The Fairdale Elevator is a Mountain Bike for BMXers

Fairdale has deep roots in BMX, so it it's no surprise that their first proper mountain bike, the Eelevator, is a fun, playful hardtail. We loved the elevator's steel frame and unique geometry, but were a bit underwhelmed by the components given the bike's premium price tag. Let us know what you think of the Fairdale Elevator in the comments!
Forgot to mention in the video; the size large we tested weighed just over 30 lbs (13.kgs) without pedals
Learn more about the Fairdale Elevator on 99spokes.com: 99spokes.com/bikes/fairdale/2...
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:20 Who is Fairdale?
00:52 Frame Details and Geometry
02:17 Part Spec
04:43 Jumping and Jibbing
05:53 Climbing
07:06 Descending
08:10 How Does it Compare?
10:39 The Goat's Take
#hardtail #mountainbike

[@DicasdaNet]

This bike looks soo awesome! I would ride it on XC trails just to have fun!

[@99spokes]

Oh man it absolutely is! Makes boring trails fun again haha!

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I'd have to sell the Honzo but the frame price is pretty darn interesting, anyway the Honzo is wonderful but tbh what I wanted from it was more dirt jumper dna...

[@joshdesj]

Great video Josh, super informative, as always. Love seeing rad steel hardtails!!

[@99spokes]

Thanks Josh, glad you enjoyed it! We just got a TransAM in for review that I’m stoked to throw a leg over!!

[@c97dcreations96]

This seems like the perfect bike for rays imo

[@carterschichtel9678]

Too big of wheels. Other then that looks awesome

[@PuffinPass]

Ironically I was just looking at this on their site then the YT algorithm sent you to me. Glad to see you again. Great overview of the bike. I also agree on the pricing situation, as a frame that is a great price but as a complete...not so much.

[@99spokes]

Hey, glad you found it! Yes, bummer on complete pricing. I can’t help but wonder if they’re getting a higher rate for OEM parts since they’re surely making smaller orders. But that’s just a thought on my end

[@dogmatika7]

Nice! I can recommend the Ghost Nirvana 4X as well.

[@dirtwolfmtb]

Cool bike, personally like the surly lowside. Definitely rides like a 27.5” bmx and is $1499 USD. And with rear dropouts can run SS or geared with the hanger.

[@99spokes]

Nice! I’ve always thought those look fun! It’s pretty similar to a bike Fairdale already makes, the Taj

[@LSD-420]

Looks nice.

[@Blackbone242]

It's beautiful 😍

[@mikej1348]

I was looking forward to this review. I wished they made a small wheeled version too. I’m surprised it’s stiff for steel. Do you have any bike or frame weights? Good work on the review and the comparison between the Elevator and your personal bike(which happens to be mine too)

[@99spokes]

Oh shoot, totally blew including that in the video! My size large weighed 30 lbs on the dot (13.6 kgs) without pedals. Not bad for a steel hardtail with mid-level spec! I bet you could get this under 28 lbs pretty easily

[@cory7328]

I love this drops in the middlechild's territory. I 'd love to own both.

[@99spokes]

For sure!!

[@Naptime48]

My £$£$ is waiting for a mini mullet version! 29 is dead :'D

[@99spokes]

That’d be rad!!

[@lamarwilliams185]

Can you do a video on how geometry of the bike can help people decide if they are looking for a trail, xc, down hill, cross country, down country, commuter, all a-rounder. Then add in the bike talk on what progressive is and aggressive, flowee , choppy, skips, bouncee , responsive and what ever else people may say to describe a bikes performance. I road bikes since I was a kid. 43 years old and it sounds like everybody is speaking a different language. I come from the red line, Diamond back and mongoose error of bmx.

[@99spokes]

We did haha! Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYepgquYZrqDjqssi=Vwd77AR4aiwITSER

[@lamarwilliams185]

@@99spokes thanks!!!!

[@leocor_cyclery6291]

you should compare this to the Poseidon Norton. specially the frame only build

[@99spokes]

That would be an interesting one!

[@garretteverett2613]

1:58 Brand new $3300 bike that already leaves scratches on the dropper tube? Oof. I'm not a princess about bikes but if I paid that much I'd be looking at the attention to detail on the rest of it.

[@99jerseyboy]

They had me... until you said "$3,299" for a hard tail made from 100% chromoly with external cabling and a mediocre fork. HARD PASS on the complete build, but the $500 frame is a much better option for me too.

[@99spokes]

Yeah, frame only definitely seems the way to go here if you’re decent with a wrench

[@ROSE-by5su]

Nothing wrong with external cabling lmao such a noobie thing thinking Internal will make it much better. Also its chromoly lets make it Internal cabling to blast more water inside to build up rust. Yappin at the price signs you are a newbie this prices are pretty normal there are tons of companies out there putting unreasonable price at your product

[@zacknagel827]

I was about to say, we’re asking full suspension carbon 29er money.

