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There are two ways to test a bike. The first is to analyze its spec sheet. Weigh the frame. Measure the reach. Compare the angles. Look at the components. Then explain to the reader why they should like it. The second is much simpler. You hop on it. You ride it. And you see what happens. That’s exactly what we did. The story begins in Herblay, at Matériel Vélo. Fifteen minutes from home. Where the store offers something that became almost revolutionary in 2026: trying out the bike before buying it. Yes. Really trying it out. Not just doing three laps in a parking lot. Not twenty minutes around the store. Take it. Head out. Ride. Live with it. And come back a few days later. So when Dany suggested the Spanish gravel ride—which reminded us why we still loved riding fast—on a Berria Naii BR Rival XPLR AXS customized to our specs, we didn’t think twice. A few adjustments. A size M. A saddle height. A riding position. And a few minutes later, the bike was waiting for us in front of the store. Ready to tell its story. And to be perfectly honest? We had no idea just how good that story was going to be.
By Jeff Tatard – Photos © Jeff Tatard
The problem with modern gravel bikes is that they sometimes want to be anything but a fast bike
For the past few years, gravel biking has been going through a strange identity crisis. Some models want to become mountain bikes. Others, touring bikes. Still others, all-purpose platforms. Carrying panniers. Crossing continents. Riding on the road. Riding on trails. Ride anywhere. In their eagerness to cater to every riding style, many end up forgetting a crucial question: does this bike make you want to push harder on the pedals? From the very first few kilometers, the Berria Naii gave us that urge.
At Berria, someone seems to have refused to join the great race toward compromise. The specifications seem almost provocative in today’s context: to build a competition gravel bike. A real one. A bike designed to ride fast. Very fast. A bike capable of competing with the current leaders in the race gravel segment without trying to be anything else. And that’s precisely what makes the Naii interesting. Because it knows exactly what it is.
Before talking about the bike, we need to talk about the experience
This story would have been very different if it had started behind a computer screen. Instead, it begins in a store. And that’s worth emphasizing. Because in an era when people sometimes order a bike costing several thousand euros without even seeing it, Matériel Vélo Herblay offers exactly the opposite: a test ride before you buy. A real one.
The bike is set up to your measurements. Adjusted. Explained. Then handed over to you. You’re then free to go for a ride. Free to see what it’s really worth on your roads, your trails, your climbs, and your descents. And honestly, after going through this experience, we’re convinced that more stores should operate this way. Because you don’t choose a bike based on a spec sheet. You choose a bike on the trail. On a ride. Based on how it makes you feel.
At Matériel Vélo, Dany understood this perfectly. Before even mentioning the Berria, he focused on the rider. On riding position. On riding habits. On the types of terrain you ride. On your goals. Then came the adjustments. Saddle height. Seatback angle. The final tweaks. Seemingly minor details. But it’s often these details that transform a simple test ride into a true experience.
A few days later, when we returned the bike, we had certainly tested a machine. But above all, we had rediscovered something that sometimes tends to disappear in the modern cycling world: the joy of discovering a bike for yourself.
A Build That Changes Everything
The bike you see in our photos isn’t exactly the one that came out of the box. Very quickly, an idea took hold. To truly understand the Naii’s potential, we had to equip it with the very best components we had available.
The ENVE AR40 wheels, recently tested on 3bikes, were the obvious choice. So were the 45 mm Continental Terra Speed ProTection tires.
And from the very first few meters, we realized we had something truly cohesive on our hands. Visually, the whole package works perfectly. The frame’s proportions. The generous tire cross-sections. The modern rim profiles. Everything seems harmonious. The bike feels planted on its wheels. Stable. Precise. Ready to accelerate. Like a sprinter just waiting for the flag to drop.
There are bikes that only look beautiful when they’re riding. The Naii belongs to a rarer category: that of bikes that already look fast when they’re standing still. Leaning against a tree, parked in front of an abbey, or simply left outside a café, it exudes that sense of constant tension usually found on certain competition road bikes. A minor detail? Perhaps. But enthusiasts know that bikes that make you want to ride them even before you’ve straddled them are rarely bad bikes.
The banks of the Oise never lie
When it comes to testing a new bike, everyone has their go-to terrain. We have ours. The banks of the Oise are among them. Because they let you see everything: efficiency, stability, acceleration, how the bike handles when the terrain gets rough, and its response at high speeds. You can’t fake it here. And very quickly, one thing became clear: the Naii loves to accelerate.
