Fellow Jones Bike cult member. Started with an H bar on a Surly, then a steel LWB and finally a Titanium LWB with carbon hoops. I often run a fat front (26x4.8). The bike is fast and comfortable. I keep up with folks on full suspension just fine. Even rode it comfortably on steep rocky trails in Asheville, NC. Rips on flow trails in the Adirondacks and is perfect for the Eastern Trail in Maine. Hell, it’s great for everything. After riding over a dozen mountain bikes and never really being too comfortable on any of them, I’ll never look back. Jeff and Sheila always answer the phone and make sure all of your questions are answered. Rigid doesn’t mean harsh ride.
@@shananagansbananagan 29x2.8 or 29x3.0…the outer diameter is very close for both front and back. For the SWB you probably have a 27.5 on the back. If that’s the case a 26x4.5 would be great up front.
I agree with your thoughts and review. I have had a steel Jones bike with truss fork for seven years. When I ordered it, Jeff told me I'll probably use it and not ride my other bikes much. He was right. I gave away my full suspension bike, converted another to a city bike. I have used it for multi-day bike packing on Maah-daah-hey and elsewhere. Mostly use it for MTB in Arizona desert, fire roads and single track. It handles everything with or without load. It is the most comfortable bike. At least two others who I have loaned it to have bought one for themselves. It has never had a problem...and I love it!
I first became aware of Jeff Jones' cycling wizardry when I saw his amazing bikes in a singlespeed zine called The Outcast, almost 20 years ago. I would occasionally see updates in Dirt Rag or online and watched his Space Frame designs over the years. When Jones came out with a "Complete" bike below $2K, I knew I had to have one. I bought a SWB in medium at Jeff's suggestion. I really liked the 27.5 wheel size and riding the bike was a complete blast. I'm 6''2" though, and I decided to build up an LWB with a truss fork, in large. This is my forever bike. I'm planning big rides, and I'll be astride the Jones. It is long, it is tall, but I reckon it fits me the way most bikes fit smaller people. It is a warhorse for this Clydesdale. Interestingly, on the road (29x3" Chronicles - NLA alas), it's predictably slower than my gravelcross, but on actual gravel / dirt / off road, I ride as fast - or faster - than on my gravel thing. And so much more comfortable. 29 plus tires have a lot of rotational mass, and your experience will be improved with a tubeless setup on some nice hoops. I have bequeathed the SWB to my wife, who was not a confident off road cyclist, but the Jones is so capable and she adores the bike. It fits her perfectly, and she has no interest in a different bike. FWIW I'm 250 lbs, and I run 15-18 psi depending on terrain. Not mentioned in the video, Jones makes an even longer frame that is uprated for use with an electric motor. Not really my thang (today), but maybe some day. Cass on bikepacking dot com has a lot of nice words for Jones bikes also. Ride on!
Have had my Plus LWB [v2] for a couple years now and absolutely love it. I feel similarly to a lot of what you said here. It is definitely a do it all bike. I'm not hucking myself off huge drops or anything these days, so it's perfect for my kind of riding, both loaded and unloaded, offroad or on. It's my daily commuter and weekend adventurer. Big, big fan of the bike. It just puts a smile on my face. The comfort and riding position can't be beat.
Several years ago I started out with a Jones H-Bar on a Cannondale Quick 6. As I aged into my 60s I needed some more up right, shock absorbed and comfortable bike to ride the oil top country roads in north east Texas. I spent the money in July 2022 and took ownership of the Jones SWB and have enjoyed everything about the bike that allows me to ride 55 miles a week this time of year. Thanks for posting
I love my Jones LWB. I was surprised to find that it even seems a bit smoother than my fat bike over bumps sometimes, probably because of the way there is no weight on your hands so the bar moves up and down, but the actual impact all comes up through your feet. I changed the tires out for the 3.25 Duro Crux also, and then pickjed up a second wheelset and put slicks on it for when I want to commute or just ride paved roads. It is definitely a fun bike!
Finally got an LWB and it just continues to surprise me in the best of ways. With the 29x3.25” tires it is hands down the most Comfortable mtn bike that I have ever owned. And yeah, it could replace 3 different bikes because of how it’s designed. Love it!
I’ve had an SWB for a couple of months and though I don’t care for the 1x12 drive train and switched the saddle out after a single ride I’m genuinely happy with the handling. I do wish the bike a wee smaller. I’m a couple inches shorter than Jeff who designed the medium frame for himself but I’m too big for the small. But overall, I’ve been able to ride without think about the bike; We just flow.
I got the LWB with smooth tires maybe 5 years ago. I got some knobbies for it, but other than trying them out, I've run the smooth tires on pavement, gravel, and a few trails that allow bicycles. I keep bags on it and use it for everything short of long road trips. This bike does everything I want. I've gotten rid of my cyclo cross bike, mountain bike, and dedicated road bike.
Just got a purple LWB this past spring. Really enjoying it, and your comments are spot on. For me, it's pretty simple -- the bike is fun to ride, and it's way more capable than I am.
Would LOVE to see a video of you using different fat bike front tires on the Jones and giving a ride report on different widths/diameters if you have those resources around. Thanks for the consideration!
I have a similar bike, the Kona unit X with 27.5+. Best most fun bike I ever had. Works great on designated dirtbike routes on soft gravel as well as single track,2 tracking, mud or snow. The most versatile bike ever.
Jones LWB has a 71 degree seat tube angle (STA), the Unit X has a 75 degree STA. That throws your saddle at least 2 inches farther forward with the Unit X. Huge difference in the riding position.
I have had five Jones LWB's, and currently have 3 in my shop. One 29+, one with 29x2.2 Gravelkings, and one BBSHD equipped 29+ Jones Motorbike. All steel, all black. Jeff Jones has the LWB geometry dialed. They are the most comfortable and capable bikes that I have ever owned- and I've owned close to 60 higher end bikes since the mid 1970's. Don't be afraid to experiment with different rim widths and tire sizes. My 29x2.2 LWB will handle 80-90% of the terrain that my 29+ LWB's can, and it's a lot faster on smooth gravel and pavement.
@@RideYearRound I have the Custom Select LWB frames with the EBB (except for the HD/e e-bike). So I set the EBB at the highest point when I'm running smaller tires. Not an issue with 175mm cranks on rough gravel. I do get an occasional pedal strike when I'm "underbiking" on chunky stuff with the 2.2's.
