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Salsa has embraced the challenge of making this new platform viable, and the Pony Rustler is an shining example of what plus sized tires are all about. Originally published in The Bikepacking Journal 03, Ditibised is Alexandera Houchin’s extraordinary story of training for the Tour Divide, framed in four seasons…. Reviews, ratings, specifications, weight, price and more for the 2019 Salsa Rustler Carbon NX Eagle Bike Has it improved my skill level? It’s also worth elaborating on Salsa’s choice of tires in the bikepacking context. Read more here. An in-depth look into the 2019 Salsa Rustler Split Pivot full suspension mountain bike. It’s been on four bikepacking trips in the North Carolina Appalachians and tirelessly trail tested in the Pisgah Ranger and Grandfather Districts. January 11, 2016 By Jonathon Weber Social icon website Social icon rss. The Salsa Rustler is a playful 27.5 trail bike with gobs of tire clearance. This combo also keeps small bump chatter to a minimum. While others took a modest approach with 2.8” tires, Salsa aimed to harness the volume, operating pressure and traction characteristics of the true 3” plus platform. This full-suspension bike features mid-fat 27.5 x 3.0-inch tires for unbelievable grip, and 120mm of Split … Later, I mounted a harness in the front and the slimmer Mr. Fusion V2 seat pack. The Pony Rustler holds its ground while climbing as well. It’s evolution, not a battle for the appropriate yardstick of radness. If you're the type of rider who takes a more casual and easy-going approach to your riding then the Horsethief Deoremight be right up your alley. All of their good traits might just be a result of the thicker than normal casing. Bigger tires allow more traction, better rollover and unprecedented stability. I run a set of them on my … Click the link below to find out how to start. 2019. Cick the link to see them plotted or select from the links to the right to filter. The Salsa Rustler offers 130mm of Split Pivot mediated rear wheel travel, designed to be supportive throughout the stroke, active under braking, while still offering an efficient pedalling platform. There are a few other things to note about the bike’s overall design. They don’t feel as sluggish as one might guess by their looks. Rustler is Salsa’s 27.5+ trail bike that’s loaded with features. A short chainstay and slack 68.1° head angle coupled with a rather low ~13” bottom bracket makes for a fancy free modern trail geometry. To each his or her own. So I happily shelved my ego, embraced my average technical riding skills, and spent over three months on this beast. Finally, the Rustler is Salsa's new playful 27.5 trail bike. In fact, the Pony Rustler felt at home when loaded down for a three or four day trip. The Pony Rustler can be easily outfitted into the perfect bikepacking rig. The Beargrease is more capable and fun to ride on the descents than you might expect a fully rigid bike to be. Shop similar products. As for that design, Joe Meiser, product manager at Salsa, explains that the Pony Rustler was crafted to add to the … In this feature story, Ben Page offers a reminder of the value of getting out on shorter, simpler trips, instead of getting wrapped up in planning something big... Lines ignored. If I had to find one complaint it would be in the 32 tooth chainring. You should not have to do this more than once. Salsa Rustler Carbon XTR Bike. However, so far they’ve proven extremely durable. A comfortable handlebar will keep you wanting to ride longer. This resulted in a sloppy ride and too many pedal strikes. Corners railed. Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. But the Minneapolis-based brand that's owned by mega-distributor QBP is pushing hard to make a name in the traditional mountain bike space, this week launching a trifecta of revamped trail chargers, the 29er Spearfish and Horsethief (available now), and 27.5 Rustler (available starting at the end of March). After all, that’s the original criterion on which this sport was built. They allow access to more terrain, and make longer days in the saddle more efficient, less taxing, and more interesting. None of the bikes are totally brand new, but all have been rejiggered with a host of contemporary technology updates aimed at earning Salsa a more prominent place at the mainstream mountain bike table. Rocky Mountain even offered a sarcastic take on such slander with the release of their own 27.5+ Pipeline and its ‘Dumbing Down the Shore’ campaign. Horsethief and Rustler updates. This bike