Steve... it was great getting a chance for me and my wife to ride with you and Fender for a short while that day! You were so generous with your time and knowledge (the coaching tips were already paying off by the end of the ride) that it made an already great day on the bikes even better. Thanks for being such a tremendous ambassador for the sport of mountain biking (and for Sedona as well)! Just got back home to 6+ inches of snow today in Kansas City, so already missing Sedona. Can't wait to go back!
I'm so glad you said hi and we got to connect! Did you make it back to your car before dark? I've bee n wondering if you made it, but I didnt have a way to reach out. Please don't hesitate to reach out next time you're here in sedona.
@@hardtailparty We took a wrong turn somewhere around Girdner and got nervous about losing light. So we had to cut the trail ride short and took the road back to the trailhead. No worries though. We rode parts of Templeton, HT Trail, Lama and Easy Breezy the next day so still got plenty of awesome Sedona singletrack in for our vacation. I even snuck up to Slim Shady from Yavapai trailhead and got to hit a few techy sections there.
I was lucky enough to grab one of these frames on their final closeout, at half price. 6'3" on an XL. Been riding it for the last 1 1/2 years, 29+ with a Pike at 140mm, i40 rims. Agree with everything in the review. Not super nimble but more nimble than I expected, and super fun. It's not a sprint bike; accelerates like a tractor. The heavy 29+ wheels reward momentum, and once you get them spinning it just plows over everything and mutes all the chatter. Traction for days. Goes downhill better than any HT I've had. 12/14.5 psi f/r for 29x3.0. Minion DHF on the front is way more tire than needed but so much fun to throw at stuff I think I'll just ride it forever which is about how long it will last. The wide BB was an issue sorting out cranks; glad to see the new version is standard. Love the Superboost rear wheel, very strong and true. Thinking about trying mullet. It's so much fun to ride, it gets more use than my FS Phantom. Like a BMX bike with big balloon tires.
Great review! Very informative. Your description of the Sergeant is the way I feel about my Marin Pine Mountain 2. Except the Sergeant weighs less. If I had known about it before I bought the PM2, it would have made the choice a difficult one.
Your reviews are awesome! Very informative! I just finished up building a Sergeant V3 with 29x3.0 tires and 150mm travel fork. It’s an amazing bike to ride!!
great review, and nice to see fender on the trail, haven't seen him in a while, I will be going to Sedona next October, with friends, probably staying in the village of oak creek, or maybe cottonwood. It will be my first time riding there, my friends go every year
Awesome. We have an Airbnb pretty close to the village (right next to hiline). Hit me up as you get closer and I'll see if it's available. October is a pretty popular time to come.
The growing of the channel is all up to the viewers. Hopefully more people find it and subscribe. I promise there will be more bike reviews, they're a staple of my channel.
Came here for the review but found myself enjoying the scenery just as much. Haven't been to Sedona for a few years and long over do. This is the bike I am leaning towards and appreciate the thorough review. But I do have a question: How did Fender know you took a right and stayed on Chuck Wagon? Smart dog.
Hey Hardtail Party! Really like your videos and I dig your hardtail! I’m thinking about getting a Middlechild or a Guerilla Gravity Pedalhead. I would love to see you review the Pedalhead to see what you think of it.
Thanks Alex. I'd love to review the pedalhead, but I haven't seen Guerilla Gravity at any of the demo events. Feel free to shoot them an email and tell them how much you'd like me to review it. Maybe that will help convince them to get me one for a short period of time. On paper, there are a few key differences between the Middlechild and Pedalhead. One big difference which may or may not be important to you, is the sliding dropouts on the Middle Child. This means you can go from 415-430mm chainstays. It also means you can run it singlespeed if you wish. The MC also has a much slacker head angle. I hope to get my hands on a pedalhead one day to review. Let me know if you've got any questions. I think the aluminum middle child will be the hardtail to beat for the next few years.
What advantages would the aluminum have over the chromoly? I researched enough about chromoly that I just about convinced myself that that’s what I want. :)
@Alex Kempf a lot of people like to make sweeping geralizations and lump bikes into neat little categories. The truth is, not all cromo frames ride the same. Not all aluminum frames ride the same. Some cromo frames ride super smooth and supple. Some don't. In my experience, the cromo middle child isnt super supple. It's super burly, and a very nice frame, but I'd rather save 1lb and go with an aluminum frame (or 2 lbs and go with the ti frame). Now, I havent ridden the aluminum middle child yet, but in my experience, the steel mc is not tons more forgiving than a good aluminum bike.
