Today we are delighted to introduce it's 29" wheeled sibling- The Squatch. Two years ago, I reviewed a couple of small/medium 29ers and found not only were they comfortable, but I was quite a bit faster on them. Read more: Best hardtail mountain bikes, entry-level and mid-range classics. Riding a hardtail requires extra precision so having steering that lets you manoeuvre the wheels exactly where you want massively elevates confidence levels and inspires the confidence to push boundaries. In the mean time the main details are: SA 78 HA 64 Reach 480mm size large Chain stay 430mm Seat tube 450mm BB drop 80mm = 293mm BB height 29x2.6" tyres experimenting with cushcore to run lower pressures as I'm used to 3.0" tyres on my hardtails. Got mine just before Christmas, and the teal looks great too. Words by Robert Johnston // @robert_johnston Anybody want to purchase a Kidney in used, but fair, condition or a Genesis Fugio 30 thats only been ridden a few times in fair weather? It's built around a 4130 chromoly steel frame, rolls on 29" wheels and gets a 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper post. Great review thanks.and phew as my frame arrives tomorrow! Connecting the drive side chainstay to the bottom bracket is their unique 12 bore bridge which not only looks interesting, but also allows for impressive tire clearance for the fitment of chunky 2.6 rubber and a 34t chainring with the compact 430mm rear end. Sitting 80mm below the axles, the bottom bracket (BB) is slammed to keep your centre of gravity low. The builds share the same general themes, with a 130mm RockShox Pike fork up front; SRAM brakes and Eagle 12spd drivetrain; WTB KOM trail i30 rims; Burgtec contact points, and a KS dropper. Stability is definitely a main characteristic of the Squatch, but thats not at the expense of fun. Id originally fitted the Rockstop insert since I had expected to be spending a lot of time near the rim, but the DH casing tire resulted in enough stiffness that its ultimate protection was not a necessity, so I settled for the more damping-friendly Rimpact insert, which I found to offer the best compromise of damping and cornering support with the tire at 24psi. The steep seat tube angle really comes into its own when climbing seated on the Squatch in the steepest terrain. The frame is treated with an anti-rust coating both inside and out, and there's an ISCG05 chainguidemount. That steep seat angle does come with something of a trade off, though. FedEx Orders can be tracked at https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?action=track, * Royal Mail 24 Tracked Next Working Day if ordered before 3.30pm Mon-Fri, **FedEx 24 Hour for orders placed before 12:00pm Mon-Fri. *Orders shipping to Northern Ireland via Courier will be subject to a delivery charge, we will be in touch upon receiving your order to discuss your delivery charge or you can Contact Us to discuss pricing prior to ordering. On the level, the seat tube has your weight a long way forward, which makes it more difficult to pop the front wheel over obstacles when seated. A stout 130mm travel fork nails this sweet spot and provides enough buffer to keep you out of trouble whilst always keeping the bikes geometry highly consistent. Shop sale. At the back, the shaping of the stays combined with the 2.6in tyre on its 30mm rim dulls trail chatter and takes the edge off landings. More than that, however, it simply feels dead right in every situation. There is also some visible external butting on this seat tube, adding further proof that careful thought has been put into each and every tube on the Squatch. With the cranks sitting 80mm below the wheel axles it translates to a BB height of 293mm which keeps the riders mass as low as possible creating maximum stability when cornering. Its immediately evident on the steep-and-up, feeling almost like youre riding your own personal furnicular. The Rekon makes sense to me for summer, but given I mainly ride hardtails in winter, Id always go burlier. When it has been fixed, your car has no visible or invisible damage. Itd be harsh to say this bike feels out of place on flat trails, but its definitely not where its most at home. Adventure-Ready At $585,000 Function Meets Form . Upfront, theres a Maxxis Minion DHF in 292.6in. Santa Cruz Bicycles pivot bearings are warranted for life to the original owner of the bike. Yeah, it shouldnt! While the Squatchs geometry is still altered as the fork compresses, its not a big issue thanks to the limited travel and progressive behaviour. Stif makes the Squatch in three sizes (M-XL) to suit riders from 55- 66 (165cm -198cm). Reaches are a roomy 460-500mm, with relatively short 420-480mm seat tube lengths allowing most riders to comfortably run a 175 or even 200mm post. Note: this does not apply to Kona Carbon models. Ive had my AM build for about a month now. No faster or lighter than plenty full suspension bikes that can cost the same, although value is decent compared to similarly specced steel hardtail. If any portion of the foregoing warranty (or the exclusions or limitations thereto) is deemed invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law, it shall be deemed modified so as to be valid and enforceable to the maximum extent consistent with such law. If you get a Squatch as an alternative to your full suss for winter, you might just end up reversing which one you