Full-suspension Archives - BIKEPACKING.com

Transition Smuggler Review: Seven Revelations

Logan Watts — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 11:10:23 +0000

With only one full-suspension bike on his radar for 2023, Logan was intent on testing the all-new Transition Smuggler, the long-awaited sequel to a cult-status trail bike. After putting many miles on it in Western North Carolina and the Colorado Rockies, find his detailed review here, including seven realizations he had while building it, riding trails, and sleeping next to it in the woods…

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REEB SST Review

Neil Beltchenko — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:03:27 +0000

Over the last few months, Neil has put a ton of miles on the REEB SST, a unique steel full-suspension bike with 120mm of rear travel. In this review, he dives into what makes this Colorado-made bike stand out among a sea of options and discusses its distinctive geometry, specifications, and pedaling performance...

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2023 Revel Ranger Review

Neil Beltchenko — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:00:03 +0000

The 2023 Revel Ranger was just revamped and rereleased, and we had the chance to put this short-travel full-suspension 29er through its paces before today's launch. Find out what's changed and dig in to the full review here...

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Ibis Exie Review

Logan Watts — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:22:49 +0000

The Ibis Exie is the brand’s latest creation, a cross-country bike with a sub-2,000-gram (4.4-pound) frame that’s designed, built, and tested in their solar-powered California factory. As longtime Ibis fans—and curious about the Exie’s bikepacking prowess—we had to give it a try. Find the full review here...

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2022 Rocky Mountain Element Review: Up, Down & Backcountry

Logan Watts — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 12:07:12 +0000

The 2022 Rocky Mountain Element got a dramatic redesign, featuring more travel, a radical geometry change, and a massive frame triangle, complete with two sets of bottle mounts. It has a neat little trick up its sleeve, too. We had the chance to take one bikepacking and on a ton of trail rides for this review. Find all the details here…

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Pivot Trail 429 Review

Logan Watts — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 12:32:37 +0000

Earlier this year, Pivot Cycles updated their lauded Trail 429 with a revamped geometry, more mounts, and a different linkage design, aiming to make their multi-talented short-travel 29er even more versatile. We got a hold of one for several months of testing, including a spin on “The Real Pisgah” bikepacking route. Find our full review here…

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Kona Hei Hei Review: Fastpacker Extraordinaire

Miles Arbour — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 12:32:30 +0000

The Kona Hei Hei is a short-travel full-suspension mountain bike on a mission to blur the lines between cross-country and trail bike. Its modern geometry and cavernous main triangle had us wondering how it would perform as a loaded bikepacking rig, and after four months of testing, we’re excited to share our findings. Find our detailed review of the Kona Hei Hei CR / DL here…

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2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy Review

Logan Watts — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 13:00:37 +0000

The 2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy was revamped with lower-link suspension, 120 millimeters of travel, and an interesting axle flip-chip that allows 10mm of chainstay adjustment and clearance for 29 x 2.6" tires. We've put one to the test over the last five months. Here's our complete review with loads of photos and an analysis of the Tallboy vs. the Ibis Ripley...

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Salsa Spearfish Review

Logan Watts — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 13:29:55 +0000

We’ve been testing the latest Salsa Spearfish since May and have put over 1,500 miles on it for this long-term review. Find out how the Spearfish performs with 29 x 2.6” tires, what makes it best in class for bikepacking, and how it compares to other short-travel 29ers on the trail...

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Ibis Ripley Review

Logan Watts — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 13:33:57 +0000

Back in April, Ibis released the fourth-generation Ripley with a ground-up redesign that includes clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires, a more progressive geometry, and several other new features. We’ve since had a chance to put over 800 miles on one, both trail riding and bikepacking. Read on for the full review, plus see what all fits in a custom split-triangle frame bag…

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2019 Salsa Rustler: First Look

Logan Watts — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:07:55 +0000

Is the new 2019 Salsa Rustler a bikepacking bike? Not really. Could it be? Absolutely. With 27.5 x 2.6" tires, added clearance, and a Flip Chip to tune the suspension, it's certainly interesting. Here are loads of photos, a comparison to its predecessor, specs, and some thoughts from our first ride...

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2019 Salsa Horsethief and Spearfish: First Look

Logan Watts — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:02:54 +0000

Salsa just announced its reengineered lineup of full-suspension mountain bikes. With revamped suspension dynamics, modernized geometry, added tire clearance, and a new look, all three are heavily positioned tp trail mountain bikers. The two 29ers also get Super BOOST rear end, larger frame bag space, threaded BBs, more mounts, and a few new tricks that should make them equally attractive to bikepackers…

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Pivot Mach 429 Trail Review: The Ideal Full-suspension Bikepacking Rig?

Virginia Krabill — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 12:55:00 +0000

When choosing a new trail bike, bikepackers bring their own set of requirements to the table. After demoing several different full-suspension 27.5+ bikes, trying to find the perfect bikepacking/trail machine, the Pivot Mach 429 Trail got the nod for Gin's long-term review. Plus, our take on what's required for a full-suspension bike to make a great bikepacking rig…

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Salsa Deadwood SUS Review: This bike is for…

Logan Watts — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:04:13 +0000

Aside from those strapping 29x3” tires, Deadwood “the sequel” SUS shares just one similarity with the original steel dropbar bike of the same name — it makes folks wonder. We took the 29+ Deadwood SUS on flow trails, dirt roads, gnarly singletrack, and into the backcountry trying to make heads or tails of this curiosity...

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Interbike 2016 Outdoor Demo: Lucky 7

Logan Watts — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:59:40 +0000

Seven new bikes with a lot of adventure potential from the 2016 Interbike Outdoor Demo...

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Salsa Pony Rustler Review: Smarten up, dumb down.

Logan Watts — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:27:11 +0000

Lines ignored. Corners railed. Roots degreased. Rock gardens manicured. Are trails being over-tamed by full-suspension plus tire bikes such as the Salsa Pony Rustler? Preface: this article is one part opinion, two parts review...

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2016 Kona Hei Hei DL Trail

Gabriel Amadeus — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 07:47:53 +0000

Speak softly and carry a big stick: the 2016 Kona Hei Hei DL Trail tested on an 8 day, 325 mile Oregon bikepacking trip.

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Interbike 2015: Outdoor Demo Lucky 7

Logan Watts — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:47:12 +0000

Seven bikes that are worth noting from the 2015 Interbike Outdoor Demo...

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Rocky Mountain Sherpa Review: Long Term Tested

Christophe Noel — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:05:43 +0000

After 1,000 miles, here are thoughts and impressions on the world's first full-suspension bikepacking specific bike... beyond the beautiful paint job.

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Salsa Bucksaw: A year in the life of a squishy fatbike

Christophe Noel — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:18:57 +0000

It was over a year ago when I had the rare and enviable opportunity to not just attend the launch of the world’s first full suspension fatbike, but organize the event itself. That product was the Salsa Bucksaw, a bike I had the privilege to ride months before the general public, and better yet on my own backyard trails...

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