Off jumps and drops, and when playing with manuals and wheelies, the Squatch is definitely on the less playful end of the spectrum, thanks to that slammed BB and reasonably long reach making front end lifting require a little more body English than some. During warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. On our top end build we get a top end fork: a RockShox Pike Ultimate. 704348. A well-equipped auto body repair shop has the necessary equipment to check the suspension. Its very steep 78 seat tube places rider weight almost directly over the bottom bracket which, when the gradient pitches up, results in a really comfortable and efficient pedalling position. . I would like to get my hands one if they are still available. Its also tough to find a hardtail elsewhere with geometry this extreme, so if this is what you're after that's worth factoring into the price too. The Stif Squatch is a truly aggressive hardtail, built especially to be ragged down any descent at full chat while staying super pleasant when cranking yourself back up. KS Lev Integra, The best mountain bike: what to look for in a mountain bike, Best mountain bike jerseys: top rated tops and what to look out for, Best mountain bike mudguards: keep your eyes clear of flung filth, Best mountain bike multi-tools: rescue broken rides, Specialized Trail Rain waterproof jacket review, Altura Ridge Thermal Waterproof trousersreview, Best hardtail mountain bike 2022: classic trail shredding machines. Any questions please just ask. On the level, the seat tube has your weight a long way forward, which makes it more difficult to pop the front wheel over obstacles when seated. Rear tire: Maxxis Rekon 29x2.6, 3C EXO+ TR, DRIVETRAIN Rims: WTB KOM trail i30 You are here: texture id thermal protecting shine & seal gloss / murcott vs clementine / stif squatch frame weight texture id thermal protecting shine & seal gloss / murcott vs clementine / stif squatch frame weight Chunky 292.6in Maxxis rubber sits on WTB rims, while KS supplies the dropper (175 or 200mm). The original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame. 2020 Stif Mountain Bikes Squatch Base 2020 Base Category Hardtail Trail MTB Design Flat Bar, Hardtail (Front suspension) Frame Steel Suspension 130mm fork travel Features Disc brake Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Somewhat upright stack and reach vs category Geometry Base Build Unless otherwise specified we will use a Royal Mail Tracked Delivery service to dispatch your order. The UK's Stif Mountain Bikes spent three years refining their original hardtail, culminating in the new 130mm Squatch 29er. Price: 2499 /2950 /$3500 Santa Cruz carbon handlebars are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for life from the original date of purchase. The more budget-minded AM build retails at 1899.99 (roughly $2650) with the Pro spec tested coming in at 2499.99 ($3450). BIKE REVIEWS The component spec on the Squatch pro build is generally solid and leaves little to be desired, with the brakes being the only thing that I would want to change. They kindly lent me their Pro build for a thrashing in the depths of the UK Midlands Winter. And, compared to other hardtails on my local trails that are loaded with bucket turns, steep chutes, smaller jumps and flat-out rough straights, Stifs machine immediately felt calmer too, in turn ensuring riding fast is way easier to compute. Settling at 64 has resulted in stable and confidence inspiring feel without any vagueness or steering flop. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Santa Cruz bicycles or any of its owners, officers, employees, representatives, agents, or affiliates (or any of their respective successors or assigns) be responsible or otherwise liable for any direct, incidental or consequential damages arising from the purchase, use, or ownership of its products, including without limitation damages for personal injury, property damage, or economic losses, whether based on contract, warranty, negligence, product liability, or any other theory. Its testament to the Squatch that a couple of perfectly arced turns, easy manuals and mistimed landings with zero consequences had me fully trusting the chassis. Bespoke 4130 chromoly steel tubing is used throughout with custom tube shaping providing our desired ride feel attributes. Once out of the saddle the 480mm reach offers plenty of room, makingmellower trails well within this bikes capabilities. Website: Stifmtb.com, CHASSIS The Squatch ticks all the boxes when it comes to the desirables for consumers and mechanics alike: ISCG-05 tabs sit around the bb for those looking to add some drivetrain security; there is a threaded bb and external cable routing all around to make maintenance a breeze; a 44mm headtube and 12x148mm rear axle for the most universal compatibility; and bolt-on dropouts to ensure its not the end of the frames life if the worst was to happen. Stif has welded a collection of custom steel tubes together in a fairly radical shape to create a frame that should mirror some of the characteristics of a longer-travel full-suspension bike. Weight: 18.8kg (L) - without pedals: Brand: Stif: Up front, theres 130mm of travel and the whole build (large frame) weighs in at 13.3kg. Its not like you need the increased length for stability, as thats