I’ve had my Thunderhawk with a carbon fork for about 8 months now and it’s amazing. Was it expensive, sure. Was it worth it, absolutely. I won’t hesitate to purchase another if something happens to mine.
Hello to everyone at path less pedaled , not sure how many subscribers you have over here in lock down UK but I'm sure they all appreciate your videos in these difficult times , your like GCN for people that don't look good in lycra 🇬🇧 (spandex🇺🇸) 👍.
I love Titanium - the looks, weight, and the feel are on point. I picked up a Lynskey GR250 on craigslist, and it was the best bike purchase I have made. Sub 20lbs with carbon wheels (thank you previous owner) and soaks up bumps. And it looks are absolutely stunning... I store it on the wall in the living room.
I ordered a Lynskey GR300 last month, waiting patiently for it. I bought a Lynskey Peleton many many years ago and never rode it….instead I turned my 40lb fat bike into a gravel bike lol. She’s heavy but I’ve managed to put 2.5K miles on her so far.
Heck Yeah!! I'm waiting on mine as we speak. The customer service has been amazing, putting up with me changing my mind and being a generally indecisive person. I can't recommend these dudes enough!
Such a great job communicating the nuances of frame geo and feel. I appreciated the talk about trail and front wanderiness. I might finally understand it.
I compared the bikes on BikeInsights (Bombora size medium, Thunderhawk size 52.5) and I understood why Russ liked it (as he mentioned in an ACN video). The geometry is almost the same, although there are some differences (seat tube angle was 0.5deg difference).
My husband had a Van Nic Mistral titanium frame bike he loved it. But on the 12/18/2019 he was knocked of his bike and landed up in hospital the bike was beyond repair (his okay). We watched your excellent video and he is looking for a importer here in England. Keep safe and keep em coming!!
I can definitely see why you call it the most supple gravel bike you’ve tried. I have a Ti gravel frame but with a carbon fork. I don’t have carbon rims so that may make my bike feel really supple. I agree that Ti fork really sets the Bearclaw apart and 2600 is actually not a bad price for Ti.
I’d like to suggest you to do a review on Bombtrack Hook EXT. It’s a supple bike and you may compare this columbus steel bike with the others. Thank you.
Jones LWB titanium with titanium truss fork rides incredible , just the frame costs 4200. Had to own one because life is to short , and my wife said no motorcycles. The Ti Jones is supple times three, and so forgiving, but still fun. Great review Russ, keep it coming , stuck close to home. Be careful and enjoy the ride.
@@csobering3108 same price as a track bike im looking at and it doesn't have all the triple mounts which cost money its a smoking deal really if you have a good component set for it
An excellent and somewhat understated review, Russ! Lucky me! I have a Thunderhawk, set up with the carbon 700c wheels...It came with the carbon fork. Then, when the Ti fork became available, I traded WAY up to the Ti. (there's no going back) First, the bike IS supple. It becomes apparent just riding on a sidewalk, all the crack bumps are just gone.There is no pounding, yet its insanely responsive. But once the Ti fork went on, OMG! Yes, I felt a tiny bit of trail (2" 700c's), same wheels/tires, just a new fork. Suddenly any imbalance from the carbon fork went away and the ride just makes grins with everyone who tries it...they all shake their heads and giggle in amazement. Then, I had to get a Bearclaw Frank, for winter/fat riding, and made sure the Ti fork was part of that package. The amazing part with both forks, is eyeballing the front axle with the handlebar and watch the action of the fork absorb the bumps and vibrations....and it's like 10+ mm's of forward motion of the fork, eating up the rattles...It is NOT a noodle at all...note how Russ stated it looks oversize and chunky more than once...it's the real deal and by far the best bike I've ever ridden on road, gravel, mild singletrack, etc. It is a do it all ('cept for fat) miracle machine! Get one & you won't want for anything else...it simply takes you out of the market for bike 'wants'.
Loved your comments Sir. I'm currently looking in to getting a Zinn Custom built bike. I'm a heavy set short dude with funny proportions. I'll definitely have to look up this bike and see what they have to offer.
Thanks, appreciate your review and understanding that we all have different expectations. You touched on the change in geometry with tyre size. Being able to vary geometry In MTB has been around for a while, I think gravel should jump onto the bandwagon and incorporate adjustable front forks. What do you think?
I've heard that Ti forks can get really chattery when braking and can otherwise not have the desired lateral stiffness for good tracking. How would you characterize the stiffness when braking and cornering?
