I really respect yhe disclaimer in the beginning - too many people getting butt hurt over what bike and parts tjat YOU prefer lol . Its all subjective just like you mentioned. I appreciate the time & money you put into your content 💪😎👍
Hey thanks man, I appreciate that! Yeah everyone always thinks their bike is the best haha, which honestly isn’t a bad thing, it’s great they’re stoked on it! But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be best for everyone else
I just purchased a TREK Marlin 7 XL, oh I’m 6’8”. It’s for light trails, commuting 5 miles to the beach, and family rides. Already bought tires, pedals, riser handlebars, DUB, extra wide Shimano cranks and a 34T. Upgraded from a Giant iguana from 2001.
Yeah, getting a larger chainring is something that a lot of these hardtails need. Many of these come with 30t chainrings which isn't necessarily enough and really put wear on the longest gears.
The Trek Marlin is a solid bike. I rode the 8 pretty hard for two years and ended up slightly bending the rear triangle and now the shifting is a bit wonky, but to be fair, I was using it more like a trail bike than cross country. As long as you're not doing anything too sketchy with it, then the Marlin will serve you well.
Dude, I have a 2021 Giant Fathom. It's a custom build.i bought the 2, stripped it sold the stock parts and built up a killer hardtail. I'm running 29X 3.0 tires with plenty of clearance. That's why I chose the fathom.the only stock part on the bike is the cranks!
Nice man! Ya I’m kinda the same way too, I’ve not lots of relatively inexpensive completed and then just upgraded to parts to suit my liking as I went. Definitely a good way to go 🤙🤙
The bike I ride the most is my Dartmoor 26Player DJ. It is a little bit long and and has a lower than normal BB for a DJ. My Kona Honzo ESD is my go to bike for most mountain bike trails. It has ruined all of my other mountain bikes. My full suspension DMR SLED almost never gets used since I built the Kona Honzo ESD. There is just something amazing about that frame that makes it really good. Finally I built a Dartmoor Primal 27.5. This bike is very playful with its smaller wheels. I use the Primal in flatter trails with jumps and technical features where the Kona Honzo ESD would not be much fun.
All such rad bikes! The primal was the supposed to be bike 3 but the footage was corrupted 🙄 Where are you from by the way? It’s so hard to find Dartmoors in the US
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I am loving your channel. Hardtail content is my favorite. I live in Nebraska. Not a place known for mountain biking but there is a group of us here that build public and private dirt jumps and trails. If you know where to look you can find some good stuff to ride. I built my bikes frame up mostly from part you can find on ebay. There aren’t a lot of places to buy a mountain bike from around here and get exactly what you want. The Dartmoors are available very affordably on ebay and are shipped directly from Poland. I ended up building the 26Player in order to take advantage of the many private dirt jump locations and skate parks. The Primal is dialed. It would be my #1 if it wasn’t for the Kona Honzo esd.
I recently got the Trek Roscoe 8 on sale, $520 off in total for sale and staff goodwill (I helped out with some holiday rides). I agree that full price is questionable. But, sub $2000 was an easy choice for me. I am very impressed with how much modern hard tails have improved.
I really wanted the roscoe 9, but after tax, the 8 comes out to nearly $900 less with the sale where I couldn’t deny the logic in savings. It’s coming in on Wednesday blue black I’m excited first mtb ❤🎉
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Different, sure I guess. But I don't think really better. Different is not always better. In fact, with something as simple as a hard tail bicycle, different is more often a sales pitch to people who don't understand the physics that are better, which is most people from public schools today. For example, a one chain ring bike is all the rage, and I found out my 28 year old hard tail bike will smoke it for top speed, and has a lower creeper gear. A 30lb hard tail was a department store bike in the 90's. More fork travel means slacker head tube angles, not really great if you like to corner. The only real advantage I can see between my modern Trek, and my 1995 hard tail is disk brakes. The new 29" wheel bike is more stable, but pretty much needs a berm to turn decently.
And to add, air forks are not really better than coil spring forks. They are a bit lighter, (which is a good plus IMO), and they are easier to adjust for spring rates. You have to take a spring fork apart at least some to change to a stiffer spring, but once your spring rate is set (either air or coil spring), for your weight and riding, you usually don't mess with it anymore. Coil springs actually offer a bit better action than air when both tuned well, especially when the travel gets longer.
Thank you for clarifying that Ryan! I’m a bit embarrassed I missed that while researching the video, and also a little annoyed that we can’t all standardize how we measure geo haha
I prefer the 65.5-67 HTA, it’s the perfect trail/downcountry bike geometry. Great middle ground. Good for climbing and descending. 64-65 is more downhill oriented. Not my style. But great Video nevertheless💯💪
Thank you Joshua! Ya, definitely depends on riding preference. For what I like to do 65 is just about perfect, but I know people who love their 63 degree and 68 degree HTA bikes just as much! Glad we have options 🤙
Just finished building up an '23 Dartmoor Primal 29er, set up more for XC riding (no dropper post and flat bar) in a XL.frame Rockshox Revelation 150mm forks, Shimano XT 1X12 with XTR cranks, custom WTB wheels with DT Swiss hubs built by me with Vitoria Barzo 2.6 tires
I have the Roscoe 9 and love it. The second water bottle mount is a _must_ for summer riding, and I don't find it gets in the way of the dropper post. I have a Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper on mine with 160mm of travel, which I find to be more than enough to get the seat completely out of my way. I bought it just before the holidays for $2200 new, which is a fantastic deal for this bike.
I got my Trek Roscoe 8 (blue) for $1585 USD taxes included. Awesome bike for the money and couldn't be happier. I got the ML size as that's what the sizing chart recommended, but found it too short and exchanged it for the L at the LBS. I'm 5'9 1/2". Fits perfect and it takes a beating on my rocky trails in BC Canada.
Just bought my first bike; an On-One Hello Dave, pretty crazy geo but for the price (£999) the spec is unbelievable - GX drivetrain and a Lyrik select 150mm.
A bike that I'm sure you haven't heard of.Drag Shift 7.1.Assembled in Bulgaria.HTA 65.5 ;Chainstay Length-430mm.I bought it 2 days ago but the bad weather is stopping me from really testing it. Great content, take care.
That rank my ride is a great idea. I have 3 hardcore hardtail’s all frame only purchased and built up with my choice of parts. I just posted a video on my TH-cam channel with and updated view of my lasted upgrades. Even though you didn’t mention a few hardcore hardtail that I would add, your videos are very informative and well done!
Thank you! Just subscribe to your channel, looks like you’ve got some rad stuff on there 🤙 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Berd spokes!
I just got a Trek X-Caliber 9 for 250 bucks off msrp. I use it for light/easy singletrack and bike path rides, Very smooth. I really like it. The Recon Gold is a sweet fork.
I have a Chameleon MX R in that exact color I got in October. LOVE it! My only complaints were the tires (very slow! Lost speed downhill! Replaced quickly with Schwalbe Hans Dampf super trail 2.6 Addix-Soft and now it rolls way quicker and is much tougher too. Also added a cushcore and run 20-24 psi rear. My other complaint(s) is the Sram NX shifter and brakes.... In that the shifter doesnt allow index finger upshifting like the Shimano on my two full suspension bikes and also the integrated handlebar mounts doesn't allow for different separation angles between the shifter/dropper and the brake levers. Other than those things, bike is absolutely amazing!
