It also compensates nicely for the short 430mm chainstays by sitting your weight very centrally on the bike, keeping the front wheel nicely weighted whatever the gradient. Yes, we have renamed our weekly deals roundup feature. eMTB Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. Santa Cruz carbon handlebars are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for life from the original date of purchase. 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. Simply going 'along' really isn't its forte. The more budget-minded AM build retails at 1899.99 (roughly $2650) with the Pro spec tested coming in at 2499.99 ($3450). Now, at the same time as they launched their new range-topping Summit series, which starts at $169,900, comes the Expedition Series camper trailer. I should lead this section by saying that I am far from a hardcore hardtail specialist, so I cannot provide much useful comparison to the competitors. Looking down to where the drive-side chainstay meets the BB shell is our signature 12 Bore chainstay bridge that gives a dialled chainline with upto a 34T chainring and clearance for chunky mud-shed 2.6 tyres. For full details of our returns policy, follow this link. The main take-away was the unfaltering predictability that let me preempt the reaction of the bike at any given moment on the climbs. Colour options are a little more conservative than the banana yellow of 2016, with options of teal, ivory and silver. It is seriously hard to think of a bike Ive ridden that can match its sheer hunger for speed when the terrain is below a certain threshold of roughness. Along with the four carbon models, BMC also introduced two aluminum models that both come in well under $2,000. My inseam is around 78cm, and Ive not been able to take advantage of the posts full travel. Yes, 2,500 is a lot of money to throw at a hardtail, but for what you're getting the Squatch represents pretty good value. Deputy Tech Editor here at off.road.cc Liam can alsobe found photographing bikes as well as riding them. Took a good few rides to settle in on it as I went with the XL which is several furlongs bigger than any of my other bikes, its massive and I probably should have gone with L. Now Im used to it I absolutely love it and I suspect Ill struggle on what now looks like my comically small full susser. New York Mills, Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, HG3 4LA, 5-7 High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1JJ, 2023, Jungle Products Ltd Trading as Stif Mountain Bikes. Keep it within its capabilities though, and the Squatch makes for a riot of a time. It also makes mefeel very 'perched on top,' and I need to get out of the saddle toshift weight backwards before pedalling into a bunch of roots, or square edges. The Squatch defies being pigeon holed to any discipline, It's ready for wherever you want to take it. Rims: WTB KOM trail i30 Various wall thicknesses and tubing profiles used to optimise ride feel, vibration dampening and compliance. TERMS OF USE The register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk. Visit One News Page for Meta Platforms news updates from around the world, aggregated from leading sources including newswires, newspapers and broadcast media. CONTACT US Initial setup of the Squatchs suspension takes about half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect. On those super-steep trails, that long and slack front end makes for a welcome safety blanket, offering heaps of control and predictability. Hit compare to see this Stif side-by-side with your bike. 704348. Burgtecs Enduro 30mm rise bar; 35mm long Enduro MK3 stem; and Cloud chromo saddle provide high quality contact points, with a set of Penthouse MK4 composite pedals included with every full build to round it out. With the 78 effective seat angle, winching uphill is comfortable too. The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. A well-equipped auto body repair shop has the necessary equipment to check the suspension. Its sorted with rebound adjustment and high and low speed compression settings, and our test unit already had two bottomless tokens installed to increase its progression. Stif Bicycles are the spawn of Stif Mountain Bikes, a prolific UK bike shop in operation since 1984. The return process is simple: Fill out the Warranty Bearing Replacement Form, upload a copy of your purchase receipt, and we'll get a new set of bearings out to you within 48 hours! Santa Cruz Bicycles pivot bearings are warranted for life to the original owner of the bike. COMPONENT REVIEWS Outrageous fun factor in the corners. Here we have the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200. Stif Squatch Frame Features Recommended Fork Travel: 130mm Max Fork Travel: 140mm Brake Mounts: 160mm Post Mount Headset Size: Top: ZS44/28.6 - Bottom: EC44/40 ICSG-05 Tabs: Yes Seatpost Diameter: 30.9mm Seat Clamp Diameter: 34.9mm Bottom Bracket Size: 73mm Threaded BSA Max Tyre Size: 2.6" Recommended Crank Length: 170mm Max Chainring Size: 34t The chainstays are svelte as they loop up towards the rear axle and the