I've also never ridden a pedlhead, but it uses square tubing, and I've never ridden a bike with square tubing that wasn't harsh. But the jury is still out on the pedalhead. Also, I find that the smaller the triangles on the frame, the stiffer they generally tend to ride. The ionic bike I reviewed a while back was one of the finest feeling steel frame I've ridden. It flexed perfectly in all the right ways. That being said , the aluminum Santa cruz Chameleon has a great compliant ride too, even though it's aluminum. So you cant just go by frame material (sadly). If you were only interested in frame feel, I'd recommend either the ionic johnny rotten, or the santa cruz chameleon. But we all know that geometry is equally, if not more, important than frame material/feel. That's where the mc wins in my book. The geometry is absolutely dialed for aggressive riding. And if you want that supple feel of a good steel frame, but with killer geo, I recommend the middle child titanium. It's one of the most economical ti frames out there, and it checks all the boxes with geo and ride feel.
The versatility of this bike really makes me want to spend more than I otherwise would. It would be fun to play around with a cushy fat rear tire and 25.5 or 29 front. I’m sure I would stick with a pretty basic set up, but the options would be a blast to try.
Thanks for the great content - I really enjoy your videos! I know this is a hardtail channel but I'm wondering if you have plans to try out a Wildcat (maybe on Dusty Betty)? That has caught my attention as a good do-it-all FS. Thanks!
Absolutely! I'm so excited to try the wildcat v2. It looks super fun on paper. If it has the same magic as the middle child, I'm sure I'll like it. I'll film a video and post it on one of my other channels, unless I find a good way to integrate it into the hardtail story.
Love your reviews! I just got a Commencal Meta Am Ht and loooving it, feel the same as you're talking about this bike, entirely versitile through anything I can throw at it. Wondering if you've tried one?
@@hardtailparty Check it out I think you'll be surprised. I've been riding mountain bikes since 1990 from cross country to big hit downhill and I think Commencal concocted a magical geometry package. Would love to hear your review!
You’ve mentioned the ionic, which you gave an excellent review on. So how would you compare them if set up as 29er and nor for aggressive riding as like with your middle child? One is steel and this is aluminum? they probably feel different.
I mention and compare the two in this video a bit. One big reason the ionic got such a great review from me is that it was a tiny unknown brand and i had pretty low explanations. It was a lot better than I expected. I love going to demo events and finding a lesser-known brand and being surprised that it rides so well. The Ionic Johnny Rotten surprised me. The Ionic frame feels slightly more supple, but I hesitate to say that because the Sergeant frame feels surprisingly comfortable as well. The Sergeant sprints better under power (less frame flex) and has a better power transfer. The sergeant feels and rides lighter as well. Faster accelerating, less fatiguing over time. The Sergeant also feels like it can handle more aggressive terrain, with the slacker head angle. I think the Sergeant can charge a bit better. The Ionic feels more playful with that shorter chainstay, where it can wheelie and manual a lot easier. I think the Ionic would make a great single-speed. The "attitude" and feel of the two bikes is extremely similar, and they're more alike than different. Both reward a relaxing ride where you're not pushing it hard, but I feel like the Sergeant can handle being pushed a lot more. I think for taller riders, the Sergeant would be the ticket, unless you love short chainstays. The RSD is also $1500-2200 cheaper. You can almost get 2 sergeants for the price of one Johnny Rotten.
Thanks so much for the awesome reviews! Your videos have been some of the most influential in steering me to my next bike. We're about the same height & build too, so I really value your opinion. I'm very close to ordering an Aluminum Middlechild 29in. The climb you did at 16:07 in this video - how much harder do you think you would have to work if you were on your Middlechild? 1%? 10%?