The first real burst of speed came a few kilometers after leaving Herblay. Without thinking. Just to see. A few harder pedal strokes. And immediately, that sensation. The bike surges forward. Not abruptly. Not nervously. Simply with disconcerting ease. At that precise moment, we realized we weren’t riding just another versatile gravel bike. We were on a machine designed around a single obsession: transforming energy into speed.
Every burst of speed elicits an immediate response. Every time you exit a turn, you want to push harder. Every slight incline feels a little easier than it should be. Of course, with a frame weighing just 950 grams and a 420-gram fork, the Naii is already in the featherweight class. But what’s most impressive is the way the bike instantly transforms the rider’s energy into speed.
No unwanted inertia. No wobble. No lag. You push. The bike moves forward. And the more kilometers we covered, the more a thought kept coming back to us. This bike reminded us more of certain very sporty road bikes than most of today’s gravel bikes.
A gravel bike that at times reminded us of certain road bikes
That’s probably the greatest compliment we can pay it. Because on several occasions—particularly on the long, rolling stretches connecting L’Isle-Adam, Royaumont, and Chantilly—we experienced sensations usually reserved for certain modern road bikes.
Between Royaumont and Chantilly, the long, straight roads are actually perfect for evaluating a modern gravel bike. Not because they’re technical, but because they allow you to maintain a high speed for a long time. And that’s precisely where the Naii impressed us. The more kilometers we covered, the more we felt that it took less energy than usual to stay fast. It was as if the bike naturally refused to slow down.
The steering is precise. The bottom bracket feels extremely stiff. Changes in pace are immediate. When you stand up on the pedals, the bike responds with surprising agility for a machine capable of accommodating tires up to 50 mm wide. Of course, that doesn’t mean the Naii lacks stability. Quite the contrary.
At high speeds, it inspires a great deal of confidence. This is probably where you really appreciate all the work done by the Spanish engineers. The bike is lively without being twitchy. Stable without being sluggish. Fast without becoming demanding. This is a balance that’s particularly difficult to achieve. And yet, Berria seems to have found a particularly convincing formula.
The SOFTEX Paradox
Before the test ride, one question kept coming up: How effective is the SOFTEX system, really? On paper, Berria claims up to 28 mm of vertical flex—enough to pique curiosity. And even a bit of skepticism. Because the history of the modern bicycle is full of systems meant to improve comfort but that sometimes end up altering the very character of the bike. Here, it’s exactly the opposite. After several hundred kilometers, the first thing one might say about the SOFTEX system is almost paradoxical: you never feel it. Or rather, you never feel it kicking in.
The bike remains stiff. Very stiff. When you pick up speed again, nothing moves. When climbing, there’s no sensation of pumping. When you accelerate hard, the frame responds immediately. And yet, when the ride ends, something feels different. Vibrations have been dampened. Small impacts have been filtered out. Fatigue seems less pronounced than expected. Unlike some more showy systems, SOFTEX works behind the scenes. And that’s probably its greatest strength. Because it improves comfort without ever compromising the Naii’s deeply sporty character.
Montmorency, Saint-Germain, Chantilly: the roads that reveal the truth
There are terrains that forgive a lot. And others that forgive absolutely nothing. The banks of the Oise help you understand a bike’s performance. The Montmorency Forest helps you understand its personality.
The trails become more uneven. Accelerations come more frequently. There are more changes in pace. The pedaling becomes more intense. This is usually where the fancy marketing talk starts to fall apart. Not this time. The more kilometers we covered, the more the Naii seemed to be in its element. The long, rolling trails of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The fast forest trails around Chantilly. The succession of false flats in Montmorency. On the long forest paths of Chantilly—the ones that seem to go on forever—the Naii feels right at home. The Terra Speed tires hum softly on the compact gravel. The speed gradually increases. Then you glance at the speedometer. And you realize you’re already riding much faster than you could have imagined just a few minutes ago. Every time, the conclusion was the same. This bike loves to maintain high speeds.
And above all, it loves to stay there. That’s probably where its biggest difference lies compared to many current gravel bikes. Some accelerate very well but then require a lot of energy to maintain the pace. The Naii gives exactly the opposite feeling. Once it’s up to speed, it seems to want to keep moving forward. It’s as if the entire bike had been optimized around this simple idea: reducing everything that slows it down. Weight. Unnecessary flex. Unwanted movement. Energy loss. Everything seems to converge toward the same goal: going fast.