I love this channel. I love the content. I don't even own a "supple" bike. I have a simple cheap fixed gear and a cheap roadie that's not flashy. But I really enjoy consuming Russ's content regardless. BUT for all this supple life banter about the "non-competitive side of cycling", it sure is still rather expensive. Ti or not, some of these supple life bikes/prices are pretty exxy and in a way the "supple life" and the "competitive side of cycling" are closer than you think. Not a jab at you Russ, far from it, but the more I look into this style/side of cycling, the more I realize it's just as expensive as road cycling. For now I'll live vicariously through your videos.
To be fair, I never said "the cheap side of cycling" :). Just because something isn't used for racing doesn't mean it is necessarily inexpensive. In fact, what I hope people come away with is that there is a whole world of interesting and well crafted products that aren't designed for racing.
Sometimes it has to be noted that not all Ti frames are equal, hence the price. Not all Ti tubing and quality are the same.. its also even More Important to know Who (local builder who welds for Bearclaw, or outsourced?) builds it because a good builder is able to use different welding techniques/locations to modify the feel of the frame. This is not to take away from Bearclaw’s bike.. but I wish to speak for all the builders out there who specialise in building Ti. I’ve had friends compare Ti frames and say, why should I pay X dollars when I could get a Ti frame for Company A who sells it for so much less? Like steel.. the prices will indicate that there IS a difference, even though not always proportionately. I hear a lot of “support local talent and business” but I also see that most of the same buyers are not aware of where their money is really going to.. especially with the whole “gravel scene” exploding.. there is a lot of noise without full transparency. Every company just wants to sell their “gravel” bike. Sincerely not trying to be a dick or anything guys, just want to share my thoughts
Interesting to hear you try and describe the feel of the full titanium frame. Not that you did a bad job, but almost sounds like something that needs to be experienced first hand. (Not sure anyone could do a better job than you of describing bike feel).
That frame is basically a heavier and lower climbing performance 1996 Bontrager TiLite ... Keith basically perfected the modern gravel bike before he sold out to Trek.
Great review. Thanks! Can u help w a size question. I am 5’5 1/2” tall. Therefore I could go w either a size 51 or 52 1/2 in this bike Any size recommendations or advice? What size did u test?
I’ve had mine for 3 yrs now, I’ve ridden bike packing to single track to the Dirty Kanza 200 and if it ever broke, I’d donate a kidney to buy another if that’s what it took. It’s incredible.
I love the term "Ride at Party Pace". That's awesome. Pro racing doesn't interest me anymore but quality bikes do and that bike has a lot of appeal for me. 👍👍
I'm old school too and prefer mechanical for both shifting and braking. I'm currently running SRAM Force 1 mechanical with Paul Klampers. My concern though is that SRAM might discontinue or neglect their Red and Force mechanical groups. Have you heard any rumors regarding that?
I would totally like your take on the Kocmo Daytona X. But since they are a rather small Ti-focused bike designer and producer here in Germany, it will probably never happen. Anyone reading here having experience with that bike?
COOL BIKE. And nice thorough review as always. You mentioned you rode it on some single track - anything MTB-like? and if so, would you give the edge to the Cutthroat in that terrain?
Trail isn't as high as a modern mtb, so definitely a bit more on the monstercross side of things. Cutthroat feels a little longer overall, so probably slightly more capable as a mtb. Between the two, I'd lean towards the Thunderhawk for the piece of mind of alloy over carbon.
Nice review. Have you compared to the Why cycles R+. Think they are out of colorado. Both ti but the why has shorter chainstay and slighter shorter trail and higher bottom bracket. Might be a good comparison.
This is a very interesting bike. What 700c tire is this frame optimized for? If i were to guess I'd say 700x40. Also, can the frame welder be revealed?
Thanks for the review! If I'm riding a Salsa Vaya on mostly paved roads, which model would you suggest? Still the Thunderchicken? I'm kind of a most-surfaces bike fan, so this looks very interesting.
Beautiful bike. I was surprised you didn't mention Seven Cycles when talking about titanium bike brands. Seven is probably the best Ti bike builder. They're based in Massachusetts. I have their custom built Axiom SL pure road bike, and I can completely relate to your experience of the ride feel on the Ti bike like "getting a novocaine shot". That's the magic feel of titanium. It is super smooth and supple and absorbs the high frequency vibrations, but at the same time super lively and accelerates and climbs extremely well. Seven used to offer full titanium forks until recently.
