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Fairdale Announces New Elevator Hardtail

Jul 17, 2024
by Fairdale  
Fairdale Elevator complete
Fairdale Elevator GX build

PRESS RELEASE: Fairdale Bikes

Fairdale Bikes introduces the Elevator, an ultra nimble 29er hardtail with a certified BMX background. Fairdale is part of the Odyssey BMX family of brands. Leaning on Odyssey’s 40 years of manufacturing know-how Fairdale’s first mountain bike is both unique and well sorted. 


Fairdale Elevator frame

Hardtails can require more rider input than full suspension bikes but the design goal of the Elevator was to make those rider inputs as rewarding as possible. The super short 406mm chainstays make for a snappy handling and agile bike. Placing the wheels precisely where you want them on the trail becomes an intuitive joy. The responsiveness makes the bike feel like an extension of you– the rider.

Be a rider, not a passenger!

Fairdale Elevator short chain stays
An investment cast yoke and seat tube configuration allows for a 406mm chainstay length with a 29 inch rear wheel.
Fairdale Elevator details

Price:
Frame kit: $599
Complete GX build: $3299



Fairdale Elevator Geo
Fairdale Elevator Geo

Aaron Ross on the Elevator by Devon Hutchins
Aaron Ross on the Elevator by Devon Hutchins


Fairdale has also added a new S/M size of its Chromo DJ, the Hareraiser.

Fairdale Hareraiser
Fairdale Hareraiser
Fairdale Hareraiser details

Frame kit: $499
Complete build with Rigid fork: $1099
Complete build with Manitou Circus fork: $1399

Hareraiser
Mike Gonzalez
Geo for the Fairdale Hareraiser
Fairdale Hareraiser Geo


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Hardtails Fairdale Fairdale Elevator


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60 Comments
  • 330
 keep the new hardtails and dh reviews coming!
  • 160
 Looks great, but I have no idea how a $600 frame turns into a $3300 complete. Is Fairdale paying MRSP for the groupset, fork and wheels?
  • 50
 honestly, all manufacturers do this bs. just compared (german) MRSP prices of the parts of an altitude c90 and turns out: its cheaper building it up yourself, lol
  • 111
 I'm guessing it's a thing called "profit margin" along with direct and indirect costs.

I'm sure they are doing their best! Fairdale seems to aim for fair pricing.
  • 101
 They’re not getting bulk discounts in the same way that, say, Trek is. So you’re probably not far off.
  • 40
 agreed - frame looks great but the build doesn't seem so much of a Fairdale
  • 10
 small manufacturers often buy parts at higher prices as customers of large online retailes(who bought stock delivered after large orders during the corona bike boom)

