Thanks so much for doing this...a few weeks ago I asked if you could do a bike check video and this makes it feels like you connect more than other larger youtubers. Again thanks so much and keep up the riding!
No worries, Will! It was a great suggestion and a fun project to take on. I'm off riding for a few weeks with an injury so it was perfect timing to get this done. I'm hoping to do one for my DH bike and another for my smaller trail bike once that's built up, just getting the parts together for that one now. Really glad you enjoyed it, cheers dude!
I currently have a Warden Carbon and TR500 DH bike. Since I just don’t use my DH very often, I wanted to ask how this bike would do in bike parks, including rougher tech such as Schleyer etc trails? I believe the normal Warden and LT are the same frame so you can swap out the rear shock and go 170 up front. Essentially looking for a one stop solution. How do you reckon this would do?
I would have no hesitations about using this as a bike park bike. It is more of a descender than a climber as far as capabilities go. The rear travel can be increased to 175mm and paired with a 180 mm fork up front for even more travel. Although I did find that 170\168 more than capable. I had a lot of fun riding this set up in the bike park. One of my friends has this same bike but in a 160\160 set up as well as a DH bike. He is considering selling his DH bike and just using the warden v2 for both.
I Have A CF Warden And Just did 6 Whistler days in a month without Any Issues 😎 BIKE HAULS I run Coils Both ends 😎 Did 51 cycles in 6 days WAS AMAZING 😎
Thanks Steve, great video. I’m exactly your height and weight and I’m debating frame size. My last Knolly (2012 Chilcotin 26”) was a L and it seemed to fit nicely. In your experience and the type of riding you do on the M, would you lose performance going to an L? Thanks!
Hi Chris, thanks for checking out the video! For me the large would definitely be much too long not to mention less clearance due to the heightened top tube and seat post. The medium is currently on the long side for me so if i was to upsize to large there would for sure be performance issues on everything but straight down the hill gnar haha The newer Knolly mediums are on par with the reach of older large Knolly's. The M warden V2 has a reach of 475 and the L warden carbon has a reach of 464. Are you currently on the M 2012 Chilcotin? Looks like that was a 420 mm reach? What length stem did you run? If so the small warden with a 40-50 mm stem might be more suited if you like the current fit you were running. I've actually been considering trying out the small warden v2 with a 5mm reach increase headset just to compare between the S and M.
Thanks, dude! Full transparency, I am sponsored by all these companies so it isn't a real review as it is more a bike check. I completely stand behind their products though and truly do love what I run on my bike. I'd be running this bike and parts either way. Glad you enjoyed the vid and thanks for your feedback :)
I didn’t see the suspension settings anywhere. Would you mind listing the X2 settings. I’m getting my frame next month and would love to have a good baseline setting. Thx!
Hi Derek, they're listed in the description of the video towards the bottom. I've copied and pasted them below for quick reference though. Enjoy your new ride! :) Fox Factory X2 - 146 PSI for 31% sag 3 volume spacers. LSR 6 clicks from open HSR 7 clicks from open. LSC 13 clicks from open HSC 5 clicks from open.
