Colorado-based fat bike specialist Borealis proudly touted its Echo model as the first frame to purpose-build around the RockShox Bluto suspension fork. The new Crestone faithfully carries on that lineage with a virtually unchanged geometry but a sleeker shape and a little less weight.
Especially with the newly aggressive tyre spec, this beast will take you just about anywhere – but in this particular guise, you’re going to have to be a little patient in getting there. International pricing and availability was TBC at time of writing, though Borealis does sell direct via its website.
Virtually unstoppable in wintertime conditions
I fully expected the new Crestone to feel much like the Echo I tested last year. After all, it features nearly identical geometry, fit, and features but with about 150g less weight, making the frame an impressively light 1,220g or so based on claimed figures. This particular sample sported a slightly lesser spec than the Echo but all in all, it should have been quite familiar.
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The Crestone bears a strong family resemblance to the previous Echo model
However, instead of the fast, fun, and flickable beast I remembered, this Crestone felt distinctly slow, lumbering, and cumbersome on the trail. What gives?
A less booming Echo
Solid drivetrain and brakes, but more mediocre wheels
Conclusion: once again, good but could be better
Full bike specifications:
- Frame: Borealis Crestone
- Fork: RockShox Bluto RL, 100mm travel
- Headset: Cane Creek 40, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered
- Stem: Race Face Turbine, 70mm
- Handlebar: Borealis Carbon 35 riser, 740mm
- Grips: Ergon GA2
- Front brake: SRAM Guide RS w/ 180mm Centerline rotor
- Rear brake: SRAM Guide RS w/ 160mm Centerline rotor
- Brake levers: SRAM Guide RS
- Rear derailleur: SRAM XO1
- Shift lever: SRAM XO1 trigger
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1195, 10-42T
- Chain: KMC X11
- Crankset: Race Face Turbine Cinch w/ 30T chainring
- Bottom bracket: Race Face
- Rims: Turnagain FR80 FTD
- Hubs: Turnagain
- Front tyre: Maxxis Minion FBF EXO TR, 26x4.8in
- Rear tyre: Maxxis Minion FBR EXO TR, 26x4.8in
- Saddle: Ergon SME30 EVO
- Seatpost: Borealis Carbon
- Pedals: n/a
- Weight: 13.39kg (29.52lb, medium size, without pedals)
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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