The almightly Elephant Bikes National Forest Explorer, or NFE for short, is now available for pre-order! Elephant Bikes is building a single batch of green, thru-axle stock NFEs in early 2024—delivery in May. Read on for more…
This batch will be the only NFEs going out in 2024.
The National Forest Explorer (NFE) is the ideal bike for long days of spirited riding on dirt roads. While designed to carry a small load over the front wheel for day supplies, the NFE also handles well with low-riders and a rear saddle bag for overnighting. Unlike many heavy “adventure bikes” sold by larger manufacturers, the NFE is light and responsive, built with a double-butted front triangle and 4130 rear triangle.
Cari’s Elephant NFE
The geometry is optimized for experienced riders who prefer nimble handling and a light steering input. The fork is a straight unicrown construction with a handmade direct-mount disc tab.
Read John’s 2015 review:
Do I Have to Send it Back Already? the Elephant Bikes National Forest Explorer
Frame Specs:
- Clearance: 650b x 2.1″ knobbies OR 42 mm slicks w/ fenders; 142 x 12 mm (thru)
- Disc rotors: 160 mm recommended
- Seatpost: 27.2 mm, seat collar included
- Front rack mounts: Nitto Mini standard rando; Tubus low-riders.
- Rear rack mounts: Wishbone seat stay shoulders.
- Derailleur cables & housing: housing on top-tube for top-pull front derailleur, full housing on top-tube and Seatstay for rear derailleur
- Brake cables & housing: braze-ons for full housing on top-tube for rear brake
- Other braze-ons: three water bottles, top-tube pump peg, front derailleur pulley boss
- Fork: Unicrown with straight blades (not pictured). 1.125″ steerer, 100 x 12mm thru axle. Here’s a picture of the straight fork (with quick release axle).
- Front dropouts: Thru axle;
- Rear Dropouts: Flanged dropouts — 142 x 12 thru axle. Takes M12 x 1.5 thread axles (not included).
- Steel: 28.6mm & 31.8mm diameter, .8/.5/.8 profile (front triangle); 4130 (rear triangle)
Ordering:
- Cost: $1900 (frame/fork) (Washington State residents must pay state sales tax of 8.7%)
- Wait time: generally 10-12 weeks.
- Shipping (USA): $20 + UPS delivery charge.
- Shipping (International): We use the shipping agent, shipito.com, which has a proxy shipping hub in Nevada, USA. We ship to the Nevada hub for a cost of $20+ UPS delivery charge. Shipito.com bills separately for shipment from Nevada to international destinations. See shipito.com for rate information.
- Box dimensions: 39 x 9 x 28 inches; shipping weight is about 16 pounds.
Pre-order now at Elephant Bikes.
