4 MODERN ATBs Compared

Comparing 4 modern "all terrain bicycles."
PATREON: / pathlesspedaled
STICKER STORE: www.pathlesspedaled.com/store
SHIRTS: shop.spreadshirt.com/pathless...
INSTAGRAM: / pathlesspedaled
Affiliate Links:
Riding Camera: www.insta360.com/sal/go_2?ins...
360 Camera: www.insta360.com/sal/one_x2?i...
Studio Camera: amzn.to/2U9SQiJ
Studio Mic: amzn.to/3eehci8
Fave Multitool: amzn.to/3ec9ntk
Fave Pump: amzn.to/3kd6Any

[@JochenSteglich]

The first time I tried a gravel bike, I was a bit disappointed because it was more like a road bike than a versatile all-road and off-road bike. I then rather bought a Surly Karate Monkey (a hardcore trail bike with hardtail), swapped the handlebars for a Jones Bar (as many do), swapped the tires for Schwalbe G One slicks 650b. And voila: ready was the ATB for commuting, bike touring with big bike bags, bike packing, and even riding gnarly singletrack in the woods. I really love this bike. There is no reason for another one.

[@plusbonus1165]

Time to write your book. ' Reaching Nirvana on two wheels' .

[@philtomlinson8220]

Sounds like a nice set up. I've fitted Jones bars to my Krampus, (still with 3" tyres), but it does make for a very capable and cruzy gravel bike. Those big tyres are a bit sluggish on the road though!

[@logtothebase2]

I have room for one bike, that's it. I ride road, trails, camp a bit and go shopping with panniers and have used a trailer for kids. So a small wheeled mountain bike (I have short legs) hardtail is what i need, The cliche 90's mountain bike is perfect, modern mountain bikes are to specialised to racing disciplines, and the wheels are to big to fit me well.

[@stevekelly6544]

Yeah but modern hard tails or atbs or gravel bikes, have much more comfortable geometry than 90’s mtb’s. The stack is too low on old 90’s mtb’s

[@ronwhite8503]

@@stevekelly6544 I have a Girvin Flexstem and North road bars on my 90's Cindercone and it works a treat; more upright position but enough weight over the front to stop it being squirrelly. And it's a supple steel steed.

[@schadlarry]

For me it's a 29x2.6 Karate Monkey with Tumbleweed bars and another wheel set of wide slicks for city riding.

[@paulsmarino]

"Cruiser bikes for the Apocalypse"...we need to get this trending

[@bendekker6552]

Sounds like a good sticker!

[@trailsandsmores]

Take bike. Will travel. Apocalypse ready!

[@InventorZahran]

AKA "klunkers"

[@HistoricalWeapons]

Exactly a reasonable person would walk with a bike downhill during an apocalypse so suspension is useless

[@CarsonCostanza]

I love the idea of building vintage mtbs into this. I’m currently doing it to my 1987 Raleigh mountain tour.

[@kh455]

I have a 1984 Raleigh Elkhorn that I have modified. I am still not happy with it. I may sell it after seeing how my new purchase of a Rivendell Clem Smith Jr. "L". rides. Hoping that the Clem will be my last bike after all the years and fall in love again.

[@tubecated_development]

Wasn’t that already an ATB?

[@keithadler965]

I met Eugene Sloan in 84 on the San Juan Islands in Washington I was touring and he was doing a day ride. He examined my bike and gear and made some negative comments on my setup. I asked him how was he was such a expert on touring setup and he said he was Eugene Sloan. In the 80s he was well known for his bike knowledge. Interesting person.

[@plusbonus1165]

To be able to learn from advice/criticism is a major step on the path to maturity. It still stings though.

[@eddieallen6401]

I think I might have been tempted to tell him to mind his own business. I hate people telling me how to set up my bike after honing it to my needs for a few decades.

[@theymademepickaname1248]

@@eddieallen6401 i hate people giving me any advice that I didn't ask for.

