2021 Salsa Timberjack Review: Loaded & Rowdy
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
- The new 2021 Salsa Timberjack got a major overhaul with a completely revamped geometry. Neil’s recent trip on the rugged Sheltowee Trace served as a variable proving ground to see what this bike is capable of. In this review, learn about the geometry updates, how it rides loaded and unloaded, and what he liked and disliked about the GX build kit...
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Outline:
Intro: 0:00
Updated Geometry and frame Spec: 0:35
Sizing and Options: 2:50
Build Kit Thoughts: 3:37
Upgraded Components: 6:06
Ride Thoughts: 7:28
Durability: 8:55
Rider Height:
177CM // 5' 9.75"
Bike Tested:
Salsa Cycles Timberjack GX Build
Mentioned Links:
How I Destroyed My Bike In 300 Miles - • How I Destroyed My Bik...
#pedalfurther #bikepacking
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Hosted by Neil Beltchenko
Music by Ben Weaver (benweaver.net)
More at bikepacking.com - Sport
Hi Neil. Bikepacking collective member here. Turned 50 this year and needed a challenge. So, I bought this exact bike a month ago intent on riding the CO Trail in July. I swapped the seat, grips and brakes (RSC), otherwise stock. Love the tire combo as well. Doing first of 2 shakedown trips tomorrow to dial in my setup. I have noticed the paint scatches from my bags, but I was really wanting to skip all the protection this time. I am a MN flatlander, so was going to drop down to 28t closer to the trip. Thanks for all the videos, they really help and inspire.
Sorry for the delay in replying here. Normally I would say no Hardtail (HT) for the Colorado Trail but after riding the Timberjack on some really challenging terrain, I no longer have those feelings, it's a great bike for the trail. Solid upgrades! Yeah, a little helicopter tape goes a long way and it's not that challenging to install. I'm doing the Colorado Trail in July also, I think I'm going to roll a 28 or 30t. I ran a 28t in 2014, that was before eagle and I got by, so I'm leaning towards 30t.
Please feel free to reach out to me personally @neil_beltchenko on Twitter or Insta if you have any other questions regarding the CT. Thanks for being a collective member and thanks for the support!
I am also thinking about buying this bike. How does it handle gravel terrain?
I also bought a Timberjack and I want to use it with my husband to ride the CO Trail. Would love to hear how your trip went.
@@BIKEPACKINGcomwren suspension review please
Mine just arrived today! Can't wait to test it out.
I'm planning a very similar trip to yours on a very similar bike. I would love to see a full gearlist video about how you packed the hardtail. It looks like you went pretty minimalist with your pack setup so I'd love to see what you brought. Thanks!
Hey Neil! Stoked all in all to hear this review of the bike. Alaskan single track tends to be flown and rooty (not a lot of need for full-squish), and I was hoping my next trail bike could also be a sweet bike packing steed, so I ended up with this exact build. As a hardtail devotee I'm used to keeping pace with much squishier bikes on the downs, but even so I've been astounded by the degree of confidence it's enabled on local features I've hardly ridden before. Definitely looking forward to upgrading wheels, bar, and cranks in the future, but for now I'm loving the stock setup and getting stoked for "shredpacking".
So awesome to hear, it’s an awesome bike, enjoy that majestic summer you have up there!
Well... thank you very much, now I want a new bike! 😩🤤
This is so nicely done. Thank you very much!
🤘🏼
I just purchased a Timberjack, two days ago actually, and I can't wait to take her on her first bikepacking adventure. My question is this: what rack would you recommend for this bike? My Trek 920 came with front and rear racks so that was a no-brainer. Thank you for your suggestions. I love your channel and your website. Keep up the amazing work.
Would you use the Timberjack for an ultra event such as the Tour Divide? Would the front end be too aggressive for the long days do you think? Or perhaps being ally, is the frame just not comfortable enough? I'm looking for something that can handle long days of very mixed terrain, From Pavement to single track
Did the CT last year on the 2020 it's definitely a rowdy hard tail.
Hello, nice review! Would you describe the frame to be more on the harsh or complaint side of scale for being an alu frame? I will buy a new hardtail frame soon and I was thinking about steel, but this TJ has ALL the geo and spec features I would like to be in a frame.... I am just hoping it has a good ride quality for all day long tours..
Hi Neil. What do you think about building up the Timberjack frame with a 120mm fork to steepen a bit the geo? Do you think it still works fine and make it less aggressive and more xc-er?
I have the 27.5 version of this bike set to the short chain stay position, and I love it. The one thing I really need to change though is the bars. I need something with more sweep and maybe rise. What bar specs would you recommend that would make the bike more comfortable on longer rides yet not go so far that it compromises trail and single track performance?
