Yup, It's Good... Really Good - Pole Taival Review - A Modern, Aggressive Steel Hardtail
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- Опубликовано: 12 май 2021
- Pole Bicycles has been at the bleeding edge of the "longer, lower, and slacker" trend for years now and their Taival is no different. The designers at Pole make some of the longest bikes on the planet, and their philosophy is based around speed and technical terrain. How does the Pole Tavail stack up against other modern hardcore hardtails? Today we find out. Full frame details here: bit.ly/3dz9Ep3
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#pole #taival #hardcorehardtail 
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I've gleaned allot of knowledge about mountain biking on youtube. I feel compelled to comment that this channel provides the most insightful, informative, thoughtful and thorough content about bikes and equipment I've come across. More than any other content creator/channel. Answering the questions we all want addressed. Going deeper than anyone in the sport and on the platform. These reviews are on point and of a higher caliber than anything else I've seen on youtube. Appreciate all you do Steve and thanks for all this great content! Enjoy watching Dusty Betty too. Truly enjoyed watching you and Kendal-weed skillfully session that climb too. Two mountain goats! P.S.-Your lively upbeat demeanor and trail etiquette warms the soul, maintaining it even while your getting harassed by unleashed unruly dogs. True ambassador of the mountain bike community!
I'm speechless and flattered. thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to comment.
Spot on, I agree 100%!
Nothing to add here, absolutely spot on! Thank you Steve and thank you Seb!
I literally was thinking all of this as soon as I finished watching this video, well expressed.
This comment is on point and I learnt much and appreciate any new content as each review or video gives something new to learn. However I am slowly starting to think of myself as someone "educated" hard enough with big thanks to this channel. Now I realize that all this knowledge started me to overthink some bikes and less appreciate the hardtail I own.
I love how you thank all the hikers who let you pass, that’s the trail etiquette we need to live by and of which I’m a strong advocate. Such a stark contrast to the Strava-KOM-XC racers here in the Netherlands. Keep up the awesome reviews!
Thanks. We all just want to enjoy the trail together. Hopefully more people learn about good trail etiquette from these videos.
I love to ride xc strava stuff but try to be nice to other people
You should always act and ride accordingly within a shared space.
A solid built steel hardtail going over rocks is a sound I can listen to all day.
I reallly love seeing the hard climb at the start of Highline now, and seeing you going up it on all these different bikes, and all the differences between them. It gives you SUCH a good range of comparisons, which (once I've saved up) will massively inform my choices!
Thanks again Hardtail Party!!
Thanks for this review! I am just waiting for my Taival frame to be delivered, and am very happy to hear that it will be the right bike for our Austrian steep and technical trails.
I’ve been thinking of swapping my frame, and these reviews make nice to choose after you review these! I’m glad there’s tons of good frames and recently these bikes have been awesome!
Awesome honest and detailed review, keep it up Steve!
Been interested to hear you thoughts on this bike for quite a while! Great video!
Thank you so much Steve! Great detailed and honest review. I could feel your happiness and respect for po-lay ;) i own this Taival(XL) for a few weeks now and I am so happy my first impressions match your review. Plus being 200cm tall(6foot7) it is the first bike that fits me perfectly . Greetings from Germany!
Nice review. I do like that color. Really pops even on that grey looking day
I bought this bike because of this review and it is my daily rider. Unless I'm trying to keep up with friends in bike park terrain this bike is the most fun I've had in mountain biking. it inspires a little too much confidence sometimes, and I get myself in trouble, but that's why its fun!
Wow, what a nice trail 😍
And I love this bike, just from watching this video!
Thanks 👍🏼
So glad you reviewed this . Brilliant.thanks
I've got one... I love it. They work well as mullet with a plus rear. Helps on the rocky rooty stuff.
This review went a long way to helping make my decision to build up one of these frames- I am so glad I did! Such an awesome bike, descends like a beast and climbs well for such a burly frame. Keep up the good work
It's a great bike. I'm glad you're loving yours.
