I have a Middlechild V2 XL in steel 27.5+, very happy with it. Built it from frame using all the nice parts off my alu Trek hardtail. Bought another for my son. I live in Phoenix, single trail is my thing. RSD is excellent value and very customer friendly.
I own the RS-291 in the gypsum colourway. Absolutely love this bike! I know it's marketed as an Enduro sled. But I've been riding hardtails for over 40 years and am a diehard Hardtailer. I can tell you there is little to no loss in playfulness in this bike. It still does all the things I need it to do and has become my quiver killer steed. I do own DJ bike, and my other main Hardtail is a Norco Torrent. So I have some frame of reference to work off of. When I was looking for new steed. I kept coming back to RSD just because they checked a bunch of boxes for me and what I want/need from a bike and a company. The main ones are a Hardtail focused company and Canadian. I will echo Josh on this... Alex hands down has been the best customer service experience I've ever had with anything! Dude helped every step of the way and was even having one on one phone conversations with me. Even with the three hour time difference. The whole experience left me super satisfied and will be a long-term customer of RSD for many years to come just because of Alex and the work he does for his customers. Great breakdown of RSD steeds, well done!
Thank you man, and thank you for your breakdown on the RS-291! I’m curious your thoughts on how it compares to the Torrent. On paper I’d say they look pretty similar, but sounds like that may not be the case?
I have a kona honzo esd also a slack aggressive hardtail with a 160 fork and I totaly agree with the quiver killer comment. I’ve been riding 35 plus years mostly hardtails and a couple full suspension and if I had to choose only one bike the aggressive hardtail wins every time. It will go down the absolutely craziest steepest gank hit huge drops and is still really really fun every where else. Sweet!
Nice, that’s awesome! I’m still slow to the game on the 29” wheels, and I was a final hold out on 26” too haha, I just really like the maneuverability of the smaller hoops
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy my Torrent is a last gen version (2017). It aluminum and the geo is nothing compared to my RS-291. It's also sized down to a medium, it's like a big DJ bike. When I rode it most, I lived in city at the time with only limited access to trails. So it is built up more like a BMX/DJ/Urban/Slopeduro/play bike. Seeing as come from those backgrounds of riding. It's also 27.5+ bike so comparing the two doesn't really work. I still love it and use it often. It's also my loaner bike for the homies. The newest Torrent was the one I really wanted. But they were unavailable for the last couple of years, up until recently. By that point I have up on Norco all together and went to RSD instead. I was a Norco brand loyalist for decades but they really let me down since the pandemic. RSD all the way baby!
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy this I my first 29ner bike and I also was super hesitant to jump up sizes. I didn't want to loose that playfulness of a HT. But seeing as I'm 6'4 and after tons of research of people my size, I decided to give it a try. After the first couple of shakedown rides . I barely notice the size. Other then the initial getting up to speed. Them bigger hoops take a little bit more leg power. But once up to speed it rips!
Just ordered an RSD Sergeant, it’ll be my summer hardtail and replace my fat bike for winter with a 70mm rim/4.0+ tire and rigid fork swap. Chain stays are 10mm longer than my current hardtail at 440mm but hoping it’s still not too bad to wheelie/manual. I used your coupon code so thanks!
Right on Matt, I think you’ll like it a lot! The higher bottom bracket should make it a bit easier to get the front end up as well, so the manuals/wheelies shouldn’t be too bad. Let me know how it goes!
That wildcat 125 is the number one on my list right now. it seems like a super fun trail bike that isn’t afraid to go really hard and it just looks so burly yet sleek. Great content buy the way. went out and ordered a single gear set up for my down country mullet hardtail after watching your channel. Really stoked to get out there and challenge myself on the trails ounce the snow melts. Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes Alex at RSD is unbelievable in responding to questions. Super patient. I’m sad I sold my middlechild frame, but after riding it for a long while I felt a size large would be more ideal then the size xl I chose. This video has got me wanting that large right now, pronto! The RSD frames and builds are quality, and I think a lot of bang for your buck. I’m sure when Josh unboxed his frame he said “DAM this is top notch” FYI, I really liked the middlechild as a mullet. I got $600 for the frame, so I said why not and I’ll order a large size which I think will work better for me.
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I’m 6 feet long arms long legs. I don’t want my seat to be higher than my bars like old xc mountain bikes. I sat on a lot of new geo hardtails and felt like I was more comfortable on xl. After learning to ride on the new geo middlechild I got in xl, reach 489 mm. I’m probably liking 465-475 reach. While I had the rsd I found a Santa Cruz chameleon r spec in large for basically $800 off msrp. Got it, was riding it more. So I sold the rsd frame and built a ragley mmmbop. Large, I’m getting out on the mmmbop as much as I can after work, it gets cold and dark quick. The mmmbop geo is similar to the rsd, so right away I can hop and lift the bike easier then the xl. The chameleon charges down with confidence but it’s not as playful as the rsd. At least at my skill level. Even the xl rsd I could half way manual with no knowledge of how to manual. Anyway I think you showed a sky blue aluminum middlechild! We will see, but I am going to need to try a middlechild in size large before this is all done😆
@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I emailed Alex and said Steve at Hardtail Party said I should change the fork to keep the same geo when putting in the 29er, but Alex said just throw it on! And he was right. Certainly an ideal mm fork would be the best, but for just experimenting around its clients enough. My middlechild had a DVO 29er folk 140mm
Nice! Ya it’s pretty interesting how much geo has changed, you really have to get on a bike with more modern geo to fully understand it, my dads been going through the same after replacing his 2014 Tallboy. The Mmmbop was high in my list before deciding with the Middlechild, but happy with the choice I made!
I have a V2 RSD Middlechild. LOVE the bike- Alex is awesome. Running it SS as well (currently) and also run it with 27.5 (Non Plus) 2.6 wheels. Such a playful bike and Alex is great to work with! Planning on getting a Z1 Bomber coil for it for 2023- which will bump it to 150mm max travel- should be a ball!!!! Great channel!
I usually get a Christmas bonus at work so I’ve definitely been looking at some Hardtails I really like the sergeant with tall stack numbers and bike pack capabilities. Looking at Santa Cruz chameleon as well.
Dang this is exactly what i was wondering. Wanted to take advantage of the sale they have riynow but didn’t know the difference between the middle child and rs 291
Nice dude, ya you definitely should, this sale is sweet!! I would say go with the Middlechild for more jumping/playful riding and the RS-291 for rougher, faster, enduro style riding
I think you’d probably be fine, but I’d say that if you’re wanting to run that much travel for hitting rowdier terrain then I’d steer you towards the Middlechild
I haven’t been on the 2023 San Quentin yet, but based on geometry numbers I’d say the San Quentin will feel more like a BMX/DJ. It has shorter chainstays and a higher bottom bracket which will make it poppier, and a steeper head tube angle which will make it more maneuverable at low speed and easier to handle on steep-lipped jumps. The SQ is just a step or so closer to the “enduro” hardtail side of the spectrum
Thats 40mm of bottom bracket DROP. Meaning it’s actually higher off the ground, (40mm below the axle line as opposed to 50mm below). This makes the bike super playful and agile, but a little less stable at high speeds and in corners
