The Nordest Bardino steel hardtail was the original affordable stock frame to come out of the Canary Islands custom bike workshop of Jerónimo Cycles. Two and a half years later, the enduro hardtail is their best-selling frame. And now it was time to give it some new life, a new Nordest Bardino 2 refining some key details based on popular demand…
Nordest Bardino 2, updated enduro hardtail mountain bike
Since early 2017, Nordest says they’ve shipped Bardinos to mountain bikers in 46 countries, to everyone from beginner trail riders to the champion of the Finnish Hardtail Enduro Cup.
The simple, but capable 4130 steel 29er hardtail has been a blast for riders of all levels, with modern trail geometry paired with long travel forks. So, Nordest wasn’t looking to make any major changes, just a few key updates to their benchmark bike… for improved climbing & even better descending.
What’s new in Bardino 2? Geometry updates!
Still designed by Pedro Jerónimo, the new hardtail enduro frame gets a few “surgical changes” to its geometry.
The seattube angle has been slightly steepened to 75° and frame Reach has increased across all frame sizes (between an extra 6-10mm) to get the same fit on the bike when sizing down to 40mm stems. Then the front end slackens half a degree to a 64.5° head angle with a 160mm fork. Together that promises: a more upright position for climbing, more weight on the front for improved handling grip & a more stable front wheel down technical terrain.
At the same time, the rear end stays the same with short 425mm chainstays. Nordest also gives the bike a new CNC-machined chainstay yoke that even helped manage to claw out a bit more space for up to a 29×2.6″ tire.
“Small changes that will delight many riders!”
Nordest Bardino 2 – Tech details
The new Bardino 2 enduro hardtail is still welded from double-butted 4130 chromoly steel, and designed to be build up with 29″ (up to 2.6″ wide) or 27.5+ (up to 3″ wide) tires. The frame features external cable routing with internal routing for a 31.6mm dropper post, a straight 44mm headtube for a tapered steerer fork, ISCG 05 tabs, a threaded bottom bracket, and IS rear brake tabs. The new bike gets a new replaceable set of Boost thru-axle dropouts. Claimed frame weight is 2850g (up two hundred from the original).
No word yet if or when the titanium version will get the same updates.
Bardino 2 – Pricing & availability
The new Bardino 2 hardtail is available now straight from Nordest for 600€ including shipping to EU buyers, fifty bucks more than the original. They also offer the bike as one of two frame + fork kits including a Cane Creek 40 headset: for 1280€ paired with a Marzocchi Z1 Bomber fork, or 1578€ including a Fox 36 Factory fork.
The Bardino 2 still comes in three frame sizes (M, ML & L), and the same baby blue & yellow paint scheme. But, custom paint is also available for an extra 150€ if you want to make it unique.