Great review as always. Not everyone is executing at your level and improving each day at the same time. Congratulations!
Thank you for the kind words.
Very good to know , I like your review in this Pole!!
Love it! Thanks for the upload!
Always a great day when you drop a new review video. Seems like a great bike, and Pole didn't go completely off the deep end in terms of geo.
Agreed, as long as you size down. This is a size small, which is bigger than a lot of mediums.
Great review 👍!! Highline in back to back videos awesome 😎!!! Got to say the trail looked steeper and scarier in this ☝️ one. Great job, can’t wait for the next video!!
Different cameras really change how it's perceived. It still gives me the jitters in a few spots.
Sedona is beautiful. Nice review! Well thought out and thorough.
Been waiting on this review for a while
Thanks for your patience. The last thing I want to do is rush my reviews and cut corners getting to know a bike.
The more I ride this bike, the more i love it. Pole did a great job on this, it's one of my top steel frame recommendations for modern riders in challenging terrain.
Oh, and THEY'RE IN STOCK!
Also, I don't pronounce the company name correctly. Sorry pole! It's pronounced po-lay
It's ok. GMBN are sponsored by them, and even they pronounce it wrong.
I give you 10 out of ten Steve. You're super composed. Love from New Zealand.
I built up this frame over the winter and pretty much agree with your assessment. It's my ONLY bike for a while and I think I those very well. I did tons of research and watched a lot of your reviews, but went with this. You might have mentioned this earlier, but this frame pretty affordable as well. I got it in the Pole Blue and I get comments/questions/compliments all the time at the trail head. For me it's a fantastic only bike!
The blue looks stunning in pics.
I love the geometry of this bike, beautiful to the eye.
I bought and built this bike last summer (in an XL frame) specifically for its larger sizing. At 6'7" I've never had a bike that actually felt like it fit me. I don't think I've ever had more fun on a bike. Completely agree with your experience on it. I put 27.5 x 2.8" tires on it thinking the 27.5 would give it a bit more pop and playfulness, but now wondering if 29s would give me noticeably more BB clearance on that loooong XL wheelbase. Love your channel, keep doing what you're doing!
I agree man. I’m 6’9 and finally have a bike that fits with the geo I need.
At last the Taival review. I was looking forward to this. Great review for a great bike.
I got one myself and love it. Glad it's not just the owner bias.
Rear assured, this is a fantastic hardtail, cream of the crop. Congrats on owning such a rad bike.
Great!! I also got one!! I experimented with some extra spaces to have the handlebar a little bit higher so I can manual a little bit easier and it's working wonders!
Also an owner and also love it.
I love the Taivals looks. I got the frame on a sweet Black Friday deal last year for $400 +shipping, but new job meant initially less riding time so it sat it a box for nearly a year. This review inspired me to finally build up the frame. It’s almost done and I can’t wait to throw a leg over. I discovered Hardtail Party at the start of 2020 and It’s been amazing to watch this channel grow.
Congrats! Can't wait to hear what you think of it.
I thought pole doesn’t do Black Friday or any huge yearly discount sales ?
@@jumbodog5955if they do I'm definitely getting it this black Friday
Man, the anticipation is gonna kill it.
N+1 😩😩😩
Why do you do this !!!
I’d love to ride those trails. Some scary/challenging looking sections to say the least.
Hardtail and proud 🤙🏻🤙🏻
I count my one of these as my all-time favourite steel hardtail, 'planted and fast' being exactly my style. Gratifying to hear you say the same as I felt about it. I was always blown away by how composed it was in slow tech, either up or down. I liked it so much I got a Kingdom Vendetta built to virtually identical geometry, so now I have a Taival in Ti!
Hi, I didn’t realise Kingdom bikes offer custom geometry option. Does your Ti ride the same as Taival?
Pretty much. There are some small differences - a few mm longer reach, a few mm higher stack and a few mm shorter back end means for me, it snaps a touch better in turns and lifts the front a touch better. These are small increments though, and its still very much a Taival in feel, but has that special silky Ti feeling in fast chunder.
