Motobecane titanium hardtail converted to gravel bike with Soma Gator bars and Bruce Gordon tires

A fun adventure bike conversion with these parts:
- Soma Gator dirt drop handle bars
- Cane Creek Ergo Stoker dummy hoods/levers
- Bruce Gordon Rock N' Road 700Cx43mm tires
- Syncros FL Carbon ridged 29er fork
- DT Swiss RWS skewer
- ebay user "mtbtools" 15mm through axle to 9mm quick release adapter
For my particular build and needs I swapped in a shorter stem and also moved my saddle forward. You may also need longer shift cables/housings
LET'S CONNECT!
God's Country's Accounts:
- gplus.to/GodsCountry
- / godscountrychannel
- / in_gods_country
- / ingodscountry

[@waterboxer87]

I always like to see how innovative guys are when modifying their bicycles. I think you do a good job making your bike fit your needs.

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks!!!! It's fun!

[@767bob]

I love it! I built up my old Trek 950 mtb in 1997 first with the Moustache bar then in 2003 with drops. This gravel bike stuff has really been around for a long time. Just take your old rigid frame mtb and change the bars and maybe stem too. Set it up like a road bike but keep the tires as wide or close to it as before. I also use bar end shifters....my bike is my go to bike for just about anything. I've toured, commute, trail/dirt road rides, foul weather riding and so on. You don't need to buy a new gravel bike!

[@edcatt9196]

Kind of did something similar with a Specialized Rock Hopper hard tail MTB. I couldn't afford a "real" gravel bike, so, being able to lock out my front forks while riding, and swapping out my 2.2 inch MTB tires for a pair of 38X700c gravel tires (tubeless), I've got a workable gravel/adventure bike (sort of)! It's good enough for me at least. I've logged quite a few miles of gravel and mixed surfaces since I did this rather easy 'conversion.' I have other bikes (even a Salsa Mukluk fat bike), but this conversion seems to be the one I ride most often! It's so easy to go (almost) anywhere with it! Thanks for you tips and ideas! Oh yes! I jettisoned the flat bars and went with a Jones Loop H-Bar! Great bars. Comfortable on the wrists, but lots of control; and I use it to bike pack as well.

[@metafortis5147]

I also converted my Scott Scale HT to a gravel bike with Soma Gator Bars Love the use of the dummy levers. I have been toying with TT bars and bar ends with the gator bars for additional hand positions as well. Also I find raising the height with the stem spacers is a must since it puts you so low on the bike. Great minds think alike!

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks! Sounds like a sweet setup! I've always liked the Scale hard tails.

[@mrpercussive]

thats a nice setup! Those motibecanes are pretty sweet frames too!

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks! Yes the frames seem to be good quality Ti.

[@michaelbuckley1087]

Nice Job. I wrote a suggestion on the head tube length on replying below. On fork length had you found a good variety of lengths? I mostly see about 395 cm for disk, then they jump up to shock fork replacement lengths such as 450cm +. For the longer fork, do you notice stability or cornering differences from bikes with road length forks (and taller HTs)?

[@gearjunky73]

Do you still have the 80x100 warehouse ? If so can you do an update. Thank you!

[@craighenry7915]

Great looking bike,looks like it will be fun to ride some singletrack.

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks! It’s been a fun bike in several different configurations.

[@IronTexasFishing]

That's a great looking bike. I have a Trek mountain bike and I have a Raleigh road bike. I have never seen that type of handle bars. Awesome looking bike tho brother!!

[@GodsCountry]

+IronTexas24 Thanks man! I'm really enjoying it! It's a different type of riding than concentrating while on a mountain bike.

[@cristi1media]

very nice forest view you have

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks Cristian!

[@artillerystudio]

do you honestly hold the drop bars though? Im struggling to do this to my conversion. I just don't see the benefit of loosing the standard Mtb bars. how/when does it help? id rather be upright on big distances..

[@GodsCountry]

To be honest, I didn't have the bike in this configuration for very long. I just couldn't get in to that type of riding. It's back to a more normal mountain bike setup now.

[@mrlouis2337]

Its very good bike

[@GodsCountry]

+Gachpalshow Thanks! I've been enjoying it.

[@Mrheathbrown]

Interesting build. Could you flip the brake levers around to be able to reach them from the hoods?

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks Heath. Unfortunately I can't remember about the brake levers. I've got different bars on it now. I think these handlebars changed diameter between the lower grip area and the area where the hoods mount.

[@jev2867]

God's Country What bar are you running now and why did you replaced what you had in the video? I'm in the process of converting an old rigid Specialized Rockhopper and trying to get idea of that drop bar I should go with. I want it wide up top as well as the drop. I've seen 58mm wide on ebay but that is the drop and have no idea the width of the top part.

[@jonienglish3231]

i am running 9 speed on my 2013 cannondale bad boy 5 will run a 700c x38c trigger tire oem was a WTB thickslick 700cx28c slick

[@GodsCountry]

Love the Bad Boys! I've got a Hooligan that I love.

[@lIoIlb]

Nice work. Is the fork's steerer carbon? I think the stack limit from headtube to stem is usually ~40mm on carbon steerers. Double check that, because a snapped steerer can mean death.

