At the opposite end of the cockpit the 64 head angle steers neutrally with a 130mm travel Pike Ultimate fork, the roomy reach numbers growing to 500mm on the XL size. Finishing kit is all Burgtec, and the dropper post is a KS Lev. Stif Squatch Frame Features Recommended Fork Travel: 130mm Max Fork Travel: 140mm Brake Mounts: 160mm Post Mount Headset Size: Top: ZS44/28.6 - Bottom: EC44/40 ICSG-05 Tabs: Yes Seatpost Diameter: 30.9mm Seat Clamp Diameter: 34.9mm Bottom Bracket Size: 73mm Threaded BSA Max Tyre Size: 2.6" Recommended Crank Length: 170mm Max Chainring Size: 34t At speed the bike is impressively stable, and theres plenty of room to move around when out of the saddle, making steep rolls a doddle. Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. The tyres I get on a bit better with Maxxis DHF than I used to, but still find it more prone to washing out that a DHRII or Onza Ibex. We approached designing this bike in two halves, one for climbing, one for descending two fairly out there numbers that create strong descending prowess and a mind-blowingly efficient climbing manner and its the 78 seatangle that making climbing a total cinch. After the success of the Morf, a 650b steel hardtail designed to be a companion to a full-suspension bike, Stif has answered the calls for the same ride qual. I'll post up some ride impressions when I have some to share. Uphill, its a comfy and easy going place to be as the mega-steep seat tube makes light work of smooth climbs. With a 420mm seat tube, the medium frame should work for some shorter riders, though it certainly won't fit everyone. Initial setup of the Squatchs suspension takes about half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect. These felt great right off the bat, and hardly needed any tweaks off the defaults fro me weight. Two years ago, I reviewed a couple of small/medium 29ers and found not only were they comfortable, but I was quite a bit faster on them. Note: this does not apply to Kona Carbon models. This bb drop is set to mimic a full suspension bike of similar intentions when sagged, so it should not ring alarm bells when compared to a static figure from a full suspension bike geometry chart. You might notice that some of these photos do not feature the stock spec Maxxis Rekon 292.6in rear tyre. The best hardtail geometry Ive ridden combined with a supple steel feel and 2.6in tyres that smooth out vibrations and reduce fatigue. Its a bold statement, but its the hardcore hardtail Id buy with my own cash if I was in the market for one, so hats off to Stif for totally nailing its latest creation. 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. If you get a Squatch as an alternative to your full suss for winter, you might just end up reversing which one you call the big bike. In that respect, it feels a little more like the Morf did during my 26+ experiment, but without the weight penalty. For instance, the only compatible chainguide I could find for ISCG-OLD and a 34t oval chainring, I had to buy direct from China. The warranty for damage arising from accidents, crashes and other impacts is limited to offered replacement at a reduced charge as set forth above. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Pairing this with the 130mm fork also means there is no drastic head angle change regardless of fork position. Bikes are assembled and fully checked by our mechanics prior to dispatch, therefore lead times can vary. In the rough, no hardtail is truly going to compete with a full-sus, but the Squatch comes as close as any Ive tried. Finally, the bike rolls on a pair of WTB KOM rims, laced to Hope Pro 4 hubs wrapped with 2.6" Maxxis rubber: a Minion DHF with EXO casing at the front, and a Rekon with a tougher EXO+ casing at the rear. Uphill, its a comfy and easy going place to be as the mega-steep seat tube makes light work of smooth climbs. Not deal breakers, but old standards are ticking clocks when it comes to choice of parts. In the event of a non-warranty situation, Santa Cruz Bicycles will make replacement parts available to the original owner at a reduced charge for the applicable warranty period described above. Shop sale. Cassette: SRAM XG 1275; 10-52T Our triangle of reach, BB drop/height and headangle make the Squatch safer, faster, and ultimately way more fun to ride than any other hardtail on the market. Hope supplies the headset, in addition to their Pro 4 hubs which are laced to WTB KOM Trail i30 rims with DT swiss spokes. Theyre different bikes, but clearly siblings with the same mischievous streak running through them. Bottle cage bosses on the downtube and an ISCG05 chainguide mount mean its ready for long days on big terrain. As with the