Yum!
@@colinburgess7767 Nice!! So did you come up with those changes?
Or was it the Kingdom guys who recommended those changes?
The changes were mine, I figured if I was getting something built, I should tweak it to me.
Another amazing rig, great review! And great riding too. There's a lot of technical riding/climbing there that I just don't have in Ohio. Really jealous of those trails. I need to vacation down there one day and have a go at some technical riding.
It's some of my favorite type of riding.
You're channel is GOLD! I can wake up and enjoy my breakfast and coffee while you take me for a spin and provide exceptional detail about beautiful hardtails. I trust your opinion and that's rare to find in RUclips land. Also, great re-watch value. I have often found myself watching your vids 2-3 times to really capture/understand your opinions on the bike. Vids are packed full of information!
Thanks for the kind words Craig.
Man Steve, when you go down that trail on some of the gnarlier chunky drops, my anxiety kicks right up...hehehe...but I love it. This looks like a fantastic bike. Though I'm currently not looking for a new bike, I still love watching every review you do to see you possibly come across a new beast recommendation or a goat contender. Hope you're all well there mate!
I've ridden with Steve. Video doesn't do those trails justice. That guy can ride.
@@edlorenz1552 I have no doubt about that Ed. I'm pretty amazed when I see Steve get up those 4-5 feet levels. And the GoPro vision make the ascending/descending angles look much tamer than they really are.
Woah! Man I really like that you are channel numero Uno regarding hardtail reviews! 💪
Thanks! Insure love reviewing and riding hardtails.
I highly recommend Lizard Skin chain stay protector to keep my fat bike quiet. It’s easy to remove and install for cleaning and reasonably priced.
Another great video! You make me wish I still had my hardtail lol. Do you think you might be able to possibly get your hands on one of the new Giant Fathom 1s? I don't see many reviews on it but it's a great bike for beginners and seems pretty capable. They really improved the geometry.
Love the content! As others have said, the effort and accuracy and passion you put into your reviews stands out, and I am glad to see the channel growing!
Now that that is out of the way, lol. What hardtail would you build around a 130 fork, for your run of the mill trail riding, mixed with tech? Once we move and get settled, I'd like to get to building up a HT and get back to riding. We will either be in the Vagas area or Phoenix area. Thanks brother!
My reviews should steer you in the right direction, but if you need personal advice, I do my bike consultation over on patreon. I'd be happy to help over there.
That paint though. That paint... Love it.
Nice a good review, thanks.
You know it's good when you let out involuntary screams of excitement haha.
Exactly.
@@hardtailparty hello, have you ever thought of reviewing any BTR hard tails? Like the belter? I would love to see something like that!
@@colearnold8193 yup, ive reached out to them before. I'd love to try one
@@hardtailparty I hope you can, that’s my dream dh hard tail ✌️
Always enjoy your bike reviews. Makes me wish I was 20years younger and in better shape thanks 😊
Me too! :)
@@hardtailparty 🤣🤣🤣👍
that bike has a realllly nice clean look to it. also, it looks like you did finally get precipitation! I was wondering by looking at the clouds in your insta pic. weird, because here in Pine, we had the warmest, clearest days of the year so far
I don't usually release these videos the day after i film. Sometimes it takes weeks to edit them.
@@hardtailparty silly me, I forgot all about that part. my first video took 6 weeks to go from a 67 minute movie to the 10 min final cut.
Great review Steve. Sums this frame up exactly! The only thing I don't like is the high stack, but I'm an XC rider, what do I know. My medium just fits a 200mm dropper.
You could always run a negative rise stem, or a shorter fork, or zero spacers. But I'm sure you knew all that.
It really is good! I just built mine and tested it out! Wow, it likes to go fast!
Right on. Glad you like it!
Please can you review the NS Bikes Eccentric ALU. Love this video!
I'm never embarrassed to ride a Hardtail. I just love those simply fun machines 😁
What a great review! Are you using a different mic or something. I think there is less trail noise.
