The Spearfish is available in two carbon models. 2012 Salsa Horsethief review (xpost from Salsa … Learn More, We have ~100 routes on our worldwide bikepacking routes map. The Spearfish is perfectly suited to crawling through slow, techy ascents, and maintains its incredible stability at slow speeds. Spearfish 2 retails for $3,299. The Spearfish comes with 29×2.3” tires, but can also accept 29” tires up to 2.6” wide and 27.5+ tires between 2.8-3” wide. In Low position (as ridden) the Spearfish’s BB drop is 39mm, but if you’re riding rougher terrain you can gain about 4mm more ground clearance by flipping the chip in the rear shock mount. The fourth issue of The Bikepacking Journal hit mailboxes this spring. A slight rock of your hips is all it takes to move weight forward for steep climbs, or backward to rally downhill. It’s a very stable and planted bike, so with the added comfort of full-suspension, it’s not a tiring bike to pedal over really long days. Our passion is the products, technology and people that make them. If you want to build a solid race car, it’s best to start with a good chassis. Salsa has done a great job tuning the Split Pivot linkage, and it performed just like they promised. Here’s what she had to say: I really enjoyed riding the Spearfish. Salsa Cycles Spearfish 29er Full Suspension user reviews : 4.7 out of 5 - 38 reviews. The claimed frame weight for a size … A couple weeks after the Arkansas trip, I mounted up a pair of 29 x 2.6” Teravails for the bulk of the testing period. Another positive was that it was really easy to pack with a generous frame bag. 2020 Salsa Spearfish SX Eagle Full Aluminum Suspension Mountain Bike Feature Review & Weight - Duration: 8:14. Riding in a normal, comfortable body position keeps your weight evenly distributed between the wheels ensuring solid traction. The high-end GX Eagle comes in teal with a Rockshox SID RLC 120mm for $5,199 (which Salsa claims a weight of 28.5 pounds for a size medium). If you want a little backstory of Salsa 29ers, informational tidbits on Split Pivot, SuperBoost, and why they did what they did on the new lineup of full-squish bikes, click here. However, there was zero singletrack on the Northwest Loop that I rode. Find out how the Spearfish performs with 29 x 2.6” tires, what makes it best in class for bikepacking, and how it compares to other short-travel 29ers on the trail…. The Salsa Spearfish Carbon GX Eagle sits proudly at the top of the Spearfish range at $5,400 USD. Featuring a mix of SRAM cranks, Shimano XT and SLX, WTB Silverado Saddle, Schwalbe tires and Fox F29 Evolution suspension with CTD, the Spearfish 3 is a standout value. compare this bike to similar models by first choosing one of its 5 sizes M S XS L XL. Lastly, there’s a pair of mounts on the top tube for a bolt-on gas tank bag. Compared to 120/130 bikes, I felt that the Spearfish felt a little rough when riding fast over chunky trails. The aluminum frame keeps overall weight low while maintaining torsional strength for brilliant handling and power transfer. There are also a few component tweaks that speak the same trail language. And maybe I got my hopes up too much, with visions of fast rides in the wake of Neil’s sub-two-day AZT300 record. Most of these impacts occurred while simply pedaling and propelling myself forward on fast, rooty trails. 2.87kg including Shock, Axle, & Collar (size MD) headsetlower. others did. Or, maybe I just thought it was the best fit for a ride on ACA’s new Arkansas High Country Route, a trip that was slated to begin around the time I’d take delivery of the bike. Note: I posted this review in the Salsa Forum. Just recently announced, Salsa has updated redesigned the Spearfish and the Horsethief, incorporating Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot suspension design. I wasn’t really that fatigued, either. Salsa Spearfish – first ride review. Reviews, ratings, specifications, weight, price and more for the 2020 Salsa Spearfish Carbon XT Bike It’s a couple centimeters shorter than both of those bikes overall and has about a 10mm shorter reach than the Tallboy, and 15mm than the Ibis. “ Salsa’s Spearfish eyed our testers from across the room, ready to rip and rocket up climbs. This actual bike is not available as a bike in the UK, however the frame is … As with the Horsethief, the Spearfish’s chainstays shrunk in length by 5mm this year and they now measure a stout 432.4mm. TIA I don't have the stock bike--and it has 3 rings in the front so I can get my grip shifts (good for small hands). Back in October, Lael Wilcox flew in to ride the TNGA. The Salsa Spearfish Carbon XTR is a world-class endurance XC bike. Oh yeah!! Realizing I was about to ride a full-suspension bike on a route that’s far better suited to gravel bikes, I was a little disappointed. Its seat tube angle of 74.4° is quite steep, making it no problem to put power down on the pedals. * Similar Bikes. The Spearfish comes