Better in Every Way - The RSD RS-291 Review + A Big Announcement from RSD
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- čas přidán 28. 01. 2022
- The RS-291 is RSD's newest model, designed to be an aggro, hardcore 29er hardtail. Last year I had the chance to ride and review the prototype version of this bike, and I didn't love it. RSD made some changes to the production model, and today we take a look at the production model of the RS-291. Great news: Alex (the owner of RSD) has decided to offer 5% off for any hartailparty subscribers. Simply use coupon code "party" at checkout at rsdbikes.com to get your 5% off.
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Whoops, I said 2033 but i meant 2023. I still forget what year it is now...
😂😂
We knew what you meant
Leave it to me to botch the special announcement.
Hah, I thought that was a very early April fools Easter egg just to see who’s really watching the full video.
With the current bike/parts shortage situation, we're used to waiting anyway! Shouldn't be too hard to wait 11 years 😂
Thanks for the detailed review!
Interesting discussion about geo. While I was waiting (almost a year) to get my modern-geo Fluid HT, I rode the only other bike I still owned, an old-geo over-forked 26er Shogun hardtail - 20 years old! I measured the geo one day. 67 degree HA, 69 degree SA!, 380mm reach, 100mm stem, 610 horizontal top tube. 590mm wide bars. I had some great all-day rides on that bike on all sorts of terrain. Yet the moment I got my new bike with 470mm reach and rode it down a small descent, I knew straight away how much better the new-geo was. It only took about 15 mins to adjust. Largely it was making sure my weight was forward to stop the front wheel washing out. The secret as Steve mentions in this vid, is to not go overboard with mega slack geo if you don't need it. I'm quite comfortable admitting that I'm a blue trail rider 90% of the time so my bike is slack but not crazy-slack. I don't need a 170mm hardtail with a 63 degree head angle.
Awesome review!! That bike looks amazing and you're crushing those tech climbs.
Thanks!
Sargeant V4 next! RSD making such good HTs!
Great review Steve. Looks like a great bike, too much for what I need. My son has a Wildcat and he loves it. Thanks for the videos this week. 👍
I ride a Wildcat! 27.5x2.6 is how I have it set up!
I like the steep seat angles with long reach, and I don't have very steep trails where I live. It does help pedaling up especially when it gets a little technical. Just preference... we're lucky there are so many great bikes and geos to choose from these days.
I bought one of the first RS291’s to ship. I shortened the stem to 40mm and actually bumped the fork up to 160 after riding at 150 for a couple months. I like the 175 cranks so adjusting the DVO up to 160 gave me a few mm of BB height so It seems to have helped with bash guard and pedal strikes on some technical or steep break over areas on my local trails. Very few options out there with this kind of geo, designed around 29” tires, threaded BB, and tabs.
I have been riding and racing mountain bikes since 1982. I absolutely love the new geometries that are available. The bikes are way more controlled and pleasant to ride in every way. I can’t see how they can get much better than they currently are.
I want! Thanks for the amazing review :-)
Great review looks a fantastic bike love the modern geo stuff . I have just recently built a chromag rootdown 29x2.6 and diamond d1 . I know you arent a bike fan of the chromags but going to that from my 2010 on one 456 the difference is crazy . Keep going with the awesome content !
Chromag makes great bikes, they just don't suit my riding style
Another great review, you are in such amazing shape, climbing and telling the story at the same time. Didn’t find the Easter egg, watching again!!
The Easter egg was the announcement from RSD about a future version of this model.
Steve, watched again and saw it! Thanks for the hint. Have a fantastic weekend
Good review 👍 especially fun watching this as we are getting buried with snow out here in Connecticut 😂😂
I find with DVO forks that they're happiest at 30% sag, and the "recommended" settings are usually too high on the LSC. I actually find the Onyx SC on my bike is smoother on chattery trails than a Fox 36
Beautiful frame. Love the color. If it rode better I would consider buying it and comparing it to my honzo esd.
At the start after you said the weight I was wondering if they would have a titanium model ,👍👍👍
I was going to save a dollar a day for the next 11 years for the titanium version. Now I will have to save $15 a day to get one next year. There goes my daily trip to Starbucks not ordering food out for the next year.
I like the in between geometry with a more upright position but I’m not so much for hard trails and beating strava times. Im more for longer days of exploration and bikepacking.