I believe that bike comes with either 25mm or 35m rise depending on size, so the rise might not be the issue but rather the sweep. I would look for a bar with more backsweep. The Salsa Rustler has 11degree back sweep. I find that to be a nice balance, between still maintaining the trail feel while being comfortable.
Any chance you guys could review the Timberjack Ti? I'd love to hear your take on the differences before I invest in my next steed.
I just picked up a 2019 to use for bikepacking. I'm debating on an alternator plus rack or bedrock black dragon? Recommendations? Thanks!
What bar bag & harness is on the bike in the vid, looks neat and tidy and a good lightweight set up, TIA
i found one just got it yesterday at revolution cycle in edmonton alberta.😁
Hi Neil.
I see you loaded up your dropper seat with an under seat bag. I have been told that that could destroy the seat mechanics. I use a 15L ortlieb seat bag which carries quite a bit. I am looking at the Salsa GX Eagle for bikepacking for just all the reasons you mentioned. I would like to reduce it's weight. I suspect wheels and handle bar would give me the best options. Any suggestions on wheels?
Does the new alternator drop out let you run a 142mm axle hub? Especially nice for SS hubs but also for getting life out of geared hubs too.BTW that’s the same tire combo I currently run on i35mm rims and CushCore.
No, you can't run a non-boost wheelset on this bike.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom actually this Alternator 2 is also compatible with 142x12 too. It’s a very similar system that I have on my Esker Hayduke and Japhy frames. Here are the specs salsacycles.com/files/tech/17702_SAL_Alternator_2.0_INST_VF_.pdf
Nice video and especially nice bike!
I got interested in this bike because I thought it is the optimal MTB-Bikepacking bike, but now were you have compared the new one to the older version I’m wondering if not the older one is better for that Job because I primarily wanted it for bikepacking and not for going down mountains or even trails and the frame geometry of the newer one looks to me more like trail riding than “nice mountain biking”... Please correct me if i’m wrong, because I would like it not to be the case! ;)
Still a wonderful bikepacking bike, nothing bikepacking centric then was taken away except the frame bag space. I found it to be simply more stable and more fun. If I were you I would move that alternator plate to the shorter position if you don’t plan on riding much trail.
How are those DHFs for long days in the saddle? Do they feel noticeably slower (i'm thinking really noticeable, not saving seconds on KOMs 😁) compared to less aggressive XC-y tyres, or are they not that bad?
They are slower but I got used to it and it was not something that frustrated me. If you are riding more road I would consider maybe just upgrading to a Rekon front tire and saving the Minion DHF for more singletrack focused rides.
I think more of these hardtails need to have sliding dropout options and at least a threaded boss on each chainstay down by the axle for racks. I'm surprised a company like Salsa didn't include the latter. It would have been super easy to integrate bosses into their dropout hanger design.
Can you run the short chainstay setting with twenty nine inch wheels?
12 spd GX: 10-52/30F=16.35 GI, FL=.58 FH= 3.00 T/MPH@90=19mph, E=520% AGS%: large. Cassette weight: Medium/Heavy.
12 spd Rival 10-36/22F=17.20 GI, FL=.61 FH= 2.2 T/MPH@100=15mph, E=360%, AGS%: small. Cassette weight: light. Better ground clearance. Better shifting via smaller ramps.
Sorry, just thinking out loud about a different drivetrain scenario. I personally would use a 2x to have the best of both worlds.
Hey, i have 2 questions: Whats that bag in the front? Is it diy? And why would i prefer a hardtail vs. a gravel bike for traveling?
It's the Outsershell Harness - outershell.com/shop/stuff-sack-harness
With a Revelate Designs Pronghorn drybag. - www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/Handlebar/pronghorndrybag
Because the geometry not only supports a bikepacking load better, but it also creates a more comfortable overall ride. It all excels ins most terrain, from rocky singletrack to pavement. Hardtails are rad!
What is that handlebar harness you are running? I have a 2018 timberjack with I9 wheels and a rogue panda frame bag.
Outershell harness, it’s my fav right now. outershell.com/shop/stuff-sack-harness
Any thoughts on the 27.5?
Me: ‘Hey, maybe I’ll try bikepacking.’
My bike, seeing all the rust on this one: ‘I…trust you?’
What grips did you switch too from the stock? Are those the Ergon GA3?
Correct.
hard to find been looking for a med frame timberjack or a rangefinder cant find any here in alberta
What bars did you put on this? Are they salsa guides? Also, wheelset or Front fork, which would you upgrade first on this?