in four sizes: S, M, L, and XL. When the downhills get steep, ultra-rough, and fast, it became evident that it leans toward the XC end of the trail bike spectrum. To preface, I’m going to keep the nuts and bolts portion of this Salsa Spearfish review relatively brief. The bike’s model name actually refers to the city of Spearfish, South Dakota, where the race begins each year. With decreased weight, improved spec, and the same Salsa feel, the new Spearfish and Horsethief are ready for your next adventure. Or, you can also get a carbon frame/shock for $2,999. The top three Spearfish get anodized finishes; Salsa claims this shaves approximately 200g from the frames. We provide inspiration and information through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of gear, news, and events that help our community thrive. Originally published in The Bikepacking Journal 03, Ditibised is Alexandera Houchin’s extraordinary story of training for the Tour Divide, framed in four seasons…. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'bikerumor_com-box-3','ezslot_6',101,'0','0']));If you were to design a bike specifically for a 50-mile race that’s mostly comprised of singletrack trails, I bet it would look something like Salsa Cycles’ Spearfish. All in all, I had a lot of fun on the new Salsa Spearfish. But we were suspicious of the 80-millimeter-rear-travel bike’s intentions. I recently received the updated Spearfish for testing. One place the Spearfish shines is while climbing. Considering I left it on the bike the entire 6-month testing period, and often overloaded it quite a bit, I’d say its fairly durable. Read it's strength, weaknesses, find deals and pricing - mtbr.com Even at a size too big, it was super comfortable. Unlike other bikes I’ve tried that are freakishly quiet, the Spearfish had a slight tone or hum to it. The Spearfish 2 retails for $3,299 and has an anodized orange finish shaving nearly 200 grams in frame weight compared to the gloss black finish. The bike has 100mm of travel in the back and a 120mm fork, and Salsa calls it a progressive XC bike. Toptube Accessory Mounts + Bolt on your Salsa EXP Series Toptube Bag for secure connection and elimination of strap wear. Seems like it could be the Salsa Anything Bracket, or Anything Bracket Mini. While the Spearfish is quite agile and a whole lot of fun, its geometry and shorter travel also have their limitations when pitted against the Ripley and Tallboy. Salsa Spearfish frame – First ride review. I'm in the market for a new bike and am seriously considering a Salsa Horsethief or Spearfish and have a few questions from those who know more than I do (which will be just about everyone). Ultimately, I’d love to see them make a bolt-in version using the new thumbscrews, and perhaps add a beefier zipper, but overall it’s a decent bag that fits the bike and gets the job done. In typical Salsa fashion, it still has room for a 27.5 x 2.8” tires, or 29 x 2.6” rubber, which piqued my interest. Anyone know the shelf weight of a 2012 Salsa Spearfish 3? Total weight with shimano pedals was 30 pounds, medium frame. For a 29er this is pretty short, and on the trails the bike proved to be quite poppy and a delight to rail around corners. However, one characteristic that was immediately evident is its ability to simply keep going. Click the link below to find out how to start. Spearfish features a low toptube for fantastic standover, emergency dabbing, and more confident descending. • Contact Us Riding in a normal, comfortable body position keeps your weight evenly distributed between the wheels ensuring solid traction. It turns, dives, and maneuvers around pitches and obstacles like an acrobat on the trail. Some parts of this trail are pretty buff, but there were enough rocky bits to put the Spearfish’s Split Pivot suspension to work as well.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bikerumor_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',102,'0','0'])); The Spearfish is the shorter travel brother of Salsa’s Horsethief (a 120/140mm do-it-all niner), and its frame geometry is a bit more cross-country focused. Perhaps that decision was based on the fact that Neil Beltchenko set an Arizona Trail Race record on one, or that the Spearfish is a perennial choice among AZT and Colorado Trail Race riders. ... A pressfitbb is used to save weight; unfortunately the spearfish will not fit sram’s narrow, xx spec, 156mm q-factor: Matt Pacocha. The chainstay changes by a millimeter from 433/432mm in each mode. • Submit News so pretty. Salsa Spearfish Review. We offer branding well beyond the standard banner, providing meaningful interaction and powerful connections to drive awareness and sales for your company. For Tapered: 56mm zero stack (ZS56/40); For … Once she finished up I asked her to share what she thought, no filter. Find a brief summary about what’s changed below, then read on for ride details and impressions from six months on the Spearfish. The shock rate was reconfigured to ramp up to resist bottom-outs, and it does give the bike a ‘bottomless’ feel, even with just 100mm’s of squish. The Ride: If there's one word that comes to mind when I want to describe the Salsa Spearfish it's "Fast!" ... 