2019 Salsa Horsethief Review | What a BEAST!

The 2019 Salsa Horsethief brought me back to my Downhill days. I would really love to test this bike at a bike park!
Ride at your own risk!

[@Happyflyhigh]

I wanted a trail bike, all around bike, I ride everywhere and most things but don't need to be top dog just reliable and current. Salsa nailed the specs on this bike. Only thing I added was a Fox 34 factory front shock. Bike is super responsive, easy climb (own 3 salsa's-best climbing bike), and you can just pedal and enjoy trails, poppin off at will. Geometry leads to solid pedal stability, and it just sticks on the track with the pivot. Fun, enjoyable, and I went with the really different Matte Red, aluminum. Not a carbon guy. Ride Metal. This is my single track destroyer bike. So much fun. I will say, that initially I struggled with the tire size, but I had been riding 26x 4.8. 27.5 x3.8, then 29x3.0 tires for 2.5 years before jumping on this. The long roll over on the 29's took some getting used to. Once you get used to the energy it takes to keep the momentum of the 29er tires rolling, your good. Just have to build up to it. Once you do, your off! Thanks for the review. Nice to hear another perspective.

[@NDemanuele1]

I just demo'd this thing today! It reminds me of my Ripley! I felt it climbs well and descends well. It feels very light like my Ripley. I was impressed!

[@GoodTrails]

Right on dude, I like the geo alot. Sounds like I will have to try a Ripley!

[@RyanRidesPGH]

My new bike! I love it. I am thinking they probably had the suspension really soft because I definitely feel the trail at 30% sag front and back.

[@GoodTrails]

nice! I would also be interested to see how it runs at 20-25 percent sag.

[@phantasma2323]

🤦🏻‍♂️ 120 rear travel and doesnt climb? Check those settings bruh.

[@jerrylandrum1977]

I feel the same about the hub, I had a Trek Fuel ex7 super silent hub, a Specialized Camber very loud awesome hub. It sounds stupid but to me a loud hub just sounds like quality lol. I have been looking at this bike now for a while just hard to jump into it at $2700.

[@GoodTrails]

I agree, I always like a loud hub like a Hadley or a Profile. The Salsa hub sounds great

[@mikecoglione1308]

I loved my horsethief until I got carbon wheels and bar for my Mukluk carbon XT. This bike really shines for those fast technical downhills that just scare the crap out of me. Amazing ride and feel but still squishy. I can't put my finger on it but I think the ground clearance isn't good with LOTS of pedal strikes and the tires don't grip that well at least compared on 4.6" especially on coarse large gravel like on power lines. I enjoy riding it from time to time and thought the carbon plus full suspension would make it awesome but am considering selling it because it just doesn't do it for me.

[@GoodTrails]

Nice!

[@tc0504]

If you could only own one bike, would you pick this one or the spearfish?

[@GoodTrails]

Probably this one - but I'd have to have it set-up properly to make sure.

[@Mbtharp1]

What size was this and how tall are you? I’m 6’ tall and just ordered a large. I have shorter legs and a long torso. Hope I made the right choice!

[@GoodTrails]

I'm not sure, it's been a while but I think it was a medium and I am 5 10. I think you made the right choice!

[@Mbtharp1]

Good Trails thanks for the feedback! If I have to I could always run a 40mm stem which wouldn’t hurt my feelings.Coming from a 130mm travel 27.5 bike, I’m excited to ride this thing. Looks like it’s gonna rip and be more capable.

[@GoodTrails]

@@Mbtharp1 yah dude! Enjoy!

[@incubated]

hey where is this trail. near eglinton?

[@GoodTrails]

Its in the Don. Its kind of close to Laird and Eglinton.

[@jerrylandrum1977]

I hope it just was not adjusted right to make it hard on the climbing, I mean climbing any bike sucks really but if you ever have to dismount to walk the bike during an easy climb, it is for sure a bad situation lol. I am debating my next ride between the Horsethief or Spearfish but the more realistic versions in the under $2500 range and not the demo bikes that we all know lean heavy in the price category. I tend to take reviews on bikes with a grain of salt because they never review the bikes that honestly most riders can actually afford to get. I am not going into specifics more of a general thing I notice in many review videos from many KZbinrs who can review bikes it is typically a review of the carbon model or the top of the line model costing $5000 or more when most viewers of the reviews are lucky to afford a $2000 bike. :)

[@grahammayes1968]

I agree most reviews i watch are for bikes that i could only wish to own. Not realistic at all but i guess it is good to dream. Maybe they could review mid range carbon and then the equivalent in alloy.

[@mthe007]

140/120 bike as DH beast? interesting. most likely there was not enough air in the shock

[@GoodTrails]

Look at the geo - this bike sits like a DH bike. I would take this to Whistler before my 140/140 any day. But yes, the rear shock was low.

[@mjmiller613]

Geo is a 67-deg. head angle though...most park/DH bikes are running 62-64 deg at the moment.

[@lastpme]

👍🏿

[@ap1reviewsadventures96]

I know what I weigh and it’s like 245