Another great review Steve! My assessment of your reviews... 😁 1) your ability to articulate and communicate what a bike is “telling you” and what you are processing...is pretty friggin incredible. I have A LOT of hobbies (motorcycles, cars, boats, bikes, drums, etc) and watch a lot of associated reviews. I can’t think of many (Chris Harris on cars is pretty good) who convey a talk track and message as clearly as you. 2) almost as incredible..... and likely an odd observation....but the fact that the word “ugh” or “umm” even in between thoughts...never comes out of your mouth is wild. Spending a lot of time in a boardroom, this is something I pick up on. Impressive trait. 3) Keep the content and passion coming and doing what you (and your wife) love....its admirable. 😎👍. (Oh, and looking forward to the 2020 Fuse Comp review too. LOL )
Thank you so much for a) recognizing the hard work I put into this, and b) taking the time to send your words of appreciation. It would be a dream to be able to describe things like Chris Harris, I really respect his reviews. His style is the pinnacle of reviews in my opinion. Every now and then, a comment will stick with a creator and they'll remember it for years. This is one of those comments. Thank you so much, it means a lot to me.
Do you need help deciding which bike to purchase next? I offer a one-on-one bike consultation service through patreon. It's how I put food on the table for my family, and how I'm able to provide custom bike advice for my vieewrs. Become a patron today for access: sign up for the monthly bike consultation tier, and cancel at any time. Most people sign up for a month or two, and we work together to discuss their needs, riding style, etc. to narrow down the list of all the great hardtails out there. When they get the info they need and they no longer have any questions, they cancel. Become a patron today: patreon.com/hardtailparty. If my videos have saved you time or money, consider supporting this channel via Patreon. For as little as $5/month you can ensure I continue making unbiased content. Support individual content creators over garbage tv or sponsored content disguised as reviews.
The timberjack had 27.5 tires so maybe does not feel as stiff as the Laufey with the 29" tires. I am leaning towards a Timberjack or a Big Honzo for my next bike. Thanks for the review!
@@sethnicholls7861 I have review videos on each one. The RSD Chromo is pretty stiff for a steel frame. It's burly, and it doesn't transfer a ton of vibrations, but it's heavy and not "compliant." The ti MC is tied with the banshee paradox as my favorite hardtail I've ever ridden. It's more supple than the steel MC, and it's 2 lbs lighter.
I think you should make a comparison tables at the end of the video with final words for the bike reviewed. Tables with, stiffness, compliance, steering etc. where we could see how it measures against the bikes you previously tested.
I'm a bit hesitant to do that, because it really depends on where the bike is ridden. In each review I try to explain who the bike would be best for, including the terrain it's best suited for. It's hard to give it a number because that number will change based on where it's ridden. But I'll definitely give this some thought and consider a way to make this feasible. A summary of all my reviews with a chart seems like a great service to offer my patrons.
Thanks for the review. I live in the UK and took mine out for a first proper ride the other day. It's my first MTB in about 5 years - coming from 26 inch wheels it was a bit odd at first but after that first descent I was in love!
Un bonjour de france. Je possède un laufey H30 depuis 2021, c'est le vélo qui m'a fait me mettre au VTT pour de bon, avant rien. Depuis je me régale à mon rythme. Je pense maintenant à changer les freins et par la suite la fourche qui à tendance à trop plongé en descente raide ou sur de grosses marches. Et merci Steve pour ton excellent travail, tu retransmets bien les sensations que j'ai eu avec ce vélo. 😉
I'm starting to get confortable on my new 2023 H10 and I love it. Thanks for sharing this Steve. Coming from an old 26'' it's night and day. A bit heavy but there's a ton a traction for climbing. Going down is so much easier, fork and big tires provide great confort and the breaking power give a lot of confidence, this thing flies !!! The bike came stock with 2.6 dissectors front and rear, they are doing a great job in wet sticky clay, mud, rocks and leafs, but for summer dusty days do you think that a Rekon would be a significant upgrade in term of pedaling efficiency ? Thanks !
I feel Orbea specced the gen 1 version of the Loki/Laufey right with the 27.5+ setup. I think on 29s it's more of a XC/Trail feel, less of a fun trail bike. The sizes are a little tricky with the Orbea range too. The Medium and Large both cover such a wide range and have so much overlap. I'm 5'8 and ride a Large, which shocked me but that thing tracks so well (2019 Laufey)
Thanks for your good review ! I am actually looking for an hardtail and that's the only one my local bike shop sells appart from cross country bikes here in France. By the way I found your channel about two weeks ago, great content !
