Chromag is synonymous with hardtails. Trail hardtails. And the 160 mm travel Rootdown ($801 frame, $3,912 complete) is now in its sixth iteration. The updates this round are chassis details and new build specs so let’s check it out…
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Radar
Starling Cycles Relaunches and Redefines Its Framesets
Framesets are Starling Cycles’ frame-only collection. They’re the roots of what the UK makers create as a custom, handmade framebuilder and the best-selling side of its business. Sure, they offer custom builds, too, but the framesets keep the lights on at Starling, so to speak.
This caused a moment of pause with how they market these bikes. The frameset relaunch’s intent is to create a clear and concise purpose for each frameset, let’s check out where they landed…
Reportage
Otso Cycles Hoot Ti Review: Titanium Hardtail Gets the Last Laugh
Launching today, the Hoot Ti from Otso Cycles is the brand’s first foray into designing a truly modern and progressive hardtail mountain bike. Built around 140 mm of front suspension with short 425mm chainstays across all sizes, the Hoot is meant for demanding trail riding yet is playful enough for riders who like to get airborne. It’s an evolution of where the brand, which has been innovating since day one, is going while also showcasing its ability to deploy new technologies to solve challenging design problems.
Josh has put considerable mileage on the new Hoot over the past few weeks, both in his usual testing grounds of southern Arizona and a big week in the steep mountains of northern New Mexico. Continue reading below for Josh’s review of the Hoot and a peek inside Otso’s Minneapolis, MN-based operations.
Radar
Esker Cycles Smokey Ti Hardtail
Esker Cycles is broadening its hardtail lineup with its most aggressive hardtail, the Smokey Ti. Let’s check it out…
Radar
Moots MXC Lightweight and Fast Hardtail 29er
If the Womble is the ultimate Moots hardtail for all-mountain endeavors, the Steamboat Springs-based framebuilder’s newest bike, the MXC, is designed to be its fastest. The MXC is perfect for XC trails, singletrack, and backroad gravel. Bikes like this quickly become a modern classic, truly high-performance bike, and look genuinely fun…
Reportage
Viral Derive Review: Titanium Pinion Smart.Shift Hardtail 29er
Yesterday, John walked us through the electronic shifting Pinion C1.12i Smart.Shift gearbox in an in-depth review, and today, we’ll be looking at the bike it was installed on, the Viral Bike Derive hardtail. You know we love hardtails at The Radavist, and this one did not disappoint…
Radar
Pinion Smart.Shift Review: Imperfect Perfection
The Pinion Smart.Shift gearbox offers electronic shifting for instantaneous engagement, eliminating the soft or sluggish feeling found with the grip shift Pinion systems. Yet this system isn’t as perfect as it’s marketed, and John found one critical shortcoming during his review period…
Radar
Fairdale Elevator 29er Hardtail MTB
Fairdale‘s Elevator ($599 frame), the brand’s first hardtail, arrives in a few days, but the brand sent us over an early look at this entry-level 29er. Let’s check it out!
Reportage
Fyxo’s “Trail Breaker” Surly Krampus For Melburn Roobaix
Seeds of inspiration come from many places, people, and times in your life. Fyxo’s latest project was a trinity of such influences fused into one. Combining inspiration from Speedvagen, an old Shogun MTB, and MAD MAX to create his custom rusty Surly Krampus for Melburn Roobaix.
Radar
DEAN Undergoes a Rebranding “RetroFresh” and Modernizes its Model Lineup
Boulder, CO, founded and based DEAN Ultimate Bikes, one of the USA’s longest continually running titanium bicycle manufacturers, announced that it has updated its bike lineup and “RetroFresh”ed its website and visual aesthetics. Let’s check it out…
Radar
Neuhaus Metalworks HBSL Titanium XC Hardtail is Now Available
Seen in our Sea Otter Classic 2024 coverage, Neuhaus Metalworks announced the HBSL: the ultimate titanium bike for everything from XC to gravel riding and every adventure in between. It is available frame-only for $3000 and complete starting at $4985. Let’s check it out below.
Radar
Sanitas Bikes Tap Root Ti Hardtail
Sanitas Bikes, profiled here on The Radavist last year, just announced its new sibling to its Root hardtail. the Tap Root. This titanium chassis trail bike was designed to be the most versatile model in Sanitas’ lineup…
Radar
VIDEO: Sour Bicycles – Quinda Bike Check | Traka 560 2024
Sour Bicycles‘ athlete Quinda is embarking on an ITT of the Traka Adventure race even after the 560km course was canceled this year due to severe weather. Race organizers do this for a number of reasons but the bottom line is, that didn’t stop Quinda…
Reportage
Ben Frederick and The Small Monsters Project Custom Mosaic MT-1
Today, we’re sharing the news that Ben Frederick from The Small Monsters Project has partnered with Mosaic Cycles and has a custom-painted MT-1 that matches the new Ornot x Small Monsters Project Trail Shirt. We sat on this one for a little bit to let the Sea Otter buzz die down so let’s check out John’s photos and a press release straight from The Small Monsters Project below!
Reportage
Nick and His Titanium Sycip Hardtail 29er
Nick’s titanium Sycip hardtail has been on our list to document for some time. On his April road trip to Sea Otter, John crashed in the driveway at his buddy Nick‘s house while he visited shops and builders in the area. After a particularly epic afternoon of riding in Annadel State Park, he grabbed Nick’s beautiful Sycip for some photos. This bike isn’t your ordinary Sycip and Nick ain’t your ordinary guy. Let’s see why below…
Radar
Revelate Designs Nook Frame Bag Review: Cram and Jam
Ever intrigued by various ways to get stuff off his back and onto his bikes, John has been using the Nook frame bag ($50) from Revelate Designs on some full-suspension bikes this spring and has a quick review for us today. These little bags are an easy way to shift goods from your back to your bike. Let’s check out more below.
Reportage
Steve from Hardtail Party’s Stanton Sedona 29er
The Radavist thanks 1-Up USA for sponsoring our Sea Otter Classic 2024 coverage!
Josh and John were out at Sea Otter this week, covering people, products, and bikes on display. One bike in particular that caught our eye was this Stanton Sedona 29er, on display at the 5Dev booth. We love a good hardtail and much like Steve from the Hardtail Party YouTube and Instagram account, we’ve been lauding their merits for a long time! So we know a good bike when we see one. Let’s take a look at this shreddy 29er below!
Radar
The Viral Bikes Wanderer Drop Bar Adventure Bike Features a Pinion Gearbox
The Wanderer is Viral’s drop-bar-specific titanium adventure bike, designed for rough roads and the longest of backcountry adventures, all with an electronic-shifting Pinion gearbox…
