Salsa Cycles is back with an updated Timberjack with plenty of options. Aiming to create a versatile aggressive trail hardtail, the new Timberjack includes an all new frame with a bunch of updates to make the bike more fun on the trail – and also more versatile.
Starting with an aluminum frame that’s meant for 120-150mm travel suspension forks, and features the addition of Alternator 2.0 dropouts.
The previous Timberjack also offered adjustable dropouts, but the Alternator 2.0 system is a bit cleaner than the original Alternators. Thanks to the ability to adjust chainstay length from 420-437mm, single speed is still an option – and Salsa is even selling complete bikes with SS builds.
Designed around a new progressive trail geometry, the bike is typically longer, lower, and slacker. Given the fact that the bike can be set up in many different configurations with different wheel, tire, and suspension fork sizes, these numbers a likely to vary slightly based on the set up. But when running a 130mm travel fork and either 27.5 x 3.0″ or 29 x 2.4″ tires, the geometry includes a 75.1° seat tube angle, 66.35° head tube angle, and longer reach numbers to work with short stems and wide bars (note that the geometry chart lists 27.5 x 3.0″ tires, but the claimed tire clearance below tops out at 27.5 x 2.8″).
Salsa gave the Timberjack tire clearance for up to 29 x 2.6 or 27.5 x 2.8″ rubber – and there are complete bikes that come in both wheel sizes. Stock bikes will include either 29 x 2.6″ or 27.5 x 2.8″ Maxxis tires.
You’ll also find updated internal cable routing and a straight seat tube for longer dropper post use.
While the Timberjack was built to excel as an aggressive trail bike, it’s still versatile enough to deck out for bikepacking or long haul adventures. All bikes except for the XS have two bottle cage mounts inside the front triangle (one is a three pack mount) and an accessory mount under the downtube. There’s also top tube mounts designed for accessories like the Salsa EXP series Direct Mount Top Tube Bag. You can even run a rear rack with the Alternator Rac and Rack-Lock seatpost collar.
SPECIFICATIONS
- 6066-T6 & 6061 Aluminum tube set
- Five sizes (XS–XL)
- Designed for 120-150 mm fork travel
- 66.4-degree head tube angle; 75-degree seat tube angle
- Dropper post on all models
- Alternator 2.0 Dropouts
- Adjustable chainstay length from 420-437 mm
- Single speed-compatible
- Clearance for up to 29 x 2.6″ tires or 27.5 x 2.8” tires
- 12 x 148 mm rear thru axle
- 73 mm threaded bottom bracket
- Full-length internal cable routing
- Compatible with Alternator Plus Rack using Rack-Lock seatpost collar
- Top tube accessory mount
- Two bottle mounts inside main triangle (SM – XL), one bottle mount inside main triangle for size XS
- Accessory mount on under-side of down tube
Pricing & Models
Thanks to all the different options, there are eight different complete bike models – four each in 27.5″ and 29″. That also means that there are two different complete single speed models, one in each wheel size. There are also two frame only options – the new aluminum frame, and the titanium frame which remains unchanged from the previous model. Pricing starts at $1699 for the singlespeed bikes, and $1799 for geared, and tops out at $2499 for the GX Eagle models.
2021 SALSA TIMBERJACK MSRP USA
- Timberjack GX Eagle 27.5+ – U.S. MSRP $2499
- Timberjack GX Eagle 29 – U.S. MSRP $2499
- Timberjack XT 27.5+ – U.S. MSRP $2099
- Timberjack XT 29 – U.S. MSRP $2099
- Timberjack SLX 27.5+ – U.S. MSRP $1799
- Timberjack SLX 29 – U.S. MSRP $1799
- Timberjack 27.5+ Single Speed – U.S. MSRP $1699
- Timberjack 29 Single Speed – U.S. MSRP $1699
- Timberjack Aluminum Frameset – U.S. MSRP $599
- Timberjack Titanium Frameset – U.S. MSRP $2699
