Diamondback

Haanjo Trail Complete Bike - 2015

Diamondback has a penchant for building its bikes with impressive kits, and the Haanjo Trail Complete Bike is no exception. The story of the Haanjo is one of gravel and multi-surface writing, but the chapters that constitute that story include such shining names as Shimano Ultegra 6800 and HED Flanders Disc on the drivetrain and rims. If the whole is no greater than the sum of its parts, then the Haanjo Trail is wholly exceptional.

The Haanjo is also wholly capable of handling a whole host of terrain, ranging from the obvious — asphalt, gravel, grass — to the not-so obvious — dirt roads light singletrack. This flexibility is owed in no small part to its geometry, which is long and low for added stability that keeps you more upright and secure than a twitchier frame designed for racing.

Other elements of the Haanjo's construction recommend it for the recreational and commuting life. These include the top tube, which is shaped for easy shouldering to carry up stairs or across impassable obstacles, and disc brakes for stopping power that stays consistent regardless of varying conditions and demands. Whether you're weighed down with touring panniers or caught out in a late spring rain storm, the disc brakes will almost always feel the same. Of course, there's no hiding the race pedigree of HED and Ultegra, so the Haanjo Trail is ready to get up and get going when you're ready to lay down the power.