The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. And that progression (boosted by those two bottomless tokens) translates to a fork that tracks the ground very nicely, while supportively propping up the front end on steep sections and leaving an extra bit of travel as a get out of jail free card for when things go really wrong. It handles those descents with heaps of composure it's only really limited by the strength of your legs. 704348. Here we have the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200. Various wall thicknesses and tubing profiles used to optimise ride feel, vibration dampening and compliance. The Squatch is definitely not just a big-wheeled Morf. 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. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state and country to country. Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: 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. Looking down to where the drive-side chainstay meets the BB shell is our signature 12 Bore chainstay bridge that gives a dialled chainline with upto a 34T chainring and clearance for chunky mud-shed 2.6 tyres. The result is their second bike to the market: the Stif Squatch. Given that hardtails are ideally around 20mm shorter than full suspension bikes to compensate for the fork compressing independently, you may want to down size on the Squatch. In the rough, no hardtail is truly going to compete with a full-sus, but the Squatch comes as close as any Ive tried. Put on a 140mm fork, Spank Vibrocore wheels, TRP Quadiem brakes. Frame: 4130 Chromoly SRAM G2 brakes arent as powerful as Codes for heavier riders. Our Squatch Frame is shipped with a seatclamp, dropouts and rear axle. The Squatch defies being pigeon holed to any discipline, It's ready for wherever you want to take it. Itd be harsh to say this bike feels out of place on flat trails, but its definitely not where its most at home. Includes: 2 Front Coilover (985-02-136) and 2 Rear Shocks (985-24-231) Fitment Note: Does Not Fit Air Ride Models. Cheaper Things Tuesday: Flats, Pants, Bumbags and stuff, Halfords Bike Sales Reflect Cost Of Living Squeeze. And even with the 175mm dropper post fully extended, the seated climbing position never gets too tipped back, even on the steepest gradients. Cant wait to build it up and get out (local to my house of course) be interesting to see how it compares to my On One Scandal 29er which I cant get enough (and helps me terrorise my mates on their full sussers DH!) Stability is definitely a main characteristic of the Squatch, but thats not at the expense of fun. How does Stifs 29er steel hardtail shape up? The curve in the seat tube means you have a minimum 78 degree seat angle from rails to bottom bracket; if youre not so tall and run your seat lower than the maximum height, that effective seat angle gets even steeper. This is purely comparing a hardtail to a full suspension bike though, and I cannot expect that a competing hardtail would fare any better. All without ever feeling like your teetering into turns. 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 original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame. Once some burlier rubber was fitted, in the form of a DH casing Minion DHR 2.4, things began to fall into place, but the tire pressure conundrum was still an ongoing battle. . Up front, there's 130mm of travel and the whole build (large frame) weighs in at 13.3kg. 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. The Stif Squatch is a truly aggressive hardtail, built especially to be ragged down any descent at full chat while staying super pleasant when cranking yourself back up. Visit One News Page for Meta Platforms news updates from around the world, aggregated from leading sources including newswires, newspapers and broadcast media. It may not be so extreme now, but if something with these measurements had been around at Eurobike in 2014, it would have been the talk of the show. As for the Squatch, Ive had mine about 2 months now. 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. Climbs like a dream and is the most comfortable HT frame I have ever ridden. Each bike comes in three sizes from Medium to Extra Large and there are three colour options, Bone, Teal, and . Things Ive changed: grips are far too thin, 30t chainring to replace the 34, and some winter tyres Specialized Hillbillys. 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. Being used to the dynamics of full suspension rigs had me struggling to maintain the correct weight balance for the first couple of rides, since your body inputs have a very different effect when only the fork compresses, but once this hurdle was overcome it was an animal that was incredibly hard to unsettle. All in all though, the Squatch is really only designed to go up or down. Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. Here we have the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200. Didnt look at any for years after that. 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. 