Modern gravel has become all about the tires
Just a few years ago, riding on 45 mm tires would have seemed almost excessive. Today, it’s gradually becoming the norm on competition gravel bikes. And after this test ride, we fully understand why. The 45 mm Continental Terra Speed ProTection tires played a major role in our experience with the Naii. First, because they offer remarkable performance. Second, because they completely transform the bike’s handling.
Paired with the ENVE AR40s, they provide impressive stability at high speeds. The bike remains perfectly responsive. Trajectories are precise. Reactions are predictable. Weight shifts feel natural. The faster the trails get, the more this combination seems to make sense. And that’s probably where modern gravel riding is headed. For years, we’ve sought to replicate the feel of cyclocross. Today, the best gravel bikes seem to be aiming to create something new instead—faster, more stable, and more efficient over long distances. The Naii fits perfectly into this trend.
Why the ENVE AR40s Enhanced the Naii
We’d already noticed this during our dedicated test ride. The ENVE AR40s aren’t just wheels. They profoundly alter the handling of the bike they’re mounted on. On the Berria, this impression is even more pronounced. The internal width allows the Terra Speed tires to take on an ideal shape. The lateral stiffness is remarkable. Handling remains precise even when the terrain gets rough. And above all, the wheels seem to perfectly match the frame’s philosophy. Because everything about this setup is designed to promote speed: acceleration, quick bursts of speed, and stability at high speeds. The feeling that constantly comes to mind is one of rare coherence. Nothing feels artificially added. Everything works together. And when a bike manages to create this sense of unity, it’s usually a very good sign.
BERRIA NAII BR RIVAL XPLR AXS – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSFrame: Berria Naii HM3X Carbon Monocoque
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Up against the gravel bikes we really know
Comparing a bike to your own is always a tricky business. Because you know every reaction of your machine. Every sound. Every sensation. For several months now, our personal benchmark has been the LYTI. A bike we know by heart. A bike that has already accompanied us for thousands of kilometers. A bike with which we’ve learned to love this fast gravel riding style. And that’s probably why the Naii surprised us so much.
Because right from the first few kilometers, we rediscovered certain qualities we appreciate on our LYTI. The ease of picking up speed. The feeling of constant efficiency. That sense that every watt produces something tangible under the rear wheel.
But the Berria adds something else. Something more modern. More radical. And more confident, too. The first surprise came from the bike’s overall stiffness. So much so that, as the kilometers went by, we found ourselves rethinking our own bike. Not because the LYTI lacks qualities. But because the Naii raises the bar even higher. The steering feels more precise. The bursts of speed are more direct. Acceleration is more immediate. And above all, there’s that constant feeling that nothing is lost between the rider and the rear wheel.
At high speeds, it exudes a remarkable sense of calm. The more kilometers we covered, the more it made us want to accelerate. And that’s probably what impressed us the most. Because over the years, we’ve ridden a lot of gravel bikes. Some were more comfortable. Some were more versatile. Some more adventure-oriented. Others closer to mountain bikes. But few have given us this constant sense of efficiency.
The Naii never tries to impress artificially. It simply aims to move forward quickly. And it does so remarkably well.
The Bike That Disappears Beneath the Rider
The best bikes often end up creating a unique phenomenon. You gradually stop thinking about the bike. Your attention shifts elsewhere—to the scenery, to the speed, to the enjoyment, to the ride itself. That’s exactly what happened here. In Royaumont. In Chantilly. In Saint-Germain. On several occasions, we forgot that we were testing a bike.
We were simply riding. And when a bike manages to make you forget it’s there, it usually means it causes no problems. No questions. No frustration. Just pure enjoyment. And that’s probably the greatest compliment you can pay it.
Some bikes make you want to write an article. The best ones make you want to extend your ride. The Naii clearly belongs to the latter category.
Ultimately, what is a fast gravel bike in 2026?
Throughout this test ride, one thought kept coming back to me. Perhaps because the market is changing. Perhaps because the way we ride is changing, too. Or perhaps simply because the best bikes always end up raising questions that go beyond their spec sheets.