I feel if I upgrade the fork, I should go for a 150mm RockShox Pike? I have a 150/135 trail bike that feels fairly similar to my Chameleon (has RockShox 35 Gold), and I'm thinking the Pike 150mm on that too. Match the forks would be a good idea?
Sounds like a great bike, gladded you’re stoked on it!! 150mm might be a bit of a stretch, but it’d probably be ok, just keep in mind you’ll slacken your head tube and increase your stack quite a bit, as well as marginally reduce your reach
I'm gonna say that the Rocky Mountain Growler series should be in the top 3. I say that as someone who chose the cheaper Trek Roscoe 7, the Rocky Mountain Growlers are excellent. And they are on sale right now here in Canada
It was on the original top 10 video; this list was made up from the bikes suggested in the comments of that one. Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
My wife got me the employee discount through epic mountain on the Roscoe 7 and I have been loving it. Honestly I probably would have chosen the canyon stoic 3 if I didn’t have the discount but I couldn’t pass it up for the price.
Staying on topic., forgot to mention. I purchased the '22 Growler 50. I was thinking of the 40 but decided to go a little extra with the 50. The manufacturer has a good sale and figured it was a dialed frame as you mentioned and decent part spec. with little to no upgrades, I may be a little nervous about the extra slack head on right switchbacks and climbing but we'll see how it goes this summer. Cheers Comrade.
Enjoy the Marin. I've got a 17 marin nail trail 6 . Handles nicely with the old school geo. Built up a v3 scout 290 recently lyric 160s i9s running Vittoria syerras with Vittoria airliner. Super fun
Great video! I do have a Diamondback Mason 2 that I feel like should be on one of your hardcore hardtail list. It’s got solid geo with a RockShox Judy Gold fork and 27.5+ tires.
Thanks for your videos. Really like to look at them, although I have already made up my mind. Bought a Nukeproof frame on sale and built it up. However Rose Bonero, German value brand (some similarities to Canyon in my opinion) looked very, very interesting to me. Would have been fun to hear your thoughts about that one (on a third list perhaps...). Thanks for your videos!
Thank you man! Ya, I’ve seen the Bonero and it looks like a great value! I’m not a huge fan of the geometry, but if you are than it’d be hard to beat. Enjoy your Scout, I’d love to ride one some day!
for me it has to be the infamous............ nukeproof scout, outrageously brilliant on 90% of riding styles as well as terrain, super impressed with the scout, this is after 30 years of cycling & testing a huge range of bikes.
Super rad bike! I actually included it on my first top 10 list that this video is in response to; check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
I have a giant fathom 2 with some nice upgrades! 2.8 dhf up front snd stock 2.6 in rear. Cush core plus in front and rear! Some nice grips as well! I like the stock seat
Just picked up the 2022 Kona Honzo it was on sale at the The Path bike shop in Tustin Cali Orange County and I was reluctant at first because this being a hard tail and the rest of my stable being agro slacked out enduro/trail AM full suspension bikes, wasn’t sure exactly how the ESD was going to perform and much to my surprise I felt right at home on the Kona, it’s weird it has enough flex in the rear that it feels like it’s a locked out shock?? The bike is super dialed right out the box and I use her on my local cross country trails with some mild downhill, took her to Skypark bike park in lake arrowhead a couple of times and I have to say, I’m not disappointed at all to have this hard tail as a new addition to my stable-maybe taking her to snow summit next season but will see, I kinda like to get rowdy with the Canfield balance at the bike parks but will consider taking the ESD for a couple runs at summit…🤷♂️🚴 #KonaHonzoESDrocks🤘🏽
Indeed it was a blast especially on the new pump track anyways gon spend more time on her just getting back to hard tail mode excellent channel my guy keep up the great work 🤙
Gotcha, I think I could have definitely gotten down with that generation other than the head tube angle, 67 degrees is just a bit to steep for me. What did you prefer most about the older model?
Lol Yeah that 67 head angle almost steered me away too but It turned out not to be an issue.. it cornered turned and railed sooooo well I run a 140 fork and 50mm riser bars ‘not everyone’s cup of tea’ but ‘415’ chain stays made wheelies manuals bunny hops 🤙🤙yep! This new one has all the same dna but it feels slightly heavier and stiffer also you really can feel the small changes they made in geo.. feels more capable and enduro like ... the mx set up has taken some getting used too but I like it now and totally get why mullets are a thing... I’m glad I kept the old frame though and I intend to build it up back up with as an urban /enduro assult weapon in mind ;)
I love your analysis. I always learn about a new frame or two on these to add to my shopping list. Long live high bottom brackets! I will take a higher bb and longer chainstay than a low bb and short chainstay. Maybe I am just weird but I like pedal clearance and the feel better. I like trail hardtails. If you can race an Enduro on them competently, I'm out. I'm not hardcore. Just "enthusiastic".
Ragley Marley 2.0 on sale chain reaction cycles, 2022 or 23 I think is still $990.00, and Voodoo Wazooo is $951.00 shipping cost included from across the pond, both great budget options.
Interesting to see that hardtails came back. They struggled for long years because of fullies. There are a lot of capable frames out there. I wonder how those hardtails work in technical xc and marathon style stuff. I feel myself sometimes underbiked on a carbon race hardtail. The descents are part of the race and they can be mean and scary if you are not on a fully.
That depends on the wheel size and amount of suspension. I would compare several similar bikes that are on your list and know that the bikes with a higher BB will probably be more agile/playful, and a lower BB will be more stable/planted
l am old school KONA (lava dom) 1995 and it's getting tired to say, am a KONA fan myself and next year will going to a new bike and will look at the KONA line then, ride with with a great group of mix brands, am riding the oldest bike in group..
Team san quentin fist bump 👊 (though mine is the older gen) I'm sure you wont regret it bro. Had always tried to save money to buy another bike,i end up buying parts to upgrade my current SQ 😂 the money is now nowhere to be seen
Awesome vid man, really interesting thoughts and opinions. I’m new to mtb (bought first mtb, marlin 6, two months ago) and already wanting to upgrade. I was wondering what your thoughts were on where the Devinci Kobaine, Rocky Mountain Growler, and Vitus Sentier.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I signed up for my first XC race and competed a week ago. Super fun, got 10th out of 50! As Im so new, I’ve been dabbling in what I can drive out to and check out here in Texas. So far single track but I truly want to play in all the settings as my skills progress. I’ve done some blue trails. No dh or enduro yet. I do have some goals to do bike packing + pack rafting so the review you did on the Timberjack made it appealing.
Nice! The Growler is definitely more enduro focused, so I’d take that off the list first. Between the Vitus and the Devinci, the Vitus has a bit better spec for the money and the frame geo is more closely aimed at XC riding. The Kobain is the most “all around” bike, but the value’s not quite as high
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Awesome! Thank you for taking your time and sharing some of your knowledge! I’m so new idk what direction I want to go in as far as riding style except that I want to race again bc that was pretty fun to meet everyone in the community. Great content and pretty cool that you engage with us in the comments. Would you still take the San Quentin 3 over all of the bikes mentioned? As far as overall value and versatility?
awesome vid man!! thanx for doing it... Just curious exactly what black tech are ya'll doing on a HT? cause id love to see some of u do even some of the double blue tech at my home MT!!! :)
Thanks 🤙 I’d say one of the gnarlier trails I’ve ridden lately was Hiline trail in Sedona. It’s a blast if you like chunky tech! Definitely some HABs, but an awesome trail nonetheless!