I completely agree a heavier bike does monster truck over chunky trails better. The Ti frame comparison would be awesome. For me I like frames that have a nice level of frame feedback and is flexible for my small weight and not overbuilt
My beefy BTR weights in at 33.7lbs no issues with climbs 🤘🏼
Sick review as always. Titanium would be welcome for such a heavy frame, but glad it rides so well despite the weight. Great work on all that rock crawling. I love stuff like that.
I've watched my titanium dream go up in smoke today. Furnace went out in the middle of the night with temps in the single digits. "Because of COVID" replacement parts not available so writing a check for $5600 for the new furnace that's being installed right now. I'll still get a Maniak, just not as soon as I want. 😞
Noooooo. Sorry to hear that.
16:21 probably the main reason I am getting this frame.
The Kona Honzo ESD I ordered is taking too long to get here.
I think that fork is adjustable up or down 10mil. A nice feature for this bike. I would probably drop it to 140mm.
Got the middle child a couple of months ago and I love it!
It's a special one
Very nice bike. When I see you reviewing bike like this one I always think that I wish mine bike had slacker head tube, longer reach and etc. Then I realize that I picked the right bike for terrain where I ride. I have an 29er bike with 66 headtube angle, 431 reach - for a L size!, higher stack - 635, longer chainstay 445 and 1187 whellbase. So it is quite short allrounder. I know that you are considering bikes with longer chainstay than reach as unballanced. But due to its shorteness and hight stack it is quite playfull and agile. Seated position is more upright so it is comfortable for longer rides. And downhills are soo fun on it too. So as you have saind theese agressive shredders are not for everyone. And the terrain you ride the most is the key when choosing a bike. Great reivew as always!
I've been trying to get one ever since it was announced. No luck yet.
MAN I love these vids, just wish there was more variance in terrain. Living in Southern Ontario, my terrain looks NOTHING like that🤣
Nice review , im looking between frames,the chromag doctahawk and this frame . I’m looking to replace the meta ht i have for something more supple and slack . The only problem i have is my forks are 170mm with would fit the chromag perfectly but is twice the price . i cant afford a new fork but i know i ca reduce the travel of the fox 36 .
Got mines built up overforked 170mm.
Also single speed. Got a 170 because it was on sale, plan was to lower it, but figure to see how bad 170 would be.
I am really surprised how well it did. Seems like i may keep it 170mm No problems sitting and pedalling up hill or going down. I typically ride a large, but got a xl on sale, bolted on a 35mm stem to bring the reach in
Just got a frame. Lets see how it goes
I think the Titanium version could be a one bike quiver for many people - come on Alex get one to Steve!!
Great review again Steve!
Hoping that you will review the Nukeproof Scout soon. A realy great hardtail (maybe one of the best hardtail in the market??)I am couroius how you will review this bike!
I've been trying to get one for years. No luck. I'm not sure it's the best in the market, but it's inexpensive.
Apart from material is looks like a Saracen zenith LSL or the Ragley mmbop.
Bring it to Spokane and introduce your MC to my Wildcat!
Very good to know , I am looking at a few hardcore hard tails , I am considering this or a Honzo ESD . I may reach out to you on consultation services
Now we need a Sargent V4 review. Good to hear the production model is better.
I'm pretty excited about that one. I'm working with Alex to get one in.
@@hardtailparty your reviews have led me to pick up an mmmbop, a paradox, and the Sargent V4. You sir are a bad influence on my wallet 😜
You mentioned the Stif Squatch in the review, have you ridden a Squatch yet and do you have a review coming?
3 vids this week? Nice!
Thanks! I've been an editing fool this week. I've got a lot of bike reviews to catch up on.
@@hardtailparty We appreciate it, good sir!
How does this feel compared to the Ragley Big Wig?
Nice review! You mentioned the Stif Squatch, have you tested it? I would be super interested in your opinion.
Nope, not yet. Its been on my list for a LONG time now.
I have a Squatch and it rides fantastic. It’s got a very smooth feel to it, is rather light and the geo is perfect for both steep climbs and rowdy descents. The low BB makes it less ideal for tech climbs, it’s the only downside for me
It would be cool if you reviewed a few bikes in Squamish or Whistler. The terrain is so different than the desert. I’m interested in see how this affects your preferences for geo!
Ive ridden Squamish and whistler. Cool trails. International travel is out of the budget at the moment, but maybe one day I'll make it back.