@@RideYearRound, there's more to the Custom Select frames beyond the EBB. Lighter tubing, more braze-ons, and the fancy metal head tube badge compared to the frame that comes with the Completes. I've owned and ridden all the diamond LWB's, and I think that the Custom Select frames ride better. It's a subtle difference, but I can feel it.
I'm here after watching the video. Great video. I have two Surly's. A 2017 Ogre and a 2023 Bridge Club. My Ogre is Medium. My BC is a small. The small fits much better. I ride a lot up to a bad crash October 1,2023. Truck going the wrong way on a blind corner. 💥 So I hadn't been riding like I had and recovering. My Ogre has only 300 miles on it. The BC 500 to 600. Miles. I have a 2009 GT 9R PEACE ✌️ with over 13,000 miles. I ride a lot commuting, trails,bike paths and off road. I have well over 35,000 miles on all of my bikes. I didn't know about Jones Bike's until after I bought my BC a year ago. I like the idea of a 29x 3+ tire size 👌 I'm considering sell a lot of my "bike herd" off. I like the LWB. Bikepacking and touring the US is my goal. Any suggestions, please. Thanks
I was able to test ride an SWB and an LWB on the same day by joinin the Facebook Jeff Jones Bike Owners Group. I asked if anyone who was near me had a Jones, and two people piped up. I drove up to them and rode both bikes. Results will vary, but it's worth a try!
I considered the LWB, and have used the Jones H-Bar on two different bikes for bikepacking trips. But with old arthritic hands and wrists, and considering the weight of the LWB bike, I returned to Salsa Cowchipper drop bars on a full rigid lighter steel frame mountain bike for long routes and local gravel. I've owned heavy dead feeling frames at one extreme, and overly light steel frames at the other extreme. My cycling over the last 45 years has been centered around long tours, commuting, grocery trips, so I look at a frame, The Bike, from that perspective. I find Plus tires, 2.8"-3.0" too heavy and dead feeling on the pavement and smooth gravel, while they are nice in chunky stuff off road. I believe it comes down to surface type percentages, and how far you need to ride the bike you're using. I found a lighter, steel frame and fork, with a little flex, nimble, tall stack, that is very adaptable to a lot of mountain roads, gravel, bikepacking, even road touring depending on tire selection. My "One Bike" if necessary to pick just one. Nice review of the Jones LWB. Happy trails!
I've been on the Jones fence for a while. I was pretty convinced I wanted one, but like you I could never find one used or even to test ride. This video + Framesets going on sale convinced me to finally commit. I'm not much of a cult follower, mind you. I just have one bike that is mostly road, tour, commute focused that can do some gravel trails, but I did not have a bike better for more serious trail riding and but also be at home with bike packing, touring, and commuting even if not ideal. It always feels most bikes fit 2 categories: 1) Overly focused and built for a single purpose/goal in mind, or 2) general purpose with lower (read: usually very low) quality. As if the industry implies "anyone serious about bicycle riding rides for specific reasons". Rivendell summed up what I was looking for perfectly: "100 percent perfect for 90 percent of the riding you’re likely to do, and 90 percent perfect for the other ten percent." - only with a less classic appeal. 🙂 Thanks for pushing me over the edge. My new Jones LWB HD/e (acoustic) will be almost finished this weekend with the finishing touches applied within 2 weeks!
Just took mine for a quick ride this morning and even though it was all pavement, it's still so enjoyable to ride I had a great time. I think you'll love it!
I’ve had my steel Jones 29 Spaceframe with a truss fork and plus front tire since 2013. It’s pre SWB and LWB, but would be closer to a SWB. Definitely the most versatile bike in my quiver, it’s comfortable everywhere except maybe the bike park. Big drops and flat landings are definitely not its forte. - I mean, it’s a rigid bike after all. - However, it’s the most capable bike for most environments. Long road sections, chunky trails - up or down, smooth flow, jumps with landings, everything is fair game. My gravel bike is faster on the road of course, but as soon as the trail gets a little rougher, I’d much rather be on the Jones. I recently bought a modern Full Suspension bike, (also steel!) for rougher trail use. While the Jones handles rough trails just fine, I do have to be pickier about lines, going a bit slower and maybe shying away from bigger features. Like another commenter mentioned, I also didn’t have trouble keeping up on group rides with mostly FS bikes. I’ve turned it back into a SS bike (like it was when I originally bought it.) it is THE BEST bike for climbing while standing, but the seat tube is a bit slack for seated climbing. (This is probably the only real criticism I have from my years of riding it. )This is where the LWB probably has an edge. I still love this bike and will keep it and ride it for years to come!
It's here! The light blue LWB/HDe. I wanted the stiffer, longer frame for touring/bike packing. Just got it put together, will take it out this weekend.
Thank you very much for all the videos about Jones bike. Could you please tell your height? And since you picked up medium size, could I ask you to measure the reach of the bike (the horizontal distance between the centre of the bottom bracket and the centre of the top of the headtube), the page lists only standover. Thank you very much in advance.
Got a SWB Space frame with a trussfork in the garage, but honestly I'd love to try a LWB Diamond frame with the unicrown fork. The trussfork is so stiff and I miss 29+ tires! Great review.
Great review! How do the T-Fatties work as a rear tire? I am currently running a Crux front and Chronicle rear(this works great), but it would be nice to know my options since I can’t exactly get more Chronicles. Have you tried Rangers or XR2’s? What about a 2.8 rear? That could help with chain line issues. Also, thanks. You and Cass Gilbert have been great resources for setting up my first 29+ bike.
They actually work well as a rear tire because they’re fast rolling and brake reasonably well. I also love the XR2s, I’ve run those for a couple years and think they’re a great tire. I had Chronicles for a long time and was sad to see them go!
The T Fatties are surprisingly good. Even in snow as a rear tire. 2.8 Maxxis Rekons have thin sidewalls and don’t like to be run at low pressure which Jeff Jones recommends. I have gone through 3! Fatties are solid.
@@jeffbettinger2465 How fast did you go through those three? I’m looking for something durable. Does the lack of cornering grip not really matter in the rear? Thanks.
I haven’t ridden a Jones LWB but I know it is a great bike to ride on. In fact, it is my Dream Bike. But I know I will never be able to afford it. It is enough that I can only dream.
