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Argon 18 E117 vs BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite
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 BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite starts $210 cheaper ($4,189 vs $4,399 for the Argon 18 E117).
- Our verdict scores the Argon 18 E117 higher overall: 73/100 vs 65/100.
- Only the Argon 18 E117 has integrated storage.
Argon 18 E117
BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite
| Argon 18E117 | BLUE Competition CyclesTriad Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Argon 18 | BLUE Competition Cycles |
| Build | E117 SRAM Force AXS | Triad Elite Shimano 105 |
| Build notes | — | BLUE web price. Mechanical Shimano 105 with bar-end shifters. |
| Price (MSRP) | $8,699$8,699$8,699 | $4,189$4,189$4,189 |
| Model year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Generation | All-new E117 for 2025 (replaces the E-117 Tri Disc) | — |
| Launched | 2024-09 | — |
| Discipline | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| UCI legal | Yes | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 73 | 65 |
| Aero | 76 | 56 |
| Frame | — | 58 |
| Components | 62 | 58 |
| Hydration & storage | 70 | 48 |
| Fit | 78 | 62 |
| Practicality | 55 | 76 |
| Price | 94 | 95 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon | BLUE-TECH high-modulus T-800 UD carbon fibre |
| Fork material | Carbon | — |
| Frame sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL | XS, SM, MD, ML, LG |
| Colours | Black Stealth, Flaming Red, Hypershift Blueberry / Silver (depending on build) | Black/Blue/Silver, Blue/Green, Red/White/Black, Black/Black, Black/Silver, Black/Yellow, Black/Blue, Red/Black/Silver |
| 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, calipers integrated into frame and fork (Argon 18 Integrated Brake System, TRP hydraulics) | Rim brakes (FSA Vision aero centre-pull calipers) |
| Max rotor size | 140 mm | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 30 mm | — |
| Bottom bracket standard | BB86 press-fit (86.5 mm) | PF30 (86x46 mm) on complete bikes; the frameset page says BB386 |
| Front axle | 12 mm thru-axle (119 mm long) | — |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle (161 mm long) | — |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Di2, eTap and mechanical routing; front derailleur with 50-58T rings (2x) or up to 64T single ring | — |
| Mechanical shifting possible | Yes | — |
| 1x compatible | Yes | — |
| Max chainring | 64T | — |
| Front derailleur mount | Removable front derailleur hanger | — |
| Cable routing | Fully internal | Internal, through the Aerus FA-Aero stem |
| 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 | — |
| Behind-saddle mount | — | Seatpost compatible with Richey rear hydration mounts |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | Argon 18 integrated cockpit with 51 Speedshop custom extensions; the Shimano 105 build uses a carbon basebar with Profile Design Sonic/Ergo/39a aerobars | Standard stem with clamp-on base bar and extensions (FSA Vision, Vision TriMax or Zipp Vuka depending on build) |
| Third-party aerobars possible | Yes | — |
| Pad stack adjustment range | 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 | 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 | 51 Speedshop custom extensions with a 30° grip angle | — |
| Seatpost type | 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 | Aerus aero carbon seatpost with sliding saddle-position adjustment |
| Effective seat angle range | 78° | 77° frame seat angle; saddle position adjustable on the post |
| Fit notes | 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 | ||
| Testing method | — | None published |
| 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 (Argon 18 'TA Type A' hanger, SKU 80802; direct-mount version SKU 80832) | — |
| Maintenance | 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 | Integrated brake calipers and levers, cockpit, seatpost and clamp, bento box and toolbox | — |
| Frame warranty | 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 | Dealers | Direct from BLUE (rideblue.com) in the USA |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | 2018 · replaced by Shimano 105 R7100 (2023) |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 11-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | No |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x11 |
| Shifters | SRAM AXS Wireless Blips | Shimano 105 TT bar-end shifters |
| Crankset | SRAM Force AXS Power Meter | Vision Gossamer Pro |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | — |
| Crank length | 165 (XS, S) / 170 (M, L) / 172.5 (XL) | — |
| Power meter | SRAM Force AXS Power Meter | — |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB PF 86.5 Road | FSA PF30 |
| Standard | BB86 press-fit | PF30 (86x46 mm) |
| Front derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Cassette | SRAM Force XG-1270 E1 | Shimano 6800 |
| Range | 10-33 | 11-25 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 11-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Force E1 | Shimano HG 11-speed |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | Argon 18 Integrated Brake System | FSA Aero TT |
| Brake calipers | Argon 18 Integrated Brake System | FSA Vision Aero Center Pull |
| Type | Hydraulic disc, integrated | Rim caliper (centre-pull) |
| Rotors | TRP TR140-25 | — |
| Front rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Scope R6.A | Vision Team 30 |
| Front rim depth | 65 mm | 30 mm |
| Rear rim depth | 65 mm | 30 mm |
| Rear disc wheel | No | — |
| Material | — | Aluminium |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Tires | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR | Goodyear Eagle Sport |
| Tire width | 29 mm | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Aerobar system | Argon 18 Integrated Cockpit | FSA Vision Alloy Triathlon Base Bar |
| Integrated with frame | Yes | — |
| Material | — | Aluminium |
| Notes | — | Alloy adjustable J-bend extensions and arm rests with pads |
| Basebar | Argon 18 Integrated Cockpit | — |
| Basebar width | 400 mm | — |
| Extensions | 51 Speedshop Custom Extensions | — |
| Stem | — | Aerus FA-Aero |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | ISM PR1.0 | BLUE Triathlon 2300 Center Groove |
| Seatpost | Argon 18 E117 specific aero seatpost | Aerus Aero Carbon |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Sliding saddle-position adjustment; compatible with Richey rear hydration mounts |
| Included extras | ||
| Storage / bento | Argon 18 E-117 toolbox | — |
| Notes | Toolkit listed as included with the bike | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL | XS, SM, MD, ML, LG |
| Stack | — | 494–564 mm19.4–22.2″ |
| Reach | — | 375–432 mm14.8–17″ |
| 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° | 77° |
| Seat angle max | 78° | 77° |
| Head tube angle | 72° | 71.5–72.5° |
| Head tube length | 49–131 mm1.9–5.2″ | 85–155 mm3.3–6.1″ |
| Effective top tube | 492–545 mm19.4–21.5″ | 489–562 mm19.3–22.1″ |
| Seat tube length | 455–568 mm17.9–22.4″ | 523–594 mm20.6–23.4″ |
| Chainstay | 413 mm16.3″ | 408 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 976–1,038 mm38.4–40.9″ | 965–1,035 mm38–40.7″ |
| BB drop | 70 mm2.8″ | 75 mm3″ |
| Fork length | 375 mm14.8″ | — |
| Fork offset | 45 mm1.8″ | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Standover | 729–833 mm28.7–32.8″ | 740–840 mm29.1–33.1″ |
| 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).