2021 Salsa Timberjack Review | SLX 29 | Hardtail MTB

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a newly redesigned 2021 Salsa Timberjack. Over the last month I’ve been able to put the bike to the test on lots of different kinds of trails. In this video, I go over the updates, pros and cons of the new generation of Salsa’s trail hardtail mountain bike.
#salsatimberjack #hardtail #mtb

[@WestShoreMan]

I just bought the 2024 and its killer!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

It’s a great looking bike! Love the color! It’ll be a confident do-it-all rig. SLX has been great on my ICT, so good spec on this bike. Keep ‘em coming!!

[@chasingbirds3073]

Mine just arrived today! Can't wait to take it out for a spin!

[@CobraKyle]

Great video! I have a Timberjack XT 27.5 arriving hopefully in the next two weeks! I'm glad you're liking the bike!

[@slofax1251]

Thanks for the review!

[@Gillty555]

Nice video. I picked up eagle gx eagle about 2 weeks ago! Still getting used to it but totally digging being back on a hard tail.

[@JamesRobertMTB]

I haven’t rode a hard tail in so long. They still look like so much fun to ride! Awesome for developing technique too!!

[@RideYearRound]

Definitely agree with you on that!

[@liam_516]

Saw this online (in stock) and grabbed it. Love the SLX. A wee bit heavy - though definitely planted and grippy. Thanks for your insights.

[@RideYearRound]

Good snag!

[@clwatersjr]

I'm getting back into MTB and just landed a 2021 SLX 27.5 (couldn't find an XT at the time). I am absolutely loving the feel of the bike. It definitely likes to party!

[@RideYearRound]

Nice score on the bike!

[@scotthanback4530]

I was looking at a canadale hardtail is this bike prety good starting bike

[@phrides]

Nice bike. If this were out last year, I would probably have one instead of the Niner I bought. I think the SLX is the pick of the litter. The fork on the XT is not much better than the SLX, and while the fork on the GX is a significant upgrade, you can upgrade the fork on the SLX to a Pike for the price difference between the SLX and the GX. I'd rather do that and run the SLX drivetrain and Deore brakes than pay for the marginal upgrades available from Salsa there.

[@madcapper6]

How many spacers are you using and how do you like the position? I just got an XC bike from ChainreactionCycles and they shipped it with two spacers, an inverted stem that kinda slopes down instead of up and flat bars that sweep slightly towards me. It seems the bars are down too low and they are probably a good 3 or 4 inches below where you have yours. How does your elevated "stack" feel?

[@RideYearRound]

XC bikes tend to have a lower stack and will typically have more of the steerer tube cut down to keep the rider lower and more aerodynamic. I think there are maybe 4-5 spacers on mine, which is a lot, but I don’t know that I want it any lower. You could flip your stem over so it’s angled up and/or get some different bars that have some rise to them if you want to be more upright.

[@turboelephant6298]

I wish RockShox would come up with a fat bike fork with wider stanchions, the Bluto great fork though it is, is a bit of a noodle, and the Mastodon pro and Wren forks are crippling expensive. I've seen a dude that machined his own yokes for a set of Manitou Dorado forks that can now run 5.1 inch tyres, they look super dooper. Anyway, nice bike that Salsa. 👍👍

[@RideYearRound]

Agreed, although my biggest issue with the Mastodon is the weight more than the price.

[@marksandoval5361]

The old TJ had clearance for 29x2.8 tires. Does the new TJ also have clearance for 29x2.8 tires? Maybe with the adjustable dropouts extended?

[@RideYearRound]

You could possibly fit a 2.8" in there with minimal clearance if you kept it in the longer position, but it'd be really tight. The non-drive side has a lot more clearance than the drive side where they brought the chainstay in to make clearance for a bigger chainring. There's just less room in general back there as you can tell from them dropping the 27+ clearance down.

[@dodgenlife6695]

What size is your bike and how tall are you? I am undecided on what size to order.. I'm 5'11 3/4 so I seem to be on the edge of a medium and large. Looking for fit advice.. Thnx

[@RideYearRound]

Mines a large and I’d for sure get the same if I were you. I’m 5’10.5” so I’m usually on the border too. I have fairly long arms though so I always size up.

[@Accu53Mation]

Rockshox 35 fork is good for commuting to work(city potholes), not much else. Rather see a Suntour Aion, be used. And the crappy 30mm rims with 2.6 tires...pathetic. Swap the tires for 29x2.35 or get a wheelset with 35mm internal width, which is proper for 2.6 tires. And the WTB saddle, was the first item I tossed-out. Traded-up the bar for Spank vibrocore 40mm, with Kore lock-on grips. barely use the dropper-post, so replaced with a rigid Thomson post. Very pleased using Specialized Butcher grid trail 2.3 tires with tube liners on Halo Vapour 35 wheelset. Gets me where I need-to-go, especially I've not had a motor vehicle in twenty-three years.

[@meekrosez3789]

So if I Can buy a 2021 for $700 I should Get it ?

[@philiptreuer9088]

When you say that the frame is "stiff" does that mean it would be faster than a more flexible frame on flat ground or pavement?

[@RideYearRound]

Stiffness doesn’t necessarily translate to a faster bike, but I’m sure it would help with power transfer. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to it, but with the right tire pressure (or plus tires) I don’t even consider it that stiff anymore.

[@philiptreuer9088]

@@RideYearRound Thanks. That's helpful, as are all your videos.

[@kevcrid]

I would like to buy one but they are sold out everywhere. Pretty much any bike under $2500 is sold out.

[@RideYearRound]

Trust me I know, it took me 3 weeks of constant searching before I found one. Good luck!

[@josesbox9555]

A friend of mine manages a shop here in AK. No bikes. I mean zero.

[@RideYearRound]

You know it's crazy when the demand is so high it actually threatens your business. Hope they're able to pull through okay!

[@josesbox9555]

@@RideYearRound He can’t even get any to the store! It’s nuts.

[@yourmom361]

Maybe the frame is stiff because it's a hard tail. What you call stiff, others call fast.

[@RideYearRound]

The Timberjack is on the stiffer side of hardtail frames I’ve ridden, but in this video I had the tire pressure way too high so that’s the majority of what I was feeling.