Salsa Blackthorn Review

Salsa is mostly known for their adventure and gravel bikes. The question arises: Can the Americans also build a mountain bike that excels downhill? We wanted to find out and took a close look at the Blackthorn.

The Salsa essentially comes across as quite simple. Cable routing through the downtube, no noticeable quirks in the construction, and a rear suspension system featuring a split pivot around the rear axle. Nothing that hasn’t been seen before.

However, it does have a minor gimmick. A flip-chip system allows the rider to switch the bike’s geometry between a “High” and “Low” setting. In the high mode, the bike offers a higher bottom bracket and steeper angles, which are ideal for technical climbs or tighter turns. In the low mode, the bottom bracket is lowered and the geometry becomes slightly slacker, providing a smoother, more stable descent and instilling more confidence on steep or fast trails. A useful feature, though also offered by many other manufacturers.

Unfortunately, due to the design with a horizontal shock within the frame, there is only limited space for water bottles: in the L frame, only a 500 ml bottle fits – which may be a bit tight for some riders on longer tours.

Another detail that becomes apparent as soon as you start riding is the noise from the brake and shift cables. During rough sections, the cables tend to rattle inside the frame, which can be annoying in technical or fast sections. Using small foam sleeves during the bike’s setup can provide quietness here.

Our test bike surprised us with an unusual setup: Instead of the usual RockShox or Fox components, we found a Cane Creek Helm Air MK2 fork at the front and the Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Air shock at the rear—a welcome change that the German distributor Cosmic Sports gave the bike a special character with. The shock excelled on the demanding trails at the Geißkopf bike park, offering the rear suspension plenty of control and stability. Even in tough, fast sections, the rear end remained solid, providing the bike with noticeable security and tracking. The combination of shock and suspension is truly impressive. The fork, however, appeared somewhat less robust: Compared to the Fox 36, which we were concurrently testing on a Raaw Jibb V2, the Helm Air reached its limits more quickly on harsher sections and offered fewer reserves in extreme terrain. The setup of the Cane Creek suspension components is also something for enthusiasts. You must experiment a lot to achieve the optimal setting.

The stopping power on our Blackthorn is provided by the Formula Cura 4 brakes. The mineral oil brake can be adjusted without tools and is attractively priced, making it interesting for custom builds.

Nevertheless, it occasionally lacked the stronger braking power one might expect from a SRAM Code RSC or Shimano XT. It performs well, but compared to other four-piston systems, its power is rather average. Additionally, the test bike was equipped with only small brake rotors, and the brake has very little dead stroke before reaching the bite point. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it takes some getting used to.

Our test bike was decked out with striking purple components, including the high-quality Ethirteen Helix cassette, which left an excellent impression and worked seamlessly with the Sram drivetrain. While Sram advises against this combo, we can’t see any reason not to recommend this cassette.

The Helix cassette offers exciting color options. It’s slightly more affordable than a Sram XO Eagle cassette and even provides more range with its 9-52 tooth spread. The small 9-tooth cog opens up the option for a smaller chainring on the crankset. Additionally, the cassette is slightly lighter than comparable products from Sram. We can’t provide facts about long-term durability after our test, but we’ve yet to encounter a cassette that could match a Sram XO Eagle cassette in that regard. We’d be surprised if the Ethirteen Helix cassette could.

The experience was similar with the Ethirteen tires. The Grappler Enduro tires impressed with their excellent traction, even on wet terrain, providing plenty of grip and control on various trails. In our test, these tires don’t need to hide behind the likes of Maxxis, Conti, and Schwalbe.

A standout feature of the Salsa Blackthorn is the size of the bike. To ensure the optimal fit, it’s crucial to thoroughly analyze the reach measurements before purchasing. In size L, the reach is 490 mm, which corresponds to a size XL with many other manufacturers. This extended reach offers clear benefits: it provides increased stability and enhanced grip, especially advantageous on fast descents and technically challenging trails. Nevertheless, it might be advisable for some riders to consider a smaller size to achieve more agile handling, which is often desired in an All Mountain bike. The chainstay, on the other hand, is relatively short at 432 mm, keeping the overall wheelbase in a moderate range. This short rear end compensates for the long reach somewhat, improving maneuverability in tighter corners.

The rear suspension remains very pedal-neutral even in the smallest gear. The signature of legendary designer Dave Weagle is clearly evident here, who has always been closely involved in the rear suspension development at Salsa.

Weagle is known for designing bikes that climb exceptionally well. And that also applies to the Blackthorne. At least as far as the rear suspension is concerned. Because it functions pedal-neutrally in all gears and even when climbing out of the saddle while remaining sensitive to small bumps. However, there is still a problem when climbing uphill.

The Blackthorn, in the aluminum version, tips the scales at 15.4 kg, bringing quite a bit of weight to the table. In the travel category, the bike is a solid 1-2 kg heavier than many competitors made of carbon. A major factor in this is the aluminum frame, which is quite heavy at well over 3 kilos.

But does it really matter? In most cases, no. The Blackthorn is not a race bike, whether in the aluminum or carbon version. It’s an All Mountain, where fun takes center stage. You can live with that on long climbs.

On flat trails, however, the bike feels a bit sluggish due to its high weight. Bikes like the Specialized Stumpjumper set the bar to another level here. Besides the frame, lighter wheels in particular would give the bike a more zippy ride.

The Salsa Blackthorn left a strong impression on the descents, especially on technically demanding trails. The rear suspension works excellently, ensuring you roll effortlessly over obstacles even on rooty trail sections. The anti-rise value is around 100% at sag, which keeps the geometry stable during downhill braking. The bike sits firmly on the trail and provides a great sense of security even on challenging trail sections. Besides regular trail rides, we also tested the bike at the Geißkopf Bike Park. While the Blackthorn is not an enduro, it performed very well on most tracks. On fast descents, the bike showcases its strengths: its length ensures it remains extremely stable on the trail, providing plenty of confidence. In tight corners and on twisty trails, the Salsa Blackthorn requires more effort and deliberate line choice, as it is less agile here. However, once you get accustomed to this riding behavior, the bike can be controlled precisely. On jumplines, the Blackthorn reveals its playful potential: the highly progressive rear suspension gives a satisfying feeling, especially during take-offs, reminiscent of “popping” a Pringles can. This contributes to a lot of riding fun. After a long day in the bike park with numerous vertical meters, you do feel it in your forearms, despite the bike’s outstanding handling—a difference noticeable compared to a full-blooded enduro with more travel. But the Blackthorn knows how to bring the fun factor to the forefront.

The bike is not available off the rack with the setup of our test bike. Salsa Bikes are a classic choice for bike enthusiasts who prefer to build their own bike and therefore consciously opt against a bike out of the box. According to the German distributor Cosmic Sports, our test bike costs approximately 5500 €.

The aluminum frame costs 2,599 € with a Super Deluxe Select+ shock. The carbon frame is 3,799 € with a Fox Float X Factory shock.