Great video! I would be interested in know your thoughts on the Orbea Laufey. Also, as a parent of a 11 years old kid I would love to see from you a similar video for the coolest hardtails for kids, specially for those like mine that are just in between a big kids bike or and xxs adults size. Thanks for the great job!
Great variety here Josh… cool video and thanks for looking at the On One hello Dave… it’s been a killer bike for me so far, 5-6 rides in to it so far after just having it built up at the local shop.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Yeah it really is a lot of fun! but you're spot on, it's not a bike I'll probably take to the bmx park. It smashes the downhill tho and so far seems to jump pretty well too! I'm not a great jumper but I can tell it'll handle anything you throw at it. I really like the long and slack feel... this is the first bike I've had where I didn't feel at least a little bit cramped in the cockpit. I haven't been able to really give it a proper break-in up at Galbraith yet due to the weather, but I know it's going to shred up there for sure!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy oh yeah absolutely man! I’m thinking if not Bend then maybe Galbraith in Bellingham for sure if y’all make it up this way! I’d like to try either the RSD or the Marin… we can swap for a couple trails 🤙🏻
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I’m a touch over 6’ with a long reach and I feel like you’ve mentioned your over 6’ too so it’ll probably fit you well, other than the long chain stays!
Hello Good Day! I am a hardtail user ever since. I love watching your content every time. Can you make a review on DARTMOOR HORNET hardtail frame? I think this frame is underrated in some countries but here in the Philippines, it is the go-to hardtail frame for enduro and trail riding. It is also the most popular enduro hardtail frame. I hope this will get to you and make a good content about this. Thank you in advance.
Really good video, it helps newbees like myself alot. I have a question, I dont expect an answer back, but il try anyway 😊 - Last year I bought a Bianchi Magma 9.S, and I have changed a few parts out and im pretty happy with my bike, but I dont know if its any good and what category it is? I think beginner bike? But is it a cross country or what is it? Please enlighten me 😊 I dont know all the specs, but the fork is a rockshox 100mm air with remote lockout, deore 1x12 speed cassette, deore chain, xt derailleur, xt shifter, 29inch wheels and the weight is measured in at 13.3KG. The brakes are some shimano hydraulics, nothing special I think. I use it for light trails and commuting 50 kilometers twice a week and I think its super for that, but I wouldnt think its good enough for serious mtb stuff?? I still got my 7kg roadbike with dropbars, but my body doesnt like it so much anymore. Hardtail bikes are way better for me, I think its the best bike ever. Best regards from Denmark
Hey man, thanks for the kind words, always happy to help! It’s definitely more of an XC bike, but it’s still a pretty rad setup! I’d say throwing a 120mm fork on it would do a lot to make it more capable on more technical trails
Ya, memory card crapped out on me 🤦♂️ Two of those three bikes are on my first list of top 10 hardtails though, check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
It seems though a lot of these videos I see on these hard-core hot tails they seem to run just single track or pump tracks I've never seen them actually riding trails other than the one I ride myself which is a Vitus Sentier . Which I love only problem is is I think they're gonna go out of business used to be able to get a hold of somebody in the US to speak with them now it seems wiggle and chain reaction are only doing business in the UK so I think I'm poop out of luck if something happens to it
Yo l!!! You only had 9 bikes on the list, you missed #3 But the Kona Honzo ESD rips I used it on double black trails, Hardtail party had good reviews on it
Haha ya I mentioned that in the video; was supposed to be the Dartmoor Primal. And yes, absolutely killer bike!! Wish it wasn’t quite so low and slack for more dirt jump/jib riding but you could always change that with an angle adjust headset
Just bought a Rocky Mountain fusion 40 on sale haven’t got to ride much as it’s been too cold, but got one ride and I’m liking it curious what your expertise opinion of it is?
Thanks Tony! I personally run composite pedals with metal pins, they’re lighter, cheaper, and offer 99% of the grip of an alloy pedal. I’m running the e.thirteen basic pedals right now and haven’t had any issues with them!
Don’t overlook my setup people… Save your money… New Cannondale Trail 8 599$. Upgrades… rock shox recon $200 Microshift acolyte one by drivetrain $80 IXF cranks and hollow tech BB 40$ Total… 920$ Save the rest for ivermectin and HCQ people… I know you are smart enough to understand this…
I was into Mt. Bike riding (and worked for a manufacture) in the mid 90's, and am just getting back into it for exercise. I never had a dropper seat post, and not totally sure I would like it because of my riding style. When I go downhill, for great control, I like to get back on the bike, off the seat, but pinch the seat with my inner thighs, (and even put my weight on the seat like that) so I can relax my arms. Can you pinch the seat like that with the seat dropped? If not, you are missing some bike control.
You're right, it's definitely a different riding style! I think if you spent some time on a modern bike you'd learn to like and find you'd actually have more control because you'd open up tons of movement for your upper body over the bike. But that said, if you've got something that already works for you why change!
Orange used to be a good Yorkshire brand steel framed made in GB.....now they are made in ali and not in the UK.🤷♂️ My Old 26" P7 is solid, but the new ones do nothing for me.
I bought a 2021 haibike seet 9 29 with rockshox forks but i dont now hom much i can push it to the limits. Can i go doownhil with some rocks can i do jumps with it. And there arent any youtube videos about the bike. Any information about the bike is apreciated.❤
It’s definitely not made for super aggressive riding, but I think you’d be okay to start progressing towards that style of riding and upgrade some parts as you go! If/when you choose to buy some new parts for that bike I’d start with the brakes and tires, that’s probably the best bang for your buck. Let me know if you choose to do this and I can give you some suggestions!
Check out the Sram DB8 brakes. They’re on sale right now for a great deal! SRAM DB8 Disc Brake Black, Rear a.co/d/fmTwu30 For tires I’d look at Delium and run whatever looks best for your typical terrain. The fork will need to be replaced at some point for sure, but that’s a bigger purchase and I wouldn’t say you need that right off that bat
Just some advice on the Stoic that it's pretty long, lazy, and is not compliant at all. It is certainly very capable and good value but the frame is a little harsh and lacks versality compared to other hardtails
I need to remember this vid, can people message me, i dont want to be late for work. Wanna jot down what he says he prefers in the beginning even though ive been biking 35 years
Thank you so much for the video - such a great breakdown. Coming off an old 26" Giant STP, I am currently deciding between the 2023 SQ3 and Ragley Marley 1.0. The bike will mainly see pavement, grass parks, gravel, urban obstacles, and an occasional green trail ride with the family; however, it should still be able to handle my BMX freestyle antics (small jumps, 180s, abubacas, endoes, wheelies... you know, stuff to show off to the kids while I still can) along with an occasional trail ride. I thought the SQ3 was my answer, but I'm not so sure the lower BB and slacker HTA would be favorable. Yes, the SQ3 has the huge advantage with stand over and that radical DJ look (like my STP), but wouldn't the Marley's shorter wheel base and steeper HT angle make it feel more agile and playful for my style of riding? Trying to find reasons NOT to get the Marley, but I can't. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Thank you! Both of those bikes are rad, but yes I’d agree that the Markey is a bit better suited for the type of riding you described. I’d also recommend the RSD Middlechild; it’s got super short 415 mm chainstays, a pretty high BB, and a 440 mm seat tube. I’ve done some videos on it on my channel, check em out! th-cam.com/video/0XszNpu4S9Q/w-d-xo.html
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Yup, that RSD Middlechild is sweet, but a bit over budget. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience, and responding to all these comments.
