Rawland Ulv review

[eric moss]

Apologies if this is a repeat, but it's neat to see more YouTube presence for 650b.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx-69JcjXoQ

Eric

[Paul Sherman]

I don't think it's been posted here before, but the video was released around (or just before) the Ulv started shipping. I think that it's more of a "first look" rather than a "review" (though they use both terms), since they basically just rode around on it for a day. The Ulv's front end geometry is radically different from any other bikepacking bike, so I'd be very, very interested in seeing a long-term review with some coverage of how the bike handles loaded single track riding. Hopefully an Ulv owner will chime in with some input, since this is somewhat uncharted territory and a lot of us are interested.

Paul
Kunming

[Tim Clark]

This is not a review of the Ulv per se, but I do have experience with the low trail straight fork concept (loaded, single track, and road/gravel.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/113550232@N02/27494155660/in/dateposted-public/

I built this bike during the ulv wait and built it to the specs of my rando frame, including low trail offset. And, oh my! the fork and the bike sings! My favorite bike and the one I'd grab if the garage was burning.

Just got back from an off-road bike packing trip and it handled the load, road, steep gravel ascents and descents with aplomb!

So, not a Rawland review, but the concept is solid. Anyone wish to weigh in with actual Ulv experience?

Cheers,
Tim Clark
www.thetimberandstone.com

[Paul Sherman]

Hey Tim,

That's a gorgeous bike - I remember stumbling across pictures a while back and thinking it was the nicest fat-tire rando I'd seen. I especially like the rack/frame color contrast, it's a combination that I wouldn't expect to jive nearly as well as it does. For the sake of comparison with the Ulv, what's the rake/HTA and the max tire you can fit w/o fenders?

Paul
Kunming

[Tim Clark]

Thanks Paul.

It's specs align more with the Ravn than Ulv. The brief to Nobilette was to match geometry/trail of my rando (mid thirties trail?), but we allowed him to make the call regarding finished geometry. I don't know the actual numbers, but I do know it handles and takes loads just like the rando bike.

It will fit RTP tires with generous fender clearances. 2.35-2.5 mm small knobs without (26" tires of course).