Video: Yoann Barelli on Switching to Guerrilla Gravity & His New Gnarvana

 Chapperelli

 After watching this I'm going to reach out to Kona for a sponsorship and probably won't get a quick response

 more like barilla gravity

 Gnarbarella

 But it'll be spelt 'Nnyarelli', cos, you know, accents n stuff.

 El Cha’Gnavpetta

 to add to this, I am stoked on European manufacturing as well. I just want mountain bike companies to take responsibility of supporting higher environmental and employment standards.

 @adrennan: Upholding decent environmental and employment standards was one of the driving factors for my building a GG. Managed to build almost the entire thing out of US and European made parts, and honestly spent less than most pre-built overseas bikes. My hobbies probably shouldn't involve people working in shit conditions and trashing the environment. Stoked to see Yo advocating for responsible bikes, because they do exist, and they're damn good bikes too.

 @maxyedor: I had a gg pedalhead and just built up a reeb sqweeb. You have to vote with your dollar if you want to see change in the industry.

 Same here. I can see why people are a little hesitant of the heavy metal style branding but the ethos of the company was good enough for me to look past that and select one for my build. I am running mine as the megasmash which is a pretty aggressive mullet set up running 170mm front and either 155 or 165 rear resulting in about a 62.5° head angle. Be interested to see if Yoann has rub that setup. I think it could be awesome for racing.

 @adrennan @maxyedor: Agreed. Just built a Sqweeb as well and it was between that or a GG for similar reasons.
Also, totalitarian governments.

But back to bikes. I've been super impressed with Reeb's workmanship and how the bike rides. Bought it blind and wasn't expecting much from the horst link suspension, probably rides similar to a Spesh/Rocky Mtn. Nothing wrong with that, I've owned or ridden many over the years but it'll probably be soft, active and bob like a mofo...probably gonna have to flip that climb switch...NOPE! This thing is active and firm where it needs to be in the stroke and pedals so well. I was surprised by how dialed they got it. Also didn't have to wait half a year to a year to get my frame.

I like that these brands are willing to do things differently and with pride.

 Taiwan has pretty good employment standards. I don't know of any high-end mountain bikes being built in countries in the Far East where employment standards are poor (i.e. China). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 @Verbl-Kint: Many factories building high-end bikes are located in mainland China. Couple of high-end bikes are made in Vietnam, some in Indonesia, and I'm not sure if anyone is producing in Myanmar yet; if not now, then likely in the future.

That's not a comment on the employment standards of these countries or the factories in question, just pointing out there's a lot of Asian production outside of Taiwan.

 @Verbl-Kint: I also think it is worth noting the environmental impacts of overseas transport. A company sourcing materials from their continent to ultimately sell to customers on their continent is helping that much more. Container ships are one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gasses on earth.

 @adrennan: Eh - the container shipping one (re C02 equiv.) is a bit complex. Freight shipping has the lowest carbon footprint per weight of cargo transported. Compared to planes, trucks, and trains it's is orders of magnitude more efficient (that may change in the future with green powered electric trains).

So yes - reducing consumption for shipped good will reduce the overall enormous seafreight footprint - but each individual purchase from overseas that will be shipped via air freight has a much larger (think thousands of times) footprint.

 @EnduRowan: As you noted, it's important to look at the big picture.

One question, though: Do you have the data for rail vs. water? I haven't looked closely at this and was under the impression they were similar.

Water transportation also has concerns for ocean pollution and introduction of foreign organisms into new ecosystems. No system is perfect, of course, so it will always be a matter of looking at the big picture and choosing the lesser evil.

 @Verbl-Kint: Mojo 3 was made in China (owned) and Mojo 4 is made in Vietnam (demoed)

 @R-M-R: Ah yep - good catch. Looks like the (average) estimates are closer to 1-3x as much per tonne/km for train vs ocean. Very close indeed.

 @EnduRowan: But if something barely needs to involve transport at all, that is better. Even within asia they have to move raw materials to the manufacturing facilities. A product whose raw materials are source on the same continent as the end user is still more efficient.

