On One DeeDar | First Ride
June 30th, 2016
By Andrew Dodd in Bikes,Reviews
Product Full Name | On One DeeDar SRAM GX1 Mountain Bike.
Retail Price | from £1199.99 (complete builds) £299.99 (frame only)
Available From | On One
Words | Tony Williams of Evolve MTB
On One DeeDar – Hardtail Enduro Hooligan
Long; low; slack & fast are just a few words to describe On One’s latest hardtail thrasher – though you might usually associate them with downhill and enduro bikes…
On One has created this beast of a hardtail to slot firmly into the type of riding that entices flat out, fun in the woods. Boasting a 66.5 degree head angle & 140mm travel forks, the On One DeeDar certainly inspires you to push the boat out.
With prices for a full bike starting at £1,199.99 with well thought out quality components such as Rockshox RLT Solo Air 140mm Revelation Forks, SRAM GX1 11 speed drivetrain and Guide R brakes, mixed with some of On One’s own components – it looks like another great deal from the company up in Yorkshire.
The Detail
If you’re the kind of rider who likes to keep things simple with regards to your bike, then this little beauty is going to tick a lot of boxes. With the frame being crafted from Medarta Steel, the On One DeeDar is minimal in looks, uncomplicated and makes you smile from ear to ear as the geometry is spot on!
On One have come up with a steel hardtail that mimics the modern geometry seen on most capable full suspension bikes. The top tube is nice and long (600mm on a medium), giving the rider stacks of cockpit room, but allowing the ability to run a short stem.
The low BB gives confidence in the turns, which combined with short seat stays let’s you get really playful. When you throw in a 66.5degree head angle this bike comes alive when you point it down, inspiring confidence and line choice possibilities you thought were reserved for the likes of full suspension bikes.
I’m 5ft 8in and the medium frame was just about right for me – I usually ride smaller frames but felt right at home on this size bike the moment I swung a leg over it.
There’s cable guides to run a stealth style dropper post, with the brakes & gear cables running nice & neatly on the underside of the top tube, keeping the lines clean. On One have designed the back end just for 1X drivetrains, so they’ve been able to maximise the tyre clearance while still keeping the back end ultra short and playful.
The rear drops are bolt in units as well. So you’ll be able to swap between different axle options once all this wheel standards nonsense settles down- the DeeDar comes with 12mmx 142mm, so that’s what you get out of the box.
27.5in WTB i25 KOM rims & EL Guapo Pro hubs keep this bike rolling fast. The pick up is pretty much instantaneous, enabling you to snap out of corners & bomb through technical trails. With the rims being nice and wide, light & strong you really can smash your local trails and get as loose as a goose down at the trail centre.
Taking care of the stopping duties are SRAM Guide R brakes. Working just how I like my brakes, with a really nice progressive feel, on/off with these, you can really feather these beauties & ramp up the stopping power when you need it.
Out On The Trail
We put the One One DeeDar through it’s paces down at Scadson Bike Park in Torquay, a quality spot with a nice mix of natural tracks, jumps and drop offs. I’d only ever ridden there on my DMR Bolt or bigger DH bike before, so was keen to try out this hooligan of a ride.
Oh my days! This bike is nuts – I felt immediately at home pushing into the berms and over rollers into doubles. It really does like to be put into all manner of shapes when you start to push it. First run down and I had completely forgotten that I was on a hardtail.
This was due in part to the supple, responsive ride that steel offers over similar Alloy hard tails – and partly because the geometry was inspiring. The slightly longer-than-usual fit for me really did calm things down on the trail.
I found myself checking out alternative lines, that I’d consider on the Bolt. The momentum that you carry into sections is mind blowing, I was smiling going into features & beaming as I flew out, with child like abandonment!
Obviously being a hardtail you get bucked around more than a full susser which makes certain terrain more of a challenge, but that’s what makes this bike so much damn fun! Finding yourself on the limit more often is so much more fun than rarely finding that edge – I’m sure this bike will push the best of riders and leave all gagging for more.
We Say
On One are definitely onto something with the Dee Dar, it’s really refreshing for a company to bring out a bike that is so simple, with great figures, that exudes fun. This is what mountain biking is about – laughs aloud, on bikes, in the woods with your mates.
On One capture that perfectly with the great value DeeDar frame. Simple, well designed and great value.