Top 10 Hardcore Hardtails to Buy in 2023
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- čas přidán 20. 05. 2024
- I believe that the aggressive hardtail is one of the most fun, versatile, and economical mountain bikes you can buy, and I'm happy to say that more and more riders and companies are figuring that out! Today, there are more of these bikes on the market than ever before, and choosing the right model for you can be hard. Let me know which bike on the list is your favorite!
Timestamps/Links:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Criteria
01:55 Commencal Meta HT Origin:
www.commencalusa.com/meta-ht-...
04:05 Rocky Mountain Growler 20: bikes.com/collections/growler...
05:53 Marin San Quentin 2:
www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2021...
07:23 Best Budget Hardtail
07:52 Ragley Mmmbop: www.ragleybikes.com/products/...
9:08 RSD Middlechild Alu: usd.rsdbikes.com/product/midd...
10:55 Nukeproof Scout Comp: us.nukeproof.com/collections/...
12:55 Commencal Meta HT Ohlins: www.commencalusa.com/meta-ht-...
13:53 Best Mid-Tier Hardtail
14:16 Norco Torrent S1: www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/...
16:23 RSD Middlechild Ti: rsdbikes.com/middlechild-v2-t...
17:18 Chromag Stylus: chromagbikes.com/products/sty...
19:07 Best High-End Hardtail
19:19 Outro - Sport
Great video - but I will say I was bummed not to see a Kona Honzo but your bike choices are prime my friend!
Thanks for the comment, big fan of your channel! I love the ESD, and it probably would have been the fourth bike in the above $3,000 category! I personally prefer hardtails with a slightly higher BB and steeper HTA than the ESD, as I like the bike to feel closer to a dirt jumper on the trails. That’s just personally preference though, the ESD is super rad!!
Nice list. One thing about the Middlechild is it’s capability to run plus tires. I run a true 3.0 x 27.5 on my steel V2 with the dropouts slammed at 415mm(!). Not many frames can do that. The Ti version is on my bucket list!
That’s true! Such a versatile bike, I love it 🤙
Great advice on bikes. Honestly any of this bikes will get you on the trails with a big smile on your face.
I am a proud owner of the 2021 commensal Meta HT/AM essentials and I could not be happier. The bike absolutely rips great quality build and great customer service if you have any issues. I know you mentioned the height of the seat tube and before 2021 a lot of people complained about it and actually commencal lowered the seat tube length by about 1" and my medium size bike has a 150mm dropper that I have it all the way to the bottom and when going downhill it gets out of the way with no issues at all. The bike is absolutely fun and if anyone is looking at this bike check out the pink bike review they this on this bike and they absolutely nail it. Cheers and see you on the trails!
Thanks for the input man, enjoy your rad bike 🤙🤙
I can fit a 175mm dropper on my m/l Roscoe. The bottle cage mounts don't bother me, but I'd like a shorter seat tube. That aside, I freaking love the thing. I custom built it with all nice parts. It jumps super well and rides terrain well outside of regular trail territory
Heck ya, that’s awesome!!
Super helpful on that hard tail game!
Did I convince you that they’re the way to go haha?
Got myself a Norco Torrent S2 a couple of years back. Super duper. Simple & effective. Just a bit on the heavy side at 14kg (size large).
Nice!! I raced enduro with a guy on a steel norco frame and boy was it a gorgeous bike! Only properly rode it a couple times but it definitely put a smile on my face!!
Great list, I ended up getting a growler 40 about a month ago on sale for less than $1500, absolutely love the bike. I was considering a Canyon Stoic but couldn't beat that value on the growler!
What a steal!! Ya I’d definitely take the Growler over the Stoic, the growler has a lot shorter seat tube and higher bottom bracket which makes it feel more like a DJ/BMX which I prefer
git a growler 20 but I will heavily upgraded hit. At the end it will be like a growler 40
After a ride this week end within a dirk trail. The growler does great. Very great. Only downside, it is that some dirt goes into the suspension bearing, it was not enough damp-proof. Some dirt goes into there.
Oh weird!
Great List. I just bought an Esker Japhy XT Special Built. It is a 29er Steel Hardtail. Great Components.
Nice, I bet that thing rips!!
Gotta love the hardcore hardtail! I have a Kona Unit ('20 model) singlespeed that I put on a -2 degree headset and a 120mm yari fork. Worked surprisingly well. Definitely has the higher BB. I like the new geometry much better.
The original 68 degree headangle combined with longish reach made the front end plow in corners.
Axle to crown on the original fork is 470mm and the yari is 543mm+13mm headset cup which adds up to a 86mm increase in a-c which means new head angle is around 62 degrees and seat angle went from 75 to 73.
I agree with you that a super low bottom bracket is not always ideal.
As the bike grows in length the BB can be slightly higher to clear obstacles better and to better weight the front.
I also have a new Mmmbop frame that Im building this year!
Oh man you’re going to love the Mmmbop! Sounds like you did your homework 🤙
I got a rsd 291 last year and i love it . I had a commencal meta ht and the rsd is definitely an upgrade.