My hardtail has a 51 degree offset . My full suspension is 44 . The difference for me is the hardtail with the 51 I like to weight more on the front wheel . The 44 I am looser on the bars and weighting back a bit . Also my attack position is different on the steeps with the 51 as I will weight the front more where I hang back on the 44 . I have only had longer longer reach bikes . My body type is probably the opposite of yours . Great review
I think that's more due to FS technique vs Hardrail technique than offset. I do the same thing, because FS rewards a rearward bias where the hardtail rewards a forward bias.
Interesting. I'll have to compare my bikes. I've been a long time hardtail rider and just got a Ripmo AF. I haven't noticed that many technique differences, other than being able to sit more, but I've only had it a few weeks and haven't tested the limits yet.
@@hardtailparty What do you "feel" with different fork offsets? I just bought a Slackline, and they recommend 38mm offset fork, but I found a Fox Factory with 44mm. Is that really different?
How does this RSS offering compare to the Pipedream Sirius S5?
Both modern geo & 29er, but the S5 optimized for a 120mm fork; I wonder what’s different or even similar in ride feel & quality?
Congrats on the grrrreat content!
These are the types of questions I tackle in my bike consultation service.
Steve what do you think about downsizing the fork to 140 or even 130 and then it would steepen the HA a little bit? Would it change the geo too much and change the ride? A titanium frame with a 140 Pike would be sweet and would be a lot lighter and ridable for long days! Thanks for your reviews.
I think it would throw off geo too much. See my binary Maniak for the bike you describe.
Good
Given the crazy-slack head angle, I’m surprised there’s no weld reinforcement under the down tube at the head tube.
RSD has some BURLY bikes, i wouldn't worry about the strength of this frame.
If this bike was built up with a light wheelset would it be a bit more fun to ride?
I'm wondering what this bike would be like with a 140mm fork (like a Fox 36 or RS 35) which is about as much travel as a Hardtail needs. That would give it a 76* STA and 64* HTA which I consider about perfect geo for a Hardtail. To bad the frame is so heavy. Maybe RSD will produce an lighter aluminum version? I'm wondering if the 291 would fit a 29x2.8 tire with the dropouts pushed all the way back?
Sounds like you'd dig the Maniak
Steve dropped an (easter egg) announcement in the vid about an upcoming lighter version
Hey can you review the Salsa Rangefinder Advent X? LBS has that or various Rockhoppers...
I don't know about the Salsa, but I have the AdventX drivetrain. It's awesome
Could you please do a review on the Ribble HT AL..
That's up to Ribble. I haven't been able to convince them to send one in for review yet.
Any chance you’re going to review the RSD Sergant V4? Interested i your thoughts
Yes
You mention reach alot, but how do you factor in top tube length? or do you ever factor in top tube length when sizing?
I never factor in ACTUAL TT length, but I do take effecrive top tube into account. See my video on bike sizing and my video on whether geo charts are accurate or not
This is completely off topic I have a specialized fuse comp 29er and want to upgrade the fork to a 150 or 160 but the offset is 51mm that I am looking at from the original is 46mm offset what’s the difference
See my video on fork offset
i wanna see a jeff jones space frame review.
Me too. Shot em an email telling them why you'd like to see one on the channel. Maybe we'll be able to get one in.
So does a steeper seat angle affect the cranks length a guy should run?
Not in my opinion.
How does this compare to the chameleon?
What do you think about under-forking this bike?
I think there are bikes that will handle better than underforking this one. If you already have one, go for it, but I wouldn't buy one with the intention to underfork.
Easter egg=HT party is building a pump track bike
did you say Ti version in 2033?
I’m guessing he meant 2023. The “hover” version is coming in 2033.
I probably did. I meant 2023. Sometimes my brain has a hard time processing information while riding tech. I somehow missed it in the editing process.
Frame weight in chromoly means that frame will last a freaking lifetime!
Scorpion and pyramid?
Yup. and a few others.
Any chance to ride a Nukeproof Scout?
Nope. Been trying to get one for years.
@@hardtailparty I just ordered a frame from Chain Reaction for $500, got it in 5 days. Gonna run 27.5+ 2.8s.
@@jeffp5418 nukeproof should send me one then. They keep telling me they don't have any in stock. I can't afford to buy bikes just to review them. If I'm lucky a review video makes $35 on ad revenue.
@@hardtailparty Oh man, ya they seem more interested in their European guys. What size do you need? I might have access to a Medium to loan you.
I'm between a medium and a large. They say i should be on a medium, so that's what I'm looking for.
Spoiler alert: Easter egg was a literal Easter egg.