Sklar’s SuperSomething Goes on a Diet
The Sklar SuperSomething V2 is here with a significant 1.5lb weight reduction and updated standards like UDH, proving that modern steel bikes just keep getting better.
There is a specific trajectory that fascinates me in the bicycle industry: the custom builder who successfully pivots to batch production. It’s a difficult leap. You have to take the magic of a hand-welded, one-off frame and translate it into something that can be produced at scale in Taiwan, without losing the soul that made people want the bike in the first place.
Adam Sklar seems to have cracked this code with the SuperSomething.
The V1 was already a hit—a steel gravel bike that didn't take itself too seriously but rode seriously well. Now, the SuperSomething V2 is here, and while it looks similar at a glance, the updates under the hood are actually quite drastic.
The headline here is the weight. Steel is real, as we always say, but steel is also usually heavy. The V2 frameset has shaved off a massive 1.5 pounds compared to its predecessor. In the world of metal bikes, losing a pound and a half without switching materials is practically alchemy. That comes down to a completely revised tubing spec and a new, unicrown steel fork.
Beyond the diet, Sklar has modernized the chassis in ways that actually matter for longevity and compatibility, rather than just following trends for the sake of it.
- UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger): This is the new standard. It means if you snap a hanger in the middle of nowhere, you can likely find a replacement at any modern shop. It also opens the door for SRAM’s "Transmission" drivetrains if you want to get rowdy with a mullet setup.
- Flat Mount Brakes: The V2 moves to flat mount front and rear, cleaning up the lines and making caliper sourcing easier.
- The Yoke: Gone is the dimpled tube; in its place is a cast Chromoly chainstay yoke. It looks cleaner and likely helps with that generous 2.1” tire clearance.
But what I really appreciate is what didn't change. It still uses a threaded bottom bracket (press-fit belongs in the trash). It still uses external cable routing (except for the optional internal dropper). This is a bike designed to be worked on in a garage, not a laboratory.
The geometry has been tweaked slightly—a touch more stack and a longer front end—leaning into that "gravel sweet spot" of stability over twitchiness.
The pricing remains in the realm of "premium but attainable." The frameset sits at $1,599, with complete builds ranging from a pragmatic MicroSHIFT setup ($3,719) all the way up to a SRAM Red AXS "dream build" tier.
It’s rare to see a "Version 2" of a steel frame that feels this distinct from the original. Usually, it’s just new paint. But by cutting significant weight and adopting the UDH standard, the SuperSomething V2 feels like a bike ready for the next decade of gravel.
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