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Ionic Johnny Rotten Review (2019 model)

Need help deciding which bike to buy next? Click here​ for my bike consultation service.

2019 Ionic Johnny Rotten Review - NOTE COMPANY HAS BEEN SOLD SINCE THIS REVIEW

Pros and Cons

Pros:
  • Fantastic ride
  • Great trail geo
  • Great weight

Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Company has changed hands multiple times recently
  • ​No internal dropper

Who it's for:

​

Who it's NOT for

​

My full thoughts on the 2019 Ionic Johnny Rotten Steel Hardtail

listen to this we can get a 420 chainstay length with a 2 6 got on here now sweet reynolds 85 3 Pro moly tubing this should be fun this is built like the old hard tails in a good way so I'm super impressed with these guys they know bikes and you can tell the difference between a company that's been around for 20 years and a company that just decided to start getting into bikes and I think we'll feel that when we ride it thanks alright here we go we are on the ionic 29er Steelheart tail these are 29 by 2.6 tires which I love on our tail and this already it could be these amazing night wheels too when they say steel is real and they're talking about a hard tail they're talking about they're talking about how this bike feels right now this bike is so smooth I can just tell already

not all steal bikes are smooth my steel middle child is stiffer than this this bike is nice and compliant this is how a hardtail should ride this is awesome

this bike was designed really well the rear end is soft but not noodle II like it super compliant this would be a top choice the bike taxi regular trail riding just fun my style I think the only thing I'd change is the head angle I like it slack as you know and I would lower the seat tip a little so I can fit a little longer drop if you want to know what a hardtail should feel like and what all the rage is ride this bike this brings the best of our tails together I really like it it's not an aggro bike not for [ __ ] 4 or 5 foot 2 flat like my middle child is but they get it they got a short 420 chainstay and the steering is what most people look like I mean the headache it steers great I love this bike that's fun it's so balanced so neutral

what a wonderful machine yeah jumps

and the ham of our positions right where it should be I'm on a medium yeah whoever designed this really knows what he's doing this was designed back in the days when hard tails were still more popular than fall suspension and it shows it just it just goes it's a lot softer than my middle child and it's softer than the time ol it the honey whatever

easy to lift up the back wheel over obstacles 29 by 2 6 is a fun size on a hard tail the tires get a little heavy but they're beefy enough you can air them down so it's soft but they were all good there's no adjustment period to get used to it and even though the head angles close to the mullet bike there that I reviewed earlier it's less sketchy it could be the slightly longer reach the higher bars lower bottom bracket in sections where I felt like I was going over the bars on the mall

oh what a joy is just a simple joy riding on this bike

Bravo ionic never heard of you before today

ionic for those of you old schoolers as part of the Dean and Merlin family I

think this is even more compliant than my time in a child they nailed it this is way more confident on the downhills than the moly Oh a lot of special bike

well done you guys these guys are direct-to-consumer so unfortunately you can't find them at a bike shop so that's one reviews like this help hopefully well this would be such a great bike packing bike it's I can't get over how smooth the ride is the rear triangle is compliant and it feels awesome

this is what a hard feel should ride like I don't know what else to say

all right let's have some fun like I said just super neutral we've got a 67 and a half degree head angle so I end up having to turn with the bars a little more than most bikes but I feel like it's what most people would be used to

that short chain stays bond I also like this has a meteor tires on the other bikes have been demoing even though the travel is only 120 it's actually really well suited for this bike I think despite everyone riding the $9,000 yetis with 150 mil travel out here this is the right bike for this trail and I'm not just saying that because I love hard tails I've got a 150 mil full suspension that I love but for trails like this a hard tail is just way more fun

oh that's a good bike so good

so good it's a bike where you forget about riding then you just go if you're not hitting two foot drops or big jumps

or super steep chunky stuff it spikes fantastic been a long time since I've read reading a hardtail was such a soft rear-end it feels great doesn't transmit bumps to your feet or to your seat like an aluminum or even a burly steel bike so great the bike feels like it almost feels like riding a single speed and because this has sliding dropouts you can write it as a single speed here we go on a flowy part of the trail this bike is just a complete package it feels great

I feel like I can put this a lot harder than the mole it like way better way more planted even though the head angles are about the same way more playful just wants to handle and jump off there's a certain factor that you can't put into words when you're demoing a bike that just makes you smile and this bike has it and it's fun its best it turns trails like this would be pouring on an enduro or even a full suspension bike

90% of our trails look like this they're not black diamonds

Oh accelerates no quick all that manual so well night and day between this in the male

yeah this brings back the simplicity of a hardtail

so well

so balance your way to the perfect position the corner I'm taking you to the head angle now I'd still want to slap it one in Sedona I wouldn't want to change it on this bike cause it's perfect right now yeah oh I do not want to give this bike that it's funny you think all hard tails will feel pretty similar these numbers aren't that extreme it's just God and it's got that short chain status super fun thanks appreciate it I'm gonna squeeze by you

Thanks traffic jam alright I think I believe this it in 122 build it up as a lightweight trail bike alright let's break this down climbing nine out of ten not quite as quick pedal transfer is the ultra stiff bikes but I'm okay with that comfort ten out of ten this is the most supple hard tail I've ever ridden cornering ten out of ten this bike is so balanced playfulness eight half out of ten maybe nine what did I forget downhill nine out of ten 10 out of 10 if it's a blowy blue trail ionic knocked it out of the park what a goodbye I love it oh I forgot fun factor nine out of ten if it wheelies good it's fun on the drill and this bike really is good yeah feels good okay

thanks for watching that concludes our review if you appreciated it give me a thumbs up and subscribe and I want to know what bike you want to see reviewed next one way you could really help me out is email some of those companies let them know that hardtail party exists and say hey hard chill party does good reviews he should review one of your bikes get in touch with him that's a great way my channel so small they don't know who I am and so if you can put in a good word for me that goes a long way and helps me get more products in front of you that we can review thanks for watching there's a party in the mountains and you're always invited

​There's a party in the mountains and you're invited.

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Education

  • Home
  • Bike Consultation
  • Education
    • How to ride bikes with modern geometry
  • Reviews
    • Hardtail Reviews >
      • Banshee Enigma Review (2022)
      • Nukeproof Scout Review Gen 3 (2022)
      • Salsa Timberjack Review (2020)
      • Commencal Meta HT Review (2019)
      • Orbea Laufey Review (2020)
      • Ibis DV9 Carbon Review (2020)
      • Banshee Paradox V3 Review (2020)
      • Specialized Fuse Comp 29 Review (2020)
      • REEB Redikyelous Review (2020)
      • Kona Honzo ST Review (2019)
      • Why Cycles S7 Titanium Review (2020)
      • Salsa Timberjack Review (2020)
      • Ionic Johnny Rotten Review (2019)
      • Santa Cruz Chameleon Carbon (2020)
      • Marin Pine Mountain 2
      • Sage Flow Motion Ti (2020)
      • Cotic BFEMAX Review
      • Ragley MMMBOP
      • Kona Honzo ESD (2021)
      • Diamondback Sync'r Carbon 27.5 Review
      • Commencal Meta HT Review (2019)
      • RSD Sergeant V3 Rigid Fatbike Review
      • Cotic SolarisMAX
      • RSD Middle Child Ti Review
      • Santa Cruz Chameleon Review
    • Wheel Reviews >
      • Nukeproof HZN V2
      • Curve Dirt Hoops
      • ZIPP 3ZERO Moto
      • Evil Loop Holes
      • Atomik Carbon FM30 w/BERD
      • Spinergy MMX 30
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