |
| Cassette | Shimano 105 R7000 | SRAM Force XG-1270 E1 |
| Range | 11-30 | 10-33 |
| Speeds | 11-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano 11-speed | SRAM Force E1 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | — | Argon 18 Integrated Brake System |
| Brake calipers | TRP Spyre | Argon 18 Integrated Brake System |
| Type | Mechanical disc | Hydraulic disc, integrated |
| Rotors | Shimano 140 mm rotors | TRP TR140-25 |
| Front rotor | 140 mm | 140 mm |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | 140 mm |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Vision Team 30 | Scope R6.A |
| Front rim depth | — | 65 mm |
| Rear rim depth | — | 65 mm |
| Rear disc wheel | — | No |
| Material | Aluminium | — |
| Tubeless ready | Yes | — |
| Tires | Vittoria Zaffiro | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR |
| Tire width | 25 mm | 29 mm |
| Cockpit | ||
| Aerobar system | Zipp Vuka Alumina | Argon 18 Integrated Cockpit |
| Integrated with frame | No | Yes |
| Extension shape | Ski-bend, tool-free angle adjustment | — |
| Pad stack adjustment | 25 mm and 50 mm spacers included (up to 50 mm) | — |
| Material | Aluminium | — |
| Basebar | — | Argon 18 Integrated Cockpit |
| Basebar width | — | 400 mm |
| Extensions | — | 51 Speedshop Custom Extensions |
| Stem | A2 Bikes SAGS | — |
| Stem length | 70, 90 or 110 mm with A2's spacers | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | WTB Rocket | ISM PR1.0 |
| Seatpost | A2 Bikes SASP | Argon 18 E117 specific aero seatpost |
| Saddle position range | Up to 120 mm of saddle travel on the sliding head | — |
| Included extras | ||
| Storage / bento | — | Argon 18 E-117 toolbox |
| Notes | — | Toolkit listed as included with the bike |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Rider height min | 160–190 cm5–6′3″ | — |
| Rider height max | 167.5–196 cm5′6″–6′5″ | — |
| Stack | 460–560 mm18.1–22″ | — |
| Reach | 371–439 mm14.6–17.3″ | — |
| Pad stack min | — | 550–628 mm21.7–24.7″ |
| Pad stack max | — | 674–751 mm26.5–29.6″ |
| Pad reach min | — | 405–442 mm15.9–17.4″ |
| Pad reach max | — | 504–541 mm19.8–21.3″ |
| Seat angle min | 78° | 78° |
| Seat angle max | 78° | 78° |
| Head tube angle | 73° | 72° |
| Head tube length | 53–157.5 mm2.1–6.2″ | 49–131 mm1.9–5.2″ |
| Effective top tube | — | 492–545 mm19.4–21.5″ |
| Seat tube length | 500–580 mm19.7–22.8″ | 455–568 mm17.9–22.4″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 413 mm16.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 940–1,038 mm37–40.9″ | 976–1,038 mm38.4–40.9″ |
| BB drop | 70 mm2.8″ | 70 mm2.8″ |
| Fork length | — | 375 mm14.8″ |
| Fork offset | — | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Front centre | 540–638 mm21.3–25.1″ | — |
| Standover | — | 729–833 mm28.7–32.8″ |
| Saddle height min | — | 600–713 mm23.6–28.1″ |
| Saddle height max | — | 770–883 mm30.3–34.8″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | — | 165–172.5 mm6.5–6.8″ |
| Basebar width | — | 400 mm15.7″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).