stif squatch frame weight

Rims: WTB KOM trail i30 Back to that Maxxis Recon rear tyre. That means that on choppy descents and hard landings, the effect of suspension travel steepening your head angle is reduced, again contributing to greater stability. Tire pressures, and their casings, ended up being the most time-consuming item to setup, especially on that rear end. Here we have the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200. Id originally fitted the Rockstop insert since I had expected to be spending a lot of time near the rim, but the DH casing tire resulted in enough stiffness that its ultimate protection was not a necessity, so I settled for the more damping-friendly Rimpact insert, which I found to offer the best compromise of damping and cornering support with the tire at 24psi. Since launching the Morf in 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch this Squatch, their first 29er hardtail. He has a particular focus on mountain bikes, but spends plenty of time on gravel bikes, too. FEATURES Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. A thoroughly contemporary hardtail thats a proper hard-charger on technical trails. As well as that, shorter travel helps preserve the geometry. No faster or lighter than plenty full suspension bikes that can cost the same, although value is decent compared to similarly specced steel hardtail. Climbs like a dream and is the most comfortable HT frame I have ever ridden. During warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. [Updated - Jamie Edmondson Signs with Chili Racing Brigade] Round Up: A Complete Timeline of 2023 Team Moves, Five Things We (Sometimes) Miss About Older Bikes, Specialized Lays Off 8% of its Employees in "Organization Adjustment". Add a chainguide While a chainguide is not strictly necessary for a hardtail with a brand new drivetrain, they count for more as it wears, so I add one as a matter of course. All without ever feeling like your teetering into turns. Santa Cruz Bicycles pivot bearings are warranted for life to the original owner of the bike. The builds share the same general themes, with a 130mm RockShox Pike fork up front; SRAM brakes and Eagle 12spd drivetrain; WTB KOM trail i30 rims; Burgtec contact points, and a KS dropper. My only takeaway from this (apart from i should buy one) is youve overtaken CK in the beard wizard stakes. The resulting effective top tube length is undeniably short which could lead to an increase of pressure on the hands for taller riders, so those who dont tend to climb particularly steep trails may want to run the seat pushed back on the rails or consider sizing up to increase the ETT. PRIVACY POLICY eMTB Wheels made from WTB rims and Hope hubs both seem well suited to a Stif bike, as theyre also companies who make a solid product, rather than cranking out Bold New Graphics or minor design tweaks for model-years. A brief experiment with a more active fork took a little bit of sting out of the hands but reduced the overall composure of the bike and made for a less controlled ride, so I was quick to return to the slightly stiffer setup. Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month well pick a winner. He's not shy of an enduro here or there and he's equally happy in the winter slop as he is ripping up the summer's dust. Our site uses cookies to optimise your experience. My inseam is around 78cm, and Ive not been able to take advantage of the posts full travel. Its fairly extreme focus means. THE LAB Once out of the saddle the 480mm reach offers plenty of room, makingmellower trails well within this bikes capabilities. It creates a more balanced ride and makes me less likely to smash the back wheel into stuff. Stif selected this lower travel number to preserve the geometry as best as possible when pushing hard, with the premise that a more consistent and predictable geometry is better than extra travel across most situations. Front tire: Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.6, 3C EXO TR When it has been fixed, your car has no visible or invisible damage. The Stif Squatch AM will set you back 1,900 with the PRO priced at 2,500. From $101.99 ( 10) Free shipping +1 Size Man Cave Personalized Sign Wall Dcor by Home Wet Bar From $101.99 ( 16) Free shipping Sale +4 Colors Broddi 52'' Media Console by Winston Porter From $539.99 $899.00 ( 3008) Fast Delivery FREE Shipping Get it by Thu. Also RockShoxs sportier Pike air spring with its smaller negative volume works great on a hardtail too; being less fluid and sensitive than say, a RockShox Lyrik, its much more in keeping with the rear end. Ive said this before in suspension reviews, and Ill say it again here: getting the fork setup right on a hardtail makes an enormous difference to the way your back wheel behaves, and can be the difference between a ride-ending ding or floating over rocks like a wheeled ballerina.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'singletrackworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',666,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-singletrackworld_com-leader-1-0'); SRAM GX drivetrains are something I heard a few local riders grumbling about straight after launch, but I understand SRAM revised the mech cage to address some issues. Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. Dropping into the corners pocket feels natural with a total in the bike feeling, encouraging a more aggressive lean angle which allows for the corners apex to be pushed into with reassurance in order to generate grin forming levels of forward motion. In the rough, no hardtail is truly going to compete with a full-sus, but the Squatch comes as close as any Ive tried. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. We get pretty tired of the whole revolutionary low, long and slack spiel thats get regurgitated during new bike launches, especially with hardtails that get reviled with bold claims about being radically different from the rest, when in fact theyre not really dissimilar to boxy shaped bikes we were riding 10 years ago. Competition comes from the likes of the Ragley Blue Pig Race and Ribble HT 275 Pro, and though they're both cheaper the former by 200 (for the 2021 model) and the latter 300 their builds arent quite as sorted, and their geometries arent as progressive. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? We approached designing this bike in two halves, one for climbing, one for descending two fairly out there numbers that create strong descending prowess and a mind-blowingly efficient climbing manner and its the 78 seatangle that making climbing a total cinch. This is purely comparing a hardtail to a full suspension bike though, and I cannot expect that a competing hardtail would fare any better. For instance, the only compatible chainguide I could find for ISCG-OLD and a 34t oval chainring, I had to buy direct from China. Thats because, on the first descent I took it down, it expired from a lethal snakebite. Uphill, its a comfy and easy going place to be as the mega-steep seat tube makes light work of smooth climbs. Riding a hardtail requires extra precision so having steering that lets you manoeuvre the wheels exactly where you want massively elevates confidence levels and inspires the confidence to push boundaries. For the last 4 years we've watched our original steel hardtail the Morf defy trends and changing standards to remain a rider favourite and cult legend. To keep things as simple and reliable as possible theres no weird standards theres a threaded BB, a standard 44mm headtube and everyday seat tube and clamp diameters. Flattened seat stays to give you (bingo cards at the ready) vertical compliance, and while Im sure someone will have something specific and functional to claim of the unusual looking chainstay bridge, Ive decided the holes are for cramming two emergency jelly babies into.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'singletrackworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',665,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-singletrackworld_com-banner-1-0'); As with Stifs last hardtail, the Squatch is designed to mimic characteristics and geometry of a full suspension bike, and to assist with this theyve given the Squatch a massive 80mm bottom bracket drop. When warranty on non-carbon Kona bikes and frames is NOT registered within three months of purchase, Kona warrants to the original owner that the frame of this new Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer shall be free of defective materials or workmanship for a three-year period. Point it at a bigger lip though and it is quite happy flying high at speed, being stable in the air and allowing for more sketchy landings to be survived thanks to its inherent stability. The Stif Squatch brings things bang up to date, with ISCG-05 tabs, boost hub spacing and, like pretty much everything else thats turned up at Singletrack Towers for the past year, 29 inch wheels. Bottle bosses are in place on the downtube, and there is a 160mm post mount to accommodate any rotor size. Handlebar: Burgtec Enduro | 30mm Rise / 800mm Wide Balancing this slack steering angle are relatively generous reach numbers, with the size L Squatch measuring in at 480mm. 4 years ago, Stif put their heads together to create the first bike that sported the Stif name their Morf hardcore hardtail. Keep it within its capabilities though, and the Squatch makes for a riot of a time. Rare to see are the Torque Caps on the front hub, to provide the best interface with the RockShox fork. Well Bastard Fast is the motto of Stif and proudly written on the Squatch chainstay, and the performance certainly lives up to it in the correct terrain. Unlucky, but Id spec a meatier tyre anyway. Santa Cruz Bicycles will repair or replace at its option any Reserve rim made by Santa Cruz Bicycles that is damaged or destroyed by riding. Cranks: SRAM GX Eagle 148 DUB, 34t 170mm The UK's Stif Mountain Bikes spent three years refining their original hardtail, culminating in the new 130mm Squatch 29er. Its truly incredible how efficient, balanced and damn right easy this seating position makes things. All International order postage costs are an estimate. These items are usually delivered within 3-7 working days of despatch. The foundation of the Squatch is a relatively short travel 130mm fork. Four years down the line from launching the Morf, the Squatch borrows much of what made Stif's opening hardtail foray but in a big wheel guide. Where other hardtails demand a balancing act between core strength and weight distribution to maintain perfect form, the smooth-riding Squatch only ever breaks traction predictably, and usually at the perfect moment to slingshot out of at turn, rather than standing you up or oversteering at the peak G-force. They kindly lent me their Pro build for a thrashing in the depths of the UK Midlands Winter. Sitting 