Hell ya, that looks like such a rad bike! I think the middlechild fits my riding style a bit more, but talk about capable bike!
Last year I bought the Norco Torrent S1... its so good I sold my Norco Optic. Absolutely love it.
That’s awesome! I knew a guy who raced one in my local enduro series and I was always jealous of it! Such a beautiful bike 😍
I built a hard tail from a Lyndsey titanium frame about two years ago and it’s so much fun and super easy to ride mostly anywhere. It’s lower weight too which help with throwing around too.
You don’t need extreme suspension like everyone thinks to have fun.
I ride a ton of Pennsylvania trails so you tackle everything too
And I don’t use a dropper 😊
Nice man! I rode Rothrock and Raystown last year; lots of rad stuff in PA!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy awesome to hear you tore some Pennsylvania trails up!
There’s a lot of trails here.
Keep on ripping it up!
Nice to see another Lynsky rider in the comments. I built a Pro29 up last year and have been riding/racing it ever since, had it out today as a matter of fact. 🙌🏁
On a hardtail, you wouldn't be on your seat much anyways because you would constantly have to be shifting your weight going over rocks and roots.
Got a Paradox V3, with a 150mm Pike Select, full SLX drivetrain and SLX quad brakes, Fox transfer dropper post, One Up Carbon bars with 35mm rise, 32mm length Raceface stem, and 2.60 tubeless Honcho Terevail tires on carbon Raceface wheels.
It is a wonderful bike so far. No matter the terrain.
I love Banshee, some of the best looking frames on the market if you ask me. As more of 27.5” guy I’ve had my eye on the Enigma since it was released 👌👌
Me too. I love my paradox V3. I have one major issue is with the curve in the seat tube, it limits the dropper to 150mm. I would love to put on a 180mm or longer. next is a minor issue the seat tube material is a bit thin so the seat post is flexy and squeeks if not greased up properly. But its a shreder for sure.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I run my Banshee V3 as 27.5 x2.8 Front and 2.6 rear. it rides just fine. have had 29ers on it before but perfer the 27.5, I don't find the bottom bracket too low or the geo bad at all, plus size are not too much smaller than a 29 x 2.4 or so ... I would like to give the Enigma a try and see how a bike designed for 27.5 ride in comparison but the paradox goes both ways just fine.
Good to know!! I like the shorter chainstays on the enigma.
I'm glad to see the Commencal Meta HT & Marin SQ in your list.
911th subscriber here. Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines! #RideOn #KeepBiking
Hey thank you Yeng!! I appreciate the kind words 🤙
7:58 Ragley MMMbop:
Pros:
Geometry is good
Deore RD and cassette, so smooth shifting, this cassette shifts much smoother than the Sun Race.
I would love the head angle, I ride a Geometron G1 with 62.5 deg, so that's only 05ddeeg difference.
Cons:
Chain stay length is the same across all sizes, which means different balance point, handling for each rider.
Not enough sizes, riders over 180cm need a larger size than they offer, I am on the last size with an longer stem, which is an compromise, would have to slam the stem, get a tall riser bar, to increase the effective reach, so a larger size where I could get effective reach around 490 would be great.
Some riders had issues with pedals falling off on Deore cranks.
Brake rotors are resin only, Shimano resin pads have a bad bite, wear fast, but the rotors won't handle metallic pads well, they overheat easily, at least with me riding and braking.
You forgot the Trek Roscoe 9. That bike is a beast.
It’s in part two, check it out here! czcams.com/video/7iaF3D5JvGA/video.htmlsi=MjmZqno9iaOOomKs
I had no idea these brands existed. Thank you!
Absolutely 🤙🤙
Bear pawl hubs are proving to be tough as nails. I built a set into some rims for a customer in mid 2021 after he kept burning through drivers on his previous wheels. He thrashes the pants off his bike and is forever in for repair work. After about a year and a half on the bear pawls, no busted drivers, no axle damage. Only had to replace a bearing a few months ago, about October 2022. Can attest, they hold up
Oh sick! Thank you for sharing Brian, good to know!!
Good vid man.. I love hardtails 👍
Thank you! And me too! I’ll be doing a lot of hardtail content on here, starting with a deep dive into a newly released model that I’ll be dropping tomorrow!
I’m definitely a hard tail fan. Great list to think about.👍
Thank you man, I appreciate it!
Getting my middlechild this week. So pumped. I was primarily riding 26ers for years then 29ers were like the only Hardtail option when I needed a new bike and absolutely hated trail riding my 29er. (Im 5,4) anyways after researching for years the MC is the one. Can’t wait
Hell yeah, I’m so stoked for you! I absolutely love that bike!!
Pro tip for the Commencal Meta HT, hacksaw about 3/4 in off the top of that seat tube, I’m 5’9 and running a 200mm dropper on a size large 🤘🤘
Haha I did that on my Marin San Quentin. Scared the crap out of me for a bit, but never had an issue!
Last year Trek Rosco 9 purchased great bike Super happy with it
That’s awesome, so good to hear!!
