Farr's Twin-T Hardtail is a Ducati-Inspired Steel Throwback

Jan 19, 2021 at 7:31
by James Smurthwaite  
Photos: Mat Wikstrom.

Australian brand Farr set out their stall as soon as you hear about them. This isn't a brand that's invested in tackling the techiest terrain but instead about broadening horizons and making those epic adventures easier, faster and more enjoyable.

The brand releases products that straddle the adventure, gravel and XC ranges including four frames and accessories such as stems, bags and even aero mtb handlebars. Its latest frame isn't so much about marginal gains though, as paying homage to the past with a hardtail frame that looks totally unique.
Details
Intended use: Touring and XC
Frame Material 4130 Steel
Wheel size: 29"
Travel: 100-120mm fork recommended
Seat angle: 74°
Head angle: 69°
Reach: 443mm (large)
Weight: 3.26kg (medium, before paint)
Sizes: S, M, L
Price: $895.00 (frame only)
More info: ridefarr.com


Like a lot of the unusual projects we've seen in the past 12 months, this bike was dreamed up during lockdown. For Farr, the inspiration came from two places - firstly from old-school MTB and BMX bikes. Back in the day frame designs were a lot less uniform than they are now and Farr wanted to hark back to that era with this bike. Victor Momsen, the designer, said, "We were looking at some of the great bikes from the early days of both sports – so many cool frame designs that showed the creativity back in the day. Today it has become all about carbon and me-too designs that all look very similar on the trails or roads."

The second design cue comes from the world of motorbike and the Ducati trellis design. First created by Massimo ­Tamburini, this uses a steel skeleton to vertical strength but allows for lateral flex, there's a great deep dive on it from Cycleworld, here. This isn't the first time we've seen a trellis design in the bike world and part of the inspiration comes from the original SE Quadangle from the ’80s.

The Ducati-inspired trellis design apparently adds around 800 grams of weight over a standard steel hardtail frame but Farr argues this isn't all that much if you're planning on packing up the bike with bags for a long tour anyway.

Of course, this isn't a full throwback and Farr has tried to update the designs it drew inspiration from to make a modern mountain bike. The wheels are 29" front and rear with Boost spacing and it also has modernised geometry and is compatible with a dropper post. The bike is designed to be run rigid or take a 100-120mm fork (510mm axle to crown) although Victor admits the design and amount of oversize tubing/welding would allow for up to 140mm travel up front (although this would raise the BB and slacken the angles a bit). Put the whole package together and Farr describes it as "an old school BMX meets vintage MTB meets bikepacking meets fun bike for adult outliers".

What other material could it be for a retro-inspired frame? These Cromoly tubes have clearance for up to 2.6" tyres too.

Geometry


Farr wants to make it clear that this isn't a trail bike and while some of the angles head that way, it has stuck to fairly conservative reach and angles to ensure versatility. It currently straddles the line between MTB and gravel geo which points to its touring ambitions with a more playful edge.

This MTB build of the bike comes with RF's unique Headspace 35 stem.

It also has a custom 120mm, 510mm a2c fork from Bright Racing Shocks in Italy. Its F929 upside down XCO fork looks great and the custom red anodizing is just adding some icing to the cake.


The Twin-T has a totally unique silhouette.

Farr will be producing 100 units of the Twin T across the two different colours, however another run could be considered if the demand is there. The Taiwan-made frames are available to order now for delivery in July or August. More info, here.

The frame can also be built up as a gravel bike.


