Building on the success of the hard-hitting Slackline, Stanton’s Switchback hardtail turned the aggressive riding dial up a notch with its slacker geometry and bigger wheels. We couldn’t wait to hit the hills on this beautifully crafted, if pricey, Ti version.
To ensure there’s stiffness where there needs to be but still enough of that compliance that titanium frames are famed for, the Switchback Ti uses triple-butted 3Al-2.5V top and down tubes, plus a custom drawn, triple butted seat tube.
When it comes to geometry, there are similarities with its smaller-wheeled counterpart, the Slackline Ti. The stubby 415mm chainstay length and low 312mm BB height remain the same, but are adapted to work with the bigger 650b wheels. The slack 64.4-degree head angle is a Switchback and Switchback Ti special though.
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Other nice touches include interchangeable dropouts (10x135mm, 12x142mm or horizontal), ISCG chain guide mounts and a 44mm head tube complete with beautiful pewter head badge. The frame will comfortably take a 2.3in tread out back.
We were lucky enough to throw a leg over the highest spec Switchback Ti, which will set you back an eye-watering sum and comes with super-stiff ENVE M70 rims built on Chris King hubs, a 140mm (5.5in) travel BOS Deville AM fork and an 11-speed transmission built around super light Race Face Next SL cranks. There is a slightly less extravagant full build version available with e*thirteen TRS wheels and Race Face Turbine cranks, but we’re guessing the frame only option is what most people will go for.
Get stuck into some technical, flowing singletrack and you’ll soon see where the Switchback Ti excels. The low BB and slack head angle spew confidence and allow you to carve corners at pace and tackle steep, awkward sections with poise. The well supported, smooth stroke of the 140mm BOS fork helps here too.
- Frame: 3Al-2.5V titanium
- Fork: BOS Deville AM, 140mm (5.5in) travel
- Drivetrain: SRAM X01 w/ Race Face Next SL crankset
- Rims: ENVE M70
- Hubs: Chris King
- Tyres: Onza Ibex 27.5x2.4in (F) and 27.5x2.25in (R)
- Brakes: Hope Tech 3 E4
- Bar: Race Face Next 35, 760mm
- Stem: Race Face Turbine 35, 50mm
- Seatpost: RockShox Reverb
- Saddle: SDG Duster
- Weight: 11.3kg/24.9lb
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