Video: Salsa’s New Blackthorn Trail Bike – First Look

Blackthorn Body Particulars

Salsa has ticked all of the containers with the Blackthorn, together with on-frame storage options by means of many threaded holes and an built-in body strap slot on the ahead shock mount. They don’t seem to be the primary to do that, however they did add a rubber scuff guard to maintain the tube and no matter else you carry from scratching your body. Bosses on the toptube allow you to connect a bag or laptop mount as properly, and the ‘three-pack’ bottle mount on the downtube provides you much more choices.

One other threaded gap you would possibly get enthusiastic about: The underside bracket, which is the place you may additionally discover a set of ISCG 05 chain information tabs. These are detachable on the carbon body by way of an adapter, they usually’re welded onto the aluminum model.

Cable routing is inside and molded-in guides contained in the carbon body imply that it is as straightforward as pulling out the outdated line and pushing the brand new one in. For those who get the aluminum body, you may discover massive openings that ought to imply the job is not too difficult. And talking of cables, there’s even a small opening for a distant shock lockout, must you really feel the necessity.

Salsa has a protracted historical past of providing bikes that may settle for all types of wheel and tire sizes, and that continues with the Blackthorn; you possibly can squeeze in as much as a 2.6″ vast tire when you persist with 29″ wheels, and even 3.0″ rubber when you go to a 27.5″ rear wheel, regardless of quick 432mm aluminum chainstays. That is potential, Salsa says, because of the bike’s 12mm x 157mm Tremendous Enhance hub spacing that is certain to rile a few of us up.

Break up Pivot Suspension

Salsa’s been utilizing Dave Weagle’s Break up Pivot suspension structure for a few years now, and that is precisely what you may discover on the again of the Blackthorn. It is a design that enables the rear pivot to rotate concentrically across the axle, and a rocker hyperlink and clevis drive the shock to ship 140mm of journey. There’s additionally an almost hidden flip-chip on the clevis that provides 0.3-degrees of angle and 4mm of backside bracket peak adjustment.

It is a simple trying structure, and Salsa additionally says that it is ”uniquely suited” to let riders swap out the clevis, rocker, and shock to these used on the 165mm-travel Cassidy. Salsa will promote you the rocker and clevis for $150 USD. After all, you may want an extended stroke shock and fork, too, making it a not-so-inexpensive transformation. It additionally signifies that Salsa can supply two platforms from a single entrance and rear triangle.

Lengthy and Slack Geometry

Salsa did not take any half-steps with the Blackthorn’s geometry, as a substitute leaping in toes first with a 64.6-degree head angle, 76.5-degree seat angle, and 490mm attain on my large-sized check bike. You may also steepen it up by a 3rd of a level by flipping the rearward shock mounting {hardware}, which additionally raises the underside bracket by 4mm. Small adjustments, for certain, however possible helpful when you’re contemplating a 27.5″ rear wheel.

Two different numbers price mentioning: A brief 455mm seat tube on a size-large leaves room for long-travel social gathering posts, and the extra-large dimension sports activities a 510mm attain that ought to make beanstalks glad.