Hardtails don’t require the same reach or seat tube angle numbers as full-suspension bikes do. Testers reported that the bike fit comfortably despite seeing numbers we’re not used to. The 445mm reach number on the size large seems short, but with the slack 74-degree seat angle, the toptube is actually longer than the Stumpjumper. It sports a 65-degree head angle, runs a 160mm fork, has short 432mm chainstays, and a roomy-enough cockpit. Most importantly, the geometry is appropriate for what the bike is trying to be, which of course is in the name: All-Mountain. It’s actually really nice, and we don’t even have to add the caveat, “for a 1,700 dollar bike.” The Meta HT frame will compete with any trail hardtail regardless of price. The frame is a real standout when compared to some of the hardtails in the mix. But big tires can’t make a bad bike good, and luckily the Meta HT has solid bones. We still all agreed that 2.8” tires don’t need to be on full-suspension bikes, but trail hardtails are the perfect application for plus, where the extra meat improves climbing traction, descending stability, and technical prowess. The Commencal had us rethinking the death of plus-size. The Commencal Meta HT and Diamondback Sync’r both sport 27.5x2.8-inch tires, but there’s only one that testers would want to bring home with them. Of the nine bikes we tested for the value bike Field Test, two had something we’d basically forgotten about: plus-size tires.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |