Reviews on a Diamondback Carbon 2016 Haanjo Trail Bike

Diamondback has a long history of producing off-road bicycles. It started with BMX in 1977 and continued to serve the BMX and mountain cycle segments into the 1990s before the make changed hands. At present endemic past Accell, the owners of Raleigh, Lapierre and Redline, Diamondback has launched several center-communicable 700c bikes including an outrageously aero, non-UCI-compliant triathlon bike.

Since the off-route worthiness of the Andean aero bike is questionable, nosotros focused our sights on the company's chance offerings. Diamondback'due south "adventure and gravel" line features several models of the Haanjenn and Haanjo bikes. We showtime snuck a look at an early on epitome back in 2016 in Eric Porter's garage that eventually turned into a Reno-to-Nevada City bikepacking trip.

Today we spotlight our long-term review of the Haanjo EXP Carbon, which the company bills every bit "an extraordinary adventure bike," that combines features of gravel and touring into a unique off-road package. In the near future, the proper noun will be changing to the Haanjo 5C EXP, with a different color, but the build and frame will remain the aforementioned.

The Haanjo is a capable bikepacking and multi-surface bike, and maybe the ultimate wide-tire, drop bar machine. Diamond Dorsum carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

The Frame: Utility and Adventure Ready

The Haanjo is Diamondback'southward "Alternative Road" frameset, designed to be taken off the browbeaten path. To make adventure easier and lighter, both the frame and tapered steerer fork are total carbon, and both the frame and fork have 12mm thru-axles, internal cablevision routing and flat mountain mechanical disc brakes.

What would an adventure bicycle exist if you cannot load it up for longer trips in the saddle? The frame and fork have fender eyelets, and it has rack mounts on the seatstays. The fork has low passenger mounts to have a front rack. Downward below, you accept a threaded 73mm wide threaded bottom bracket shell that accepts mountain bike cranks.

The Haanjo has rack mounts on the seatstays, increasing the versatility of the bike. Diamond Dorsum carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

Despite coming with two.1″ wide tires and 27.5″ bore wheels, the frame still has a geometry that encourages long-distance take chances riding. Our size large cycle features 43cm chainstays, 7cm of lesser bracket drop, a 102.5cm wheelbase and 71/72.v head and seat angles. The seat angle translates into a relatively short reach. Despite a 56cm top tube, the reach is merely 37.3cm.

Written report the Haanjo geometry before picking a size and purchasing. Although caput tubes and stack measurements vary proportionately with sizes, the reach does non. Height-challenged riders with brusque torsos or tall riders with long torsos may find the geometry a bit limiting, equally all four sizes take reach measurements between 37.1cm and 37.8cm.

We'll practise the math for you, that'due south but 7mm of deviation. Although reach isn't the end-all for bike sizing, the range is narrower than about bike lines have. Information technology'southward also worth pointing out that the smallest size is actually 3mm longer than the adjacent size upward due to toe overlap concerns.

A flattened top tube makes the Haanjo cyclocross run-upwards prepare. Cables route internally on the frame, with both shifter cables inbound on the down tube. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

The Build: Not Your Everyday Group

In a earth of SRAM DoubleTap and Shimano STI lever-equipped bikes, the Haanjo EXP/ Haanjo 5C EXP bike is a refreshing alternative.

Looking for a bike for bikepacking in remote locations? The Haanjo might be what y'all are looking for. The Haanjo comes equipped with a triple crank upwards front end for maximum flexibility. The Shimano Deore M591 triple crank provides a wide range with 48/36/26t gearing, and paired with the Shimano XT M770 11-34 cassette, allows a sub-1:i gear ratio for loaded climbing on loose terrain.

Shifting is done with bar-end shifters, which were chosen for their ease of servicing in remote locations over an integrated system. The Shimano XT M772 Shadow rear derailleur pairs with a Deore M951 forepart derailleur, and both are controlled with Dura-Ace BS77 bar-end shifters.

You don't have to exist Paul Curley or a McCormack to appreciate the reliability and multi-shift ability of a barcon shifter. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

What? Barcons on a modern carbon bike? That's something we didn't even see the McCormacks or Paul Curley do in cyclocross, simply Diamondback opted for the simple levers for their robustness and reliability. There aren't tiny springs, cams or ratchets to get clogged or worse, break, when you take a digger in sand or mud hundreds of miles from the nearest shop, and should y'all find yourself choosing betwixt a six-speed cassette or ending your overseas bikepacking trip early, you might appreciate the friction choice.