Will RSD have demo bikes at the upcoming bike week in Sedona. I live in Phoenix and hope to come up and get some demo rides in . Familiar with the chuck wagon trail . Then cross the street and ride deadman’s trail . Thanks for this review. It’s a bike I would consider getting.
hardtail party thanks . I went to their website after watching your video . Entered to win the bike giveaway then went to their FB page . I also asked them the same question and they replied with the same answer. Would be super awesome to win the bike . At 68 I still would like to ride again. Thanks for your reply and I like that you ride a hardtail.
Good work man!!! Just curious Steve if you have tried a Whyte 900 series HT with CS @440, STA@74.5, HTA@ 64.5, and reach @ 454 sz medium. Geo looks good, plus one gets to ride for 30 days trial period. However the MC is way more versatile. Thank you for all sharing all your fun times with detailed analysis.
Hey Steve love your videos, makes me get out and ride off road more. I live down in Scottsdale and work part time a a shop here but I don’t know if anywhere in the valley that sells modern geometry hardtails. We sell trek but the roscoe and satchel are not slack. I have a 2013 stache that was slack in its day but I’d really love to ride something like this rsd do you know of any place to put a leg over or any demos coming up?
It's tough finding modern aggressive hardtails for demo. Here in Sedona, thunder mountain bikes (formerly over the edge) rents the rocky mountain growler.
How would you compare that manatou mattuk to a pike fork I'm going to put the manatou fork on my steel middlechild. Thoughts? It will be ridin hard. chunk and drops. Great channel!
Phoenix is about 2 hours away from me. If you're coming to Sedona we can definitely make something happen. There's a slim chance I will be doing a group ride in Jan. We'll see. Stay tuned to my instagram, that's where I post my rides.
I need to stop watching your rides in Sedona. I really want to go there. Is this bike or Middlechild more comfortable or better at absorbing bumps? Their price point is such that I could "possibly" have one some day. Would make a good plus bike. I miss riding hardtails.
@@hardtailparty Thank you for the reply. Still working on the full suspension bike first, but if we have to get a new roof, then no bike for another year. Maybe I could convince the wife for a much cheaper hardtail? RSD bikes are not expensive for what you get. Been looking at their website a bunch lately.
How is the new v4 riding? It has a shorter chainstay just like Steve asked for, wondering how much that changes the ride? Not sure if it is still a "good value" with the steep price increase for this year (i.e. $2650 for complete with and a deore groupset). Thoughts?
I have a question about bike fitment for us short people. I ride a chameleon and am 5’6” short legs long torso. Looking at most peoples bikes their seat hight looks level or higher than their bars. My seat is lower than my bars. Do i need to lower my bars all the way to try and make up for my short legs or go to shorter cranks? Or both? How do you determine the height between bars and seat.
Everyone is different. Lower bars put more weight on the front wheel. Higher bars make it easier to bunnyhop and jump. Experiment around with stem height. You can experiment with how many spacers fit under the stem. See what works best for you. I don't know of a tried-and-true formula that works for everyone.
20:42 the Aluminum MiddleChild at $1500 (sans dropper) in early 2020; that's $1000 cheaper then today !!! The covid manufactured crisis has certainly taken its toll on bike prices. The RSD MC Aluminum is on my radar, but shipping costs plus the ridiculous hefty ("thefty") 14% EU tax on bikes as well as the equally ridiculous (18% in my country's case, some places it's more) VAT, have priced it well out sensible range. *$3600 with dropper BEFORE shipping costs* ....RSD needs to find a way to deliver from Europe for them to make sense financially.
Precisely so Steve. It’s the rip-off EU that so hypocritically preaches & legislates about “open markets” on one hand; while engaging in protectionism on the other. Which means unjustified price hikes on bikes imported from outside the EU, putting off a boatload of potential buyers. U.S. & other companies can bypass a part of the problem by establishing a supply chain situated in the EU, but smaller builders might not view that option as worth their while (I don’t blame them). RSD makes some amazing bikes IMHO; I don’t think anything similar is available in the EU. Or even elsewhere for that matter, kudos to RSD for pushing the envelope & being on the sharp edge.
hm... excellent question. The chameleon is a great bike except for its head angle (I feel the same way about the Kona Honzo as well). The Sergeant has a slacker head angle, but a longer chainstay. I feel like this bike is more stable/composed at speed than a chameleon, but a chameleon will be more fun at a pump track or skate park. The real unique thing about the sergeant is its versatility. It can run 29+, 27.5x4, and narrowher wheels too. The chameleon can't do that. I also like that this has a traditional headset, so you could even run an angleset if you wanted. Sadly, that's not an option on the chameleon. Not to mention the chameleon is a lot more expensive. I think a really interesting comparison would be a chameleon with a timberjack. They're almost identical in geometry, but the chameleon is about $1k more.
