WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE SALSA BLACKTHORN
The second generation of the Salsa Blackthorn brings a few key updates to the table, not only making it a better everyday trail bike, but improving confidence when you to get into some steep terrain. The Blackthorn 2 is offered in two different bike travel configurations: the 145mm variant that we tested, and the shorter travel version with 125mm in the rear. Both bikes use the same front and rear triangles, but utilize a different shock link and shock stroke to deliver their respective rear travel numbers.
Additionally, the Blackthorn can be run in a full 29” wheel setup or an MX wheel configuration. This change is managed by a Flip Chip in that lower shock bolt on the yoke. This Flip Chip offers a small change (+/- .3º) in geometry for both that different wheel size or just to adapt the bike to rider preferences and terrain. In typical salsa fashion, there are a plethora of mounting locations on this frame, the integrated frame strap is a standout feature found on their bikes and works very well.
One change on the new Blackthorn that I’m happy to see is that Salsa has moved away from the Super Boost rear spacing to the more traditional 148mm rear. This makes it a lot easier to play with that rear wheel size, you don’t have to build two wheels that are just meant for this bike you can swap and play around with wheels easily.
FRAME AND FEATURES | The Salsa Blackthorn is only offered in a carbon fiber frame option at this time. Salsa uses a high-modulus carbon layup for the front triangle, seatstay and chainstay. The links are made from 6061-T6 aluminum.
The frame does not have in-frame storage, but there are multiple accessory mounting options, including Salsa’s signature through-frame strap. There are two separate water bottle mounts in the triangle, and a two-bolt mounting location on the top tube for additional bags or tech. For me, this felt more like a gimmick than something that is useful to most riders, but some may find benefit. There is a built-in mud flap on the chainstay at the base of the seat tube to help keep debris away from the pivots, as well as a rubber downtube protector.
SUSPENSION | Salsa uses the Split Pivot system for the Blackthorn, developed by Dave Weagle. This allows the braking and pedaling forces to be tuned independently. By allowing the engineers to split the way they tune the kinematics of the frame, they were able to obtain a ride feel that remains active under braking, but supportive when on the gas. Salsa has approved this bike to be used with a coil shock, giving riders the option to tune the characteristics to their liking.
GEOMETRY | I opted to test the size large at 6’1” (187cm) tall. The 489mm reach is generally longer on paper than I would choose to ride, but in practice, the bike felt just right. In the low setting of the two-position flip chip, the 63.6º the head tube angle was aggressive, but not floppy. All sizes receive the same chainstay length, measuring in at 433mm in low. The 633mm stack height found a sweet spot to add spacers if needed, but did not feel overly low in the stock configuration.
BUILD SPECS | There are three build kits offered in the 145mm travel option, and two in the 125 variant. The entry-level Deore spec lands at $3,999, whereas our top-spec X0-level build comes in at $8,999.
Our size large test bike with Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedals in its current configuration, with the RockShox Vivid Rear shock, weighed in at 34.2 pounds.
THE DIRT
SETUP | At 174lbs (79kg), I ran 70 – 73 psi in the RockShox Lyrik fork with one token, and 220 psi in the rear shock with one volume-reducing band to achieve a 30% sag target. I did most of my riding with a RockShox Vivid rear shock, as it really aided in how much I could push the bike. The stock RockShox Super Deluxe was by no means a slouch, though, delivering a more traditional trail bike feel with increased platform to pop and play. I switched out tire spec, as the stock Teravail tires had a little too much volume for my liking and didn’t really suit the terrain that I wanted to take this bike on. I opted for a Maxxis Assegai and DHR II combination in EXO+ casings, which gave familiar and predictable handling.
Early on in the testing period, I experimented extensively with the bar height, searching for front-end grip. I went high to begin with, and dialed it back to a height that balanced a confident descending position without feeling too far forward on the climbs.
CLIMBING | The seat tube angle sat right where we expect modern-day trail bikes to be. Even with my extra-long legs, I found the seated climbing position to be comfortable, with the saddle pushed in its forwardmost position. With the Maxxis tires fitted, the 34.2lb weight of the Blackthorn with pedals was reasonable. Paired with an efficient and supportive suspension platform, big days were not an issue on board Salsa’s trail bike. While the initial feel of the suspension was supportive, the bike developed a solid amount of traction for technical climbs.
As to be expected with Dave Weagle-designed bikes, the rear suspension stays composed when putting the power down. The Blackthorn was equally at home on alpine singletrack as it was on a long fire road slog. While I don’t typically push a bike’s technical climbing capabilities to the limit, I found the 63.6º head angle to be manageable when getting slow and techy. With the option to have two water bottles, the accessory strap, and a top tube bag for big days, riders looking to store their items on the bike are well covered. The Blackthorn left very little to be desired in the climbing department.