Awesome review. As someone who owns the LWB and Karate Monkey, what would you recommend as a more versatile bike? I’m interested in using this bike to commute, bikepack, and occasionally hit single track trails. Thanks!
I've owned both and I'd group them two into different categories. If you want something mountain bike focused with the ability to run a suspension fork, go for the Karate Monkey. If you want to run 29 plus and want a really comfortable ride, the LWB is the better option. They'll both do great at the type of riding you're talking about.
@@RideYearRound I do like the way the 150mm (hub) Jones front wheels track, but it would be so much simpler if Jones Bikes adhered to standard Boost spacing front and rear. I have hand built at least 20 custom wheels for my Jones bikes due to not being able to get off the shelf wheelsets with 150x15 F, 148x12 R hubs.
Funny you mentioned the Salsa Fargo with Jones bars. That's exactly what I have and it's my favourite do it all bike. I would like to get myself the purple Jones Lwb but it's misssion impossible in Germany.
Once they upped it to be able to fit a 29+ tire, the Fargo became really similar to the LWB. If Salsa sold it already set up with an alt/flat bar the two would pretty much be direct competitors.
I like it at this point in my life I'm trying to go for comfort and not the style anymore having sore knees at the end of every ride is a pain in the a . I have a Norco Bigfoot love it's comfortable however just ordered some much comfortable or handlebars to alleviate hand and arm discomfort sadly I can't raise it up higher because the fork is already cut to where it's cut but this bike looks extremely comfortable and fun little pricey for me though
Are you me? lol Even looks like you're riding in my part of the universe. Glad you got to keep it for a while and sort it out. Your comments are a mirror of mine after I rode it for a while and figured out its strengths and weaknesses. Did you get a dropper on it? That definitely is a must have, like with any bike, it makes it ride shorter. I also set up two +wheelsets, one with short knobbies and one really aggressive for the gravel I have here. Bontrager XR2 and XR4's. The XR4's are awesome, I'm a tire nerd and they're as good as any enduro tire I've ever ridden.
I'm not particularly hairy so I don't think I'm you haha. I haven't put a dropper on it, but if I end up buying one that'd happen first thing because droppers are a game changer.
Very cool review in both of your videos! Can you retrofit a Rohloff speedhub with a Gates belt though? There seems to be no information on that out there that's newer than 2016
No. You would have to split the frame. This has been done by Cycle Monkey so there is somebody who has done it. The Rohloff is not ideal for thru axle but it can be done with an adapter and using a chain without modifying the frame. The frameset version has the adjustable front bottom bracket to tension the chain without the need for a tensioner wheel which I opted for. I was originally thinking that I might do that on my bike with a Kindernay (internal hub gearing made for thru axles) they went out of business and stock was never available. I set mine up with a very inexpensive but durable 36-22 front and 11-42 rear. It is an enjoyable setup and can climb almost anything with low of 15-16 gear inches but I do need to maintain the drivetrain.
While I can't address the "Cult" status, I understand the bike is a very intelligent design with a lot of thought put into it's concept. As a non MTB'er, I do wish Mr. Jones would dial back some aspects of the design to provide a stellar Commuter separate model. Perhaps a bit less tire and wheel assembly, slightly lighter overall and appropriate gearing for city and urban tarmac. Maybe even a belt drive.
I totally understand what you mean there…it for sure has a heavy dirt bias. I think you can achieve a lot of what you’re after through the set up process though by going with a lighter wheelset, smaller/smoother tires, and different gearing. You honestly could even get Jeff to set it up like that before shipping if you really wanted.
@@RideYearRound Yes, that's precisely what I'm referring to. Perhaps working from one of his LWB bare frames would make a great start. thanks for the feedback.
I picked up an LWB recently and after 4 rides totaling about 20-25 miles, the jury is still out. It’s a very comfortable ride but my biggest concern so far centers around the handling. I’m used to bikes that go where you point them, bikes that track and you can pretty much steer with your knees hands free. So far on the LWB it feels like 100% of my weight is on the back tire and the front tire is just sort of flopping around. Like I’m riding a unicycle while trying to hold the front tire steady and it’s just not happening and when trying to turn the bike around it feels like im in sand and unstable despite the tires being inflated to the max of 35psi. If im tight roping the edge of the pavement it feel almost impossible to hold a perfectly straight line as the front end likes to wander a few inches left to right which has me hesitant to even attempt any sort of technical terrain. So far I’ve had it exclusively on pavement and my intended use case was a go anywhere do anything, fun to ride bike that I could ride pavement to trail and back, try out some bikepacking, maybe even thin my stable to just the one bike. This is my first 29er an my first plus bike so perhaps I just need to give it more time but right now I’m feeling pretty frustrated and deflated.
Oof, sounds like a rough time. It definitely took me a couple rides to get used to it. A couple things, tire choice is a big deal with this bike so if you’re mostly riding pavement I’d consider moving to the “smooth” tires (unless that’s what you already have). I’ve found the t-fattys roll relatively fast for a knobby plus tire though. Second thing is back your pressure down…big tires are extra sensitive to pressure and I don’t think I’ve ever run a plus tire at more than 18 psi but typically run around 15 when I’m riding around town or on more gravel focused rides (and I’m well over 200 pounds). Not sure that’ll solve your problem, but I think it might help.
@@RideYearRoundI appreciate the reply. I’m running the VEE smooth tires right now but I’m planning to try the Cazadero or mezcal or something along those lines eventually. Maybe step down to a little thinner tire like a 2.2, maybe even explore 27.5. I’ll definitely play around with the pressure and see what happens though. I’m not giving up I think I just have a lot all at once being over 200 myself and I haven’t rode in a year or so, first 29er etc.
35 psi? Jones recommends 10-15 psi on the 29X3 tires. I run right around 15 on my LWB on hardpack, 12 on looser stuff. On my fatbike with 26X4.8's I run 10 on the trails and 6 in sand or snow. You can't think in terms of what's appropriate for a regular 2.2-2.4 mountain bike (even there 35 is too much) on a plus or fat bike.