performs very well at more moderate speeds and in less aggressive terrain with a somewhat conservative geometry. If any body chooses to deem a rider less-than because of their choice of bicycle, I think the accuser should be limited to a singlespeed 26” rigid bike with 2” tires and a coaster brake. The returns on investments were not enough to sustain it and in 1997, Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) obtained full ownership of the company. Ultimately I preferred to lock them out completely for extended and/or steep climbs. Review: Salsa Pony Rustler – A Bike That Can Handle Trails with Poise. #salsa #horsethief #bikecheck A VERY quick bike check on my new 2020 Salsa Horsethief. The bike handles beautifully, begs to be pushed and carved on singletrack, and rails corners like a dream. The softer tire pressure compensated perfectly for the loss of suspension these situations. This allows plenty of chain clearance for the big tires and adds to the overall stiffness of the bike. Although the new Rustler can probably clear 27.5 x 3.0″ tires, Salsa states that the Rustler fits 27.5″ tires ranging from 2.3–2.8″. Perhaps big tires offer too much traction for the purist mountain biker? Whether you are out exploring a new trail or devouring your favorite descent, … Rock gardens manicured. The Rustler is Salsa’s playful and dynamic technical trail bike. When not donning a framebag, the same triangle fits a full-sized water bottle. Maybe 2.25” isn’t what all trails should be measured by. It also maximized the suspension, and made it come to life on the trail. The Salsa Pony Rustler was provided for testing and review. ... View the reviews … Then, they built a short travel, full-suspension bike around it. Preface: this article is one part opinion, two parts review…. The Salsa Rustler has 130mm rear travel and 150mm up front. Weight: 170 lbs To put the cart way before the Pony, this bike excels here. Several companies debuted 27.5+ plus hardtails in 2016, but just a handful merged full-suspension with voluminous rubber. Seek out features in the trail to find your flow; pop … Maybe it was the fault of lingering muscle memory that had manifested itself over a winter of riding a rigid 29er. Click to share on Facebook … I hope you guys end up doing a review on the Rustler. Salsa rolled out the Pony Rustler GX1 with a choice and generally sturdy built kit. I’ve never heard anyone complain about too much traction. Brand: Salsa, Product: Rustler SLX We designed Rustler SLX to make the most of every trail you ride. Specs, reviews & prices for the 2020 Salsa Rustler SX Eagle. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Overall Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot suspension design is pretty amazing, and certainly one of the most stable and confident platforms I’ve ridden to date. Why then have long-travel bikes not garnered such judgement; do they not make trail riding easier by smoothing out the rough edges? Online & in Portland Oregon since 1997. The Bridgers have a stout feel, incredible cornering prowess and bar-none traction. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I personally love the platform. It's not racy, it's not especially playful, nor is it a downhill crusher. We believe travel by bicycle encourages conservation and inspires respect for people and cultures. Needless to say, the fear of being mocked by other mountain bikers didn’t hinder my excitement to try the Pony Rustler. Support us and pass it along... to support us & get The Bikepacking Journal. The Salsa Rustler Riser Handlebars are tough, durable, and comfortable. Reviews, ratings, specifications, weight, price and more for the 2020 Salsa Rustler SX Eagle Bike Salsa 35.0 Carbon Tape/Grips Salsa File Tread Lock-On Stem Salsa Guide 35.0 Brakes Shimano XTR Trail four-piston, 180mm rotors Saddle WTB Volt Comp Seat Post TranzX YSI05 w/ Shimano Lever, … Salsa rolled out the Pony Rustler GX1 with a choice and generally sturdy built kit. Would the Pony Rustler be too much bike for your average local municipal trail? Eventually I found the ideal setup by introducing a bit more pressure in both the fork and shock, and dropping the PSI in the tubeless tires to the mid to low teens. Salsa Rustler SLX 27.5 Complete Bike - Black :: From $3199.00 :: Salsa Mountain Bikes - 27.5" :: UniversalCycles.com - 30,000+ mountain & road cycling parts. But now that real full suspension mountain bikes are mutating, shod with wide rims and 3” doughnut rubber, these bikes and their riders are taking jabs. We designed Rustler SLX to make the most of every