 @adrennan: Oh absolutely.

Fundamentally (presuming we still want to operate in a capitalistic system) we need all the downstream costs (climate change, pollution, health impacts etc. etc.) shifted into the sale cost. Nek minnit it's no longer 'cheaper' to... well... to do morally bankrupt things.

 @EnduRowan: That's getting to the core of the problem: the full life-cycle costs aren't built into ... pretty much anything. The cost of a product reflects the cost to deliver it to the customer via a process that isn't immediately deadly to people and (most) wildlife, but the additional costs to fully remediate the effects of manufacturing, transportation, etc. are still being deferred to future generations.

We're 250 years into the industrial revolution and it's only been in the past several decades that anyone has paid anything toward reducing the impact; that's a lot of deferred cost.

 They're great looking bikes in person, and I think GG has managed to iron out some of the growing pains they've seen over the first couple of years with the new Revved frames. It's only going to get better from here, too. (I own a Trail Pistola, my second since the summer of '19).

 It's a trade-off for sure. The rock-n-roll, punk rock naming conventions and unique graphics and font styles are certainly not to everyone tastes, but right now, being the only Made-in-USA carbon bike available beggars can't be choosers. For folks who absolutely cannot stand GG's style, there is Foes, Lenz Sport, Ventana, and Reeb all making aluminum bikes in the USA.

 @stevemokan: Could you highlight some of these "growing pains"?

 @PHeller: It's like a snowboard, the ride might be exactly what you're looking for but you hate the graphic. If the graphic on a board sucks but everything else checks the box, are you really not gonna ride it? I also am not a fan of GG's naming scheme but the bike is exactly what I was looking for and I am not thinking about what my bike looks like while I am on it. Frame shape is more important to me and the new Revved frames look much better than the older aluminum ones.

 @ewoodard024: why i even suppose care about snbd graphics in case it either covered with snow or at my garrage during the summer?

However I agree gg look is not the best out here, people tend to buy things buy look

 Really love GG with their made in America approach, modular platforms and reusable carbon process, but couldn't jedi mind trick myself enough to get over how poor their branding and graphics are — frames themselves actually look pretty good. Plenty of studios/individuals in Colorado that would love to tackle that brief. I've been on branding projects with founders who are resistant to change — they're successful and they are suspicious of outsiders who don't get the ethos. But if they would invest a little in that side of things, it would definitely get a lot more people interested.

 I don’t get the hate for the understated graphics. The bikes look quite nice.

 @shapethings: Yohan will definitely brings more attention to the brand!

 @shapethings: what's in your opinion a bike company with better branding and logos ? Give us a bike name.

 agreed. think their name & bike branding is ugh

 If you call them they'd probably make you one with no graphics at all. They are super easy to work with

 @NateMob: Gen2 chainstays snap. They had a stronger, updated one ready to send out though as soon as I called.

 You do you. When you're spending 5K on a bike you better damn well love the look of it for the price.

 @NateMob: creaking headsets and broken chainstays were a problem they had out of the gate. They were handled sufficiently enough that you never really heard complaints.

 @shapethings: fyi you can remove the graphics and ride stealth or replace them with whatever graphics you prefer if they aren't your style. The unique frame building process allows them to powder coat the bikes, so the paint finish holds up MUCH better than a wet paint job that most carbon frames have.

I do think their model naming is kinda lame. I guess they're going after the old geezer market with 80s and 90s rock/punk derived names because that's who has the money for fancy bikes, but just take the sticker off and then you don't have to worry about it.

 The company branding and bike model names are by far the most important aspect when buying a bike. Sound like such a geezer when announcing at the trailhead "Get the GoPros on, I'm about to full send on my Smash, bros!" and look like one too, they only come in black so no color coordinating with outfit.

Shame GG, shame

Love my hardtail, also known as a Pedalhead, and likely building up a Smash when it's time to part with my current fullsus, also known as a Capra (dumb name, means "nanny goat" in latin) hehe also love the folks at GG, great people to work with on building up a bike.

