Redux redux? Stanforth Kibo Rohloff is Ready for Kiliminjaro

So much yes/no

(delete as applicable)

Simon Stanforth is back with an update to the Kibo, the UK’s premier Kilimanjaro-inspired expedition bike. For those who missed it the first time around, the Kibo is inspired by early Saracen owners (and Stanforth relatives) Paul and Rick Crane’s 1985 conquest of Mount Kilimanjaro. Hand built from Reynolds tubing “by the country’s top frame builders,” the Kibo’s geometry and aesthetic effectively recall the early days of mountain biking.

Enduro, before it was cool

But it’s not just a retro piece- Reece Gledhill circumnavigated the globe on a Kibo last year saying “It is an incredible machine. As a bicycle novice I needed something that could look after me and it never let me down despite the incredible beating I gave it, not to mention it remaining comfortable to ride for up to 8 hours a day for 10 months on often incredibly rough terrain.”

Shiny shiny, shiny hubs of shifting

Designed for “go-anywhere long distance cycling” the frame and fork are made in the UK and feature a full compliment of bosses for for bottles, front and rear racks, and mudguards. While the original’s quill stem remains, its Deore drivetrain has been upgraded to “the definitive global expedition hub,” a 14-speed model from Rohloff.

Ageless cranks

Polished Milldeburn cranks look the part while a Gilles Berthoud shifter and Paul brakes maintain the old(ish) appearance, modern(ish) function theme. A Schmidt SON dynamo hub and Busch & Muller lamp join forces to take on the darkness.