Of course man, always happy to help! The Middlechild complete is actually just $450 more than the SQ3, and I think totally worth that. The Marin is a great bike, but is missing a bit of that special sauce that makes the RSD so fun. I can get you 5% off the Middlechild as well if you use the code Josh5%off
I have the Trek Roscoe 8, its a great bike and I have even raced enduro on it, but I really regret not getting the canyon stoic cuz its so much more value.
Likewise! The San Quentin is a pretty good alternative if you’re looking for a more playful version of the Stoic; similar spec, similar cost, but a bit more playful geo
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Do you think the SQ3 is better than the Timberjack? I want a 27.5 trail bike that I can practice jumping and ride on a pump track.
I sadly have never ridden the Timberjack, but on paper they seem like they’d be pretty dang similar. If you’re looking for a hardtail that’s going to excel at jumping/pump tracks, check out the RSD Middlechild. I’ve got lots of videos on it here on the channel!
It looks like the frame isn’t compatible with a through axel hub, which will make it quite a bit harder to upgrade/replace your back wheel down the road. Check out the Polygon Xtrada 7, it’s probably the best bike for under $1,000 right now if you ask me
Nice, you got a great deal on that! And it definitely is! You may find the 100mm of travel up front to be a bit limiting as you progress, but it’s definitely a capable bike 🤙
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Thanks for the reply. I was planning to increase the travel from 100mm to 120mm with the same fork (rockshox recon silver) just by removing the spacer(?). In your opinion, would the frame/fork able handle that change when I ride on more technical trails?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I can't wait to ride it as soon it arrives. I'll be ordering KS exa 900i dropper post as well for 1st upgrade. Thank you for the helpful replies^^ I hope to see some bike community here in Korea as kind as you.
I really respect yhe disclaimer in the beginning - too many people getting butt hurt over what bike and parts tjat YOU prefer lol .
Its all subjective just like you mentioned.
I appreciate the time & money you put into your content 💪😎👍
Hey thanks man, I appreciate that! Yeah everyone always thinks their bike is the best haha, which honestly isn’t a bad thing, it’s great they’re stoked on it! But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be best for everyone else
I just purchased a TREK Marlin 7 XL, oh I’m 6’8”. It’s for light trails, commuting 5 miles to the beach, and family rides. Already bought tires, pedals, riser handlebars, DUB, extra wide Shimano cranks and a 34T. Upgraded from a Giant iguana from 2001.
Sounds like a great bike, stoked for you!!
Yeah, getting a larger chainring is something that a lot of these hardtails need. Many of these come with 30t chainrings which isn't necessarily enough and really put wear on the longest gears.
I'm getting a marlin 7 for Christmas, if you have, what dropper post did you put on it
For me the Chameleon is KING but way overpriced. You’re paying for the top shelf frame.
The Trek Marlin is a solid bike. I rode the 8 pretty hard for two years and ended up slightly bending the rear triangle and now the shifting is a bit wonky, but to be fair, I was using it more like a trail bike than cross country. As long as you're not doing anything too sketchy with it, then the Marlin will serve you well.
Dude, I have a 2021 Giant Fathom. It's a custom build.i bought the 2, stripped it sold the stock parts and built up a killer hardtail. I'm running 29X 3.0 tires with plenty of clearance. That's why I chose the fathom.the only stock part on the bike is the cranks!
Nice man! Ya I’m kinda the same way too, I’ve not lots of relatively inexpensive completed and then just upgraded to parts to suit my liking as I went. Definitely a good way to go 🤙🤙
The bike I ride the most is my Dartmoor 26Player DJ. It is a little bit long and and has a lower than normal BB for a DJ. My Kona Honzo ESD is my go to bike for most mountain bike trails. It has ruined all of my other mountain bikes. My full suspension DMR SLED almost never gets used since I built the Kona Honzo ESD. There is just something amazing about that frame that makes it really good. Finally I built a Dartmoor Primal 27.5. This bike is very playful with its smaller wheels. I use the Primal in flatter trails with jumps and technical features where the Kona Honzo ESD would not be much fun.
All such rad bikes! The primal was the supposed to be bike 3 but the footage was corrupted 🙄 Where are you from by the way? It’s so hard to find Dartmoors in the US
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy
I am loving your channel. Hardtail content is my favorite. I live in Nebraska. Not a place known for mountain biking but there is a group of us here that build public and private dirt jumps and trails. If you know where to look you can find some good stuff to ride. I built my bikes frame up mostly from part you can find on ebay. There aren’t a lot of places to buy a mountain bike from around here and get exactly what you want. The Dartmoors are available very affordably on ebay and are shipped directly from Poland. I ended up building the 26Player in order to take advantage of the many private dirt jump locations and skate parks. The Primal is dialed. It would be my #1 if it wasn’t for the Kona Honzo esd.
Thank you Scott!! Sounds like you guys have a pretty good scene out there, keep it up 🤙
I recently got the Trek Roscoe 8 on sale, $520 off in total for sale and staff goodwill (I helped out with some holiday rides). I agree that full price is questionable. But, sub $2000 was an easy choice for me. I am very impressed with how much modern hard tails have improved.
Killer deal man, stoked for you!! And ya, they really are night and day from the hardtails on the market 10 years ago!
I really wanted the roscoe 9, but after tax, the 8 comes out to nearly $900 less with the sale where I couldn’t deny the logic in savings. It’s coming in on Wednesday blue black I’m excited first mtb ❤🎉
Killer deal, enjoy it!!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Different, sure I guess. But I don't think really better. Different is not always better. In fact, with something as simple as a hard tail bicycle, different is more often a sales pitch to people who don't understand the physics that are better, which is most people from public schools today. For example, a one chain ring bike is all the rage, and I found out my 28 year old hard tail bike will smoke it for top speed, and has a lower creeper gear. A 30lb hard tail was a department store bike in the 90's. More fork travel means slacker head tube angles, not really great if you like to corner. The only real advantage I can see between my modern Trek, and my 1995 hard tail is disk brakes. The new 29" wheel bike is more stable, but pretty much needs a berm to turn decently.
And to add, air forks are not really better than coil spring forks. They are a bit lighter, (which is a good plus IMO), and they are easier to adjust for spring rates. You have to take a spring fork apart at least some to change to a stiffer spring, but once your spring rate is set (either air or coil spring), for your weight and riding, you usually don't mess with it anymore. Coil springs actually offer a bit better action than air when both tuned well, especially when the travel gets longer.
I think it’s worth noting that salsa measures HTA at sag. The TJ has a 65° static HTA, on par with most of the other modern hard tails in this list.
Thank you for clarifying that Ryan! I’m a bit embarrassed I missed that while researching the video, and also a little annoyed that we can’t all standardize how we measure geo haha
I prefer the 65.5-67 HTA, it’s the perfect trail/downcountry bike geometry. Great middle ground. Good for climbing and descending. 64-65 is more downhill oriented. Not my style. But great Video nevertheless💯💪
Thank you Joshua! Ya, definitely depends on riding preference. For what I like to do 65 is just about perfect, but I know people who love their 63 degree and 68 degree HTA bikes just as much! Glad we have options 🤙
Just finished building up an '23 Dartmoor Primal 29er, set up more for XC riding (no dropper post and flat bar) in a XL.frame
Rockshox Revelation 150mm forks, Shimano XT 1X12 with XTR cranks, custom WTB wheels with DT Swiss hubs built by me with Vitoria Barzo 2.6 tires
Sounds fast! Enjoy it 🤙🤙
I have the Roscoe 9 and love it. The second water bottle mount is a _must_ for summer riding, and I don't find it gets in the way of the dropper post. I have a Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper on mine with 160mm of travel, which I find to be more than enough to get the seat completely out of my way. I bought it just before the holidays for $2200 new, which is a fantastic deal for this bike.
