Testing Adjustable Chainstays on my RSD (SPOILER: My predictions were wrong!!)

[@andrewchow523]

Love the video, especially where you test the short chainstay again to make sure it’s not better because of practice - very thoughtful. great insight for someone that don’t have an adjustable chainstay. more mtb should make that!

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Thank you! Yes, I love having that option, and it's very helpful for setting your bike up as a single speed as well

[@Changchar37]

The first time I watch this video was before I even know the RSD brand. Now owning the middle child for half a year and look back to this video it’s even more helpful. Thanks! I got two wheel sets for my bike: 29” with 2.35/2.4 XC tires combined with longest chain stay for going fast; 27.5” with 2.6/2.8 DH tires at the shortest chain stay for challenging terrain. Works pretty well so far

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Sounds like a killer setup, 2 bikes for the price of one haha!

[@christophergribbin3969]

I am a new subscriber. Enjoying your channel. Really interested in this. I have a Pace 627 to build up and this has adjustable chain stays; I was going to leave it in the shorter setting, but will definitely be looking to make some tests in short/long modes now.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Right on, thanks for the subscribe! Ya I as I said in the video, I honestly thought it would be an easy pick that the shorter chainstays would perform better for my riding style, but I was proved wrong! That said even the “long” 430mm setting is short by a lot of standards. What’s the adjustment range on the 627?

[@danwebber9494]

Completely agree with playing to your weaknesses. I have the technical skills to make my Cotic BFE max handle at low speeds, but 444 chainstays and 63* head angle really helped my trail speed.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Nice! As you heard in the video, I’m the same. Coming from BMX the low speed, technical bike control comes easy, but speed does not! I’m guessing it’s be opposite from the guys who come from a moto background. How do you like your Cotic by the way?

[@danwebber9494]

It’s an absolute sled. Did the whole enchilada on it in October. Fun bike.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Hell ya! How many concerned “Are you sure you want to take a hardtail down this trail?” questions did you get lol?

[@danwebber9494]

There was definitely some concerned side eye.

[@jasonlorance1918]

Awesome video! Been wanting to try this on my MC. Thanks for all the great info!

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

For sure! Let me know what you find when you test it, I was definitely surprised!

[@_Vicarious]

Would love to see this kind of video of the RSD MC bouncing between 27.5 vs 29

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Alright, I’ll see what I can do!

[@_Vicarious]

@@ridingwithjoshandwendy Jeez Louise, that would be awesome. :) Your vids have got me right back on the hardtail train. All my bikes are 29er and I' m 6'3". But I'd love to add a Titanium hardtail to my bikes, but because it's a huge price investment I'd really love to hear if the 29er version of the MC is on par with the 27.

[@michaelrieser9928]

Awesome! I have yet to change my chainstays to the long position for the same reason. Plus I got a xl middlechild and I’m only 6 feet, so I didn’t want to make it any longer. But your right we need to get experimental. I did throw a 29er up front and I liked that a lot. Great job with your comparison technique. I agree with your take on how one way feels better or is more fun and the other way is faster. I’ll take the feels better and is more fun set up every time.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Sounds like we’re in pretty much the same camp! I’m 6’1” and got the large after riding an XL San Quentin for a year and wanting something a little more snappy and playful. I ended up leaving them in the long setting for now, just to see how it goes, but am definitely stoked on how easy it is to switch it back! Honestly you could even change it each ride haha!

[@bensonc627]

Thanks for the video, I rode a salsa timberjack, been riding in shortest setting since day 1, recently, I moved and no access to black diamond trail I used to ride. Change it to longest setting and find the bike a lot more planted than before.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

It’s crazy how noticeable such a small change can be! How do you like the Timberjack? I’ve never ridden one!

[@bensonc627]

@@ridingwithjoshandwendy I like it a lot. I only r idden xc style bike in the past, this bike gave me a lot more confident on technical section. Btw, mine was running 27.5+

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

I bet it does!! Looks like a fun bike, hope to get the chance to ride one someday!

[@donparsons1237]

Thank you for sharing... Id like too hear your thoughts on what its like ripping down zig zaggy off road trails between long and shorter... My question is,,, would the longer chain stay help the bike track straighter over all... They say the longer the wheel space the easier it is too go straighter with less effort and wobbling... Touring fat bikes track better with more spread out wheels... I wounder if out fatbikes would handle the zig zaggy off road dirt trails better... Hope too see you test this with your bike... Don from Western Canada

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Hey Don! Ya I think the longer wheel base is definitely preferable for straighter, higher speed sections of trail. The trade off though is agility, so in theory a longer bike should be a bit harder to maneuver at low speeds or tight corners. As you saw in the video though even on my pretty windy test course, the longer chainstays were still faster!

