
Bikes
Ibis Tranny 29

Yeti SB5

Pivot Les

Pivot Les Fat

Pivot Mach 429 SL

Durango Bike Co. Blackjack

Yeti ASR


Ibis Ripley


Scott Spark

Rocky Mountain Altitude
Rocky Mountain Bicycles describes the Altitude as an all-day long, do anything bike. This is true if the bike’s geometry works for you. An average, male rider will have no issue with the Altitude’s steep top tube and stand over height. However our female testers, fit by RM techs, found the Altitude’s dimensions challenging. “Ladies, watch your bits!” We liked the internal cable routing, 150 mm of travel and 27.5 wheelset on this carbon beauty but agree bikepackers would be better served exploring other RM models like the Instinct, Element or Thunderbolt. A descent ride but definitely a must try before you buy!
GT Helion Carbon


Hey Gabriel, do you have any opinion on larger than ‘fit’ frames for bikepacking? I acquired a 21″ Salsa El Mariachi in barter but I’m 5’9″ with 33″ inseam. I can standover the bike & I put a shorter stem on. I am comfy but have been getting a lot of negative feedback about the bike being too big.
With such little main triangle space in most of the bikes you rode, do you feel they still can be quality bikepacking candidates?
Rick, There are so many different people out there, with different riding styles and skill sets. While these bike designs take away from frame space, they excel in other areas. Chatting with some of these manufactures, they really did not know what bikepacking was, but we explained that a saddle and handlebar bag would suffice when lack of frame space was present. I started on a Trek Fuel Ex 6, worked for me. While the yeti SB5 was a bit too much, it is a fun bike. The Pivot Mach 429 was an ideal Bikepacking rig, just not that much frame space. Ride what ya got!
Salsa Spearfish Carbon (RS-1 or 1)! I’d love to read that review.
Walter, have yet to ride that bad boy. I have been on the spearfish 2 for a full year. Interested in that review? Same frame get, just an aluminum frame.
To bad you didn’t like the scott spark, I was looking into one Maybe the Scott Genius would be more fitting, since the spark is more cross country and the genius is more trail/am.
I have a spark and love it…I put a beefier tire on the front and once suspension is dialed its a great bike. I have used it with gear loaded and feel like the twin lock is an amazing feature when the trail or road get smooth. In my bike experience of owned/ridden i think the spark is great. Predictable, stable, fast, forgiving. I demoed a genius and its super fun, but prob not best for bikepacking.
Hi LJ, I have been looking at the Scott Spark for ages now. Do you do any longer trip bikepacking? I’m starting to think that the Spark might not be ideal for long trips, due to the weight, as well as the small triangle. Preferably I would ride without a backpack. Cheers Evert