It seems it was over seven years ago that we all started riding long travel hardtails in the valley, cruelly strapping long (for the time) forks onto any burly frame we could get our hands on. I managed to dig out a photo of my second creation, a Santa Cruz Jackal running 1×9 with a 140mm Pike up front. It was the inspiration for my 2015 long termer.
It was a bike very much created around a winch up and plummet down ethos that our local rides revolved around, the only thing that mattered was the descent. It coincided with a serious bit of exploration of Calderdale to find all the good stuff™, let’s call it the ‘naming of the trails’ period.
So fast forward a few years and it seems that a lot of what happened then has become the norm now. So it seems like a good time to revisit the long travel hardtail world and see how things have changed. With this in mind I’ve lined up a Mondraker Vantage RR frame to act as my 27.5 test rig, it also happens to be a very affordable way to try out Forward Geometry too.
The Vantage shares the same geometry as the Mondraker Foxy making it slack, low and long. Lined up against my usual ride; a Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc it’s noticeably longer.
For now the bike is built up with a mix of product while everything is tweaked for fit and comfort. Up front I’m running a 160mm Manitou Mattoc, a little longer than the frame is designed for but it doesn’t seem to alter the front end too much.
I’ve gone for a 1×11 drivetrain, with an absoluteBlack 32t oval narrow/wide chainring up front and an E Thirteen XCX chain guide for peace of mind.
Steering is being taken care of by a 35mm Hope stem matched to Renthal’s Fatbar Carbon 780mm wide handlebar.
Lizard Skin’s DSP grips happen to colour match the decals and so I couldn’t resist fthem.
For back to back testing the absoluteBlack with a normal thick/thin ring I’ve sneaked one of Stages powermeter cranks onto the build.
More colour coordinating with an SDG Duster saddle.
So the plan is to see just how versatile the bike is for a real mix of riding; everything from local loops to bigger more adventurous routes in the mountains. Initial impressions are very good, with a real smoothness to the feel of the bike over rocky terrain and I’m looking forward a winter of riding on it.
Here’s some more pic’s of the bike set up…
Review Info
| Brand: | Mondraker |
| Product: | Vantage RR |
| From: | Silverfish UK |
| Price: | £399 Frame Only |
| Tested: | by Dave for |