seatstays are flattened in the middle, presumably to add comfort. Stif also says its key in allowing the short 430mm chainstays. Granted, it's great fun sliding through loamy switchbacks, but it's not particularly confidence inspiring anywhere else. Climbs like a dream and is the most comfortable HT frame I have ever ridden. Outside of testing bikes, Tom competes in a wide range of mountain bike races, from multi-day enduros through to 24-hour races in the depths of the Scottish winter pushing bikes, components and his legs to their limits. Point it at a bigger lip though and it is quite happy flying high at speed, being stable in the air and allowing for more sketchy landings to be survived thanks to its inherent stability. A thoroughly contemporary hardtail thats a proper hard-charger on technical trails. Here we have the Stif Squatch in its priciest build, the AM 200. THE DIRT Reach figures are long 480mm on the large and paired with a slack 64-degree head angle to keep the front-centre roomy. A brief experiment with a more active fork took a little bit of sting out of the hands but reduced the overall composure of the bike and made for a less controlled ride, so I was quick to return to the slightly stiffer setup. It gives a proper weld surface without sacrificing tube stiffness. Stif has welded a collection of custom steel tubes together in a fairly radical shape to create a frame that should mirror some of the characteristics of a longer-travel full-suspension bike. To keep things as simple and reliable as possible theres no weird standards theres a threaded BB, a standard 44mm headtube and everyday seat tube and clamp diameters. The curve in the seat tube means you have a minimum 78 degree seat angle from rails to bottom bracket; if youre not so tall and run your seat lower than the maximum height, that effective seat angle gets even steeper. THE LAB The bottom bracket is pedal-strikingly low at 293mm and, when paired with the bikes length, offers a super stable ride in corners. Common to these sizes is a 64-degree head angle; 78-degree seat angle (effective, at max extension); 430mm chainstays and 80mm bottom bracket drop. Stif wanted the Squatch to be at the forefront of capabilities for an all-mountain hardtail; so it sports some fairly extreme geometry numbers that would have been considered obscene a few years ago, without tipping into the insane realm. Well Bastard Fast is the motto of Stif and proudly written on the Squatch chainstay, and the performance certainly lives up to it in the correct terrain. These G2 RSCs did absolutely fine by me in testing, but Ive been extensively spoiled by other, more exotic brakes and would slap some on any bike in a heartbeat. Its the best hardtail Ive ridden. After the success of the Morf, a 650b steel hardtail designed to be a companion to a full-suspension bike, Stif has answered the calls for the same ride qual. While the Squatchs geometry is still altered as the fork compresses, its not a big issue thanks to the limited travel and progressive behaviour. 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. Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: The other Stif Squatch build options are PRO 200, which is the same as this with a longer dropper post, and the AM, which drops to a Pike Select+, NX drivetrain, different KS seatpost, and Guide T brakes. Given that hardtails are ideally around 20mm shorter than full suspension bikes to compensate for the fork compressing independently, you may want to down size on the Squatch. The Squatch ticks all the boxes when it comes to the desirables for consumers and mechanics alike: ISCG-05 tabs sit around the bb for those looking to add some drivetrain security; there is a threaded bb and external cable routing all around to make maintenance a breeze; a 44mm headtube and 12x148mm rear axle for the most universal compatibility; and bolt-on dropouts to ensure its not the end of the frames life if the worst was to happen. The Stif Squatch AM will set you back 1,900 with the PRO priced at 2,500. Being used to the dynamics of full suspension rigs had me struggling to maintain the correct weight balance for the first couple of rides, since your body inputs have a very different effect when only the fork compresses, but once this hurdle was overcome it was an animal that was incredibly hard to unsettle. In the rough, no hardtail is truly going to compete with a full-sus, but the Squatch comes as close as any Ive tried. Stack reads high on paper at 653mm for M and L and 661mm on the XL frame (with the differences dictated by the 10mm extra length on the headtube of the XL), but again this number should not feel so extreme when compared to a full suspension machine. First thing's first, the frame. It never once felt like the front wheel was trying to tuck under me in corners. Pike Ultimate Rockshox are always very forgiving of setup variance, and Im used to getting them from good initial setups to feeling great. Any questions please just ask. The lever feel and modulation offered by the SRAM G2 RSCs is good, but their ultimate power