Did Seven ever get out from under the umbrella of American Bicycle Group that also owned Litespeed and Quintana Roo? Never mind, as it appears to have been a short lived ownership.
If everything (wheels, drivetrain, handlebars) were the same between a Crust Bombora and a Bearclaw thunderhawk, how would they compare? Can't seem to decide between the 2...
is the desert road Mt. Wrightson near Tucs? Honestly, if you're shopping for Ti, 2600 for a frameset is not that steep. There are less expensive options for sure (twin six), but they aren't as advanced as this design.
What size was the G-Ones??? Looking at tires for my Surly Bridge Club, first 650b build, so looking for all the info I can find!!! #supplelife #roadieconvert #partypace
I was wondering if you have ever swapped out the 650B wheels for 700c wheel set to see if the high trail handling characteristics would change? In your video Bearclaw claimed that the bike could change between 650b to 700c and I know that the Surly Midnight Special had the same claim.
what do you think about zero offset seatpost on drop bar bike? i thought ‘slack’ seat angle in range between 70-71,5 degree. but i scratching my head when manufacturers like this bearclaw or O.P.E.N proclaim the advantages about zero offset seatpost but with 72-73,5 degree seat angle. is it because low stack on performance oriented adventure bike? or is it all about KOPS? i am talking about rivendell. they spec’d their bike with high (23mm) offset seatpost even at 71 degree seat angle. I don’t have a rivendell yet I so don’t know anything about it. just curious about this zero offset thing.
I think if it works to get you into an ideal pedaling position then its great. I don't know which Rivendell model you are referring to. There are many. Some are drop bars and some are designed to be ridden more upright.
rivendell AHH and their newest trail plus bike have a 71.5 sta. but their most upright and shortest reach bike even with sweptback handlebar, cheviot, have slightly steeper sta at 72. and what about atlantis? because afaik, the more upright, the more slack sta should be
I know you say you aren't a shill for the bike industry, but maybe you should consider becoming one. LOL. You've convinced me that I need to buy expensive wheels and, now, you've got me seriously considering this very expensive bike. The basic build of this bike costs more than my first new car in 1983. Still, the joy and enthusiasm that you have for cycling comes through and makes the products seem pretty enticing.
Perhaps Laura could ride it for a trip somewhere and give a comparison to the Breadwinner? Aslo, how come you've not decided to go down the custom route? I guess because you review so many bikes.... Oh, one more thing, what is that purple chain?
It’s too small do Laura to ride and we have to send it back soon. Haven’t gone custom because of $$$. Only had enough for one of us and decided Laura should go first. Chain is some fancy SRAM chain.
Hi Russ! Great review as always, got me thinking about ordering one of these ... in fact I have spoken with Dustin and received a quote, but am still considering things at the moment. I am curious what you thought of the wheel set on the test bike, what was your impression of the build quality and ride characteristics. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!
Wheelset was carbon with Bearclaw branding. Definitely on the light side and felt great while climbing and descending. Fairly easy to mount tubeless tires. No real red flags. Can't speak to long term durability.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Thanks for the additional info. Another question regarding bikes you / Laura have reviewed ... How would you compare the Thunderhawk with the Bread Winner G-Road? Which would be your preference as a "all road" adventure and light touring bike? Thanks for your thoughts and input as they will help me consider which of these to seriously consider. Matthew
@@PathLessPedaledTV been waiting for this review since surly midnight special (because soon after I found bearclaw) to officially know which bike to buy and you just answered it perfectly thanks for these videos. Makes buying the right bike easier 😁🤩
Is there anyone in this market that makes non custom aluminum frames? We are sick between budget heavy steel or expensive lighter materials. Cannondale and trek are doing great things with aluminum which is lighter than steel, not expensive, and they are getting petty good at more supple aluminum.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Sorry, not what I meant to imply. My comment is the general loathing at wider industry, especially of the niche like area of large tire drop bar, not producing a moderately priced yet not as heavy bike which I think aluminum could allow. You can get a low budget aluminum road and entry mountain bike for so cheap, but it seems too hard for those same companies to widen a few forks and chainstays.
Have you not looked? Trek Checkpoint, Cannondale Topstone, Kona NRB, Salsa Journeyman, Niner RLT, there are a ton of cheap good aluminum gravel bikes out there.
