Named after the legendary Bow Ridge trail in Lynn Woods, Lynn MA, the Ridge is the ultimate trail bike. Whether you're ripping off that drop, hopping up that ledge or climbing up that rock garden, the Ridge is your best weapon of attack. Constructed out of 6061 series aluminum, the Ridge is 100% made in the USA.
All mountain geometry
All 6061 aircraft quality tubing
Replaceable hanger
Open cockpit design
One piece chain guide/bottom bracket shell
73 mm ISCG bottom bracket shell
135 x 10 mm rear spacing
1 - 1/8" deep press headset compatible
27.2 mm seat post
34.9 mm top pull derailleur
31.8 mm seat post clamp
International standard brake only
All 6061 - T6 aircraft aluminum
Square tube chain and seat stays
Gusseted triangle for extra durability
Optional water bottle mounts (must be requested prior to ship date)
Submitted by
Paul
a Downhiller
from Dundee, Scotland
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2012
Strengths: Excellent frame. Feels light, stiff and agile on the uphills, yet can take anything on the down - loves big drops, swoopy berms and jumps. This is the only hardtail I feel properly comfortable tackling gnarly courses on - I'm into the all-mountain riding just now, and it laps it up. It has also survived some pretty crazy DH courses too, and earns you admiring looks from those riding full on DHers. My friend rides a Commencal Meta 5.5 and I have no bother whatsoever keeping up with him over all but the rockiest of terrain. I ride it with a skinny carbon seatpost to add a bit of relief when climbing - it makes the stiffness of the back end bearable. I'm 6"3, and the large (19") fits me like a glove. It has a nice slack head angle and a lovely long top tube, so there's plenty of room for moving about. I also have exceptionally long legs (36" inside), but the bike is perfect for climbing with a 350mm post at full extension. Honestly, this is the most playful bike I've ridden in ages - it's happy to be chucked about with the seat down as well as climbing like an XC bike. Nice thick paint too, although it's worth slapping some helitape on to keep it looking nice.
Weaknesses: Any chainstay protectors have to be bodged from old inner tube, and my frame has a wonky seattube opening (slightly oblong, very thin adjustment slot, about 30.0mm dia). Other than that, none to report.
Bottom Line:
It's all the bike you'll ever need (HT wise), and is brilliant fun.
Buy this if you want to have a truly versatile bike that'll happily wear 140mm travel forks and be an all round bike, tackling the uphills as well as the downhills, or 160-180mm forks and tackle the worst UK DH tracks and come out smiling.
Bike Setup: Currently set up for training/ XC usage: Fox 32 Float RLs, Superstar XC wheelset, full SLX drivetrain (1x9), Sunline V1 711mm bars, FSA SLK carbon post, 50mm Truvativ stem.
When set up for hooning about: Marzocchi 66 (170mm), Nukeproof Generators, wider bars (740mm)
Rippingest hardtail ever. For my needs which aren't overly gnarly technical or cross racer superlight, this rig does it all for me. I've had big dual suspension rigs as well but trimmed the herd and right now this is what I'm rocking exclusively and you can climb like a mountain goat and shred the descents with ease. Eats up bumps and jumps and hucks great. If you only can go for one hard tail but still want to have fun, this is it. The construction, materials, and geometry are well designed and constructed by a master of the craft. A first class all mountain, cross country, freeride, almost everything hardtail.
Similar Products Used: In hardtails only: GT Aggressor, GT Lightning, 2002 FTW DNA(after Spooky, before Sinister).
Bike Setup: '10 Fox Float 36, Bontrager Rythm Pro TLR wheels, LX Hone crankset, Sram X9 levers and deraillers, Deity riser bar, Race Face stem, blah, blah...
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Submitted by
Macgruber
a Downhiller
from SoCal USA
Weaknesses: Uhhhhhh.... I did have a minor issue with the non-drive side dropout coming loose, but that was the day after I built it so maybe user error, it's squared away!
Bottom Line:
I have and have owned many bikes but none of them will ever compare to this machine. I don't have to tell my friends to be careful when they hop on this tank. I switch wheels so I can commute with it and then hit the trails afterwards. As far as Im concerned, there is no other hardtail worth buying. You will have this bike until you die
Similar Products Used: Specialized stumpjumper? Cannondale R700, cannondale M300? I can list all of my bikes buy nothing compares...
Bike Setup: Mavic hoops with ringle hubs, fox talas rc2 160 mm forks, maxxis holy rollers, truvativ howitzer oct crank, single ring up front, deore XT in the back, avid juicy 7 brakes, FSA headset and stem...
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Submitted by
insanitylevel9
a Downhiller
from hopkinton ma
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2010
Strengths: quality, ability to run up to a 180mm fork, all around fun bike, haven't broken it yet, and finally it can handle any thing i can trough at it
Weaknesses: nothing.... well maybe finding one took me a while
Bottom Line:
this is a bike a wanted since i first started mountain biking and it is everything i ever dreamed it would be. this bike can handle any thing i can through at it, be it a day at highland mountain bike park or a blasting the dane drop in vietnam. if you ever have the chance to buy one go for it you will never regret it you can build this bike to do anything.