Great list! The trek Roscoe 9 had to be make the cut. The Salsa Timberjack also a great speck and value.
Thank you! Yes, it was definitely a contender! My only real beef with that frame is the seat-tube water bottle mounts that prevent you from running a long travel dropper post. Other than that it’s super dialed!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yeah, not an issue for me at least. I drilled those bolts out on both my bikes. Pitty for the warranty, but I do prefer a dropper.
Haha smart, you gave that frame a major upgrade in my book!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I have a 160mm Wolf Tooth dropper on my Roscoe 9, which is more than enough drop to get the seat completely out of my way.
I looked long and hard for a new hardtail. Went for a Production Privee Shan steel frame. 160mm Yari, 11 spd Slx, Hope 4 pots, 27.5 wheels It is the best bike I have ever built up and ridden
What a bike!! Sounds like it rides as good as it looks, stoked for you Martyn 🤘
nice that you mentioned ragley they're so underrated just got a big al 1.0 2022 for less than 1,200$ I guess it was a black Friday deal. Love it, it feels super stable, climbs much better than my meta essential 2021.
Always been of fan of there bikes; great geo and an even better price! Enjoy your Big Al!
Hi Josh! Been looking at either a Ragley Marley 1.0 or 2.0 or the mmmbop. Could you give me your opinion on those? I’m new to mtn biking, would appreciate your input.
Both great bikes!! The part spec on those is pretty similar, and very good for the value! The Marley will be a bit more agile/nimble, and better for flatter trails and at the dirt jumps. The Mmmbop will be better for steeper, faster, enduro-style riding
RSD and Commencal is definitely my choice on this list. I have a Dartmoor 4x 26-inch wheel, very playful, no issues with taking it to enduro tracks, or rough rock gardens.
Nice! I'd love to get back on a 26" trail bike again, but it's so hard to find frames with modern standards to accept new forks/wheels/etc.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy totally agree.. I'm running mixed wheels set, 27.5 upfront with RockShox Pike and 26 at the back..
Damn that sounds like a fun bike 🤩 Food for you man!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy supe fun..was doing bmx before so it's feels just like riding a bmx bike.. safe trails!!
You too 🤙🤙
The 2023 Marin San Quentin 2 has a new frame with new geometry. It fixes your biggest complaint of the frame having a long seat tube. The new San Quentin would probably be on the top of your list with the changes.
It absolutely is 😍😍
@@ridingwithjoshandwendyso is the main san quentin on the top of your list?
Yep, I actually did quite a few videos of it on our channel, check them out here: czcams.com/play/PLuHTEhoxOiC20lh1Vm3igbgvEaTTEN_Av.html
Got myself an Nukeproof scout frame recently. About to throw some budget to intermediate parts on it. Half of them used. The plan is to build a bike for iffy weather conditions.
Sounds like a pretty good plan! Let me know how you like it!
I am thinking in the Stanton Switch9er, 130mm fox fork, Shimano XT drive train, Hope parts, (handlebar, seatpost, stem, hubs, etc)
Great list! FYI, Marin just released the new 2023 San Quentins, with 64° head tube angle and a much shorter seat tube, 375mm on the large.
I just saw, that’s awesome! They made such a huge jump in seat tube length that I misread it for 475 and was bummed that they only lowered in 10mm, but they lowered it 110mm!! That’s freakin awesome 🤘🤘
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy The new marin is 100% gonna be my new hardtail because of this. Such a cool bike now!
I want one so bad now haha!!
Ragley mmbop 2021. I built it with carbon wheels, 4 pot-brakes from shimano, oneupv2 240 dropper, and 160mm tuned yari fork. I can tell you, this thing is a blast, and frame only costst 450€ :)
That sounds awesome! In terms of a frame-only purchase I really don’t think you can beat the Mmmbop!
Nice work
Thank you!! Did you have a favorite bike on the list?
I got the San Quentin 2 last September, and I have no regrets.
Nice, stoked for you Steve 🤘
I have a 2022 Kona Honzo with a set of Chinese carbon hoops and DT Swiss hubs. Having used mostly SRAM drivetrains for years, I'm really impressed with the Shimano Deore 11 speed. I know the bikes you featured have more aggressive geo. so the Honzo is more all around Trail category. I can't complain!
That sounds rad! I actually really like the Honzo; the ESD is a little too far for me. How are those rims holding up?
@ridingwithjoshandwendy so far so good. Me and my buddies have ran rims from Light Bicycle for years. I've never had a problem with them. I'm thinking they probably build rims for other brands too.
Nice! Always looking to save a dime, I’ll check em out!
7:09 San Quintin 2:
Pros:
Nice Deore RD, smooth shifting, clutch.
Comes with a dropper post
Good geometry
Rockshox air fork with rebound damping, compression adjustment.
KMC chain which work.
Cons:
Sunrace cassette, which will have issues with sharp teeth, ramps, and bent cogs, teeth, at least how I ride.
Chain stay length is the same across all sizes, so the balance point will be different.
But things I don't know:
hub engagement.
nipples used in the wheelset.