Another great review. Having watched your various reviews and one in particular about Cutthroat vs Warbird for DK, would you have selected the Bearclaw Thunderhawk over Cutthroat? I guess a more general question is ( and yes it is a never dying question) .. if you could only have one bike to do two extreme touring one on road and one on dirt, say trans america ( on road) in one year and GDMBR in another year, would this be the one ( with changing tires and perhaps wheels)? or would you split the cost involved with this not so inexpensive bike and buy two bikes that are more task specific ( i.e. touring bikes like LHT, Sutra, Marakesh, etc. and one for GDMBR like Fargo, lower spec Cutthroat, etc.)? Thank you and keep up the great job!
@@PathLessPedaledTV I just saw your Beaux Jackson review, it seems that one is closer to what I am looking for ( ref to your "more tire" recommendation) .. no?
Titanium frames are underrated IMO. Ti bikes can be supple, comfortable, yet fast & powerful at the same time. M Planet X Tempest titanium surprises me every time I ride it, & *no* it's not just the tyres. PS: the geometry of the Thunderhawk is incredibly similar to my Tempest, almost identical. Interesting stuff Russ!
I’ve had my Thunderhawk with a carbon fork for about 8 months now and it’s amazing. Was it expensive, sure. Was it worth it, absolutely. I won’t hesitate to purchase another if something happens to mine.
Hello to everyone at path less pedaled , not sure how many subscribers you have over here in lock down UK but I'm sure they all appreciate your videos in these difficult times , your like GCN for people that don't look good in lycra 🇬🇧 (spandex🇺🇸) 👍.
James Pegram or refuse to wear Lycra!
my jaw literally dropped when i saw the weight, It looks like a bit of a monster truck but it climbs like a goat!
I love Titanium - the looks, weight, and the feel are on point. I picked up a Lynskey GR250 on craigslist, and it was the best bike purchase I have made. Sub 20lbs with carbon wheels (thank you previous owner) and soaks up bumps. And it looks are absolutely stunning... I store it on the wall in the living room.
mplural Definiteky a lot of value in used Ti bikes. Recently I bought a Seven road bike from 2008 that was barely used and it’s a dream to ride.
I ordered a Lynskey GR300 last month, waiting patiently for it.
I bought a Lynskey Peleton many many years ago and never rode it….instead I turned my 40lb fat bike into a gravel bike lol. She’s heavy but I’ve managed to put 2.5K miles on her so far.
@@goforbroke2 How do you like your GR300?
@@lenkomsa1399 I like it a lot. It’s a solid bike with decent components. I’d definitely buy it again and recommend it to others.
Heck Yeah!! I'm waiting on mine as we speak.
The customer service has been amazing, putting up with me changing my mind and being a generally indecisive person. I can't recommend these dudes enough!
Samuel Smolenski has a similar great experience buying my Thunderhawk.
this is the most beautiful bike that you have ever reviewed.
Such a great job communicating the nuances of frame geo and feel. I appreciated the talk about trail and front wanderiness. I might finally understand it.
Think the new iteration could fit a 2.2 in the back?
Interested in a compare/contrast to your Crust Bombora.
I compared the bikes on BikeInsights (Bombora size medium, Thunderhawk size 52.5) and I understood why Russ liked it (as he mentioned in an ACN video). The geometry is almost the same, although there are some differences (seat tube angle was 0.5deg difference).
Well dang. I had completely convinced myself that the next bike purchase would be the Salsa Cutthroat, but now I must reconsider.
My husband had a Van Nic Mistral titanium frame bike he loved it. But on the 12/18/2019 he was knocked of his bike and landed up in hospital the bike was beyond repair (his okay). We watched your excellent video and he is looking for a importer here in England. Keep safe and keep em coming!!
I can definitely see why you call it the most supple gravel bike you’ve tried. I have a Ti gravel frame but with a carbon fork. I don’t have carbon rims so that may make my bike feel really supple. I agree that Ti fork really sets the Bearclaw apart and 2600 is actually not a bad price for Ti.
Fun review Russ. High bucks and all. It's the closest many of us will get to riding one. (And now it's in my head). Thank you!
I’d like to suggest you to do a review on Bombtrack Hook EXT. It’s a supple bike and you may compare this columbus steel bike with the others. Thank you.
I also want to see a review of the Hook EXT
how did you find the sizing for this? was it pretty true or run odd like All City bikes? What size did you have and how tall are you?
Monster gravel glad I converted my gravel to monster gravel 😎♥️🚲💯
Jones LWB titanium with titanium truss fork rides incredible , just the frame costs 4200. Had to own one because life is to short , and my wife said no motorcycles. The Ti Jones is supple times three, and so forgiving, but still fun. Great review Russ, keep it coming , stuck close to home. Be careful and enjoy the ride.