[@HistoricalWeapons]

Cruiser bars are the best for long distance non competitive riding

[@curtbrown7967]

Very helpful comparison! Thank you Russ! Lived thru the 90s bikes- glad we’ve moved along

[@dirtytiger]

I am really enjoying your videos exploring the ATB revival. A bicycle that bridges the gap between all-road touring and XC feels like a dream machine.

[@kevingove1879]

Top notch content. I appreciate your search for something different and interesting.

[@petebenson5030]

I love these videos because I lived in Missoula (in the rattlesnake) in the 2000's and enjoyed all the dirt rides nearby. I had an 80's mountain bike then and it was just fine. So many of these shots bring back fond memories. Thanks.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Many moons ago I bought a GIANT Gravier, mainly as a parts bike. Before I broke it down, I took it for a spin and found it enjoyable on and off road. It had everything needed for a commuter. I eventually started upgrading that hybrid bike and eventually sold off my Surly. I've cruised from northern Japan to Tokyo 4 times on it as a tourer. Converted it to a 1X, even put some Kenda moped tires on it. Never thought that a $700 last years model shop bike would turn into my most reliable steed. I don't know if I'll get a purpose built bike again or just keep finding frames I can mod to suit my needs, but so far, for a hybrid bike, it's been a wonderful all-around bike on any given terrain. It even rides well with Schwalbe snow tires.

[@robappleby583]

I wish you’d do a video about the British roots of offroad/allroad cycling with people like Geoff Apps and Daivd Wrath-Sharman. It turned out to be a dead end at the time but the basic ideas seem to be making a comeback with the non-race offroading you advocate. Love the Riv btw.

[@fourthchute]

My first mountain bike was an 86 Specialized Rockhopper -so hardtail and no front shocks. I hated the original bars so switched to Nitto Dirt Drops with bar end shifters. It was a great bike -I commuted, toured and went off road with it. It was super comfortable stable ride and great for throwing on racks and bags and switching the tires to treaded or slicks depending. Got lots of funny looks and comments from the touring bike tourists but it was a real dog of all work bike and fun and reliable. It's kinda what I'm on the search for now -great vid and live the channel!

[@dad7720]

You look like you have some of the most wonderful traffic free bike trails out there. I'm jealous.

[@anthonyharris483]

I bought a 98' Diamondback Apex and upgraded it with a titanium segmented fork, 1x10 Microshift drivetrain and 2.25 Maxxis ikon tires, b6er wheels and carbon flat bar. It is amazing on singletrack and surprisingly light

[@paulstrong2210]

I did a double check when you said the Piolet was 430mm - since one of the reasons why I never thought of buying it was the long CS. The small is 430, the rest of the sizes is 460mm.

[@gregnelson6539]

No mention of the Jones LBW?… I wonder why that’s not more on the radar? Is it weight? Another great vid!

[@kevinlinares9060]

I think I mistakenly bought a crust evasion lite, but quickly found that I am hours drive from gravel and riding road is hella scary. What I have near me are forest rooted trails that connect a network of neighborhoods in the Maryland burbs. I plan to fit a steel fork to the evasion and run alt bars. If that doesn’t do it for me, I may try the hardtack, thanks Russ for your time making these vids.

[@kylehoover114]

Crust site as a classified section you can post, also there’s a Facebook page.

[@winterwatson6811]

“riding a bike is dangerous because cars threaten the lives of everyone around them. that’s why i drive a car”

[@jp93309]

That Piolet’s profile looks like my 96 Stumpjumper M2 FS. I dig it.

[@whispering_pines]

Love the Rivendale and the concept of improved 90’s mnt bike. I finally retired my 2008 Cannondale with a rigid fork cause the frame cracked. That was a great bike - one set of tires for commuting and one for green/blue trails. Now you got me thinking about a ‘replacement’.

[@briand8862]

A lot of these look like neat bikes. I've gotta say though, and sure it's expensive, but the Salsa Fargo seems like the ultimate ATB. People run it in all sorts of configurations and they all work!

[@stevemurphy2080]

Amen to that. Bought a Fargo frame, Fork, boosted wheelset and transplanted all the organs from my 2011 Vaya. Now - to your point - I now have the ultimate Do all machine. Loving it.