[@GodsCountry]

Thanks for the info. Yes the steerer is carbon. I've actually changed bars since this video and the stem is not nearly as high now. I do appreciate your info and concern though!

[@michaelbuckley1087]

See my later post on heat tube extenders. It looks like you have a standard HT and this could work well for you. This is one Ti example: www.ticycles.com/store/head-tube-extension-titanium

[@pault477]

How do you like those tires?

[@GodsCountry]

Hi Paul! Thanks for your comment. Honestly I never put a ton of miles on them. I probably put more urban/pavement miles on them than gravel. They seemed good though. I just can't give you a long term review of them. Sorry about that.

[@steveducell2158]

What are you doing!! Are you trying to destroy the Bike Industry!? Your conversion makes absolute sense, but your destroying the concept of continual consumerism!

[@GodsCountry]

Haha! Buy! Buy! Buy!

[@SixMioDollarMan]

That comment is so spot on and therefore straight GOLDEN! :-)

[@Bugged-pz7fx]

is it full titanium and how light it is?

[@GodsCountry]

Hey Chaz. Yes this is a full titanium 29er. I don't remember how much this gravel build weighs but here is another video of mine where I weigh the frame and a completed hardtail mountain bike build: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ7PZnV4h9Wons0

[@schlooonginator1227]

Curious, what is your main mtb now? I assume its a full suspension.

[@GodsCountry]

+schlooonginator My main mountain bike is a 2010 Specialized full suspension 29er. It's getting a little old but I haven't wanted to spend the money to replace it. It's been a great bike.

[@schlooonginator1227]

God's Country Lol, I hear ya. That played a big role in why I chose the Moto Ti 29er. I don't have a lot of moeny and chose a hardtail because ,ideally, it should last awhile while never really becoming a dinosaur technology wise like many full suspension bikes. Its pretty sad when you can spend thousands on a bike and feel it needs to be replaced due to age after 5 years and I wanted to avoid that. Not that its required just a mental thing. I am sure your 2010 is still a great bike.

[@GodsCountry]

+schlooonginator I totally agree with everything you said. On top of that, the titanium material/color doesn't get outdated and if it gets scratched up, you can refinish it.

[@ekhospin]

I am not very sure of the sensation when braking with thatlever position, the hydraulic brakes have an exagered braking capacity that could kick you off from the seat. however, i want to do the same experiment with my less glamorous giant talon, but i decided to make a downgrade changing the hydraulic brakes by disc tektro mechanical brakes, so i can be able to use a normal shifter for dropbars handlebar

[@GodsCountry]

Although I have changed the configuration of this bike again since this video, I never had a problem with the hydraulic brakes.

[@lakishaweaks9784]

Hello God's Country I purchased the same frame except mine is a small. Liked your videos. Took it 2 my local 🚲 shop 2 have built up. I want it 2 be like a 2x10,2x11 or 1x11,1x12 but I need my gearing 2be high enuff to try 2 keep up with road bikes but low enuff 2 climb hills. I purchased. RITCHEY full carbon rigid fork, REDSHIFT shock stop suspension stem, & full carboN SELLEITALIA gold seat. Will be putting my I9 TORCH straight spoke wheels on from my specialized fsa stumpjumper 2016. But I see U have made yours a 2x instead of the 3x. The ower of the shop is making a big deal doing so because he saying because of not having all 3 sprockets on the bottom bracket might not push 2 sprockets out far enuff 2 work properly. So U have 2x did U just take 1 of your sprockets off but still using same BB IT CAME with & crankset or did U go with aftermarket BB & crankset. I want 2 do carbon or aluminum race face or fsa crankset. Handlebars will be ONE UP CARBON. Weight I want it 2 be light as possible & look good 2. Please hit me back let me no what U think.

[@GodsCountry]

Sounds like a fun build! Honestly I'm not an expert in the drivetrain department and it's been a long time since I built this bike. When I bought the bike it was only a frame. Here's another video of my videos on the same bike. MAke sure and check the description for the parts list: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ7PZnV4h9Wons0&t=

[@lakishaweaks9784]

Ok thanks

[@rollinrat4850]

Have you tried higher h-bar positions? It will handle way better on the trails with bars close to level with saddle. I ride my cx/tourer on all day trail rides and my back and neck thank me for it! Check out ‘LD’ stems. As in limp dick!!!

[@GodsCountry]

Hey Robert! No, I haven't tried any higher positions. This bike seems to change configurations often. It's back to a suspension fork and 2.25" mountain bike tires again.

[@stevewalther2293]

Get that bike off the stand.

[@GodsCountry]

And ride!

[@gearjunky73]

Do you still have the 80x100 warehouse ? If so can you do an update. Thank you!

[@GodsCountry]

+gearjunky73 Hey GearJunky. Thanks for the comment. Right now I've decided not to do any more shop updates. It belongs to my brother and he lives there full time. I don't feel like there have been any significant changes to the building that would warrant invading his privacy. He still loves the building and it works well for his needs. Make sure that you've seen all of the shop construction videos and let me know if you have any specific questions.