For Ti, not that expensive.
agree, I was expecting it to be in the $5K range.
@@csobering3108 same price as a track bike im looking at and it doesn't have all the triple mounts which cost money its a smoking deal really if you have a good component set for it
An excellent and somewhat understated review, Russ! Lucky me! I have a Thunderhawk, set up with the carbon 700c wheels...It came with the carbon fork. Then, when the Ti fork became available, I traded WAY up to the Ti. (there's no going back) First, the bike IS supple. It becomes apparent just riding on a sidewalk, all the crack bumps are just gone.There is no pounding, yet its insanely responsive. But once the Ti fork went on, OMG! Yes, I felt a tiny bit of trail (2" 700c's), same wheels/tires, just a new fork. Suddenly any imbalance from the carbon fork went away and the ride just makes grins with everyone who tries it...they all shake their heads and giggle in amazement. Then, I had to get a Bearclaw Frank, for winter/fat riding, and made sure the Ti fork was part of that package. The amazing part with both forks, is eyeballing the front axle with the handlebar and watch the action of the fork absorb the bumps and vibrations....and it's like 10+ mm's of forward motion of the fork, eating up the rattles...It is NOT a noodle at all...note how Russ stated it looks oversize and chunky more than once...it's the real deal and by far the best bike I've ever ridden on road, gravel, mild singletrack, etc. It is a do it all ('cept for fat) miracle machine! Get one & you won't want for anything else...it simply takes you out of the market for bike 'wants'.
Loved your comments Sir. I'm currently looking in to getting a Zinn Custom built bike. I'm a heavy set short dude with funny proportions. I'll definitely have to look up this bike and see what they have to offer.
Damn! That cost more than my Vespa Scooter...but I would still love to have one...
Sometimes I just sit and look at my bike and wonder if I have a mental condition. I like your bike
Supple...?
Feel sorry for your gooch if you're describing a bike w. ZERO suspension as "supple" 😂
I know it’s hard to believe but pneumatic tires and frame flex provide suspension.🤯
Thanks, appreciate your review and understanding that we all have different expectations. You touched on the change in geometry with tyre size. Being able to vary geometry In MTB has been around for a while, I think gravel should jump onto the bandwagon and incorporate adjustable front forks. What do you think?
I think it makes sense.
@@PathLessPedaledTV There is one or two companies that offer a forks with axle inserts that change the geo but I forget who they are. Sorry
I've heard that Ti forks can get really chattery when braking and can otherwise not have the desired lateral stiffness for good tracking. How would you characterize the stiffness when braking and cornering?
Maybe Ti forks of olde. This one was a good balance of flex without feeling vague. No problems braking or cornering.
I love this channel. I love the content. I don't even own a "supple" bike. I have a simple cheap fixed gear and a cheap roadie that's not flashy. But I really enjoy consuming Russ's content regardless.
BUT for all this supple life banter about the "non-competitive side of cycling", it sure is still rather expensive. Ti or not, some of these supple life bikes/prices are pretty exxy and in a way the "supple life" and the "competitive side of cycling" are closer than you think.
Not a jab at you Russ, far from it, but the more I look into this style/side of cycling, the more I realize it's just as expensive as road cycling.
For now I'll live vicariously through your videos.
To be fair, I never said "the cheap side of cycling" :). Just because something isn't used for racing doesn't mean it is necessarily inexpensive. In fact, what I hope people come away with is that there is a whole world of interesting and well crafted products that aren't designed for racing.
Would this bike be a good option for a touring bike? Thank you.
Sometimes it has to be noted that not all Ti frames are equal, hence the price. Not all Ti tubing and quality are the same.. its also even More Important to know Who (local builder who welds for Bearclaw, or outsourced?) builds it because a good builder is able to use different welding techniques/locations to modify the feel of the frame.
This is not to take away from Bearclaw’s bike.. but I wish to speak for all the builders out there who specialise in building Ti. I’ve had friends compare Ti frames and say, why should I pay X dollars when I could get a Ti frame for Company A who sells it for so much less?
Like steel.. the prices will indicate that there IS a difference, even though not always proportionately. I hear a lot of “support local talent and business” but I also see that most of the same buyers are not aware of where their money is really going to.. especially with the whole “gravel scene” exploding.. there is a lot of noise without full transparency. Every company just wants to sell their “gravel” bike.