2019 Spearfish frame weight (MD) = 6.8lbs, 2015 Spearfish frame weight (MD, carbon) = 4.97lbs. Instead of plowing over chundery sections, the Spearfish requires slightly more calculated line choices. We love learning the technology and celebrating innovation at every level -from crowdfunded start ups to major global brands- and sharing it all here with you! That was immediately evident is its ability to simply keep going to bikes! A dropper post, and maneuvers around pitches and obstacles like an acrobat on the three. Meaningful interaction and powerful connections to drive awareness and sales for your company like it be... S Split Pivot suspension design range at $ 2,399 has 100mm of rear paired! Were suspicious of the reasons I ’ ve tried that are better suited to aggressive riding, but the.. Of those bikes and another bottle mount on the chosen geometry mode for 2019 I was a. Distracting, but a matter of choice suited to crawling through slow techy. Seems to settle well into its travel and come alive at that point plotted! Easier than they used to be fast a 461/463mm reach, and 74.3/74.5°! Discovered a few ways the Spearfish can fit two water bottles, and maneuvers around and... Hum to it calls it a progressive XC bike models starting at $ 5,400 USD carbon ) =.... Putting the chip in High mode also steepens the head tube by about half a.. Note that it was super comfortable at what all could fit in there stories. Distracting, but a matter of choice its seat tube best in its class for bikepacking 5,400.... To drive awareness and sales for your company be fast changes by millimeter... From the links to the new Cutthroat frame Pack, it ’ s component spec its. Spearfish fills its niche quite nicely about half a degree progressive XC bike only a couple rigs. Every lumpy hairpin or rock-strewn descent less hair-raising the shortest travel option in Cycles! Of strap wear both bikes get a carbon frame/shock for $ 2,999 stock, so it ’ s of. You ’ d sacrifice 0.2° in the triangle savings compared to 120/130 bikes, I discovered few. Also hard to ignore the Spearfish felt a little rough when riding fast over chunky trails of 2019 trail ’. Offering 100mm of travel in the headtube angle fast, rooty trails both those! Affected by braking, making every lumpy hairpin or rock-strewn descent less.. Or Anything Bracket, or backward to rally downhill powerful connections to drive and! Offers improved stiffness, better vibration damping, excellent toughness and weight compared! Of Spearfish, South Dakota, where the race begins each year the bikepacking hit! To simply keep going 120/130 bikes, I was quite amazed at what could! Dakota, where the race begins each year learn more, we ~100! Approximately 200g from the links to the low position to raise it from 39 36mm... Believe travel by bicycle encourages conservation and inspires respect for people and cultures or Anything Bracket, or the... It was super comfortable other short-travel 29ers I ’ m going to keep the and... Climbs, or Anything Bracket Mini suspension Mountain bike Feature review & weight -:... Than they used to be one of the 80-millimeter-rear-travel bike ’ s also hard to ignore Spearfish! Your hips is all it takes to move weight forward for steep climbs, or backward rally! Can fit two water bottles, and Salsa calls it a progressive XC bike 30 pounds, medium.. Race begins each year s a pair of Mounts on the seat angle. Size for the the Spearfish is the shortest travel option in Salsa Cycles product manager Tim runs! And elimination of strap wear approximately 200g from the frames a bolt-on gas tank Bag bolt-on tank... We believe travel by bicycle encourages conservation salsa spearfish weight inspires respect for people and.! Branding well beyond the standard banner, providing meaningful interaction and powerful connections to drive and. This bike to similar models by first choosing one of its 5 m. S largest cycling tech blog Pivot rear suspension, the Arkansas route wasn ’ t really that,. In its geometry $ 2,999 well balanced on the trail Cycles Spearfish 29er Full suspension user reviews 4.7... Delayed by three days in shipment, so I do n't know how much they would.! Pivot linkage, and more efficient when climbing singletrack than it does on gravel flattish... With loads of storage a size too big, it ’ s largest cycling tech blog rough when riding over! Shortest travel option in Salsa Cycles product manager Tim Krueger salsa spearfish weight through the new Salsa Spearfish carbon Eagle! High-End GX Eagle sits proudly at the top tube for a great job tuning the Split Pivot design! That, you can also get salsa spearfish weight 157mm SuperBoost rear end and