@@RueTheDay001in the past I’ve never paid much attention to psi, I would just pump until the tires felt firm and call it good. I picked up this lwb second hand in like new condition and took it for an initial spin around the block and handling felt very loose and squishy when turning. They weren’t, but it felt like the tires were trying to slip out from under me. Maybe I just need to get used to it but it was very foreign and kinda freaked me out. I rode a little over 5 miles down a paved rail trail bike path and the squish felt like it was robbing power, like riding in sand. That too might be something I just need to get used to. When I got home I checked the tire pressure and they were around 15 psi. The tires currently on the bike are the vee speedster and according to the information I found they are max 35 psi and the more the rider weighs the higher recommended psi. I’m sitting at about 250 lbs right now and what I read lead me to believe max psi was the way to go. I appreciate the input. I’ll try and drop the pressure back down incrementally and see how it handles.
@@donusmc1 Mine came with the Vee Speedsters and I did notice they wandered a bit. Have since replaced with Bontrager XR2's and gone tubeless, much happier.
Can anyone speak to the weight? I’m debating on buying either the steel frame or more expensive Ti frame LWB for off road touring, but have concerns about the weight of the complete bike being about 35 pounds. Any insight into this dilemma would be greatly appreciated!
Initially, my medium LWB does feel hefty, and I do find most of the weight coming from the wheelset, so yea, it feels bottom heavy, but in a good way, that's part of what makes my ride smoother, grounded and stable. I'd get a Ti frame if I can afford it too, for other reasons, but I doubt it gonna to make a whole lot of difference in weight.
Yeah it’s hard to get around the weight with a steel frame and plus tires, but there are quite a few ways you could trim it down a little with carbon h-bars, different wheels, a lighter drivetrain, etc.
Yes, its a heavy bike. The weight sort of disappears when you're riding though. It depends on your expectations - you can't keep up with people on gravel bikes, and your momentum peters out pretty quickly as you start to climb - but if you ride it like a Jones bike, then it's comfortably and capable and versatile. I never finish a ride and wish I had a lighter bike. I do finish rides on other bikes and wish they had been more versatile. I think Jeff could have shaved some weight off the Complete bikes - different tubing, different components - but I guess this is what he had to do to make it marketable. My LWB is my favorite bike, hands down. Love it.
Either I am missing something, or Ti frames is an older model, with eccentric BB. This means it shaves off the weight because of the material, but adds weight because of this extra "feature". It is like going into two opposite directions at the same time. Some people like this BB, me not, but the point is to be aware of what you are buying.
I thought that too, but then I went and looked at prices for rigid mountain/bikepacking/atb bikes from smaller companies out there and realized it's priced pretty well. Even the Fargo Apex 1 is $2600 and Salsa is a much bigger company than Jones.
Big gaps, but you get used to it. I’m not a huge fan of 12 speed because I feel like it is too sensitive to any dirt or anything being remotely out of sync. The 9 speed doesn’t have that problem which is nice.
These bikes are awesome, but is anyone else annoyed by how the evangelizers try to say its faster/more efficient than a gravel bike, and how its "great on the road"? (not this reviewer, very refreshing)
Not really an in depth review. I had an LWB for a few years and still have it. The "mystique" about this bike is from the designer and that "it can do it all" write up. It's no mystery ...it just sells bikes...its that simple. If a bike is said to be designed for 1 or 2 things in a sales write up, most cycling consumers would eliminate it as a purchase. Items still not covered are weight, transport size and accessories like bags and racks. These bikes are BIG, heavy and are challenging to transport/store. Very limiting choices with respect to front / rear racks and related bags. YOU have to adapt to these ridgid LWB bikes as mods are limited to things like tyers. Changing tyers is difficult on the back, impossible for the wife without assistance. Its great to talk positives but to be more realistic you should talk about negatives. These bikes aren't for everyone. They do many things well but don't really excell in any one thing. Like a swiss army knife of a bike?
I review bikes in two parts, the first video is more about specs/geo/first ride impressions and the second one (this one) is focused on my experience on it, ride feel, purpose, things to consider. I hear you on a few of your concerns, but some of them I had no issues with since I’m used to long wheelbase fat bikes with tires so big they require special racks already. I’d also argue most bikes are designed and marketed as being for 1 or 2 things instead of being super versatile. Even looking at most manufacturer websites, the bikes are categorized into things like enduro, xc, gravel, etc. Bikepacking has changed that a little with an emphasis on doing a lot of things well, but Jones does take that a step further in some ways.
Yeah it's on the higher side, but there's always the option for the spaceframe if you have shorter legs (4" shorter standover) or you can go with the SWB which is around an inch shorter.
@@RideYearRound short guy trick. look at the bike from the side, draw a line from the top of the front tire to the top of the rear tire, where does that line cross the top tube? If its back by the seat tube rather than the middle or toward the steerer, the bike is a poor design and should be avoided. High standover sucks for tech, even for tall people.
Fellow Jones Bike cult member. Started with an H bar on a Surly, then a steel LWB and finally a Titanium LWB with carbon hoops. I often run a fat front (26x4.8). The bike is fast and comfortable. I keep up with folks on full suspension just fine. Even rode it comfortably on steep rocky trails in Asheville, NC. Rips on flow trails in the Adirondacks and is perfect for the Eastern Trail in Maine. Hell, it’s great for everything. After riding over a dozen mountain bikes and never really being too comfortable on any of them, I’ll never look back. Jeff and Sheila always answer the phone and make sure all of your questions are answered. Rigid doesn’t mean harsh ride.
What do you run in the rear with a 26x4.8 in front? I’d like to do something similar on a SWB w/ truss fork
@@shananagansbananagan
29x2.8 or 29x3.0…the outer diameter is very close for both front and back. For the SWB you probably have a 27.5 on the back. If that’s the case a 26x4.5 would be great up front.
I agree with your thoughts and review. I have had a steel Jones bike with truss fork for seven years. When I ordered it, Jeff told me I'll probably use it and not ride my other bikes much. He was right. I gave away my full suspension bike, converted another to a city bike. I have used it for multi-day bike packing on Maah-daah-hey and elsewhere. Mostly use it for MTB in Arizona desert, fire roads and single track. It handles everything with or without load. It is the most comfortable bike. At least two others who I have loaned it to have bought one for themselves. It has never had a problem...and I love it!