Sincerely not trying to be a dick or anything guys, just want to share my thoughts
Interesting to hear you try and describe the feel of the full titanium frame. Not that you did a bad job, but almost sounds like something that needs to be experienced first hand. (Not sure anyone could do a better job than you of describing bike feel).
The gift and curse of a bike tester: I like this one, and this one, and THIS one... Which one do you pick? 😆
Ti bikes always have a coolness to them.
Happy Trails - Looks sweet, rides like steel, and doesn’t rust. Almost retro hi-tech, since carbon has taken over the top end.
Sir, do you have a filipino heritage?
Wow this is amazing. I wish i could ride a bike like that
Chinese made titanium frame? If I'm going to spend money on a frame I'll have for a lifetime, no thanks. I'll take a Moots instead please.
Yeah. Totally why Moots uses the same ti fork from the same manufacturer.
That frame is basically a heavier and lower climbing performance 1996 Bontrager TiLite ... Keith basically perfected the modern gravel bike before he sold out to Trek.
Great review. Thanks! Can u help w a size question. I am 5’5 1/2” tall. Therefore I could go w either a size 51 or 52 1/2 in this bike Any size recommendations or advice? What size did u test?
Are you willing to ride a cargo bicyce?
Russ good info!have you reviewed a priority600 x ? Pricy but compelling,checkit out!
I’ve had mine for 3 yrs now, I’ve ridden bike packing to single track to the Dirty Kanza 200 and if it ever broke, I’d donate a kidney to buy another if that’s what it took. It’s incredible.
I love the term "Ride at Party Pace". That's awesome. Pro racing doesn't interest me anymore but quality bikes do and that bike has a lot of appeal for me. 👍👍
I'm old school too and prefer mechanical for both shifting and braking. I'm currently running SRAM Force 1 mechanical with Paul Klampers. My concern though is that SRAM might discontinue or neglect their Red and Force mechanical groups. Have you heard any rumors regarding that?
The Bike looks stunning, especially with the Ti Fork. It is expensive, but not super expensive. I would go for it...
Are you going to review the Lynskey this year. I hope so
I'm putting a Bearclaw ti fork on my Lynskey Pro 29er!
I would totally like your take on the Kocmo Daytona X. But since they are a rather small Ti-focused bike designer and producer here in Germany, it will probably never happen. Anyone reading here having experience with that bike?
Lidocaine, can't believe people still refer to local anesthetics as Novocaine from like 50 years ago. Love the review, and the bike!
COOL BIKE. And nice thorough review as always. You mentioned you rode it on some single track - anything MTB-like? and if so, would you give the edge to the Cutthroat in that terrain?
Trail isn't as high as a modern mtb, so definitely a bit more on the monstercross side of things. Cutthroat feels a little longer overall, so probably slightly more capable as a mtb. Between the two, I'd lean towards the Thunderhawk for the piece of mind of alloy over carbon.
My cutthroat is a rocket and I love it, but, I've always wanted a ti bike!
That’s a very reasonable price for Ti bike especially if it’s welded in the USA. I like the looks of the Ti fork.
Awesome ....review..👍👍👍👍👍👍
Nice review. Have you compared to the Why cycles R+. Think they are out of colorado. Both ti but the why has shorter chainstay and slighter shorter trail and higher bottom bracket. Might be a good comparison.
This is a very interesting bike. What 700c tire is this frame optimized for? If i were to guess I'd say 700x40. Also, can the frame welder be revealed?
Thanks for the review! If I'm riding a Salsa Vaya on mostly paved roads, which model would you suggest? Still the Thunderchicken? I'm kind of a most-surfaces bike fan, so this looks very interesting.
Can you review the Lynskey GR300? Thanks.
SUPPLE... did you just learn this word? It’s clearly your favorite 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Clearly you know nothing about this channel.
I’d be curious to see how that Ti holds up in the long run for a bike taken offroad.
Honestly in theory it should be a fantastic material, all about the welding really.
What do you use to shoot action shots? @pathlesspedaled Gopro? Make video on nk your equipment used! Keep up your hustle 😎
Beautiful bike. I was surprised you didn't mention Seven Cycles when talking about titanium bike brands. Seven is probably the best Ti bike builder. They're based in Massachusetts. I have their custom built Axiom SL pure road bike, and I can completely relate to your experience of the ride feel on the Ti bike like "getting a novocaine shot". That's the magic feel of titanium. It is super smooth and supple and absorbs the high frequency vibrations, but at the same time super lively and accelerates and climbs extremely well. Seven used to offer full titanium forks until recently.