[@jezzarisky]

I got a City variant of the Hudski Doggler a few months back. I’ve been enjoying it a lot, mainly it’s been a city bike and grocery runner(swapped to tubeless XC tires but I think I’m going to swap to more city minded mixed terrain tires in the future). My only main though small complaint is how insanely light the front end is with the carbon fork, I am constantly near popping wheelies on it. The lightness of the bike in general is nice though for having to haul up two floors to my apartment lol

[@2scoops624]

My ATB is a trek 1120 bikepacker with 2 wheel sets, one 29x3.0, the other 29x2.3. It's got all the mounts plus proprietary front and rear racks. The 2.3s are great for gravel and light xc, full on 3.0s great for rougher trails and snow. It's an excellent compliment to my 140mm full squish trail bike and my front loader cargo bike.

[@ResilienceOnPurpose]

I built a Surly Ogre frame up with basically this mindset, and I couldn't be happier with it. I literally set out to build a bike for the apocalypse, that could be toured anywhere in the world and be a fun mountain bike, so it's your comment was spot on. I just switch between 2" schwalbe mondial's or 2.5" mtb tires depending on what trip I'm planning. And the Koga Denham bars are the shit for both rides.

[@paulg666]

As far as I know when you call something shit it means they're bad. Though the bars are good.

[@dillroastington]

Any chance we could get an Ogre review alongside the bridge club? Would love to hear how they compare in your opinion.

[@trayounger]

Love this! My 2017 Surly Ogre fills the bill for all that, daily commuter touring heavy hauler. Always used mountain bikes for commuters because they were durable and “supple”. Nice video thank you!

[@ResilienceOnPurpose]

I built up an Ogre frame with this mindset last year and have been loving it on the roads and trails. I put a Koga Denham handle bar on it and switch between schwalbe mondial's or mtb tires depending on the need and couldn't be happier with it!

[@outbackwack368]

We sold our gravel bikes and bought hardtails. The Ritchey Ascent was on the short list but I wanted front suspension for mountain biking. We are WAY more comfortable now no matter where we ride. We put fast rolling 2.2's on them. Drop bars are so overrated.

[@CRM08]

I'm drawn to the hardtail as well. For me it checks all the boxes except for fast zippy road riding.

[@outbackwack368]

@@CRM08 I got a 2nd narrower wheelset and run Gravel King Race Kings on them at 35psi on hard pack and roads with the fork locked out. I've done 25mph on the flats with no problem. I don't need to go faster than that... now it's all about the journey 🙂

[@briand8862]

I wish I thought drop bars were overrated. I used to think that, and then used a pair and can never go back to flat bars. I never thought my wrists would ever find comfort on a bike until I found drop bars. It's a real bummer that shifters are so much more expensive.

[@devoidbmx1]

Bar shape is incredibly personal. Depends on your body, history of injuries and flexibility, riding style, , bike gift, etc. there is no “better” or “worse” bar. It is what works for you as a person.

[@outbackwack368]

@@devoidbmx1 We put Stooge Moto bars on with a 17° sweep and 38mm rise. Perfect.

[@MustachMike]

Can't Waite for your opinion on the bridge club. I have a 2018 with 2x10 and I love it

[@jeffdible8171]

Russ, are you sure you aren't in your mid 50s with back problems? The emphasis on comfort over style or performance is refreshing.

[@VerthNeel]

I like the Ritchey Ascent.

[@bidunic]

Just what we need, another bike category.

[@fulltang1]

More choices never killed anyone

[@leifcian4288]

My days, these are some nice bikes. Man where can you even go to buy something like this these days... My kind of bikes.

[@gregmccaslin7400]

I’m picking up what you’re laying down. I am currently still riding my tough as a rail road spike ,Gary Fisher bought in 1990 . Thanks for you’re practical down to earth insight . ✌️😎

[@Max-xl3ml]

I happen to have a first edition of that Sloane book I got in a used book shop in Boulder CO. (along with some other vintage mtb gems) I had no idea it was still being published I'll have to grab a more modern copy and see what was added. But pro tip visit the used book shops in towns with a long history of mtb and off-road touring. All of the books I've got were basically untouched.