already provided by the ultra-low BB. Don't miss out on this sale! Fork: RockShox Pike Ultimate | 130mm travel 42mm Offset, COCKPIT Registered UK Company No: 03291752, Jungle Products Ltd FRN: 719212 trading as Stif Mountain Bikes are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Adventure-Ready At $585,000 Function Meets Form . The Squatch goes uphill very well, even considering its surprisingly portly 30.1lbs with pedals. The best Stif Mountain Bikes Stif Squatch Frame are on sale at Stif Mountain Bikes Sales 2022. The register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk. In the wet, the Rekon doesnt cut the mustard, but when its dry it has just enough tread to keep the rear wheel in check when carving corners. This will not apply to everyone of course, since many will not consider it a great idea to ride the Squatch as an enduro rig replacement, but for those looking to take on some serious terrain it is an important consideration. Cheapest Zone yet. For the last 4 years we've watched our original steel hardtail the Morf defy trends and changing standards to remain a rider favourite and cult legend. It never once felt like the front wheel was trying to tuck under me in corners. It does take an extra bit of muscle to tip in, but fans of longer bikes will already be used to this. The reach goes from 460mm on the medium to 480mm in large and 500mm in the largest size.. Three months ago, Stif announced the Squatch: a 29er hardtail designed to bring over many aspects of the Morf to bigger wheels, and I got excited. As with Stif's last hardtail, the Squatch is designed to mimic characteristics and geometry of a full suspension bike, and to assist with this they've given the Squatch a massive 80mm bottom. A KS Lev Integra handles dropper duty, with options of 175mm or 200mm available depending on rider preference. Our Squatch Frame is shipped with a seatclamp, dropouts and rear axle. Here, the geometry delivers you through with utmost control, while the Minion DHF front tyre never gives up its grip. Once some burlier rubber was fitted, in the form of a DH casing Minion DHR 2.4, things began to fall into place, but the tire pressure conundrum was still an ongoing battle. Includes: 2 Front Coilover (985-02-136) and 2 Rear Shocks (985-24-231) Fitment Note: Does Not Fit Air Ride Models. Santa Cruz Bicycles will repair or replace at its option any frame or rigid fork made by Santa Cruz Bicycles it determines to be defective in materials or workmanship. Reaches are a roomy 460-500mm, with relatively short 420-480mm seat tube lengths allowing most riders to comfortably run a 175 or even 200mm post. Water bottle, chain device and internal dropper post-ready. Stif makes the Squatch in three sizes (M-XL) to suit riders from 55- 66 (165cm -198cm). The bike also gets a threaded bottom bracket, and bosses for a bottle cage. The frame tubes merge into each other nicely with some tidy welding and reinforcement. Overall, cycling sales are down 21.2%, with Singletrack Issue 147 Art Print - Rider Resilience. With bigger 29in wheels and a super-low-slung chassis it should, on paper, be a monster when the trail gets gnarly. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. With the 78 effective seat angle, winching uphill is comfortable too. The Squatch frame alone can be purchased for 599.99 if you want to build your own custom dream machine; or Stif offers full builds in two spec levels. The Squatchs steel frame gets external routing for brake lines beneath the downtube, and an internally-routed dropper post. Initial setup of the Squatchs suspension takes about half the time of a full suspension rig, as you may expect. If you get a Squatch as an alternative to your full suss for winter, you might just end up reversing which one you call the big bike. . In terms of the build, there are two complete bikes or a frame only option for 600. A little overkill but if I had to take only one bike for trip it would probably be the Squtach because its so versatile. And even with the 175mm dropper post fully extended, the seated climbing position never gets too tipped back, even on the steepest gradients. Not cheap coming from Canada, but it is beautiful. Also RockShoxs sportier Pike air spring with its smaller negative volume works great on a hardtail too; being less fluid and sensitive than say, a RockShox Lyrik, its much more in keeping with the rear end. Well Bastard Fast is the motto of Stif and proudly written on the Squatch chainstay, and the performance certainly lives up to it in the correct terrain. Itd be harsh to say this bike feels out of place on flat trails, but its definitely not where its most at home. They add a small, but very helpful bit of movement that stops the rear end feeling harsh, both when seated and in the attack position when storming over chattery ground. One thing to remember with the low-slung BB is that it generates a longer downtube, so the medium Squatch feels more like a large full suspension bike. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. SRAM NX. Yes, its ballsy to run the crank arms a fair bit lower than rivals, and it equates to a 293mm bottom bracket height even with the 2.6in tyres. If you need any help, advice or technical info on the Stif Squatch, our resident experts are: Perfectly poised, way more compliant than most of its rivals and also nimble and easy to chuck around, the well thought-out Stif Squatch Pro is a compelling package. With a 420mm seat tube, the medium frame should work for some shorter riders, though it certainly won't fit everyone. Its a key ingredient in allowing for our super short 430mm chainstays. If the estimate is correct your order will be shipped immediately. The foregoing warranty is the sole and exclusive warranty offered by Santa Cruz Bicycles. Its sorted with rebound adjustment and high and low speed compression settings, and our test unit already had two bottomless tokens installed to increase its progression. Register a new Kona bike within three months of purchase, and the original owner qualifies the Kona frame for a free Lifetime Warranty. Stanton Bikes Set To Return, With Dan at the Helm? THE LAB This volume makes a lot of sense on a bike with no rear suspension, since you need all the help you can get with taking the sting out of the landings. Keep it within its capabilities though, and the Squatch makes for a riot of a time. Pairing this with the 130mm fork also means there is no drastic head angle change regardless of fork position. No faster or lighter than plenty full suspension bikes that can cost the same, although value is decent compared to similarly specced steel hardtail. RETURNS & REFUNDS, Copyright 2017-2023 The Loam Wolf | All Rights Reserved |. Stif Squatch Pro is a progressive hardtail with a steel frame and super-low bottom bracket height, 29in wheels with 2.6in tyres enhance grip and comfort. Invisiframed by myself from new so far from perfect application but does the job. The register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk. The Squatch also gets a 430mm chainstay, all this equates to a 1238mm wheelbase on a large frame. Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month well pick a winner. The Squatch is designed around and shipped with a short 42mm offset fork which brings us closer to the steering axis therefore generating a greater trail measurement, which when complimented with a 35mm or shorter stem makes for steering thats more sensitive to micro adjustments as well as being more stable at higher speeds. FedEx Orders can be tracked at https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?action=track, * Royal Mail 24 Tracked Next Working Day if ordered before 3.30pm Mon-Fri, **FedEx 24 Hour for orders placed before 12:00pm Mon-Fri. *Orders shipping to Northern Ireland via Courier will be subject to a delivery charge, we will be in touch upon receiving your order to discuss your delivery charge or you can Contact Us to discuss pricing prior to ordering. The bottom bracket is pedal-strikingly low at 293mm and, when paired with the bikes length, offers a super stable ride in corners. Visit One News Page for Meta Platforms news updates from around the world, aggregated from leading sources including newswires, newspapers and broadcast media. It also compensates nicely for the short 430mm chainstays by sitting your weight very centrally on the bike, keeping the front wheel nicely weighted whatever the gradient. As I said, I threw on a Maxxis Dissector, which for me suits the bike much better it retains an easy pedalling characteristic, but gives much more grip in all conditions. Frame: 4130 Chromoly As with any hardtail, good geometry is the key ingredient to behaviour on the trail and we wanted to push the boundaries. Reviews, buying advice and news. Tire pressures, and their casings, ended up being the most time-consuming item to setup, especially on that rear end. The builds share the same general themes, with a 130mm RockShox Pike fork up front; SRAM brakes and Eagle 12spd drivetrain; WTB KOM trail i30 rims; Burgtec contact points, and a KS dropper. Bottom Bracket: SRAM Dub GXP Threaded Stif Squatch first ride review. Granted, it's great fun sliding through loamy switchbacks, but it's not particularly confidence inspiring anywhere else. Some states and countries do not allow some or all of the foregoing exclusions or limitations, so they may not apply to you. Stif Squatch Pro is a progressive hardtail with a steel frame and super-low bottom bracket height, 29in wheels with 2.6in tyres enhance grip and comfort. Tom Marvin is a technical editor at BikeRadar.com and MBUK magazine. Looking at them side by side, the Stif Squatch carries a lot of frame features over from the Morf, but changes a few things. Those arent the only neat tricks Stif has up its sleeve. Yes, 2,500 is a lot of money to throw at a hardtail, but for what you're getting the Squatch represents pretty good value. Each bike comes in three sizes from Medium to Extra Large and there are three colour options, Bone, Teal, and . Santa Cruz Bicycles pivot bearings are warranted for life to the original owner of the bike. COMPONENT REVIEWS Photography by Adam Lievesley // @adamlievesleybmx. Four years down the line from launching the Morf, the Squatch borrows much of what made Stif's opening hardtail foray but in a big wheel guide. It took a little getting used to, and provides a lot of room to move around. Ive had my AM build for about a month now. Its built around a 4130 chromoly steel frame, rolls on 29 wheels and gets a 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper post. Balancing this slack steering angle are relatively