gdharries profile

I don't have a rigid singlespeed, but I do have a steel hardtail (Kona Explosif) with a 140mm fork and a 2.8" front tire. It's a total party bike. Prior to moving my parts over to the Kona from a Norco Torrent, I ran that Torrent with 2.8" tires front and rear.

You're absolutely right that the big tires, good brakes and more relaxed angles dramatically change the capabilities of the average hardtail or rigid bike. What we used to ride rigid in the early 90s are not at all the same bikes that people can ride now.

Too bad that more people don't start on these bikes; far too many just jump right into full suspension. In the old days, that's all we had and it made you a better rider by default.

Was NF born from the same company that used to be NFA?

NFA was a Vancouver-based snowboard clothing brand that was around for a while and made great stuff, but I think they ran into financial trouble.

How about a profile of a dad in a mini-van full of kid crap with a 10-year old clapped out Stinky or Altitude strapped to the rear window?

My teenager has outgrown his hand-me-down 2011 full suspension xc bike and we are looking for something that fits and is more modern. This type of bike seems like a great next step.

Do you know if other PNW manufacturers like Norco or Kona have a similar model in their lineup that you’d recommend?

Vik - I live where that terrain and those types of commutes exist. About 10-15 km each way, but steep hills up or down depending on your direction. The slow grind to get home, at least for me.

This is where I've seen more people commuting on e-bikes lately. People that I've never met before and in greater numbers (you live somewhere long enough and ride the same paths, there's the same faces) than in previous years. Quite a few e-bike riders.

What's interesting at least up here in the north is that there's several on Fat e-bikes. Those are crazy, crazy machines...until the battery freezes.

I don't own an eMTB and have only ridden one for about 5 minutes. That said, I think they are a good idea and will encourage more people to get out of their vehicles and onto trails and paths. 

One Less Car. Cars R Coffins. All that stuff.

I commute year-round and often get passed by folks on eMTBs. Are they getting exercise? Yes. As much as me? No, but really, who cares? I'm just happy they are outside and not stuck inside a giant killing machine.

If eMTB racing inspires people to ride a bike, then all the power to them and the manufacturers that make the products.

--

Also congrats to Andreas for racing and representing Canada. I remember being at events back in the mid-90s where he was competing (I was too, but he actually would win stuff).

Does the XXL come in an aluminum frame? Many of Santa Cruz's bikes only offer the XXL in carbon.

I also own a bike in this genre, a Norco Torrent HT 2. It was reasonably priced at CAD $2,199 and out-of-the-box includes a few of the upgrades you mention in the article: more capable tires (Maxxis Minions), Tektro brakes and a Race Face crankset.

Regardless of the competition's merits, I love the fact that Rocky Mountain is simply making and selling this bike. Far too many people think they need to spend a lot of money on a mountain bike in order for it to be capable and for them to have fun. This is not the case.

Bikes like the Rocky Growler, Norco Torrent, Specialized Fuse and Kona Big Honzo all prove that manufacturers today have models available that are extremely capable...and still allow you to feed your children.

Beauty. So many little interesting part choices gives it some real personality. Do you walk much with the singlespeed going up?

Andrew, as an aside: I'd like to see a full side profile shot of that sweet Honzo of yours. Looks like a cool bike.

Depending on the length of your legs, an XL hardtail from most of the main manufacturers (like from your initial list above) will probably fit you at 6'4". If you have freakishly long legs - that is, a long inseam - then most will be too small.

I had but recently sold a Norco Torrent HT that was awesome, but turns out it was too short in the seat-tube for me and my saddle was super high out of the frame at full height. That said, the Torrent was about $2,000 brand new and is a solid bike for big guys.

If the Torrent fits you in XL and you can find a used one for sale, it's a great option that won't break the bank.

I think you really scored. A bike from 2014 is not "old" or worthless despite what others may think. Lots of life and good times ahead.

Posted by: syncro

I’ve got a couple things to tweak but I think I did well.

Very nice. How does it ride?

I'm 6'3". With the XL Instinct, by the time I got my saddle high enough I was peering way too far over the front hub. I always wanted to push back, and even with a saddle set in its rearmost rail position, it feel like there was never enough reach (and I didn't want to move to a super long stem to compensate).

I had looked over all of the geometry specs of the Instinct before buying it as it seemed to be close to another bike I previously owned and really liked, but I messed up on the reach and stack height (longer and taller, respectively). When you jack your saddle way up to compensate for long legs, you also need a high stack height to balance things out. Those two measurements are where I went wrong.

Posted by: syncro

going to add a 2014 rocky instinct into the mix. older bike but more modern geometry and it's in nice shape. thoughts?

I owned a 2014 Rocky Instinct 950 (photo) and loved that bike. So versatile and just plain fun, everywhere. I sold the Instinct because it was too tight; I bought an XL when I should have had a XXL. Rocky's bikes tend to run small, so if you're looking at a Large, it will fit more like a Medium.

The Norco Revolver, Rocky Mountain Element or Kona Hei-Hei are all pretty capable modern XC bikes. The Rocky and Kona both come in models less than CAD $3,000 brand new and I'm sure you could find a used model for cheaper.

@heathen I wrote a review back in June, a few weeks after I got the Torrent.

The fork took some time to break in, so now it's more plush (and I get all of its travel; an issue in the beginning) but it's a pretty simple unit. There's next to no adjustment on the Zeron and while it's torsionally stiff, if you're used to a Pike or something like that, the Zeron will disappoint. If I could afford a fork upgrade, I would invest in something better.

In regards to the brakes, I've had no complaints. I also have Tektro brakes on my fat bike and after four years in the harshness of a Yukon winter, they are still going strong and stop reliably.

As you say, these are killer bikes for the price. I wanted something that was fun, versatile, strong, reliable and cheap...and the Torrent is definitely all of those.

Posted by: FlightlessLobster

It's basically a 2016 honzo AL/DL on a 2018 steel frame. I need to get a shorter stem, and I'm considering trading out the fork for a 140mm. But so far its great.

It really feels like an updated and modern version of that old fire mountain I kept for far too long. Still tons of fun, but overall a more comfortable less hand numbing, less twitchy, and more controlled experience. It's kind of strange that what is essentially a 32 pound XC bike can warm my cockles, but it do.

Only thing I miss is that glorious orange paint.

I really dig that purple.

Photo of my then stock Norco Torrent 2 HT, size XL. I've since upgraded a few small parts here and there, but otherwise it's still just as it came from the shop. Super fun, simple bike.

The title of the movie that Temple Cummins and Andy Hetzel jumped the train was Easy Rider, produced by Fall Line Films. Here's a video clip of that gap.