The versatility of the tire size is why I am considering purchasing this bike. Currently I can't find any other bikes made for such versatility. Mostly I'm wondering how you think the aluminum frame rides? Is it smooth like you said about the chameleon? If I purchase, I'd have 4.0 for winter strictly and 29 2.6 for summer, so no plus size dampness in summer to smooth out the ride. But a comparison to the salsa and Santa Cruz would be interesting
@@Whenlifegivesyoulehmans I talk about the frame feel in the review. I think the santa cruz is slightly slightly softer/smooth, but this bike is not harsh at all. Especially when you run 2.6 or larger tires, the tires end up damping most of the sting out anyway, so at that point it's a moot point. It's a super super versatile bike.
@@Whenlifegivesyoulehmans Anytime. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. The chameleon is a more playful/fun bike to ride, but this is the most versatile bike I've owned. It's kind of like a leatherman that has every single tool in it vs your favorite camp knife that just has one blade.
What's your opinion on 27.5+ vs 29 tires? I'm looking at trail geometry bikes, but will the 27.5+ slow down the bike? Would the 27.5+ take away the experience of riding the trails? The thickest tires I've ever ridden are 2.3 tires lol.. so any help would be appreciated man. Thanks. I know the questions off topic.. mybad
Not off topic at all. I'll be filming a video that addresses this exact topic. For my, 29ers are faster. 27.5+ is more comfortable, and usually more fun. It all depends on where you ride, and how you ride. For a bike like this, I much prefer 27.5+
hardtail party a guy a week or so ago mentioned he wished he bought a small..I offered to order a small frame and swap but no reply. 🤷♀️ The MC or even mmmbop are tempting but in the Boston area 4” with studs in the winter would be awesome. Wish there was another option to consider that instant a strict fatbike that also runs 29+
Steve... it was great getting a chance for me and my wife to ride with you and Fender for a short while that day! You were so generous with your time and knowledge (the coaching tips were already paying off by the end of the ride) that it made an already great day on the bikes even better. Thanks for being such a tremendous ambassador for the sport of mountain biking (and for Sedona as well)! Just got back home to 6+ inches of snow today in Kansas City, so already missing Sedona. Can't wait to go back!
I'm so glad you said hi and we got to connect! Did you make it back to your car before dark? I've bee n wondering if you made it, but I didnt have a way to reach out. Please don't hesitate to reach out next time you're here in sedona.
@@hardtailparty We took a wrong turn somewhere around Girdner and got nervous about losing light. So we had to cut the trail ride short and took the road back to the trailhead. No worries though. We rode parts of Templeton, HT Trail, Lama and Easy Breezy the next day so still got plenty of awesome Sedona singletrack in for our vacation. I even snuck up to Slim Shady from Yavapai trailhead and got to hit a few techy sections there.
I love that you take the time to stop and comment on the scenery!
Thanks! We live in a beautiful world. Half the fun of riding is enjoying the scenery and being out in nature.
@@hardtailparty I couldn't agree more!!
I was lucky enough to grab one of these frames on their final closeout, at half price. 6'3" on an XL. Been riding it for the last 1 1/2 years, 29+ with a Pike at 140mm, i40 rims. Agree with everything in the review. Not super nimble but more nimble than I expected, and super fun. It's not a sprint bike; accelerates like a tractor. The heavy 29+ wheels reward momentum, and once you get them spinning it just plows over everything and mutes all the chatter. Traction for days. Goes downhill better than any HT I've had. 12/14.5 psi f/r for 29x3.0. Minion DHF on the front is way more tire than needed but so much fun to throw at stuff I think I'll just ride it forever which is about how long it will last.
The wide BB was an issue sorting out cranks; glad to see the new version is standard. Love the Superboost rear wheel, very strong and true. Thinking about trying mullet. It's so much fun to ride, it gets more use than my FS Phantom. Like a BMX bike with big balloon tires.