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128 Comments

  • 137 7
 Looks pretty Farr from being my next steel HT.
  • 32 4
 No matter how many times I read the name, I just see fart.
  • 17 28
flag tonkatruck (Jan 19, 2021 at 20:16) (Below Threshold)
 pretty ugly tbh
  • 19 0
 "Okay, Jimmy, you can have that new bike if you can answer just one question: What's the average rainfall in the Amazon Basin?" - Gary Larson, Farr side
  • 1 0
 Is there a Twin-T-7.5 version?
  • 4 0
 Farr out maaaan!
  • 1 0
 Heavy like a moto too?
  • 7 0
 Looks like a bike rack
  • 11 0
 Farr wants to “ make those epic adventures easier, faster and more enjoyable” then makes a bike that weighs more than a WW1 tank
  • 2 0
 I thought it looked.. tubular
  • 1 0
 @b0cephus: I think you mean Fartt
  • 2 1
 Reminds me a lot the "quad angle" bmx bike from SE Racing from the 80s

cheers
  • 73 2
 Love it! Also looks like an SE Quadangle.
  • 4 0
 Exactly what I first thought !
  • 4 0
 Total Quadangle - dig it.
  • 3 0
 I was thinking Mantis Valkyrie first but yes, Quadangle is spot-on!
  • 10 1
 Did any of you actually read the article? "This isn't the first time we've seen a trellis design in the bike world and part of the inspiration comes from the original SE Quadangle from the ’80s."
  • 4 1
 Looks like a Cannondale Delta V from Cannondale's wacky nineties bikes
  • 1 0
 @seraph: you do know a lot of people just come to pinkbike for the comments the article is more like a header
  • 4 0
 @seraph: I can't read.
  • 11 0
 Everyone under 40, what's a Quadangle?
  • 3 0
 @seraph: Exactly or we could go deeper and say a SE STR-1 from 1979.
  • 4 0
 @si-paton: I suppose you must say "under 50". It's a loooong time ago, mate
  • 2 0
 @johnny2shoes: Killer V - that was the shape given to the smaller frames to help with standover where it looked a bit like the Farr frame, the Delta V was the first Suspension bike (and the Super V followed it )
  • 1 0
 @Craigatdescentworld: You're so right!
  • 4 0
 Farr Quad?
  • 1 0
 @seraph: Hmmm, i don't know dude, it looks kinda like one of those old SE Quadangles, from the 80s..
  • 3 0
 @si-paton: Don't forget that one guy that always, always referred to it as the Quadrangle....
  • 1 0
 @si-paton: It's a map.
  • 56 10
 CAN PEOPLE DOWN VOTE THIS COMMENT PLEASE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
  • 43 1
 I can exclusively reveal the next model in the lineup will be the Farr Cough.
  • 21 1
 They're also working on the Farr Que.
  • 21 0
 Waiting for the Farr kit.
  • 13 0
 I think you guys have gone Farr enough.
  • 15 0
 Heard they're making a special water bottle that fits in the trellis so water weenies can shut the Farr Cup
  • 2 2
 @HarlenW86: yeah, they should Farr Quit.
  • 6 1
 Haha you're so Farr knee.
  • 3 0
 I think they need to make a more wild looking model called the Farr Canal
  • 5 0
 @legsmagee: (Phonetically) Farr kay?