fell short of my demands, which led to a few scary run-away moments on the steeper trails. The best hardtail geometry Ive ridden combined with a supple steel feel and 2.6in tyres that smooth out vibrations and reduce fatigue. Great review thanks.and phew as my frame arrives tomorrow! If you need any help, advice or technical info on the Stif Squatch, our resident experts are: Perfectly poised, way more compliant than most of its rivals and also nimble and easy to chuck around, the well thought-out Stif Squatch Pro is a compelling package. Unfortunately, the EXO+ casing was not quite up to scratch for the type of riding the Squatch encourages, leading to its early demise and a sad walk back to the van on the Squatchs second outing (thanks to a seized axle preventing the fitment of a spare tube). Why should a bike thats been designed to rip on the descents be compromised on the climbs? FOX FACTORY RACING SHOX LOGO Sticker By allnewproducts From 1.61 100 Motocross Sticker By deannaburg From 1.39 Fox Racing Sticker By drinkwaffle From 1.39 Rockstar Sticker By VirginiaCummi From 1.29 Official Fox Merchandise Sticker By sallieocha From 3.21 UNIQUE Fox design - Watercolor Sticker By Gawop From 2.14 NO FEAR Sticker The warranty for damage arising from accidents, crashes and other impacts is limited to offered replacement at a reduced charge as set forth above. Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC | 200/180 Yes, the elephant in the room here is the ultra low BB reducing ground clearance, but I simply didnt find it an issue with the 170mm crankarms. The Pipedream Moxie is right in the Squatch's firing line too, with similar geometry (though a slightly slacker 77.5 effective seat tube) and a competitive build, but that's more expensive at 2,900. Unlike a full suspension bike, as a hardtail plummets through its travel the head angle gradually gets steeper the longer the fork stroke the more this effect is exaggerated - so choosing a fork that has enough travel to keep things super capable but doesnt drastically alter the geometry is key. Halfords has issued a trading update which appears to show that the cost of living is taking its toll on its cycling business. 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. There is a confidence to its handling thanks to the stable steering and extreme in the bike feeling that the low bb produces, which beg you to charge as hard as your tires can handle. New York Mills, Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, HG3 4LA, 5-7 High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1JJ, 2023, Jungle Products Ltd Trading as Stif Mountain Bikes. Registered UK Company No: 03291752, Jungle Products Ltd FRN: 719212 trading as Stif Mountain Bikes are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 130mm travel, 29 wheels, 4130 steel and modern numbers throughout, mean the Stif Squatch might just be the winter whip of choice. As you will undoubtedly be used to hearing by now, the resulting centered position on the bike leads to less attention and energy being required to keep the front wheel in check, letting you focus on your pedal strokes and line choice, and ultimately making climbing a more pleasant experience once the going gets steep. Enough travel and control to mop up reasonably hard impacts, without overly affecting rider position and negatively impacting the dynamic geometry. Stif Squatch Pro Pros: The best hardtail geometry I've ridden combined with a supple steel feel and 2.6in tyres that smooth out vibrations and reduce fatigue. All International order postage costs are an estimate. Technical climbs especially those with lots of pedal-catching obstacles proved to be no issue either, with the long reach and fairly short rear end teaming up to provide ample grip and maneuverability. Register a new Kona bike within three months of purchase, and the original owner qualifies the Kona frame for a free Lifetime Warranty. Expect your technician to give your vehicle a visual check, as well as to use diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong and whats needed to put it right. However, weve built the frame measuring 78 degrees from the BB centre to the saddle rail at max seat post extension. My only takeaway from this (apart from i should buy one) is youve overtaken CK in the beard wizard stakes. Website: Stifmtb.com, CHASSIS Stif Squatch Frame Medium Teal. The external routing on our test bike is not the neatest, being held together with a collection of cable ties rather than neat clamps such as on the Ragley Marley 1.0, but it gets the job done. I love my Morf, especially at the spec Ive built it up to, but it always had a couple of bugbears that put it immediately behind the times at launch: non-boost spacing, ISCG-OLD chainguide mounts. Tom Marvin is a technical editor at BikeRadar.com and MBUK magazine. 3 sizes: 653|460, 653|480, 661|500, stack|reach. Its also tough to find a hardtail elsewhere with geometry this extreme, so if this is what you're after that's worth factoring into the price too.
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