The Sklar Tall Tale Got a Geometry Update That Actually Matters
Sklar Bikes restocked the Tall Tale hardtail with smarter geometry and bottle bosses. Steel, 29er, $1,199 frame-only. Here's what changed and what it costs.
Adam Sklar just restocked the Tall Tale hardtail with a few geometry tweaks that actually make sense. I haven't ridden this version yet, but the changes address real complaints—steeper seat tube (now 74°), shorter reach across all sizes, and external bottle bosses on Small and Medium frames so your dropper doesn't force you to choose between hydration and post travel.
The frame is double-butted chromoly steel with 29-inch wheels and size-specific fork travel: 130mm on Small, 140mm on Medium and Large, 150mm on XL. That's smart—smaller riders don't need to haul around extra travel they won't use. Tire clearance is spec'd at 29×2.6", though Sklar says most 2.8s fit. Chainstays are fixed at 427mm across all sizes, which keeps the back end snappy but might feel cramped if you're over 6'2" and prefer stability over agility.
Here's the catch: frame-only is $1,199, but complete builds jump to $4,850 (SRAM GX mechanical) or $8,800 (XO Eagle AXS). That's steep for a hardtail, even a custom steel one. You're paying for hand-selected tubing and small-batch craftsmanship, not mass production. If you're comparing this to a $3,500 carbon trail bike with similar travel, you need to value ride feel and repairability over weight savings and brand recognition.
The Tall Tale is designed for "practical trail riding," which I read as: climbs well, descends confidently on moderate terrain, won't punish you on a three-hour after-work loop or a weekend bikepacking trip. The three bottle cage mounts and rack bosses back that up. If you want a hardtail that does 80% of what a full-suspension trail bike does—and you're okay with the cost and the fact that steel dents instead of shatters—this is worth a look.
Two new colors: Sage and Gneiss. Both look good. Neither will make you faster.
