New 2026 Thömus Sliker X3 on Review: Road Bike, All-Road or Gravel Bike?

With the new Sliker X3, Thömus are launching a gravel bike that wants to be ready for anything. Race bike? Versatile gravel all-rounder? All-road machine? None of that’s an issue, because Thömus don’tdo compromises, except when it comes to speed. The only thing that really defines this bike is its unstoppable urge to keep pushing forward. It sounds exciting, but is the concept already too vague to really convince? We put the Sliker X3 through its paces.

With the Thömus Sliker X3,, the innovative Swiss bike manufacturer wants to show that you don’t need a highly specialised bike to hold your own in the gravel segment. Instead, they’re going all in on versatility. No matter what surface you ride on, what tire width you want to run or how many nights you spend on the road, the Sliker X3 is meant to be the ideal companion. To make that happen, it offers all the right ingredients, including generous tire clearance and mounting points for bikepacking bags, while also promising a perfectly balanced geometry. It sounds promising, but do those big claims stand up once you look more closely?

All-Road or Gravel? – The Thömus Sliker X3 makes it possible

As an everyday-friendly concept, the Sliker X3 is designed to adapt to your daily routine. To make that happen, Thömus offer not only a custom build in consultation with your dealer, but also the perfect platform for it. Visually, the bike already makes a very promising impression. Thömus have deliberately gone for a clean yet premium look that combines performance with elegance. Classic race bike elements shape the design, while the slim front end, subtly aero-optimised profiles and dropped seat stays give the Sliker a modern, sporty appearance. Despite its clear focus on performance, the design still looks light and avoids radically sculpted aero surfaces. Finished off with the high-quality Carbon Green paintwork, the Sliker X3 is simply an exceptionally premium bike.

But good looks alone don’t make a capable all-round gravel bike. That’s why Thömus have focused on maximum flexibility. The Sliker X3 can be built either in an all-road or gravel setup, and it is not just the choice of drivetrain that defines its intended use. A flip chip in the fork also lets you adjust the offset to suit the build. In the gravel setup, the offset is 50 mm, while in the all-road setup it is 45 mm. That allows the geometry to be tailored precisely to your needs and the ride feel you want.

And that’s not all. In our test setup, the Thömus Sliker X3 can run tires up to 50 mm wide, making it properly equipped for real gravel adventures too. A large storage compartment in the downtube, with space for two inner bags, lets you stash your puncture kit and snacks neatly without taking up extra room. The integration is especially well executed. Despite the generous capacity, the down tube never looks bulky from the outside.

Swiss Precision without the Swiss Price Tag: The 2026 Thömus Sliker X3 up close

Our test bike comes with a custom spec and was supplied directly by Thömus. The Swiss manufacturer is keen to meet every customer’s wishes and offers each Sliker X3 with a tailored specification to match. In our case, that means a top-tier setup with a strong focus on performance and top-tier components.

Drivetrain duties are handled by a SRAM RED XPLR AXS groupset with a 40 t chainring and 10–46 cassette, although our bike does without a power meter. It rolls on DT Swiss GRC 1100 gravel wheelset with 50 mm rims, paired with a Schwalbe G-One R Pro up front and a Schwalbe G-One RS Pro at the rear, both 50 mm wide. The spec also includes a RockShox dropper post. The Reverb dropper fits the Sliker X3 perfectly thanks to the 27.2 mm standard and offers 50 mm of travel. Rounding off the build is a matching Thömus Performance Carbon Monocoque cockpit with a 400 mm width. In this configuration, the bike weighs 8.65 kg and costs CHF 9,180, or just under €10,000.

The Geometry of the 2026 Thömus Sliker X3: sporty and well balanced?

