I do love a mucky hard tail but, a painted ti frame? Maaaaaaaate come on that can only have been done to troll comment sections and forums, you know the rules.
Trolling the comment section without actually engaging in the comment section is more than enough reason to paint a Ti frame.
Personally I prefer the 18 bikes. Low top tube bikes are the best.
As a 44 Yr old dad, who doesn't live near the mountains, has a mortgage and no freetime, I know that a Honzo with bombers up front is not for me
But I'm still tempted
41yr old dad, two kids, typically leaves home for short blasts at 6:30AM. Steel hardtail with 120mm travel fork is perfect. If your rides are short and you're not riding just below the snowline kinda rubble, you don't need stuff that helps you preserve energy.
Cotic BFeMax is such a beast. It looks even better dirty. I've been impressed with everything I've read about Cy's philosophy and think he gets far too little credit for what they're doing in Sheffield. While I don't have nearly as much Hope on mine, I'll say it was more than worth the five month wait to get my frame and I can do more on it than I was ever able to on a previous short travel full suspension bike.
Why isn’t there a hardtail category for EWS? Maybe make the tracks a little less burley and add some climbing sections? Seems like it would draw quite a few riders for new event classes.
@TheBrosCloset: 100% agreed. I have ridden my Honzo exclusively for the past 3 weeks. Like you, it goes everywhere my Druid goes. If I had to only have one bike in the quiver, it would be my Honzo.
Barely missed the podium at the last Rockhopper Enduro (40-50 y.o.) on my 1st gen Chromag Rootdown in a field of Nomads, Enduros, Hightowers and Yeti SBs. A guy with an NS hardtail took the win in the 30-40 y.o. category.
Only canadian an brittish bike brands seem to get what is needed for riding in our muddy conditions. Clearance Quality, easily serviceable bearings (or none)
American (californian?), German (mtb on autobahn) or French (sunny south) brands still don't seem to get this (or they are not interested).
Got a whyte 905 v4 on order. Bit of a dark horse, I’ve had the 901 for a few years and it’s a far more capable bike than I could ever imagine! Plus it’s possibly the only sub £2k bike up there
Switching up plans for my Sunday ride after reading this - even though it is supposedly the middle of summer, going to hit some muddy trails on my hardtail (Orange Clockwork Evo)!
I recently changed jobs so I could get my weekends back, and its rained almost every single one. Think I'll ask if I can go back. My weekdays off were never as wet (iirc )
@timbud: Are linkages and rear shocks such a hassle to keep going in wet conditions? It thought it always were the drivetrain parts that receive most wear (and maybe brake pads, depending on how and where you ride).
Either way, I wouldn't mind to live in a miserable cold and wet place where it is ok to ride in the wet instead of a place where it is wet 25% of the time and it is immoral to ride then because of trail erosion.
probably demo bikes, they all raced on 29" high pivot bikes, it´t 2021 so on what else could someone have fun on that the latest high pivot bikes? The Hardtail is dead! I'm off, takin my gravel bike for a ride...
@tris400d: fingers crossed it ends up going up the seat stays and under the top tube, always the neatest way and keeps the gear cable up away from the shite
The starling roost looks nice but not sure on the cable routing. Would also be nice to know what stainless steel its made from would be great if its 953 reynolds steel.
@dkendy1: Why do you say that? That bike is a great all round hardtail. A few people I know have them, and rip on them in a variety of terrain. Everything from new school flowy bermy stuff, to double black old school jank. The adjustable dropouts add to its versatility. Kona's geo is always spot on. The ESD is no exception.
89 Comments
Clearance
Quality, easily serviceable bearings (or none)
American (californian?), German (mtb on autobahn) or French (sunny south) brands still don't seem to get this (or they are not interested).
I dont mind painting a ti frame.
All I can think about are Production Privée and Commençal, which are both Andorran. Your point is valid anyway : sunny south.
caminade.eu/en/simpletrack-572100-21.php
2. I’m glad I didn’t get into the Ard Rock. It’s lashing down here.
I've got a Shepra Ti and it's so beautiful in raw I can't comprehend the idea that you'd ever consider painting it.
Think I'll ask if I can go back. My weekdays off were never as wet (iirc
And buy a hardtail so I don't have to give shit
Either way, I wouldn't mind to live in a miserable cold and wet place where it is ok to ride in the wet instead of a place where it is wet 25% of the time and it is immoral to ride then because of trail erosion.
Has to be something pretty bad for me not to have my Sunday ride.
I only commented that since i got my weekends back, they’ve been wetter than I remember.
@vinay the more parts you have the more maintenance you have to do. Regardless of whether its drivetrain or suspension