The Hottest New Gravel Bike? | 2022 Salsa Warbird Review & Weight

[@BikeLife154]

Beautiful bike but there are much cheaper options out there. The Canyon Grizl for one. Bigger tyre clearance, similar weight and thousands less in price!

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

Gorgeous, indeed! There isn't a more beautiful bike, in My opinion, than the 2019-to-current Salsa WarBird. I do wish, though, for a couple of cm. higher top tube (to eliminate the need for use of headset spacers), a fork crown headlight mount (the 2019 WaxWing forks had them), and ca. 5º more top tube slope that would add to the bike's stunning beauty a smidgen, as well as make it easier to clamp the bike with a suspension seatpost (or a dropper seatpost). As for comfort, it's about the most comfortable of all My gravel bikes and My most treasured one (if by a hair).

[@cbailey2376]

Sweet ride. Love the color & the name. I 💕😘🥰❤

[@3811eric]

Yup, Never heard of them..

[@dominicwalker9947]

Very nice, pray your well James. 2X isn't dead apparently.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

2x is not dead... at least in the Gravel/Road space.

[@madcapper6]

Concerning frame geometry, I've only fairly recently become aware of reach vs chainstay length and how it affects the ride and handling of the bike. One thing I also noticed is that gravel bikes and XC hardtails tend to have longer chainstays and a shorter reach (gravel bikes even more so than XC bikes) while trail mtbs tend to have a longer reach and shorter chainstays. This applies even among bikes with the same wheel sizes. I imagine there are exceptions to this rule among the different types of bikes but I notice this to be the case as a general rule. Any idea why that is? Lovely looking bike and great review on it.

[@outbackwack368]

The trail will determine the ride characteristic more than anything...the lower the trail the twitchier the steering; the higher the trail the more stable it is

[@cjohnson3836]

Longer chainstays means 1) longer wheelbase and so more stability and 2) projecting the wheel further behind the center of gravity means you can put more force into the pedals without causing the front end to lift up, which makes climbing problematic. Both gravel and XC bikes bias toward climbing efficiency. Trail bikes bias general or downhill.

[@madcapper6]

@@cjohnson3836 Oh ok so I take it trail bikes aren't generally built for climbing as much as XC bikes, hence the shorter chainstays? While they tend to have shorter chainstays, oftentimes the reach on a trail bike is massive, to the point where trail bikes seem to often have longer wheel bases than XC bikes do while at the same time XC bikes tend to have longer wheelbases than gravel bikes. I noticed too that XC bikes are becoming a bit more trail-oriented in the geometry. I have an XC bike currently with a 67 degree head tube angle, which from what I understand was standard trail geometry only about 5 years ago.

[@cjohnson3836]

@@madcapper6 Yeah things are evolving longer and lower. Trail bikes are like, your generalist...well...trail bike. Different models will be slightly different but they generally try to at least keep the climbs not horrible, while modern trail bikes are starting to be able to take descents that you'd have saved for the enduro bikes in the past. XC bikes prioritize fast climbing over slamming descents because in XC racing, climbs are where you make or break your race. There is this overlap between trail and XC bikes that's become more popular and people now call "down-country". People cringe at having yet another label but besides that, the bikes are actually pretty cool I think. Not all of us living in the Rockies or in British Columbia. And also, we're not all racers. But having efficient trail bikes that also can get a little aggressive when we have an extra couple hundred $$ to risk an ER visit is a good thing.

[@madcapper6]

@@cjohnson3836 Thanks for the feedback.

[@markowsley4954]

Nice looking bike but it would have been better if Salsa would have added a threaded bottom bracket like Treck did with the Checkpoints.

[@johnbeverungen6570]

Yup, I'd never buy a press fit BB bike

[@smoqreefer]

Yeah that's a big downside. I've been looking between Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey (my dream bike but I don't know if I can justify the price tag) and Fezzari Shafer and the later offers much more bangs for the buck than the Warbird unfortunately

[@alexjohnson6462]

Replying to Marcin Smok: Finally, I see somebody else mention the Fezarri Shafer other than a KZbinr that got sent one for free to review. I can't believe in the almost-year since the updated Shafer model was released, it hasn't got massive attention. It has to be at the very top of the list for bang for the buck, short of getting a bike off Alibaba (in which case you definitely are not getting EKAR or a high end Shimano or SRAM groupset from those budget Chinese sellers). The Shafer EKAR model is only around $3600. I'm wrestling with my dream gravel bike build. On one hand, I want a titanium gravel bike which may be a bit more durable for some very long distance bikepacking trips I want to take, but on the other hand that Shafer sure seems appealing as a lightweight option for gravel racing which I am consider dabbling in.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

Concurred. While I've not had issues with thread-together pressfit bottom brackets (yet), I, too, would much prefer a threaded bottom bracket.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

@@smoqreefer There's also the Accent Feral (now discontinued, unfortunately) and the Accent Freak. They're beautiful (I'd say, a smidgen below the WarBird by the virtue of WarBird's unmatched in beauty rear triangle) and quite affordable. Remarkably affordable: the Feral frame - I remember - used to cost a tad over a €1000, while putting most €2000+ gravel bike frames to shame in both utility and beauty).

[@paulrust1574]

I have a 2012 BH G5, and a Salsa Cutthroat and was wanting to marry the two into one "unicorn" that could hit both the pavement and gravel. How fast would this be with 28cc road tires compared to my 10 speed Force build road bike?

[@chuckherbstreith3146]

Only a 5 year warranty - Please work on that Salsa.

[@Techwonderland]

Gotta tell you, if I'm paying that much for a bike, and the only color it comes in is neon pink, it's off my list. Same for this year's Grizl 7 1x.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

That's cool. You should let Salsa know your opinion.

