Surly

Years ago the Karate Monkey helped start the 29” wheel movement and, as time’s gone by, many companies ­– Surly included – have experimented with even more wheel sizes. With so many different types and sizes of tires now on the market, riders are beginning to understand the effect that tire width has on overall wheel diameter, and with ample tire clearance, you can see the benefits of multiple wheel sizes all on one bike. 27-plus tires have the same rolling diameter as a 29” wheel, yet you get all the traction and flotation benefits of extra-wide knobbies. And that’s just the tires. The Karate Monkey frame has recently gotten a makeover that includes the addition of features like internal dropper post routing, a new tubeset that uses the same trumpet tubes found on Surly's Instigator 2.0, and a slight tweak in geometry that is more progressive and trail-oriented.