[@Mk3Lew]

Interesting comparison. I just switched from a full sus Giant trance 2 29er to a Specialized Fuse frame that I’ve built up with all the parts from the Giant. Both frames are medium. Both have a headtube angle of 66.5° and a similar reach around 440mm. The Giant has 435mm chainstays and the Fuse has sliding dropouts that range from 420mm to 435mm. As I prefer a more playful bike I’ve set the Fuse to the shortest setting. I did back to back testing a week apart in my local woods on the same trails in similar conditions. The Giant is faster, no doubt about it. But that’s expected as it has rear suspension to smooth things out and provide traction but I felt like I was wrestling the bike around in the twisty, technical sections and could never truly feel what the rear wheel was doing. The Specialized is way more fun. I can pop off of little rocks and roots and really throw the bike around in the technical sections of the trail. The rougher faster sections didn’t feel much rougher and the only times I noticed the harsher ride really was when I’d landed too hard from a jump in the first couple of runs. I found it much easier to place the rear wheel where I wanted it without having to fight against the longer chainstays or the rear shock in order to do so. I also found that I had more of a planted front end feel which is something I wasn’t expecting. Maybe because the rear of the bike is so much more unsettled with the shorter frame and lack of suspension it’s possible that I had to put more faith in the front end and unlocked more of it’s potential. One thing I know for sure is I’ve missed riding hardtails, and I love my new frame and shorter chainstays regardless of what it does to my speed. Like most riders, I don’t race so the fun factor is what it’s all about!

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

I love the way you summed all that up! I came off a Giant Reign before switching to aggressive hardtail a few years ago, and have had a very similar experience! I’m actually working on a video talking about the whole “long, low, slack” trend in geometry and why I don’t think that’s the best option for a lot of riders

[@FearlessCranks]

I am 5’6” with Small size frame with a chainstay of 425. I will report when I hit the trails in summer 😅

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Looking forward to hearing!

[@gregdevins9372]

Would you buy a trail hardtail with 450mm chainstays?

[@a8f235]

What about chain length when you adjust the chainstay length. You should definitely check that because it can become to tight.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

For sure! For the back to back testing I just didn’t use my 1st (largest) gear, but for a permanent setup you’d definitely want to add a link or two

[@steamedpiggy]

One thing I'm curious about the adjustable chainstay is that is it durable enough? I mean does it loose and make noise after years of using?

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Great question! Definitely plenty strong, but the bolts can loosen a bit over time. I treat them link suspension linkage bolts, and try to remember to torque them back down every couple rides. Other than that there’s been no issues (aside drone the fact that they add a bit of weight, but that’s an ok trade off for me)

[@calvinkirchhoff971]

Solid information🤘🏻

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Thanks man!!

[@solobellimino2356]

Nice video Very informative.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Thank you!!

[@jaredrude431]

Nice video. My experience is that long chainstays are always faster, but if one does not care about fast, then faster is irrelevant. 😀 I believe they feel slower because the longer chainstays putting a larger percentage of weight on the front just requires less mental energy to keep the bike under control at speed. Either way, nice video. 👍

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

That’s a really good way to explain it! Thank you!!

[@Bjolls]

Great Video! When moving the chainstays, did you also have to adjust the RD or chain length? I have a 12 spd MC setup long and moved it to the short position but found that my chain is too long for the the smaller rings. I wonder if there's an optimal chain length for either position.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

I run a 10 speed drivetrain with an 11-48 range, and my derailleur was able to compensate for the chainstay growth. But I’m not surprised to hear it’s a bit harder to pull off with a wider range cassette. Try taking one link off at a time and seeing if you can find the length needed to still get into your biggest gear without overloading the derailleur, but not bottoming out on your smallest cog

[@TecraTube]

good info. thanks bike bro

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Any time! Anything else you’d like to see tested?

[@devinbyrnes8058]

My bike has adjustable chainstays. I needed rear traction so I slid the seat back. Helps for climbs but the seat is not comfortable elsewhere. Just another thing to look forward to for next season: lengthen the chainstays and hopefully find the traction I have been missing.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

Nice! Let me know what you find out! I would have thought that having the wheel closer to the bottom bracket, and therefore under your body weight, would have been the better option for climbing. But as you saw, my limited testing didn’t go that way!

[@jonathanross4196]

Is this a 29 wheel size bike?

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

It is! I’m running 27.5” tires right now, but the frame is designed to fit either

[@jasonkroll2735]

430 is short ..415 is insane short..hardtail though. Fullies 430 is short 445 is long. And that rsd build looks sic , no matter the chainstay length.

[@ridingwithjoshandwendy]

It’s adjustable up to 430 if you’d prefer, but I like the playful agility of the super short end, makes manuals and bunnyhops a breeze!

[@shred.finland]

In contradiction to your statement at around 3m30s, if you have a short chainstay, you bring your whole bodyweight forward, therefore less weight on the rear wheel. As you discovered, a longer chainstay, and more weight is distributed to the back.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

It's actually the opposite. The longer you make the back the more weight it puts on the front of the bike. The closer it gets to you more more weight gets put on the rear wheel. This is why evil just made their dreadnought a whopping 460mm chainstay, to increase traction on the front wheel.