generous reach numbers, with the size L Squatch measuring in at 480mm. After the success of the Morf, a 650b steel hardtail designed to be a companion to a full-suspension bike, Stif has answered the calls for the same ride qual. All fine choices. Where other hardtails demand a balancing act between core strength and weight distribution to maintain perfect form, the smooth-riding Squatch only ever breaks traction predictably, and usually at the perfect moment to slingshot out of at turn, rather than standing you up or oversteering at the peak G-force. Simply going 'along' really isn't its forte. Today we are delighted to introduce it's 29" wheeled sibling - The Squatch. Handlebar: Burgtec Enduro | 30mm Rise / 800mm Wide While it fits perfectly with the get up a hill easily mentality, its quite a burden downhill. Obviously, alertness to not clipping anything at speed is needed, but no more than any other low-slung bike, and theres less clipping rocks and roots climbing here than on plenty long-travel suspension bikes. At the back, the shaping of the stays combined with the 2.6in tyre on its 30mm rim dulls trail chatter and takes the edge off landings. Bottle cage bosses on the downtube and an ISCG05 chainguide mount mean its ready for long days on big terrain. Burning Question: Why Do Some Bikes Have More Travel Up Front? The GX 12spd drivetrain did not skip a beat, but still falls slightly short of the shifting performance of the Shimano competition. Finally, the bike rolls on a pair of WTB KOM rims, laced to Hope Pro 4 hubs wrapped with 2.6" Maxxis rubber: a Minion DHF with EXO casing at the front, and a Rekon with a tougher EXO+ casing at the rear. Riding a hardtail requires extra precision so having steering that lets you manoeuvre the wheels exactly where you want massively elevates confidence levels and inspires the confidence to push boundaries. Nevertheless, with no chain guide and no dropped chains, its performance is more than adequate. Note: this does not apply to Kona Carbon models. Four years ago, I got hold of Stifs 27.5in wheeled Morf for review, liked it so much I built one of my own, and still have it. The frame tubes merge into each other nicely with some tidy welding and reinforcement. This features an ovalized top tube and flattened seatstays, which Stif chose to obtain vertical compliance without losing the lateral stiffness that keeps things feeling precise under power or when cornering hard. Therefore, 78 degrees is the slackest the seat-tube angle will ever be, meaning it effectively steepens as the saddle is dropped. That steep seat angle does come with something of a trade off, though. There is also some visible external butting on this seat tube, adding further proof that careful thought has been put into each and every tube on the Squatch. If like me, youve got shorter legs, its definitely worth considering the PRO 175 model. Stif Squatch Frame only - 599 The signature 'chainstay hole' remains Stif Squatch AM Build - 1899 - featuring RockShox Pike Select 130mm, Burgtec cockpit, saddle and pedals. This fork features a short 42mm offset to increase the trail value and offer stable handling without having to add to the overall length of the bike. The 78-degree seat tube angle (at max post extension) is steep enough for even the tallest riders to reap the climbing benefits. Financial Services Register no. Financial Services Register no. Where a full suspension rig can somewhat isolate impact forces through your legs from effecting the fork, a hardtail has a greater reaction on the fork and so requires some extra support to prevent it from using its travel too frequently. Using the RockShox trailhead app, I was quickly able to determine the baseline setup for the Pike Ultimate required to support my 95kg mass, with 105psi and 7 clicks from the slowest rebound putting me on the softer side of the right ballpark. Dropping into the corners pocket feels natural with a total in the bike feeling, encouraging a more aggressive lean angle which allows for the corners apex to be pushed into with reassurance in order to generate grin forming levels of forward motion. Bottle bosses are in place on the downtube, and there is a 160mm post mount to accommodate any rotor size. Key to the ride quality is the profiled and multi-butted 4130 chromoly tubing combined with 29in wheels and 2.6in tyres. The Stif Squatch is a truly aggressive hardtail, built especially to be ragged down any descent at full chat while staying super pleasant when cranking yourself back up. Unfortunately, the EXO+ casing was not quite up to scratch for the type of riding the Squatch encourages, leading to its early demise and a sad walk back to the van on the Squatchs second outing (thanks to a seized axle preventing the fitment of a spare tube). One of our sales team will contact you upon receipt of your order to arrange a suitable delivery date. Its fairly extreme focus means. The Pike Ultimate is an easy to set up fork. The Squatch is different it is properly low, it is suitably slack, the seat angle revolutionises climbing and long reach measurements that provide a proper rider space. It's a very comfy weapon on the steeps. Took a good few rides to settle in on it as I went with the XL which is several furlongs bigger than any of my other bikes, its massive and I probably should have