Minnesota based Framed Bikes has long been associated with a whole slew of fat bike options including full suspension fat bikes and to a lesser extent 27.5+ hardtails and road and adventure bikes. Now framed has launched in a new direction with their Bootlegger Carbon, full suspension XC bike.
The Bootlegger features a horst link 4 bar linkage suspension system with 100mm of travel. It’s also designed to be run with a 100mm fork up front. The geometry chart checks out as being in line with the latest crop of XC race rockets, 68 degree head tube angle, 438mm chainstays and 428mm reach on a medium.
The Framed Bootlegger comes in 3 different builds. The base model is the “NX 1×12 – Rockshox with Alloy Wheels” build and retails for a very tempting $2,299.95. The next build up is the NX 1×12 – Fox with Alloy Wheels build that goes for $2,599.95. The final build that goes for $2,999.95 is the NX 1×12 – Fox with Carbon Wheels. A Carbon XC bike with for 3000 dollars is rare, one with carbon wheels is just about unheard of.
Weights for the builds have not been published but on paper there is nothing to suggest that this bike wouldn’t be a very capable XC race contender. Framed has specced the bikes modestly with NX drivetrains, SRAM level brakes and in house alloy cockpit components. But for the price each of the builds seems very compelling.
You can find out more about the Bootlegger at Framed Bikes Website: https://www.framedbikes.com/collections/mountain-bikes/products/bootlegger-carbon-mountain-bike-29
Thanks for this write-up! I just came across this model. I have a Framed Alaskan Carbon and very impressed with what Framed is doing. I just got the weight specs from Framed and thought I’d post it here. “The Bootlegger comes in at about 29 lbs give or take on size with the alloy wheels and about 28 lbs with the carbon wheels. You can also save another 2 lbs or so by setting either build up tubeless.” That is very respectable considering the modest spec with NX. One could easily upgrade over time and have a very sweet carbon XC bike. I am looking forward to hearing some trail reviews.
Since your article, there’s another version also… The Last Word with more carbon goods and a dropper post… I have a slightly from the Factory customized version of this and it comes in at about 24lbs with Time pedals. I have just a few hundred miles on it so far, but it’s darn fast and the geometry is brilliant for the mix of technical rocky trails and desert singletrack I ride here in Tucson. Mine is setup with Fox 100mm front and rear, Pub carbon wheels, SRAM X01, Stylo carbon crank, Fox dropped, Race Face carbon bars/Turbine stem. I’ve been a Factory Rider since 2015 and the Bootlegger really shows how far Framed has come and how well they’re providing great bikes at an affordable price point. In 25yrs of racing, it’s nice to see an approachable bike Company not putting off it’s Customers, but meeting them with the bikes they want.