I first became aware of Jeff Jones' cycling wizardry when I saw his amazing bikes in a singlespeed zine called The Outcast, almost 20 years ago. I would occasionally see updates in Dirt Rag or online and watched his Space Frame designs over the years. When Jones came out with a "Complete" bike below $2K, I knew I had to have one. I bought a SWB in medium at Jeff's suggestion. I really liked the 27.5 wheel size and riding the bike was a complete blast. I'm 6''2" though, and I decided to build up an LWB with a truss fork, in large. This is my forever bike. I'm planning big rides, and I'll be astride the Jones. It is long, it is tall, but I reckon it fits me the way most bikes fit smaller people. It is a warhorse for this Clydesdale. Interestingly, on the road (29x3" Chronicles - NLA alas), it's predictably slower than my gravelcross, but on actual gravel / dirt / off road, I ride as fast - or faster - than on my gravel thing. And so much more comfortable. 29 plus tires have a lot of rotational mass, and your experience will be improved with a tubeless setup on some nice hoops. I have bequeathed the SWB to my wife, who was not a confident off road cyclist, but the Jones is so capable and she adores the bike. It fits her perfectly, and she has no interest in a different bike. FWIW I'm 250 lbs, and I run 15-18 psi depending on terrain. Not mentioned in the video, Jones makes an even longer frame that is uprated for use with an electric motor. Not really my thang (today), but maybe some day. Cass on bikepacking dot com has a lot of nice words for Jones bikes also. Ride on!
PS that purple is fierce.
Have had my Plus LWB [v2] for a couple years now and absolutely love it. I feel similarly to a lot of what you said here. It is definitely a do it all bike. I'm not hucking myself off huge drops or anything these days, so it's perfect for my kind of riding, both loaded and unloaded, offroad or on. It's my daily commuter and weekend adventurer. Big, big fan of the bike. It just puts a smile on my face. The comfort and riding position can't be beat.
Several years ago I started out with a Jones H-Bar on a Cannondale Quick 6. As I aged into my 60s I needed some more up right, shock absorbed and comfortable bike to ride the oil top country roads in north east Texas. I spent the money in July 2022 and took ownership of the Jones SWB and have enjoyed everything about the bike that allows me to ride 55 miles a week this time of year. Thanks for posting
I love my Jones LWB. I was surprised to find that it even seems a bit smoother than my fat bike over bumps sometimes, probably because of the way there is no weight on your hands so the bar moves up and down, but the actual impact all comes up through your feet.
I changed the tires out for the 3.25 Duro Crux also, and then pickjed up a second wheelset and put slicks on it for when I want to commute or just ride paved roads. It is definitely a fun bike!
That tire/wheelset set up sounds like a dream!
What slicks are you using?
Finally got an LWB and it just continues to surprise me in the best of ways. With the 29x3.25” tires it is hands down the most
Comfortable mtn bike that I have ever owned. And yeah, it could replace 3 different bikes because of how it’s designed.
Love it!
You should see if Jeff will let you try the SWB for a comparison review
I’ve had an SWB for a couple of months and though I don’t care for the 1x12 drive train and switched the saddle out after a single ride I’m genuinely happy with the handling. I do wish the bike a wee smaller. I’m a couple inches shorter than Jeff who designed the medium frame for himself but I’m too big for the small. But overall, I’ve been able to ride without think about the bike; We just flow.
I got the LWB with smooth tires maybe 5 years ago. I got some knobbies for it, but other than trying them out, I've run the smooth tires on pavement, gravel, and a few trails that allow bicycles. I keep bags on it and use it for everything short of long road trips. This bike does everything I want. I've gotten rid of my cyclo cross bike, mountain bike, and dedicated road bike.
I've gone in a more aggressive tire direction, but would love to give the less aggressive/smoother tired side a try.
I have a Salsa El Mariachi. Looks similar but after the review, I may buy one. Looks like a great all around ride. Thank you for the review.
Just got a purple LWB this past spring. Really enjoying it, and your comments are spot on. For me, it's pretty simple -- the bike is fun to ride, and it's way more capable than I am.
I love the purple way more than I thought I would haha.
Would LOVE to see a video of you using different fat bike front tires on the Jones and giving a ride report on different widths/diameters if you have those resources around. Thanks for the consideration!
I have a similar bike, the Kona unit X with 27.5+. Best most fun bike I ever had. Works great on designated dirtbike routes on soft gravel as well as single track,2 tracking, mud or snow. The most versatile bike ever.
The Unit X looks like a great bike…I’ve been so close to buying one more than a couple times haha.
Jones LWB has a 71 degree seat tube angle (STA), the Unit X has a 75 degree STA. That throws your saddle at least 2 inches farther forward with the Unit X. Huge difference in the riding position.
I had an swb and now an lwb. Love them so much.
I have had five Jones LWB's, and currently have 3 in my shop. One 29+, one with 29x2.2 Gravelkings, and one BBSHD equipped 29+ Jones Motorbike. All steel, all black. Jeff Jones has the LWB geometry dialed. They are the most comfortable and capable bikes that I have ever owned- and I've owned close to 60 higher end bikes since the mid 1970's. Don't be afraid to experiment with different rim widths and tire sizes. My 29x2.2 LWB will handle 80-90% of the terrain that my 29+ LWB's can, and it's a lot faster on smooth gravel and pavement.
I’ve wondered about going the small but worried about pedal strikes, how is that for you?
@@RideYearRound I have the Custom Select LWB frames with the EBB (except for the HD/e e-bike). So I set the EBB at the highest point when I'm running smaller tires. Not an issue with 175mm cranks on rough gravel. I do get an occasional pedal strike when I'm "underbiking" on chunky stuff with the 2.2's.
@watertankhikes ah that makes sense. The EBB does make the frameset a little more attractive of an option.
@@RideYearRound, there's more to the Custom Select frames beyond the EBB. Lighter tubing, more braze-ons, and the fancy metal head tube badge compared to the frame that comes with the Completes. I've owned and ridden all the diamond LWB's, and I think that the Custom Select frames ride better. It's a subtle difference, but I can feel it.
I'm here after watching the video. Great video.
