This is the year of plus sized tires. From mountain bikes to overland epics, it seems manufacturers are quickly finding new and interesting applications for this latest crop of large volume tires (and it’s complimentary Boost 148 standard).
For the new 2016 model year, Salsa is introducing two new plus sized model, and a heavy duty tourer that will accept up to 2.0″ tires.
Starting with biggest tires first, the new Deadwood (pictured above) is a 29+ model that was designed around a similar concept as the beloved Fargo. The new oversized wheelsize is claimed to offer more cushion on challenging terrain and increased traction.
According to Brand Manager Justin Julian, “It makes for the perfect bike when the trail gets a little more unruly.”
For extra carrying capacity, the carbon fork has three pack bosses. Out back, the Alternator Dropouts allow the end user to adjust chain stay length or set up the frame as a single speed.
The Deadwood also utilizes the Boost 148 standard, which Engineer Sean Mailen says “allows for the same Q-Factor and proper crankset fir with a 3″ tire, without sacrificing geometry or forcing some crazed chain stay design”
MSRP is $2,599
The new Pony Rustler shares the same 120mm travel split pivot platform as the 29er Horsetheif (which was updated to a Boost 148 rear end this year), but is compatible with 27.5″ x 3″ tires.
The 27.5+ tire has a similar overall tire diameter as a 29er, but the larger volume tires allow you to run sub 20 psi tire pressure.
Prices for the Pony Rustler start at $3,499 for a GX 2X kit and top out at $5,499 for the X01 version. A frame only version is also available for $2,499.
More interested in touring the world than bikes named after the American West? The new Marrakesh is designed to get you out and back again with a traditional touring inspired geometry.
As Peter Koski, the engineer behind the new model states:
“A true touring bike should have a lower bottom bracket and longer chainstay/wheelbase than a similar sized road, gravel, commuting, or mountain bike. The lower BB also lowers your saddle, and therefore your body relative to the axles. This all results in a center of gravity that makes riding and steering a loaded bike easier and more predictable.”
The Marrakesh will be offered in two versions: a drop and flat bar. Each frame features a unique geometry and will be available in two different color ways. The drop bar will have six different sizes, while the flat will be available in five.
Frames will come stock with a Brooks Saddle and the Alternator 135 Low Deck Rack. The fork has three pack mounts for anything cages or additional water bottles mounts, the frame also has three water bottle mounts. For a more traditional front pannier setup, the fork also includes low rider bosses.
Other features include a spare spoke mount and a kickstand plate.
For more on the new models, visit Salsa Cycles
That tourer looks spot-on. Just add fenders and a front rack and you’re good to go.
Next Salsa demo truck day, I’m going to rustle that pony on my local trails.
I remember the Spearfish being a moderately inexpensive FS option. What happened to budgets?
Deadwood is probably the most appropriate name for how that bike rides
Why would someone avoid “crazed chain stay design” while employing new fangled hub “standards” make these frames require new wheel etc.?
> That tourer looks spot-on.
Bar end shifters? Just say ‘no’.
Can we please shift to calling them “Specifications” as opposed to “Standards”?
Mr colorblind, what is the purpose of making a comment like that? Since you have obviously not ridden the bike, why waste everyone’s time by making a snarky comment of no value?
Oh man I want to try that Deadwood. I still like skinny tires but would love to see what that does for the ride on washed out rooty rocky areas.
Thought Salsa was about bikepacking. 27+ is perfect for bikepacking but they only have single front… need a double for climbing all day w/ loaded bags. Looks like they missed the boat… hopefully I’m wrong and their bikes are compatible with double front der.
NOTE: was referring to the FS models on doubles.
It seems like there will always be a conflict for this sort of bikes though – lightweight and nimble vs fat, heavy and comfortable over crap. My two woods bikes are a carbon cross bike and a SC Blur XC Carbon. I prefer the cross bike!
@Penny
But I bet you go a hell of a lot faster downhill on the Blur! 🙂
– S
Everybody just needs to stop being sour about the Boost standard (yes, it’s a standard). I’ve ridden it and it actually works to stiffen the wheel, give more tire clearance, and shorten the chainstays. It’s progresses the product, makes for better bikes, and the majority of companies (that matter) are jumping on board with this. Who cares if you need to buy a new wheel or hub with your new bike/frame? Chances are, you’d need to do that anyways.
