A Tough Bike for Tough Trails: Knolly Warden Long-Term Review 2

The Warden is Knolly's attempt at blending the abilities of enduro, freeride, and downhill into one bike. A robust machine that's stable at speed and forgiving when trying new lines, the latest iteration flaunts intentional updates to keep it charging into the modern era. But when would you want to ride such a specific and capable bike? We spent a few months rallying the Warden to find out who this burly bike serves best.

Highlights

• 6066 aluminum frame
• Mixed wheel only
• 170mm of rear wheel travel // 170mm fork (compatible up to 200mm)
• Fourby4 Patented suspension design
• 63.25 or 62.5° head angle
• 77.75 or 77° effective seat angle
• Flip Chip geometry adjust
• Internal cable routing
• 157mm rear hub spacing
• 300+mm dropper insertion
• Dual crown compatible
• Mounting for water bottle and tool kit
• UDH compatible
• Sizes: S1-S5 (X-Small to X-Large)
• Weight (Size S4-Large): 35.56 lbs (16.13 kg)
• MSRP: Frame + shock - $2,999 // Deore - $5,199 // GX - $5,799 // XT - $6,299 (tested)

The Warden 170 fills the fun position in Knolly's lineup as the "self" shuttle downhill rig that could if needed, be utilized as an enduro bike. The new Warden uses the same Fourby4 suspension design as the previous version, with a slight increase in travel and a noticeable progression in reach, wheelbase, and head angle. All changes are on the bigger side of the industry's usual trend of bigger, better, and bolder. Though this time, Knolly has done so without the general populous in mind, specifically targeting gravity riders who want a gnarly bike and sticking to the concept of making bikes they themselves want to ride. 

Frame Details

First things first: Knolly's choice to ditch the kinked top tube for a straight one has breathed life into their entire lineup. It's not that the previous designs were inferior, but the new look gives their bikes a crisp, clean aesthetic.

The Warden also gets the bump to size-specific chainstays and a unified rocker link to increase stiffness. Five colorways are available with the Warden to suit both the reserved and the bold. Colors include Raw alloy, Blueberry, Orange Black Fade, Defender Green, and a limited edition Anodized Purple (tested). The internal cable routing is neat and tidy, with easy access throw screwed grommets. Getting to the dropper housing is also easy, thanks to a mechanic-friendly port that's hidden underneath the molded downtube protection. Other details include both a water bottle and tool mount, a threaded bottom bracket, and an uninterrupted seat tube for limitless dropper post-accommodation.

Suspension Design

Knolly has continued to refine and build upon its patented Fourby4 linkage system. This system, inspired by Formula One strut style suspension, prioritizes traction, and performance under braking has been a staple with Knolly bikes since its conception. Offering a great balance of traction and pedal efficiency with seemingly little to no negative. The newest Warden has changed linkage just enough to eke out two extra mm of travel with the same shock measurements as its previous model (205x62.5). Knolly has always stuck to its guns when it comes to this design and continues to refine a platform that offers both fun and performance without compromise.   

Geometry

The line between downhill bikes and super enduro bikes is often blurry, so why not remove the line completely? Knolly has melded the newest Warden 170 into a pedalable downhill bike. With the reach increasing 8mm to a 508mm reach and the wheelbase jumping 57mm to a massive 1310mm, stability in the steeps is the name of the game. The head tube angle has even been slackened by two degrees, giving the Warden rider the option of 63.25 and 62.5 (thanks to a geo flip-chip in the lower shock mount). Knolly has followed industry trends of size-specific chainstays and seat tube angles to keep the bike feeling balanced for riders of all sizes.

Build Kits

Knolly makes only alloy frames, most of which are aluminum, with a couple titanium and steel options for their gravel and hardtail frames. The Warden is offered in four builds, ranging from $5,199 to $6,299 USD, along with a frame/shock-only option for $2,999. All builds come with mechanical drivetrains, but the Warden is UDH compatible for those who want to run wireless Transmission. Surprisingly, the Warden uses a 180mm rear brake mount and comes specced as such. We'd expect most riders will bump that up to 200+mm.

We tested the top-tier XT build that includes full Shimano XT brakes and drivetrain, FOX Factory Float X2 shock, FOX 38 Factory Grip2 fork, the same RaceFace/Spank cockpit as two middle-tier builds, as well as the same Spank 359 alloy wheelset.

On The Trail

We rode the Warden on a mix of ultra-dry, dusty trails in Southern Idaho, similar to that of a long-forgotten sandbox in an abandoned playground. In most places, the local foothills in Boise, Idaho, are fast and not very technical. So we traveled further north for the final few weekends at Tamarack Bike Park for some lift service. Trails in McCall cover all types of terrain, from fun and flowy to steep and rocky. 

Setup

When we first climbed aboard the Warden 170, the cockpit was mostly comfortable. We did opt to cut the stock 820mm wide bars to a more reasonable 800mm. We initially set sag at around 30% but found throughout testing that the Warden faired well with a firmer setup to improve the bike's overall maneuverability on our relatively tame trails. The Warden is on the extreme side of geometry, so keep in mind that cockpit and suspension setups will be more personal than most bike setups, so don't hesitate to play around with bike fit and suspension settings.