 @nickmalysh: He is a great guy. An asset to any brand. Just one thing: never, NEVER, spell his first name wrong.

 @chize: I've had this conversation with them already. That's a negative, ghostrider. I asked if they had any colors planned: no. I asked if they could send me a frame with just a head tube badge and no decals: no. I asked if I could peel the decals off: no, they are baked on under some sort of clear coat. Painting obviously voids the warranty, so I asked if I could use any sort of vinyl wrap.. that was a maybe, would depend on the wrap and would need approval. Sooo.. I bought a different bike.

To the larger point, bottom line is that if I drop 5 THOUSAND real dollars on a bicycle, I want to at least not hate the graphics on the frame. If you are about to drop $300k on a Ferrari but are told they only come in doodoo brown.. you still buying the Ferrari, or shopping for something else? In terms of a bike's graphics, they don't have to be my favorite of all time, they don't have to my favorite color, they have to just not...suck. The fact is that most times when GG bikes get mentioned, this is always brought up to some extent. The graphics look positively impotent. Being fair, the downtube graphics on Yoann's bike *do* appear to be updated, and though still a bit flaccid, at least a step in the right direction.

To be clear here, this isn't just me having a "But why didn't you include MY favorite bike in the review" moment, heh. GG ticks all the boxes otherwise: made in the states, great manufacturing tech, good pricing, a la cart bike builds... I want to see them blow up, truly. But the graphics appear as an after thought.. I'd almost say they look like they were designed by an 8 year old but that's a discredit to 8 year olds everywhere. Maybe just "Guerrilla" on the downtube with "GG" in other spots on the frame? I don't know. But get the pant and graphics sorted and you have a bike that competes on the level of Santa Cruz in popularity here in the states, and I hope for that level of success for this company.

 @shapethings: If you are buying a mountain bike based off thier branding and graphics, then maybe mountain biking isn't the right sport for you.

 @mikealive: 100% if the Ferrari I love only comes in dookie brown id happily drive a dookie brown car. The thing is, if you're sold on a Ferrari, you aren't going to the Porsche dealership to compare colors.

 @mikealive: the decals aren't under a clearcoat and can be removed, but if you really want doodoo brown you can always buy a Santa Cruz.

 @chacou: no bike name is as dumb as Ripmo. Ripley+mojo=seriously not trying very hard.

 @shapethings: the name, the graphics, the images and the guns. if they were a brand stocked by my fav LBS i couldn't bring myself to ride one. i'm sure the founders are good people, but it's off the charts bad.

 @RonSauce: Yes, if you 'love' the Ferrari, you're still going to buy it. But what if you don't already love it, that's the point. Absent the love affair, you're just shopping for a sports car.. and there are many other great performing cars out there that aren't turd brown. At no point in this scenario was I ever 'sold' on the Ferrari, or as it relates here, the GG. It does tick many of the boxes that I would look for in a new bike, and I'd say that applies to many other riders too.

@dthomp325 dude if that is true I am so bummed because I would have just bought the darn bike! In an email from them I was told that they were clear-coated on. Maybe that was a mistake, or maybe they changed it at some point. (It's been a year since I had that conversation)

 @mikealive @shapethings: You guys should do what Matt and Will did and start your own bike brand and come up with a new manufacturing process and modular frame design. I'm sure the branding will be SICK! and the colors super Intense!

 @chacou: I'm thinking on it actually. Brand name will be "Chacou is a twat" and the logo your mum's face covered in gravy. I expect you to be my first customer since brand and graphics don't matter to you. Cheers mate.

 @dthomp325: you can't remove the decals

 @mikealive: ahahaha, cheers mate

 @mikealive: I have a GG and removed my clear vinyl frame protector to replace it, and the decals were wanting to lift in spots. There were a couple tiny spots that did come off and you can see the powder coating underneath. It's not under any clear coat, but also not a traditional vinyl decal that can be peeled off by hand - it's a waterslide decal.

 @chacou: I mean I get it's cheaper to only paint the frames one color, but why something super boring like flat gray?