Considering that the Deadwood shares almost identical geometry with the Fargo (slightly slacker head angle on the Deadwood is the only difference), does this mean the platform is the future of their drop-bar mountain bike line? Obviously the bike would ride the same as a Fargo when used with 2.35 tires or smaller. I can’t see the reason to get a Fargo anymore, so now I have to dream about a Deadwood in titanium…
@von.kruiser, all models of the Pony Rustler are compatible with 1x or 2x. But you’d only know this if you actually read their blog about the 2016 lineup, which is also linked in this article. How hard can it be?! “Thought Salsa was about bikepacking”, what else do they have to do to convince you, release a book called ‘The Bikepacker’s Guide’. Oh, wait! [facepalm]
Well done Kernel Flickitov. Well done.
kernel – Only read the article and not the additional link at the bottom to another website. Sorry not I’m not as brilliant as you and your belittling comments.
Salsa prices are way too high! I owned two in the past 5 years and were good bikes. For the pricepoint. I’ll take a Santa Cruz or cro-motion anytime.
In in response to @Velo……Long Live Bar End Shifters! Been using them on my Gen1 Fargo for 5+ years now. They are indestructible!
To add to Peter. . .barcon shifters also free up your brake choice. Drop v levers and mountain brakes, TRP’s Hylex, et cetera, all can be used, whereas with STI/DoubleTap/Ergopower, you are somewhat limited. Maybe not a lot, but somewhat.
@John Michael — Possibly he has ridden it. How do you know for sure? What value does your snarky comment have?
Thanks, Marrakesh, for making me not feel like a freak for eschewing drop bars.
@von.kruiser, it’s customary for people that interested in spec info to go to the mfg’s site which was one ‘click’ away. Instead you formed your question in terms of assumptions and broad sweeping generalizations and expected to be taken seriously? “Thought Salsa was about bikepacking”, “they only have a single front”, “looks like they missed the boat”. Wrong, wrong, & wrong. And you’re upset because somebody called you out on it? C’mon guy, that’s awfully nutso.
Unless they have new Alternator dropouts, you can’t run both a rear rack AND fenders.
Also, Alternators require the disc brake caliper to be on the seat stay instead of the chain stay. So you need a disc specific rack for it, which might be hard to come by if you’re truly world touring.
I like bikes and I have strong opinions!!!
@Mike wins with his comment. People get so emotional about their toys.
@Jackson – Very good point on brake choice. I recently bought a Trek 920 with sram bar-ends and Hylex discs over a Fargo with Sram Apex and BB7 discs. I’m not terribly fond of the bar end shifters, but the brakes are a HUGE improvement – enough to outweigh my preference for the brifters. The bike choice was made based on local dealer support in my area, and I initially felt like I was “settling” for the bar end shifters. Having put some miles on the bike, I would happily make the same choice again.
It looks like the fork cage/bottle mounts on all the bikes above are at a 45 degree angle to the front instead of straight in the side. Are they really? While I can see some advantages for bottles or anything cages pointing forward that way, it seems like it would limit rack attachment choice or the ability to overstuff an anything cage without worrying about spoke clearance? I’m eyeballing that carbon Deadwood fork as a possible upgrade….
Since the Deadwood uses Salsa’s Alternator dropouts, can you swap-in “old” alternators and run standard 135mmQR or SS or 142×12 or Rohloff Alternator dropouts as with previous Salsas, or is BOOST your ONLY option on the Deadwood?
I guess my question is, is the whole rear triangle set up for BOOST, or just the Alternators? I’m hoping it’s just the Alternators… Anyone know?
Oh, and what, no titanium in 2016 Salsa? Is there a Ti shortage? (or Ti customer shortage?…)
PDXFixed – Did you even look beyond the HT and ST angles?
@Kovas — Unfortunately, they just don’t sell well enough. 🙁 Same with really high end spec bikes. Look at the 2015 Spearfish and 2014 El Mar