• Rider Weight: 180 lbs (81.6 kg)
• Fox Factory Float X2
  • 220 psi
  • HSR: 3 clicks
  • LSR: 9 clicks
  • HSC: 4 clicks
  • LSC: 8 clicks
• Fox Factory 38 Grip X2
  • 90 psi
  • HSR: 5 clicks
  • LSR: 6 clicks
  • HSC: 3 clicks
  • LSC: 10 Click

(Clicks counted from Closed)

Descending Performance

Descending on the Warden 170 was a learning experience. The first few days were a bit of a struggle as its wheelbase length rivaled that of a top fuel dragster, making technical maneuvers a little challenging. We had to think a few moments ahead when trials slowed and narrowed.

Jumping the Warden was comfortable as long as we stayed centered over the bike. Last-minute side hits where body position was not ideal resulted in feeling a little unnatural or caught off guard in the air. With how the Warden is designed, speed is where it shows up to play. Once at speed, the bike feels lighter, and the front end becomes maneuverable, giving the Warden a more precise feel. The confidence inspired at speed allows you to try bigger features without overthinking them too much; just keep the wheels between you and the ground, and the Warden will take care of the rest.

Rear Suspension Performance

The performance of the rear suspension was stellar, from small bump sensitivity to bottom-out support and everything in between. When set up on the softer side, the Warden felt like a DH rig and offered ample traction in rough and steep terrain. Trail chatter went completely unnoticed, saving energy for when things got serious. However, mid-stroke did suffer ever so slightly with this setup, and the bike took more effort to move around in a playful manner. Adding 10 psi made the Warden feel like an overly capable enduro bike with more balanced abilities rather than purely a gravity specialist. We ran the Warden like this most of the time as it made the bike more fun on our trails with moderate grades. The rear end also balanced beautifully with the fork, creating forgiveness during any miscalculated maneuvers. 

Geometry

The geometry on the Warden is definitely on the extreme side of things, with a 509mm reach (size large) and a wheelbase that rivals some x-large downhill bikes. With a flip chip that changes the headtube angle from 63.25 to 62.5 degrees and a very stable wheelbase, the Warden could easily be a DH race bike with the ability to be a very aggressive enduro bike in its back pocket. For those looking for a dedicated park bike, the Warden can easily fit that demand as well. We would just consider sizing down. The smaller frame size would allow for a more playful ride while maintaining that extremely forgiving suspension platform. To top it off, you could toss a dual-crown fork on the Warden to really exploit its abilities.

Climbing Performance

Knolly's Fourby4 suspension design offers an efficient pedaling platform, while the Warden's geometry creates a comfortable pedaling position. When it comes to technical climbs, however, the length of the bike and the slack front end made it feel cumbersome. While it may not be the ideal bike for technical or steep climbing, it pedals efficiently enough to get you to the top without depleting too much energy.  

Build Kit

Knolly sent us their top-of-the-line XT build with FOX Factory suspension. A sturdy, tried and true build, it is a touch overpriced at $6,299, considering other brands offer carbon frames with similar builds for a similar price. Still, the entire build spec was ideal for the intended purpose of the Warden. The only changes we might make would be swapping to shorter cranks (170mm came stock) and bumping up the rear rotor to at least 200mm. We also found the EXO+ casing tires offered plenty of protection for our riding. However, switching those out for DH casing tires would help match how hard you can ride the Warden if you are a more aggressive rider.

The most notable component on the Warden was the new FOX 38 with its Grip X2 damper. It offered a fantastic balance of small bump sensitivity, mid-stroke support, and bottom-out control. Getting the air spring set up was easy as the recommended felt great, and all necessary adjustments were done through the damping.

Long Term Durability

The Warden is a stout bike that's given us no reasons to suspect it won't hold up well in the long run. The only potential problem that we see is that the main pivot bearings are slightly exposed, which could lead to faster corrosion, but there was no sign of premature wear by the end of our review. Knolly does offer a 1 year bearing and bushing warranty, so with proper bike maintenance, this should be a nonissue. Their frame warranty covers you for life against faulty materials and manufacturing defects to the original owners, too. Based on our testing, the Knolly Warden lives up to their BC Tough slogan.

What's The Bottom Line?

Knolly's Warden 170 is a tough bike that shines in tough terrain at high speeds. If you are looking for a do-everything bike, look elsewhere. The Warden was bred with a purpose. Gravity! It can be a mini DH bike that thrives in bike parks, or it can serve as a weekend warriors race bike, or it can get you to the top if your shuttle driver bails on you.  

For more information, please visit knollybikes.com

About The Reviewer

Wyatt Lisk – Age 31 // Years Riding MTB: 13 // Height 6'1" (1.87m) // Weight: 180-pounds (81.6kg)

A "never made it" Cat 1 downhill/enduro racer that turned to coaching groms and wrenching full-time, Wyatt immersed himself in the world of bicycles since the day his dad told him he was never allowed to ride motorcycles. A born-and-raised Idaho boy who grew up whitewater rafting (but never actually grew up), he is most likely found on the trail with his dog or at a local brewery.