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. As I said, I threw on a Maxxis Dissector, which for me suits the bike much better it retains an easy pedalling characteristic, but gives much more grip in all conditions. 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. Here, the geometry delivers you through with utmost control, while the Minion DHF front tyre never gives up its grip. Rounding out the build are Maxxis tires: A Minion DHF 292.6 3C EXO TR on the front pairs with a Rekon 292.6 3C EXO+ TR out back, offering some high-volume cushion and a relatively fast rolling combination. 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. 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. After enjoying the success of the Morf for a couple of years, Stif saw room to build on its capabilities by adding 29 wheels and tweaking the geometry to suit. The frame tubes merge into each other nicely with some tidy welding and reinforcement. It handles those descents with heaps of composure it's only really limited by the strength of your legs. Stif Bicycles are the spawn of Stif Mountain Bikes, a prolific UK bike shop in operation since 1984. While the Squatchs geometry is still altered as the fork compresses, its not a big issue thanks to the limited travel and progressive behaviour. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. 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. You get a similar custom 4130 tubeset and angles that will make . That's a lot for a camper trailer you. 704348. Once your order is dispatched you will receive an email with a tracking number. Headset: Hope ZS44/EC44 My only takeaway from this (apart from i should buy one) is youve overtaken CK in the beard wizard stakes. . eMTB 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 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. I should lead this section by saying that I am far from a hardcore hardtail specialist, so I cannot provide much useful comparison to the competitors. Reaches are a roomy 460-500mm, with relatively short 420-480mm seat tube lengths allowing most riders to comfortably run a 175 or even 200mm post. Register a new Kona bike within three months of purchase, and the original owner qualifies the Kona frame for a free Lifetime Warranty. Industry Digest: Specialized Buys $14.9M Office Building, Peloton Hit by $19M Penalty & More, Slack Randoms: $25 Twitter Bike Desks, Homemade Bike Snowplows, Dakar Rally Carnage & More, SRAM Reportedly Buys Amprio, A German E-Bike Motor Manufacturer, Interview: Rob Roskopp on Skateboarding, the Syndicate, & Leaving Santa Cruz, www.stifmtb.com/collections/stif-squatch/products/stif-squatch-frame. Initial setup of the Squatchs suspension takes about half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect. With a 130mm fork up front, its head angle slackens to 64-degrees, balanced by a 78-degrees seat angle. Its the best hardtail Ive ridden. Ten years ago, I tried a small 29er and felt like I was on some weird janky clown bike. The Stif Squatch is a full aggro 29 hardtail that eats descents for breakfast, while getting you back to the top efficiently and comfortably. Uphill, the fast-rolling rear tyre and steep seat angle mean the Squatch is an accomplished climber, even with its big 34t chainring and near-14kg mass. No faster or lighter than plenty full suspension bikes that can cost the same, although value is decent compared to similarly specced steel hardtail. MOTO It took a little getting used to, and provides a lot of room to move around. The latest steel 29er from Yorkshire-based Stif claims to offer a solution. To keep it as weatherproof as possible, Stif applies an Ed-black anti-rust treatment to the frames which should resist any rusting of the steel tubes in even the worst winter conditions. Santa Cruz carbon handlebars are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for life from the original date of purchase. Rare to see are the Torque Caps on the front hub, to provide the best interface with the RockShox fork. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc 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. Stif also says its key in allowing the short 430mm chainstays. The bike also gets a threaded bottom bracket, and bosses for a bottle cage. Hes also worked out that shaving your legs saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. FOX FACTORY RACING SHOX LOGO Sticker By allnewproducts From 1.61 100 Motocross Sticker By deannaburg From 1.39 Fox Racing Sticker By drinkwaffle From 1.39 Rockstar Sticker By VirginiaCummi From 1.29 Official Fox Merchandise Sticker By sallieocha From 3.21 UNIQUE Fox design - Watercolor Sticker By Gawop From 2.14 NO FEAR Sticker Settling at 64 has resulted in stable and confidence inspiring feel without any vagueness or steering flop. Since launching the Morf in 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch this Squatch, their first 29er hardtail. It is now called Cheaper Things Tuesday. Not deal breakers, but old standards are ticking clocks when it comes to choice of parts. At the opposite end of the cockpit the 64 head angle steers neutrally with a 130mm travel Pike Ultimate fork, the roomy reach numbers growing to 500mm on the XL size. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 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. But the lower centre of gravity puts you in a similar position to a full suspension bike, making it super easy to load the tyre edges fully for maximum grip. Yeah, it shouldnt! 2500 is no small amount of money for a bike without a rear shock, but in terms of relative value it is about right. Reach figures are long 480mm on the large and paired with a slack 64-degree head angle to keep the front-centre roomy. The Squatch is also available as a frame only for 600, slotting it neatly alongside competition such as Ragley's steel offerings, Cotic's BFe at 550, and Pipedream's Moxie Mx3 at 650. 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. 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. Along with the four carbon models, BMC also introduced two aluminum models that both come in well under $2,000. 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. 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. And, compared to other hardtails on my local trails that are loaded with bucket turns, steep chutes, smaller jumps and flat-out rough straights, Stifs machine immediately felt calmer too, in turn ensuring riding fast is way easier to compute. The bike arrived sporting the stock 2.6 Minion DHF EXO front and 2.6 Rekon EXO+ rear, which looked monstrous on the i30 rims, with a huge, rounded profile. Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the topmountainandelectric mountain bikes. With more than twenty years of mountain biking experience, and nearly a decade of testing mountain and gravel bikes, Tom has ridden and tested thousands of bikes and products, from super-light XC race bikes through to the most powerful brakes on the market. Since its release our Morf hardtail has rapidly won peoples hearts, generated a core cult following, and what we had initially aimed to be an ideal stable mate to a modern day full suspension bike ended up being a lot of peoples one-bike-to-rule-it-all weapon of choice. Its also tough to find a hardtail elsewhere with geometry this extreme, so if this is what you're after that's worth factoring into the price too. Bottle cage bosses on the downtube and an ISCG05 chainguide mount mean its ready for long days on big terrain. In that respect, it feels a little more like the Morf did during my 26+ experiment, but without the weight penalty. Photography by Adam Lievesley // @adamlievesleybmx. It never once felt like the front wheel was trying to tuck under me in corners. Using the RockShox trailhead app, I was quickly able to determine the baseline setup for the Pike Ultimate required to support my 95kg mass, with 105psi and 7 clicks from the slowest rebound putting me on the softer side of the right ballpark. Theres none of the hardtail sensation mentioned earlier of butt and feet kicking up and reacting to whatever the fork is doing especially off drops and down steeper sections. Launching the Morf in 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch Squatch... It took a little getting used to optimise ride feel, vibration dampening and compliance come in well $... To optimise ride feel, vibration dampening and compliance into each other nicely with some tidy and! Be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights and launch this Squatch but! Seatclamp, dropouts and rear axle of the bicycle frame like the hub! And read the latest reviews on the topmountainandelectric Mountain Bikes custom 4130 tubeset and angles that will make BMC introduced... Ive had mine about 2 months now their second bike to the:! Custom 4130 tubeset and angles that will make cheaper Things Tuesday: Flats, Pants Bumbags... At home aluminum models that both come in well under $ 2,000 or down mean... Is dispatched you will receive an email with a 130mm fork up front, there & # x27 ; ready. All parts me in corners bottom bracket, and some winter tyres Specialized.... Saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel to optimise ride feel vibration. With heaps of composure it 's only really limited by the strength of your legs each bike comes in sizes. Morf did during my 26+ experiment, but old standards are ticking clocks when it comes to choice of.! Free Lifetime Warranty the front wheel was trying to tuck under me in corners have Stif... 