I picked up a DB Haanjo Trail Carbon this weekend. A little about my biking background... I'm 31 and rode MTBs years ago when I was younger for a number of years. Life got busy and I sold my bike. Now life isn't so busy so I decided to pick up a bike again. I thought about a road bike and/or MTB but funds wouldn't allow owning both. So I got something that can tackle both well enough. I wanted to get a bike that's a step above the mid-grade components but not the top of the line because I don't have that kind of money. A decent MTB with high end components would cost over $5000 and a road bike would not be too far off.
The Haanjo Trail Carbon, on the spec sheet provided an amazing value for the money. Ultegra derailleurs, hydraulic brakes, thru-axles front and rear, full carbon frame and fork. Ticks all the right boxes for the $3100 price tag, and I got it for significantly less than retail. I would have been a fool to NOT buy it.
I'm 5'7 with about a 30 inch inseam and muscular build. So I picked up a Small 50CM frame, which is supposed to fit 5'6 to 5'9 folks. I've been lurking the forum for a while and read that Haanjos seem to run a little larger than comparable bikes. Well, I can say that the small frame does require some component modification for someone with short legs like me. SO height is about 31 inches, so there's no getting around that. I'll just need to be cognizant of not crushing the family jewels. It comes with a 350MM long setback seatpost, which is a little long. See, the seat tube is slightly tapers about halfway down, so I can't make the saddle height any lower. Keep in mind that I was still using the stock pedals and flat shoes when I did my test ride. I imagine with clipless pedals and cleats, that this will give me a little more height. In any case, I picked up a Thomson Elite 330MM straight seatpost. That's about .8 inches I can lower the seatpost to play with the height if I need it. I also went with the straight post since I had to move my seat forward to get KOPS set up even within the ballpark. Short leg problems.
The saddle isn't great so it's probably going to go when I get it fitted properly. I rode 15 miles mixed pavement and doubletrack with rolling hills. The seat is just a little too narrow for me. Left my seatbones sore and bruised... But this could also be attributed to riding the bike with the saddle set a bit too high and far back. In any case, when I get a fitting done I'll upgrade the saddle.
The bike handles very well. It's quick to turn and change direction. The brakes are amazing! Modulation is perfect and the stopping power is immense. Shifting needed tuning, which I tried to do myself, but didn't get it perfectly dialed in. When it did shift smoothly, it was hardly noticeable. A gripe though, is that there's noise when I'm pedaling with the big chainring. Sounds like the chain is rubbing against the front derailleur. And another issue is shifting from the small to big chainring on a smaller rear cog. Sometimes, it'll shift. Most times, it wont. But then again, the derailleurs aren't set up the way they should be. I hope that once I get it tuned, these issues go away... unless of course, that's normal on the Ultegras.
The Schwalbe G-One tires are pretty nice on both tarmac and dirt. I had them set to 50 PSI and they provided plenty of grip on all surfaces. On hard packed sand and dirt, I had plenty of confidence that they would grip whilst going around corners at a swift pace. It would slip every now and then, but it would regain composure. On surfaces like soft sand, they're not so good. I was going a descent on a corner with some soft sand and the rear gave out whilst in the middle of a turn. Needless to say, I fell rather ungracefully and slid in to a tree. The bike is fine. It fell on soft sand with no apparent damage or even any scratches. So the bike appears to be quite durable.
The bike can fit 3 bottle cages and saddlebag frames front and rear. There's plenty of clearance to run even wider tires, and it can fit 2.1 inch 650b tires and wheels. It's crazy versatile and that's what I love about it. Right now, the bike is being tuned up since I can't tune derailleurs to save my life, and the brakes are being bled because why not. I've ridden the bike as is for about 30 miles, and while I'm no expert at bike fitting, I do know what feels comfortable and uncomfortable for me when riding.
When I get it back, I'll get a proper fitting and a new saddle as well and then go from there. Like any bike, every person needs little modifications here and there to get the most out of their gear.
I think you made a very good choice. You'll twidle with the components until you find your sweat spot. For unpaved riding though, I would suggest lower tire pressure- 35/40 psi front/back. I'm not familiar with the stock tires, but if they can be set up tubeless, go that way. If not, then perhaps your first upgrade should be to a tubeless ready tire like the Maxxis Rambler. You'll need to slap on some Stan's 25mm tape on your wheels if they aren't tubeless ready and get some valves and sealant. I converted my stock Haanjo comp. wheels this way with Orangeseal Endurance sealant and they are great at 30/35 psi. As far as saddles, my all time go-to saddle for everything is the Selle Italia Flite. That is, until I discovered the Brooks Cambium C-17. It's an unusual non-leather Brooks saddle. They use a pure rubber compound with a special canvas covering. It's shockingly heavy compared to my Flites, but once you ride few miles on unpaved roads, you can really appreciate the comfort. Well worth the extra weight. BTW - I wouldn't have thought of this saddle, were it not for a recommendation from Paul of Paul's Engineering fame. He knows off pavement riding!