I meant to include this in the video but it completely slipped my mind, damn haha! I run 25-26 psi up front and 30-31 psi in the back. Any less then that and the tires start to fold under hard cornering for my weight. I find for myself that I get better traction when the tires aren't folding. Pinch flats are mostly a non-issue at that pressure too. I don't always run a DD in the rear, I can get away with an EXO in the back most of the time too. Just depends on the type of terrain I'm riding. If I do get a flat it's usually because of improper suspension set up, ie too low of air pressure or too stiff. *adding this to the description now, thanks for the reminder :)
Good question! Fact is, I have trouble deciding which one to ride quite often. Generally if the trail is steeper, rides fast, and is quite rough with a lot of compression I'll choose the Warden LT. If the trail requires a bit more work to hold speed I'll choose the Fugitive. The Fugitive still rides rough stuff great though, I had an amazing time riding the Lousa World Cup DH track on it here...czcams.com/video/BXZIlGLv0p0/video.html And arguably it made the track more fun than riding a full on DH down it. If hitting lines like the one at the 0:24 second mark of this video which has an approx 13' drop to flattish landing, 100% it's the Warden coming out. The rock roll lines at 2:16 are a great example where both bikes are fun to ride but the warden will be a lot faster due to the compressions and g outs. So I would choose the warden here too. That said, I do ride the Fugitive more often. Mostly because not many trails as mentioned above have features like that top to bottom. It makes even the most janky and slow of trails a hell of a lot of fun to ride since it's more playful and carries speed so well. I love the feeling of flow I'm able to get out of the Fugitive almost anywhere. It's very capable on all trails so there's a lot of overlap between the two bikes. Short answer, if I'm riding DH style of descent with plenty of hi speed tech that are all up then all down it's the Warden LT. If I'm riding more all mountain style of trail or alpine epics, it's the Fugitive LT. Fromme, Seymour, Squamish, Pemberton you'll most likely find me on the Fugitive. Cypress and Whistler, more often that not I'll be on the Warden.
@TCaad10 I am running that one as a 29er. Hoping to do a bike check on that one in the next month. Very cool! That tool is one of my favourite innovations in mountain biking since the dropper post. Such a great design.
Really nice looking bike, Steve. I know the Aggressor tire profile is similar in both directions, but is that rear tire on backwards? I am just particular about labels, etc. I run that chain guide/bash guard too, it is tough as nails. Haven't bent it yet, haha.
I just went and double checked, you are correct sir! Thanks for the heads up haha. First thing on the agenda today 😂 Not sure how I missed that but it happens. You are right about the Tread pattern, very similar in either direction. Regarding the one up bash guard....Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever bent one either. Had lots of other brands over the years and eventually they all end up crooked at some point.
@@SteveStorey My first time installing Cushcore took me a good hour and left me with tired hands...then I realized the tire was backwards! Haha, it happens for sure.
Yes, this bike is a perfect candidate for a mullet set up. I've actually been debating trying that set up. Rode this bike last year, a 29er long travel this year, and not thinking of going back to a Warden in a mullet set up. Have heard a lot of good feedback from other riders on the mullet set up.
Great video been looking into knolly really like the company just having a hard time deciding between the chilly and the warden. Do you think the chilly feels like a really big bike that isn't playful ? Only ever had 27.5 so I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on the chilly
Hi Anthony, thanks man! Regarding the chilcotin, I was actually pretty surprised at how nimble it is. I expected it to be a lot more plow, which it absolutely does, but it is still playful. For me the Warden was a more playful bike than the Chilcotin but in the small size which is a 452 reach. I've had the luxury of also riding the 475 reach medium Warden which felt slightly too big a bike for me. Much less playful and nimble even with the 27.5 wheels. If the chilcotin came in a small I would 100% be on that bike and I'm fairly certain it would be a similarly nimble feel to the small warden. Unfortunately for me, there is no small chilcotin available at the moment. So I guess the short answer is yes, it is a big bike but the playfulness depends more on how the bike fits you personally. For reference I'm approx 5' 8.5". Where and what kind of riding do you mostly do?
Thanks for the reply ! So I would be a medium on both bikes (5'9) I'm not riding the gnarled stuff so I was looking at the chilly 151 just want a bike that's fun and can handle a couple laps at the bike park how does the chilly do with jumps and side trail features and medium to medium you think the chilly more playful Thankyou
@@anthonypowell5560 No worries :) Medium to medium I think the Warden might be a more playful bike. Although the reach is slightly longer on the warden but not by too much when factoring in the difference in stack heights. They both handle the park fairly equally I would say. Main difference is that the chilcotin carries speed better. The Chilcotin jumps great as does the warden. The only downside I would say at my height and on the 168 travel version I did get buzzed by the rear tire more than I'd like. Had to adjust my riding a bit for that. The 161 version may not be as much of an issue. Have you thought about going Mullet with the warden?
@@anthonypowell5560 Mulleting the warden works really well. I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I personally know many people that have done so and are very happy with it.