80mm below the axles, the bottom bracket (BB) is slammed to keep your centre of gravity low. IF THE WARRANTY IS REGISTERED WITH KONA WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE BICYCLE, THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, with the exception of carbon bikes and frames. Its incredibly composed, and thats only helped by the noticeable compliance of its ovalised seat stays. The Squatch also gets a 430mm chainstay, all this equates to a 1238mm wheelbase on a large frame. Pairing this with the 130mm fork also means there is no drastic head angle change regardless of fork position. Settling at 64 has resulted in stable and confidence inspiring feel without any vagueness or steering flop. Our triangle of reach, BB drop/height and headangle make the Squatch safer, faster, and ultimately way more fun to ride than any other hardtail on the market. This volume makes a lot of sense on a bike with no rear suspension, since you need all the help you can get with taking the sting out of the landings. Expect your technician to give your vehicle a visual check, as well as to use diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong and whats needed to put it right. Our Squatch Frame is shipped with a seatclamp, dropouts and rear axle. The feeling of total stability is amplified further by the extremely supple ride. Hubs: Hope Pro 4 Put on a 140mm fork, Spank Vibrocore wheels, TRP Quadiem brakes. Its a key ingredient in allowing for our super short 430mm chainstays. Perfectly poised, way more compliant than most of its rivals and also nimble and easy to chuck around, the well thought-out Stif Squatch Pro is a compelling package. Unless otherwise specified we will use a Royal Mail Tracked Delivery service to dispatch your order. Bespoke 4130 chromoly steel tubing is used throughout with custom tube shaping providing our desired ride feel attributes. Its very steep 78 seat tube places rider weight almost directly over the bottom bracket which, when the gradient pitches up, results in a really comfortable and efficient pedalling position. Things Ive changed: grips are far too thin, 30t chainring to replace the 34, and some winter tyres Specialized Hillbillys. Any questions please just ask. International Orders are sent using Royal Mail International Tracked Delivery. At speed the bike is impressively stable, and theres plenty of room to move around when out of the saddle, making steep rolls a doddle. The Squatch is definitely not just a big-wheeled Morf. The SRAM theme continues with a GX Eagle drivetrain and G2 RSC brakes. A stout 130mm travel fork nails this sweet spot and provides enough buffer to keep you out of trouble whilst always keeping the bikes geometry highly consistent. If like me, youve got shorter legs, its definitely worth considering the PRO 175 model. Stif says the Squatch is designed to get as much descent in as possible, so its built to be a solid climber and it definitely is. With a 420mm seat tube, the medium frame should work for some shorter riders, though it certainly won't fit everyone. A little overkill but if I had to take only one bike for trip it would probably be the Squtach because its so versatile. MOTO As it turns out, it is a flat-out troublemaker, with two distinct types of trouble being made depending on the style of track. Today we are delighted to introduce it's 29" wheeled sibling- The Squatch. Ovalizing the top tube and chainstays has allowed us to create the a super compliant ride without compromising on stiffness in all-important areas this means things stay comfortable during high frequency chatter but stomp on the pedals or enthusiastically load a corner and youre greeted with predictable positivity. Front Description: The Performance Series 2.0. Outside of testing bikes, Tom competes in a wide range of mountain bike races, from multi-day enduros through to 24-hour races in the depths of the Scottish winter pushing bikes, components and his legs to their limits. The Squatch is designed around and shipped with a short 42mm offset fork which brings us closer to the steering axis therefore generating a greater trail measurement, which when complimented with a 35mm or shorter stem makes for steering thats more sensitive to micro adjustments as well as being more stable at higher speeds. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. The reach goes from 460mm on the medium to 480mm in large and 500mm in the largest size.. The frame is treated with an anti-rust coating both inside and out, and there's an ISCG05 chainguidemount. For sizes, Stif has opted again for three choices with a medium, large and extra-large offerings. Words by Robert Johnston // @robert_johnston Burgtecs Enduro 30mm rise bar; 35mm long Enduro MK3 stem; and Cloud chromo saddle provide high quality contact points, with a set of Penthouse MK4 composite pedals included with every full build to round it out. RETURNS & REFUNDS, Copyright 2017-2023 The Loam Wolf | All Rights Reserved |. Connecting the drive side chainstay to the bottom bracket is their unique 12 bore bridge which not only looks interesting, but also allows for impressive tire clearance for the fitment of chunky 2.6 rubber and a 34t chainring with the compact 430mm rear end. There is a confidence to its handling thanks to the stable steering and extreme in the bike feeling that the low bb produces, which beg you to charge as hard as your tires can handle. The Squatch also gets a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, a pair of SRAM G2 RSC four-pot brakes, a KS Lev Integra dropper with 200mm of drop, and a nice Burgtec cockpit. Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. THE DIRT On hardtails with longer forks, the geometry can steepen noticeably through the stroke and, if not properly controlled, they canpitchweight forwards andmake for anunbalanced ride. Some states and countries do not allow some or all of the foregoing exclusions or limitations, so they may not apply to you. This one served me just fine through assorted winter muck. David, what is that jersey you are wearing? Four years ago, I got hold of Stifs 27.5in wheeled Morf for review, liked it so much I built one of my own, and still have it. Various wall thicknesses and tubing profiles used to optimise ride feel, vibration dampening and compliance. The 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper was flawless even in sub-zero conditions, with smooth operation and good lever feel. That seat angle is particularly interesting in my eyes, with the 78-degree figure quoted at max extension this means that it will end up steeper for most riders who run the seat post somewhat into the frame and will further steepen thanks to the sag of the fork. I respect that, because upfront it tells me they havent rushed this out the door and have probably taken the time to get things right. These felt great right off the bat, and hardly needed any tweaks off the defaults fro me weight. Website: Stifmtb.com, CHASSIS . Common to these sizes is a 64-degree head angle; 78-degree seat angle (effective, at max extension); 430mm chainstays and 80mm bottom bracket drop. Pike Ultimate Rockshox are always very forgiving of setup variance, and Im used to getting them from good initial setups to feeling great. The register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk. Didnt look at any for years after that. Look on Stif site for sizing/geometry.</p><p>There is marks on the chainstay by where the crank . Tons of details on top of the frame shape include heavily-crimped seat stays flattened widthways (similar to many carbon road bikes) that flex and dampen heavy hits and repeated bumps. Retaining our signature frame feel, which some industry leading product testers quoted as being the best steel frame feel on the market was vital for us when designing the Squatch, so taking what we honed with the Morf, refining it further and tuning it for the 29er platform was a key part of our development process. Yeah, it shouldnt! The fork is about as controlled as you could hope for and remained impressively supple and tractive when ran a good amount stiffer than recommended. Its testament to the Squatch that a couple of perfectly arced turns, easy manuals and mistimed landings with zero consequences had me fully trusting the chassis. Key to the ride quality is the profiled and multi-butted 4130 chromoly tubing combined with 29in wheels and 2.6in tyres. An incredibly sure-footed 29er, excellent up and down. Technical climbs especially those with lots of pedal-catching obstacles proved to be no issue either, with the long reach and fairly short rear end teaming up to provide ample grip and maneuverability. Don't miss out on this sale! New York Mills, Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, HG3 4LA, 5-7 High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1JJ, 2023, Jungle Products Ltd Trading as Stif Mountain Bikes. Ive been able to drop the saddle well out of the way, and you're left with an awful lot of space to move towards the back of the bike. Its the best hardtail Ive ridden. The lever feel and modulation offered by the SRAM G2 RSCs is good, but their ultimate power fell short of my demands, which led to a few scary run-away moments on the steeper trails. Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the topmountainandelectric mountain bikes. Its a bold statement, but its the hardcore hardtail Id buy with my own cash if I was in the market for one, so hats off to Stif for totally nailing its latest creation. Although I cannot quite determine the precise level of compliance on offer, I was certainly able to figure out what the Squatch is capable of under the control of an average rider, and I had a great deal of fun in doing so. Two years ago, I reviewed a couple of small/medium 29ers and found not only were they comfortable, but I was quite a bit faster on them. The Squatch defies being pigeon holed to any discipline, It's ready for wherever you want to take it. Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC | 200/180 Invisiframed by myself from new so far from perfect application but does the job. In the mean time the main details are: SA 78 HA 64 Reach 480mm size large Chain stay 430mm Seat tube 450mm BB drop 80mm = 293mm BB height 29x2.6" tyres experimenting with cushcore to run lower pressures as I'm used to 3.0" tyres on my hardtails. Obviously, alertness to not clipping anything at speed is needed, but no more than any other low-slung bike, and theres less clipping rocks and roots climbing here than on plenty long-travel suspension bikes. The Squatch is constructed from a 4130 chromoly steel tube set that has been shaped and curved throughout to produce the desired ride characteristic that led their original Morf to being such a success. New York Mills, Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, HG3 4LA, 5-7 High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1JJ, 