Thanks for the tips! The stock tires are tubeless ready and so are the wheels. I figured I'd run them a little while until I decide to get new tires and go straight to tubeless on the new ones. I also picked up the Brooks C17. Haven't ridden it yet with the new saddle, but I have high hopes for it. Just about everyone online is raving about it. And if anything, it can't be any worse than the stock saddle. Also, it looks pretty damn classy. That, with my new straight seatpost, should allow me to get the bike fit damn near perfect.
almazing wrote:Thanks for the tips! The stock tires are tubeless ready and so are the wheels. I figured I'd run them a little while until I decide to get new tires and go straight to tubeless on the new ones. I also picked up the Brooks C17. Haven't ridden it yet with the new saddle, but I have high hopes for it. Just about everyone online is raving about it. And if anything, it can't be any worse than the stock saddle. Also, it looks pretty damn classy. That, with my new straight seatpost, should allow me to get the bike fit damn near perfect.
IMHO - the sooner you can convert to tubeless the better! If the stock tires are TR, then the conversions is both inexpensive and easy. Why wait? The Cambium C-17 is a strange saddle - especially from a company that has long endorsed it's iconic brit leather tradition. At first, you may think it is too stiff and hard to be comfortable. But a good bike saddle is like a good car suspension. Too soft isn't good. The C-17 gives you almost a perfect balance between support and shock absorption; while the somewhat wider tail section is perfect for more upright riding on dirt and gravel. Since it's rubber, you also don't have to worry about getting wet and muddy, and the special canvas cover makes it ride well in hot weather. My only complaint is the hefty weight. Brooks does make a lighter weight Cambium with carbon rails - the C-13; but I tried it, and found that the narrower tail much less comfortable than the C-17. More for paved roads, than dirt and gravel. Despite the carbon rails, the C-13 was still much heavier than my Ti railed Sella Italia Flite, and less comfortable for high speed paved road riding. I'd stay away from the C-13. Wish they made a version of the Cambium with the C-17 shape, with carbon or Ti rails to save some weight. PS: I like the Cambium C-17 so much, that I've actually replaced my beloved Flite on my road bike for longer rides. When you are in the saddle for 5-7 hours, comfort is the only thing that matters.
Got my bike back from a tune up. Took it out today on a 10 mile pavement/doubletrack ride. The Ultegra groupset, when tuned by a pro, is amazing. It's so smooth. I'm extremely impressed with the C17 saddle. It absorbed much of the bumps. Paired with the Thomson Elite seatpost, I was able to find a comfortable seat height and saddle position. Today also marks the first day I've ever ridden with clipless pedals and shoes. It's not too bad. I just need to get used to finding the proper position consitently. I do like the security it provides. I have the Crank Brothers Candy 7 pedals and Giro Privateer R shoes and they pair up quite well. The stock tires are alright. They're really good in hard packed, pavement, and even loose marble sized gravel. But in soft sand and similar terrain, they get quite a bit squirrelly. I imagine I'd need to play with the pressures until I can upgrade to more aggressive tires.
If those are Clement MSO 40mm, you probably won't find a tire pressure that makes them work in the loose sandy stuff. My Raleigh came with those tires and after a few training/tuning rides and one race in sandy gravel I swapped them for something with considerably more tread, especially on the edges.
Nice looking frame, it is the same frame as the exp frame which is set up with 27.5 wheels and different groupset. I am finding it very tempting as a more dirt style bike.
After putting about 10,000 miles on a Surly Pacer, and taking it offroad a good bit, I decided to go with the Haanjo Trail Carbon. I'm only 100 miles in on the new bike, but so far it's been a blast on and off the road. XL fits me well, as I'm 6'2" - now the goal is to lighten it up a bit and dial the bars in just right. Selle Anatomica saddle for now.
Wife had some crazy deal thru work few months ago where there were bikes to be had at great savings, about half price. But only certain ones and DB was one of the main ones. Wanted the Haanjo but of course, they only had tiny frames available. My choices came down to the Haanjo, GT Grade but ended up getting a nice Fuji Tread 1.0 thru performancebike. But that's a different thread. Really do like the Haanjo tho. I'm sure I could've been happy on it.
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