Also made me wonder if stack or skill is the reason that i can't manual LoL
I blame my lack of manual skills on geo, but the truth is, it's a lack of skill on my part. That said, i can manual my trials bike a LOT better than my trail bikes.
Hey! Great review, great bike! In November I had to decide between the Taival and the Stif Squatch. Ultimately, I went with the Squatch and I did not regret it :) Would love to see your review on that one! Maybe you consider reaching out to them? They are nice guys and made an awesome bike!
Believe me, I've reached out to them many times and i haven't been able to get one in for review.
Great video man and that is one nice looking hardtail! I love the small steel tubes and the straight lines. Headtube to rear axle is one straight line. It's lovely! Purely based on looks... what type of frame do you prefer Steve?
The stanton sherpa gen 3 is the prettiest frame in my eyes.
Can you do a review on the Specialized Fuse 2021 hardtail 27.5 plus. I just got one in Sept 2020 and just love it.
Hi Steve, great content as usual....in your experimental mode did you give a try the Tival with a shorter travel fork, or a full 27,5 configuration?
not only did I enjoy the review, I learned what the term 'bleeding edge' means
Thoughts on the Taival vs. Cotic BFE Max? I used to ride a Pole Evolink full-sus and have recently changed to a Cotic RocketMax so I'm familiar with the full-sus offerings from both brands. Both their HT frames seem like absolute weapons, can't choose between them!
Nice bike!! Love to take my Taival to Sedona. Better than most FS bikes any day. 170mm Z1 and you can take on the world 🤙
Once again, great video! Where can I get some of those Hardtail Party decals?
I sell them through patreon. Patreon.com/hardtailparty
Have you managed to get hold of a 2021 mmmbop yet? I've got one on preorder still waiting. They reduced the fork length on this one so it would be interesting to hear your thoughts
Pretty awesome Pole has your video linked on the Taival's page... I guess that means you must be doing something right
Thanks. It maybe they're the ones doing something right with the design of this bike.
You made that look easy.
Steve, have you ever reviewed a hardtail fatbike? Either 26x4 or 27.5x3.8? I'm curious to hear your thoughts on them. I really enjoy mine, but used it more as a cross country hardtail than anything rowdy, as I don't think they'd be good at being playful.
Great vid you need to try a Ribble ht Ti unbelievable bike, it’s all about the hardcore hardtail 🤙🏻
I've reached out to them a few times to review one but I haven't been able to convince them to send me a frame for review. Maybe if enough viewers send them nice emails explaining why they'd like to see it, they'll see value in it.
👍
Great/iInformative video as usual. What's that shirt you're wearing? Looks like a flannel but I see the snow so assume it's lined w/technical fabric for low temp?
It's a club ride flannel. Love it in the cold temps. It still has underarm vents. They gave me a 20% discount code to share with my viewers: "hardtailparty20"
You should really have a look at the pipedream moxie. It's so crazy slack and just really interesting to me
I've reached out to them many times through the years, but no luck getting one in for review. I want to review the sirrius too.
Great review. I would love to see you on a Kingdom bikes Vendetta x2.
Shoot kingdom an email. I haven't been able to convince them to send one for review.
@@hardtailparty Will do
I love a tall stack too.....of pancakes!
Hoping you can get a Production Privee to test.
Seems like a nice hardtail!
Nice!
Hardtail!🤟
Hey Steve, do you think running this with a 27.5+ rear tire would work out clearance wise? If I’m not mistaken, the outer diameter gets close to being back to 29 doesn’t it? I don’t know anything about mullet bikes to be honest I was just wondering cause I’m thinking about getting this frame
Hi hardtail party what glove are you using for this recording? I checked out Handup Gloves but I could not find the particular color combination of yours. Thanks
I think they're called prism? Definitely handup gloves. And if you use the link in my description it'll save you money and help support this channel
How does it climb out of the saddle? I've heard that these slack hardtails can be awkward when standing/cranking.