I noticed you got that puppy in slack mode. Ever play in steep? I just started messing between the two modes on mine and noticed in steep it climbs even better. I'm curious what it would do for the LT version. Nice review!
Thanks! I have not yet had the chance to try the steeper mode on the Warden LT. I have tried it on the Carbon Warden previously but personally didn't notice too much of a difference there. I imagine that the Warden LT would climb really nice in steep mode since it's a fairly slack bike! I'll have to give it a go on my next ride. Have a sneaking suspicion I'll end up going back to slack mode though, I'm all about those descents haha. How did it ride for you on the downhills in steep mode?
@@SteveStorey In steep mode I noticed it climbed a lot better without getting out of the saddle and I got less pedal strikes. However, I agree, slack mode for the downhills all the way. I guess that's why I love the Warden so much you can dress it up to do anything.
I've found I go through the travel too easily with a coil. When I up the spring rate to where the bottom out feels right the sag ends up being around 20-24%. At that point the BB felt too high and front end felt too low. I actually run an air shock on my DH bike now too. Having the ability to be able to increase progression through volume spacers is a big plus for me. Secondary reasons are bike weight savings and being able to adjust the 'spring rate' exponentially through the season. I try to pack on extra muscle during off season when I'm riding 2 days a week and weight training. During the 6-7 months of in season riding I'll be on the bike 7 days a week, my weight will fluctuate by about 10-12 pounds from peak weight training to peak riding.
@@deserthawk4178 All good man, we all have different opinions on what looks good and doesn't. I'm just happy all bikes aren't the same colour, that would be boring!
Thanks so much for doing this...a few weeks ago I asked if you could do a bike check video and this makes it feels like you connect more than other larger youtubers. Again thanks so much and keep up the riding!
No worries, Will! It was a great suggestion and a fun project to take on. I'm off riding for a few weeks with an injury so it was perfect timing to get this done. I'm hoping to do one for my DH bike and another for my smaller trail bike once that's built up, just getting the parts together for that one now. Really glad you enjoyed it, cheers dude!
I currently have a Warden Carbon and TR500 DH bike. Since I just don’t use my DH very often, I wanted to ask how this bike would do in bike parks, including rougher tech such as Schleyer etc trails? I believe the normal Warden and LT are the same frame so you can swap out the rear shock and go 170 up front. Essentially looking for a one stop solution. How do you reckon this would do?
I would have no hesitations about using this as a bike park bike. It is more of a descender than a climber as far as capabilities go. The rear travel can be increased to 175mm and paired with a 180 mm fork up front for even more travel. Although I did find that 170\168 more than capable. I had a lot of fun riding this set up in the bike park.
One of my friends has this same bike but in a 160\160 set up as well as a DH bike. He is considering selling his DH bike and just using the warden v2 for both.
I Have A CF Warden And Just did 6 Whistler days in a month without Any Issues 😎 BIKE HAULS I run Coils Both ends 😎 Did 51 cycles in 6 days WAS AMAZING 😎
Nice bike 😀 and very unique
I'm using exactly same tires, really good compromise.
It's cool to see the man 😉
Cheers, Simon! Great combo for summer shredding, no doubt :)
Thanks Steve, great video. I’m exactly your height and weight and I’m debating frame size. My last Knolly (2012 Chilcotin 26”) was a L and it seemed to fit nicely. In your experience and the type of riding you do on the M, would you lose performance going to an L? Thanks!
Hi Chris, thanks for checking out the video!
For me the large would definitely be much too long not to mention less clearance due to the heightened top tube and seat post. The medium is currently on the long side for me so if i was to upsize to large there would for sure be performance issues on everything but straight down the hill gnar haha
The newer Knolly mediums are on par with the reach of older large Knolly's. The M warden V2 has a reach of 475 and the L warden carbon has a reach of 464.
Are you currently on the M 2012 Chilcotin? Looks like that was a 420 mm reach? What length stem did you run?
If so the small warden with a 40-50 mm stem might be more suited if you like the current fit you were running. I've actually been considering trying out the small warden v2 with a 5mm reach increase headset just to compare between the S and M.
Great review!