Glad you got such a killer deal on it! I have super long legs, so I have to run a 200mm post, which sadly hits the bottle bosses
Great video, I probably would include the Commencal Meta HT, I personally owned one and it’s quite a good bike
Super rad bike! Two of their models actually made the last list, check it out! th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
I got my Trek Roscoe 8 (blue) for $1585 USD taxes included. Awesome bike for the money and couldn't be happier. I got the ML size as that's what the sizing chart recommended, but found it too short and exchanged it for the L at the LBS. I'm 5'9 1/2". Fits perfect and it takes a beating on my rocky trails in BC Canada.
Great list! I have a dartmoor hornet and it's awesome! Aggressive too, with 63 deg hta.
Nice! The Dartmoor Primal was the mysterious #3 bike that got deleted off my camera lol
Just bought my first bike; an On-One Hello Dave, pretty crazy geo but for the price (£999) the spec is unbelievable - GX drivetrain and a Lyrik select 150mm.
Absolutely killer value! How you liking the geometry so far?
I also have a hello Dave had it for a year and it isn’t as sluggish as the geo would suggest
Good to know, thanks for sharing!!
I purchased a vitus sentier vr and fell in love with the bike, the feel of it and everything
Nice! I love Vitus!
My favorite hardtail are .. Commencal Ht ,Santa cruz cameleon and Marin Sanquentin 3 . Peace amigos
Great bikes!!
A bike that I'm sure you haven't heard of.Drag Shift 7.1.Assembled in Bulgaria.HTA 65.5 ;Chainstay Length-430mm.I bought it 2 days ago but the bad weather is stopping me from really testing it.
Great content, take care.
Thank you! You’re new bike looks sick, enjoy it!!
That rank my ride is a great idea. I have 3 hardcore hardtail’s all frame only purchased and built up with my choice of parts. I just posted a video on my TH-cam channel with and updated view of my lasted upgrades.
Even though you didn’t mention a few hardcore hardtail that I would add, your videos are very informative and well done!
Thank you! Just subscribe to your channel, looks like you’ve got some rad stuff on there 🤙 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Berd spokes!
I just got a Trek X-Caliber 9 for 250 bucks off msrp. I use it for light/easy singletrack and bike path rides, Very smooth. I really like it. The Recon Gold is a sweet fork.
Nice man!!
I have a Chameleon MX R in that exact color I got in October. LOVE it! My only complaints were the tires (very slow! Lost speed downhill! Replaced quickly with Schwalbe Hans Dampf super trail 2.6 Addix-Soft and now it rolls way quicker and is much tougher too. Also added a cushcore and run 20-24 psi rear. My other complaint(s) is the Sram NX shifter and brakes.... In that the shifter doesnt allow index finger upshifting like the Shimano on my two full suspension bikes and also the integrated handlebar mounts doesn't allow for different separation angles between the shifter/dropper and the brake levers. Other than those things, bike is absolutely amazing!
I feel if I upgrade the fork, I should go for a 150mm RockShox Pike?
I have a 150/135 trail bike that feels fairly similar to my Chameleon (has RockShox 35 Gold), and I'm thinking the Pike 150mm on that too. Match the forks would be a good idea?
Sounds like a great bike, gladded you’re stoked on it!! 150mm might be a bit of a stretch, but it’d probably be ok, just keep in mind you’ll slacken your head tube and increase your stack quite a bit, as well as marginally reduce your reach
I'm gonna say that the Rocky Mountain Growler series should be in the top 3. I say that as someone who chose the cheaper Trek Roscoe 7, the Rocky Mountain Growlers are excellent. And they are on sale right now here in Canada
It was on the original top 10 video; this list was made up from the bikes suggested in the comments of that one. Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
Yup I love mine!
My wife got me the employee discount through epic mountain on the Roscoe 7 and I have been loving it. Honestly I probably would have chosen the canyon stoic 3 if I didn’t have the discount but I couldn’t pass it up for the price.
Nice man!!
Staying on topic., forgot to mention. I purchased the '22 Growler 50. I was thinking of the 40 but decided to go a little extra with the 50. The manufacturer has a good sale and figured it was a dialed frame as you mentioned and decent part spec. with little to no upgrades, I may be a little nervous about the extra slack head on right switchbacks and climbing but we'll see how it goes this summer. Cheers Comrade.
I think you’ll dig it 🤙🤙 Have fun!
Enjoy the Marin. I've got a 17 marin nail trail 6 . Handles nicely with the old school geo. Built up a v3 scout 290 recently lyric 160s i9s running Vittoria syerras with Vittoria airliner. Super fun
Sounds like some fun bikes; the Scout in particular sounds like a bruiser 🤘
Actually prefer the scout to my squish bike on my local trails. Ride the scout 2 out of 3 rides there at carter road mtb trails aka Loyce Harpe
Great video! I do have a Diamondback Mason 2 that I feel like should be on one of your hardcore hardtail list. It’s got solid geo with a RockShox Judy Gold fork and 27.5+ tires.
Nice man, glad you like it!!
Thanks for your videos. Really like to look at them, although I have already made up my mind. Bought a Nukeproof frame on sale and built it up. However Rose Bonero, German value brand (some similarities to Canyon in my opinion) looked very, very interesting to me. Would have been fun to hear your thoughts about that one (on a third list perhaps...). Thanks for your videos!
Thank you man! Ya, I’ve seen the Bonero and it looks like a great value! I’m not a huge fan of the geometry, but if you are than it’d be hard to beat. Enjoy your Scout, I’d love to ride one some day!
Couldn't pass up a 2016 Orange p7 RS last year when I saw it online.
for me it has to be the infamous............
nukeproof scout, outrageously brilliant on 90% of riding styles as well as terrain, super impressed with the scout, this is after 30 years of cycling & testing a huge range of bikes.
Super rad bike! I actually included it on my first top 10 list that this video is in response to; check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
Scout baby!!!
I have a giant fathom 2 with some nice upgrades! 2.8 dhf up front snd stock 2.6 in rear. Cush core plus in front and rear! Some nice grips as well! I like the stock seat
Nice man! The Fathom is a great frame to make upgrades on like you’ve done!
Great ranking review. Too bad you couldn’t add the bike/frame weights.
Thanks! Sadly lots brands don't disclose complete bike weights, so I had to leave them out. Good call on frame weight though, maybe next time!
I have stoic 3 with upgraded fork and it feels great.🙏
Hi Josh, just a reminder that the 66.4 degree headhangle is at sag. Unsagged it would be around 65°
Thanks for correcting that, I missed that while researching. I really being we could all agree on a way to measure geometry lol
Thank you for including Kona,😀
Absolutely 🤙🤙
Awesome list! Make the SQ3 mullet and review it! Nobody’s done it yet, you’ll be the first!
I think it’d rip as a mullet, I’ll try it out soon!
Just ordered a chameleon 29 r in the new matte black can’t wait for it to come in!
Niiiice!!
The Salsa’s head tube angle is measured at sag…it’s actually right at about 65 degrees un-sagged.