I personally would definitely not call it good geometry, in fact that’s the reason I sold mine! Interesting how subjective that can be though.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I forgot to mention the chain stay length stays the same, that's another con, 425, which is very short.
but shorter means more grip, but also less easier to make a skid.
I am curious what you did not like. I've not tried one.
a silly thing is Marin spec's 780 on every size. I need 800mm, so will many other riders, better too wide than to narrow, as you can cut it.
Like I said in the video, my biggest quip was the high seat tube and low stack. Thankfully they’ve made some pretty big changes on their 2023 model that was released just a day or two after I posted this video haha!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy another thing I forgot to mention was the flat brake mount, which can mena compatibility, clearance issues with some brakes, and rotor size might be an issue too. definitely possible to have the seat tube lower, chain stays too, and top tube, lower stand over height.
They’re still post mount, just mounted within the rear triangle. The sit a little inside of the tubing as well, so I doubt there will be clearance with most calipers.
Hi man! Great video, just suscribed to your chanel? What do you thing about the Orbea Laufey? is it a tru hardcore hardtail?
Awesome, thank you! It's a great bike! I'd call it an all-around "trail" hardtail, not as hardcore as some, but still the right geometry and travel to be able to handle pretty aggressive trail riding, and more importantly, make said trails lots of fun! But probably not the bike if you want something for enduro racing or to take to the bike park
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Thanks for answering, that's really nice 🤙 I'm considering to buy a new bike and the Laufey is one I'm considering. The other choice is San Quentin 2, which now I'm feeling more inclined to buy. Getting a new bike isn't always an easy choice.
Greetings from Mexico! 🔥
I have a Orange P7 29er, steel is real. Also bought a On One Vandal, titanium 29er, sweet ride!
Awesome collection 👌👌 Which ends up going out most often?
I rode a meta ht then my custom torrent s1 for a season and just got the new mmmbop, excited to see how it rides
All such rad bikes! Sounds like you’ve got the itch haha, enjoy it!
I applaud you for bringing light into the HCHT's 😎.
But what's wrong with the Sun Ringlé wheels on the RSD middlechild Ti? They're light and extremely strong, come in i36 (Duroc 40) and are aluminium
Thank you for the feedback, Ya I was probably a bit too harsh. I honestly have only ridden cheap OEM Sun Ringle wheels, and so have a bid of a bias. Thanks for filling me in!
The San Quentin 2 is a sick bike. I freaking love that bike.
It’s definitely a good one 👌 Just a bummer about the dang seat tube being so long, other than that it’s just about perfect!
Meta HT Essential build is perfect for me. Dropper, 4 pot brakes, Yari fork. Definitely worth the price increase.
Level is Srams 2pot brakes, G2 should be 4 pot as it means Guide Gen 2. I know a lot of the fat bike mtbrs like Sun Ringle wheels. You should take a look at the Cotic BeFe Max and Sterling Mur Mur hardtail. Both are legit hardcore hardtails & super beautiful looking bikes. Plus, I hear these two frame are less harsh compared to Chormag.
Good to know, thanks!
Dartmoor Hornet 2018😊 but I’m follow in love with the commençal meta ht😊
Both are sick bikes! I’m trying to get my hands on a Hornet or Primal, but they’re super hard to find in the States!
Love it because it’s small and quiet… love it
Awesome review dude 👍🏻 Roughly how much does it cost to upgrade a bike from 2- 4 piston brakes ? Cheers ✌🏻
If you do the work yourself the parts alone aren’t bad; $150-$200 for a decent set. Check out the SRAM DB8s, they’re half off right now ($65 for lever and caliper). I just bought a set and will have some reviews up this summer!
Chromag rootdown, always impressed by the ride
Nice 🤙 I’m sad to say I’ve never had the privilege of riding a Chromag, but hope to one day!
I recently picked up the Trek Roscoe 8. Loving it.
How’s the 8 running? I’m about to get one, I was thinking the 9. But man I love that mat black olive colour, I’ll upgrade the fork at a later date.
@@syms85 The Roscoe 8 has a SRAM GX drivetrain, which is rock solid (it's what I have on my Marlin 8), so no worries there. The fork won't be quite as plush as the Roscoe 9's Fox Rhythm 36, but the RockShox 35 Gold is no slouch, either. I recently bought the Roscoe 9 because I wanted the higher end fork and the wider gear range (Shimano 10-51 cassette verses the SRAM 11-50 on the 8); that, and I think the Roscoe 9 has by far _the_ best off-the-shelf paint scheme in the industry!
I ended up with the 9. Not regretting it. There was a price drop in the uk. so for the difference with the better parts. I went with the 9.
@@syms85 I bought the 9 just before the holidays here in the US. Salesman knocked $400 off the price, so I got it for $2100. It's a great bike
@@Durwood71 nice! Mine was £1850. My first bike since I was a kid. I’m 38 now, loving it!
Love steel in ht! That's why I also love my Cotic Bfe:)
Nice!!
Nice. Good list bro.
I am also a hardtail fan, I just wonder why is that Dartmoor Bikes is not on this list. I have watched a lot of videos about good hardtail you can choose in 2023. I am riding the 2022 hornet pro by dartmoor. I think it deserve a spot on this list.
