First Ride Review: Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana – an exciting American-made enduro 29er

The Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana is the Colorado-based brand’s new enduro 29er, sporting 160 mm rear travel, paired with a massive 170 mm fork. This burly American-made mountain bike comes with some bold claims of patent-pending carbon technologies, a clever modular frame platform and a heavy Rock’n’Roll vibe! But does it party on the trails?

The Gnarvana is Guerilla Gravity’s longest travel 29er to date. With 170/160 mm travel (front/rear) the Gnarvana means business. Available in three builds costing from $3895 to $6395, and as a frame only option for $2195, the Gnarvana follows GG’s trend of producing affordable US-made carbon mountain bikes.

The Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana in detail

The first thing we noticed when we pulled the Gnarvana out of its box was the sleek matte frame and its striking silver highlights. Guerilla Gravity are not ashamed to flaunt their full-gas Rock’n’Roll attitude, and it shows!

From afar, the Gnarvana frame looks like a sleek and stealthy speed machine, but if you look closer you start to notice a host of clever details. One such detail is the hidden external cable routing. The rear brake, derailleur and dropper cables all run along a groove on the left side of the carbon down tube, which is hidden by a sleek plastic cover. The cables can be neatly bunched up and secured with just a couple of small zip ties, and we heard no rattling during the duration of our test. However, we recommend sticking some protective tape to the left side of the headtube to prevent cable rub when riding.

Rounding off the sleek and well though-out frame is an external bottom bracket for creak-free use and easy serviceability, a comprehensive rubber chainstay protector as well as a thick rubber pad on the lower downtube/bottom bracket area to fend off rock strikes.

US-made Revved Carbon Technology

Until the beginning of 2019, Guerilla Gravity exclusively produced bikes out of steel and aluminium, gaining a cult-like following as a result. The announcement that they would be switching all their full-suspension models to a carbon front triangle shocked many loyal fans. However, even more intriguing than the sudden change to composite were the claims that came with it! Using a proprietary resin from the aerospace industry, Guerilla Gravity claim their frames are 300% more impact resistant than leading carbon frames. Then there was the surprisingly low price… In a world where most far-east produced carbon frames cost upwards of $3500, Guerilla Gravity’s US-made carbon frame costs only $2195. The reason? Low manufacturing time. Guerilla Gravity claim that their carbon frames take 80% less time to lay up due to automated fibre placement, use a fusing method that is 80% faster than traditional curing cycles and require 90% less sanding and finishing work than “traditional” carbon frames. While these claims sound amazing, we are unable to comment on the frame’s impact resistance compared to other options.

What is Guerilla Gravity’s Modular Frame Platform all about?

Eagle-eyed fans of Guerilla Gravity will immediately notice that the Gnarvana’s carbon front triangle looks identical to that of the brand’s other models… And that’s because it is! The Gnarvana is the fifth bike in GG’s Modular Frame Platform, meaning that it shares the same carbon front triangle as all other models. The difference lies in the aluminium seatstays, which determine the bike’s rear travel and geometry and differentiate each model. This means that if you fancy changing up your ride, a $445 Seatstay Tuning Kit is all you need to drastically transform your bikes travel, geometry and ride feel (providing you have the necessary components to hand). The Gnarvana Chainstay Tuning Kit is also available for anyone wanting to bump up the travel of their current Guerilla Gravity 29er.

The GeoAdjust headset

Like all of Guerilla Gravity’s carbon bikes, the Gnarvana features a nifty headset which lets you adjust its reach and wheelbase by 10 mm. All you have to do is remove the top cap and spacers, drop the fork slightly and flip the top and bottom headset cups. The job takes no more than 10 minutes to complete and should be straightforward for any home mechanic who is comfortable swapping forks or replacing headset bearings. The only tools required are 4 and 5 mm Allen keys for the stem and top cap bolts. While a repair stand is recommended, we had no issues performing the swap in our living room.

The geometry of the Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana

But what about the rest of the geometry? Well, Guerilla Gravity have always claimed to be pushing forward with modern geometry, and a quick look at the Gnarvana’s geometry table backs this claim up. We used GG’s sizing configurator, which recommended our 184 cm tall tester a Size 3 Gnarvana, with its headset set to “long” and a 50 mm stem. In the “long” setting, the Size 3 Gnarvana has a roomy 470 mm reach and a lengthy 1273 mm wheelbase. The head angle sits at a slack 63.7° and the effective seat angle comes in at a relatively relaxed 76°. The long 450 mm chainstays were a welcome sight, and defy the “shorter is better” trend for rear triangle length. Overall, the geometry numbers looked promising and we were excited to see if they could convince on the trail!