 Agree, add some nice colors and stickers - boom! Moms will pay for kids bikes;

Look at the spesh/sc they look gorges, and sell like hot cakes;

Adjustability is awesome option, however for 90% of folks look and feel came first, then price, then functionality, especially for beginners!

I do not remember when last time I adjust something on my bike, except tire pressure or add some sealant

 @Noah353 @nickmalysh: you guys realize GG is maybe like 30 people, and that's probably being very liberal with the count. I mean, they're moving to a larger location and trying to hire like crazy. But last time I was in the shred-quarters about a year ago to build up my Pedalhead with Nicky and Jubal, it's f'ing tiny. You're trying to compare them to Specialized!? You want crazy colors pick up a can of spray paint. You want color, they offer colorful stickers. You don't like the branding, ok, cool, go yell at some clouds about it. I really don't think they're marketing to the beginner market either.

 @chacou: Mate, 30 people and not a single one of them knows how to use Adobe Illustrator?? I don't buy it. But let's take your argument at face value--this is an afternoon job for any competent designer. This could literally be farmed out to a designer for a few hundred bucks. But no man you're right, someone should TOTALLY just rattle can their new $5000 bike and void the warranty, great plan, very realistic alternative and not hyperbolic at all. Sweet jeezus.

I couldn't figure out why someone who claims to care nothing of paint or logos was so invested in this thread about paint and logos... now I know. You're a fanboy, and after that factory tour and neck massage you can't *dare* let someone have an opinion that sheds any negative light on GG's abysmal graphics. Lecture more, bro.

 @mikealive: there is more to painting a bike than signing up for Adobe. Powder coat and paint are different things, with different facilities. They go with a powder coat for durability reasons, not looks. Powder coat is much easier to apply as well. Adding paint adds cost to the final product, it also increases wait times with a company that already has a waiting list.

Keep that last part in mind, they have a waiting list. Cry all you want, they are staying black with a sticker.

 @RonSauce: Thanks Ron, what you offered to the conversation really does make rattle canning your bike look like a fantastic option now. /s

As I'm sure you're well aware, paint and decals are two different things. Illustrator is for vector files, like designing and scaling a logo. That can be farmed out, like I said. Why you would argue about paint or powder coat in response to that, I have no idea. The logo is a decal that is placed onto the bike, not paint or powder coat. But you already understood that, clearly. They already apply said decals to the bike, there is no increase in time and a very negligible increase in cost for a different design.

I agree with you on the facility space and extra time for paint. I prefer the powder coat for durability as well, great point. But you know powder coat comes in hundreds of colors, yeah? And so long and you're doing frames in batches anyhow, not so hard to put a different color powder on a frame then, yeah? I get that they were in a small space before, but now they are moving to a new facility (or have moved), maybe *if the people who would be interested save for the sh*t graphics* say something, the swell guys over at GG might take that into consideration moving forward, eh? I seriously don't get the hurt egos over this! Do you not think that people shouldn't be allowed to say 'Hey brand X, I like what you're doing but [this] is the reason I went with a different brand'? If I owned a company I'd like that feedback, absolutely. And for what it's worth, if it's just one or two people saying that, I'd probably ignore it, that's fair. As it is, the graphics/paint come up almost every single time a GG bike is released or reviewed, across multiple bike sites...this is not a fringe opinion.

Your point stands--so long as they are producing at maximum capacity and still holding a wait list, they have nothing to change.

But I ain't crying, I just bought a different bike instead. Cheers.

 @mikealive: Arrr matey, don't get yer knickers all in a twist. Glad you found yourself a new bike. You could always design up some new stuff for GG if it's that easy, send it over to them, very nice people, maybe they'll use it. Much more constructive than crying on Pinkbike. Hell yeah I'm a fan, they're a local company doing awesome stuff both in the industry at large and for our local community. Sorry they don't make your favorite color. Cheerio

 @chacou: Man, I can appreciate that you have a bit of a sense of humor.. I think the logo of that bike company I'm starting (at your behest) is going to stay the same, but now you've got me thinking maybe I should reconsider the brand name

I'm happy to hear that they are doing good stuff locally, absolutely. I, too, think that they are a good company, and one of the reasons I'd love to see them dominate the space. I just happen to think that will be accomplished sooner with a little more attention paid to logo evolution. Next time you're by the factory to say hello give them a handy for me, eh? Thanks bud.

