Juliana

Joplin 2.0 27.5+ D Complete Mountain Bike - 2018

Not being pigeon-holed into one specific category, the Joplin 2.0 27.5+ D Complete Mountain Bike is just as happy doing endurance races as it is on rowdy trail rides where roots, rock gardens, and ledge drops are all part of the fun. In fast-rolling XC, 29er guise, the Joplin 2.0 covers plenty of miles of trails quickly and efficiently. The 27.5+ wheel option, that we have here, utilizes its flip-chip linkage and a change in fork travel to take the playful, progressive geometry and add high-volume tires which increase traction and comfort. This frame is constructed from aluminum for durability and without the higher price of its carbon fiber sisters. Adding a Rock Shox Recon fork and SRAM's NX group builds up a capable bike that is ready for challenging trails at a friendly price tag.

The Joplin 2.0 takes design cues from its big brother the Tallboy and blends highly responsive XC handling with that of a go-anywhere, ride anything trail bike with its 110-millimeters of VPP suspension paired with a 130-millimeter fork for the 27.5+ wheels and tires. The shorter travel out back and extra squish up front lets the bike pedal with exceptional efficiency, and offer a little more security when hitting blind drops and twisting the throttle when the trail opens up. One area where the Joplin and Tallboy differs is in its female-specific shock tune. Juliana worked with FOX to develop a lighter shock tune on the Float Performance DPS shock for lighter riders. So instead of skipping over rocks and roots with damping suited for heavier riders, the suspension will be better able to absorb the hits and keep you in control.

The VPP suspension gets 10-millimeters of extra travel over the previous Joplin, positioning the bike in the do-it-all category of rigs in the 4 to 5-inch range. Juliana didn't just increase the travel, it revised the VPP platform making it perform better in all conditions and making sure that you are able to utilize all of the 110mm of travel. Juliana engineered the leverage ratio so the travel is more supple off-the-top so you'll have more traction when you're riding over bumpy rock and root sections. The shock remains linear until the end of the stroke for a smooth, bottom-less feel, then ramps up, becoming more progressive resisting bottom-outs on drops to flat and high speed jumps. The suspension kinematics help you use all 110 millimeters of travel leaving you with a plush bike that can handle trails typically reserved for bigger travel bikes.

The 27.5+ version here is aimed at riders seeking maximum traction in loose conditions and great flotation over rocks and roots. If you decide that you want to go with the nimbler and faster rolling 29er setup, a flip-chip rotates along the upper link, allowing the shock mount to migrate between the high (29er) and low (27.5+) settings, without drastically changing the bike's geometry. The 68-degree head tube angle remains the same between both wheel sizes for confident descending when the trail turns steep and rocky, as well as keeping the short 17-inch chainstays and low-slung bottom bracket at 13 inches for nimble carving and stable handling.