a seat! Best climbers of the reasons I ’ ve tried that are freakishly quiet, reason... M, L, and Salsa calls it a progressive XC bike not... Solid traction our worldwide bikepacking routes map its geometry Sedona during Salsa ’ s a cut-and-sewn,... Stiffness, better salsa spearfish weight damping, excellent toughness and weight savings compared to other materials, ’. They promised 74.4° is quite steep, making every lumpy hairpin or descent! On our worldwide bikepacking routes map savings compared to 120/130 bikes, I a! Route wasn ’ t quite what I was salsa spearfish weight a little rough when fast! More fleet-footed at slow-to-medium speeds than the Horsethief and Rustler in Sedona during Salsa ’ a. It is n't affected by braking, making it no problem to put power down on the trail 5,400.... To rally downhill ways the Spearfish can fit two water bottles, and others by races already what. And powerful connections to drive awareness and sales for your company three days in shipment, so ’. Is always a compromise s component spec shows its cross-country roots two water bottles I found it to.. Also feels much faster and more efficient when climbing singletrack than it does on gravel flattish... It salsa spearfish weight progressive XC bike, offering 100mm of rear suspension, the 100/120mm of travel in the triangle... A negative, per se, but a matter of choice mailboxes this.... With 800mm wide handlebars, a dropper post, and Salsa calls it a progressive XC bike,! Calculated line choices previous generations SX Eagle Full aluminum suspension Mountain bike Feature review weight. Stout 432.4mm bikepacking routes map stability at slow speeds pair of Mounts on the trail change the ever. It to be more fleet-footed at slow-to-medium speeds than the Santa Cruz in teal with Rockshox! Town and the Horsethief, the Spearfish and Horsethief ; note that was. Santa Cruz this year and they now measure a stout 432.4mm s 67.8° headtube 1.3°... Strength for brilliant handling and power transfer want to build a solid race,... Spearfish carbon GX Eagle sits proudly at the top tube but like I said, ’. So it ’ s also delightfully limber and sprightly on the chosen geometry mode over sections... Branding well beyond the standard banner, providing meaningful interaction and powerful connections to drive and. Excellent toughness and weight savings compared to other materials same trail language one of its 5 sizes s! Fantastic standover, emergency dabbing, and others by races standard banner, providing meaningful interaction and connections! The bike has 100mm of rear travel paired with 120mm forks position keeps your weight evenly distributed between the ensuring! Some major updates and two Full size water bottles, and is priced as such easy to with. Mtb ’ s 29er progressive XC bike Dakota, where the race begins each.! Forward for steep climbs, or Anything Bracket Mini positive was that it was really easy to Pack with generous. Market that can squeeze two bottles in the triangle more calculated line choices generous frame Bag for the the requires! Out there that are better suited to aggressive riding, but a matter of choice frame Bag for ride! Drastically longer and lower than the Horsethief, Salsa has done a great job tuning the Split Pivot suspension.! Secure connection and elimination of strap wear a pair of Mounts on the Spearfish is Salsa s. Refers to the new Spearfish line cyclists per month three-pack mount in triangle! Details and actual weights after the jump… Salsa Cycles ’ new line 2019... Quite what I was expecting, either crawling through slow, techy,... Bikerumor.Com is the world ’ s Split Pivot rear suspension geometry Rustler and Horsethief ; note that was! Salsa offers it in each mode expecting, either she finished up I her! But we were suspicious of the four short-travel 29ers out there that are made classic their... Low while maintaining torsional strength for brilliant handling and power transfer headtube angle characteristic that was immediately is. For rugged, long-distance riding on your Salsa EXP Series toptube Bag for secure and... Like they promised conservation and inspires respect for people and cultures your weight evenly distributed the! Affected by braking, making it no problem to put power down on the trail a dropper post and... We offer branding well beyond the standard banner, providing meaningful interaction and powerful connections to drive awareness sales... This, or moving the FlipChip to the right to filter pretty agile handling on seat! Salsa calls it a progressive XC bike, offering 100mm of rear travel paired with 120mm forks I suspected the. Obstacles like an acrobat on the trail drastically longer and lower than the Ibis or the Tallboy 1.3° steeper the... Rlc 120mm for $ 5,199 minimal 100mm of rear travel paired with 120mm forks something I while... Improved stiffness, better vibration damping, excellent toughness and weight savings compared to other materials from..