[@ccadp1219]

Fantastic review and bike....wish I could afford one James. Please review more under 2k bikes if possible.👍🏻

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Will do, but take a look at the channel I have hundreds of videos on lower priced bikes.

[@seagrave7336]

I am looking for my next bike, stepping up from a Vaast A1, but that $8500 price point is a nonstarter. And the color is enough to make me puke.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

…it's also very fast, particularly on smooth tarmac. It's relative weakness would be its somewhat poor cornering ability, but that I do not mind, as it translates into a stable ride. The one thing I lament most about it - is the characteristic of all carbon bikes poor transportability. If only looked, weighed and rode exactly as it does (maybe a slightly greater slope in the top tube), had the same tubing, the same beautiful rear end - but was titanium (with 3D-printed lugs and tubing emulating carbon) to withstand the rigours of transport - and splittable for transport (utilised Santa Tandems' invisible Z-couplers and 22Bicycles' Brake Breaks in internally-routed hydraulic housings). I've had the bike since mid-2019 - and wouldn't swap it for anything else. Just look at that beautifully oblique rear end!

[@Timmeh2Buck]

Salsa is a small manufacturer? Aren’t they a QBP brand?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Yes they are. And they sell less bikes overall then what Trek sells of their FX bikes are sold in the US each year. By that definition, they're pretty small, and wouldn't even make up half a percent of the bike sold in specialty retailers each year.

[@charlesmack2078]

Hopefully, it’s on my shortlist for Santa Claus 🎅🏼

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Oooh now you just need to be a good boy

[@charlesmack2078]

@@Jamesthebikeguy … Unable find one Salsa Gravel Warbird almost anywhere in Southern California… Any approximate retail price? 😎

[@charlesmack2078]

After some digging thru the Internet’s plethora of sites I’d have to say $8000 for this Salsa Carbon Warbird’s price is totally ludicrous compared to Specialized Diverge with the iconic Campagnolo Ekar

[@shamrock4840]

This or that stigmata?

[@daves5243]

I had a 2021 Warbird, sold it to build up a 2022 Stigmata because I wanted to be faster. Big mistake, the Stig was a beautiful bike but no comparison to the Salsa for ride quality and overall speed.

[@1a2b3c4.]

Let's Salsa

[@JC-pt2tw]

Hi James.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Hello!

[@stevek8829]

Which embargo was lifted? Isn't this made in USA?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

The release embargo not something trade related. The frame is made in China.

[@BladeBarn]

insane! they want extra premium bike pricing for a 3rd tier brand

[@binshuo]

exactly. I'd buy Lauf 1x gravel bike any day over this. American brands think they're worth the premium just because they're American

[@LifeCycle1978]

Both of you are idiots. All the bike manufacturers make the same carbon bike, with the same groupsets, the same tires, and the same wheels. But one brand is a good deal while another is considered “3rd tier brand” because why? Because some magazine or ad told you what was a good brand.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

3rd Tier brand??? Really? The WarBird (and to a lesser extend, the current-gen. CutThroat) could be made by a chinese bike startup - I'd still rate them higher than almost anything on the count of their design alone. The Canyon Grail, the twice as expensive Pinarellos and Ridley Kanzos are hideous in comparison.

[@kirkwilliams4942]

Hardly 3rd tier. Salsa is TOP tier. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!

[@1a2b3c4.]

You forgot the PRICE??

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I can't help that you didn't watch the video... The price is clearly in it

[@harrygrimley4352]

Wow. Way out of my price range.

[@cjohnson3836]

Luckily they make the stormchaser for those of us who like this bike and have carbon fiber dreams, but aluminum bank accounts.

[@Bruceillest101]

Actually salsa doesn’t make bikes it buys from bigger manufacturers and puts their name on it

[@thedownunderverse]

China?

[@Bruceillest101]

thedownunderverse the majority of bikes come from Taiwan. Either from the the Giant, Specialized, Trek or some other factories. I’m not to familiar with the Chinese market

[@thedownunderverse]

@@Bruceillest101 trek comes from Quest composites (as does Canyon). Specialized comes from Merida.

[@johnwheat5199]

What an absolutely stupid name for a bike frame, let's hope the guy that designed it isn't the guy that named it!

[@shortfattoad7317]

Gravel bikes are pointless. Just get a road bike with flat bars, easier on your back and just plain better. 'Drop bars are stupid for dirt roads. What a gimmick that all these schleps fall over themselves to buy..

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

While I totally disagree with you, both have their place and you might really enjoy my video coming out today. Hope you stay tuned!

[@shortfattoad7317]

@@Jamesthebikeguy And that is your right to disagree. Just my point of view. I do like the colour though, but not really 'berry' is it? More like pink, but that would not be ok with the plaid shirt wearing beardies...

[@gregmorrison7320]

@@shortfattoad7317For old fat guys with bad backs who don't want to go far or fast a MTB or road bike with flat bars might be an option. For many of us who do long days in the saddle away from the main roads, drop bar gravel bikes are the best thing out there for all day riding. There's a bike to suit everyone, even flat bar e bikes for the less athletic riders. Ride what suits you and the riding you do and don't feel bad about it.

[@shortfattoad7317]

@@gregmorrison7320 I love how you assume I'm some old fat guy. Love it. I'm coming down that hill that you have not even climbed yet and probably never will. I don't feel bad about anything, I ride nearly every day in nearly every weather even in snow and below 0° C. So have at it.

[@blisspop6193]

@@shortfattoad7317 Too funny! You're totally oblivious to your username. Screaming hilarious!