trail you ride. There is probably no better place to prove the Pony Rustler. First off, it’s a really solid bike. Salsa Cycles started out as a company based in California that specialized in designing and engineering mountain bikes. With 120mm rear travel and 130mm up front — and the added suspension characteristics of the beefy 3” tires — Salsa built the Pony Rustler for chunky backcountry terrain that warrants added control and traction. Look for a long-term review sometime soon. They passed as an eccentricity limited to rigid frames and a mostly older crowd. Make the most of every trail you ride with the playful, quick-handling … others did. It took an outing or two and some adjustment to dial in the ride and feel I was looking for. Even at lower pressures, the tires still felt solid in the corners with no folding to speak of. Fat Bike Worlds: The gear and apparel we trained and raced with, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Prove Humanity: Please click here to start. The Split Pivot linkage makes it a highly capable climber, the geometry … With a great build kit and carbon frame, the GX1 model makes for an excellent choice as a go-to, go-anywhere trail bike. All in all Salsa’s 2019 Rustler proved to be a solid riding trail bike with a versatile setup and a poppy, playful attitude. I see plus tires not as an industry forced gimmick, but as an evolution of what the mountain bike can be. The fairly aggressive WTB Bridgers are on the heavier end of the plus tire spectrum — 1207g. The GX1 drivetrain is fairly snappy and the SRAM Guide R brakes are equally impressive. The fourth issue of The Bikepacking Journal hit mailboxes this spring. In addition to the large footprint, the Pony Rustler has a 148 x 12mm axle spacing and BOOST crankset specification. Salsa … Everything down to the short Salsa Guide stem feels like it was handpicked for where and how the bike … Whether plus bikes should be accused of dumbing down trails is just a negative terminology debate, born from machismo perhaps. Maybe they reduce the margin of error on classic lines? We provide inspiration and information through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of gear, news, and events that help our community thrive. At first, I tuned the suspension too soft, with a travel akin to what I’d ridden on 26” full-suspension bikes — based on sag and normal tire pressure. Some might say that the mountain bike industry landed on the 2.25” tire standard by chance. Close. Playful geometry with 130 mm of rear suspension travel coupled with a 150 mm fork equips Rustler for big terrain, while the 6066-T6 … Inseam: 33”. It replaces the Pony Rustler, which was actually just the former Horsethief spec'd with plus wheels and tires. Roots degreased. In essence, plus bikes let us travel places we might otherwise miss. Oddly enough, 27.5+ has quickly gained traction in the industry, while only a handful of companies have focused their efforts on 29+. The Rustler is Salsa's playful and dynamic technical trail bike. But in Pisgah, it helps put the metaphorical bridle on an otherwise unruly horse. Click the link below to learn about each. Since then, it has continued to supply Salsa … Brand: Salsa, Product: Rustler Carbon Handlebar Whatever your adventure, Rustler handlebars are tough, durable, and comfortable. Salsa's two shorter-travel 29ers get some major updates and two full size water bottles. Also, the Pony Rustler frame retains its capacity to run 29 x 2.25-2.4” wheels/tires, which allows riders to toggle between 29 and 27.5+ should they wish. While loping down craggy and gnarly terrain, the suspension, meaty tires and low tire pressure creates a tour de force that wrangles roots, jagged rocks and off-camber pitches without exception. The slightly smaller wheel size is a welcome shift to the plus movement; popular opinion is that it offers a more nimble ride than it’s predecessor, which makes it more approachable to skinny tire converts. Learn more on SalsaCycles.com. The new Rustler has 130mm … … For years this standard hasn’t really been challenged, until now. To be honest, the Pony Rustler felt a little off to me initially. On our first couple of outings I employed the larger new Ortlieb bags, which were a little big for a full-sus setup. Over a winter of riding a rigid 29er 33 ” enough, 27.5+ has quickly gained traction in the and. You to get creative with your trail riding easier by smoothing out the rough edges a. Be too much traction about dropper seatposts ; that ’ s maneuverable slow... 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