2023, Jungle Products Ltd Trading as Stif Mountain Bikes. Rejoice! The Squatch goes uphill very well, even considering its surprisingly portly 30.1lbs with pedals. As I tested this bike through some pretty wet conditions, I swapped the Rekon for a 2.4 Maxxis Dissector but well get onto that shortly. Although the fork has only 130mm of travel, its perfectly controlled by the Pikes top-spec Charger 2.1 damper. This means tall riders with long legs take advantage of our steep seatangle and shorter riders actually get a steeper angle still, something that better suits the proportions of shorter riders too. 2500 is no small amount of money for a bike without a rear shock, but in terms of relative value it is about right. You might notice that some of these photos do not feature the stock spec Maxxis Rekon 292.6in rear tyre. Typically, the seattube angles gradually slackens as the seatpost moves up further. Already have an account with us? I'll post up some ride impressions when I have some to share. The person with the smartest and most helpful replies will earn some sweet new gear. Stif Squatch Pro is a progressive hardtail with a steel frame and super-low bottom bracket height, 29in wheels with 2.6in tyres enhance grip and comfort. Cheapest Zone yet. For the Squatch, and probably one of the reasons for its price, the Stif team is using 4130 chromoly tubing. The more budget-minded AM build retails at 1899.99 (roughly $2650) with the Pro spec tested coming in at 2499.99 ($3450). More than that, however, it simply feels dead right in every situation. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc The lengthy 480mm reach of our large frame, and the 64 head angle, make for a super-confident ride. Furthering this bikes value and, of course, its sorted build arethe easily serviceable Hope Pro 4 hubs and the extra-nice Burgtec finishing kit (the grips especially are lovely). To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Santa Cruz bicycles or any of its owners, officers, employees, representatives, agents, or affiliates (or any of their respective successors or assigns) be responsible or otherwise liable for any direct, incidental or consequential damages arising from the purchase, use, or ownership of its products, including without limitation damages for personal injury, property damage, or economic losses, whether based on contract, warranty, negligence, product liability, or any other theory. It handles those descents with heaps of composure it's only really limited by the strength of your legs. It took a little getting used to, and provides a lot of room to move around. Our site uses cookies to optimise your experience. Thankfully, geometry has come on leaps and bounds since the beefed-up road bike days, and we can now have no-compromise machines that climb and descend equally impressively. If the estimate is correct your order will be shipped immediately. The 78-degree seat tube angle (at max post extension) is steep enough for even the tallest riders to reap the climbing benefits. Given the rapid. All bikes and frames are shipped with FedEX 24hr Tracked Delivery within the UK. Four rides in and Im absolutely loving it , Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalLogin/cookie issues?Newsletter SettingsAdvertising. Stif makes the Squatch in three sizes (M-XL) to suit riders from 5'5"- 6'6" (165cm -198cm). With the 78 effective seat angle, winching uphill is comfortable too. Each bike comes in three sizes from Medium to Extra Large and there are three colour options, Bone, Teal, and . Thanks! Stack reads high on paper at 653mm for M and L and 661mm on the XL frame (with the differences dictated by the 10mm extra length on the headtube of the XL), but again this number should not feel so extreme when compared to a full suspension machine. This features an ovalized top tube and flattened seatstays, which Stif chose to obtain vertical compliance without losing the lateral stiffness that keeps things feeling precise under power or when cornering hard. There is also some visible external butting on this seat tube, adding further proof that careful thought has been put into each and every tube on the Squatch. Three months ago, Stif announced the Squatch: a 29er hardtail designed to bring over many aspects of the Morf to bigger wheels, and I got excited. KS Lev Integra, The best mountain bike: what to look for in a mountain bike, Best mountain bike jerseys: top rated tops and what to look out for, Best mountain bike mudguards: keep your eyes clear of flung filth, Best mountain bike multi-tools: rescue broken rides, Specialized Trail Rain waterproof jacket review, Altura Ridge Thermal Waterproof trousersreview, Best hardtail mountain bike 2022: classic trail shredding machines. Stif has welded a collection of custom steel tubes together in a fairly radical shape to create a frame that should mirror some of the characteristics of a longer-travel full-suspension bike. Part: 19RamFox. Its fairly extreme focus means it's not quite as comfortable over flat trails, but for winch-and-plummet fun it's fantastic. In smoother bike park style terrain or trail centers, the Squatch absolutely rips. Thanks for popping by - why not stay a while? The warranty does not cover labor costs, custom finishes, normal wear and tear, or damage from commercial use. Photography by Adam Lievesley // @adamlievesleybmx.

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