 The key to bike branding is short and sweet with naming conventions:

Chef Cycles
Oregano trail bike
Basil road bike
Curry dirt jumper
Pepper Enduro
Salt DH

Now I just need some bikes to put my $100k font decals on

 @RonSauce: I would consolidate @mikealive as constructive critic not hate or so, people are trying to share feedback for the best of the brand! they are doing a lot of good things, however room for improvement are still there! i fully on board with mantra of look and feel first, then all genuine characteristics;

 @nickmalysh: the important part of constructive criticism is the constructive part. GG is well aware their bikes are black with a sticker, if they cared they wouldn't be.

 @mikealive: Sure thing, left or right handed, more death grip or gentle touch?

 @chacou: Are you familiar with the "GI Joe kung-fu grip"? If so, please use that. If not, I leave it up to your discretion.

 @mikealive:

 GG did the same for me 3 years ago. I had always preferred shorter bikes for quicker pop and direction change. Bought a large Trail Pistol after testing L and M back to back. Once I got used to it I started riding XL to really benefit from the stability of riding a surface to surface missile. New lines unlocked, definitely faster.

 just be aware of lead times lol unless they are getting that under control at their new facility

 @adrennan: same can be said for the big manufacturers as well this year.

 @adrennan: I think they restarted production at the new place and the lead times might not be so bad now.

 @NWBasser: I would like to imagine they wouldn't have signed on someone big if they didn't have the intention to expand production notably.

 I disagree. Why would you want a light fast trails bike with a frame heavy enough to cope with 160mm of badly ridden enduro abuse? As an occasional alternative fine but for every day use I would prefer to have 2 bikes designed to do their intended job well rather than a compromised one

 @CM999: Because you can have essentially two bikes for the fraction of the cost using GG's modular platform. Yes, that means that the lower travel bikes may be slightly heavier than alternatives from other manufactures, but I personally would take a couple extra pounds and save a few thousand dollars over having two separate bikes.

In terms of kinematics, GG has done an outstanding job making the same front triangle work across their range.

 @CM999:

I think the main takeaway is that not everyone has the ability to have two bikes (space, or money reasons).

And not everyone cares about having a frame that is 1lb heavier than ideal for insert bike travel segment name here>.

 @CM999: New stuff coming out soon for 2021. Maybe a lighter bike?

 @CM999: The opposite side of that argument is that maybe some people would like a shorter travel bike that is built a little bit beefier and that you can absolutely hammer the $&@* out of. Guerilla Gravity has stated one of the primary motivation for moving to the revved carbon frame is that they feel it is more durable than aluminum. Hence one of the reasons Yoann says in the video that he wanted a bike that will last longer than 1 or 2 seasons. Just being able to recycle the bike isn't one of the only reasons they are ecologically friendly the fact that they are bomb proof is also a big reason.

 @skigates:
Not what I've heard from people who have measured their frames. the modular aspect makes not one setting optimized. All are tainted

 The swappable rear ends is mostly just for manufacutring.

To turn a Gnarvanna into a Trail Pistol, you would need a) seatstay kit ($445), new fork (~$800), and a new shock ($500). That puts you into the range of like almost $2k, and while you get a better equipped trail bike in the end, that 2k can be spent on a decent brand new trail bike and then you get 2 bikes instead of 1.

 @phops:

For a Trail pistol, that may be true. Especially if you're buying new.

Many forks are adjustable in the ~140-180mm range though. So to go from a Gnarvana to a Smash, you can reduce the budget by ~$750-800 (aka, a single $50 air spring, or just changing travel adjust spacers). And a used shock, or lower priced shock (bomber CR?) can really change the total outlay as well.

Also, thats just the cost part. Some people literally don't have space for 2 bikes.

