It has such a short seat tube it would never be long enough even with a dropper post for my legs without putting extra stress on the frame for climbing (extra long seat post), you can tell in your video your legs are not fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, in my opinion it's a jump bike and for descending down only it's not a do it all bike. It would be a pain in the butt in the uk for climbing back up somewhere like cannock chase trying to pedal from such a low seating position unless you have really short legs 🙂, hence why i use a nukeproof scout instead. Hope this helps someone out if there are looking for a bike for ascending and descending..... 🙂 I'm 5ft 9in
TBH, dont see any upsides of using single speed... Just workarounds: Push the bike up the climb, don't pedal on the way down, basically, don't pedal at all, why even have a chain? lol
i think im going to buy the ht3 because it on sale for 879$ on sun & ski sports. it will be my first mountain bike but the price is so good i can always sell it if i dont like it.
Great vid! since youve had time with this bike do you still feel the XL was the better choice over a lg? im 6' 210 and feel like im right in the middle of sizes, I have an XL '22 model, but really thinking of frame swapping to the 23 model. that thing is sweet. not sure if i should stick to XL or try a LG, just curious what your thoughts are comparing the feel between the two generations and if the newer version feels any bigger/smaller etc. thanks!
Awesome review thank you! If im not mistaken you said you ride an XL?. and have ridden both generations of the SQ. I have a 22 SQ2 XL, im 6" , 210 with a 33" inseam. I think the bike feels right, but im probably right on the beginning edge of XL and sometimes I worry if its too big.( i do overthink it lol) I DO wish I would have waited and looked for the new generation as the seat tube on mine feels a tad too high. My question is, would I be able to frame swap from my 22 model to this new model and everything work? also, whats your thoughts on the XL fit between the two models? Does the new one "feel" any larger or smaller than the old version? Me being on the edge of an XL id hate to get the new one and end up feeling like its even bigger. or if i downsized to a large and ended up too small. I appreciate any advice!
I rode my Chameleon for four seasons with 27.5 wheels. I changed to 29er wheels but I was curious to try a mullet. I had the extra wheel so I did a couple back to back to back rides changing the rear wheel a couple times. I couldn’t detect a difference on the trails I typically ride. That doesn’t mean there is no dfference but if I couldn’t tell it doesn’t matter to me. If a rider goes from two small wheels to a 29 front, they will have one experience. If you go from two big wheels you’ll get another. If you buy a bike built as a mullet it will be different again. I like big wheels I cannot lie. And I’m only 5’4". Long inseam though at 31 inches. I can just fit a 170 mm dropper.
Been riding SS for over 30+ years. I live in a pretty hilly area / long climbs. Biggest change I found on setting up a SS vs geared is a higher handlebar height for SS. Higher setup where I am almost standing straight up really benefited me by taking the load off my lower back & upper back, redistributing the load much more evenly throughout the rest of the body more efficiently.
My commuter and cruiser are both singles. I have a Critical Harper and a Genesis OneX 29er. Considering a single speed trail bike. I'm getting to where a single speed bike is just more better. Less maintenance and just makes me happier. Who cares how fast you go. My commuter is average 14 and the cruiser... well... is. a cruiser. If I can build a sweet trail bike that does what it needs to do, then heck yea.
Great review! I also have a SQ3 and agree with everything you said about it. Great bike, harsh ride, the stack is a little low, BB a little low also, and the tires are just really really slow and grippy. I put a 160mm fork on it for a bit and it felt pretty good but not really necessary. I think what I really need more than anything els is to get some faster rolling tires. -update- so I put some faster rolling tires on the bike, got rid of the Maxxis Assegai’s and it just brought it to life! Now I prefer it more than my full suspension bike! Those Assegai’s just sucked the life out of the bike.
Sorry, going to buy my first bike. What would i feel different in between 29 wheels and 27.5 wheels. I will be doing asphalt ,some gravel and some trail. Nothomg very radical.
Best Explaination on MTB Geometry ive seen so far. I would also like to have a playful bike but RSD doesnt ship to europe. What would you recommend instead? Banshee Paradax V3, Chameleon or Stanton Switchback maybe? Would love to hear from you.
Josh Try this single speed. I just bought the frame. All my other bikes SS, so also thinking to SS thevwild cat. Would love to hear your thoughts. Just do it lol
Ya' didn't quite get the definition of gear inches right. It's not how far the bike rolls in one revolution. It's the diameter of an imaginary direct drive bike wheel. So 60 gear inches would be like a high wheeler (penny farthing) with a 5 foot diameter wheel. A 60" diameter wheel has a circumference of 188.4", which is how far you roll with one revolution of the cranks, with 60 gear inches.
"Someone who wants to turn the trail into a skate park". That's exactly what I want in my next trail bike! You're saying all the right things about this bike for me. I'm sold.
Love the video, great info with sense of humor. Missed opportunity to completely nailing it though, you used pictures of intraoral mirrors but called them probes!
man, I tried sooooo hard to love my team issue se6s… but they royally suck. Not that Im a Maxxis fanboy at all but the assegais and dhr iis are far superior. currently buying a set of Tervails
I’m surprised to hear such a positive review. The xr5 came on my fuel ex 9.8. I was not impressed. My issue was mostly in corners. They would break free unexpectedly. With my maxxis tires I can usually feel when I am pushing the limit. The bontragers would feel confident, then give up. I also felt like I didn’t have any traction unless I ran a super low psi, then I’d feel the roll is fast berms. I went back to maxxis dhr and assagai, and I’ve been much happier… different strokes
Building up an IBIS DV9. Second Gen. 5Dev crancks. IBIS S35 Carbons laced with the I9 Hydras. Whiskey 80mil riser. Putting a 150mm DVO Diamond up front. Purple Crush color. Gonna Be SIIIIICK!!!!!