Great channel and love your stuff.
Good to know, thank you! I must have missed that; does that apply to the seat tube angle as well?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yes, all measurements are at 25 % sag. I hear the mullet set up is killer on that bike!
I bet man, looks like such a fun bike!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy it’s worth noting that the ti frame has previous generation geometry with a 68 degree head tube etc. So disappointed!
Weird! Good to know though. Check out the RSD Middlechild ti, pretty similar geo to the Timberjack!
Kinda bummed you didnt mention the Nukeproof Scout, which I ride. All good. Happy trails. Aloha.😎🤙
Super rad bike, check out part 2 of the video here: th-cam.com/video/7iaF3D5JvGA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=H6B5XPq3fHU_XsCg
Just picked up the 2022 Kona Honzo it was on sale at the The Path bike shop in Tustin Cali Orange County and I was reluctant at first because this being a hard tail and the rest of my stable being agro slacked out enduro/trail AM full suspension bikes, wasn’t sure exactly how the ESD was going to perform and much to my surprise I felt right at home on the Kona, it’s weird it has enough flex in the rear that it feels like it’s a locked out shock?? The bike is super dialed right out the box and I use her on my local cross country trails with some mild downhill, took her to Skypark bike park in lake arrowhead a couple of times and I have to say, I’m not disappointed at all to have this hard tail as a new addition to my stable-maybe taking her to snow summit next season but will see, I kinda like to get rowdy with the Canfield balance at the bike parks but will consider taking the ESD for a couple runs at summit…🤷♂️🚴 #KonaHonzoESDrocks🤘🏽
I bet it was a blast at SkyPark! Hardtails like the ESD really shine on flowy jump trails!
Indeed it was a blast especially on the new pump track anyways gon spend more time on her just getting back to hard tail mode excellent channel my guy keep up the great work 🤙
Awesome list there man I have the chameleon mx so far it’s awesome but if honest I think the older model probably suited me better
Gotcha, I think I could have definitely gotten down with that generation other than the head tube angle, 67 degrees is just a bit to steep for me. What did you prefer most about the older model?
Lol Yeah that 67 head angle almost steered me away too but It turned out not to be an issue.. it cornered turned and railed sooooo well I run a 140 fork and 50mm riser bars ‘not everyone’s cup of tea’ but ‘415’ chain stays made wheelies manuals bunny hops 🤙🤙yep! This new one has all the same dna but it feels slightly heavier and stiffer also you really can feel the small changes they made in geo.. feels more capable and enduro like ... the mx set up has taken some getting used too but I like it now and totally get why mullets are a thing... I’m glad I kept the old frame though and I intend to build it up back up with as an urban /enduro assult weapon in mind ;)
Sounds like my kind of bike man! Pretty much exactly how I have my RSD Middlechild built up. Glad you’re having fun on it 🤙
Great video like always i got the stoic and i love it
Good man! It’s such an awesome bike 🤙
I highly recommend niner air 9 aluminum hardtail it's a great mountain bike.
My dad actually used to own that bike! A little more XC focused than I prefer though
I love your analysis. I always learn about a new frame or two on these to add to my shopping list.
Long live high bottom brackets! I will take a higher bb and longer chainstay than a low bb and short chainstay. Maybe I am just weird but I like pedal clearance and the feel better.
I like trail hardtails. If you can race an Enduro on them competently, I'm out. I'm not hardcore. Just "enthusiastic".
Haha I like it man, thank you for the kind words 🤙
Ragley Marley 2.0 on sale chain reaction cycles, 2022 or 23 I think is still $990.00, and Voodoo Wazooo is $951.00 shipping cost included from across the pond, both great budget options.
Great deals, thanks for sharing!!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yep no problem, I would have trouble choosing, I like both of those.
I’d have to take the Ragley; better spec and the geometry lines up with my riding style a bit more
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yep I may order one soon I hope may wait for tax return.
Interesting to see that hardtails came back. They struggled for long years because of fullies. There are a lot of capable frames out there. I wonder how those hardtails work in technical xc and marathon style stuff. I feel myself sometimes underbiked on a carbon race hardtail. The descents are part of the race and they can be mean and scary if you are not on a fully.
That depends on the wheel size and amount of suspension. I would compare several similar bikes that are on your list and know that the bikes with a higher BB will probably be more agile/playful, and a lower BB will be more stable/planted
l am old school KONA (lava dom) 1995 and it's getting tired to say, am a KONA fan myself and next year will going to a new bike and will look at the KONA line then, ride with with a great group of mix brands, am riding the oldest bike in group..
Hey, I bought a Trek Rosco 9, great mtb for me, I'm happy with it
Good to hear, glad you’re enjoying it!!
Team san quentin fist bump 👊 (though mine is the older gen) I'm sure you wont regret it bro. Had always tried to save money to buy another bike,i end up buying parts to upgrade my current SQ 😂 the money is now nowhere to be seen
Nice! I owned the previous generation as well, but didn’t like how high the seat tube was (515 mm on my XL). Glad the changed that though!
I love the San Quintin
Ha I just commented on you other video about the Stoic and here it is!😂😎
Awesome vid man, really interesting thoughts and opinions. I’m new to mtb (bought first mtb, marlin 6, two months ago) and already wanting to upgrade. I was wondering what your thoughts were on where the Devinci Kobaine, Rocky Mountain Growler, and Vitus Sentier.
Nice! What type of riding do you like to do?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I signed up for my first XC race and competed a week ago. Super fun, got 10th out of 50!
As Im so new, I’ve been dabbling in what I can drive out to and check out here in Texas.
So far single track but I truly want to play in all the settings as my skills progress. I’ve done some blue trails. No dh or enduro yet.
I do have some goals to do bike packing + pack rafting so the review you did on the Timberjack made it appealing.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I was also looking into the Fezzari Wasatch but worried that was “too XC”
Nice! The Growler is definitely more enduro focused, so I’d take that off the list first. Between the Vitus and the Devinci, the Vitus has a bit better spec for the money and the frame geo is more closely aimed at XC riding. The Kobain is the most “all around” bike, but the value’s not quite as high
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Awesome! Thank you for taking your time and sharing some of your knowledge! I’m so new idk what direction I want to go in as far as riding style except that I want to race again bc that was pretty fun to meet everyone in the community.
Great content and pretty cool that you engage with us in the comments.
Would you still take the San Quentin 3 over all of the bikes mentioned?
As far as overall value and versatility?
awesome vid man!! thanx for doing it... Just curious exactly what black tech are ya'll doing on a HT? cause id love to see some of u do even some of the double blue tech at my home MT!!! :)
Thanks 🤙 I’d say one of the gnarlier trails I’ve ridden lately was Hiline trail in Sedona. It’s a blast if you like chunky tech! Definitely some HABs, but an awesome trail nonetheless!
Interesting, I've been having my eye on the marin san quentin for a while now. I'm just waiting for a good deal cuz im a poor student lol
Check out the San Quentin 2 on Bikes Online; it’s a killer deal at just $1500! bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/nL1OMV
Great video! I would be interested in know your thoughts on the Orbea Laufey. Also, as a parent of a 11 years old kid I would love to see from you a similar video for the coolest hardtails for kids, specially for those like mine that are just in between a big kids bike or and xxs adults size. Thanks for the great job!
The Laufey looks like a great all around trail bike! The seat tube is a bit long for my taste (470 on a large) but other that no issues!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Thanks Josh!