I have two Surly's. A 2017 Ogre and a 2023 Bridge Club. My Ogre is Medium. My BC is a small. The small fits much better. I ride a lot up to a bad crash October 1,2023. Truck going the wrong way on a blind corner. 💥
So I hadn't been riding like I had and recovering. My Ogre has only 300 miles on it. The BC 500 to 600. Miles. I have a 2009 GT 9R PEACE ✌️ with over 13,000 miles. I ride a lot commuting, trails,bike paths and off road. I have well over 35,000 miles on all of my bikes. I didn't know about Jones Bike's until after I bought my BC a year ago. I like the idea of a 29x 3+ tire size 👌
I'm considering sell a lot of my "bike herd" off. I like the LWB. Bikepacking and touring the US is my goal. Any suggestions, please. Thanks
I was able to test ride an SWB and an LWB on the same day by joinin the Facebook Jeff Jones Bike Owners Group. I asked if anyone who was near me had a Jones, and two people piped up. I drove up to them and rode both bikes. Results will vary, but it's worth a try!
I considered the LWB, and have used the Jones H-Bar on two different bikes for bikepacking trips. But with old arthritic hands and wrists, and considering the weight of the LWB bike, I returned to Salsa Cowchipper drop bars on a full rigid lighter steel frame mountain bike for long routes and local gravel. I've owned heavy dead feeling frames at one extreme, and overly light steel frames at the other extreme. My cycling over the last 45 years has been centered around long tours, commuting, grocery trips, so I look at a frame, The Bike, from that perspective. I find Plus tires, 2.8"-3.0" too heavy and dead feeling on the pavement and smooth gravel, while they are nice in chunky stuff off road. I believe it comes down to surface type percentages, and how far you need to ride the bike you're using. I found a lighter, steel frame and fork, with a little flex, nimble, tall stack, that is very adaptable to a lot of mountain roads, gravel, bikepacking, even road touring depending on tire selection. My "One Bike" if necessary to pick just one. Nice review of the Jones LWB. Happy trails!
I've been on the Jones fence for a while. I was pretty convinced I wanted one, but like you I could never find one used or even to test ride. This video + Framesets going on sale convinced me to finally commit. I'm not much of a cult follower, mind you. I just have one bike that is mostly road, tour, commute focused that can do some gravel trails, but I did not have a bike better for more serious trail riding and but also be at home with bike packing, touring, and commuting even if not ideal.
It always feels most bikes fit 2 categories: 1) Overly focused and built for a single purpose/goal in mind, or 2) general purpose with lower (read: usually very low) quality. As if the industry implies "anyone serious about bicycle riding rides for specific reasons".
Rivendell summed up what I was looking for perfectly: "100 percent perfect for 90 percent of the riding you’re likely to do, and 90 percent perfect for the other ten percent." - only with a less classic appeal. 🙂
Thanks for pushing me over the edge. My new Jones LWB HD/e (acoustic) will be almost finished this weekend with the finishing touches applied within 2 weeks!
Just took mine for a quick ride this morning and even though it was all pavement, it's still so enjoyable to ride I had a great time. I think you'll love it!
I’ve had my steel Jones 29 Spaceframe with a truss fork and plus front tire since 2013. It’s pre SWB and LWB, but would be closer to a SWB. Definitely the most versatile bike in my quiver, it’s comfortable everywhere except maybe the bike park. Big drops and flat landings are definitely not its forte. - I mean, it’s a rigid bike after all. - However, it’s the most capable bike for most environments. Long road sections, chunky trails - up or down, smooth flow, jumps with landings, everything is fair game. My gravel bike is faster on the road of course, but as soon as the trail gets a little rougher, I’d much rather be on the Jones. I recently bought a modern Full Suspension bike, (also steel!) for rougher trail use. While the Jones handles rough trails just fine, I do have to be pickier about lines, going a bit slower and maybe shying away from bigger features. Like another commenter mentioned, I also didn’t have trouble keeping up on group rides with mostly FS bikes. I’ve turned it back into a SS bike (like it was when I originally bought it.) it is THE BEST bike for climbing while standing, but the seat tube is a bit slack for seated climbing. (This is probably the only real criticism I have from my years of riding it. )This is where the LWB probably has an edge. I still love this bike and will keep it and ride it for years to come!
I had a chance to meet Jeff Jones and test ride a few of his bikes. Mine will be here in a few weeks.
It's here! The light blue LWB/HDe. I wanted the stiffer, longer frame for touring/bike packing. Just got it put together, will take it out this weekend.
Great video! Just like you, I really want to try one of these. Sadly, in Australia, they are totally non-existent!
Veloci Wild Move frameset isn't a bad price. Taiwan-direct.
@@haemstah Looks like an interesting bike - but pretty different from the Jones. I'm keen to try 29x3.25" !
@@albert85b Hmmn. Diff again, but how about a steel GMX+ with 3"? Pink for the win!
Your video did make that bike look like a ton of fun.
It’s a super fun bike for sure!
Thank you very much for all the videos about Jones bike. Could you please tell your height? And since you picked up medium size, could I ask you to measure the reach of the bike (the horizontal distance between the centre of the bottom bracket and the centre of the top of the headtube), the page lists only standover. Thank you very much in advance.
I would love it with internal gears and carbon belt.
You pushed me over the top! Thank You.
Got a SWB Space frame with a trussfork in the garage, but honestly I'd love to try a LWB Diamond frame with the unicrown fork. The trussfork is so stiff and I miss 29+ tires! Great review.
Great review! How do the T-Fatties work as a rear tire? I am currently running a Crux front and Chronicle rear(this works great), but it would be nice to know my options since I can’t exactly get more Chronicles. Have you tried Rangers or XR2’s? What about a 2.8 rear? That could help with chain line issues. Also, thanks. You and Cass Gilbert have been great resources for setting up my first 29+ bike.
They actually work well as a rear tire because they’re fast rolling and brake reasonably well. I also love the XR2s, I’ve run those for a couple years and think they’re a great tire. I had Chronicles for a long time and was sad to see them go!
The T Fatties are surprisingly good. Even in snow as a rear tire. 2.8 Maxxis Rekons have thin sidewalls and don’t like to be run at low pressure which Jeff Jones recommends. I have gone through 3! Fatties are solid.
@@jeffbettinger2465 How fast did you go through those three? I’m looking for something durable. Does the lack of cornering grip not really matter in the rear? Thanks.
I haven’t ridden a Jones LWB but I know it is a great bike to ride on. In fact, it is my Dream Bike. But I know I will never be able to afford it. It is enough that I can only dream.
