SEAN’S SONDER SIGNAL ST GX
MONTH 1: Is steel still the real deal? Sean goes back to his mtb roots to suss out the situtation
£2,899 / 29in / alpkit.com
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So here it is, my second longtermer for mbr, the Sonder Signal ST GX. Yes, another hardtail and not a cheap one at that, with some serious upgrades that nudge the price well into full-suspension trail bike territory. And after spending the last 12 months bombing around on a Nukeproof Scout, with no rear shock to aid traction, comfort or control, you may question my wisdom to repeat the procedure. Am I just making life hard for myself? And very similar bikes too, so what’s the sense in that? Well, you’d think so, but take a closer look and every part of this Sonder differs from the Nukeproof. The frame, components, the whole package.
After a spending the last year with a Scout 290 Pro as my regular ride and first longtermer, I’ve definitely reestablished my affinity with hardtails.
It’s also been boosted by a run of mbr tests, all hardtails and every one built around an aluminium frame and rolling on 29in wheels. I’ve delved deep into the geometry, sizing, fork travel, specs and nuances, highlighting how small details can make a marked difference to a hardtail’s character and traits.
Sure, you can apply this to
WHY IT’S HERE It blends classic steel tubing with modern geometry
any style of mountain bike, but when
I’m shunning full-suspension but still chasing mates on e-bikes and enduro rigs down the trails, I want to be on the most dialled hardtail possible.
To change it up a bit I thought I’d throw a steel frame into the mix but sticking with the bigger wheel size.
Now there may well be some pride when it comes to riding a hardtail – the purity of design, simplicity, skillset needed etc, etc – but there’s even more chat when it comes to steel frames. And I’ve been as guilty as anyone, cutting my mtb teeth on steel hardtails and avoiding aluminium and carbon for the first 20 years of my riding life.
With a year testing up-to-date and progressive aluminium hardtails behind me, all with expertly hydroformed tubes, large volume tyres and suitably modern geometry, my thinking has now moved on and my mindset has changed. I may well still revere the look of skinny steel tubing, but the forgiving ride feel and flex that I’d been banging on about for years now feels like old news – these new-wave hardtails have won me over, dishing out a sublime ride quality with all the comfort and without compromise. Or that’s how it seems.
So a year on a contemporary steel hardtail felt like a sound move and Sonder’s Signal ST fits the bill nicely. I chose the SRAM GX build and although my test bike’s price with upgrades is a hefty £2,899 (the Cane Creek Helm fork and Hope wheelset bumping it up significantly), the frame only option is £549 and the bike range starts with the SRAM SX Eagle model for a reasonable £1,199. A blend of modern geometry and sizing, quality hardware and a premium fork, all based around a very sweet looking steel frame – it’s all there.
So, is this UK designed Sonder going to enhance my riding, and will it be the bike to reignite my love of steel? All will unfold over the next 12 months, so stay tuned.