DESCENDING | Going down the hill is my main focus, and the Salsa Blackthorn 145 was no slouch. While it has the trail bike moniker, it was by no means a singletrack-only machine. The Blackthorn’s geometry lent itself to being quite capable when the going got rough. While I would like to see size-specific chainstays for improved balance on larger sizes, it was not a deal breaker. The Split Pivot rear suspension stayed active over chatter, and sat in nicely under light braking. When you really wanted to shut it down, there was some harshness over medium-sized bumps, but there was enough traction present still dip the bike into a corner. Given it’s a 145mm travel all-mountain machine, the rear end performance was more than acceptable.
Initially, I felt like I was riding on top of Salsa’s trail bike, with my feet slightly higher than I prefer. There was not the most “in the bike feel”, but the Blackthorn still balanced fun factor and agility with bump-eating suppleness well. This initial feeling of riding higher on the bike took some adjustment when it came to committing to corners, but once my cockpit setup was fine-tuned, I felt at home. The RockShox Vivid rear shock brought out the best qualities of the bike, with minimal sacrifices. The Super Deluxe is a great shock, but it did not quite offer the same small bump compliance that made me so fond of the Blackthorn. The Vivid produced a slight loss in how poppy the bike felt, but not nearly enough to outshine the positive aspects it brought. In the past, Salsa offered a frame-only option with the Vivid as standard, but this has since been removed from the product page.
When riding the bike on the edge of its intended use, stability was not the best. A slightly longer chainstay would go a long way toward increasing confidence at high speeds. Its surefootedness was compromised when on more bike park-style terrain, which is not a surprise, given that it is still a trail bike. On the flip side, the Salsa Blackthorn 145 reacted well to rider input on tighter and more technical terrain. The shorter rear end made changing direction and hopping to a new line very easy. All this to say, the Blackthorn is a well-rounded, aggressive trail bike, but it will reach a limit depending on what trails you choose to ride. Pulling for jumps of all sizes, the Salsa was super playful and allowed me to play around as much as I desired. The bike’s suspension progression, paired with the Hydraulic Bottom Out (HBO) on the Vivid shock, provided more than enough end-of-stroke support for the big hits.
FINISH AND VALUE | The Salsa Blackthorn offers fully guided cable housing, with very clean cable ports. These ports do not have any way to cinch down the cables, but there was no cable rattle. Its frame bolts stayed tight, but the rear axle came loose a few times, even when torqued to proper spec. This is an issue I often come across on bikes with this style of concentric rear pivot, and it is something you want to check often to make sure you are not riding with a loose rear axle.
The rear shock bolt is hard to access, requiring you to remove the front shock bolt, as there is limited clearance. I am sure there is a tool out there that will fit, but my collection of trail tools was all too big. In practice, the locking collet hardware is a solid idea, but it can make things difficult to keep track of if you are making this change trailside, due to the extra hardware. It’s not the end of the world, but worth noting. On each of the frame bolts, there are laser-etched torque settings, which is a nice touch!
The seatpost insertion on the Salsa Blackthorn was limited by the kinked seat tube. My Blackthorn came equipped with a 180mm dropper, which was far too short for my long legs. The standard spec is 210mm for the size large, which would have been a much better fit for me. With a long 240mm travel post, I was not able to get the saddle low enough in the frame to descend comfortably, which was a shame. My long legs and low descending saddle height preferences make me somewhat of an outlier, but it would be great to see this improved further by Salsa for future generations.
COMPONENT REPORT | The components on the Salsa Blackthorn 145 X0 build were mostly trouble-free, but there were some exceptions. The SRAM Maven brake levers developed a leak on both sides, but in different spots. The original dropper seatpost that came with the bike also had an issue, failing to stay up or down. It was quickly solved with a replacement dropper post. While these are not issues with Salsa, and would be covered easily under warranty, it’s still worth noting.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
When compared to my long-term personal bike – the 2022 Specialized Stumpjumper Evo – the Salsa Blackthorn offered a much more supportive climbing feel and a more supple and progressive suspension feel descending. Both bikes corner very well, and both are versatile in the terrain they can ride. Adjustability is superior on the Stumpy thanks to its different headset cups, but I can say that in my years with the bike, I have only opted to ride in the slacker option one time. When looking at the Blackthorn vs the Devinci Troy, another split pivot bike, the Blackthorn’s suspension feel wins out again. However, the Troy felt more like a play bike and offered a bit more pop, whereas the Blackthorn felt more settled at speed in rough terrain.
The Wolf’s Last Word
The Salsa Blackthorn is a bike that supports everyday adventures. From your local trail center to the bike park, it offers a fun, efficient, and engaging ride across the spectrum. The rear end always remained active and plush on the descents and continually impressed, no matter the terrain I pushed it through. Yet this was contrasted by solid efficiency on the way back up the hill. It’s not perfect, but it’s a damn fun all-round trail bike. 
Price: $3,999 – $8,999
Website: Salsacycles.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.
Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole
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