[@israeladams6439]

youve got some sweet af bikes bro, thx for the content, have fun..

[@mightymoli]

My pursuit of an ATB bike for my stable got me purchasing a somewhat rare 2011 Rocky Mountain blizzard (Long Travel) frame. It’s got a surly ogre fork and corner bars. I find it great for commuting and urban all year round. Also super fun to whip through some local trails. It’s got hydraulic brakes so definitely leaning towards the more mountain side of things, but with maxxis DTH tires rides quick in the city.

[@michaelaiello9525]

I love my’ 85 Stumpjumper , I do wish it was 10 lbs lighter up hills!

[@speedy1490]

Got my Surly Bridge Club in 2020 with two wheel sets (28"/45mm and 27.5"/60mm). Will be interesting to hear what you have to say about it.

[@nicholaslafferty3928]

Excellent video...thank you!

[@danvee4523]

Hey rus. GR8 vid. Just wanted to mention the trail on the Hardtack is really more toward About 70 with the 63mm of fork offset. It has more offset than the moonshiner (50mm).

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

You're right. I'm trying to figure out where i got that number from now.

[@billmaidment5623]

Well done! Thanks

[@Zyzzyx42]

My first 'real' bike was a 1989 Mongoose ATB. Yep, that was the model name. That got me into mt biking. Later it did get moved to college commuter status. Then long road rides. then back to dirt roads. so yeah... all the bikes in one.

[@WantonSoup192]

Marin Muirwoods fits the bill. I’ve owned a 90’s iteration with a suspension fork for the past twenty years but now that the latest is a 29er and 1x it’s my next bike. Great to see this style coming in.

[@craigmeritz896]

Had a`Kona Unit X but sold it after a year. Super capable. But a tank. Not quite party pace. Finally settled on a Salsa Journeyman 650B flat bar. One test drive and I was hooked on the geometry. Sold the drivetrain and brakes. PPut on an old triple ring MTB drivetrain, and hydraulics' FInished up with tubeless tires and I have the perfect ATB for me. Light and poppy in the urban and on the green and flowy blue singletrack. And when I just want to roll nice and easy, it's all that.

[@andyweekly4718]

Please review the Surly Bridge Club. I love mine. Bought the 700c model two years ago. Added wider tires 700x50, works perfectly.

[@vegasvampire66648]

My trek F/x was too light duty... My giant talon was too heavy duty... My giant roam 2 hits right in-between the first 2... I feel like I'm getting closer to the perfect bike...

[@chrisgress4086]

Waiting for my Gunnar Rock Tour II to get here. Gonna be fun building and riding it

[@clearlyabot]

so many more ideas for my new project

[@simonorr594]

These look very like my Rockhopper Comp from 1987. I rode that from Spain to the Sahara and back. I was a broke student but wanted adventure. Was that an ATB?

[@devoidbmx1]

Yes it was an ATB.

[@devoidbmx1]

These modern ATB’s are pretty similar but typically have a bit more room for tire clearance and a more upright geometry and more stable steering, but otherwise simular convept.

[@anthonylentini-jv1yj]

First time hearing of the ATB concept, but apparently I already own 2 that kind of fit the category. 1 is a Bulls aluminum gravel grinder converted to flat bar (which would be awesome with a swept back bar) and a Jamis Sequel S2 in Reynolds 520 steel. Cool video, gave me some new ideas 👍

[@lexipau]

I hope you can do a review of the Evo Brooklyn Handlebar in the future.

[@alexanderrigda7002]

I run my ritchey ascent hard on single track and it eats it up. Way more fun than I had anticipated

[@mixinkperranporth]

I think the answer is one bike 2 wheel sets, for me its the trek 1120 3inch fats for trail of road on one set and 2.6inch semi slicks for road gravel on another set, with Cinelli adventure bars up front

[@dmitryliashko78]

Such a different bikes. Where in other cases we speak of millimeters of a difference, here we have the Ascent with super long chainstays, but not even comparable to the ones of the Riv's. Or Velo Orange have a trail of a road bike. It's like ATB is not for All Terrain but for Alternative.