TRP RRL brake levers control TRP Spyre Mechanical Disc Brakes that bite onto 160mm rotors.

TRP Spyre mechanical brakes offer easy setup and aligning. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

Diamondback provides a house-branded handlebar with 8º flare too equally the stem, seatpost and saddle. The bar is i of the best we've used, with a overnice amount of flare and a shallow drop.

The DB X-Durance Gravel Bar has 8º of flare in the drops. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Mag

The Haanjo EXP wasn't the first—and won't be the last—bike to cover dual-bicycle compatibility. The Exp comes with 27.5″ / 650b HED Tomcat tubeless rims, while Diamondback offers the same frame with 700c options, including the Ultegra-equipped carbon Haanjo 7c.

The rims are beefy, with 32 spokes laced to the thru-axle disc hubs. The rims have a 21mm internal width, which gives them plenty of room for the Schwalbe Smart Sam 2.1″ tires.

Schwalbe Smart Sam 27.five×2.1 tires on HED Tomcat rims are standard, and make for a broad contact patch for plenty of traction off-road, simply generate tremendous buzz on the pavement. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Mag

Want to hit those steep, washed-out gravel mountain roads? The Haanjo might be the bike with what it takes, provided you bandy out the tires for a tubeless-ready offering. Information technology's always a bummer when you'll have to swap out equipment before your first ride if yous desire to ride low force per unit area and avoid flats, but nosotros sympathize it'due south a toll-cutting move by the company. We may or may not have tempted fate past attempting to catechumen the wire bead tires just would recommend swapping them for lighter, more supple tubeless offerings.

The entire wheel without pedals tipped the scales at 22.15 pounds without pedals and 12.95 pounds without wheels, indicating the heavy condom and tubes are a big part of the bike's heft. Converting to tubeless with the stock OEM tires saved half a pound, while swapping the 650b wheels and condom for 700c Zipp 202 tubulars and Challenge tubular tires took off a whopping iii pounds. A 19.15-pound bike for racing is entirely respectable, but such an upgrade obviously adds to the price tag.

The Ride

Head out of the door to your local dirt or gravel, and you'll generate quite a chip of buzz. Some volition exist from the other cyclists checking out your unique bicycle, and some will be from the stiff, knobby wire bead Smart Sam safety that comes stock on the HED wheels. Once you get used to the extra noise and the unusual shifter positions, most cyclocrossers volition feel quite at home on the Haanjo EXP.

Despite its unusual spec, the geometry—possibly with the exception of a short reach—isn't far off from a cyclocross race cycle. It'due south the spec, not the geometry, that makes the feel a flake unique. Big, heavy 650b safe brand the Haanjo EXP feel more similar a monster truck on the roads and trails, but after we swapped to lighter rubber and later on even to carbon tubulars, the Haanjo became a much more than spirited ride.

With Zipp 202 wheels and some Claiming Team Edition Baby Limus treads, the Haanjo felt gear up to do battle on a cyclocross course.

A swap to carbon hoops and tubulars shed a whopping 3 pounds and fabricated the Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP a 19-pound race-ready machine. © Cyclocross Magazine

Whether you're out for a gravel adventure, loaded bout or bikepacking trip, or cyclocross race, the build might require a bit of time to get used to. The barcon shifters brand it like shooting fish in a barrel to rip through all nine cogs out back and three chain rings up forepart and will offer a quiet reminder of the joys of unlimited front derailleur trim options. Notwithstanding, anyone who is used to shifting while braking will miss the combo nature of "brifters," but the spec is a fun reminder that such a commonsensical build can be merely as much fun as the latest and greatest if you're not racing.

Yous'll also have to mind your knees when the shifters are fully extended. They're simply a few centimeters past the bar, just they merely might provide a painful reminder of why we used to cutting handlebars before installing a bar-end shifter (speaking from experience here).

