Thank you for another great review, I think you just helped to make my mind up for my next bike. I was torn between this bike, the Midnight Special or the Bombora. I think this machine fits the bill perfectly to what I was looking for in the way of just a bit more tire clearance than the bombora and actual through axles versus the Midnight Special. I love your content it is what helped me to be ok with slowing down and enjoying the adventure as opposed to riding for road performance keep up the good work and can’t wait for your next content!
Nice haircut, Russ! :-) Cool review, thank you. This is one of the things that I really appreciate about your channel: You bring to your audience a slew of bikes (and other products, too) manufactured by smaller, independent bike companies that we might not otherwise be introduced to; so, thank you for this. This bike sounds very interesting (I really appreciate the weight savings and still the downhill stability and tire clearance) and one I'd consider investigating further when I'm ready for another bike. I concur that having eyelets on the rear for a rack would've been handy; it's my ol' Ortlieb Seat Pack if I'm going to do any bikepacking/touring. I missed your review of the Bombora, so thanks for the cross-reference. Going to go check that one out now, too. Thanks, Russ.
It should be pointed out the larger sizes have a bit more traditional gravel geometry. 71 degree HA and shorter trail number on the 56. I’m quite interested in this frame.
Great point. I have the medium size with 650bx50c tires and the trail is in the mid 70s. The bike does not feel like a drunken goat on steep climbs to me.
Just came across your comment. I'm considering both the Evasion Lite and the Bombtrack Hook EXT framesets for a build. How do the rides compare for you? Glad you switched? If so, why? Thanks!
@@msburns3 they will be similar in terms of ride quality since the geometry and materials are similar. However, the evasion lite feels unstable to me with 700 x 45 tires, and it makes sense since the frame was designed for 27.5 x 2.3. The bombtrack ext will ride much better with wider 700c, but will feel to close to the ground if you go with 650b.
BTW, in support of Russ's channel, I bought a "Further" t-shirt from his store, and it just arrived. I am very impressed with its quality and comfort, and it looks cool, too. So, if you're interested in a cool bicycling t-shirt and want to support Russ's channel, this is a good way to do so. I'll be ordering a "Supple" t-shirt from you guys in the near-future, too.
Russ: you say it comes with Schwalbe Thunder Burt 27.5/2.0, can you confirm that? I did not know about the 2.0 version, only 2.1 is listed on the Schwalbe site. I´m pretty interested in a proper 2.0 XC tire, as a 2.1 is slightly too big for my frame.
Can you run fenders on the front carbon fork of the Evasion Lite? It looks like there are eyelets on the inside of the carbon fork legs, but am curious if someone has more insight here or pictures. Also would love to know what fender set work best here for front/rear .. considering PDW's? Thanks!
Anyone know if the fork is full carbon or if it has an alloy steering tube? I’m curious if there was a reason for choosing a 1 1/8 head tube with a carbon fork. It seems like most frames currently have a tapered headtube if they are specced with carbon fork.
Looks like a super fun bike. I’m curious, and my eyes may deceive me, but it looks like you are running a setback seatpost and then the saddle slammed all the way forward?
Can someone please tell me why all these new carbon forks have internal brake/dyno cable routing? It seems like too many companies have never heard of the innovations like hydraulic brakes or klite/Dyna-Snap dyno cables ...
From an aesthetic point that fork just looks hideous from the front on view.... The way it flares or bulbs out from the bottom of the head tube just doesn't look right.... The non tappered headtube makes it really obvious too. To get the tyre clearance I know you need the fork to be wide there but it just doesn't look right... Function over form I guess. Or is that function over fashion? hahaha Still looks like a nice bike to ride.
Keep in mind this is the smallest size which would be comparable to a 49cm bike from other companies, hence why the fork looks wacky. The trail is also pretty high. The medium and extra medium begin to look better geo wise with a slightly lower trail.
This may be too tech-y of a question, but why do those brakes use hydraulic in the calipers? I'm not an expert in this, but it seems to me that hydraulic belongs in the first 99% of the span from lever to brake, where it avoids friction, and NOT in the caliper where it absorbs heat and starts misbehaving because of that heat.
The hybrid calipers let you get good performance and true dual-piston activation (including adjustment-free self-centering) in a smaller, lighter package than you can with mechanical. I've run these in on gravel routes with descents long/steep enough that my brakes faded from rotor/pad heat but I never once had the lever go soft due to brake fluid overheating.
So the Evasion Lite is technically 2 lbs heavier than the Bombora. I still can't wrap my head around these two bikes. Why the massive price difference, too? Is it different steel used? Russ states this would be the better 'fast n light' bikepacking bike but on paper the Bombora wins, no?
The bike looks beautiful so long as you don't look at the fork crown from the front! Those massive tire clearances make it look so out of place with the classic steel tubes.
Not a fan of the pastel coloring of the Crust bikes. Just my personal taste. Also, the stem looks nice but you're stuck with the stem length you originally purchased or you have to buy an expensive new proprietary one (presumably they have longer stems available) or use a different brand and then lose the ascetics of that beautiful stem.
I am with you on the pastel color. However, my last three bikes were all matte black and not because I actively choose that color. I didn't think I would like the evasion lite mint green color but I am loving it.