I’ve had a lot of people bring that up! I’d heard a little about dartmoor, but they’re sadly not super common here in the states. What do you like most about yours?
you can check on them, I think they deserve a spot on the list. I think they are in the game for many years from Dj to freeride. I think there so underated on the scene. I think commencal is so Overated but it is a good brand too.
Might have to do a video on the whole dartmoor lineup! How did you end up getting interested in their stuff?
11:04 2022 Nukeproof Scout Comp:
Pros:
Geometry is good
The chain stay length changes trough the sizes., 2021 model does not.
Deore RD and cassette, so smooth shifting, this cassette shifts much smoother than the Sun Race.
External routing, apart from dropper post.
sizing is decent too, I would go for XX-Large, I am 181cm. then effective reach would be about the same as on my current bike.
Cons:
Some riders had issues with pedals falling off on Deore cranks.
on some models they have Nukeproof hubs with 10 deg engagement, I wish it was quicker. I find 8 to be just enough to not be annoying, so the DT Swiss option will be quicker, but not a lot. but I guess it's fine.
things I don't know:
The tyres look promising.
Weird to hear about the pedals, haven’t heard that before! And yes, high engagement hubs are 👌👌 But it’ll be hard to find sub 10 degrees on a bike under $2,500
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy threads failed, I saw a video with a guy that had a Polygon Siskiu D7 he thought he overtightened them, but that takes crazy amount of torque to do, so unlikely user error. But don't remember the name of the channel, and could not find it even searching trough the watch history.
I had the same issue with M552 cranks, happen to two sets. few weeks old bike. also not a fan of cranks with a spider as a part of the crank arm, cus you can bend it, and will be screwed if it fails. So in my opinion spiders as a part of the crank arm it self is stupid. I managed to twist some, I did some riding i na school yard, some track stands, then tried rear wheel hop, and it bent.
But I don't know if the Deore crank uses the same weak alloy. But seeing issues like this on low budget cranks is not a surprise.
But of course riding with loose pedals will destroy it, but if threads are not to spec on pedals or crank it will fail too.
But The I have Deore M61000 SGS rd on my bikes, no issues so far, but jockey wheels are noisier than the ones with bearings, but also get noisier once dirty, so cleaning them from time to time and it's fine.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy true. but engagement will sure be better than super cheap junk hubs. But definitely not go for worse than 10deg. But overall the Nukeproof seems to be a great package for the price.
I bought the mmmbop frame with a discount - from 500 to 300€ - excited to set it up with parts ✨
What a deal!! You’re gonna love it!
Love seeing someone focus on the beloved hardtail... got rid of my 5k+ full sus... and got a san quentin 3 and LOVE IT!!! No regrets!!
That’s awesome! I started on a full squish too-a Giant Reign-but made the switch to a hardtail after about 6 months on that bike and haven’t looked back!
Surprisingly KONA HONZO ESD didn’t make your list 🤔 , absolutely love mine and super capable Hardcore Hardtail with great spec and almost as capable as my Enduro bike on the DH 😎🤟
I really wanted to! But decided to only include three bikes over $3,000. My only quip with the ESD is the super low bottom bracket, but other than that it’s 👌👌
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yeah agreed with the BB , as I seem to have way more pedal strikes 🙄
Besides that the only thing I upgraded was a One Up Component 210 dropper post 😜
And that leads me to my favorite thing about that bike haha, it’s got the lowest seat tube/reach ratio of just about any other bike I’ve seen!
Yup! I take mine on most chunk trails in SoCal! It handles beautifully!
I have a Vitus Nucleus Vrx 27.5 i bought a few years ago. Definitely a great bike
I have find this bike "CTM ZEPHYR PRO 29", and I think that it would be great VFM for a beginner. Also at the same price it's the Canyon Stoic 3, so what is your opinion about this two bikes ?
While I've never ridden either, they both look great on paper! The Zephyr is pretty small based on modern bike sizing, so if you go that route you'd probably want to size up. If I had to pick though I'd probably go with the Stoic simply because of the brand's strong reputation and the fact that it has a slightly lower seat tube than the Zephyr.
Gonna be getting the 29” San Quentin 3 once they come in stock in my size at the site I get a military discount on. With the 15% military discount it will end up being $1595 shipped. For the spec of the San Quentin 3 $1595 is a steal imo
Killer deal! I did a full review of the 29” version on the 99 Spokes channel, check it out! czcams.com/video/PVCnX6NrSUQ/video.htmlsi=Wb4lCidFrW3evhYg
im ride Marin SanQuentin3 and upgrade part but my dream hardcore hardtail is Meta HT and KONA Honzo ESD 🤘
Those are two very different bikes! The Meta will be a lot more similar to your current San Quentin. Be sure to look into the geometry on each before making the buy. I have a video where I explain my preferences on geometry if you want to check that out!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yeahh im agree with you.META HT geometry are more similar with my bike but different with KONA HONZO geometry and more slack head angle also.
