Five reasons why you should have a hardtail in the fleet, Best mountain bikes for under 3,000 - capable trail bikes that won't break the bank, Your complete guide to the RockShox fork range, DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo stem review, Winter mountain biking - your guide to riding in the cold, Selle Italia X-Bow Superflow saddle review, 2023 International Gravel Events - the best of global races, Specialized lays off 8% of global workforce, USE Exposure Zenith MK2 front light review. Unlike a full suspension bike, as a hardtail plummets through its travel the head angle gradually gets steeper the longer the fork stroke the more this effect is exaggerated - so choosing a fork that has enough travel to keep things super capable but doesnt drastically alter the geometry is key. Yeah, it shouldnt! Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3 | 35mm After enjoying the success of the Morf for a couple of years, Stif saw room to build on its capabilities by adding 29 wheels and tweaking the geometry to suit. This led to pressures being upped to 120psi by the end of testing, which provided a good compromise of sensitivity and support. 2020 Stif Mountain Bikes Squatch Base 2020 Base Category Hardtail Trail MTB Design Flat Bar, Hardtail (Front suspension) Frame Steel Suspension 130mm fork travel Features Disc brake Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Geometry Base Build One thing to remember with the low-slung BB is that it generates a longer downtube, so the medium Squatch feels more like a large full suspension bike. Its fairly extreme focus means it's not quite as comfortable over flat trails, but for winch-and-plummet fun it's fantastic. Words by Robert Johnston // @robert_johnston Once out of the saddle the 480mm reach offers plenty of room, makingmellower trails well within this bikes capabilities. Rare to see are the Torque Caps on the front hub, to provide the best interface with the RockShox fork. Ovalizing the top tube and chainstays has allowed us to create the a super compliant ride without compromising on stiffness in all-important areas this means things stay comfortable during high frequency chatter but stomp on the pedals or enthusiastically load a corner and youre greeted with predictable positivity. With more than twenty years of mountain biking experience, and nearly a decade of testing mountain and gravel bikes, Tom has ridden and tested thousands of bikes and products, from super-light XC race bikes through to the most powerful brakes on the market. https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item, https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?action=track, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The chainstays are svelte as they loop up towards the rear axle and the seatstays are flattened in the middle, presumably to add comfort. Overall, cycling sales are down 21.2%, with Singletrack Issue 147 Art Print - Rider Resilience. Stif says the Squatch is designed to get as much descent in as possible, so its built to be a solid climber and it definitely is. From $101.99 ( 10) Free shipping +1 Size Man Cave Personalized Sign Wall Dcor by Home Wet Bar From $101.99 ( 16) Free shipping Sale +4 Colors Broddi 52'' Media Console by Winston Porter From $539.99 $899.00 ( 3008) Fast Delivery FREE Shipping Get it by Thu. Cranks: SRAM GX Eagle 148 DUB, 34t 170mm Any implied warranties (including without limitation the warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose) which may not be disclaimed under applicable law are limited in duration to the period set forth above or the applicable statute of limitations, whichever is shorter. First thing's first, the frame. Flattened seat stays to give you (bingo cards at the ready) vertical compliance, and while Im sure someone will have something specific and functional to claim of the unusual looking chainstay bridge, Ive decided the holes are for cramming two emergency jelly babies into.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'singletrackworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',665,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-singletrackworld_com-banner-1-0'); As with Stifs last hardtail, the Squatch is designed to mimic characteristics and geometry of a full suspension bike, and to assist with this theyve given the Squatch a massive 80mm bottom bracket drop. Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: Stif Squatch Frame Medium Teal. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. Register a new Kona bike within three months of purchase, and the original owner qualifies the Kona frame for a free Lifetime Warranty. Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. Competition comes from the likes of the Ragley Blue Pig Race and Ribble HT 275 Pro, and though they're both cheaper the former by 200 (for the 2021 model) and the latter 300 their builds arent quite as sorted, and their geometries arent as progressive. Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC | 200/180 Where a full suspension rig can somewhat isolate impact forces through your legs from effecting the fork, a hardtail has a greater reaction on the fork and so requires some extra support to prevent it from using its travel too frequently. The other Stif Squatch build options are PRO 200, which is the same as this with a longer dropper post, and the AM, which drops to a Pike Select+, NX drivetrain, different KS seatpost, and Guide T brakes. Front tire: Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.6, 3C EXO TR In terms of spec, this build (PRO 175) is one of three options, which has a SRAM G2 RSC Brakes, SRAM GX drivetrain, and a Rockshox Pike Ultimate doing most of the work. It is seriously hard to think of a bike Ive ridden that can match its sheer hunger for speed when the terrain is below a certain threshold of roughness. Jan 19 Warning Man Cave Funny Embossed Aluminum Sign Novelty Garage Home Bar Decor Thats because, on the first descent I took it down, it expired from a lethal snakebite. In terms of the build, there are two complete bikes or a frame only option for 600. Stanton Bikes Set To Return, With Dan at the Helm? Exactly how much improvement the Torque Caps provide is hard to quantify, but front-end flex was certainly not a concern. Cheapest Zone yet. As with any hardtail, good geometry is the key ingredient to behaviour on the trail and we wanted to push the boundaries. We are a credit broker not a lender. The geometry and components spec encourages riders onboard the Squatch to charge hard, which can cause havoc on rough terrain when the limited cushion a hardtail offers leads to the rider becoming overwhelmed. Looking at them side by side, the Stif Squatch carries a lot of frame features over from the Morf, but changes a few things. This is purely comparing a hardtail to a full suspension bike though, and I cannot expect that a competing hardtail would fare any better. Put on a 140mm fork, Spank Vibrocore wheels, TRP Quadiem brakes. To keep it as weatherproof as possible, Stif applies an Ed-black anti-rust treatment to the frames which should resist any rusting of the steel tubes in even the worst winter conditions. Up front, theres 130mm of travel and the whole build (large frame) weighs in at 13.3kg. Softer 3C Maxxis tyres offer better traction while the bigger 2.6in casings really helps isolate you from vibrations. Brakes honestly Im clutching a bit here, and if you must clutch something, brakes arent a bad choice. IF THE WARRANTY IS REGISTERED WITH KONA WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE BICYCLE, THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, with the exception of carbon bikes and frames. Save 35% + Lezyne pocket drive HV pump when you subscribe to MBUK magazine, JANUARY SALE | Get 3 issues for 5 when you subscribe today, 9/3/3/b/933bbb38cfdad3fa12fb88f53c70db2d9ae3486c_Stif_Squatch_01.jpg, hardtail is truly going to compete with a full-sus, RockShox Pike Ultimate, 130mm (5.1in) travel, Maxxis Minion DHF (f) and Maxxis Rekon (r) 29x2.6in, WTB KOM Trail i30 rims on Hope Pro 4 hubs. Given that hardtails are ideally around 20mm shorter than full suspension bikes to compensate for the fork compressing independently, you may want to down size on the Squatch. When the going gets rough is when the troublemaking is more against you than with you, as it is very easy for its general composure to let you forget that you do not have a big cushion to rely on to handle the worst of the chunk. How did the Squatch stack up on the descents? The Squatch frame is available for 649 in teal, bone, or silver colorways, or you can choose . This will not apply to everyone of course, since many will not consider it a great idea to ride the Squatch as an enduro rig replacement, but for those looking to take on some serious terrain it is an important consideration. Along with the four carbon models, BMC also introduced two aluminum models that both come in well under $2,000. Balancing this slack steering angle are relatively generous reach numbers, with the size L Squatch measuring in at 480mm. Short and tall riders rejoice - Our seat-tube features a curve to help with tyre clearance and allows for our super short 430mm chainstays. Any questions please just ask. But for the typical mountain bike ride around me, with an element of winch and plummet to it and the fair share of steep climbs, the steep seat angle