Yep, guide 35, I think with 10* rise. I would update wheelset first.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom I just bought the SLX build, and added the same bars in the cart, glad we were on the same wavelength lol. What’re your thoughts on the RockShox 35 Silver TK Air, 130mm that some of the lower builds come with?
Wren suspension review please
Where can I get that frame bag??
I'm still vacillating between a Cutthroat and a hardtail. I really enjoy mountain biking and really like my current Intense Primer. We'll be traveling full-time in the near future and will need to go to a 1 bike option. I'm caught between a hardtail and full-suspension with a 2nd set of road wheels for it... but I dig the Cutthroat... Thanks!!!
I think that the ultimate one bike to do it all would be the 120f/120r full-suspension Transition Spur short-travel 29er. Add a second wheelset mounted up with a set of semi-slick Gravel tires which roll fast on pavement. You end up with an extremely capable Mountain bike that can be quickly converted to a very fast-rolling Gravel bike. I currently ride a full-sus XC bike mounted up with 700x43 Gravel tires which is surprisingly fast on pavement and hardpack but still performs well on rough loose gravel and easier singletrack. Gravel tires with a smooth center section like the WTB Byway roll nearly as fast as Road tires.
Love the look I of the cutthroat
I guess it all depends on the riding you find yourself doing. Now that I have some time on this bike and re-introduced myself to the HT, it's an adequate tool for so many types of riding. I love the Cutthroat also but if you find yourself on more singletrack, I'm not sure you could go wrong with a hardtail.
@@marksandoval5361 Wow, would love to see a photo of that bike!
@@marksandoval5361 Y, my Primer is 140F/130R and locked out I can easily hit 20+ mph on full knobbies. I really like the bike but there is NO room in the triangle due to the shock layout. I'll have to check out the Spur. Thanks!
HEY Salsa, release this bike without alternator but with a UDH and I buy it yesterday!!!
the rust on this chain
Dynamite review - this vs the chameleon?
kona honzo cr, good bikepacking hardtail
Great bike but really overshooting for a bikepacking bike
No way, this is a prefect bikepacking bike. Still efficient and very grounded when loaded. I even think it could be more fun if it had a slightly slacker head tube and longer front center.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom I guess depends where you are going bikepacking then, maybe in forests
Sorry, disappointed to see the changes to the Timberjack. Looks like they've gone with a more single-track/race oriented geometry. I had considered the previous model to be one of the best multi-purpose and long distance bikepacking bikes out there, especially for the price. I'm sure it will still work well for those purposes, but a reduction in the triangle, and therefor the frame bag size, is not a welcome change.
The Recon is a good bikepacking tire. The Minion DHF is kind of heavy, slow rolling, and overkill, but easily swapped out.
For bike packing might as well get a priority 600x lol chains and derailer are old tech
Pinion Gates drive is nice, but have you ever actually rode a 600x? It's like riding a beach cruiser. Van Duzer is just a freak of nature taking that thing on the CT.
I respect you biking, but from a hiker perspective that really tears up a hiking trail.
For folks trying to understand your comment, can you explain what you are talking about?
Definitely no lightweight
Kind of a waste to do a review of bike that you have done a boatload of expensive upgrades. I would have preferred a review of the stock bike.
Mark, good morning. Miles will be doing a written review in coming weeks on the XT build. Keep an eye out on Bikepacking.com. Thanks for watching, have a wonderful day.
In these cases, read between the lines. The handlebars are heavy, the wheels are specced for this price range bike and the crank is specced like the wheels. Essentially, he gave that review.
He changed everything but the frame fork and seat post . $$$ . I don’t have that much money to lose. It’s a impressive bike after the changes. . 4K $$$
@@billmondock3558 I was thinking exactly. He basically replaced what he didn't care for then reviewed his upgraded version. It's really two reviews if you feel like wasting time thinking through the one that's hidden 🤔
Significant numbers of people watching this video and considering a purchase of this bike are beyond amateur/newbie MTBers and are likely to be making similar revisions to the bike components because they have the experience to know what components they like and prefer and what works for the terrain they ride.
While you might not select the exact same component swaps he did, you'd probably be swapping to your preferred manufacturers and parts for the terrain you're likely to ride, and your review of the bike would likely be VERY similar to this once you made your preferred swaps.
Bottom line: This is the kind of review I'd prefer to see.
It drives me nuts to watch the dozens of reviews on CZcams of floor-spec bikes and then hear reviewers complain about wheel and tire spec because they have experience with tubeless and higher-end parts and components that work better and are lighter, etc.
Give me a real-world representation of what the bike is likely to look like 6-12 months (and beyond) into the bike's ownership, and not a whiney review about the stock heavy wheels and tubed tires, low-grade components, etc.
Spot on review bikepacking.com! Thank you!