What is a fast gravel bike in 2026? A few years ago, the answer would likely have revolved around weight. Today, the reality has become much more complex. A fast gravel bike isn’t necessarily the lightest. It isn’t necessarily the most aerodynamic. It isn’t necessarily the stiffest. It’s the one that allows the rider to stay fast longer—cooler, more confident, and more efficient. And in this regard, the Naii checks a lot of boxes.
Because it never tries to impress artificially. It doesn’t try to win you over with a gimmick. It doesn’t try to grab your attention with a flashy solution. It simply does what all great bikes do: transform the rider’s energy into speed. As efficiently as possible.
The bike we really didn’t want to give back
Every bike journalist knows that moment. The moment when the test ride is coming to an end. The moment when you have to clean the bike. Remove the pedals. Adjust the saddle back to its original height. Double-check one last time that no accessories have been left behind. And get ready to head back. Most of the time, this isn’t a problem. The bike was interesting. Sometimes excellent. Sometimes less convincing. But the story comes to a natural end. With the Naii, it was different. Because as the kilometers went by, something had taken hold. Not a “wow” factor. Not a spectacular love at first sight. Something much rarer. A sense of inevitability. The bike always seemed just right. Always spot-on. Always in its element.
The rolling trails of the Oise? Perfect. The long forest trails of Chantilly? Perfect. The grueling false flats of Montmorency? Perfect. The fast stretches of Saint-Germain? Perfect.
At no point did we feel like we were outside the bike’s comfort zone. And that’s probably what impressed us the most. Because highly specialized bikes are often excellent in one area—and just average elsewhere. The Naii manages to maintain a very strong athletic identity without ever becoming exclusive. That’s probably its greatest achievement.
A Lesson from Spain
The competitive gravel market is more competitive today than ever before. There’s no shortage of leading models, and every brand now seems intent on offering its own vision of a fast gravel bike. But ultimately, what interests us most isn’t where to place the Naii in a theoretical hierarchy. What interests us is how it made us feel out on the trail. Not because it’s revolutionizing the discipline. Not because it’s inventing something entirely new. But because it fulfills its mission remarkably well: to be fast. Quite simply. And sometimes, in an industry that loves to overcomplicate things, that simplicity becomes a rare quality. The Naii doesn’t set out to be the most adventurous gravel bike. It doesn’t set out to be the most comfortable. It doesn’t set out to be the most spectacular. It sets out to be fast. And honestly? Mission accomplished.
Verdict from 3bikes.fr
As we were returning the bike to Matériel Vélo Herblay, Dany asked us a very simple question: “So?” The answer came almost immediately. Because it had been forming throughout those hundreds of kilometers spent riding along the banks of the Oise, Montmorency, Royaumont, Chantilly, and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The Berria Naii BR is probably one of the most well-rounded gravel bikes we’ve tested in recent years. Not because it tries to do everything. Not because it tries to impress. But because it knows exactly what it is: a modern, fast, efficient, and incredibly fun-to-ride competition gravel bike. A bike that turns every watt into speed and constantly makes you want to push a little harder on the pedals.
In the end, we may have learned two things during this test ride. The first is that Berria has perfectly mastered the principles of modern performance gravel bikes. The second is that no spec sheet will ever replace a few hours spent on a bike. Between Herblay, the forests of Val-d’Oise, and the trails of the Oise, the Naii reminded us of something essential: the best bikes aren’t always the ones everyone’s talking about. They’re often the ones you’re sorry to give back.
The BERRIA NAII BR Rival XPLR AXS at a glance…Pros: exceptional performance, true competition-level gravel handling, perfectly balanced stiffness, excellent stability at high speeds, the SOFTEX system’s subtle yet effective shock absorption, modest weight, very successful modern geometry, precise steering, explosive acceleration, excellent compatibility with modern setups like ENVE AR40 rims and 45 mm tires, impeccable finish, and a particularly high-quality test ride experience at Matériel Vélo Herblay. Cons: Less suited for heavy bikepacking or long-distance travel; its sporty nature requires a minimum level of physical effort; comfort is intentionally less pronounced than that of some more adventure-oriented competitors. Retail price: approximately €4,349 And if this review has made you want to discover for yourself what the Naii is really like, know that Matériel Vélo Herblay offers precisely this rare and valuable service: the chance to test ride the bike before buying it. With Dany by your side to guide and advise you, you can take the time to ride, form your own opinion, and see if this Spanish gravel bike is right for you. This approach has become all too rare in the modern cycling world, and we can only encourage it. Information and test rides: Matériel Vélo Herblay |
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