Salsa Blackthorn: The All-Mountain 29er Built for Victoria's Trails

If you're looking for an all-mountain 29er that can handle everything Victoria's trails throw at it — the wet roots of Hartland, the rocky tech of Bear Mountain, the long climbs of the Saanich Peninsula — the Salsa Blackthorn deserves a serious look.

Salsa has built a reputation for bikes that are genuinely capable in the real world, not just on paper. The Blackthorn is their all-mountain flagship: a 29er with progressive geometry, Split Pivot suspension, and a build philosophy centred on confidence and capability. We carry three models at Brentwood Cycle, and each one hits a different sweet spot.

What Makes the Blackthorn Special?

Split Pivot Suspension

Every Blackthorn uses Salsa's Split Pivot suspension design, which places the rear axle pivot concentric with the rear dropout. The result is a suspension platform that stays active under braking and pedalling — you get traction when you need it most, without the bike feeling like it's wallowing or bobbing on climbs. For Victoria's mix of technical climbing and rowdy descending, it's an ideal setup.

Progressive Geometry

The Blackthorn runs a slack head tube angle (around 64.5–65 degrees depending on the flip chip position) and a steep seat tube angle (76.5 degrees) that keeps you centred over the bike on climbs. This is modern all-mountain geometry done right — stable and planted on descents, efficient and powerful on the way up.

Pack-Free Trail Features

Salsa designed the Blackthorn with integrated down tube strap mounts, top tube mounts, and a bottle cage mount — so you can carry what you need without a pack. For long days on the trails around Victoria, that's a meaningful quality-of-life feature.

29" Wheels

All Blackthorn models roll on 29" wheels, which roll over obstacles more easily, maintain speed better through rough sections, and give you a more stable, confidence-inspiring feel on technical terrain. For the rooty, rocky trails around Hartland and Gowlland Tod, 29" is the right call.

The Models We Carry

Salsa Blackthorn Carbon SLX — $4,000 CAD

The Carbon SLX is the performance build of the Blackthorn lineup — a carbon frame paired with a spec sheet that punches well above its price point.

• Suspension: RockShox Lyrik Select+ RC fork (160mm) + Fox Float X Performance shock (140mm rear travel)
• Drivetrain: Shimano SLX 1x12, 10–51t cassette — smooth, reliable, and easy to service
• Brakes: Shimano Deore M6120 four-piston — strong stopping power for steep descents
• Tires: Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5" front (MaxxGrip) + Maxxis Dissector 29x2.4" rear (MaxxTerra) — an excellent wet-condition setup for Victoria trails
• Dropper post: TranzX YSI05 dropper included
• Handlebar: Race Face Aeffect R 35, 780mm — wide enough for confident descending

The carbon frame keeps weight down while adding compliance and a lively ride feel. The SLX drivetrain is a workhorse — dependable in all conditions and easy to maintain. If you want a carbon all-mountain bike that won't break the bank, this is one of the best values in the category.

View the Salsa Blackthorn Carbon SLX →

Salsa Blackthorn Eagle 70 — Aluminum, Small — $4,200 CAD

The Eagle 70 in aluminum brings SRAM's impressive Eagle 70 Transmission drivetrain to a tough, trail-ready alloy frame. This is a bike built to take a beating and keep performing.

• Frame: 6061-T6 aluminum with 140mm of rear travel
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik, 160mm
• Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission, 10–52t — SRAM's wireless-ready transmission platform with a wide range cassette for any climb Victoria can throw at you
• Brakes: SRAM Maven 4-piston with 200mm rotors front and rear — serious stopping power
• Geometry: 64.6-degree head tube angle, 76.5-degree seat tube angle, Super Boost 157x12mm rear spacing
• Tire clearance: Up to 29x2.6" or 27.5x3.0"
• Flip chip: Adjusts head tube angle and BB height to fine-tune the geometry for your riding style

The SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission is a standout spec at this price — it's a modern, reliable drivetrain with a wide gear range that makes light work of Hartland's steeper climbs. The aluminum frame is stiff, durable, and built for years of hard riding.

View the Blackthorn Eagle 70 — Small →

Salsa Blackthorn Eagle 70 — Aluminum, Medium — $4,500 CAD

The medium Eagle 70 shares the same excellent spec as the small but is built around Salsa's updated Blackthorn 145 aluminum frame with 160mm of rear travel — making it the most capable descender of the three models.

• Frame: Blackthorn 145 Aluminum, 160mm rear travel
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik, 44mm offset, 160mm
• Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ 2P
• Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission, 10–52t 12-speed
• Brakes: SRAM Maven 4-piston, SRAM CenterLine 2.0 rotors (200mm front and rear)
• Tires: Teravail Kessel 29x2.5" front and rear — a capable all-condition trail tire
• Tubeless ready: WTB TCS valve and sealant included
• Dropper post: TranzX YSI-05 adjustable-travel dropper

With 160mm of travel front and rear, this is the Blackthorn for riders who want maximum capability on technical descents. It's still a great climber thanks to the Split Pivot suspension and steep seat tube angle, but it's tuned for riders who like to push hard on the way down.

View the Blackthorn Eagle 70 — Medium →

Which Blackthorn Is Right for You?

• Blackthorn Carbon SLX ($4,000) — Best for riders who want a lighter carbon frame and a proven Shimano SLX drivetrain. Excellent all-rounder for Hartland and beyond.
• Blackthorn Eagle 70 Small ($4,200) — Best for smaller riders who want SRAM's Eagle 70 Transmission and a tough aluminum build with 140mm of travel.
• Blackthorn Eagle 70 Medium ($4,500) — Best for riders who want the most travel (160mm) and the most descending capability. The go-big option in the Blackthorn lineup.

Not sure which one fits your riding style and body? Come into Brentwood Cycle in Saanichton — we'll talk through your trails, your riding style, and get you on the right size. We've been fitting Victoria riders for over 40 years and we know these bikes well.

The Blackthorn on Victoria's Trails

The Blackthorn's geometry and suspension are a natural fit for what we ride around here. The slack head angle inspires confidence on Hartland's rooty, off-camber descents. The steep seat tube keeps you powerful on the long climbs out of Gowlland Tod. The wide tire clearance means you can run the chunky rubber that Victoria's wet conditions demand — and the tubeless-ready wheels make it easy to set up for lower pressures and better traction.

If you're riding the trails around Victoria and want a bike that can do it all — climb well, descend with confidence, and hold up to year-round riding in the Pacific Northwest — the Salsa Blackthorn belongs on your shortlist.

Come See Us at Brentwood Cycle

All three Blackthorn models are available at our Saanichton shop. Stop by for a closer look, ask us anything, and let's find the right build for your riding. We're here to help.