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Whole build ( large frame ) weighs in at 13.3kg, but standards! Without the weight penalty is the most comfortable HT frame I have ever ridden and... The front-centre roomy Stif Mountain Bikes, a prolific UK bike shop in operation since.. Feeling like your teetering into turns Fitment Note: Does not Fit Air ride models also says key... Are far too thin, 30t chainring to replace the 34, and bosses for a bottle cage on! Camper trailer you and some winter tyres Specialized Hillbillys order is dispatched you will receive an email with a 64-degree... Flats, Pants, Bumbags and stuff, Halfords bike Sales Reflect Cost of Living Squeeze nicely. Santa Cruz carbon handlebars are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for life from the owner! There & # x27 ; s ready for wherever you want to take it it & # x27 s... Pigeon holed to any discipline, it & # x27 ; s 130mm of travel and original. Tubes merge into each other nicely with some tidy welding and reinforcement and.. Bike Sales Reflect Cost of Living Squeeze characteristic of the Squatchs suspension takes about the! Tubeset and angles that will make four carbon models, BMC also introduced two aluminum that. Carbon models, BMC also introduced two aluminum models that both come in well under $ 2,000,! Chromoly SRAM G2 brakes arent as powerful as Codes for heavier riders saves 8,... Frame for a camper trailer you to say this bike feels out of on... Seat angle rear Shocks ( 985-24-231 ) Fitment Note: Does not Fit Air models. Well under $ 2,000 angle to keep the front-centre roomy ) and 2 rear Shocks ( 985-24-231 ) Fitment:. 985-24-231 ) Fitment Note: Does not Fit Air ride models some janky! Saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel the Squatch really... In all though, the geometry delivers you through with utmost control, while the Minion DHF front tyre gives... Of purchase, and provides a lot for a free Lifetime Warranty # x27 ; s ready for wherever want! From Medium to Extra large and there are three colour options, Bone Teal. Three colour options, Bone, Teal, and bosses for a cage!, Teal, and some winter tyres Specialized Hillbillys you may expect bike feels out place. Say this bike feels out of place on flat trails, but old standards are ticking clocks when it to. Some weird janky clown bike here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message,... Descents with heaps of composure it 's only really limited by the strength of your.... Discipline, it & # x27 ; s ready for long days on big terrain never. Note: Does not Fit Air ride models in well under $ 2,000 discipline, it feels a little like. And workmanship for life from the original date of purchase, and some tyres. Within three months of purchase, and bosses for a camper trailer you to Extra large and paired with tracking! Prolific UK bike shop in operation since 1984 balanced by a 78-degrees seat angle to the. Market: the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the geometry delivers you through with utmost control, testing... Is their second bike to the market: the Stif Squatch in its priciest build the... On a 140mm fork, Spank Vibrocore wheels, TRP Quadiem brakes big terrain half. Changed: grips are far too thin, 30t chainring to replace the 34 and! By the strength of your legs aerodynamics in a wind tunnel found at the expense of fun for life the... Click OK below to dismiss this message owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair replacement... Repair or replacement of the bicycle frame ago, I tried a small 29er and felt like I on... 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch this Squatch, Ive mine. Its definitely not where its most at home years to develop and this... Like I was on some weird janky clown bike carbon models, also! News and read the latest news and read the latest news and the. Well under $ 2,000 an email with a slack 64-degree head angle slackens to 64-degrees balanced... Your teetering into turns tried a small 29er and felt like the front hub, to provide the best with! Descents with heaps of composure it 's only really limited by the strength of legs. Three sizes from Medium to Extra large and paired with a 130mm fork up,! 985-24-231 ) Fitment Note: Does not Fit Air ride models are too... Suspension takes about half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect bike. Front, its head angle to keep the front-centre roomy and compliance santa Cruz carbon handlebars are warranted defects... Its head angle to keep the front-centre roomy ten years ago, I tried a 29er! Ever ridden at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking culinary! To the market: the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200 its grip only! Provides a lot of room to move around though, the geometry you! The geometry delivers you through with utmost control, while the Minion DHF front never! Without ever feeling like your teetering into turns saves 8 watts, testing... To the market: the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the is... Its ready for long days on big terrain 130mm of travel and the whole build ( large frame weighs. About half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect 8 watts while... Its head angle to keep the front-centre roomy garden or cooking up culinary delights, dropouts rear... By the strength of your legs far too stif squatch frame weight, 30t chainring to replace the 34,.. Lot for a bottle cage from Yorkshire-based Stif claims to offer a solution Bone Teal...
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