Blackthorn Carbon GX Eagle
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension enduro bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$6,299Weight | 32.1 lbs |
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Frame | Carbon |
Suspension | Full, 160mm front |
Fork | Fox Performance Elite Float 36 |
Shock | Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite |
Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
Groupset | GX Eagle, Truvativ Descendant |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
For This Bike
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Compare the full Blackthorn model range
View Comparison5'4" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'1" +
None yet.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
Jan 2022 · Mick Kirkman
Best known for its gravel and adventure bikes, Salsa has also spent years blending secret sauces for top-tier mountain bikes. The stealthy Blackthorn is its current 140mm travel rig that’s designed around a 160mm fork, modern angles, and a go-anywhere, ride-anything philosophy. If money is no object, and you want something a little different from the mainstream, it definitely stacks up against the best full-suspension trail bikes on the market. Need to know Salsa’s do-it-all 140mm carbon trail bike rolls on 29in wheels and is designed around a 160mm fork Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot suspension design helps separate acceleration and braking forces Aftermarket link (and shock) can transform the Blackthorn into the longer travel Cassidy model, but you’ll also need a 180mm travel fork. Super Boost 157mm rear hub standard to accommodate tyres up to 3.0in wide in 27.5in size. Frame The Blackthorn’s Split Pivot suspension and ability to transform the chassis into a longer travel rig also gives it something of a dual personality. How so? Well, while it looks clinically clean, Salsa says the frame construction is burly enough to handle a 180mm 29er fork, and, by swapping links and the shock stroke, the Blackthorn can be transformed into a completely different model called the Cassidy with 160mm rear travel. This Jekyll and Hyde trick saves on production costs, as it allows a single base frame to morph into two very different platforms. And while this approach is not unique to Salsa, most other brands aren’t so upfront about it. The aftermarket link kit needed to perform such a character switch will only set you back £155, but you do need to factor in the cost of swapping the shock and fork travel to match, so it’s not something I see many riders doing. Suspension Talking of shocks, the Blackthorn gets a Factory-level Fox DPX2 with its three-position compression adjuster. Also it’s worth pointing out that the leverage rate on both frame configurations is optimised for the extra progressivity inherent in air-sprung shocks, so there’s not enough ramp up to run a coil spring. For the rear suspension, Salsa enlists the help of Dave Weagle and his Split Pivot design, where the rear-most pivot is concentric with the rear axle. It’s very similar to Trek’s ABP design and because the brake caliper is mounted on the seatstay rather than the chainstay, it offers the design engineer more freedom to fine tune braking forces. The concentric pivot also allows for a very clean frame layout, although its 157mm wide Super Boost hub spacing may raise a few eyebrows; especially for riders looking for a frame upgrade, but wanting to use their existing wheels and drivetrain. Sizing and geometry The Blackthorn frame is available in four frame sizes (in both carbon or aluminium), where the carbon version ridden here employs subtly visible layers of carbon weave everywhere except the 6066 alloy seatstays. Salsa uses the EPS (expanded polystyrene) process, similar to other high-end bike firms to ensure optimum carbon fibre …Continue reading »
Pedals like a trail bike, descends like an enduro bike. Understated looks.
Trades some of its more reactive and playful nature for pure speed and stability. Understated looks. Super Boost back end may make frame swaps more difficult.
Apr 2021 · McCoy
The Blackthorn is designed to be an all-mountain trail bike that has no fear of approaching dangerous sections on the mountain while still being remarkably pedal-worthy for an all-day ride.
Mar 2021 · James Vincent
James tests this single frame in both the Blackthorn and Cassidy guises, both of which are a bit of a change from the usual Salsa offerings.
Both bikes are crazy fast and pick up speed with ease
Point and shoot, confidence inspiring suspension when in Cassidy mode. Great pedalling performance and that Fox Float 38 is incredible, making every other fork seem rather meh in comparison.
Versatile design and flexibility.
The tyres. 3 punctures across 4 tyres in two months is disappointing.
The saddle. Yup, I’m fully aware that what you stick your bum on is personal preference, but I really didn’t get on with the RaceFace Aeffect saddle and had to have it angled at an unusually steep angle to give climbing support.
Superboost Plus. Sure it lets you build a stiffer wheel, gives all the mud clearance you could ever want and lets you run 2.6” tyres, but honestly, I’d rather just run 2.4” or 2.5” tyres and stick with Boost 148. Alternatively, I’d like to give the bike industry a time machine so we can skip boost and jump straight to Superboost Plus.
Mar 2021 · Travis Engel
Its silhouette says it all. The Salsa Blackthorn is long, stout and takes care of business, but has no time for your nonsense.
Stable at speed
Outstanding lateral stiffness
Excellent fit and finish
Unique, legacy brand
Expensive
Too businesslike for some
Nov 2020 · Mike Levy
Salsa says that it's "Built for riding any trail anywhere with confidence," and they've spec'd it with 140mm of rear-wheel-travel, a 160mm Fox 36, 29" wheels, and geometry that wouldn't have been out of line on an enduro bike only a few years ago.
Very capable descender
Active, impressive suspension
Not a 'small' trail bike
Hope you like purple - it's the only color option for this complete version.
Sep 2020
Salsa hits the market with two new bikes: the all-mountain smash-machine Cassidy and the more mild-mannered Blackthorn.
Sep 2020
New 140mm travel Salsa Blackthorn can morph into 165mm travel Salsa Cassidy enduro mountain bike with switchable links
Sep 2020 · VeloNews.com
Salsa All-mountain and trail mountain bikes spice things up.
Frame | Blackthorn Carbon BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Tire Clearance: 2.8" Color: Blue |
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Fork | Fox Float 36 Performance Elite GRIP2, 160 mm, 44 mm offset Travel: 160mm Spring Type: Air |
Shock | Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite, 3-position lever with Open mode, LV EVOL Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | 73 mm BSA, threaded |
Stem | Salsa Guide 35.0 |
Handlebar | RaceFace Turbine R 35.0, 800mm |
Saddle | WTB Volt 250 Comp |
Seatpost | TranzX YSI13GL, 30 mm travel height adjustable, travel: SM = 125 mm, MD = 150 mm, LG = 170 mm, XL = 200 mm Type: Dropper |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle |
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Front Derailleur | N/A |
Crank | Truvativ Descendant 7k, DUB, 32t |
Shifters | SRAM GX Eagle |
Cassette | SRAM GX Eagle, 10–52t, 12-speed |
Chain | SRAM GX Eagle |
Brakes | SRAM Code R four-piston (203 mm front, 180 mm rear rotors) Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Rims | Front: DT Swiss M1900 15 x 110 mm hub, 29" Tubeless-Ready rim, Rear: DT Swiss M1900 12 x 157 mm hub, 29" Tubeless-Ready rim |
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Tires | Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5" front, Maxxis Dissector 29 x 2.4" rear, 120 TPI, 3CT, EXO+, Tubeless-Ready |
Disc Rotors | SRAM Code R four-piston (203 mm front, 180 mm rear rotors) |
Last updated April 11
Not listed for 403 days