Size (“Long” setting)	2	3	4
Seat tube	400 mm	430 mm	480 mm
Top tube	595 mm	625 mm	660 mm
Head tube	100 mm	120 mm	140 mm
Head angle	63.7°	63.7°	63.7°
Seat angle	76°	76°	76°
Chainstay	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm
BB Height	349 mm	349 mm	349 mm
Wheelbase	1239 mm	1273 mm	1311 mm
Reach	445 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Stack	618 mm	636 mm	654 mm

Sensible and customisable: the GG Gnarvana’s spec

Like the rest of the Guerilla Gravity range, the Gnarvana is available in three build kits – Ride, Rally, and Race. However, these are only base builds, and the handy online configurator lets you upgrade any part of the build to suit your preference, as well as choose your stem and dropper post length. The Gnarvana is also available as a frame only option for $2195, with a number of shocks to choose from at an additional cost.

Ride build

Fork RockShox Lyrik Select 170 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe Select+ 160 mm
Brakes SRAM Code R
Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed
Seatpost SDG Tellis
Stem Race Face Aeffect
Bars Race Face Chester
Wheels DT Swiss M 1900 i30
Tires MAXXIS Assegai 2.5″ 3C/EXO/TR (front), Minion DHRII 2.4″ 3C/EXO+/TR
Weight N/A
Price $3895

Rally build

Fork RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 170 mm
Rear shock FOX DPX2 Performance 160 mm
Brakes SRAM Code RSC
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed
Seatpost SDG Tellis
Stem Race Face Aeffect
Bars Race Face Next R
Wheels Stan’s Flow MK3 i29
Tires MAXXIS Assegai 2.5″ 3C/EXO/TR (front), Minion DHRII 2.4″ 3C/EXO+/TR
Weight N/A
Price $4795

Race build

Fork FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 170 mm
Rear shock FOX X2 Factory 160 mm
Brakes SRAM Code RSC
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed
Seatpost BikeYoke Revive
Stem Industry Nine A35
Bars Race Face Next R
Wheels Industry Nine Grade 300
Tires MAXXIS Assegai 2.5″ 3C/EXO/TR (front), Minion DHRII 2.4″ 3C/EXO+/TR
Weight N/A
Price $6395

Our Gnarvana was based on the mid-range Rally build, with upgraded FOX suspension. Up front, the brand new FOX 38 Factory (a $145 upgrade) impressed us with its line-hugging stiffness, improved damper and burly feel – if you want to learn more about the new FOX 38 you can check out our review. The rear travel was taken care of by a FOX DHX2 coil shock (a $355 upgrade). The rest of the build was left untouched, with SRAM providing their powerful Code R stoppers and mid-range GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. The MAXXIS rubber was mounted to a Stan’s Flow MK3 wheelset – a great combination! The finishing touches came courtesy of the standard RaceFace Aeffect R/ Next R cockpit and SDG Tellis dropper seat post. Including upgrades, our build came in at an impressive $5295 and left us with a bomb-proof spec – we wouldn’t change a thing!

Guerrilla Gravity offer four ways for you to buy your Gnarvana, along with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on your new bike.

• Rider Direct (available in USA, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand) – visit RideGG.com, configure your Gnarvana, and order it.
• Shop Direct (available in USA and Canada) – support your scene and order your bike through your favourite local shop.
• Demo Center (available in USA and UK) – GG Demo Centers offer a way to test a bike in person before placing your order.
• International Distributor (available in Chile, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore) – get in touch with GG to be connected with an international distributor.

The Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana review

The Gnarvana impressed us with its well-thought-out frame, awesome spec and impressive pricing. But how does it perform on the trail?