[@thebigcrouton]

What kind of bag is on the Billie bars at 7:33? I have those on my Atlantis and am shopping around for a smallish handlebar bag something like that one. Thanks!

[@marcusathome]

I love the Ritchey Ascent, very capable and cool liking bike with both the drops or alt bars. Looking at the price tag for the frame alone - Eish! Nope, not gonna work for my budget so will stick to my '90's MTB conversion.

[@lemizle]

Love my VO Piolet 😍

[@lemizle]

PS. I like the Piolet highish top tube. MAXIMAL FRAME BAG!

[@brettduncan2795]

I’m trying to figure out what to upgrade to from my early 2000’s Bianchi Volpe. I have hundreds of miles of paved bike out of my front door for daily rides and want to ride 50 - 100 miles to camp on the weekends.

[@j.e.v.5016]

Unfortunately many of these are not available in Europe. My pipedream is that Pelago sees this and makes something like this, as they make really nice steel frame bikes.

[@pedalscript]

Speaking of pipedream, there's the ALICE from Pipedream Cycles. Fits the ATB category IMO. Also the new Gryphon from Singular Cycles might be worth considering. Oh, and the Cotic Cascade, too. But I do agree with you that most of the options in this genre seem to be only or predominantly available in the US... which has got me thinking whether there are some crucial differences in road conditions and terrain between the US and Europe. Whenever I see a promo video of an American ATB, they're being ridden either on absolutely pristine singletrack or long, straight and unmaintained gravel roads. I can imagine drop bars and MTB size tires being very much at home on this type of use. Whereas in Europe it seems like the gravel roads are generally in quite good condition favoring a road-ish geometry and narrower tires, and then again the trails are covered in roots and rocks asking for suspension and more specific off-road biased geometry. Obviously I'm making some pretty huge generalizations here as there is quite a bit of variation inside an entire continent or even within a single country. But anyway, perhaps in Europe there is a clearer distinction in bike types, say taking a gravel/CX bike for unpaved road riding and then a hardtail/full-suspension MTB for the trails, whereas in the US the line between these two types of riding gets more blurred, hence a wider range of "ATB" bikes. Case in point since you brought up Pelago (a European brand): they have one bike in the "gravel" category (the Stavanger) and another bike in the MTB/trail category (the new Thorsmork). Whereas there are certain US bike brands who have not one but several ATB models in their lineup (Crust, Salsa, Bearclaw, just to name a few...). Just pure speculation, though...

[@tensaimon]

Might turn out to be heavier than optimal but I recently picked up a 2014 surly pugsley as my off-road (definitely ALL terrain) bike, I do have coastline to ride along hence fat , but I also figured it's a bike that can run almost any wheel /tire size so I can experiment a bit to see what works for me- if it turns out fat is surplus to requirements then one of these ATB s look good ..

[@GeekonaBike]

I know what I think, but I'd luv to hear your opinion on thur-axles on fully rigid bikes Russ.

[@davidross8233]

For me, the most important things for an ATB are ability to run 2.25 or wider tires plus NO toe overlap

[@mattdrange4219]

If only we could all have all four!

[@calcagnolibero]

Buy a 90’s high end rigid mountain bike for cheap, update the drivetrain and cockpit, install new tires and you’re good to go.

[@kh455]

What are the differences between the Rivendell's Suzie W. Longbolts and the Clem Smith Jr. "L" ?

[@thunderbird3694]

I would consider my 20lb Titanium 29+ with 3" tires an ATB

[@Graveltrapp]

Hola, What bars are on the Ritchey and Hard. tack??? Thanks, JB

[@michaelaiello9525]

Love these bikes. Any options that fit these types of bikes at half the price?

[@alexanderjaxon5942]

would love a comparison between an ATB and a 90s mountain bike

[@evgeniydragondog]

I think its my type! Non-sport but everything-bike.

[@superdomestiquesd]

Not sure when that book was published but in many publications from mid 80s to around 1990 (in the UK at least) the term ATB was used as much as MTB and in France VTT was used. Not sure ATB will stick as another genre unless the big companies see a marketing niche to fill with it.

