Throwdown: Xprezo Wuuu and Salsa Horsethief
Originally posted on April 7, 2014 at 9:14 am
Two modern, full suspension trail bikes that can handle a little of everything.
Xprezo Wuuu
The Wuuu is designed and handbuilt in Bromont, Canada, as are all Xprezo’s bikes. Constructed with an aluminum front and a steel rear triangle, Xprezo is all about using recyclable materials in their bikes. In fact they will go as far as rebuild your lovingly worn Xprezo, and even repaint it for less than $500. It’s Xprezo’s way of keeping its bikes out of the landfill and on the trails where they belong.
Speaking of paint… holy crap. There are no less the 47 possible paint schemes for the Wuuu. Obviously the use of a steel rear end on an aluminum bike is a bit of an oddity, but Xprezo opted for steel to allow for a bit of flex and increase the bike’s overall comfort. It also allows for the rear to be more easily repaired if you’re a bit too hard on your bike. I’m looking forward to seeing how well it matches up to the more rigid aluminum front.
Vital stats
- MSRP $4,745
- Travel: 130mm front, 115mm rear
- Wheel Size: 27.5
- Drivetrain: SRAM X9 2×10
- Brakes: Avid Elixr 5
- Fork: Rockshox Revelation
Salsa Horsethief
On to the Horsethief… One of the most notable changes in 2014 is the suspension. Salsa teamed up with Dave Weagle’s to utilize his Split Pivot design. Split Pivot incorporates the rear pivot concentric with the rear axle, unlike the previous version of the Horsethief, which relied on frame flex rather than a pivot. This concentric rear pivot decouples braking forces from the suspension, allowing Weagle to utilize a higher than average main pivot to create the anti-squat characteristics his designs are famous for. The geometry is tweaked as well, and the fork drops down to a Fox 32 versus last years 34.
The 120mm of rear suspension feels dialed. With a headtube angle of 68 degrees and a chainstay just a touch over 17 inches, the Horsethief has been a welcome partner in crime. I’m looking forward to seeing if the changes Salsa has made this year put it on my short list of bikes to own.
Vital stats
- MSRP $4,599
- Travel 130mm front, 120mm rear
- Wheel Size: 29 inches
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 2×10
- Brakes: SRAM X0 Trail
- Fork: Fox Float 32 CTD
Keep reading
Click here to see the other pairings in our Throwdown series, and keep an eye out for Dirt Rag Issue #177 with our long-term reviews.