was a pleasure to ride with. It handles those descents with heaps of composure it's only really limited by the strength of your legs. Sure, this stuff is slightly heavier than the. All bikes and frames are shipped with FedEX 24hr Tracked Delivery within the UK. What that also means is that as the saddle drops, the seat tube effectively steepens, something that should suit shorter riders better or so Stif says. When it has been fixed, your car has no visible or invisible damage. Stif Bicycles are the spawn of Stif Mountain Bikes, a prolific UK bike shop in operation since 1984. I'll post up some ride impressions when I have some to share. Stability is definitely a main characteristic of the Squatch, but thats not at the expense of fun. Frame: 4130 Chromoly The 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper was flawless even in sub-zero conditions, with smooth operation and good lever feel. Rims: WTB KOM trail i30 STORE, ABOUT US Propping up the front is a 130mm-travel RockShox Pike Ultimate, with a short 42mm offset and stubby stem to keep handling composed yet sharp. Expect your technician to give your vehicle a visual check, as well as to use diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong and whats needed to put it right. The brown marks in the pictures are where mud/water has got under the edge of the invisiframe. To keep things as simple and reliable as possible theres no weird standards theres a threaded BB, a standard 44mm headtube and everyday seat tube and clamp diameters. Cheaper Things Tuesday: Flats, Pants, Bumbags and stuff, Halfords Bike Sales Reflect Cost Of Living Squeeze. Since launching the Morf in 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch this Squatch, their first 29er hardtail. Don't miss out on this sale! Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month well pick a winner. Part: 19RamFox. Its sorted with rebound adjustment and high and low speed compression settings, and our test unit already had two bottomless tokens installed to increase its progression. Yes, 2,500 is a lot of money to throw at a hardtail, but for what you're getting the Squatch represents pretty good value. THE LAB Unless otherwise specified we will use a Royal Mail Tracked Delivery service to dispatch your order. The return process is simple: Fill out the Warranty Bearing Replacement Form, upload a copy of your purchase receipt, and we'll get a new set of bearings out to you within 48 hours! Cassette: SRAM XG 1275; 10-52T It's a very comfy weapon on the steeps. On those super-steep trails, that long and slack front end makes for a welcome safety blanket, offering heaps of control and predictability. Perfectly poised, way more compliant than most of its rivals and also nimble and easy to chuck around, the well thought-out Stif Squatch Pro is a compelling package. That means that on choppy descents and hard landings, the effect of suspension travel steepening your head angle is reduced, again contributing to greater stability. Although I cannot quite determine the precise level of compliance on offer, I was certainly able to figure out what the Squatch is capable of under the control of an average rider, and I had a great deal of fun in doing so. In the wet, the Rekon doesnt cut the mustard, but when its dry it has just enough tread to keep the rear wheel in check when carving corners. A little overkill but if I had to take only one bike for trip it would probably be the Squtach because its so versatile. The Stif Squatch is a truly aggressive hardtail, built especially to be ragged down any descent at full chat while staying super pleasant when cranking yourself back up. The 200mm dropper in place on my test bike was a godsend in these situations, providing the all-important leg clearance to allow for a very dynamic ride on the bike and keep things rolling. You are able to track your order at https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item, For high value, pressurised or liquid goods we use FedEx Tracked 24hr service. Sign up as a Singletrack Member and you can leave comments on stories, use the classified ads, and post in our forums, do quizzes and more. Registered UK Company No: 03291752, Jungle Products Ltd FRN: 719212 trading as Stif Mountain Bikes are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. With the cranks sitting 80mm below the wheel axles it translates to a BB height of 293mm which keeps the riders mass as low as possible creating maximum stability when cornering. The Squatch also gets a 430mm chainstay, all this equates to a 1238mm wheelbase on a large frame. Its a key ingredient in allowing for our super short 430mm chainstays. 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