Thanks, dude! Full transparency, I am sponsored by all these companies so it isn't a real review as it is more a bike check. I completely stand behind their products though and truly do love what I run on my bike. I'd be running this bike and parts either way. Glad you enjoyed the vid and thanks for your feedback :)
I didn’t see the suspension settings anywhere. Would you mind listing the X2 settings. I’m getting my frame next month and would love to have a good baseline setting. Thx!
Hi Derek, they're listed in the description of the video towards the bottom. I've copied and pasted them below for quick reference though. Enjoy your new ride! :)
Fox Factory X2 - 146 PSI for 31% sag 3 volume spacers. LSR 6 clicks from open HSR 7 clicks from open. LSC 13 clicks from open HSC 5 clicks from open.
What tire pressures are you running? I'm curious as to how you get away with an exo casing tire up front if you're not using inserts.
I meant to include this in the video but it completely slipped my mind, damn haha! I run 25-26 psi up front and 30-31 psi in the back. Any less then that and the tires start to fold under hard cornering for my weight. I find for myself that I get better traction when the tires aren't folding. Pinch flats are mostly a non-issue at that pressure too.
I don't always run a DD in the rear, I can get away with an EXO in the back most of the time too. Just depends on the type of terrain I'm riding. If I do get a flat it's usually because of improper suspension set up, ie too low of air pressure or too stiff.
*adding this to the description now, thanks for the reminder :)
Hi Steve,
How would you compare this bike to your Fugitive? What kind of trails do you prefer each for?
Good question! Fact is, I have trouble deciding which one to ride quite often. Generally if the trail is steeper, rides fast, and is quite rough with a lot of compression I'll choose the Warden LT. If the trail requires a bit more work to hold speed I'll choose the Fugitive. The Fugitive still rides rough stuff great though, I had an amazing time riding the Lousa World Cup DH track on it here...czcams.com/video/BXZIlGLv0p0/video.html And arguably it made the track more fun than riding a full on DH down it.
If hitting lines like the one at the 0:24 second mark of this video which has an approx 13' drop to flattish landing, 100% it's the Warden coming out. The rock roll lines at 2:16 are a great example where both bikes are fun to ride but the warden will be a lot faster due to the compressions and g outs. So I would choose the warden here too.
That said, I do ride the Fugitive more often. Mostly because not many trails as mentioned above have features like that top to bottom. It makes even the most janky and slow of trails a hell of a lot of fun to ride since it's more playful and carries speed so well. I love the feeling of flow I'm able to get out of the Fugitive almost anywhere. It's very capable on all trails so there's a lot of overlap between the two bikes.
Short answer, if I'm riding DH style of descent with plenty of hi speed tech that are all up then all down it's the Warden LT. If I'm riding more all mountain style of trail or alpine epics, it's the Fugitive LT.
Fromme, Seymour, Squamish, Pemberton you'll most likely find me on the Fugitive. Cypress and Whistler, more often that not I'll be on the Warden.
@TCaad10 I am running that one as a 29er. Hoping to do a bike check on that one in the next month. Very cool! That tool is one of my favourite innovations in mountain biking since the dropper post. Such a great design.
Really nice looking bike, Steve. I know the Aggressor tire profile is similar in both directions, but is that rear tire on backwards? I am just particular about labels, etc. I run that chain guide/bash guard too, it is tough as nails. Haven't bent it yet, haha.
I just went and double checked, you are correct sir! Thanks for the heads up haha. First thing on the agenda today 😂 Not sure how I missed that but it happens. You are right about the Tread pattern, very similar in either direction.
Regarding the one up bash guard....Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever bent one either. Had lots of other brands over the years and eventually they all end up crooked at some point.
@@SteveStorey My first time installing Cushcore took me a good hour and left me with tired hands...then I realized the tire was backwards! Haha, it happens for sure.
@@DereksMTBIssues haha, oh man that had to hurt the soul. Nightmare situation for sure!
Can you mullet that bike?