Great review! Very informative. Your description of the Sergeant is the way I feel about my Marin Pine Mountain 2. Except the Sergeant weighs less. If I had known about it before I bought the PM2, it would have made the choice a difficult one.
Your reviews are awesome! Very informative! I just finished up building a Sergeant V3 with 29x3.0 tires and 150mm travel fork. It’s an amazing bike to ride!!
Congrats on a killer bike!
great review, and nice to see fender on the trail, haven't seen him in a while, I will be going to Sedona next October, with friends, probably staying in the village of oak creek, or maybe cottonwood. It will be my first time riding there, my friends go every year
Awesome. We have an Airbnb pretty close to the village (right next to hiline). Hit me up as you get closer and I'll see if it's available. October is a pretty popular time to come.
You are my new go to guy for reviews.. Please grow this channel and add bike reviews..
The growing of the channel is all up to the viewers. Hopefully more people find it and subscribe. I promise there will be more bike reviews, they're a staple of my channel.
Thanks for the review! I bought a sergeant this past summer and absolutely love it!
🤘
Have you tried any other hardtails? What terrain do you typically ride?
Great review. Seems like an awesome bike. The scenery is awesome, two feet of snow here in bc.
The snow will soon pass. BC is one of my all-time favorite places to ride bikes.
That was epic Steve, well done!
Love the vids, keep em coming. 🤙🤙
So here in the UK Fender would be called Mudguard 😄 Absolutely loved this vid
Great review Steve. 🤘😎
Fender is loving life. 🐕🤘
Came here for the review but found myself enjoying the scenery just as much. Haven't been to Sedona for a few years and long over do.
This is the bike I am leaning towards and appreciate the thorough review.
But I do have a question: How did Fender know you took a right and stayed on Chuck Wagon? Smart dog.
Chuckwagon is one of my favorite trails. I can’t wait for your next group ride.
Let's pick a date and trail. Saturdays are best for me.
Would love to see you do a review on the Mayor, Cheers!
Good review Steve.
I saw today that Orbea adjusted the Laufey. Review the 2020 if you can demo one! Looks interesting. 3 different builds, 65.5 hta!
I actually have one sitting here in my house, awaiting my review. Stay tuned.
Hey Hardtail Party! Really like your videos and I dig your hardtail! I’m thinking about getting a Middlechild or a Guerilla Gravity Pedalhead. I would love to see you review the Pedalhead to see what you think of it.
Thanks Alex. I'd love to review the pedalhead, but I haven't seen Guerilla Gravity at any of the demo events. Feel free to shoot them an email and tell them how much you'd like me to review it. Maybe that will help convince them to get me one for a short period of time.
On paper, there are a few key differences between the Middlechild and Pedalhead. One big difference which may or may not be important to you, is the sliding dropouts on the Middle Child. This means you can go from 415-430mm chainstays. It also means you can run it singlespeed if you wish. The MC also has a much slacker head angle.
I hope to get my hands on a pedalhead one day to review. Let me know if you've got any questions. I think the aluminum middle child will be the hardtail to beat for the next few years.
What advantages would the aluminum have over the chromoly? I researched enough about chromoly that I just about convinced myself that that’s what I want. :)
@Alex Kempf a lot of people like to make sweeping geralizations and lump bikes into neat little categories. The truth is, not all cromo frames ride the same. Not all aluminum frames ride the same. Some cromo frames ride super smooth and supple. Some don't. In my experience, the cromo middle child isnt super supple. It's super burly, and a very nice frame, but I'd rather save 1lb and go with an aluminum frame (or 2 lbs and go with the ti frame). Now, I havent ridden the aluminum middle child yet, but in my experience, the steel mc is not tons more forgiving than a good aluminum bike.
I've also never ridden a pedlhead, but it uses square tubing, and I've never ridden a bike with square tubing that wasn't harsh. But the jury is still out on the pedalhead. Also, I find that the smaller the triangles on the frame, the stiffer they generally tend to ride. The ionic bike I reviewed a while back was one of the finest feeling steel frame I've ridden. It flexed perfectly in all the right ways. That being said , the aluminum Santa cruz Chameleon has a great compliant ride too, even though it's aluminum. So you cant just go by frame material (sadly).
