Surly Bikes released their all-new Sorceress hardtail earlier this year, featuring rowdy geometry, patent-pending DUH dropouts, and some great colors. Spencer promptly took it to Moab, Utah, for some proper testing. Was he bewitched by the Surly Sorceress, or was it just those soaring red rock cliffs? Find out below…
I was very excited when I heard news of a new Surly hardtail. I had pulled a jab at Surly from my Moonlander review about them creating that crazy bike while the Karate Monkey languished, mostly untouched for nearly a decade. The Sorceress wasn’t going to be a new Karate Monkey, nor was it supposed to be. It seems closer to a spiritual successor to their Instigator line of yesteryear. Where the Karate Monkey functions as a well-rounded hardtail or rigid experience, the Sorceress wants rowdy and expressive line choices down steep terrain.
When I had to drop the bike off for a quick brake bleed at Moab Cyclery (shoutout David and Connor for helping me out quickly), a patron remarked, “That looks like my 7-year-old Chromag I’m trying to sell.” I chortled a bit and had to agree; it did seem a bit late in the game for a brand that made its name by being at the forefront of cycling trends.
It’s been 6 years since we reviewed the Kona ESD, which felt like a harbinger of the hardcore hardtails. I have personally reviewed the Transition Transam and Esker Smokey Ti in the past few years, but I did do a double-take as Otso just released their Hoot Steel right around the same time as the Sorceress; there must be a spell upon the upper Midwest.
I was quick to jump on the “this is just late” train, but upon closer inspection, other brands are still getting into this genre of hardtail. The bike world is constantly refining geo, suspension, and frame designs, and all that makes for even better bikes, which is a good thing for us riders, even if the concept is not as cutting-edge as it was a few years earlier.
Surly Sorceress Quick Hits
- Natch Steel frame
- Designed for a 140mm fork
- 29″ wheels on all sizes except XS, which uses 27.5″
- Price:
- Frame: $999
- SS Complete $2199
- Geared Deore Complete $2400
- Geared Eagle 90 Complete $3200 (Reviewed)
- Colors: Elderberry Tonic (reviewed), Hot Honey Bling, Swamp Water Taffy
- DUH dropout system (patent pending) allows for SRAM UDH, Full-Mount, and single-speed drivetrain setups
- 30.9mm seatpost size
- Room for two bottles on MD–XL sizes; one bottle on XS–SM sizes
- SS DUH kit (dropout kit and axle) sold separately if you buy a geared complete
Surly Sorceress Frame Details
The first thing that jumped out at me on my XL review Sorceress was the jump tube triangulating the seatube to the top tube. It made me wanna holler at Bicycle Pubes to get another “tiny fucking framebag” contest going again, though it wouldn’t even be that tiny. I found that the jump tube made an exceptional portage handle, even though it was not intended for that purpose.
It looks like the size large frame got a much smaller jump tube, with the sizes below that having none. The resulting angles, to keep the top tube in line with the seat stays, necessitate a jump tube to secure the seat post and all the leverage that a 200mm dropper post has on the frame.
I love the two downtube bottle cage mounts! I wish more frame designers would do this, especially since many bikes don’t have seat tube bottle mounts anymore due to the needs of long dropper posts. The top tube chapstick mount was a real bonus, but you’d probably want to just run a gas tank bag instead.
Outside of the DUH dropout – which we’ll discuss next because it deserves its own section – the frame is standard Surly: external routing and round steel tubes. It’s a bike! The rubber chainstay protector is a new one for Surly, as their bikes used to just come with a thick, clear sticker. The dropper post routing through the bottom of the downtube was a first for me, but it seemed to work just fine.
DUH Dropout and Swapping to Single Speed
The DUH dropout is Surly’s first foray into the world of legally protected bike nerdery. The dropout allows for the frame to utilize SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger and Transmission drivetrains while also allowing for the frame to be set up single speed with room to adjust chain tension. The swap to SS requires a separate Dropout Chip and Single Speed Thru Axle, both of which are sold separately if you buy the geared complete bike.
Surly is famous for its outlandish dropouts that are compatible with multiple axle sizes, hub spacings, and drivetrains. I’d even say they had gone too far in years past to make everything possible, while making the actual use frustrating at times. If you have ever wrenched on a Straggler, you might know what I mean. Unlike previous Gnot Boost-spaced bikes meant to straddle the line between classic 142mm and 148mm boost spaced hubs, the Sorceress commits holy [sic] to Boost spacing.
I was initially crestfallen to see the opposing set screws that frustrated me on bikes such as the Straggler, though upon some explanation from Thor at Surly, I’m less dubious of them. Thor explained that the drive side set screw is there to manage forces from pedaling, while the non-drive side set screw manages braking forces. The screws are less about being useful for setup than managing the riding forces once cable tension is set, allowing for a lower torque on the axle to stay tight.