Awesome review. As someone who owns the LWB and Karate Monkey, what would you recommend as a more versatile bike? I’m interested in using this bike to commute, bikepack, and occasionally hit single track trails. Thanks!
I've owned both and I'd group them two into different categories. If you want something mountain bike focused with the ability to run a suspension fork, go for the Karate Monkey. If you want to run 29 plus and want a really comfortable ride, the LWB is the better option. They'll both do great at the type of riding you're talking about.
I've realised after watching this i have 3 sets of 29er tyres and 27.5 fat wheel for my jones!😂
Yeah I realized with a boost spaced mountain bike and a plethora of fat tires, I have a lot of combos to run!
@@RideYearRound I do like the way the 150mm (hub) Jones front wheels track, but it would be so much simpler if Jones Bikes adhered to standard Boost spacing front and rear. I have hand built at least 20 custom wheels for my Jones bikes due to not being able to get off the shelf wheelsets with 150x15 F, 148x12 R hubs.
Funny you mentioned the Salsa Fargo with Jones bars. That's exactly what I have and it's my favourite do it all bike. I would like to get myself the purple Jones Lwb but it's misssion impossible in Germany.
Once they upped it to be able to fit a 29+ tire, the Fargo became really similar to the LWB. If Salsa sold it already set up with an alt/flat bar the two would pretty much be direct competitors.
@@RideYearRound thx for the feedback. It makes the fact I can't get a LWB much more bearable 😉
I have always been curious about them but haven't ever rode one.
Cool dude.
I like it at this point in my life I'm trying to go for comfort and not the style anymore having sore knees at the end of every ride is a pain in the a . I have a Norco Bigfoot love it's comfortable however just ordered some much comfortable or handlebars to alleviate hand and arm discomfort sadly I can't raise it up higher because the fork is already cut to where it's cut but this bike looks extremely comfortable and fun little pricey for me though
Sore knees? Stay away from any bike with a seat tube angle greater than 73 degrees, especially if you are going to use a dropper post (zero offset).
Try the Jones bar with a 2.5 inch rise. You won’t regret it.
You might need a bike fit, if you knees hurt that much
@@watertankhikes too late. I honestly think my saddle was to low
Are you me? lol Even looks like you're riding in my part of the universe. Glad you got to keep it for a while and sort it out. Your comments are a mirror of mine after I rode it for a while and figured out its strengths and weaknesses. Did you get a dropper on it? That definitely is a must have, like with any bike, it makes it ride shorter. I also set up two +wheelsets, one with short knobbies and one really aggressive for the gravel I have here. Bontrager XR2 and XR4's. The XR4's are awesome, I'm a tire nerd and they're as good as any enduro tire I've ever ridden.
I'm not particularly hairy so I don't think I'm you haha. I haven't put a dropper on it, but if I end up buying one that'd happen first thing because droppers are a game changer.
@@RideYearRound The Thomson Elite has worked great on my LWB so far, and has the most travel of any 27.2 dropper as far as I know. Would recommend.
PNW has a couple too, one with suspension for $200. I have a Pine, it's been flawless. @@oliverascher213
Very cool review in both of your videos! Can you retrofit a Rohloff speedhub with a Gates belt though? There seems to be no information on that out there that's newer than 2016
No. You would have to split the frame. This has been done by Cycle Monkey so there is somebody who has done it. The Rohloff is not ideal for thru axle but it can be done with an adapter and using a chain without modifying the frame. The frameset version has the adjustable front bottom bracket to tension the chain without the need for a tensioner wheel which I opted for. I was originally thinking that I might do that on my bike with a Kindernay (internal hub gearing made for thru axles) they went out of business and stock was never available. I set mine up with a very inexpensive but durable 36-22 front and 11-42 rear. It is an enjoyable setup and can climb almost anything with low of 15-16 gear inches but I do need to maintain the drivetrain.
would a suspension seatpost and stem be better!!??
While I can't address the "Cult" status, I understand the bike is a very intelligent design with a lot of thought put into it's concept. As a non MTB'er, I do wish Mr. Jones would dial back some aspects of the design to provide a stellar Commuter separate model. Perhaps a bit less tire and wheel assembly, slightly lighter overall and appropriate gearing for city and urban tarmac. Maybe even a belt drive.
I totally understand what you mean there…it for sure has a heavy dirt bias. I think you can achieve a lot of what you’re after through the set up process though by going with a lighter wheelset, smaller/smoother tires, and different gearing. You honestly could even get Jeff to set it up like that before shipping if you really wanted.
@@RideYearRound Yes, that's precisely what I'm referring to. Perhaps working from one of his LWB bare frames would make a great start. thanks for the feedback.
I picked up an LWB recently and after 4 rides totaling about 20-25 miles, the jury is still out. It’s a very comfortable ride but my biggest concern so far centers around the handling. I’m used to bikes that go where you point them, bikes that track and you can pretty much steer with your knees hands free. So far on the LWB it feels like 100% of my weight is on the back tire and the front tire is just sort of flopping around. Like I’m riding a unicycle while trying to hold the front tire steady and it’s just not happening and when trying to turn the bike around it feels like im in sand and unstable despite the tires being inflated to the max of 35psi. If im tight roping the edge of the pavement it feel almost impossible to hold a perfectly straight line as the front end likes to wander a few inches left to right which has me hesitant to even attempt any sort of technical terrain. So far I’ve had it exclusively on pavement and my intended use case was a go anywhere do anything, fun to ride bike that I could ride pavement to trail and back, try out some bikepacking, maybe even thin my stable to just the one bike. This is my first 29er an my first plus bike so perhaps I just need to give it more time but right now I’m feeling pretty frustrated and deflated.
Oof, sounds like a rough time. It definitely took me a couple rides to get used to it. A couple things, tire choice is a big deal with this bike so if you’re mostly riding pavement I’d consider moving to the “smooth” tires (unless that’s what you already have). I’ve found the t-fattys roll relatively fast for a knobby plus tire though. Second thing is back your pressure down…big tires are extra sensitive to pressure and I don’t think I’ve ever run a plus tire at more than 18 psi but typically run around 15 when I’m riding around town or on more gravel focused rides (and I’m well over 200 pounds). Not sure that’ll solve your problem, but I think it might help.