If you were only interested in frame feel, I'd recommend either the ionic johnny rotten, or the santa cruz chameleon. But we all know that geometry is equally, if not more, important than frame material/feel. That's where the mc wins in my book. The geometry is absolutely dialed for aggressive riding.
And if you want that supple feel of a good steel frame, but with killer geo, I recommend the middle child titanium. It's one of the most economical ti frames out there, and it checks all the boxes with geo and ride feel.
Thanks for this review! I’m kinda holding out for the alloy middle child, but those big tires are tempting. I gotta have the clear coat finish though!
The versatility of this bike really makes me want to spend more than I otherwise would.
It would be fun to play around with a cushy fat rear tire and 25.5 or 29 front.
I’m sure I would stick with a pretty basic set up, but the options would be a blast to try.
So many options with this bike
The bike looks great on the trails looks like you have tiff decisions between bike it seems fun tearing things up
Thanks for the great content - I really enjoy your videos! I know this is a hardtail channel but I'm wondering if you have plans to try out a Wildcat (maybe on Dusty Betty)? That has caught my attention as a good do-it-all FS. Thanks!
Absolutely! I'm so excited to try the wildcat v2. It looks super fun on paper. If it has the same magic as the middle child, I'm sure I'll like it. I'll film a video and post it on one of my other channels, unless I find a good way to integrate it into the hardtail story.
@@hardtailparty What are you other channels?
Love your reviews! I just got a Commencal Meta Am Ht and loooving it, feel the same as you're talking about this bike, entirely versitile through anything I can throw at it. Wondering if you've tried one?
I've been wanting to try one. My buddy has one. I'll have yo borrow it. The only spec I would change is the chainstay.
@@hardtailparty Check it out I think you'll be surprised. I've been riding mountain bikes since 1990 from cross country to big hit downhill and I think Commencal concocted a magical geometry package. Would love to hear your review!
@@ARsoundsofstillness How tall are you? I'm planning on borrowing it for a review soon. Stay tuned.
You’ve mentioned the ionic, which you gave an excellent review on. So how would you compare them if set up as 29er and nor for aggressive riding as like with your middle child?
One is steel and this is aluminum? they probably feel different.
I mention and compare the two in this video a bit. One big reason the ionic got such a great review from me is that it was a tiny unknown brand and i had pretty low explanations. It was a lot better than I expected. I love going to demo events and finding a lesser-known brand and being surprised that it rides so well. The Ionic Johnny Rotten surprised me.
The Ionic frame feels slightly more supple, but I hesitate to say that because the Sergeant frame feels surprisingly comfortable as well. The Sergeant sprints better under power (less frame flex) and has a better power transfer. The sergeant feels and rides lighter as well. Faster accelerating, less fatiguing over time. The Sergeant also feels like it can handle more aggressive terrain, with the slacker head angle. I think the Sergeant can charge a bit better. The Ionic feels more playful with that shorter chainstay, where it can wheelie and manual a lot easier. I think the Ionic would make a great single-speed. The "attitude" and feel of the two bikes is extremely similar, and they're more alike than different. Both reward a relaxing ride where you're not pushing it hard, but I feel like the Sergeant can handle being pushed a lot more. I think for taller riders, the Sergeant would be the ticket, unless you love short chainstays.
The RSD is also $1500-2200 cheaper. You can almost get 2 sergeants for the price of one Johnny Rotten.
Thanks so much for the awesome reviews! Your videos have been some of the most influential in steering me to my next bike. We're about the same height & build too, so I really value your opinion. I'm very close to ordering an Aluminum Middlechild 29in. The climb you did at 16:07 in this video - how much harder do you think you would have to work if you were on your Middlechild? 1%? 10%?
Itgat climb is even easier on the middlechild.
Will RSD have demo bikes at the upcoming bike week in Sedona. I live in Phoenix and hope to come up and get some demo rides in . Familiar with the chuck wagon trail . Then cross the street and ride deadman’s trail .
Thanks for this review. It’s a bike I would consider getting.
No, they won't be at the Sedona MTB fest unfortunately. How tall are you? Maybe you could ride mine.
hardtail party thanks . I went to their website after watching your video . Entered to win the bike giveaway then went to their FB page . I also asked them the same question and they replied with the same answer.