Setting the bike up single speed involved many moving parts: swapping the UDH chip, axle, and managing torque on 8 bolts. I think the brake setup was the most challenging, as you are managing the fore/aft position of the caliper via the IS adaptor, as well as the caliper alignment to the rotor. Any change to the axle tension will throw your brake out of alignment. It’s a balancing act to get it all harmonized.
The DUH is rather sleek in its design, but in the weeds, it is deceptively complex and detailed. Surly wasn’t going to do a slider or rocker dropout; they had to do it Surly style. In the fixed position on the geared build, the dropout functions similarly to any UDH dropout I’ve encountered, so if you don’t plan to convert to SS, have no fears, it works just fine.
*Geometry numbers are at 25% sag*
Geometry
Across the board on the Sorceress, we see a constant 65-degree head tube angle and 76-degree seat tube angle at sag, with the exception of the 27.5″ wheeled XS frame, which sits at 64 degrees for its head tube angle. The stack height lover in me found the 673mm of stack height to be more than adequate to slam the stem when combined with the 38mm riser handlebar.
I had an intriguing interaction with the Sorceress on my first few rides; I was bothered by wheel flop for the first time ever. I’ve ridden many hardcore hardtails and sufficiently slack full suspension rigs, and I’ve never really noticed or been bothered by the dreaded wheel flop. It feels like something roadies complain about when they ride a bike with a headtube angle under 70 degrees, not something a seasoned mountain biker would notice, but I noticed it.
The wheel flop wasn’t unmanageable by any means, but if you are coming from a Karate Monkey or Timberjack-esque hardtail, be prepared for the slackening. Despite the minor issue of noticeable wheel flop, the aggressive 76-degree seat tube angle kept me seated and pedaling through the steep terrain.
The 65mm bb drop sits a bit low for me, as I like to be closer to 60, but I didn’t have any especially noticeable pedal strikes through my review period. For such a steep terrain-craving bike, I’m not surprised to see a lower bottom bracket to enhance the stability and feel of being more in the frame.
I think Surly might have gone a tad overboard on the head tube angle, but overall, the Sorcress is a well-balanced, albeit rowdy, hardtail geometry.
Surly Sorceress Build Kit
I reviewed the higher-end Eagle 90 build, which included a Psylo Gold fork for this review. Travis did a deep dive into the Psylo Gold fork a few years ago upon its release, and if you are considering this build, I’d read his review. I always tell people that when you are buying a hardtail, you are mostly buying a fork, so make sure it is worth it.
The Psylo is a fork you want to keep and maintain as opposed to a low-end steel stanchioned fork that won’t be worth the rebuild. The Psylo features 35mm stanchions, which are now common across the Rock Shox lineup. The larger stanchions create a stiffer fork to better help manage the rowdy terrain the Sorceress wants to ride.
Many of these mid-tier forks are great at “Set it and forget it,” and the Pyslo is just that; it performed admirably as the only suspension on the bike. If you want a deeper dive into the tech, check out Travis’ review, but safe to say there is plenty of value in this budget fork.
The Sorceress featured a set of SRAM DB6 hydraulic brakes. It seems SRAM is fully committing to mineral oil in their budget-minded brake offerings. Since these brakes use mineral oil, I can attest that they feel similar to equally priced Shimano hydraulic brakes, and I mean that as a compliment. There isn’t a wide range of modulation, but when they finally bite, they work great. My only issue was that the front brake needed a bleed right out of the box, as it pulled all the way to the bar.
The touchpoints didn’t resonate with me on this bike, mainly the bars. While I appreciated the generous 38mm rise of the unbranded handlebars, their lack of upsweep felt strange to me. Upsweep is usually only a few degrees, but I’ve noticed it makes a huge difference in regard to ride feel as bars get wider and wider. If you have ever transitioned from flared drops back to non-flared, it was similar to that feeling. Of anything on the bike, I would personally swap the bars first. A second swap would be the WTB Solano saddle, but purely on sit bone preference – results may vary for your own nether region.
I’ve said in the past that the front ends of rowdy hardtails write checks that the rears can’t cash. All the suspension is in the fork, which leaves the rear wheel open to the full consequences of the slacked-out front end devil on my shoulder whispering send it. Case in point, I punctured the rear tire and dented the rim beyond reseating.
