Plus Bikes
Norco Torrent 7.1 27.5+
Some say that plus-size wheels and tires opened up a whole new world of possibility, but that just hasn’t been the case… at least not yet. Not fat enough for fat biking and not light enough for fast biking (okay, racing), plus wheels and rubbers have still managed to carve out a niche in today’s market. Only time will tell if they’ll be able to hold traction. The Norco Torrent, a 27.5+ hardtail, was one of the first plus-size bikes we received for a long-term thrash. While cautious about spilling a gushing review and quick to mention the inherent faults of the added rotational mass, we think Norco did something very, very right with their first stab at the plus game.
With tire pressures barely reaching double digits, coupled with the increased area of contact under the gutsy Rockshox Yari, I found better control through corners, higher speeds and stability through chunky tech, an unabashed recklessness through rock gardens, and a heightened sense of confidence on the Torrent when a less-than-optimal line was forced upon me. Perhaps most surprising was how nimble the Torrent felt whether on or above the trail. It definitely rides much lighter than it looks, and I just couldn’t resist popping the Torrent off every lip, drop, and jump I could find.
-Chris Daniels
See freestyle wanna-be and Singletacks’ resident poseur, Chris, yammer on about how awesome the Norco Torrent 7.1 is in the full review.
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Marin Pine Mountain 2 27.5+
Who would’ve thought that a plus-hater tire snob would end up getting along so well with a steel framed 27.5+? A careful examination of each knob, survey of every measurement, and review of the complete spec, all under intense scrutiny, Aaron shrugged and said, “meh.” It wasn’t until actually wrapping his heels around the many more grams and riding it off of the pavement did Aaron realize the potential in the not-so-fat-but-still-fluffy wheels and tires that is Pine Mountain 2 27.5+.
…after spending more time with the Pine Mountain 2, I’ve changed my tune. Any lingering doubts I had about the performance benefits of the larger tires were dispelled through concrete data. In most situations, I’m faster on a 30lb hard tail with 3″ tires than my other bikes. And frankly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that fact.
-Aaron Chamberlain
Read more confessions of a closet weight weenie in Aaron’s full review of the Marin Pine Mountain 2.
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Framed Marquette 27.5+
Everything on the Framed Marquette, except for the fork, drivetrain, brakes, and saddle, is made by Framed. Yes, even the tires are made by Framed, and you know how much we fuss over our tires. Say what you want about in-house brands–okay, I generally don’t like them and part them out as soon I get my Singletracks check–but having control over your own components allows a pretty cool company like Framed to get someone smiling on the trail for a relatively low price. Take the Marquette for instance–SRAM GX, Rockshox Reba RL, SRAM DB5 brakes, and 50mm Framed wheels: $1,300. Boom! Oh, and all those lowish end components work really well, too. And for that, we thank you, Framed.
It’s a good option for beginners because of its affordability and the confidence-inspiring plus tires, but it could find its place with much more advanced riders as well–especially those who want to add a plus hardtail to the fleet but don’t want to shell out a lot of dough. I thought this bike was extremely capable for everything that I ride on a regular basis, from flow trail to never-ending rock gardens to gravel climbs and hair-raising descents. I’d say it’s a “jack of all trades” bike–perhaps not the best at anything, but certainly good for many different types of riding.
-Helena Kotala
Check out Helena’s full review on the Framed Marquette and watch the 100mm stem atop four spacers make a sweeping comeback!
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Guerrilla Gravity Pedalhead
The folks at Guerrilla Gravity (GG) are all about the rider. Now, you’ve likely heard that claim before, but look no further than their bike customization process and you’ll find that this Denver-based bike manufacturer truly walks the talk. The Pedalhead is GG’s do-it-all hardtail and fits a void in their lineup which, until now, had nothing but full squish bikes. The steel frame has a squared profile–a trait GG claims increases lateral stiffness–and certain built-in design characteristics to enhance vertical compliance. Boost spacing ensures clearance for either 27.5+ or 29″ wheels (you can pick up a secondary wheelset direct from GG, too) for wherever your adventure takes you, a long, low, and slack geometry facilitates smiles all the way down, and a built-in bottle opener guarantees a good time even when not riding the Pedalhead. Customize your own Pedalhead and select from any one of 11 colors from F* Yeah Blue to Pepto Shred-All.
I wanted to ride this bike every day no matter what trail I was off to. The plus sized tires gripped extremely well even in the late season nasty dust that we are dealing with here in Colorado. I was able to blast right through the tech sections with ease and could lock the front fork out to smash up the climbs. This is one bike I could ride every single day!
-Colton Lock
Watch Colton Lock unlock the potential of the Pedalhead, including a Guerrilla Gravity HQ tour, in his full video review.
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Fatback Skookum 27.5+
Our fifth and final 27.5+ bike for 2016 was, like all the others, a hardtail. The Fatback Skookum also comes at the end of our playlist of plus-sized bikes because it straddles the fence between plus and true fat, as it supports virtually any and all wheel sizes and tires from 27.5+ through 26×4.8. But enough already about the numbers–once aboard the Skookum, Alec found himself neck-and-neck and cuttin’ checks at local XC races, coursing 250 miles and over 30,000 feet on Alaska’s finest, and pulling high speed mannies between boosting the jump line.
In the chaos that ensued shortly after the starting bell was rung, I somehow found myself clipped in, pedaling, and, much to my surprise, at the head of the pack. I would like to take a moment to emphasize again that I am, by all accounts, a fairly average racer. However, the Skookum is truly an impressive bike that will translate every last bit of pedaling power seamlessly into concentrated forward motion without any sense of power loss. The carbon frame is surprisingly stiff at the bottom bracket and even during a full sprint, I couldn’t detect the faintest bit of flex under power–you will not be robbed of your efforts while on this bike.
-Alec Cervenka
See Alec sippin’ champagne when he’s thirsty in his full review of the Fatback Skookum
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