The National Forest Explorer (NFE) is the ideal bike for long days of spirited riding on dirt roads. While designed to carry a small load over the front wheel for day supplies, the NFE also handles well with low-riders and a rear saddle bag for overnighting. Unlike many heavy "adventure bikes" sold by larger manufacturers, the NFE is light and responsive, built with a double-butted front triangle and 4130 rear triangle.
The geometry is optimized for experienced riders who prefer nimble handling and a light steering input. The fork is a straight unicrown construction with a handmade direct-mount disc tab.
For more information about the history of this bike, check out this article in Out There Monthly.
As of August 2024, we are no longer producing the NFE.
| clearance: | 650b x 2.1" knobbies OR 42 mm slicks w/ fenders; 142 x 12 mm (thru) |
| disc rotors: | 160 mm recommended |
| seatpost: | 27.2 mm, seat collar included |
| front rack mounts: | Nitto Mini standard rando; Tubus low-riders. |
| rear rack mounts: | Wishbone seat stay shoulders. |
| derailleur cables & housing: | housing on top-tube for top-pull front derailleur, full housing on top-tube and seatstay for rear derailleur |
| brake cables & housing: | braze-ons for full housing on top-tube for rear brake |
| other braze-ons: | three water bottles, top-tube pump peg, front derailleur pulley boss |
| fork: | Unicrown with straight blades. 1.125" steerer, 100 x 12mm thru axle. Here's a picture of the straight fork (with quick release axle). |
| dropouts: | front: Thru axle; rear: Flanged dropouts -- 142 x 12 thru axle. Takes M12 x 1.5 thread axles (not included). |
| steel: | 28.6mm & 31.8mm diameter, .8/.5/.8 profile (front triangle); 4130 (rear triangle) |
| size | SMALL | MEDIUM | LARGE | X-LARGE |
| stack | 564 | 587 | 607 | 645 |
| reach | 362 | 386 | 400 | 413 |
| seat angle | 73° | 73° | 73° | 73° |
| head angle | 72.5° | 73° | 73° | 73° |
| chainstay length | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| effective top tube | 530 | 560 | 580 | 605 |
| top tube slope | 8.5° | 8° | 6° | 5.7° |
| fork rake | 70 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| axle-to-crown distance | 387 | |||
| front-center | 596 | 616 | 631 | 655 |
| head tube | 150 | 170 | 190 | 230 |
| bottom bracket drop | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| wheelbase | 1021 | 1041 | 1056 | 1081 |
| standover (approx.) | 770 | 800 | 835 | 860 |
| frame weight | 4 lb, 2 oz. | 4 lb, 5 oz. | 4 lb, 8 oz. | 4 lb, 10 oz. |
| fork weight (w/ 290mm steerer) | 2 lb, 1 oz. | |||
| color: | National Forest green (RAL 6021) | |||
FAQ.