Three DynaPlugs couldn’t seal the hole, and the bead wouldn’t seat anymore. I’ve ridden Teravail Kessels for years and never had an unrepairable hole, but they have to come for us sometime. My review rig spent its last few weeks with a tube in the rear tire like a proper Midwestern Surly. If you are serious about getting rowdy on the Sorceress, I’d consider a rear tire insert to protect your rim.
The drivetrain is a mix of Eagle 70 and 90, SRAM’s mechanical drivetrain that utilizes the UDH Transmission full mount. As with any other time I’ve received a bike with Eagle 90, the drivetrain required an additional initial setup, but after that gave me no issues. I thought it fair to showcase the bike utilizing the full mount after all the effort that went into the DUH dropout. Another fun part of the XS-1270 Transmission cassette is that it fits on a classic Shimano HG freehub body. This allows for an easier swap to single speed since an XD-specific SS kit isn’t necessary.
What the Sorceress Gets Right
The Sorceress goes deep toward the progressive end of hardtail geometry. If you want to push your riding as far as hardtail can go, the Sorceress will be there to cast spells to light your way. As with all bikes, especially hardtails, they can ride as hard as you are skilled to pilot them. The slack front end will make steep riding more feasible as long as you don’t forget you’re on a hardtail. I think Surly has tapped into this segment of hardtails in a fun way that feels in line with their fandom and where mountain biking is right now.
Coming off riding rowdy, shorter-travel full suspension bikes, the Sorceress felt instantly familiar and capable, even as I took it out on Captain Ahab as my first ride on the bike. It climbed efficiently (it’s a hardtail) and allowed me to confidently let loose on descents and b-lines alike. I had to constantly remind myself it was a hardtail, but besides that, the bike was a blast to ride.
I love the stack height across the sizes. The tall stack height and riser bars create a comfortable upright riding position that, in combination with the steep seat tube angle, sacrifices little climbing prowess.
The fork choice is also a standout; on either build, you get a proper aluminum stanchioned fork. I haven’t ridden the SR Suntour Zeron36, but it looks stout and decent as a budget option.
I will say that the DUH dropout is impressive in its flexibility. I like that Surly didn’t scoff at the UDH standard, but rather utilized it in its own Surly way.
The colors are amazing. I love the gentle sparkle of the deep purple I reviewed. I also saw a friend’s Hot Honey Bling, and the sparkle is off the charts. I was jealous.
What Misses the Mark
The price of the Eagle 90 build, at $3200, feels high to me. Usually, the fork is the lion’s share of the price of a full build, but I think that may be eclipsed by the SRAM 90 drivetrain. There is, of course, a Deore 12-speed build for $2500, which feels more in line with what I’d expect from a Surly. There are not a ton of Eagle 90-equipped steel hardtails on the market to compare to at the moment.
The handlebars were a roller coaster of emotions; at first, I was filled with glee upon seeing the rise, but after riding them without any upsweep, I was left disappointed.
As impressive as the DUH dropout is, the fact that a whole separate axle and dropout chip are needed separately to set the bike up SS is a tough pill to swallow. Most people won’t need this adaptation, or they will just buy the SS build out the gate, so this critique is admittedly niche.
It is a steel hardtail with a budget fork, so the Sorceress is heavy. The size XL weighs 30.5 pounds while set up single speed. Add a few pounds for a full drivetrain and a recommended tire insert, and the weight is getting up into the mid 30s. Most of that weight is in the wheels, which, despite their weight, still dented during review.
If I were getting nitpicky, I could say that the head tube angle felt a touch too slack, leading to some of the wheel flop I experienced, but… nah, this bike wants to send it.
TL;DR
The Surly Sorceress fills a much-needed gap in Surly’s line for a more modern mountain bike. In true Surly fashion, they made their own dropout that works with the most modern drivetrains, dove into the progressive end of the bubbling hardtail cauldron, and did with typical Surly gusto (Hot Honey Bling sparkles!). The Sorceress might not be for everyone, as it courts a rowdy rider who knows the limits of a hardtail. If you are looking to expand your mountain bike horizons, but don’t want to meddle in the black magic of a full suspension, then maybe the Surly Sorceress is just for you…
Pros
- Classic Surly Natch steel frame
- Clean lines
- Rowdy progressive hardtail geometry
- Gets as rowdy as you can handle
- Amazing color schemes
- Builds to fit most people’s desires, even single speeders
- DUH dropout allows for the use of full-mount drivetrains and SS alike
Cons
- Heavy spec
- Eagle 90 build feels expensive for the category
- Single-speeding the DUH dropout requires a separate axle and dropout chip
- Single speed setup is fiddly with torque on 8 bolts to balance
- Handlebar’s lack of upsweep left something to be desired
- The jump tube on the XL frame is an aesthetic blemish on an otherwise clean line design
See more at Surly.