I love my 2022 Rocky Mountain Growler 40!!
Glad you’re stoked on it!! I featured a growler on the previous top ten, check it out: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy SICK man I will check it out!! Good job on your content keep it coming :)
Thank you man 🤙
Curious about these bikes
Spec fuse 27.5 ($949)
Salsa rangefinder deore 12 27.5 ($1199)
Trek Roscoe 8 29 ($1599)
Fezzari Wasatch 27.5 ($949)
Great variety here Josh… cool video and thanks for looking at the On One hello Dave… it’s been a killer bike for me so far, 5-6 rides in to it so far after just having it built up at the local shop.
Sure does look like a blast! How do those long chainstays feel? I think that’s the only thing I’d be not so stoked about
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Yeah it really is a lot of fun! but you're spot on, it's not a bike I'll probably take to the bmx park. It smashes the downhill tho and so far seems to jump pretty well too! I'm not a great jumper but I can tell it'll handle anything you throw at it. I really like the long and slack feel... this is the first bike I've had where I didn't feel at least a little bit cramped in the cockpit. I haven't been able to really give it a proper break-in up at Galbraith yet due to the weather, but I know it's going to shred up there for sure!
Hell ya 🤘 Glad your stoked! I’d love to take it for a spin if we ever get out on a ride together!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy oh yeah absolutely man! I’m thinking if not Bend then maybe Galbraith in Bellingham for sure if y’all make it up this way! I’d like to try either the RSD or the Marin… we can swap for a couple trails 🤙🏻
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I’m a touch over 6’ with a long reach and I feel like you’ve mentioned your over 6’ too so it’ll probably fit you well, other than the long chain stays!
My next bike is probably going to be the commencal meta ht 29 !
Nice! I actually did a full video on that bike, check it out! th-cam.com/video/6T050cuRNlM/w-d-xo.html
Hello Good Day!
I am a hardtail user ever since. I love watching your content every time.
Can you make a review on DARTMOOR HORNET hardtail frame? I think this frame is underrated in some countries but here in the Philippines, it is the go-to hardtail frame for enduro and trail riding. It is also the most popular enduro hardtail frame.
I hope this will get to you and make a good content about this. Thank you in advance.
I’d love to!! They’re sadly pretty hard to find here in the states, but I may reach out to them and see if they can send me one to try out!
I’m eyeballing the Marin Team 2. Waiting for a sale though. I guess the seat stays were cracking too. But I think they fixed that
That bike is hard to beat if you’re looking for an affordable XC rocket! What do you ride now?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Banshee Prime, Paradox, Status 160, and Levo
What a collection 👌👌
Great video.
I was about to get Marin San Quentin 3, but the colors... meh
Ended up with Rose Bonero 3, currently waiting for the shipment
Nice! Never ridden one but these seem like pretty cool bikes! Enjoy it 🤙
Really good video, it helps newbees like myself alot.
I have a question, I dont expect an answer back, but il try anyway 😊 -
Last year I bought a Bianchi Magma 9.S, and I have changed a few parts out and im pretty happy with my bike, but I dont know if its any good and what category it is? I think beginner bike? But is it a cross country or what is it? Please enlighten me 😊
I dont know all the specs, but the fork is a rockshox 100mm air with remote lockout, deore 1x12 speed cassette, deore chain, xt derailleur, xt shifter, 29inch wheels and the weight is measured in at 13.3KG.
The brakes are some shimano hydraulics, nothing special I think.
I use it for light trails and commuting 50 kilometers twice a week and I think its super for that, but I wouldnt think its good enough for serious mtb stuff??
I still got my 7kg roadbike with dropbars, but my body doesnt like it so much anymore. Hardtail bikes are way better for me, I think its the best bike ever.
Best regards from Denmark
Hey man, thanks for the kind words, always happy to help! It’s definitely more of an XC bike, but it’s still a pretty rad setup! I’d say throwing a 120mm fork on it would do a lot to make it more capable on more technical trails
Solid list 💪🏽💪🏽
Thank you 🙏
Question what are your thoughts on the giant xtc advanced 29 3? Ideally for light trails and along the road for exercise purposes
Perfect for that kind of riding! Great value too
Falto la dartmoor hornet,primal
Ns eccentric
COMMENCAL ht
Chromag stylus
32:16 You missed bike No.3. Maybe a Specialized Fuse, Ragley Marley or mmmbop, Nukeproof Scout?
Ya, memory card crapped out on me 🤦♂️ Two of those three bikes are on my first list of top 10 hardtails though, check it out here: th-cam.com/video/OHY20bEKbs4/w-d-xo.html
The Orange crush is now half the price - is that good value for money ($1500)
Dang, what a deal!!
Dartmoor Hornet 🔥
It seems though a lot of these videos I see on these hard-core hot tails they seem to run just single track or pump tracks I've never seen them actually riding trails other than the one I ride myself which is a Vitus Sentier . Which I love only problem is is I think they're gonna go out of business used to be able to get a hold of somebody in the US to speak with them now it seems wiggle and chain reaction are only doing business in the UK so I think I'm poop out of luck if something happens to it
Yeah, definitely a bummer about Vitus and Nukeproof! Hopefully someone buys them up and let’s us contiyto enjoy those bikes stateside!
Great reviews. If you wore a green flak jacket and cigar you would look like a revolutionarily. 😀
Haha that’s hilarious 😂😂 But I take it as a compliment!
Yo l!!! You only had 9 bikes on the list, you missed #3
But the Kona Honzo ESD rips I used it on double black trails, Hardtail party had good reviews on it
Haha ya I mentioned that in the video; was supposed to be the Dartmoor Primal. And yes, absolutely killer bike!! Wish it wasn’t quite so low and slack for more dirt jump/jib riding but you could always change that with an angle adjust headset
Pretty sure On-One is sold by Planet X. I've got the Hello Dave Titanium version.
Yep, they are! And that’s awesome, are you talking about the Titus Loco-Moto by chance?
Just bought a Rocky Mountain fusion 40 on sale haven’t got to ride much as it’s been too cold, but got one ride and I’m liking it curious what your expertise opinion of it is?
Definitely a rad bike! I actually included it on a type 5 value aggressive hardtails video that I’ll be releasing later this week!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy nice
Why Salsa‘s Timberjack doesn’t have its own timestamp? Great review still
Thank you for the catch! Looks like it was a typo in the description
@@ridingwithjoshandwendyNice to know you have fixed it! Thanks for the great review
66 ht is fine if you're doing 50/50 up and down. A lot of Pivot and Ibis bikes are around 66
True, but that just gets steeper when you sink into your sag on a hardtail, turning that 66 degrees into 67 or 68
You missed to mention the Rose Bonero 3. 😉
The name alone should have earned it a spot on the list haha!
Canyon Stoic
Dartmoor Hornet, you should list :)
Got it here, check it out! th-cam.com/video/C5yDqw96aOg/w-d-xo.html
Every bike I review is great as long as you replace almost every component 😂
I’m going to get a cube reaction pro.
Nice! Enjoy it 🤙
Great vid & subbed, what pedals do you recommend for a 29'er hard tail? so many can't make my
mind up...
Thanks Tony! I personally run composite pedals with metal pins, they’re lighter, cheaper, and offer 99% of the grip of an alloy pedal. I’m running the e.thirteen basic pedals right now and haven’t had any issues with them!