And I've got no skin in the game. I don't own a GG. I've looked at them, but I seem to be between sizes for them (3 long, and 4 short are both not ideal). Plus, like others... their branding/marketing is a hurdle I've not yet lept over. But I can appreciate the different approach.

 other brands have done the same thing for awhile. Eminent Cycles builds three travel lenghts bikes off the same frame and all you have to swap is the fork(obvs), shock and shock link. 120-165mm 29er.

it is true that the triangles are clearly beefy enough for the enduro duty and that a 120mm XC frame could be made lighter, but for like $1300 you can have an entire other bike with wildly different characteristics. And that is rad.

 @CM999: they do a super light build for peeps with deep pockets.

 @phops: some forks have adjustable travel internally. Might need a different air shaft.

 Agreed haha I was hoping it didn't take away from the allure of a Yoann video

 @christinachappetta: not at all! No way that room was capable of containing full stoke Yoann

 Too dangerous... if they both started crazy laughing, their laughing would just accelerate out of control until they caused some kind of rift in space time continuum, destroying all life as we know it. Think the rule book says they have to stay at least 100 metres apart at all times.

 GG bikes come standard with geo adjust headset.

 @CycleKrieg: you can change reach but not head angle.

 Nah.... that was a "test" bike and so it had been around a few garages by that time and the box probably got damaged and had to be changed at some point.

 Frame is GG, only the suspension are blurred out. The test bike probably came with Fox instand of RS (sponsor)

 bud, have a tea and sit down. big breath in....big breath out....better? ok.


now, I hate to inform you, but as a person that works on the customer side of the MTB world, I can categorically tell you that you are an EXTREME outlier with your bike turnover. The vast majority of dedicated(I am throwing out the casual, seasonal, bike stays in the garage from sept-may people. they arent the "industry") riders turn their bikes over on average ever 3-4 years. that's taking everyone from guys like me that ride a couple different bikes in a season to people that ride a bike for 5 years. the mean is something like 2.7years. so anywho, understand that Yohann is far closer to normal than you are.

 @conoat: Maybe I came off wrong. I'm not upset or angry - and I really like Yoann as a personality and what he's trying to do here (not to mention everything he's already done!).

My experience is purely anecdotal for my little area in the NorthEast USA, but I know very few people with the disposable income to buy a $5000+ bike every 2.7 years. And even if they do have the resources they are not so self-absorbed to think they need a new bike every 2.7 years. It sucks to hear that in the UK/Europe the throw-away culture has taken root so solidly. Here nearly everyone I know is very concerned about their impact on the Earth and how their place in our hobby impacts it long-term.

 @ruggedman: I gaurantee no one is throwing bikes away. LMAO. go have a look at the buy/sell here on PB.

$5000 bike in 2018. in 2021 you sell it for $2500. you took a $2500 depriciation. amortized out that's $833 per year of ownership. or $69(yeaaaaaaaaaaah) per month. I think you can see how with budgeting, this is not a sum of money that is out of the reach of your average person.

 right? I have the same pedals and when they start spinning that well, it's time for a rebuild!

to which, he said they were 4 years old.....but how many CB refresh kits in that timeframe? LMAO over/under is 16.5!

 He is running the largest frame so that could be something to do with it. It was a very big bike!

 @christinachappetta: you're right, just realized the size 4 has a different shape where the top tube and seat tube meet

 @Blue76
Ever tried one?

 Facts.

 Because the cable routing is a disgusting. Would it have been just as easy to design the frame with internal routing instead of a big dent with an ugly cover? Even the opening in the cover for the cables is just a hole, with no grommets or clamping for the cables. So many missed opportunities for a sleeker design, like they were trying to be sloppy

 Do you ride with World Cup level pros? There are levels to this game

 @brownstone: I have laps on kong and monkey with rampage guys... I can keep up. By no means on the same level.but not that far away

 @spinzillathespacelizard: pros tend to set up their suspension on the stiffer side.

 Magnums of drinkable stoke.

 That already happened

 I'm fairly sure it's GiGi from now on...