Yes, this bike is a perfect candidate for a mullet set up. I've actually been debating trying that set up. Rode this bike last year, a 29er long travel this year, and not thinking of going back to a Warden in a mullet set up. Have heard a lot of good feedback from other riders on the mullet set up.
Great video been looking into knolly really like the company just having a hard time deciding between the chilly and the warden.
Do you think the chilly feels like a really big bike that isn't playful ? Only ever had 27.5 so I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on the chilly
Hi Anthony, thanks man!
Regarding the chilcotin, I was actually pretty surprised at how nimble it is. I expected it to be a lot more plow, which it absolutely does, but it is still playful. For me the Warden was a more playful bike than the Chilcotin but in the small size which is a 452 reach. I've had the luxury of also riding the 475 reach medium Warden which felt slightly too big a bike for me. Much less playful and nimble even with the 27.5 wheels. If the chilcotin came in a small I would 100% be on that bike and I'm fairly certain it would be a similarly nimble feel to the small warden. Unfortunately for me, there is no small chilcotin available at the moment.
So I guess the short answer is yes, it is a big bike but the playfulness depends more on how the bike fits you personally. For reference I'm approx 5' 8.5".
Where and what kind of riding do you mostly do?
Thanks for the reply !
So I would be a medium on both bikes (5'9) I'm not riding the gnarled stuff so I was looking at the chilly 151 just want a bike that's fun and can handle a couple laps at the bike park how does the chilly do with jumps and side trail features and medium to medium you think the chilly more playful
Thankyou
@@anthonypowell5560 No worries :)
Medium to medium I think the Warden might be a more playful bike. Although the reach is slightly longer on the warden but not by too much when factoring in the difference in stack heights. They both handle the park fairly equally I would say. Main difference is that the chilcotin carries speed better. The Chilcotin jumps great as does the warden. The only downside I would say at my height and on the 168 travel version I did get buzzed by the rear tire more than I'd like. Had to adjust my riding a bit for that. The 161 version may not be as much of an issue.
Have you thought about going Mullet with the warden?
@@SteveStorey arh yes that actually might be perfect depending on how much the geo will change great idea 💡
@@anthonypowell5560 Mulleting the warden works really well. I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I personally know many people that have done so and are very happy with it.
I noticed you got that puppy in slack mode. Ever play in steep? I just started messing between the two modes on mine and noticed in steep it climbs even better. I'm curious what it would do for the LT version.
Nice review!
Thanks!
I have not yet had the chance to try the steeper mode on the Warden LT. I have tried it on the Carbon Warden previously but personally didn't notice too much of a difference there.
I imagine that the Warden LT would climb really nice in steep mode since it's a fairly slack bike! I'll have to give it a go on my next ride. Have a sneaking suspicion I'll end up going back to slack mode though, I'm all about those descents haha. How did it ride for you on the downhills in steep mode?
@@SteveStorey In steep mode I noticed it climbed a lot better without getting out of the saddle and I got less pedal strikes. However, I agree, slack mode for the downhills all the way.
I guess that's why I love the Warden so much you can dress it up to do anything.
@@bdpersha You really can! I will have to give the steep mode a go on the next big climb I do. Glad to hear you're digging your Warden too!
why go with air and not a coil in the rear?
I've found I go through the travel too easily with a coil. When I up the spring rate to where the bottom out feels right the sag ends up being around 20-24%. At that point the BB felt too high and front end felt too low. I actually run an air shock on my DH bike now too. Having the ability to be able to increase progression through volume spacers is a big plus for me. Secondary reasons are bike weight savings and being able to adjust the 'spring rate' exponentially through the season. I try to pack on extra muscle during off season when I'm riding 2 days a week and weight training. During the 6-7 months of in season riding I'll be on the bike 7 days a week, my weight will fluctuate by about 10-12 pounds from peak weight training to peak riding.
aye first
😁🤘
That bike looks like a pile of.....well u know.
.....a pile of gold! A little more kashima and it would be perfect 👌
Steve Storey you’re right. I was being mean. Shame on me.
@@deserthawk4178 All good man, we all have different opinions on what looks good and doesn't. I'm just happy all bikes aren't the same colour, that would be boring!