Sure we are mountain bikers here but sometimes when we get 6″ of rain it’s not cool to go mud bogging the trails on our 6″ travel bikes. Sometimes we need healing from the gnar and are forced to the alternative gravel grinds. AND sometimes we see trails along those roads and just want to hit them just because we normally do on the mountain bike. That’s where the latest Ibis Hakka – the Hakka MX comes in and why mountain bikers should look at this grinder!
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Ibis Hakka MX | $3299 w/ SRAM Rival Build | Enve CX Fork | Sizes: 5 Sizes 49-61 | 700 or 650B wheels | Colors: Fireball or Coal
Versatility is what comes to mind when I think of the Hakka MX. True, it is a gravel grinder and can run 700c x supper skinny UCI legal tires or be a comfortable road bike or bike packer. With the change to 27.5×2.1’s or larger 700×40+ tires, the ability to jump off the beaten path and onto some smoother trails is also there. Tire clearance with our larger 700×40 GoodYear Connector’s is quite good. An even larger 700×42 should be no problem for the Hakka.
Thumbs Up:
- Traditional frame with a large diamond front to allow plenty of room for bags should you want to bikepack
- Ability to run different wheel and tires sizes to fit your desires of riding terrain
- Enough dampening in the rear end not to rattle out teeth
- Stiff enough in the right places for precise handling and mashing down on the pedals
The ONLY thing that I can think of that was slightly annoying is some cable rattle from the internally routed cables. There are several simple remedies for this rattle but still, we hate bike noises.
Upgrades:
In the mountains, the big upgrades to add a little more control are the addition of a dropper post and some better performing off-road tires. Luckily Ibis incorporated internal dropper routing! The 9Point8 Fall Line dropper paired with a Wolf Tooth 31.8mm clamp remote are a great choice.
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Ready to jump into the gravel grinding world? I have to admit its a great option to have in the stable of bikes. A change of scenery and an increased focus on fitness might just make your mountain biking better. You may even be able to make more speed on the DH’s and be able to pedal to a few more without dreading climbs as much? The Ibis Hakka MX is an excellent choice due to its awesome versatility alone. Add the light smooth ride quality with sexy good looks and it’s hard to beat. Now get out and grind some adventures away and go see places you may never see on the trails.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
