Moots has been building titanium mountain bikes for 45 years. It’s their thing, and they do it really well. Today, Moots launches the new Womble hardtail, and it’s no exception to the quality we’ve come to expect from the brand. The Womble appears to be a refined and modern take on Moots’ long history of building trail-riding bikes.
Look, if you’re old enough, like me, you remember grinding hardtails up and down trails long before gravel riding was even a glimmer in your mom’s eyes. Nothing rides like a well-balanced metal hardtail. The folks at Moots are clearly well aware of this, and are still producing several high-quality — and great-looking — titanium hardtail frames.
The Womble starts at $4,799 for a frameset (with complete builds ranging up to $11,499). This titanium hardtail carries forward 45 years of mountain bike experience while being reshaped for how people actually ride trails today.
The frame is hand-welded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, using Moots’ proprietary double-butted titanium tubing, and comes backed by a limited lifetime warranty. So this could truly be a “buy it for life” kind of purchase.
Geometry Updates
The new Womble picks up several geometry updates over its predecessor that should add up to a noticeably different ride feel. Notably, the head angle has been slackened to 65°. This adds stability on steep or loose terrain without making the steering sluggish. A longer reach and added stack create space in the cockpit and a more natural bar position on technical trails.
The seat tube is now steeper and shorter. A 2° steeper seat tube angle puts the rider in a stronger pedaling position on climbs. Shortening the seat tube gives more room for longer droppers, making it easier to move around on the bike. A lower bottom bracket drops the rider’s center of gravity. This makes the bike feel more planted through corners and at speed.
| Frame Size | Effective TT (cm) | Seat Tube (cm) | Head Tube (cm) | Head Angle | Seat Angle | BB Drop (cm) | Chainstay Length (cm) | Standover (in) | Fork Rake (mm) | Stack | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 59.5 | 40.0 | 10 | 65.0° | 75.5° | 5.5 | 43.4 | 30.6 | 140.0 | 647.0 | 420.0 |
| M | 62.0 | 42.0 | 11 | 65.0° | 75.5° | 5.5 | 43.4 | 31.1 | 140.0 | 656.0 | 443.0 |
| L | 64.5 | 44.5 | 12 | 65.0° | 75.5° | 5.5 | 43.4 | 31.9 | 140.0 | 665.0 | 465.0 |
| XL | 67.0 | 47.0 | 13 | 65.0° | 75.5° | 5.5 | 43.4 | 32.7 | 140.0 | 675.0 | 488.0 |
The Womble fits 29 x 2.6″ tires while keeping the rear end tight and responsive. The Womble runs a BSA 73mm bottom bracket, 30.9mm seatpost, 12x148mm rear spacing (Boost). It also comes equipped with UDH dropouts for compatibility with current and future drivetrains.
Womble Retail, Detail, & Build Options
Retail: $4,799 (Frame), $9,999 (SRAM XO or Shimano XT), $11,499 (SRAM XX SL or Shimano XTR)
Frame Specs
- Head Tube: 44mm
- Bottom Bracket: BSA 73mm
- Seatpost: 30.9mm
- Rear End Spacing: 12x148mm
- Max Tire Clearance: 29″ x 2.6″
- Water Bottle Locations: 2
- Chainline: Boost
The Womble frame can be customized with a range of finishes, from a base brushed titanium look to anodized colors (+$300) and premium painted options (+$1,000). Moots also offers direct-to-consumer sales with typical lead times of 6–8 weeks.
Hit the link below for more details or to get the ball rolling on your own Moots Womble.
