Just last month we published the third edition of our hardcore hardtail roundup, and already there’s a new kid on the block: The Esker Smokey Ti. With 160mm of front suspension travel and a slack, 64.5° head tube angle, this is the brand’s most aggressive bike yet, and one of the most hardcore titanium hardtails we’ve seen.
The Smokey Ti, named after everyone’s favorite forest fire safety spokes-bear, fits 29er tires up to 2.6″ wide and a 31.6mm-diameter dropper post. The 77° effective seat tube angle may not seem out of place on a full suspension bike, but it’s actually on the steep end for a hardtail, and should make for a comfortable climber. A size large frame has a 490mm reach and chainstays measure 440mm on all sizes.
Esker uses their Portage dropout system on the Smokey Ti, and the latest version is UDH-compatible. Not only that, the system makes it easy to switch to a single speed setup, or to adjust the chainstay length.
Esker is known for easy-to-maintain builds designed for adventure riding, and while the Smokey Ti is clearly an aggressive trail/all-mountain bike, it’s still up for an adventure or two. There are four sets of bottle and accessory mounts and all the cables and hoses are externally routed. With a wide-open front triangle and forgiving titanium frame, the Esker Smokey Ti appears purpose-built for long-distance bikepacking on aggressive backcountry trails.
A size medium frameset is said to weigh 6.29lb and sells for $2,500. Complete builds are priced starting at $4,200. See the Esker Cycles website for full details.
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