Did Seven ever get out from under the umbrella of American Bicycle Group that also owned Litespeed and Quintana Roo? Never mind, as it appears to have been a short lived ownership.
If everything (wheels, drivetrain, handlebars) were the same between a Crust Bombora and a Bearclaw thunderhawk, how would they compare? Can't seem to decide between the 2...
Bombora is slightly more aggressive.
Great Review ! I’m torn between the Thunderhawk , Lynskey & very budget friendly Sonder Camino TI. Endless choices 🤘🏼🚴🏽🤘🏼🚴🏽
What did you go for??
I'm trying to decide between a Thunderhawk and a Sonders Camino😁
Any thoughts on this bike vs Ribble CGR Ti?
is the desert road Mt. Wrightson near Tucs? Honestly, if you're shopping for Ti, 2600 for a frameset is not that steep. There are less expensive options for sure (twin six), but they aren't as advanced as this design.
Road was up to Mt Hopkins (we have a whole video on that ride). Usually someone chimes in with a “but my Lynskey only cost $500.”
I wonder how much of the comfort is the CF handlebars? They advertise those Enves as being xtra comfortable.
What size was the G-Ones??? Looking at tires for my Surly Bridge Club, first 650b build, so looking for all the info I can find!!!
#supplelife
#roadieconvert
#partypace
2.2
how does the ride quality compare to other ti frames?
I was wondering if you have ever swapped out the 650B wheels for 700c wheel set to see if the high trail handling characteristics would change? In your video Bearclaw claimed that the bike could change between 650b to 700c and I know that the Surly Midnight Special had the same claim.
No. Don’t have a 700c Wheelset that would work.
I want a Moots Routt 45 with their YBB rear suspension in the worst kind of way. (Great review, love your content!)
How tall are you and what frame size?
5’8. 52.5
Psyched to see what you think of SRAM Eagle AXS. I have loved my mullet setup :0
Whoa....🤑 I still finished watching video. Lol.
Could you do hill repeats on a paved road with this bike? Could you spend 15+ hrs on it? Thank you
Yes.
Great riding footage! Beautiful rides. Really fantastic looking bike.
i wonder if that fork fits on a hardtail mountain bike?
What size did you test?
52.5
What size frame did you test here?
Thanks for a really useful review! What size frame was this? Tks
I could not afford to touch it, but sweet nonetheless.. :)
Nothing like falling in love with a bike!! Sounds like a dream boat, in the same sense that Ronnie brings romance to the supple life.
what do you think about zero offset seatpost on drop bar bike?
i thought ‘slack’ seat angle in range between 70-71,5 degree.
but i scratching my head when manufacturers like this bearclaw or O.P.E.N proclaim the advantages about zero offset seatpost but with 72-73,5 degree seat angle.
is it because low stack on performance oriented adventure bike?
or is it all about KOPS?
i am talking about rivendell. they spec’d their bike with high (23mm) offset seatpost even at 71 degree seat angle.
I don’t have a rivendell yet I so don’t know anything about it.
just curious about this zero offset thing.
I think if it works to get you into an ideal pedaling position then its great. I don't know which Rivendell model you are referring to. There are many. Some are drop bars and some are designed to be ridden more upright.
rivendell AHH and their newest trail plus bike have a 71.5 sta.
but their most upright and shortest reach bike even with sweptback handlebar, cheviot, have slightly steeper sta at 72.
and what about atlantis?
because afaik, the more upright, the more slack sta should be
Drop bar looks comfy! Is it a cowchipper by salsa? 🙏
Was waiting for this review. Definitely interested in demoing this bike, and these guys are kinda in my backyard too.
I want that bike more than any other bike. It's my # 1. Nice review. Love the chan' .
I know you say you aren't a shill for the bike industry, but maybe you should consider becoming one. LOL. You've convinced me that I need to buy expensive wheels and, now, you've got me seriously considering this very expensive bike. The basic build of this bike costs more than my first new car in 1983. Still, the joy and enthusiasm that you have for cycling comes through and makes the products seem pretty enticing.
How does it compare to the Beaux Jaxson?
Perhaps Laura could ride it for a trip somewhere and give a comparison to the Breadwinner? Aslo, how come you've not decided to go down the custom route? I guess because you review so many bikes.... Oh, one more thing, what is that purple chain?
It’s too small do Laura to ride and we have to send it back soon. Haven’t gone custom because of $$$. Only had enough for one of us and decided Laura should go first. Chain is some fancy SRAM chain.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Oh, fair enough. Cheers
So Russ.................... which bikes are you selling :.)