call the big bike. You are able to track your order at https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item, For high value, pressurised or liquid goods we use FedEx Tracked 24hr service. Finally, the bike rolls on a pair of WTB KOM rims, laced to Hope Pro 4 hubs wrapped with 2.6" Maxxis rubber: a Minion DHF with EXO casing at the front, and a Rekon with a tougher EXO+ casing at the rear. KS Lev Integra, The best mountain bike: what to look for in a mountain bike, Best mountain bike jerseys: top rated tops and what to look out for, Best mountain bike mudguards: keep your eyes clear of flung filth, Best mountain bike multi-tools: rescue broken rides, Specialized Trail Rain waterproof jacket review, Altura Ridge Thermal Waterproof trousersreview, Best hardtail mountain bike 2022: classic trail shredding machines. It never once felt like the front wheel was trying to tuck under me in corners. What that also means is that as the saddle drops, the seat tube effectively steepens, something that should suit shorter riders better or so Stif says. As with any hardtail, good geometry is the key ingredient to behaviour on the trail and we wanted to push the boundaries. This means tall riders with long legs take advantage of our steep seatangle and shorter riders actually get a steeper angle still, something that better suits the proportions of shorter riders too. NEWS Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: Stif Squatch first ride review. Outrageous fun factor in the corners. One thing to remember with the low-slung BB is that it generates a longer downtube, so the medium Squatch feels more like a large full suspension bike. We are a credit broker not a lender. Therefore, 78 degrees is the slackest the seat-tube angle will ever be, meaning it effectively steepens as the saddle is dropped. Our site uses cookies to optimise your experience. For the last 4 years we've watched our original steel hardtail the Morf defy trends and changing standards to remain a rider favourite and cult legend. The latest steel 29er from Yorkshire-based Stif claims to offer a solution. Any questions please just ask. The Squatch also gets a 430mm chainstay, all this equates to a 1238mm wheelbase on a large frame. Predictable in all situations the chunky Maxxis Minion DHF holds tight lean angles, while the low-profile Rekon breaking away more readily for extra fun while keeping the cranks spinning with less effort. Hubs: Hope Pro 4 Cassette: SRAM XG 1275; 10-52T You've been subscribed to our newsletter. The 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper was flawless even in sub-zero conditions, with smooth operation and good lever feel. We approached designing this bike in two halves, one for climbing, one for descending two fairly out there numbers that create strong descending prowess and a mind-blowingly efficient climbing manner and its the 78 seatangle that making climbing a total cinch. Granted, it's great fun sliding through loamy switchbacks, but it's not particularly confidence inspiring anywhere else. The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. I do find pedal strikes come in their droves, but you learn to work around it and it's always the trade-off for low-slung stability, rather than an issue with the Squatch per se. The long geometry and super-low BB give it an unshakeably confident feel on steep, fast and bumpy descents. Stif has been mindful of enabling a generous reach value for its Squatch and as a reference, the size large frame stretches to 480mm from its front center to the rider's balance position. Off jumps and drops, and when playing with manuals and wheelies, the Squatch is definitely on the less playful end of the spectrum, thanks to that slammed BB and reasonably long reach making front end lifting require a little more body English than some. With more than twenty years of mountain biking experience, and nearly a decade of testing mountain and gravel bikes, Tom has ridden and tested thousands of bikes and products, from super-light XC race bikes through to the most powerful brakes on the market. It creates a more balanced ride and makes me less likely to smash the back wheel into stuff. SRAM G2 brakes arent as powerful as Codes for heavier riders. Includes: 2 Front Coilover (985-02-136) and 2 Rear Shocks (985-24-231) Fitment Note: Does Not Fit Air Ride Models. The Squatch hails from Yorkshire-based bike shop Stif and is an evolution of its hard-hitting, 650b-wheeled Morf hardtail. THE LAB The warranty is void if the part is modified from its original condition in any manner or used outside normal intended use, as determined by Santa Cruz Bicycles in its sole discretion. The Burgtec Cloud saddle was not the best fit for my derrire, which was only made more apparent by the lack of rear suspension ensuring every impact on the rear tire was transmitted to my body when seated, but saddles are very person-specific, and it may well work for you. Stif Squatch Pro is a progressive hardtail with a steel frame and super-low bottom bracket height, 29in wheels with 2.6in tyres enhance grip and comfort. Stif has nailed the tyre specification too. The Stif Squatch Pro sports design features from the brands 27.5in Morf frame, but with more out-there geometry that places the rider lower in the frame. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 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