Would be super awesome to win the bike . At 68 I still would like to ride again.
Thanks for your reply and I like that you ride a hardtail.
Good work man!!! Just curious Steve if you have tried a Whyte 900 series HT with CS @440, STA@74.5, HTA@ 64.5, and reach @ 454 sz medium. Geo looks good, plus one gets to ride for 30 days trial period. However the MC is way more versatile. Thank you for all sharing all your fun times with detailed analysis.
Not yet. I've tried to get one, but no luck. I'll reach out again. It looks fantastic on paper.
hardtail party thank you for taking time to reply , look forward to more great work
Hey Steve love your videos, makes me get out and ride off road more. I live down in Scottsdale and work part time a a shop here but I don’t know if anywhere in the valley that sells modern geometry hardtails. We sell trek but the roscoe and satchel are not slack. I have a 2013 stache that was slack in its day but I’d really love to ride something like this rsd do you know of any place to put a leg over or any demos coming up?
It's tough finding modern aggressive hardtails for demo. Here in Sedona, thunder mountain bikes (formerly over the edge) rents the rocky mountain growler.
How would you compare that manatou mattuk to a pike fork I'm going to put the manatou fork on my steel middlechild. Thoughts? It will be ridin hard. chunk and drops. Great channel!
I'd much rather have the pike. The mattock didn't impress me
@@hardtailparty I was trying to save a couple of bucks going with the mattuk . I'll just save up some more and do the pike . Thanks .
Really beautiful trail. Camera quality was excellent.
I was thinking about a trip to Phoenix in January, any chance you are doing a group ride
Phoenix is about 2 hours away from me. If you're coming to Sedona we can definitely make something happen. There's a slim chance I will be doing a group ride in Jan. We'll see. Stay tuned to my instagram, that's where I post my rides.
hardtail party
I can even stay in Sedona. But let me workout the details on my end and I will let you know, thanks
@@FS3fullsquishsinglespeed Perfect. If you make it to Sedona, I can definitely make a ride happen. keep me posted.
I need to stop watching your rides in Sedona. I really want to go there. Is this bike or Middlechild more comfortable or better at absorbing bumps? Their price point is such that I could "possibly" have one some day. Would make a good plus bike. I miss riding hardtails.
They are equal at absorbing bumps. I recommend the biggest plus tires tou can get on any hardtail for absorbing bumps.
@@hardtailparty Thank you for the reply. Still working on the full suspension bike first, but if we have to get a new roof, then no bike for another year. Maybe I could convince the wife for a much cheaper hardtail? RSD bikes are not expensive for what you get. Been looking at their website a bunch lately.
Steve what brand sunglasses are those you using in this video?
These are the Julbo Stream glasses. I love Julbo eyewear, especially the models with reactiv lenses
I’ve got the v4 on the way. Seems like it’ll be worth the 4 month wait.
I think so. I can't wait to review one, it looks even better than the v3
How is the new v4 riding? It has a shorter chainstay just like Steve asked for, wondering how much that changes the ride? Not sure if it is still a "good value" with the steep price increase for this year (i.e. $2650 for complete with and a deore groupset). Thoughts?
I have a question about bike fitment for us short people. I ride a chameleon and am 5’6” short legs long torso. Looking at most peoples bikes their seat hight looks level or higher than their bars. My seat is lower than my bars. Do i need to lower my bars all the way to try and make up for my short legs or go to shorter cranks? Or both? How do you determine the height between bars and seat.
Everyone is different. Lower bars put more weight on the front wheel. Higher bars make it easier to bunnyhop and jump. Experiment around with stem height. You can experiment with how many spacers fit under the stem. See what works best for you. I don't know of a tried-and-true formula that works for everyone.
Would this bike be a good choice for a “clydesdale”? I definitely want a plus tire.
It definitely could be. It's got nice long chainstays, which is usually great for tall people.
Hey Steve, what saddle do you use?
Silverado
it would be great to hear how the RSD bikes jump
The middle child jumps extremely well. The sergeant jumps decent, but I prefer the middle child.
20:42 the Aluminum MiddleChild at $1500 (sans dropper) in early 2020; that's $1000 cheaper then today !!!
The covid manufactured crisis has certainly taken its toll on bike prices.