Hi Steve, the only thing that is pulling me back from buying this bike is the bb drop. Is it me or a -65mm drop is calling for pedal strikes in a rocky/rooty terrain? A 65 drop with 29x2.6 tires is just as low as in a xc bike drop of 60mm with 2.2 tires, but the Laufey is intended for trails as I understand it. I don't know...
I have just ordered mine of 2022 stock and I can not wait for it to finally be delivered. I hope it will be a great all arounder to do some light, far rides or some gnarly laps in the forest.
@@emilifd It is definitely a great all-rounder. The spec is nice and the OC components, like the dropper ofr example are very decent with an easy source of spare parts in fair prices to rebuild eventually. The bike is light for it's size due to the components, the only problem I have had with it is the bottom bracket weld. It had a small void as if someone didn't finish the weld all the way around. I filed a complaint to Orbea and they said they will send me a replacement frame no questions asked, so that's nice. The geo is a bit hard to put the front wheel into the air, but I guess I just have to get used to doing manuals again. Overall, strongly recommend. Great bang for the buck if you are looking for a capable, high quality all-round bike. The bike makes a lot of sense to me.
@@jakubwysocki736 Hey, i'm glad that you are enjoying the bike, and its good to know that Orbea responded to the welding problem. I ordered mine just today! Thank you for the reply. Have a good one!
Nice review! Keep it going man! Even if we dont agree on my so beloved commencal ;) Hardtails rule! If they would offer the frame only option i might have bought this instead of the commencal.
Man! This bike is the sexiest bike I've ever seen! Too bad it doesn't have sliding dropouts.. I bet this bike would be the best single speed fun flow bike.
chameleon is better for flatter trails and more playful/fun on small features. The orbea is way more aggressive and can handle steeper, more challenging terrain a lot better than the chameleon.
I am glad I found this review. Somehow missed it. This is one bike on my shortlist. Im in a weird stage where I want something more aggressive. But also really like XC bikes. Orbea Alma is another on my list. Would you ever review a Scott?
@Steven Brideau, have you found the bike you would say is best yet? I’m also looking for something more aggressive but i would also want to bikepack and do some XC stuff on it too.
Have laufey H10, very happy with it. Have a video on my channel due to didn't find anything in Russian communities. Btw I am not a pro biker nor reviewer, so my video is messy :)
Hey Steve.. thanks for your great reviews. I a thinking to buy either the SC Chameleon or the Orbea Laufey 2020. What do you think, what are the main differences betwee those two bikes? - I am a trailrider, aggressiv CC-Rider and I need this bike as a second bike for winter- or bad weather training and it shout give me fun and a bit of speed. Thanks a lot. Greetings from Switzerland. Cheers
Would you pick this or a Santa Cruz chameleon? I’m going to be riding single track and jumping and commuting to work. I think the Santa Cruz chameleon is a better choice. What would you pick?
Have you ever tried a Cube bike? The brand is incredibly popular here in germany and their 2020 Reaction TM looks quite promising, especially for its price
@@hardtailparty yeah its really a shame that they are only really known in europe. Ive ridden a cube for three years now and their customer support is outstanding- at least thats my experience. You should try out one of their bikes if you get the chance, really solid and well-built stuff
the cube reaction tm is indeed a trail oriented hardtail. it has a X-Fusion fork and sram sx. don't know much 'bout x-fusion, and sx is the cheapest sram. still costs 1000€. the tm Pro and RACE version had better specs in 2019, but Cube discontinued those 2 appearently(customer service confirmed)
Hi mate! I discovered your channel few days ago, your reviews are so nice and complete, thanks for this! About the Orbea, how do you place it compared to the Paradox V3?
It depends on where you ride. For where I ride, I much prefer the paradox v3, it's my favorite hardtail. I prefer the geo and the ride feel. The orbea is a nice bike, but the paradox is on another level.
Greetings from the UK. Love your reviews man, your vids are super helpful. You seem very knowledgeable and good honest reviewer I can trust. I've got a few months to decide on what my bike is going to be. I'm going from full sus to a hardtail! I was looking at this and commencal recently. I love the idea of how playful the commencal as well as it comes with 27.5" but it seems like it might be too rigid for me. The orbea is a 29 and not quite as playful as I would want by the sounds of it, a shorter chainstay would be nice. Any recommendations if you got the time? I was also looking at the specialized fuse but I'd want like 140-160mm travel. I guess I'm looking for a rowdy playful bike where I wont fear the tech. Don't care much about the climbs. Feels like I'm inbetween a lot of bikes.