Strengths: Strength, rigidity, cornering, jumping, tracking, you name it
Weaknesses: Can't think of any.
Bottom Line:
Unbelievable bike. When I put my Splinter out of comission for a bit and first switched over to the Ridge, I planned on getting bounced around a lot more through the rocks. Not so at all. The bikes track almost exactly the same, even though the Splinter has 6" of travel in the rear. I have ridden the Ridge all over the Shore and Whistler with no problems or complaints. Trails like Joyride, Clown Shoes and Crack Addict get REALLY fun on this bike. Ripping Dirt Merchant /A-Line is a total blast as this bike corners incredibly well. MY frame is from 2005 and still running strong. You know you are onto something good when people on the latest and greatest are asking you about your bike while in the lift line. FTW is no doubt one of the best builders in the industry and that becomes immediately apparent as soon as you get on one of his bikes.
Similar Products Used: Sinister Splinter MX, various other hardtails
Bike Setup: Lyrik Solo Air, Saint cranks, 32/11-26 gearing, chain guide, Shimano XT brakes
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Submitted by
Goldstar78i
a Downhiller
from Westfield MA
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2009
Strengths: Stiff
Strong
light
short chainstays/great handling
incredible craftsmanship
very high quality aluminum
Weaknesses: Price
availability
Bottom Line:
I got this frame in trade for my Kona Cowan frame. Best thing I've ever done. This bike is a league above the Kona in terms of stiffness and build quality. Everything is overbuilt to just the right degree, making it all very stiff and yet reasonably weighty. Mine is a size small yet I'm not a short rider, I just like my bikes maneuverable. It handles DH very well and climbs too, the only problem being the small size of my frame does hurt after a while on the long climbs. The bike can fit any assortment of tire/fork sizes, so it's really up to you what you want to do with this thing. Sinister advertises it as a "do anything" hardtail, and that is the only way to describe it. If you are a hardcore rider who wants one of the best built and best handling hardtails, buy this frame.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z1 lowered (don't laugh it feels great), Onyx/Rhyno Lite rear, XT/singletrack front, Ride DH crankset with 32 special chaingude, Hayes Mag front/Hayes MX rear, Maxxis & Specialized tires.
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Submitted by
SuperbMan
a Cross Country Rider
from The Wooded Hills of Western, MA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2008
Strengths: Boutique level construction (made right in Vermont by the best welder in the business-Frank The Welder Waddleton!). Laterally, the stiffest bike I've ever ridden, yet, somehow, suprising vertically compliant. Perfect east coast angles and top tube lengths for aggressive xc (non-racing). Massive tire clearance!
Weaknesses: Weakness has no meaning on this machine
Bottom Line:
I'm not sure you can buy a better hard tail than this-even custom, you might be able to match it's quality (certainly Sherwood Gibson makes a fine Alu Hard Tail and all the Top Custom guys make great bikes)-but you won't exceed it's ride characteristics and weld quality...and even at full msrp (750.00) it's hundreds to many hundreds of dollars cheaper than those options! I've led several very long Epic rides on burlier terrain on this bike, I've climbed our nastiest climbs, descended ski-slope steeps, ridden it to school to pick up my kids, done driveway wheelies, there is just nowhere where this bike doesn't just feel right, balanced, stiff, strong and responsive. The all-mountain hard tail is getting to be a hot category-this is well and by far the best iteration of the breed. Buy it and don't look back.
Similar Products Used: Banshee Scirocco, Jamis Komodo, Marin Attack.
Bike Setup: XC Rugged: Deus Cranks, Pike 454, Spinergy Enduro Wheels, Avid 7's, USE SUMO SEATPOST (really good roduct), XO twister shifters, usually good stuff.
Strengths: Excellent welding, bike does not flex, very comfortable fit, Very versitile - a trait it shares with the Chameleon. Well balanced - nice paint job.
Weaknesses: There can be several different versions of the Sinister produced in the same year. They vary slighlty in many ways like minor modefications to the geometry. In my case it was a plus becuase the slighlty longer tube tube made the bike fit better, but it could have been shorter then advertised. That would be the down side - your not quite sure what your gonna get - but it will be quality.
Bottom Line:
Solid, handles well, is a scream to ride, and looks sharp. This is by far my lightest bike, yet it is heavy duty enough to have fun without worries. As a general purpose (All mountain/cross country/adventure)bike it is the balls. It is the only bike I have a front derailer on. Although I admit having the added gears is nice its cost in terms of reliability is still being evaluated. All my other bikes have chain guides/bash guards up front. Its only when I add front derailers that I get chain drop. BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS A GREAT FRAME.
Similar Products Used: Chameleon is the most similar, other hard tails include Avalanche, Cdale chase, Banshee Scratch
Bike Setup: Marz Z1 Light, White Diety bars, Race face diabolos, Chris King headset, Avid juicy sevens with 180 rotors, gravity dropper turbo, Sram x-7 trigger shifters, x9 derailers, White Outlaw rims, Crossmax tires, cranks are some crappy FSA mega something, pedals are DMR Mag V12 in black, the bike is white with black letters!