gone with L. Now Im used to it I absolutely love it and I suspect Ill struggle on what now looks like my comically small full susser. Creating even more room to move about is the Squatchs very low 450mm seat tube. This is an important consideration on a hardtail since the compression of the fork makes for drastic steepening of the head angle in addition to the lowering of the BB. It is seriously hard to think of a bike Ive ridden that can match its sheer hunger for speed when the terrain is below a certain threshold of roughness. Headset: Hope ZS44/EC44 The length, height and wheel size of the Squatch do make it a bit less playful than the Stif Morf, but conversely more capable of ploughing over things. The difference between them lies in the product tiers and the finishing details of the spec, with generally workhorse entry to mid-level components on the AM being replaced with mid to high tier equivalents on the Pro. Now, at the same time as they launched their new range-topping Summit series, which starts at $169,900, comes the Expedition Series camper trailer. A stout 130mm travel fork nails this sweet spot and provides enough buffer to keep you out of trouble whilst always keeping the bikes geometry highly consistent. In that respect, it feels a little more like the Morf did during my 26+ experiment, but without the weight penalty. The sole remedy available under the foregoing express warranty and all implied warranties is the repair or replacement of defective parts with those of equal or greater value, as determined by Santa Cruz Bicycles in its sole discretion. STORE, ABOUT US We are a credit broker not a lender. Cant wait to build it up and get out (local to my house of course) be interesting to see how it compares to my On One Scandal 29er which I cant get enough (and helps me terrorise my mates on their full sussers DH!) During this one-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and subject to this limited warranty. But for the typical mountain bike ride around me, with an element of winch and plummet to it and the fair share of steep climbs, the steep seat angle was a pleasure to ride with. Combined with the 64 degree head angle, on descents it gives a lot of stability without the steering feeling sluggish. Once your order is dispatched you will receive an email with a tracking number. Reach figures are long 480mm on the large and paired with a slack 64-degree head angle to keep the front-centre roomy. The warranty will be in effect for the lifetime of the frame or fork and is available only to the original owner. 8.71K subscribers The Stif Squatch is a full aggro 29" hardtail that eats descents for breakfast while getting you back to the top efficiently and comfortably. Stifs Squatch takes a lot I liked about the Morf and brings it into 2021 with big wheels. Stif makes the Squatch in three sizes (M-XL) to suit riders from 5'5"- 6'6" (165cm -198cm). Thanks! Expect your technician to give your vehicle a visual check, as well as to use diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong and whats needed to put it right. The brown marks in the pictures are where mud/water has got under the edge of the invisiframe. Designing the frame around a 130mm travel fork means the frames geometry is preserved as best as possible, regardless to where it is in the forks stroke. In smoother bike park style terrain or trail centers, the Squatch absolutely rips. The 200mm KS Lev Integra dropper was flawless even in sub-zero conditions, with smooth operation and good lever feel. Although I cannot quite determine the precise level of compliance on offer, I was certainly able to figure out what the Squatch is capable of under the control of an average rider, and I had a great deal of fun in doing so. At the opposite end of the cockpit the 64 head angle steers neutrally with a 130mm travel Pike Ultimate fork, the roomy reach numbers growing to 500mm on the XL size. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all other express and implied warranties (including without limitation the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose) are hereby disclaimed. Got mine just before Christmas, and the teal looks great too. Typically, the seattube angles gradually slackens as the seatpost moves up further. Drop the saddle, point it downhill and the bike comes to life. Medium frame in very good condition. Click here to learn more or click OK below to dismiss this message. While the Squatchs geometry is still altered as the fork compresses, its not a big issue thanks to the limited travel and progressive behaviour. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? The geometry is at no point the element holding you back, but the limited ability to iron out the square edges of the terrain leads to an incredibly physical ride where your arms and legs must work hard to absorb impacts that you do not even consider on a fully suspended rig. In the event of a non-warranty situation, Santa Cruz Bicycles will make replacement parts available to the original owner at a reduced charge for the applicable warranty period described above. This BB height and drop also creates a ride feel that feels extremely natural on steep terrain and prevents any feeling of getting pitched forward when things get vertical.

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