Good review... It's fun hearing your thoughts about different bikes. I know that you have probably mentioned this, but what tire pressure do you typically run on 29x2.6 vs 27.5x2.8? Thanks!
Great review Steve!!! With each of your reviews I watch, your comments and insight are allowing me to access my own bike. Having a 30mm rim, I am questioning considering a 29x2.6 rear Rekon and just stick with the 2.4 (and keep the chainstays slammed on the Chameleon) but add some CushCore... Would Laufey seriously benefit from some CushCore?
Depends on terrain I but I didn't feel the need for cushcore yet, just a wider rim. With a wider rim Ill be able to push the bike harder and then I can see if it makes sense to run cushcore in the back. As is, even cushcore won't prevent this tire from rolling on the rim in corners.
Hi love the vids, really like aggressive hardtails, would love it if i had one too. Now my question, is there any chance you can review a Dartmoor Bike? They make (i think) good hardtails too.
I really appreciate your expertise and look forward to all of your hardtail reviews. I can't wait for your your review of the Diamondback carbon sync'r. I'd love to hear if you have any opinions of the aluminum sync'r?
Yes, those wheels will help any bike feel less harsh. They're 30mm wide inner, so I wouldn't go wider than 2.5 on them, but they'd be fantastic on this.
Yes, it can fit 27.5+. I think it might make it ~ 5% more agile and fun. The longish chainstay will still be fairly long, but small wheels usually make these more fun for me.
I'm stuck between 2 bike Orbea Laufey and the specialized fuse comp. I like both bike which bike corners better, better at going down hill and can handle jumps better and more stable at high speed. I want a bike when it goes fast it's stable on bumps and doesn't transfer it to you. And can handle going down hill. I want to go fast.
You had me wanting a Banshee but they're out of stock. I ended up ordering a Canfield Nimble 9. I'm curious if you have seen or ridden one. It is definitely going to be a shoestring & cannibalized parts rig but I believe it's going to be a dream build anyway.
Hey there! I ride a lot of XC since that's what available at close to me, but I also hit up the swedish bikeparks a couple of times every summer. I have been looking for a more capable hardtail as my XC one puts boundaries on how hard I can shred the park. Would this bike be a good fit for me or can you recommend something that might suit me better. Love your content man
@@erikd6124 Nope blev inte så hittade en trek fuel ex 8 på blocket i nyskick så vart den istället vilket jag inte ångrar alls, faktiskt ruskigt glad att jag inte valde en hardtail
Hello, my first mtb was a Ragley Marley loved it but went to full sus cause that's what your supossed to do right? During lockdown I had use of a Laufey and I thought it was nowhere near the Marley, maybe it was the 27.5's so I would like to go hardtail again but scared of the harsh ride experience from the Orbea....thinking Big Al? Your very lucky with the trails you have!!
The laufey is not as fun as the ragley on my opinion. It sounds like you'd benefit from my bike consultation service on Patreon. patreon.com/hardtailparty
Hey Steve! Been watching your reviews, awesome info. I dig this bike, I am a little partial because I ride an Orbea Orca team road bike, it is not for sale. I am ready for another mountain bike. And ready to pull the trigger on a Laufey. I notice the old frame had a shorter chain stay and a different head tube angle. I dont mind an older model if it is gonna be better. When this new one didnt manual it concerned me. So can it be remedied? By riser bars? Is 10-20mm chain stay a huge difference in the feel?
@@hardtailparty Can I remedy it at the front by increasing the stack through a riser bar or longer fork or would I be opening a can of worms? Or go back to the geometric research and choose a different frame with a shorter chain stay? Thanks man, gonna have some fun soon.
I'm always a fan of getting the right frame then making small tweaks as needed after that. Over-forking a bike isn't the worst thing in the world, but I'd just get the right bike for what you want.
I love seeing all these highdollar top of the line hardtail they are very nice! Do you ever do budget friendly brands like DiamondBack , GT , those kinds ? I ask because I ride a 1200 mtn.bike it's a DiamondBack Mason Trail 27.5 plus. Just kinda wanna know what you think of it and how it stacks up or doesn't stack up to a high-end bike. Your vids are awesome thanks so much for putting this info out here.