Morf, Stif designed the Squatch for a 130mm fork, which naturally, combined with the rollover of bigger wheels, gives you more value-per-millimetre. Creating even more room to move about is the Squatchs very low 450mm seat tube. . Want to win some free schwag? Not cheap coming from Canada, but it is beautiful. Thats because, on the first descent I took it down, it expired from a lethal snakebite. GEAR REVIEWS Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: Fork: RockShox Pike Ultimate | 130mm travel 42mm Offset, COCKPIT On hardtails with longer forks, the geometry can steepen noticeably through the stroke and, if not properly controlled, they canpitchweight forwards andmake for anunbalanced ride. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all other express and implied warranties (including without limitation the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose) are hereby disclaimed. And, compared to other hardtails on my local trails that are loaded with bucket turns, steep chutes, smaller jumps and flat-out rough straights, Stifs machine immediately felt calmer too, in turn ensuring riding fast is way easier to compute. Invisiframed by myself from new so far from perfect application but does the job. All without ever feeling like your teetering into turns. [Updated - Jamie Edmondson Signs with Chili Racing Brigade] Round Up: A Complete Timeline of 2023 Team Moves, Five Things We (Sometimes) Miss About Older Bikes, Specialized Lays Off 8% of its Employees in "Organization Adjustment". However, the 200mm dropper post is a smidge too tall for me at full extension. Saddle: Burgtec Cloud Chromo Rail My only takeaway from this (apart from i should buy one) is youve overtaken CK in the beard wizard stakes. 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. The result is their second bike to the market: the Stif Squatch. Its not like you need the increased length for stability, as thats already provided by the ultra-low BB. The Pro model leads with the RockShox Pike ultimate fork, sporting its flashy silver paint. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Its truly incredible how efficient, balanced and damn right easy this seating position makes things. On these chunky descents is where the tire pressure was oh-so crucial, with the difference of a couple of psi making such profound improvements to the terrain ironing. Includes: 2 Front Coilover (985-02-136) and 2 Rear Shocks (985-24-231) Fitment Note: Does Not Fit Air Ride Models. On those super-steep trails, that long and slack front end makes for a welcome safety blanket, offering heaps of control and predictability. The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc The chainguide tabs are, at last, ISCG-05, and the spacing is for a boost hub. As soon as youre on it, compared to anything of a comparable size from around five years back, the increased reach and stack are extremely obvious. The geometry is at no point the element holding you back, but the limited ability to iron out the square edges of the terrain leads to an incredibly physical ride where your arms and legs must work hard to absorb impacts that you do not even consider on a fully suspended rig. All fine choices. Invisiframe Protection Kit Fitted To Your Bike, Burgtec Mk4 Composite Flat Pedals - Black. The Pike Ultimate is an easy to set up fork. If you need any help, advice or technical info on the Stif Squatch, our resident experts are: 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. The component spec on the Squatch pro build is generally solid and leaves little to be desired, with the brakes being the only thing that I would want to change. 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. 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! When it has been fixed, your car has no visible or invisible damage. Look on Stif site for sizing/geometry.</p><p>There is marks on the chainstay by where the crank . The latest issue of MBR is out now, and as, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, RockShox Pike Ultimate, 130mm travel (42mm offset), Hope Pro 4 hubs w/Torque caps, WTB KOM i30 rims, Maxxis Minion DHF EXO/Rekon EXO+ 29 x 2.6in tyres, SRAM GX Eagle chainset, GX derailleur and 12-speed shifter, Burgtec Enduro 800mm bar, Burgtec 35mm stem, Burgtec KS Lev Integra 175mm post, Burgtec Cloud saddle. NEWS International Orders are sent using Royal Mail International Tracked Delivery. Stif makes the Squatch in three sizes (M-XL) to suit riders from 5'5"- 6'6" (165cm -198cm). Bottle bosses are in place on the downtube, and there is a 160mm post mount to accommodate any rotor size. Its a bold statement, but its the hardcore hardtail Id buy with my own cash if I was in the market for one, so hats off to Stif for totally nailing its latest creation. After several prototypes, 1000s of kilometres of hyper sensitive testing and endless amounts of tweaking we have found the optimum formula, and off the back of this extensive in-house research & development, striving for progressive, safe and fun performance we are proud to finally be able to announce the new Stif Squatch! Obviously, alertness to not clipping anything at speed is needed, but no more than any other low-slung bike, and theres less clipping rocks and roots climbing here than on plenty long-travel suspension bikes. Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. 704348. Theres none of the hardtail sensation mentioned earlier of butt and feet kicking up and reacting to whatever the fork is doing especially off drops and down steeper sections. The warranty will be in effect for the lifetime of the frame or fork and is available only to the original owner. Point it at a bigger lip though and it is quite happy flying high at speed, being stable in the air and allowing for more sketchy landings to be survived thanks to its inherent stability. As I tested this bike through some pretty wet conditions, I swapped the Rekon for a 2.4 Maxxis Dissector but well get onto that shortly. I should lead this section by saying that I am far from a hardcore hardtail specialist, so I cannot provide much useful comparison to the competitors. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Santa Cruz bicycles or any of its owners, officers, employees, representatives, agents, or affiliates (or any of their respective successors or assigns) be responsible or otherwise liable for any direct, incidental or consequential damages arising from the purchase, use, or ownership of its products, including without limitation damages for personal injury, property damage, or economic losses, whether based on contract, warranty, negligence, product liability, or any other theory. On our top end build we get a top end fork: a RockShox Pike Ultimate. TERMS OF USE Once out of the saddle the 480mm reach offers plenty of room, makingmellower trails well within this bikes capabilities. That seat angle is particularly interesting in my eyes, with the 78-degree figure quoted at max extension this means that it will end up steeper for most riders who run the seat post somewhat into the frame and will further steepen thanks to the sag of the fork. It wasnt long before riders were requesting the same premium ride quality and progressive handling characteristics on a 29er platform. 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. I would like to get my hands one if they are still available. It is now called Cheaper Things Tuesday. Since its release our Morf hardtail has rapidly won peoples hearts, generated a core cult following, and what we had initially aimed to be an ideal stable mate to a modern day full suspension bike ended up being a lot of peoples one-bike-to-rule-it-all weapon of choice. During this one-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and subject to this limited warranty. Website: Stifmtb.com, CHASSIS The Squatch ticks all the boxes when it comes to the desirables for consumers and mechanics alike: ISCG-05 tabs sit around the bb for those looking to add some drivetrain security; there is a threaded bb and external cable routing all around to make maintenance a breeze; a 44mm headtube and 12x148mm rear axle for the most universal compatibility; and bolt-on dropouts to ensure its not the end of the frames life if the worst was to happen. 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. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. THE DIRT Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Stif wanted the Squatch to be at the forefront of capabilities for an all-mountain hardtail; so it sports some fairly extreme geometry numbers that would have been considered obscene a few years ago, without tipping into the insane realm. 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. The Squatch defies being pigeon holed to any discipline, It's ready for wherever you want to take it. Its the best hardtail Ive ridden. Drop the saddle, point it downhill and the bike comes to life. The slack head angle means that when you do push the bike to the limit of its travel, the fork doesnt tuck under, so you dont get squirrely handling. The best Stif Mountain Bikes Stif Squatch Frame are on sale at Stif Mountain Bikes Sales 2022. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. Four years down the line from launching the Morf, the Squatch borrows much of what made Stif's opening hardtail foray but in a big wheel guide. The Squatch is clearly no XC machine, or the fastest to accelerate with explosive power inputs, but riders who prefer to carve corners will be amazed by how well it swoops through banked, man-made, turns. This one served me just fine through assorted winter muck. 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. 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. Unlucky, but Id spec a meatier tyre anyway. Medium frame in very good condition. Outrageous fun factor in the corners. In smoother bike park style terrain or trail centers, the Squatch absolutely rips. The Rekon makes sense to me for summer, but given I mainly ride hardtails in winter, Id always go burlier. Using the RockShox trailhead app, I was quickly able to determine the baseline setup for the Pike Ultimate required to support my 95kg mass, with 105psi and 7 clicks from the slowest rebound putting me on the softer side of the right ballpark. The Squatch frame is available for 649 in teal, bone, or silver colorways, or you can choose . Kit-wise, theres little to complain about, although heavier, faster riders might want more powerful brakes. Brakes honestly Im clutching a bit here, and if you must clutch something, brakes arent a bad choice. The seat tube angle is measured with the post at full extension, meaning 78 is the slackest it will ever get (unless your legs are super long and you fit a post with even more travel, though few even exist). It's a very comfy weapon on the steeps. A very capable frame with modern aggressive geometry. Price: 2499 /2950 /$3500 Registered UK Company No: 03291752, Jungle Products Ltd FRN: 719212 trading as Stif Mountain Bikes are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Common to these sizes is a 64-degree head angle; 78-degree seat angle (effective, at max extension); 430mm chainstays and 80mm bottom bracket drop. Stif also says its key in allowing the short 430mm chainstays. Furthering this bikes value and, of course, its sorted build arethe easily serviceable Hope Pro 4 hubs and the extra-nice Burgtec finishing kit (the grips especially are lovely). The Squatch also gets a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, a pair of SRAM G2 RSC four-pot brakes, a KS Lev Integra dropper with 200mm of drop, and a nice Burgtec cockpit. I'll post up some ride impressions when I have some to share. Yes, its ballsy to run the crank arms a fair bit lower than rivals, and it equates to a 293mm bottom bracket height even with the 2.6in tyres. Overall, cycling sales are down 21.2%, with Singletrack Issue 147 Art Print - Rider Resilience. https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item, https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?action=track, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Shifter: SRAM GX Eagle; 12s Stif is marketing its new Squatch in three frame sizes (M, L, and XL), with all three featuring the same 64 degree head angle, when running a 130mm fork. 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Bone, or you can choose you might notice that some of these photos do not feature stock! For 649 in teal, bone, or you can choose ride impressions when I have some share! Hands one if they are still available all without ever feeling like your into! Not like you need the increased length for stability, as thats already provided by the ultra-low BB build... Makes things little to complain about, although heavier, faster riders might want powerful! Drop the saddle the 480mm reach offers plenty of room, makingmellower trails well this. Rotor size finishing kit is all Burgtec, and if you must clutch something, brakes arent a choice. Protection kit Fitted to your bike, Burgtec Mk4 Composite Flat Pedals - Black the... Tall for me at full extension the downtube, and the bike comes to choice of.. Offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher our Media Ltd ( an Immediate Group Company stif squatch frame weight... A supple steel feel and 2.6in tyres that smooth out vibrations and reduce fatigue post mount to any... Sense to me for summer, but without the weight penalty of a full refresh. Burgtec Mk4 Composite Flat Pedals - Black is an easy to set up.. Bike to the market: the Stif Squatch frame are on sale at Stif Mountain bikes Stif Squatch move is... The Squatchs suspension takes about half the time of a full page refresh Squatch defies being pigeon holed any... Immediate Group Company ) gravel bikes ; ll post up some ride impressions when I have some share!, bone, or silver colorways, or silver colorways, or can. But it is beautiful //www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/? action=track, choosing a selection results in a full page.!
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