the big players make money of the parts
  • 170
 In case you don’t know, this os the company Taj runs: fairdalebikes.com/team/taj-mihelich
  • 130
 406mm stays, pathetic, not nearly slammed enough!
  • 40
 I told myself that I was done with hardtails. That my body will last longer on FS. But dang it, this fits the bill.
  • 50
 And I thought the 417mm chainstays on my Chromag were short.
  • 52
 honestly, I do wonder how this is feasible with a 29er rear wheel. I used to have a Stif Squatch with 425 cs length, and I thought it was only possible due to the very steep seat tube angle to get enough clearance for a meaty rear tire. I'm not too convinced about that approach for a trail hardtail though - without any rear suspension, you need a bit of wheelbase to keep things stable in steep terrain, as you get bounced around enough already.
  • 41
 @hardtailpunter: It's made possible by offsetting the seat-tube instead of making it crazy steep or bending it (so you can stiff fit a long dropper), and by a really tidy (but still strong) hollow chainstay yoke.
  • 10
 @hardtailpunter: There's been a couple of custom builders (like Waltworks) making frames like this for years. If you like popping and jibbing down the trail this kind of geometry works great. Not so much for my boring trail riding arse.
  • 10
 @G-Sport: Also, BB drop, you can drop the BB down really low and rotate the tire into it.
  • 10
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: That would shorten the rear centre rather than the chainstays. But I get your point.
  • 110
 Love the stripes. More bikes should have stripes.
  • 20
 Amen!
  • 60
 Holy water bottle bosses Batman!
  • 104
 with the bmx influence why go with wagon wheels?
  • 120
 Cause it's a mountain bike for trails. You can do plenty of bmx-adjacent things on a 29er plus roll over everything
  • 70
 This is a hardtail!
  • 40
 Love their dj frame, imho geo spot on, 406? I bet could be 400 (canfield did this) bmx feel trail bike sold through Dan’s comp? Better sign me in
  • 30
 400? Not with a 29" wheel a 2.4" tyre (that is actually 2.4 *cough* maxxis *cough*) and ANY tyre clearance surely?.
  • 61
 If its made by Odyssey where are the triple traps and pitbulls?
  • 50
 Stuck back in 1988
  • 20
 Not to mention the Gyro!
  • 20
 The elevator looks amazing. Geo is spot on to what I like. Save the short chainstays and reasonable head tube angles! If I hadn't literally bought a used hardtail frame yesterday, I'd be buying a new one today.
  • 31
 I honestly can’t believe that 406mm chainstay length can be correct. Look at the remaining clearance and the seat tube is somehow straight. Can’t be.
  • 80
 Seat tube is welded ahead of the BB, that's probably how.
  • 40
 It is.
  • 40
 Needs more holes in the frame. Eleven isn't enough. Go to 12
  • 40
 Confirmed that this bike has a BMX background.
  • 40
 27,5" wheels might be a lot funnier to play around with.
  • 10
 I think you’re right about that

Also, and I mean this in a friendly way, the word ‘funnier’ relates to funny in a comedic way, not as in ‘more fun’. Also true of the word ‘funny’. Not meaning to be corrective, I just find it amusing !
  • 20
 @motdrawde: what would be the right word then? more playful? more enjoyable? more amusing?
  • 10
 @Rideuse67: “a lot more fun to play around with” would work
  • 30
 I am 6' tall and I think i'd want to ride the medium. It would be great for short, poppy rides.
  • 30
 Reminds me of a terrible one bmx frame and I’m all about it
  • 10
 I had a short chain stay 29 hardtail and it wasn’t hugely fun off the back wheel because the BB drop was too much. Inherent problem with 29 HT imo
  • 10
 Is it that much harder to give it sliding dropouts or an eccentric BB for people looking to visit the pain cave (and not on an XC bike)?
  • 10
 The Elevator has a UDH, hard to combine that with sliding dropouts tidily. Eccentric BB would eat into the chainstay length and add a fair bit of weight.
  • 10
 Is fixed dropouts with a chain tensioner not easier to work on?
  • 10
 @Fairdale I like the DJ reach numbers but why is the one with suspension shorter? Is it because the suspension fork is taller?
  • 10
 Yes. Same frames
  • 20
 Wait, every article for the past year has been trying to convince me that longer chainstays are better?!?
  • 10
 Longer is faster and more stable. Shorter turns and pops "better" so is more "fun".
  • 11
 Wrong. Long chainstays are trash.
  • 21
 Those reach numbers are crazy long! Why couldn’t they come up with a smaller size?
  • 10
 That's weird, I agree the numbers look like a size bigger than regular mtb sizing. Almost as long as the Honzo ESD large at 493 reach.
  • 10
 @robaf: checking in from my Ferrum NVHT at 510 mm reach!
  • 10
 @arcology: Yikes!
  • 30
 $599? Where do I sign?
  • 20
 Frame only not available online yet, looks like a fun time!
  • 10
 Juste came here for the bmx background
  • 10
 第一款硬尾AM我喜欢！
  • 10
 looks like a ripper! id ride this one for sure
  • 10
 how the hell do you fit a 29 wheel between 406 stays???
  • 20
 Notice the 72* seat tube angle and the rather large ETT, also 50mm of drop. They also have a cast BB cluster to keep the chainstays super thin around the tire without pinching them.
  • 20
 Please make an XL







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