ENVE introduced the original Melee back in 2022, and now, four years on, the brand best known for its wheels and components has pulled the wraps off the second iteration of its road race machine.
Where the first-generation Melee could accommodate tires up to 35mm—positioning it ahead of the curve on the widening-tire movement—the Melee v2 dials that figure back to 33mm.
That shift reflects a sharper design philosophy behind ENVE’s newest offering. Rather than building an all-purpose race bike aimed at the average rider, ENVE has positioned the updated Melee as “a lighter, faster and more complete modern race bike.”
According to the company, the revised tire clearance still delivers the air volume that today’s road racing demands, but does so while shedding grams and reducing aerodynamic drag.
**Less surface area, redesigned components**
Tire clearance isn’t the only thing that’s been trimmed—ENVE also reduced the frame’s overall surface area by 7.5%.
A newly designed, more compact headset enables a sleeker head tube profile, which plays a role in shrinking the bike’s frontal area. The redesigned seatpost features a more refined aerodynamic shape while also coming in lighter than before.
ENVE’s new SES Aero Bar is claimed to lower drag, and riders can opt for sculpted pads to boost comfort. There’s even a fresh bar tape that measures just 1.2mm thick and cuts down on “the amount of material exposed to the wind.”
On top of that, ENVE’s updated SES Aero Bottle Cages are said to minimize “the aerodynamic losses that come from adding hydration to the bike.”
**Quicker and lighter**
Wind-tunnel data suggests these revisions have paid off.
At 50kph, ENVE recorded a 17-watt aerodynamic gain compared to the earlier Melee. That figure breaks down into 11.4 watts from the frame, fork and seatpost; 3 watts courtesy of the new handlebar and bar tape; and 2.6 watts from the bottle cages when used with standard round bottles.
ENVE’s testing indicates the new Melee outpaces both the Specialized Tarmac SL8 and the Trek Madone. When bottles, cages and a rider are factored in, ENVE claims the Melee is 3-4 watts quicker than the Madone (running Trek’s aero bottles) and the SL8.
Weight has dropped as well. Finished in Ultralight Black, a size-56 Melee v2 tips the scales at under 800g. A full build can reach the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum when paired with a SRAM Red AXS groupset or a comparable setup.
**Geometry refinements**
ENVE has also adjusted the Melee’s geometry to sharpen its racing character.
Stack height across sizes 56 through 60 has been lowered by 11mm, achieved through revisions to both the frame and handlebar designs.
To keep handling predictable across the lineup, ENVE employs five distinct fork rakes spread across its seven frame sizes.
The larger sizes also feature a longer seat tube, giving riders more room to fine-tune saddle height.
**ENVE Melee v2 specifications**
The Melee v2 is offered through ENVE’s Spec’d for Speed program, which lets customers build complete bikes with SRAM Red or Force AXS groupsets alongside ENVE SES wheels and cockpits.
A Melee v2 chassis—including seatpost and cockpit—is priced at £5,299 / $5,800.
**ENVE Melee v2 Pro Red**
- Frameset: ENVE Melee v2
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS
- Wheels: ENVE SES Wheels
- Cockpit: ENVE Aero Pro
- Tires: ENVE SES Road tires
- Price: £13,199 / $13,950 / €15,199
**ENVE Melee v2 Premium Red**
- Frameset: ENVE Melee v2
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS
- Wheels: ENVE SES 4.5 Pro or SES 6.7 Pro
- Cockpit: ENVE SES AR
- Tires: ENVE SES Road tires
- Price: £12,399 / $12,250 / €14,199
**ENVE Melee v2 Premium Force**
- Frameset: ENVE Melee v2
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS
- Wheels: ENVE SES wheels
- Cockpit: ENVE SES AR
- Tires: ENVE SES Road tires
- Price: £10,499 / €11,999
**ENVE Melee v2 Foundation Force**
- Frameset: ENVE Melee v2
- Groupset: SRAM Force AXS
- Wheels: ENVE SES Wheels
- Cockpit: ENVE SES AR
- Tires: ENVE SES Road tires
- Price: £8,899 / €10,149