Hi, Steve. I’ve been watching your videos for some weeks now and I have to say that I learned a lot, not only about bikes or biking but about life in general. You are inspiring and your videos are uplifting, you communicate much more than just your opinion about a given bike or product! That being said, I read bad reviews about the Fox 34 Performance the Laufey H-LTD has (Bikeradar): “the Performance fork often has a harsh, spiking issue when a sudden or blunt faced impact creates a high shaft speed. This can compromise trail connection and choke bike speed just when it’s most obvious, and it’s a tiring fork to push hard all the way down the hill”. What is your experience? Could you tell us your opinion about this fork or, even better, video a forks review? Everyone says for 140 mm travel the new Marzocchi Bomber Z2 is a killer choice now. Keep up doing what you love! THANKS!
Great review as always. Is it possible to change the head angle on this one? I don't know if it's going to be too slack for me. I'm riding everything :) Road, trails, xc and like to have loads of fun and play around. (I'm a bit sceptical because you say it a bit heavy in the front and hard to manual) Thanks for your commitment, keep up the party.
I bought a couple days ago the GT Zaskar LT Elite for 1.080€ but the shipping is delayed. Now I found the 2022 Orbea Laufey for only 1.250€. Should I cancel my first buy? GT seems longer and better for getting confidence and learning, but Orbea has an air fork and "looks" better quality
It depends on so many things. This is the type of thing i help with on my bike consultation service on Patreon. Ether bike will put a smile on your face. :)
@@hardtailparty I think I will stick to the GT. My trails are very dry, rocky, harsh and steep so even though I would love to ride some soft flow ones, there are not nearby and the Orbea seems to be more rigid. Thanks a lot for your review! it's never easy for beginners and we are talking about lots of money so it's reaaally difficult to make some choices. Orbea seems better but I guess is not for me, sadly
@@erikd6124 it's so fun to ride. I haven't tried the Orbea but I'm really happy with the GT. The most impressive thing for me is how steep you can climb with it. It opens a whole new level of opportunities. It's also amazing going down and in technical stuff
Hi, I currently have a Giant Trance 4 full suspension and would like to switch to a front as I find them more fun. In your opinion, does a Laufey also perform well on flat terrain and on climbs? Currently I struggle a bit with mine on the climbs, even though it's not an enduro bike, but I would like something that would make me get to the top a little less exhausted... or should I stay on something lighter and with more closed geometries like a Grand Canyon?
Should I get this bike or Big Honzo? Looking for more aggressive upgrade for Trek Xcaliber 8. Laufey is slacker so its better for my favorite thing, descenting..?
There's no one bike that's brilliant at everything, but some are better than others. I do my bike consultation over on patreon. Patreon.com/hardtailparty
Hello and thank you for your channel. If I upgrade my 30mm internal width rims to 35, will it be bad for when I put 2.2 tires for bikepacking? Recently I'm doing more bikepacking than trails
@@hardtailparty Thank you. I don't suppose you have any recommendations for something that feels more forgiving for loose rocky downs? But hopefully also doesn't mind the climb.
If you'll permit me to run my thoughts through you, regarding the alu v steel and the relative equality of the price points in the chameleon v timberjack builds, which would you say has more pliability built into it? Or are they about equal?
Steve, i'm looking for a mtb with a more upright position than a pure xc bike + something that is suitable for both trails and more flat cross country roads, Woods, fields,... Will that work with the 65,5 ht angle, is it comfortable? thks
How would this compare to the Meta HT? Since you said they were both stiff. I currently have the Meta, but i got my eyes on a Laufey now. Would it be the same kind of ride?
I couldn't find any info on the stock rim width. Those Ibis wheels would be the perfect wheels for this bike. I try to review bikes as they come from the factory, but that would be a good upgrade. I may do it one day. It involves swapping 4 tubeless tires, adjusting derailleurs, and swapping brake rotors. I'll probably test those wheels on another 29er at some point to illustrate the differences between a 2.6 on a 30mm rim vs 35.
@@hardtailparty The stock wheels on the Laufey are Rodi Tryp 30, the inner dimension is 30mm, the outer is 34mm. I recently purchased a Laufey H30 and it has the same rims but a different hub. Rodi is a company based in Portugal.