This weekend marks the inaugural “Saddle Drive” event that Quality Bicycle Products, the parent company of Salsa Cycles, is holding for its dealers in its new Utah based facility. They will be seeing this new full suspension bike called the Horsethief for the first time in the flesh. While we can not be there for the unveiling, we do have some images and the specs on this new rig which will become available in 2012.

Horsethief
Note: The image is of a prototype and does not reflect the production livery. However, this is the final physical look for the bike. Image by Salsa Cycles.

As can be seen, the new platform derives its 120mm of rear travel from a design very similar in principle to the Spearfish’s. It does not use a rear pivot point at the seat stay/chain stay junction, but relies on flex built into the seat stays for any necessary give there, and these also function as part of the spring rate for the suspension. Here are some specs:

Color – Twister Grey

Frameset – $1399 MSRP – Availability Late Feb/March
- Custom tuned Fox Float RP2 Boost Valve air shock
-120mm rear wheel travel with 142mm x 12mm Maxle (included)
- Tapered head tube
- Mounts for chain guides and dropper posts
- sub 7lb frame w/shock
- Fork compatibility of 120-140mm
- Flip-Lock seat clamp

horsetheif-couch
What looks to be a Horsethief frame sitting on a couch with a Mamasita frame. Image from 29 Pollici, an Italian 29″er site.

Salsa Cycles will also be offering the Horsethief as a complete build, and these assemblies will be done in the U.S. These bikes will be MSRP $2949.00USD and should become available in March 2012. Spec will include the following…

- New Fox Float 34 120mm (changeable up to 140mm)
- Sram X7/X9 with Elixr 5 Brakes
- Formula/Stans Flow wheelset
- Salsa ProMoto 2 level component spec (bar, stem, post)

Comments: This looks to be a bike that slots into the Trail/AM category with several other offerings coming for 2012. We’re seeing several features on the Horsethief that are also going to become “standard options” on many 2012 29 inch wheeled trail bikes. Things like the through axle rear end, chain guide tabs, dropper seat post cable routing, and tapered head tubes. We also took notice of the allowance for a 140m travel fork. Not everyone is saying they will allow for 140mm travel, stopping just short at 130mm. (Could it be that when 150-160mm travel forks come out that the jump from 140mm wouldn’t seem “big enough” to bother with? Who knows…) Dis-similar travel front to rear may seem odd, if you go with a 140mm fork here, but we’ve heard comments from some that say they really like that sort of thing. The Fox 34mm chassis will be awesome on the complete. We look forward to throwing a leg over that one come Interbike time.

Stay tuned for more when we can get info….