The 27-gear drivetrain leaves every type and terrain open for exploring. The 3×9 gearing offers a whopping 571% range, more than than a 10-42 wide-range cassette, with smaller steps that are easy on the legs for long days in the saddle. Certain, Diamondback could have put together a lighter, 2x drivetrain with a like range and a Microshift Dynasys-compatible bar-terminate, just if you lot haven't noticed yet, weight savings weren't the goal of this bike. Bikepacking and fast group route rides are all within reach with the stock gearing.

Diamondback equipped an XT Shadow rear derailleur, reducing the risk of snagging it on something. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

Diamondback does have more traditional builds available, including the Haanjo Trail carbon with 700c wheels and an Ultegra 46/36t double up forepart with hydraulic brakes. We love the Haanjo EXP'southward unique spec, simply skeptics can still find another Haanjo model (in carbon or aluminum) with more mainstream components.

Other than the limited range in reach across the four sizes, we take ane more nitpick. While Beeline did a great job building and setting upwardly the bike, nosotros had some difficulty aligning the front caliper for different wheelsets and rotors. Both Beeline and Diamondback acknowledged this could take been a product issue and recommended trying to face the brake mountain, but fifty-fifty our local shops didn't have such tooling.

Convenience delivered: Beeline will assemble and deliver your wheel for free, should information technology toll more $500. Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Mag

Owners of this model twelvemonth just might have to choice up a few rotor shims for certain wheelsets to prevent brake pad rub. Perhaps this will be addressed in future models, but if you plan to ride one with a dissimilar wheelset, try swapping in your front wheel and rotor to see if y'all face such an outcome.

And while we're talking almost brakes, if you've loaded down your Haanjo EXP, hydraulic brakes might acme your list of upgrades. The TRP Spyre mechanical brakes are fine for most riding and appropriate for your trip around the globe, but long descents or more gear volition take your fingers longing for more assistance.

TRP RRL brake levers offer reliable mechanical brake actuation without a shift unit. Even so, hydraulic brakes would probably be a welcome addition for near riders.  Diamond Back carbon Haanjo EXP, with 650b wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine

The Verdict

Diamondback deserves huge props for putting together such a unique, versatile cycle. The Haanjo EXP / 5C EXP carbon actually is a jack of all trades and master of none. If your riding leans towards the more adventuresome, remote side of the tape when cyclocross season is over, it really could be a quiver killer, specially with two wheelsets.

Unfortunately, you lot might accept to hunt for our model yr bike at local REI stores or dealers, as warehouse inventory is sold out, but new ones, in a Satin Teal color and the same spec are expected around September. Update: 2019 Haanjo 5C EXP bikes have been released.

See the specs and photo gallery beneath for more on the Diamondback Haanjo.

Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon Specs

MSRP: $2,300
Frame: DB Carbon Alternative Road Frame, Endurance Geometry, disc, 12x142mm thru-axle
Fork: DB Gravel Disc, full carbon, tapered i one/8″-one 1/ii″ steerer, 12mm thru-axle
Shifter: Shimano Dura-Ace BS77 bar-cease shifter
Brake Caliper: TRP Spyre 2 piston
Brake Lever: TRP RRL Blend
Brake Rotor: TRP vi-bolt
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M770 Shadow, 9-speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore M591, 31.8mm clamp-on
Crankset: Shimano M591 Triple, 48/46/28t
Cassette:Shimano XT M770, nine-speed, eleven-34t
Chain: KMC X9
Stem: DB X-Durance 3D Forged Blend, +/- 7º
Handlebar: DB 10-Durance Gravel Bar, 8º flare
Seatpost: DB X-Durance blend, 27.2mm
Saddle: DB Eldorado
Pedals: Wellgo alloy road
Rims: HED Tomcat Disc, 32 hole
Hubs: 32-hole, six-bolt, 12mm thru-axle, sealed cartridge bearing
Spokes: 14g Stainless Steel
Tires: Schwalbe Smart Sam, 27 10 ii.one″
Weight: 22.15 pounds without pedals, 12.95 pounds without wheels.
More than info: diamondback.com or buy directly here

Photo Gallery: Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon Hazard/Touring Wheel

johnsoncoularl.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.cxmagazine.com/review-diamondback-haanjo-5c-exp-carbon-650b-gravel-cyclocross-adventure

Share this post