2020 Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana Race Bike

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Just last year, Guerrilla Gravity launched a fresh line of bikes featuring an easy-to-convert frame platform and a new material technology called Revved Carbon. Today they're pleased to show the full range of what their system is capable of by introducing the fifth bike built around a shared front triangle, chainstays, and linkage. Hop onboard with Vital MTB in the video above for a closer look and ride impressions.

It has a point-and-shoot attitude and could not care less about what's between points A and B.

Highlights

• 29-inch wheels
• 160mm (6.3-inches) rear travel // 170mm (6.7-inches) fork travel
• Revved Carbon front triangle with 6061 aluminum rear triangle
• Modular Frame Platform
• Freedom Linkage suspension
• 230x65mm metric shock
• GeoAdjust headset with 10mm of reach and wheelbase adjustment
• Integrated-External cable routing
• Frame Storage System with mounting bracket for tools and a tube
• Water bottle mount
• 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket with removable ISCG05 chainguide mount
• 12x148mm Boost rear hub, offset 3mm to the driveside for chain line and clearance
• SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger
• Various decal color options, black powder coat frame
• Frame weight: 6.5-pounds (2.95kg, with hardware, Size 3, no shock)
• Designed and manufactured in the USA

Gnarvana Geometry

An eccentric, angular-contact GeoAdjust headset provides 10mm of reach and wheelbase adjustment to fine-tune fit and handling.

Modular Frame Platform Possibilities

In around one hour, it's possible to convert the bike into five distinct models with varying travel and wheel sizes that will have you covered in every type of terrain:

Gnarvana
29-inch wheels | 160mm rear travel | 170mm fork | 230x65mm shock
450mm chainstays | 63.7 degree head angle

The Smash
29-inch wheels | 145mm rear travel | 150-170mm fork | 230x60mm shock
434mm chainstays | 64.6 degree head angle

Trail Pistol
29-inch wheels | 120mm rear travel | 120-140mm fork | 210x50mm shock
426mm chainstays | 65.9 degree head angle

Megatrail
27.5-inch wheels | 155-165mm rear travel | 170-180mm fork | 230x65mm shock
432mm chainstays | 65.0 degree head angle

Shred Dogg
27.5-inch wheels | 130-140mm rear travel | 140-160mm fork | 210x55mm shock
423mm chainstays | 65.8 degree head angle

$445 Seatstay Tuning Kits are used to define each model and are paired with a properly sized shock. Depending on the models you are swapping between, you may also want to change the fork, wheels, or lower GeoAdjust headset cup.

This means it's possible to swap from a 27.5-inch short-travel Shred Dogg to the big-hitting, 29-inch Gnarvana with minimal effort. The seatstay and shock control the suspension, ride qualities, and geometry for each model, with frame-specific chainstay lengths across the range made possible by the Horst-link suspension design. As you might guess, the longer travel bikes feature added chainstay length for improved stability at speed.

Build Kits, Pricing and Availability

The Gnarvana is offered in three build kits with the option to customize components. Things are backed by a 30-day complete bike satisfaction guarantee and lifetime frame guarantee.

• Seatstay Tuning Kit - $445 USD
• Frameset - $2,195 (without shock)
• Ride Build - $3,895
• Rally Build - $4,795
• Race Build - $6,395

Frames will be available in two to four weeks and complete builds in three to four.

What's The Bottom Line?

The Gnarvana is ideal for a taller, super proactive rider who enjoys long bikes and wide open trails. It has a point-and-shoot attitude and could not care less about what's between points A and B – solid ingredients for a proper enduro race bike. If you'd like something a bit more playful with comparable big hit capability, opt for the 27.5 Megatrail.

While the Gnarvana wouldn't be ideal for many people's everyday ride, Guerrilla Gravity's other models are great for a wide range of rides, and the Modular Frame Platform makes it possible to have a big bike at the ready for minimal cost. By simply swapping the seatstays, rear shock, and fork, you've got a bike that is just raring to go with loads of travel and high-speed stability.

For more details hit up www.ridegg.com. The Inside Line podcast discussing Revved Carbon also offers loads of additional frame material insight. Let us know what you think of the Gnarvana in the comments!

Vital MTB First Ride Rating: 4 Stars - Excellent

About The Reviewer

Brandon Turman - Age: 33 // Years Riding: 18 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 170-pounds (77.1kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a mechanical engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.

Photos and video by Brandon Turman, Justin VanAlstyne, and John Reynolds