[@superdomestiquesd]

@Jobsworth Jobber so true. My first one was a Raleigh Maverick. Bought it in ‘86 (‘85 model). The frame has ATB wording on the tubing sticker.

[@SaturnineXTS]

I think ATBs would be something that'd really interest me. Currently owning a hybrid - cube cross exc, and I'm really tempted to take it on some mild to moderate trails, but not sure it could handle them without getting damaged. This ATB archetype looks like it's even more versatile than hybrid bikes.

[@salmanshami]

My Surly Bridge Club is very much an ATB bike. I'm building a Surly Ghost Grappler but with 48mm tyres. I'm expecting it to be an ATB bike as well

[@joshlegere]

Jamie SEQUEL would be a good one to review

[@telepathytoday]

Would you type the names of the bikes & parts you review in the description? It's hard to catch the names in the audio. Thanks!

[@bendekker6552]

I wish I could magically make my bikes fit Russ and magically ship them to him so I could hear him review them. I know roughly what he would say, but I would find it very interesting.

[@nipon56470]

Do you consider the Crust Evasion an ATB?

[@agelaonsoikea]

What is the ISBN of the Sloanes bike book?

[@anthonyharris483]

What happened to the Rawland Ravn?

[@TeeLichtet]

Nice review! As a mountainbike rider myself, I wonder if reach numbers are all that relevant for the type of riding you do. In the end, reach really only matters when you are out of the saddle. From my perspective, when riding seated, the length of the top tube together with the actual seat tube angle should be more relevant.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

IME reach is going to determine what kind of handlebar you’re going to be able to use as well. Drop, flat or swept back. Toptube is unreliable because it is affected by the STA. You could get an artificially long TT because of a slack STA but actually have too short of a reach of you wanted to run a bar with back sweep.

[@TeeLichtet]

@@PathLessPedaledTV good point, thanks for elaborating!

[@ronwhite8503]

Anyone know what 'bars are on the Ascent? They are just what I need for a build.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Ritchey Kyote bars.

[@josuem2853]

Where do you get these bikes? It just seems like these are really specialty bikes that you have to build up or pay a lot for someone to do it for you. I do like them but hard to find here in Austin. Thanks for the vids!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

You can buy frames online or go to a bike shop that is a dealer.

[@102Montana]

Curious… have you any experience with the Trek FX 5 or 6??

[@glenzigdan]

Love my susie, super sized is right!

[@datanerator]

Ive bought a few older steel beach cruisers and hybrids and jankily upgraded them to be basically this cause I was broke. Now Im not I might as well get one of these

[@gennarosenatore2485]

Looks like a new way to call hardtails.

[@GraydenMacLennan]

Would Laura’s Alt-Bar Cutthroat fall into the ATB category, or is that an entirely different geometry category?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It would fall in that category.

[@watts391]

Hardtack for the win

[@SomeDudeQC]

What's between ATBs and gravel though?

[@kh455]

a hard rock and one root.

[@mishley]

OK, serious question: why do you (or maybe why does everyone?) give tire clearance from the bike's perspective in inches, i.e. "29 x 2.5" but tire width measurements are given in the video as millimeters? Great videos on the channel, sorry if this is a dumb question! I'm not new to cycling but I'm new to cycling gear ;).

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Large mtb tires are given in inches and smaller road tires in mm. Thats how its done. I read the sidewall.

[@BenjaminEAlexander]

Did he just say 1200 videos?!

[@jamessalter5330]

I think my Giant Toughroad is an ATB.

[@cyclingjoezone]

I’m still riding my 1986 Zebra atb.

[@ChosenParanoia]

Thanks!

[@bilbojenkins5276]

Sooooo.....a 90's mountain bike?? : D

[@johnhickman2033]

Is it possible to change my beloved Yo Eddy Fat Chance MTB (born in Saratoga County 1997) into a more comfortable ATB?

[@richardingraham6353]

The Fargo has been doing this for years . Why is it never mentioned by you .😁

[@smarkasmc]

😉👍🌻

[@neeshnuu]

My XL Surly Ogre is 40lbs naked 😳