The geometry follows the same all-round approach. With a reach of 397 mm and a stack of 581 mm, the stack-to-reach ratio comes out at around 1.46, which points to a balanced, slightly more upright riding position. This puts the Sliker X3 right in the sweet spot for both ambitious rides and longer race efforts, placing you in a sporty yet well-balanced, centred position on the bike. The 157 mm head tube reinforces that impression, staying moderate enough for a comfortable hand position. A 72° head angle promises calm, stable steering, while the long 1,033 mm wheelbase adds solid straight-line stability. Short 424 mm chainstays and a bottom bracket drop of 72 mm also suggest an agile, responsive gravel bike.

Size	48	51	54	56	58	61
Top Tube	522 mm	536 mm	556 mm	569 mm	584 mm	627 mm
Seat Tube	460 mm	485 mm	505 mm	530 mm	550 mm	575 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	120 mm	135 mm	157 mm	180 mm	205 mm
Head Angle	71.5°	71.5°	72°	72°	72°	72°
Seat Angle	74°	74°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstay	424 mm	424 mm	424 mm	424 mm	424 mm	424 mm
Bottom Bracket Drop	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm
Wheelbase	994 mm	1009 mm	1019 mm	1033 mm	1049 mm	1068 mm
Reach	372 mm	380 mm	390 mm	397 mm	406 mm	417 mm
Stack	525 mm	544 mm	560 mm	581 mm	603 mm	627 mm

Grip, speed and sheer fun: the Thömus Sliker X3 2026 on test

An exciting setup, but how does the Thömus Sliker X3 ride on our test track, the gravel roads around Girona? Out on test, the bike shows its playful and sporty side. Despite, or perhaps because of, the wide Schwalbe G-One tires, the Sliker X3 picks up speed impressively well. The wide tires add a touch of inertia, but in return they hook up brilliantly on loose surfaces and make it almost impossible to lose grip. The lively ride feel is backed up by the stiff frame and the sporty DT Swiss GRC 1100 wheels.

That impression carries over into the handling too. The punchy acceleration is matched perfectly by agile, direct steering. Even on tarmac, the bike feels surprisingly lively, and it is easy to imagine just how much the Sliker X3 would come alive in its all-road setup. When it comes to comfort, the bike doesn’t make promises it cannot keep. The frame and wheels offer little in the way of compliance, but the wide tires and the RockShox Reverb dropper more than make up for it. Drop the post by a few millimetres and it starts to work like a form of suspension, noticeably taking the edge off the ground beneath you. It is a clever feature, provided you are happy with the slightly altered saddle height.

That leaves the question of whether the dropper post is really necessary on the Sliker X3 beyond the added comfort it brings. As a feature, it undoubtedly underlines the versatility of the Thömus, but even so, the Sliker X3 remains more of a bike for fast, sporty rides on quicker surfaces. A proper off-road outing where the dropper post can really show its full advantage will probably remain the exception, even for riders who enjoy venturing away from smooth gravel.

All in all, the Thömus Sliker X3 is a highly sporty, agile and seriously fun gravel all-rounder that impressed us above all with its lively handling.

Who is the 2026 Thömus Sliker X3 for?

In our test, the Thömus Sliker X3 2026 stood out above all as an everyday companion for riders looking for a sporty bike. It shines especially on fast gravel loops, no matter how much gravel, tarmac or trail surface you mix into your ride. What makes the bike particularly appealing, though, is its handling and the option to run a setup with a stronger all-road focus. That means many riders will be able to build their ideal bike for both tarmac and gravel.

Conclusions about the 2026 Thömus Sliker X3

With the Sliker X3, Thömus introduce a hugely appealing bike designed to handle everything from all-road riding to gravel adventures. And the concept works: with its sporty handling, high-quality spec, and flexible build options, it’s an impressively versatile bike that performs brilliantly across every surface it’s meant to cover. The price is a pleasant surprise too. In a custom build with high-end components, our test bike comes in at just under €10,000, which is less of a Swiss premium than you might expect.

More information at thoemus.com.

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Words: Calvin Zajac Photos: Jan Fock