Don’t overlook my setup people… Save your money…
New Cannondale Trail 8 599$. Upgrades… rock shox recon $200
Microshift acolyte one by drivetrain $80 IXF cranks and hollow tech BB 40$
Total… 920$
Save the rest for ivermectin and HCQ people… I know you are smart enough to understand this…
I really thought about buying the marin but 27,5" wheels on a hardtail are just a dealbreaker for me being 6'2"
Im 6’1” and won’t ride anything but 27.5 haha, but it all comes down to preference
I was into Mt. Bike riding (and worked for a manufacture) in the mid 90's, and am just getting back into it for exercise. I never had a dropper seat post, and not totally sure I would like it because of my riding style. When I go downhill, for great control, I like to get back on the bike, off the seat, but pinch the seat with my inner thighs, (and even put my weight on the seat like that) so I can relax my arms. Can you pinch the seat like that with the seat dropped? If not, you are missing some bike control.
You're right, it's definitely a different riding style! I think if you spent some time on a modern bike you'd learn to like and find you'd actually have more control because you'd open up tons of movement for your upper body over the bike. But that said, if you've got something that already works for you why change!
Orange used to be a good Yorkshire brand steel framed made in GB.....now they are made in ali and not in the UK.🤷♂️ My Old 26" P7 is solid, but the new ones do nothing for me.
Bummer! At least you got one of the good ones it sounds like!
I bought a 2021 haibike seet 9 29 with rockshox forks but i dont now hom much i can push it to the limits. Can i go doownhil with some rocks can i do jumps with it. And there arent any youtube videos about the bike. Any information about the bike is apreciated.❤
It’s definitely not made for super aggressive riding, but I think you’d be okay to start progressing towards that style of riding and upgrade some parts as you go! If/when you choose to buy some new parts for that bike I’d start with the brakes and tires, that’s probably the best bang for your buck. Let me know if you choose to do this and I can give you some suggestions!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy thanks for the reply. I would really use some suggestions. And what about the forks? Do they need an upgrade?
Check out the Sram DB8 brakes. They’re on sale right now for a great deal! SRAM DB8 Disc Brake Black, Rear a.co/d/fmTwu30 For tires I’d look at Delium and run whatever looks best for your typical terrain. The fork will need to be replaced at some point for sure, but that’s a bigger purchase and I wouldn’t say you need that right off that bat
Canyon Stoic is great
Glad you’ve enjoyed it!!
Just some advice on the Stoic that it's pretty long, lazy, and is not compliant at all. It is certainly very capable and good value but the frame is a little harsh and lacks versality compared to other hardtails
Good to know, thanks for sharing!
I need to remember this vid, can people message me, i dont want to be late for work. Wanna jot down what he says he prefers in the beginning even though ive been biking 35 years
Thank you so much for the video - such a great breakdown. Coming off an old 26" Giant STP, I am currently deciding between the 2023 SQ3 and Ragley Marley 1.0. The bike will mainly see pavement, grass parks, gravel, urban obstacles, and an occasional green trail ride with the family; however, it should still be able to handle my BMX freestyle antics (small jumps, 180s, abubacas, endoes, wheelies... you know, stuff to show off to the kids while I still can) along with an occasional trail ride. I thought the SQ3 was my answer, but I'm not so sure the lower BB and slacker HTA would be favorable. Yes, the SQ3 has the huge advantage with stand over and that radical DJ look (like my STP), but wouldn't the Marley's shorter wheel base and steeper HT angle make it feel more agile and playful for my style of riding? Trying to find reasons NOT to get the Marley, but I can't. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Thank you! Both of those bikes are rad, but yes I’d agree that the Markey is a bit better suited for the type of riding you described. I’d also recommend the RSD Middlechild; it’s got super short 415 mm chainstays, a pretty high BB, and a 440 mm seat tube. I’ve done some videos on it on my channel, check em out! th-cam.com/video/0XszNpu4S9Q/w-d-xo.html
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Yup, that RSD Middlechild is sweet, but a bit over budget. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience, and responding to all these comments.
Of course man, always happy to help! The Middlechild complete is actually just $450 more than the SQ3, and I think totally worth that. The Marin is a great bike, but is missing a bit of that special sauce that makes the RSD so fun. I can get you 5% off the Middlechild as well if you use the code Josh5%off
Canyon stoic is the best bike on this list for sure
Other than that high seat tube it's hard to beat!
Update: As of early June 2024, Kona Honzo ESD is $2,299 (Kona has reduced prices across the board since the original owners returned to the company).
Esker Japhy… maybe?
How about Cannondale Habit HT 2023?
It hadn’t been released yet, but I did a full video on that bike, check it out here: th-cam.com/video/VpX3F4lEYXo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=o_0rMzQLY2BNoPuS
Planet X website for "On -one"
How much do they weigh? If I am paying over a grand for a hard tail Mt. bike, that is my #1 factor.
Because if my Trek Marlin 7 Gen 2 could lose 8lbs, it would be hard to beat.
Lose 8lbs and gain a chain ring.
I'm personally much more worried about strength and ride feel, so I don't pay attention to weight
Does anybody know anything about A Squall Breezer hard tail? And if so, is that a good mountain bike for uphill downhill riding? For beginners.
I sadly don’t!
I have the Trek Roscoe 8, its a great bike and I have even raced enduro on it, but I really regret not getting the canyon stoic cuz its so much more value.
Ya, the Trek is a bit over priced if you ask me, but still a great bike! The value of the Stoic 4 blows me away!
I wish the larger size Stoics we’re available with 27.5” wheels.
Likewise! The San Quentin is a pretty good alternative if you’re looking for a more playful version of the Stoic; similar spec, similar cost, but a bit more playful geo
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Do you think the SQ3 is better than the Timberjack? I want a 27.5 trail bike that I can practice jumping and ride on a pump track.
I sadly have never ridden the Timberjack, but on paper they seem like they’d be pretty dang similar. If you’re looking for a hardtail that’s going to excel at jumping/pump tracks, check out the RSD Middlechild. I’ve got lots of videos on it here on the channel!
Devinci Kobain!
Sick bike! Do you own one?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Yes sir, I bought one recently, super cheap and made in Canada!
Would love to hear the thoughts on the VooDoo Bizango Pro.
It looks like the frame isn’t compatible with a through axel hub, which will make it quite a bit harder to upgrade/replace your back wheel down the road. Check out the Polygon Xtrada 7, it’s probably the best bike for under $1,000 right now if you ask me
What about Orbea Laufey h-ltd,
could this model be included in the selection?
Definitely could be! I’m not a huge fan of the geo, but still seems like a great bike 🤙
I just bought the Kona Kahuna 2023 (1061$) as my first mtb, is it good enough for light trails and cross country?
Nice, you got a great deal on that! And it definitely is! You may find the 100mm of travel up front to be a bit limiting as you progress, but it’s definitely a capable bike 🤙
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Thanks for the reply. I was planning to increase the travel from 100mm to 120mm with the same fork (rockshox recon silver) just by removing the spacer(?). In your opinion, would the frame/fork able handle that change when I ride on more technical trails?
I think it should, 20mm is usually within the tolerable range. I’d look it up though, you might be able to find people who’ve done the same thing
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I can't wait to ride it as soon it arrives. I'll be ordering KS exa 900i dropper post as well for 1st upgrade.
Thank you for the helpful replies^^ I hope to see some bike community here in Korea as kind as you.
Thank you man, I’m sure you’ll find it 🤙