I guess you mean Farr Queue...
  • 44 5
 Surprised they didn’t just weld on a few 5 pound weights to the frame for good measure
  • 52 0
 They would never have done that. They use the metric system.
  • 11 2
 @iamamodel: They wouldn't have to that thing already weights 5 billion spoons of marmite or whatever the units are. It'd only take about a half a dozen donuts for it to weight more than most EWS winning frames. 1 water bottle strapped to it and it starts weighting more than some DH frames ffs.
  • 22 1
 @NorCalNomad: Marmites are the English measure. Vegemites are Australian. They are equal in value, but 1 Marmite/Vegemite to 10 Peanut Butters (volume) because you need far less. For the Euros there are 5 Nutellas / Nutinos to the Vegemite.
  • 5 0
 @iamamodel: you need FARR less
  • 2 0
 @iamamodel: well played sir
  • 39 2
 That bike is gorgeous. Wild and crazy and neat. Love seeing stuff like this!
  • 35 0
 That’s a sweet bike. But with two downtube you should have double the water bottle holders...just saying.
  • 4 2
 this
  • 4 0
 I wonder how this is in muddy terrain?
  • 2 0
 @Spiral23: Farr from ideal
  • 1 0
 Well if it's any cancellation, I could fit a total of 5 bottle cages to their gravel frame...
  • 21 0
 Tough crowd! It looks cool. I'd love to ride one.
  • 3 0
 that fork: holy moly is that a beautiful one
  • 15 0
 I’ve often thought to myself “how can I get MORE mud on me during a ride?”, now I know!
  • 15 3
 Ducati inspired? Are the maintenance costs and accessory catalogue also Ducati inspired - I need some more leather keyrings.
  • 8 0
 And where is the one side swingarm???
  • 1 1
 Yeah.....could’ve at least come with belt drive
  • 3 0
 At least this Ducati wont completely hide and mash your perfectly sculpted hair into a full face AGV, you can allow your frosted spiked hair to stick up through the helmet vents.
  • 2 0
 Mandatory complete factory rebuild every 3500 miles.
  • 4 1
 Those BRIGHT Racing Forks look the goods. Is there anyone that has feedback on them? How do they compare to other offerings? After having a Lefty nothing else in the current RS & Fox shed performs as well so have been disappointed and I've been considering Intend as the Lefty is 100mm only.
  • 3 0
 I have the BRIGHT on my bike, it is perfect, the quality and the performance are very hight
  • 3 0
 I really don't see the Ducati trellis in the design. It just looks like a double-down tube old-skool design, which I'm pretty sure were used purely for strength, not just for creativity's sake. The top-tube-on-bottom front-end is pretty cool looking, and that stem is interesting, although damn long!
  • 3 0
 Wow. That's sort of the velocipedic equivalent of those giant combs on the Ferrari Testarossa's air intakes. Whatever functional benefit the structure provides is kind of irrelevant when compared to how cool it looks.
  • 5 0
 Not really a mountain bike, not really a gravel bike....maybe just a bike to Farrquat around on.....?
  • 2 0
 So a 20" Surly Ogre Frame has a claimed weight 2.7 kg. with paint. So their estimate of the added weight sounds about right as the Ogre seems a fair comparison. I would also agree that those who buy a cromo touring bike and load it up for bike packing might not be the crowd to be that worried about the additional weight...to a degree. I like cromo but do my best to keep what I strap to it light so considering this amongst other options that would be a factor. It does look beautiful though IMO and that wide downtube might make for some cool custom frame bag options and mounting options for the underside of the tube like stashing a pump, tube and tools in that space between the dual downtube. The slight bump up front might make a gas tank snack bag pop up a bit more but likely not that big of a deal. Cool bike. Well done.
  • 3 1
 Looking through the pictures and it’s like oh alright, kinda cool. Then you see the last one.....
It’s like when you look back on a yearbook and it reminds you of your braces and acne. Just awkward.
  • 5 0
 Farr is a South African company, not an Australian !
  • 2 0
 Victor Momsen is South African as far as I know? He was involved with Patrick Morewood on the Morewood brand before they both went their own ways and Patrick created Pyga Bikes while Victor went on to do the relatively successfull XC & marathon brand - Momsen, in South Africa.