The RSD MC Aluminum is on my radar, but shipping costs plus the ridiculous hefty ("thefty") 14% EU tax on bikes as well as the equally ridiculous (18% in my country's case, some places it's more) VAT, have priced it well out sensible range. *$3600 with dropper BEFORE shipping costs* ....RSD needs to find a way to deliver from Europe for them to make sense financially.
Sounds like Europe has made it intentionally difficult for companies to import their goods. Hardly RSD's fault
Precisely so Steve. It’s the rip-off EU that so hypocritically preaches & legislates about “open markets” on one hand;
while engaging in protectionism on the other. Which means unjustified price hikes on bikes imported from outside the EU, putting off a boatload of potential buyers.
U.S. & other companies can bypass a part of the problem by establishing a supply chain situated in the EU, but smaller builders might not view that option as worth their while (I don’t blame them).
RSD makes some amazing bikes IMHO; I don’t think anything similar is available in the EU.
Or even elsewhere for that matter, kudos to RSD for pushing the envelope & being on the sharp edge.
Si me gusta esa bici amigo looks good brotha ✌🏻
A mi tambien!
How does this stack up against the chameleon?
hm... excellent question. The chameleon is a great bike except for its head angle (I feel the same way about the Kona Honzo as well).
The Sergeant has a slacker head angle, but a longer chainstay. I feel like this bike is more stable/composed at speed than a chameleon, but a chameleon will be more fun at a pump track or skate park. The real unique thing about the sergeant is its versatility. It can run 29+, 27.5x4, and narrowher wheels too. The chameleon can't do that.
I also like that this has a traditional headset, so you could even run an angleset if you wanted. Sadly, that's not an option on the chameleon. Not to mention the chameleon is a lot more expensive.
I think a really interesting comparison would be a chameleon with a timberjack. They're almost identical in geometry, but the chameleon is about $1k more.
The versatility of the tire size is why I am considering purchasing this bike. Currently I can't find any other bikes made for such versatility. Mostly I'm wondering how you think the aluminum frame rides? Is it smooth like you said about the chameleon? If I purchase, I'd have 4.0 for winter strictly and 29 2.6 for summer, so no plus size dampness in summer to smooth out the ride. But a comparison to the salsa and Santa Cruz would be interesting
@@Whenlifegivesyoulehmans I talk about the frame feel in the review. I think the santa cruz is slightly slightly softer/smooth, but this bike is not harsh at all. Especially when you run 2.6 or larger tires, the tires end up damping most of the sting out anyway, so at that point it's a moot point. It's a super super versatile bike.
Good to know, might be pulling the trigger sooner than later. Thanks for the quick and informative responses!
@@Whenlifegivesyoulehmans Anytime. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. The chameleon is a more playful/fun bike to ride, but this is the most versatile bike I've owned. It's kind of like a leatherman that has every single tool in it vs your favorite camp knife that just has one blade.
What's your opinion on 27.5+ vs 29 tires? I'm looking at trail geometry bikes, but will the 27.5+ slow down the bike? Would the 27.5+ take away the experience of riding the trails? The thickest tires I've ever ridden are 2.3 tires lol.. so any help would be appreciated man. Thanks. I know the questions off topic.. mybad
Not off topic at all. I'll be filming a video that addresses this exact topic. For my, 29ers are faster. 27.5+ is more comfortable, and usually more fun. It all depends on where you ride, and how you ride. For a bike like this, I much prefer 27.5+
@@hardtailparty ok man thank you. Cant wait for the video. 🤙😎👍
So... is this the BCT bike?
I haven't decided yet. It definitely could be.
🤝🏾🇺🇸💪🏾👍🏾
Ugh. This is the bike I want and it’s sold out. Anyone looking to unload a medium hit me up. Frame only or full bike.
I'd try mtbr too. Good luck.
hardtail party a guy a week or so ago mentioned he wished he bought a small..I offered to order a small frame and swap but no reply. 🤷♀️
The MC or even mmmbop are tempting but in the Boston area 4” with studs in the winter would be awesome. Wish there was another option to consider that instant a strict fatbike that also runs 29+
29+ come to the dark side steve!
I like 29+ on a stache. I think I'd love 'em on this bike too.