It climbs well. I've never had a bike that lets me get up the steeps and tech like this.
Have you thought about running an internal gear rear hub on any of these frames that will accept the single speed approach? I know it might change the weight balance a little bit but I like the idea of the external mechanical simplicity of a single speed single chain line with the benefit of a multi-gear drivetrain.
Like a rohloff? It would be a pretty big/complex experiment for me, but I've always been curious about rohloff hubs.
@@hardtailparty I'm also curious about the idea of a SS drivetrain on a DH/Park specific hardtail. Honestly the way I'm looking at it you get mechanical simplicity and also in a gravity setting do you really need more than one gear?
@@hardtailparty carbon rims and berd spokes to help offset the weight of the hub gearing?
I don't feel like I've heard that before "I'm glad its not any slacker" 🤣 but seriously it looks like I cool bike i really like its geo chart. Its kinda what I compare other bikes to when they call themselves hardcore and what I've been looking at when I consider the design of my imaginary dream bike.
I see they only have the TR version are they bringing back the EN version?
Hi, thanks for your videos, nice and correct.
Could you please advise about differences between Taival and Solaris Max? I'm tall and stays on a Large on both. Would like a fast trail bike.
I'd be happy to provide comparisons and bike advice over at patreon.com/hardtailparty
This one wasn't on my radar, but just noticed the Taival build package is just $1100. I have a 150/130 Guerrilla Gravity; wondering if this is too close to that, as I'm looking to build a hardtail that will be lighter/faster/more nimble/playful than that.
Never been this early, can you please review the canyon stoic 4
Canyon doesn't have any stoics available for reviewers right now. They're sold out.
@@hardtailparty that's a shame, thanks for replying and thank you for the good content
Great review thank you very much for the content🙏 after watching I cancelled my order for a Norco Torrent and placed an order for a Taival. I know you love that Helm but have you tried the MRP Ribbon? Thanks!
Yes, i used to own a ribbon. i didn't gel with it. The torrent is a great bike too. Review coming soon
I really appreciate the reply. Keep it up sir!
Could you possibly review a orange crush thinking of picking one up at the end of the session
Orange is sold out for 2021
@@edlorenz1552 probably not a new one the frame has been the same for sum years
Hey, I've seen that bike.
Do you still have your 2021 Salsa Timberjack? and have you made it single speed yet? enjoy your videos man
No, i sent it back. Sadly, i can't make it ss without the SS dropouts (as mentioned in my first look video)
How do you think the mmmbop would do in this trail? I ride one which is a little bigger for me but I changed stem and seats so I could better my reach. On the downs it's really stable but haven't really challenged it to rocky climbs cause there are none around me in Oregon 🤣
Hi I am building one now. Let you know sooon.
Been waiting for this review. Just curious have you run 2.6s on it yet? Read on some forums that the small size taivals struggled to get even 2.4s to fit. Cheers.
Not yet. I don't think it'll clear in the rear. I'll have to check.
I can't talk about 2.6s but at least a Maxxis Dissector 2.4 WT on an i30 rim is no problem at all for a frame in size S.
Could you please review the 2021 dartmoor primal or hornet.
That's up to dartmoor. If they want to send me one, I'll review it
Hello,I'm 5'10,should i buy a medium or a small?Greetings from Belgium!
Looking for that bc podsol review :)
Awesome, it'll be worth the sait. I haven't forgotten about that bike. I'm reviewing these as quickly as i can without rushing them. These awesome bikes deserve to truly be put through their paces and not rushed.
I've just checked and it's so weird that they are still in stock, all sizes :))) I mean most brands are sold out :) but it's a good thing as well :P anyway, looking forward to your review :) Thanks
We'll see if we can fix that stock issue in the future. :)
I just built up and rode my Podsol over the weekend and it's great! Thanks for your frame review Steve, it made me hit the check out button!
Looking forward to your review of the ride nevertheless ;)
@@marioschmidt2499 are they on the shorter side? I am 176cm and not sure about sizing as I am between M and L :D
how does it ride with 27.5x2.8 tires?