Great review as always.
Ha. Would prob sell the Cutthroat.
thx for the content! i'm wondering if you know of a way to mount water bottles on a front fork that has no braze ons for a bottle cage? have fun...
Israel Adams check out king cages universal support bolts. I have several and they’ve worked well for me.
How would this bike work as a world touring bike?
It would work great depending on how much weight you carry.
Hi Russ! Great review as always, got me thinking about ordering one of these ... in fact I have spoken with Dustin and received a quote, but am still considering things at the moment.
I am curious what you thought of the wheel set on the test bike, what was your impression of the build quality and ride characteristics. Any insight would be helpful.
Thanks!
Wheelset was carbon with Bearclaw branding. Definitely on the light side and felt great while climbing and descending. Fairly easy to mount tubeless tires. No real red flags. Can't speak to long term durability.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Thanks for the additional info. Another question regarding bikes you / Laura have reviewed ... How would you compare the Thunderhawk with the Bread Winner G-Road? Which would be your preference as a "all road" adventure and light touring bike? Thanks for your thoughts and input as they will help me consider which of these to seriously consider.
Matthew
lost me at 3:24
Nice vid! For the price I'm surprised it doesn't have an internal routed dropper post.
There isn't any meaningful amount of seatpost showing to make it worth it.
I'm glad to see for that price that the chain comes with unicorn pee :)
I think the bigger question is if you got this last year........ would I have gotten the supple of the year award
HA. Probably!
@@PathLessPedaledTV been waiting for this review since surly midnight special (because soon after I found bearclaw) to officially know which bike to buy and you just answered it perfectly thanks for these videos. Makes buying the right bike easier 😁🤩
Wow gorgeous bike.
What style is that handlebar?
Is there anyone in this market that makes non custom aluminum frames? We are sick between budget heavy steel or expensive lighter materials. Cannondale and trek are doing great things with aluminum which is lighter than steel, not expensive, and they are getting petty good at more supple aluminum.
They exist, but everytime I've tried to get a hold of C'dale or Trek they haven't been responsive.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Sorry, not what I meant to imply. My comment is the general loathing at wider industry, especially of the niche like area of large tire drop bar, not producing a moderately priced yet not as heavy bike which I think aluminum could allow. You can get a low budget aluminum road and entry mountain bike for so cheap, but it seems too hard for those same companies to widen a few forks and chainstays.
Have you not looked? Trek Checkpoint, Cannondale Topstone, Kona NRB, Salsa Journeyman, Niner RLT, there are a ton of cheap good aluminum gravel bikes out there.
Another great review. Having watched your various reviews and one in particular about Cutthroat vs Warbird for DK, would you have selected the Bearclaw Thunderhawk over Cutthroat? I guess a more general question is ( and yes it is a never dying question) .. if you could only have one bike to do two extreme touring one on road and one on dirt, say trans america ( on road) in one year and GDMBR in another year, would this be the one ( with changing tires and perhaps wheels)? or would you split the cost involved with this not so inexpensive bike and buy two bikes that are more task specific ( i.e. touring bikes like LHT, Sutra, Marakesh, etc. and one for GDMBR like Fargo, lower spec Cutthroat, etc.)? Thank you and keep up the great job!
Bearclaw for DK would have been awesome. Would also do well on the trans am with slicks. Might want more tire for the the GDMBR.
@@PathLessPedaledTV Thank you very much for the quick reply! The search for that one bike wonder is an elusive one :-)
@@PathLessPedaledTV I just saw your Beaux Jackson review, it seems that one is closer to what I am looking for ( ref to your "more tire" recommendation) .. no?
Can you run 40mm on the Beaux Jackson?
Sounds a sweet ride. Looks it too...
you had me at Thunderhawk
Hey!! Have you got any thought on the Enve bars? Or plans for a review? Thanks
They’re fine. Prefer the Ritchey VentureMax more.
Path Less Pedaled not worth the extra hundreds then?
Trade for a litespeed rd bike?
Road bike? So 2007 :)
I want one.
Titanium frames are underrated IMO.
Ti bikes can be supple, comfortable, yet fast & powerful at the same time.
M Planet X Tempest titanium surprises me every time I ride it, & *no* it's not just the tyres.
PS: the geometry of the Thunderhawk is incredibly similar to my Tempest, almost identical.
Interesting stuff Russ!
Also have a Tempest V3. Such good bang for your buck.