Not sure if he is a partner in Farr or just a designer, but interesting bike, looks to have been based off the Momsen STR29 but with a changed front triangle... momsenbikes.com/shop/frame-kits-various/frame-momsen-str29-2018-green
  • 1 0
 They have abandoned SA, not in Aus... unfortunate for us, but for them it makes sense.
  • 4 0
 The STR-1 Quadangle from SE Racing
  • 4 0
 Looks like the SE Quadangle in my garage.
  • 4 0
 Why have one tube when a simple two is just fine?
  • 2 0
 There was a frame builder that made frames with bird cage design tubing much like the Ducati. It was a full suspension road bike with 20 inch wheels.
  • 5 0
 You must be thinking of...
www.moultonbicycles.co.uk
  • 1 0
 @bobbtalks: yes that's it thank you!
  • 3 0
 Drop bar version looks much cooler than the XC one. I would have named it The Farr Out.
  • 2 0
 Haha that is what they called their gravel bike if I am not mistaken. I had one for a while, really nice frame and was super cheap. Just heavy as boat anchor - but can't fault them for that at the price.
  • 2 0
 My bike has an open-air dry sump crankcase so it sounds like a Ducati. Does that count?
  • 3 0
 my loose cassette makes the same noise sometimes..I think it counts.......
  • 3 0
 I just strapped a tambourine to my bike and called it a ducati
  • 4 0
 Totally tubular bruh
  • 1 0
 As a kid I always wanted an SE Quadangle, as a big kid I really like this but I already have a good hardtail and spend 80% of my time on my dual suspension thing.
  • 2 0
 All I can think of is mud flying right through the downtubes and coating my water bottle
  • 2 0
 At 3.26 kg for a M frame w/o paint is Farr from being light.. Design over function IMHO
  • 1 0
 Big points for looks and something different, however it is heavy and good luck drinking your water bottles as they will be covered in whatever your front tire encounters.
  • 2 0
 That’s a Farr out design
  • 2 0
 I think this bad boy needs another downtube.
  • 1 0
 I have to say, "two thumbs up". Really can't decipher any problems with it.
  • 1 0
 Only thing I would change, is raise the bottom bracket height, with at least level chainstays, and then put a asymmetrical chainstay, on the drive side. Just to improve BB height.
  • 2 0
 over 7lb for a HT? even chromo that's ridiculous
  • 1 0
 If memory serves, FARR started out as a South African brand till the owner moved to Auz?
  • 1 0
 This bike challenges our expectations of the appearance of mountain bikes and that’s what I appreciates about Farr.
  • 2 0
 Could build 2 frames with all that steel.
  • 2 0
 this is just bad on every level
  • 1 0
 Interesting Trellis styled frame kinda looks like a SE Quadangle gone wrong. Not nearyas cool as my Fisher Sawyer.
  • 1 0
 I'm not the target audience and I'll probably never own one, but I think it's pretty cool
  • 1 0
 the price is very reasonable, very cool!
  • 2 1
 I’m Farr off from purchasing a frame but it doesn’t look terrible.
  • 1 0
 If the top tube was doubled, would be good for touring.
  • 2 0
 GG looks superb compared
  • 1 0
 Cool looking bike. Too bad about the reach.
  • 1 0
 Bmx SE quad angle with Torker bmx downtube
  • 1 0
 You had me at Aero MTB bars.....Bring back the Scott AT-4 Pro!
  • 3 2
 Gee great I aways wanted lateral flex in my hardtails front end.
  • 1 0
 Bet they sell Farrk all!!
  • 1 0
 Trying hard for a section 8. #oldguyhere
  • 1 0
 Not sure Tamburini would appove of that.
  • 1 0
 Every bike can be built into a gravel bike.
  • 1 0
 Would make a nice beach cruiser
  • 1 0
 Se should do a quadangel loop tail xc bike in alloy.
  • 1 0
 Would love to see the full suspension version.
  • 1 0
 So, the SE Quadangle has made it to MTB. I actually like it.
  • 1 0
 I wanna know, what kind of stem and handle bar is that?
  • 1 0
 Anyone else only click this because of the fork?
  • 1 0
 touring??? with no rear rack mounts???
  • 1 0
 Holy smokes, that thing looks awesome
  • 1 0
 Is this what a brick shithouse looks like?
  • 1 0
 This is a s.e. racing quadrangle co w up with an original idea
  • 1 0
 Farty twin
  • 1 0
 Needs a Dropbar
  • 1 3
 They have really missed a trick with this. Should have given it more up to date geo and decent rear tyre clearance. Also stop with this gravel bike rubbish!!!
  • 1 0
 Weird flex but OK.
  • 1 0
 Nope!
  • 1 0
 This is a stolen design
  • 1 0
 yes please
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