[@Jean-jk4zv]

This

[@SixGunTodd]

​​@@ROSE-by5suin my mind a "noob" is someone willing to shoot down domeone else's valid concern with some oversimplified troll esque response. While this bike may appeal to a market willing to pay the afore mentioned price there already exists several other options much deeper into the appropriatly priced range (Marin San Quentin, Kona Honzo, Big Honzo, etc.) I'm not sure if you're aware....but the bike industry is currently experiencing some upheaval that's dramatically effecting prices, might want to have your finger on the pulse of things before you regrettably say something that can't be substantiated.

[@JogieGlenMait16]

look at those short chainstays...

[@5tereo1]

is this just a hardtail mtb or am i missing something?

[@syms85]

When you riding the new Stanton designed by hard tail party?

[@99spokes]

I would love to! The Sedona seems pretty similar to the elevator, at least geometry-wise. It’d be fun to ride them back to back

[@syms85]

@@99spokes have you not managed to swing a leg over the Stanton yet? I thought I saw a clip with you taking to hard tail party about it?

[@99spokes]

I own a Switchback, but never ridden the Sedona! I did get to chat with Steve about it at Sea Otter though, sounds like there’s not a ton of frames floating around yet

[@gur262]

I wonder if that wouldn't just be any dirtjumper? A (very) few even come with gears. Gotta put on a front brake. That's it. Maybe even with a rigid fork on? Or that one swampmaster full suspension bmx.

[@99spokes]

Good questions! The geometry on this bike splits the difference between a dirt jumper and a trail bike, so it’ll perform trail rides quite a bit better than a dirt jumper with a derailleur would, and be more nimble/agile than the average trail bike

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Oof the price. Steep steep. I'd probably be interested as a frameset only I don't like the components I'd go light and strong with boutique components on a frame like that.

[@JoshWu]

looks like stanton sedona

[@99spokes]

Very similar, at least geometry wise!

[@nathanwilliams3839]

If it was me and at 600 frame only I think I’d call Rick and Jess from standard and just have them build me a frame

[@keg2023]

Just build up a frame on a 140mm fork and it rips

[@99spokes]

Nice!!

[@pedromedina1802]

Only Medium and Large sizes …😂 I was totally hooked until, that 😢

[@99spokes]

Ah, bummer!

[@pedromedina1802]

@@99spokes any plans for small size ? 585mm top tube please, that will be great 😊

[@smith7043]

They built a trek roscoe

[@augmented2nd666]

What in the early 2000's external headset? also, 3300$ hardtail? My Devinci Kobain Hardtail seemed expensive at 2200 and has similar geometry to this, similar build although its Deore all around so more durable, and RS 35 silver fork is a bit beefier and more BMX oriented in that mine has almost no adjustments and just plain works, I dont even think it takes air, its spring instead. My bike rides like an enormous BMX too, but not as much as my Specialized P3 but thats an obvious one as thats a Dirt Jump MTB.. Cheers for the review, I didnt know Taj made fairdale and is tackling MTB.

[@99spokes]

Haha it’s still an integrated headset, just doesn’t have a tapered headtube; this is actually pretty common for steel/titanium frames

[@NoMoney001]

Kind of like a child, but not the oldest or youngest one.

[@99spokes]

Yes 😂😂 we compare it to that particular child at 8:15

[@NoMoney001]

@@99spokeswoops! Stopped watchin too early..lol. You seem to have some good BMX knowledge. I’m in the market for an intro BMX. I wish 99spoke included BMX info. The comparison function has been VERY helpful.

[@99spokes]

I wish we did too 😅 I’ll pass that word on up to the big boys!

[@precisionedge9259]

I can get a marin san quintin for way cheaper.

[@ZagelMedia]

$3,300 for a hardtail is absolutely insane. You could get a carbon frame YT Jeffsy Core 3 with great fox parts on it for the exact same price ($3,299). It's definitely a frame-only type of bike, seems like they just slapped random parts on it to sell for convenience to rich people who can't put a bike together for themselves. The only way this bike would make sense is if you bought only the frame. Otherwise you're better off buying a dirt jumper for $1,150 and a used dual suspension bike from 2017-2022 for $2,150 and just get two good bikes for the price of 1.

[@SteveTheDiva]

For that price, it had better come with a motor.

[@SKIDSnSTUFF]

fark the mountain bike industry trying to take money outta BMX

[@docmccoy9813]

Nah, buy an slopestyle bike with 26" wheels instead

[@99spokes]

Very different bikes haha, but both a ton of fun!

[@blackeagle5446]

😂$3000😂😂😂😂😂...fuuuuuuuk that!!!👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