Any advice on which frame to go with either Tribal or Big Wig?
It depends on so many things. I do my bike consultation/advice over on Patreon. I'd be happy to help you there. Patreon.com/hardtailparty
If i'm in the us or mexico, where can i get a pole taival frame, or i have to buy it directly from the pole store in finland?
Contact pole directly
@@hardtailparty thanks man!!
Which do you like more Taival or Hamari? They are both from Finland 🇫🇮💪🏼
I love both bikes for different reasons and different types of riding.
It's great to see Finland mentioned and Finnish brands being noticed overseas 🇫🇮
I'm curious as I'm from Sweden. Are you guys in Finland more in to HT then us? I only ride HT nowdays after many years on FS. Hills here in south of Sweden is not Long, but step ish. Finland the same?
@@MartenRun Nah, I prefer full-sus 95% of the time, since most the trails I ride are extremely rooty and rocky, although most of the time not very steep or long, but even the so called "XC-routes" are nicer to ride on an Enduro bike than an XC-bike, because they're so rough.
I use my hardtail for jibbing around town and sometimes I take it to the trails to remind me how good my full-suspension bikes are.
DV9 has a tall stack also lol
Not the bike for me. I don't like to go fast.
The camera work on this video is your best. Never has the trails looked so steep. The video started to match your description of how steep the trail is for the first time. Video very sharp and crisp.
What fork do you have on, Steve? Pretty quiet, no chatter at all
Cane creek helm MK2. 140mm. See the first look vid for more build info.
@@hardtailparty Thanks!
I find it funny that people trip when they see a person riding a ht (or rigid) bike. HT's/rigids were the first mountain-bikes on the dirt and for seventy-five percent of most riders/trails, is all you'll ever need (!). Additionally, if you're new to the sport, a ht/rigid is hard to beat for the teaching of riding skills/budget-friendliness (Started in '89 with a rigid and am back to one now; '18 Surly Karate Monkey set up for bikepacking, trail, and general utilitarian day-to-day use in town). FS rigs seem so generic/'corporate' and are ultra-spendy even for an entry-level ($2000.00?!) one. They also can get you in way over your head on a trail if not careful or are a less skilled rider.
Has anyone had one with a 150mm fork?
What do you think of this bike as a compliment to an enduro race bike?
Any chance you can review the sour crumble
I should have one en route soon.
@@hardtailparty oh hell yeah
Steve, Did you have Cush Core in your wheel when you dinged it?
Not cushcore; I had a tannus insert.
As I mentioned in the comments of an earlier video, I had four dents in a month in my Trail Wide's (without an insert). After installing a Tannus Tubeless I didn't get any more, but I couldn't get the wheels to hold air, and the tires popped all the way into the middle of the rim when pressure got low enough. I swapped the rim for an Enduro Wide, and it's a totally different wheel. The tire sticks to the rim much better, and the wheel feels way more solid, without feeling heavier. I do run it with the Tannus insert though.
@@michaelklein6968 Do you have the updated V2 rims? I'm still waiting on the new V2 Trailwides to show up. I've got Cush Core that I'll be installing.
@@danieldoble7674 no both the Trail Wide and the Enduro Wide was the original one. I emailed Hunt and explained my problems, so they gave me a crash replacement deal on the Enduro rim. My main concern was not as much the dents as the problem with the beads popping in when the tire lost pressure. It was impossible to pump the tire back up on the trail. It seems the Enduro rim "grips" the tire much better. With the insert I'm now able to run the backwheel at 21 psi and even a little lower. I only weigh 60 kgs but throw the back around a lot. No sharp rocks in Denmark but lots of roots.
I am feeling so jinxed. All the mtb companies that are putting out awesome modern aggressive hardtails are going out of business/ bankruptcy. Guerilla Gravity, Ragely, Kona, Pole.
Please review ragley Bluepig
You might find Steve's review of the Ragley Mmmbop (which is the their aluminum version of the Blue Pig) helpful.