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Submitted by
Alex
a Downhiller
from Geneva, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007
Strengths: Amazingly confidence-inspiring and polyvalent geometry. Hurtles downhill like a 8" bike, climbs like a mountain goat. Begs for more no matter what you throw at it.
Weaknesses: leaves oil-marks on my sheets after Bedtime Cuddles.
Bottom Line:
I have lost count of the number of times I've forgotten I'm not actually riding my DH bike and inadvertently found myself in mid-air. No worries, I'm on a Ridge - it can handle it. No other bike has ever put a smile on my face like this one - it just felt "right" ever since the first ride and keeps on getting better the more I push it. Frank has worked miracles with this frame, it has all the rigidity and power transfer of aluminium without any of the discomfort at the back end. Adjusted to 120mm it's the perfect tool for all-day alpine riding. Frank, Bruce, Skye and everyone else at Sinister - thank you!
Lots of people say they're riding the best bike in the world: I actually know I am.
Similar Products Used: Orange P7 (tested), GT Bravado (owned since '98), but to be honest nothing can really be classed as similar.
Bike Setup: Custom Ridge adjusted for 120mm forks, Marathon '06 XC, Shimano 9spd XT, DT 4.2d rims on Hope Pro IIs with onZa racing Porcs, King headset, Titec Hellbent carbon bar, Thomson 90mm X4 stem, Gravity Dropper post, Mono M4 183mm on the front with Mono Mini 160mm on the back.
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Submitted by
sam diddley
a Downhiller
from dubenshville, co
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2007
Strengths: great bike, stiff, had a great fork, great great great seat
Weaknesses: seat, kinda large but that was just frame size
Bike Setup: fox vanilla, nice, crap seat,bb5 or 7, xtr der, xt cranks
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Submitted by
Nathaniel Williams
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts - USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2007
Strengths: Feels like it has a rear shock, even with 2.3ish tires. Price is not too bad. Goes up hill insanely well and downhill almost as well as my 7 incher. Just from 1 hour of riding, I could tell that it could be a very versitile bike. Simply a beautiful bike that makes me feel tingly inside just from thinking of it. When I rode it, I felt like crying. Simply beautiful.
Weaknesses: Maybe a bit heavey, but I'm sure it's as light as it can be without compromising too much strength.
Bottom Line:
I love it. You will to. Ride one asap. Then buy it.
Only two bikes have left this kind of impression on me...Cannondale Scalpel team replica and the Sinista Ridge.
F*** you, I'm from Glousta! <-- Do some research if you don't know what this means.
Strengths: Welds are perfect, hand made by a legendary bike builder/designer Frank "God's gift to bikes" Wadelton. Strong, stiff, burly, tough..... etc,etc.
Weaknesses: Was too heavy for me 2 years ago. Now it is purrfect, and all other bikes seem too light. This probably has something to do with my build spec however.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best bike I have ever had. Better than any full suspension or hard tail, period. It jumps like a Kangaroo, turns like a F1 car, plows over stuff like a new housing development, and climbs very well for the ammount of mass that it is blessed with. I'd say like a goat, but...like any 40 LB bike really climbs like a goat. It just makes me stronger anyway. This frame has killed too many components to list and just shrugged it off. The most impressive was a Fox 36 vanilla that died after 3 months with a creaky steer tube/ crown. If you are looking for a good strong hardtail to be your one bike...... this is it hands down.
Similar Products Used: Kona, suck, crap, and snap. Specialized P.O.S. series. Banshee morphine (pretty good).
Bike Setup: Marzocchi 66 RC. Race Face Diabolous cranks and stem, Mavic D321 wheels, hadley hubs with shot bearings again. Chris King Steelset, Blah Blah, 40 Lbs.
Weaknesses: There are none except that it perhaps wont climb as well as high end xc hardtails, but then again thats not its intended use. Far more fun to ride than any other hardtail or full sus, and who the hell likes climbing anyway????
Bottom Line:
Ive always dreamed of building a bike like this. Having raced xc many years ago, and hammering out daily extreme cdn downhilling made a bike choice difficult for me. I wasnt willing to go full sus. Decided against another cross country rig as the limited strength and scope of use isnt really an attractive option. The answer was delivered by Sinister, and the way I ride will never be the same again. This bike can be used for anything. It descends, it jumps, it turns, it drops jaws. Can handle up to 8" of travel up front. Pike at 5.5 inches is plenty though. Best bike Ive ever owned no contest
Strengths: Craftsmanship, geometry, strength, looks, and handleing
Weaknesses: Some people don't like the 1.5 headtube but both my Ridge and downhill bike have it and I've had nothing but good luck with both bikes. I guess I like to keep my options open.
Bottom Line:
What I like the most about the Ridge is that I have never before had a bike that felt so good the first time in the saddle. Usually it takes me a few ride to warm up to frame but the Ridge has felt good since the first pedal stroke. It seems to be the perfect blend between freeride and XC, yet it is built rugged enough to withsand a massive beating and then keep coming back for more. Yes, the price is hard to get by but like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Also when buying a Sinister you're supporting American craftsmanship which to me is becoming more and more important every year.