Nice! Ya if you want a DH ripper than the ESD is your bike!
Would you always avoid Quick Relese hubs and jump up to the next level bike to get thru axles?
For the most part, yes. Not only down it make the frame stronger/stiffer, it also opens the door to upgrade your wheels down the road.
They don't come anymore aggressive than the On One Hello Dave.
Quality components and crazy aggressive geometry. If you haven't heard of them then it's worth looking them up.
Definitely have, great bikes! It’s actually a bit too hardcore for my personal taste haha, I like a hardtail to still feel nimble and poppy. But in terms of pure speed the Hello Dave is hard to beat!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Planet X in the UK had a 1 day flash sale just before Christmas and had them up for £999.
Complete with GX groupset, rockshox reverb dropper and pike forks I had to get one. Although for an extra £50 I went for the Lyrik fork instead. Great bike for the UK winter slop though 👌🏻.
@@9paraneil bought one that day too, it’s been awesome, Have you upgraded yours yet?
Absolutely hideous frame on that one.
I'm in the price category of a little more than 1k. I looked at the Cannondale Habit HT2, the Canyon Stoic and the Roscoe 6. Which bike would you recommend? A store like REI would give you service and warranty.
You can’t go wrong with any of those! If you want the maintenance/warranty/etc. support from a local shop then I’d go with the Trek. If you’re pretty bike savvy already then it’s hard to beat the value of a direct to consumer bike like the Canyon
Um I jus couldn’t swing $2900 mtb
Second best option in my opinion is
Commensal -Meta HT Am Essential 2022
Love your content
Thanks man 🤙 Ya, definitely sucks how pricey some bikes are these days!
Hi, what's your opinion about new ON ONE Wrekker? Will you make a video about this particular one and some similar super slack bikes? I am interested what's your thoughts.
That’s a hell of an aggressive bike! And an insane value for a titanium bike too. If you’re top priority is speed and stability than I’d go for it! I personally prefer hardtails that are a little more playful/agile, with shorter chainstays and a slightly steeper head tube angle. And yes, I could definitely do a video like that at some point!
I'm currently building a ragley mmmhop as a mullet. Excited to get to ride the result🔥
That’ll be sick!! What travel?
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy 140mm so I can compensate the bigger fronwheel a bit
Nice, exactly what I would do 🤙🤙
I’m riding the new Salsa Timberjack! Such a versatile bike! I do everything with it
Nice! Definitely looks like a ton of fun, I’d love to try one out!
Good video. You seem to like hard-tail's where I want to bring my full-sus. Will you be making a list of trail hard-tails ?(66.5 hta, 2 pot brakes, less robust frame) If hardcore hard-tail's are more your thing; np.
Ya, I’m a bit of a masochist in the sense haha 😂 And if there’s interest I definitely will! It’s further outside my area of expertise, but it’d be good way to expand my knowledge.
I rode hardtails from 1983-1997. The geometry made me feel like I was going to be launched over the handle bars, and many times was! First modern geo hardtail i got was the RSD middlechild 64.5 hta and also the Santa Cruz Chameleon 65 hta. You feel so safe and in control going down the steepest stuff. They climb great, do everything great, and your super confident if it get gnarly. 66.5 starts to go back in the wrong direction.
I agree completely! Now please go tell this to my dad, sounds like your around the same era, and he still insists on his 68 degree HTA XC race bike for casual trail riding 🤷♂️
What can you say about On One Huntsman steel or On One Scandal GX alu bikes?
Trying to decide between these two...
They both are a great value! The hunstman is a much more aggressive bike, better suited for steep fast trails and big hits. The Scandal will be a stronger climber and better for XC and longer trail rides
I ve just got a growler 20 and I will upgrade it to be more of a Growler 50. I like it a lot
Nice!! Definitely a sweet lineup of bikes!
I'm interested in the ragley mmmbop.
I'm 174cm so Medium is recommended but I ride Large a polygon sisku d7 it's way out of my rad but feels fine. Any advice/ recommendations on me getting a Large mmmbop. I can't test ride to compare but most Mediums don't feel right for me
If you like the feel of the geo on your Siskiu than I’d definitely go with the L Ragley! I use the website 99spokes.com to compare geometry, and it looks like the M Mmmbop would feel pretty dang small comparatively
I'm really happy with my Ragley Blue Pig(basically a 27.5,4130 version of the mmbop) mines built similar to the race version.
Nice!! I’ve always loved Ragleys, glad you’re stoked on yours!
I keep hearing good things about the GT Zaskar LT Expert. Any thoughts on it?
It wouldn’t be my first choice; it has a super long chainstays across all sizes, which will make the bike feel pretty dull. Spec looks good for the price though. What kind of riding do you plan to use it for?
Nice list... what about the Specialized Fuse 27.5? Thats a decent bike as well!
Definitely is, should have just made a top 20 list haha! The seat tube is a bit on the long side for my taste and the water bottle mounts in the seat tube prevent you from running a longer travel dropper. Other than that it’s pretty awesome!!
