Utah-based mountain bike brand Fezzari, has updated its lightweight XC hardtail, the Solitude.
In a market where many carbon-fiber hardtail frames benefitted from a revamp last year, the Fezzari follows the trend in early 2021, with improved geometry.
Although the bike remains targeted at dedicated XC racers, it now features slightly more ‘downcountry’ tube angles and measurements, and a very interesting maximum suspension fork rating.
The core numbers for Fezzari’s new Solitude see the head angle slacker by half a degree and the seat angle, proportionally, steepen. All frame sizes now have a head angle of 68 degrees and seat angle of 74.5.
- Best hardtail mountain bikes: the best hardtails for cross country and trail riding
- Best mountain bike forks: the best MTB forks for XC, trail, enduro and downhill
On a size large, the reach totals 460mm, whilst all four frame sizes (S, M, L and XL) have the same 430mm chainstay length. Fezzari has chosen this chainstay length to provide the agility that most contemporary hardtail customers desire in their bikes, without sacrificing seated climbing stability on steep inclines.
With a 58mm bottom bracket drop, the Fezzari should be a terrifically stable bike, when rounding tight switchback corners or carving high-speed berms.
- Mountain bike geometry: what is long, slack and low?
It can go 'hardcore hardtail' if you wish
The Solitude’s geometry is designed to ideally steer around a 120mm fork, but Fezzari says that it will comfortably handle upsizing to 140mm. That creates the opportunity for owners to build quite a hard-hitting carbon-fiber hardtail.
Although Fezzari does not list an exact frame weight for the Solitude hardtail, it is classified as being below 1000g.
The new Solitude range starts at $1999, for a frameset. At $2499 you upgrade to a SRAM GX/NX drivetrain build, rolling WTB ST i25 wheels and Rockshox’s Reba RL fork.
Riders who desire a premium build, can opt for Fezzari’s Solitude finished in SRAM’s Eagle AXS wireless group, with a stout (but light) SID SL Ultimate fork.
Retail on this build is $7499, and it can be bought at Fezzari.com
