Bikes
ANODIZED
GRAPHICS^ ARE
TOUGH,^ LONG-
LASTING,^ AND
BEAUTIFUL.A TRAIL-
CAPABLE FULL-
SUSPENSION BIKE
FOR LESS THAN
A GRAND.THE NO. 22 DRIFTER’S smooth and
speedy ride encourage you to
push your rides farther, and then
will have you yearning to jump
back on for another almost as
soon as you finish. It’s a titanium,
all-road/gravel bike made for
riders who spend hours in the
saddle and think there’s no such
thing as a bad road.
The Drifter is one of No.22’s
ready-made bikes, so unlike the
brand’s custom models, it comes
in a few stock sizes and there
are fewer options. But you still
get to choose the bike’s finish
and select your parts group from
SR AM, Shimano, or Campagnolo.
Plus, No.22 can deliver these
bikes in just three weeks, much
faster than if you order a custom
model. Every weld is immaculate,
and No.22 matches the anodized
color scheme with a carbon fork
and aluminum stem. The design
nicely complements and visually
enhances the engineering.
The U.S.-made 3-2.5 titanium
frame helps smooth the ride, so
you go faster on broken surfaces
with less fatigue. The frame
feels sufficiently stiff, and power
transfer feels good and efficient,
but not snappy like a race bike.
This bike is for long rides, not
painfully fast ones. It’s a bike that
reminds you of why you love to
ride, and the titanium frame will
likely last as long as you keep the
bike around.—M.J.NO.22 DRIFTER
PRICE: $8,499 / WEIGHT 18.9 LB (54CM)
THERE WAS A time when we
couldn’t find any full-suspension
bikes for less than $1,000 that we
could recommend. At those prices
you almost always got better per-
formance and more value from a
hardtail. But this $900 Diamond-
back Atroz 2 changes that math.
The bike has a robust aluminum
frame, 100mm of rear-wheel travel
from a proven single-pivot design, a
smooth Suntour shock, and a capa-
ble 120mm fork. The 1x 9-speed
drivetrain keeps shifting simple,
eliminates finicky front derail-
leurs, and has a good selection of
gears, but it does sacrifice some of
the easiest gears—something to
consider if you expect to tackle a
lot of sharp climbs. Unlike a lot ofcheaper mountain bikes, though,
the Atroz comes with grippy,
2.35-inch-wide Vee Rubber tires
that don’t cower on rough trails.
Is this $900, full-suspension
mountain bike any good? It is: The
suspension is effective, offering
improved control and comfort, and
the parts are good, too. If social
rides on f low trails are your thing,
this bike may be for you. But if you
prioritize low weight, a hardtail
may still win.
The Atroz 2 illustrates that the
era of good, cheap mountain bikes
is here. We can’t wait to ride more
gems like this one—low-cost,
great-performing models that will
take you anywhere for less than
$1,000.—B.L.DIAMONDBACK ATROZ 2
PRICE: $900 / WEIGHT: 35.7 LB (L)94 BICYCLING.COM • ISSUE 5