For me, the problem with droppers and seat tubes is that there's always stuff in the way like a bend, the outlet for the dropper wire or the bottle cage mounts you mentioned. Especially the outlets drive me nuts as they have no reason being so high up the seat tube...
Ya, they’re pretty crappy on some bikes! Thankfully the San Quentin and Middlechild I rode are both routed pretty well
Hello, real cool video. I want to ask something, I want to have a hardcore hardtail bike, but the intended use of this bike is not exactly my kind of ride, I am more a marathon rider, long days in the saddle and to face long and hard uphill and suddenly really steep hills as well. Is there a way to use this bikes for marathons?, reduce the weight, what about Hope parts, are they heavy?
Thanks Jenssen! I’d look into bikes with slightly more conservative geometry than the ones on this list if you’re looking to do more trail/marathon style riding. The slacker front ends will be a little harder to maneuver at lower speeds and the long travel won’t be quite as efficient. The Stanton Switch9er is great option for the riding you described! Another bike to look into would be the Cannondale Trail SE line, they’re a great balance between a XC hardtail and the more aggressive enduro-focused bikes on this list, and are a pretty good value too!
@Riding With Josh and Wendy thanks a lot for your help, actually I'm hooked on the Switch9er Ti, because of its retro but modern look.. I want to use a FOX 34 130mm fork and some carbon components and some Hope Tech components, with Shimano XT I think that weight balance is going to be good with a Ti frame.
That’s going to be one hell of a bike man, enjoy it 🤙🤙
as a long time hardtail uk rider, we do t really consider alloy frames as hardcore hardtails, alloy frames fatigue and are harsh, steel or titanium is the only material for a hardcore hardtail
Unless your poor 🤷♂️
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy What sort of twat comment was that?
Haha not everyone can afford a ti or steel frame! You’d be surprised by how many amazing aluminum frames there are out there!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Some people have priorities in their life and others simply can't afford to spend money unnecessarily. I come from a road and track background and almost all my bikes were custom built. But what I found in my 40 odd years of racing was that cycling was inclusive. Unless you were a triathlete.
I seriously feel that your comment was uncalled for and unnecessary.
Sorry about that, meant to imply the opposite; that you don’t need a ti or steel hardtail for it to be good. I’ve never had a lot of extra cash floating and have never felt like a mid-tier aluminum bike has held me back. I’m thankful to now receive free gear from the brands I partner with, but I’ll always stand by the notion that a skilled rider can do more on a $1,000 hardtail than most guys can do on their $5,000 carbon enduro bike
Recently bought a used Meta HT Race and love it! But I really wanted the NP Scout 290, they're just not readliy available enough in the USA :(
I heard Nukeproof just opened up a distribution center in the states, so hopefully that changes that issue!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy If so I'll likely buy the frame and build it out with parts I have on the Meta HT and a few of the upgrades I'd like. The Meta I got is a 2019 so it's far from new haha
@@andrew_gardner all scout frames are showing as out of stock.
some good choices, i would of mentioned the canyon stoic to as that to is a good all round sound solid mtb
It’s definitely not a bad bike! Like I said in the video I think hardtails are better off with a bit higher BB than the Stoic, but that’s largely personal preference
Love my Rocky Mountain Growler
Nice! Which one do you have?
@Riding With Josh and Wendy it started life as a Growler 20 its been slowly modified ever since
That’s the way to do it! Great frame to build up from 🤙
Whoa!!!! Kona Honzo ESD didn’t make your list, steel is real, I love how the ESD, I can keep up with my boys with their super enduro bikes
I really wanted to! But decided to only include three bikes over $3,000. My only quip with the ESD is the super low bottom bracket, but other than that it’s super rad!!
I'm happy with my Nukeproof Scout 275 Comp. The difference between the advertisement and the truth. The bike came from the Bikester, the price was 18xxEur, the brakes are not Shimano instead of that 4pistons SramDB8. The crankarm is Raceface, and the cassette is SunRace. I checked, these parts pretty same prices, than the Shimano parts. And, yes, this bike at now, for me seems indestructable. Actually Nukeproof. :D
2018 Kona Honzo CR with XX1 / X01 build 👍🏼
Nice, I’m sure that thing rips 🤙🤙
Before dropper seat posts, we did not skewer lower our seats before we went down a hill. Kids today.
All these bikes look promising, which I have never had. I have a Rockhopper Expert 29er with dropper and 35mm stem.
Nice, that’s a fantastic first bike! What kind of riding do you like to do?
I normally ride park but when I am hurt, sore, or taking it easy, I ride green/xc to recover. Therefore, I have a Diamondback Mission 1 and upgrade to a Status 160. The XC is a L due to the longer wheelbase.
1996 TREK 990 Singletrack with a Cannondale lefty fork 100mm, 27.5x2.6 front 26x2.35 rear.....👍💪
Oh man that’s rad! Keep it up!
SUNringlé (ring-lay) not complaining just letting you know. Good video overall.
