One of the more exciting segments in mountain biking right now is occupied by short-travel bikes that punch above their weight class. Call them downcountry, light trail, modern cross-country, but just don’t call them pure race rigs. Characterized by supportive yet straightforward suspension platforms and modern geometry, these bikes are designed to be versatile, whether that’s in backcountry terrain or on an XC course.
While the end goal might be similar across the segment, there is wide variation in how each brand attempts to get there, from price point to suspension kinematics. Following my review of the Sour Cowboy Cookie, which is sort of a niche outlier with its heavier metal frame construction, I have a growing list of bikes to review in the short-travel category. Next up in my queue is one I was most excited to put through its paces – the overhauled Signal Peak 3.0 from Ari Bikes.
Named after one of the highest points in southwestern Utah, Ari Bikes’ home state, the third iteration of the Signal Peak has been revamped for higher competencies on XC courses, for big mountain days, endurance events, and lengthy stage races. This short-travel platform utilizes a (reportedly) stronger yet lighter carbon fiber layup than previous versions, with the top-end build weighing in under 25 pounds (11.3 kg). Its 110 mm (rear) / 120 mm (front) suspension has been redesigned and now features a monocoque rear triangle with flex seatstays rather than a rear pivot to shed weight.
Embracing trends for steeper seat angles and slacker head tubes for optimized pedaling and descending prowess, the new version’s 66.5° head angle gets 0.5° slacker, with a 76° seat tube angle that is 1° steeper than the 2.0. And there’s a lot more to the Signal Peak story, including a handful of nitpicks, all of which I’ll report in detail below.
Lows: The absence of more sizes could exclude riders on either end of the sizing spectrum. Some aspects of fit and geometry seem conflicted between XC and trail riding. Longer dropper compatibility would be nice on larger frames. Tire clearance, bottle space, and storage options will leave some riders wanting more.
Price: US$6,400 Pro level build + $1,500 Flight Attendant upgrade as tested. Lower-cost builds available.
Shipping: As a direct-to-consumer brand, Ari’s distribution channels are a bit different than those sold in bike shops. Currently, the majority of sales occur in North America, but Ari will ship anywhere in the world. International customers get the same consultation process I experienced, and are responsible for shipping and duty costs incurred by their country. Regardless of location, all customers have access to Ari’s fitting process, lifetime warranty, and return guarantee. Variations exist for e-bikes, however, as different protocols are in place across different regions.
Shopping with Ari Bikes
It had been a while since I last reviewed a bike from a major direct-to-consumer company, and reviewing the Signal Peak was my first time on an Ari Bike. Ari recently rebranded from what was “Fezzarri,” a name that bears a striking audible resemblance to that of a certain luxury Italian automotive manufacturer. Regardless of naming conventions, the company attempts to connect with each prospective customer, ensuring proper fit and component selection.
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Ari also claims that substantial cost savings can be achieved by working directly with its customers rather than with distributors or shops in the middle. Certainly a decision point for some buyers that are committed to supporting their local bike shops, but it's also undeniable that $4,000 for the base-model Signal Peak Comp is a solid value proposition compared to the competition.
When ordering my Signal Peak for review, I wanted to partake in the same experience that would be available to all prospective Ari customers. This started with a phone call between me and product manager Ty Bishop, who was pinch-hitting (translation: substituting) for an Ari customer service representative. In this initial conversation, we covered everything from the type of riding I planned to do with the bike to my sizing information and even comparisons with other similar models to ensure I was making the proper choice in terms of both fit and componentry.
The custom build process sets Ari apart from most other brands, and Bishop was able to recommend a build spec for me that might be different than other Signal Peak customers. We determined that my use case for the bike would push it to both ends of its intended spectrum. Living in Phoenix, Arizona, I am surrounded by mountain parks riddled with old-school janky singletrack and newer purpose-built flow trails. As it’s now our shoulder season here in the desert, where spring fades into summer and temperatures spike, I tend to get a lot of my weekly mileage riding out to trails, rather than driving, hoping to pack in some extra low-stress miles into my rides. Conveniently, I received the Signal Peak just in time for our local short track XC race series to start up.
Considering both the trail and race settings I’d be using the bike in, Bishop suggested the “Pro” build with some upgrades. Positioned in the middle of Ari’s five build tiers, the Pro comes with SRAM XO AXS Transmission drivetrain, RockShox SID Ultimate Fork, SIDLuxe Ultimate shock, Motive Silver brakes, DT Swiss XR 1700 wheelset, and other commensurate parts for US$6,400.
Mechanical drivetrain builds, which slot in at pricepoints below the Pro level cost US$4,000 for Shimano Deore level and US$4,700 for XT. Up at the higher echelons, “Team” features an AXS XX SL-level build with Zipp carbon wheels, starting at $US8,700. Add RockShox’s wireless responsive Flight Attendant system to the suspension, and you’ll be looking at a US$9,500 bicycle.
For comparison’s sake (the following are two bikes I have in for review), the new Salsa Spearfish comes with a lower suspension and drivetrain spec for more money (US$300 more to be exact), and Kona’s Hei Hei tops out at US$5,300 with a fully mechanical drivetrain. Canyon’s Lux World Cup CF 9 comes with carbon rims, but has the brand’s higher-weight carbon layup, lower-cost SID SL Select+ fork, and lower-level GX Eagle drivetrain for US$5,300. Both the Specialized Epic Expert 8 and the Cannondale Scalpel 2 Dave Rome recently reviewed have a lesser GX AXS drivetrain for about the same cost (US$6,500). Off the shelf, Ari’s price points are highly competitive.
Ari doesn’t lock customers into one of these specific builds, however. Rather, it keeps a variety of excess commonly requested parts on hand, enabling upgrades and customizations of build kits. And if it doesn’t have what you want in stock, the staff will hunt down the part and install it for you. Want the lowest-end drivetrain with a fancy carbon wheelset or wider handlebars than spec? Well, Ari can make reasonable accommodations and get the right components onto bikes from the beginning.
The flexible program saves its customers the hassle of buying and installing aftermarket parts in addition to keeping unwanted components out of parts bins. And that’s exactly what I chose in the Pro level with the Flight Attendant upgrade package on top, which would add US$1,500 to the base price. I also asked for wider handlebars, which came to a $US160 upcharge (OneUp carbon). Out the door, shipped to my house, I would have been looking at a US$8,000 bill before tax.
Signal Peak 3.0 overview and Pro build kit
The Signal Peak arrived in two packages: one containing the frame and components, and another with the wheels inside. Ari preassembled the bike in its Utah facility, removing only a few components required to fit securely in the boxes. All I had to do to make it rideable was install the wheels, attach the handlebars to the stem, and mount the derailleur per SRAM’s T-Type instructions. Freshly built, before adding water bottle cages or my Wolf Tooth Encase pump, the complete bike weighed 28.10 lbs (12.75 kg).
The first thing that stood out to me about the frame was the absence of thru-headset cable routing. Thank you, Ari! According to Ty Bishop, Ari wanted to make the Signal Peak easily serviceable and, opposite its dropbar lineup, which doesn’t have forks that need to be dropped for regular service intervals, Ari’s mountain bikes do. So, keeping the cables out of the headset was important. Adding to that straightforward ownership, the frame has tube-in-tube routing. The rear suspension linkage was also designed to be easily maintainable, as the bearings are pressed into the rocker link rather than into the frame itself. That means the whole piece can be removed from the frame to service bearings on a workbench rather than on the bike in a stand, and if you botch the process, it’s just a replaceable part.
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