Setup

The Gnarvana was sent to us packaged exactly the same way as Guerilla Gravity send bikes to their customers. It arrived in two boxes, one containing the frame and fork and the other containing the wheels, bars and stem. The frame and fork came with both brakes attached and aligned, as well as the dropper post fitted and tensioned. After we had installed the wheels and cockpit all we had to do was tension the gear cable (which Guerilla Gravity claim is normally not necessary), check the frame bolts and set the tubeless tires to our desired air pressure. Then we were ready to roll. The whole process took well under 30 minutes, and we built the bike on our living room floor, not in a work stand as recommended.

Our 184 cm and 78 kg tester set the Gnarvana up as follows:

• Tire pressure: 22 psi front, 24 psi rear
• FOX 36: set at 90 psi with 6 clicks HSC, 9 clicks LSC, 5 clicks HSR and 4 clicks LSR (from closed)
• FOX DHX2: 400lbs spring with 20 clicks HSC, 14 clicks LSC, 9 clicks HSR, 14 clicks LSR (from closed)
• GeoAdjust headset in “Long” position (470 mm reach)

The Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana on the trail

From the first pedal strokes uphill, one thing immediately becomes clear: the Gnarvana is a comfortable climber, despite its gnar-shredding intentions. The 76° seat angle puts you in a climbing position that leans more towards all-round comfort than climb-destroying efficiency. However, after we slid the saddle forward on its rails, effectively steepening the seat angle, we had no issues on even the steepest climbs. In the “open” mode, the Gnarvana’s FOX DHX2 coil shock gives bucketloads of traction and the bike powers up technical climbs like a 4×4. On long fire road climbs, we noticed slight pedal bob when cranking hard in the saddle, or sprinting out of the saddle. Flicking the shock into its “firm” setting solved this, and we found the Gnarvana to be a comfortable and efficient climber overall.

What the Gnarvana really lives for is the descent! Once we reached the top of the climb and dropped into the steeps, the Gnarvana showed its true strengths. It ploughs through the rough, and feels balanced and planted on any trail. The stiff FOX 38 kept us glued to our line and the Gnarvana’s rear end charged with equal confidence. However, the Gnarvana is not the plushest bike out there. Instead, it delivers controlled and predictable suspension performance and loads of progression. The rear end does a good job of absorbing impacts and provides loads of grip, but the overall feel is more supportive than buttery smooth off the top. Winding off a couple clicks of HSC from the DHX2 shock helped out here. The Gnarvana’s progressive Freedom Linkage suspension design meant there was never a compression too big for the bike, and it ate up every hit we threw at it without squirming off line or blowing through its travel.

The Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana is a blast to ride and comes alive when the trails get fast and rough

Thanks to the long 450 mm chainstays, we always felt balanced on the bike and could push hard through corners

The long wheelbase and slack head angle give the Gnarvana a very composed and stable feel, which instils confidence to let go of the brakes and charge. Despite its length, we found it easy to flick into turns and throw some shapes in the air – the Gnarvana is a blast to ride! Thanks to the long 450 mm chainstays, we never felt like we needed to actively change our riding position to weight the front wheel through corners, and it always felt like we had full control over where the front wheel was going. However, the lengthy chainstays do make the bike a bit harder to pull into a manual, and we had to use a bit more body English than usual to pull the front wheel up and double over rollers. The cable routing and frame protection played their part, making the Gnarvana a very quiet bike to ride.

A bike with similar intent and suspension travel is the YT CAPRA 29 CF Pro Race, which we reviewed in our 2020 enduro bike grouptest. Looking at the geometry figures, the Gnarvana is both substantially slacker (63.7° HA compared to 65°) and longer (1273 mm wheelbase compared to 1227 mm) than a Size Large CAPRA 29. It also has longer chainstays (450 mm compared 435 mm) and a slightly steeper seat angle. However, geometry does not have the final say. On the trail, the Gnarvana outshines the YT with a more efficient climbing character and a livelier all-round trail performance. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to ride the two bikes back-to-back on the local DH track, but we bet they would have been neck and neck!

Conclusion

In short, the Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana is always composed, no matter how hard you’re pushing it through the rough. It may not be the most supple, but its geometry is on point and it ploughs through anything, never blowing through its travel unnecessarily. The Gnarvana is a fast and balanced bike for active riders who like to charge downhill and want a comfortable pedalling position on the climb back up. Factor in the impressive price, carbon tech and modular frame system and you may just have found your nirvana!

To find out more about the Guerilla Gravity Gnarvana, Revved Carbon and the GG Modular Frame Platform visit RideGG.com