I never knew that!! Thanks for the heads up, I’ve literally been saying that wrong since I was a 12 year old BMX grom 😂
If you are looking for a bike under 1,500 the radon cragger 7.0 is a great option if you live in europe it is a german brand and the parts on it are great for the money. It costs 1.300 euros on bike discount and the parts are so good you can even buy a 'better' frame and still spend less than a complete build from nukeproof or rsd with almost the same spec
Thanks for letting me know! I had never heard of it, but just checked them out! Like you said, a great bike for the value, but a little more XC oriented than I tend to prefer.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy yess more like a trail/downcountry hardtail than enduro
Nukeproof 290, not a beefy as I hoped. Cracked the seat stays after 3 years and 2000mi of use. Replacing with a Paradox v3 hoping it will handle my 200lb butt better than the nukeproof. Loved that Scout, will miss it.
Bummer man, sorry to hear that! I’m jealous of the Paradox though, I’ve always loved Banshee frames!
Hi there currently riding a giant trance 3 2018 model thinking about getting a nuke proof scout elite help me
Sounds like a rad change! My first propper MTB was a giant reign back in 2014. I switched to an aggressive hardtail the same year and never looked back!
My "hardcore hardtail" is a 08 Norco Ryde one25 with a 150 mm bomber z1, sun s-type wheelset, deore m5100 rear derailleur setup as a 7 speed (because freeride 🤘) shimano hg cassette 13-32t, running a few KMC chains because I hot wax, kenda tires, NS district bars, cult vans grips, seal flip stem in the downward position, Hayes 203 front disk and 160 rear 49n women's perch saddle, VP501 pedals, Amazon parts cranks are IXF, roadnado carbon seatpost and brakes, Ztto chain guide Lizhaumil chain retainer Styx 36t chain ring, play seat clamp. I think that's everything. I want to upgrade to a Norco Torrent eventually
Hell ya, sounds sick!! I'm sure you'd love the torrent, but that Ryde sounds like quite a bike!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy steel is reel! 💪 . The torrent S1 is for sure on the list for me. The NS eccentric chromo is also on the list.
I sold my 2015 NS suburban and have regrets. 🐸
Ah dang, I bet! I was literally gonna say not to sell the Ryde, but looks like you already know that haha!
I had too many bikes and needed to free up some space. My kitchen is full 😭
Any thoughts On Norco Torrent A1?
Super solid bike, especially at the sale price! You’ll probably want to replace the fork relatively early on; the RockShox 35 gold it comes with is strong, but not very supple
im a big heavy rider, 6´4, 250, i heard Norco´s Alloy are very burly... you recomend it? @@ridingwithjoshandwendy
What do you think about GT Bicycles ZASKAR LT EXPERT ?
I think there are better bikes for the money to be honest. Here’s a video with my favorite aggressive hardtails for under $2,000 czcams.com/video/QGW1qSaBqjU/video.html
Love my Orbea Laufey💪🏻🇪🇸
Definitely a sick bike, glad you’re stoked on it!!
Still have a 2007 Marin Elderidge Grade hard tail so going Strong
That’s awesome!!
I ride NS eccentric lite 1, amazing hardtail bike
Nice, always loved that frame! Glad you’re enjoying it 🤙
I went for a Whyte 629v5. Love the Whyte although not getting these newer goes at 65degree head - too slack now. At sale price of £1,200 an absolute bargain
Great buy!!
The canyon stoic 2/3/4 were in my opinion perfekt
Nice video. Sweet RSD titanium frame bike
Thank you James! Ya their titanium frames are a thing of beauty, it’s me dream to own one some day!
What about Rose Bonero 3? I am looking for a new Hardtail. Nukeproof Scout 290, Santa Cruz Chameleon and Rose Bonero are on my shortlist.
All three are great bikes, and that Bonero 3 is an amazing value with what you get! My choice would probably be the nukeproof for three reasons; great reputation (lots of the Nukeproof team rides them and pushes them hard), good value, and the best geo by my standards. As much as I love the Chameleon, I think it, like most Santa Cruzs these days, is over priced.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy thank you for the advice. I am a proud owner of the propain Tyee. So for having fun I already have a very good Bike. I am searching for a good trail hardtail as an addition (for alpcross, biking With my Family etc). For me is the uphill performance also important. Not Just only Downhill. So in a few Reviews i have read, That the uphill Performance from the nukeproof ist good but Not as good as for example the Santa Cruz oder the liteville h3 mk3. What ist your Opinion? Are there any other hardtail you can suggest which meet my requirements (commencal meta HT ohlins etc)?
If you already have a play bike and are looking for a pedal machine I’d look into the Marin Team Marin. It’s kindaa like a down-country hardtail haha, light and fast, but with a relatively slack 67 degree head tube. If I was looking for a bike to do long fast rides with and maybe race a little XC it’d be at the top of my list.
Would like your views on the Canyon stoic 4
Definitely a great value, and Canyon is a super rad brand that I've heard has great customer support. That said, I'm not a huge fan of the geometry. Like I said in the video I think hardtails are better off with a bit higher BB than the Stoic, but that’s largely personal preference
Stanton switch9er.
Nice, I’ve always loved the Switchback as more of a 27.5” guy myself. How do you like yours?