@@RideYearRoundI appreciate the reply. I’m running the VEE smooth tires right now but I’m planning to try the Cazadero or mezcal or something along those lines eventually. Maybe step down to a little thinner tire like a 2.2, maybe even explore 27.5. I’ll definitely play around with the pressure and see what happens though. I’m not giving up I think I just have a lot all at once being over 200 myself and I haven’t rode in a year or so, first 29er etc.
35 psi? Jones recommends 10-15 psi on the 29X3 tires. I run right around 15 on my LWB on hardpack, 12 on looser stuff. On my fatbike with 26X4.8's I run 10 on the trails and 6 in sand or snow. You can't think in terms of what's appropriate for a regular 2.2-2.4 mountain bike (even there 35 is too much) on a plus or fat bike.
@@RueTheDay001in the past I’ve never paid much attention to psi, I would just pump until the tires felt firm and call it good. I picked up this lwb second hand in like new condition and took it for an initial spin around the block and handling felt very loose and squishy when turning. They weren’t, but it felt like the tires were trying to slip out from under me. Maybe I just need to get used to it but it was very foreign and kinda freaked me out. I rode a little over 5 miles down a paved rail trail bike path and the squish felt like it was robbing power, like riding in sand. That too might be something I just need to get used to. When I got home I checked the tire pressure and they were around 15 psi. The tires currently on the bike are the vee speedster and according to the information I found they are max 35 psi and the more the rider weighs the higher recommended psi. I’m sitting at about 250 lbs right now and what I read lead me to believe max psi was the way to go. I appreciate the input. I’ll try and drop the pressure back down incrementally and see how it handles.
@@donusmc1 Mine came with the Vee Speedsters and I did notice they wandered a bit. Have since replaced with Bontrager XR2's and gone tubeless, much happier.
Space frame review when?
Would love to see a compare and contrast with the Trek 1120?
Completely different geometry than the LWB. Compare the two at Bike Insights.
Can anyone speak to the weight? I’m debating on buying either the steel frame or more expensive Ti frame LWB for off road touring, but have concerns about the weight of the complete bike being about 35 pounds. Any insight into this dilemma would be greatly appreciated!
Initially, my medium LWB does feel hefty, and I do find most of the weight coming from the wheelset, so yea, it feels bottom heavy, but in a good way, that's part of what makes my ride smoother, grounded and stable. I'd get a Ti frame if I can afford it too, for other reasons, but I doubt it gonna to make a whole lot of difference in weight.
Yeah it’s hard to get around the weight with a steel frame and plus tires, but there are quite a few ways you could trim it down a little with carbon h-bars, different wheels, a lighter drivetrain, etc.
Yes, its a heavy bike. The weight sort of disappears when you're riding though. It depends on your expectations - you can't keep up with people on gravel bikes, and your momentum peters out pretty quickly as you start to climb - but if you ride it like a Jones bike, then it's comfortably and capable and versatile. I never finish a ride and wish I had a lighter bike. I do finish rides on other bikes and wish they had been more versatile. I think Jeff could have shaved some weight off the Complete bikes - different tubing, different components - but I guess this is what he had to do to make it marketable. My LWB is my favorite bike, hands down. Love it.
Either I am missing something, or Ti frames is an older model, with eccentric BB. This means it shaves off the weight because of the material, but adds weight because of this extra "feature". It is like going into two opposite directions at the same time. Some people like this BB, me not, but the point is to be aware of what you are buying.
How did you like the box three drive train?
The large gaps are definitely noticeable at first, but it’s been reliable and shifts well.
Seems kind of pricey for a stiffy. Looks like a really good bikepacker.
I thought that too, but then I went and looked at prices for rigid mountain/bikepacking/atb bikes from smaller companies out there and realized it's priced pretty well. Even the Fargo Apex 1 is $2600 and Salsa is a much bigger company than Jones.
What do you think of the 9-speed?
Big gaps, but you get used to it. I’m not a huge fan of 12 speed because I feel like it is too sensitive to any dirt or anything being remotely out of sync. The 9 speed doesn’t have that problem which is nice.
These bikes are awesome, but is anyone else annoyed by how the evangelizers try to say its faster/more efficient than a gravel bike, and how its "great on the road"? (not this reviewer, very refreshing)
Not really an in depth review. I had an LWB for a few years and still have it. The "mystique" about this bike is from the designer and that "it can do it all" write up. It's no mystery ...it just sells bikes...its that simple. If a bike is said to be designed for 1 or 2 things in a sales write up, most cycling consumers would eliminate it as a purchase. Items still not covered are weight, transport size and accessories like bags and racks. These bikes are BIG, heavy and are challenging to transport/store. Very limiting choices with respect to front / rear racks and related bags. YOU have to adapt to these ridgid LWB bikes as mods are limited to things like tyers. Changing tyers is difficult on the back, impossible for the wife without assistance. Its great to talk positives but to be more realistic you should talk about negatives. These bikes aren't for everyone. They do many things well but don't really excell in any one thing. Like a swiss army knife of a bike?
I review bikes in two parts, the first video is more about specs/geo/first ride impressions and the second one (this one) is focused on my experience on it, ride feel, purpose, things to consider. I hear you on a few of your concerns, but some of them I had no issues with since I’m used to long wheelbase fat bikes with tires so big they require special racks already.
I’d also argue most bikes are designed and marketed as being for 1 or 2 things instead of being super versatile. Even looking at most manufacturer websites, the bikes are categorized into things like enduro, xc, gravel, etc. Bikepacking has changed that a little with an emphasis on doing a lot of things well, but Jones does take that a step further in some ways.
looks like high standover, i hate bike designed by tall people.
Yeah it's on the higher side, but there's always the option for the spaceframe if you have shorter legs (4" shorter standover) or you can go with the SWB which is around an inch shorter.
@@RideYearRound short guy trick. look at the bike from the side, draw a line from the top of the front tire to the top of the rear tire, where does that line cross the top tube? If its back by the seat tube rather than the middle or toward the steerer, the bike is a poor design and should be avoided. High standover sucks for tech, even for tall people.
@mustclime5311 Look at the Jones LWB Spaceframe. No standover issues at all with the Spaceframe.
What was the 29+ tire you liked in the video? Duracrux?
@johnfalconer9264 Duro Crux. Jones Bikes sells them and helped Duro push out a tubeless ready version.