Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Salsa is coming into the spring riding season hot with two new bikes in the Blackthorn family, the trail-oriented Blackthorn 125, and the all-mountain Blackthorn 145. If you automatically associate the brand with gravel bikes, drop bars, and fat bikes, it’s time to chuck those preconceptions out the door. The new Blackthorn is an enduro-ready bike with modern, aggressive geometry, and build to match.
Even so, this is very much a Salsa, with a carrying capacity and feature set that’s optimized for long rides, and yes, even bikepacking. So how does the Blackthorn 145 perform out on the trail?
Based on a size large:
Travel: 145 mm (rear) 160 mm (front)
Wheel Size: 29” or Mixed 29”/27.5”
Size Tested: Large
Build Tested: C XO Eagle AXS
Head Tube Angle: 63.9° (low setting, 29" rear wheel)
Measured Weight: 33.375 lbs (15.14 kg)
MSRP: $8,999
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Salsa is coming into the spring riding season hot with two new bikes in the Blackthorn family, the trail-oriented Blackthorn 125, and the all-mountain Blackthorn 145. If you automatically associate the brand with gravel bikes, drop bars, and fat bikes, it’s time to chuck those preconceptions out the door. The new Blackthorn is an enduro-ready bike with modern, aggressive geometry, and build to match.
Even so, this is very much a Salsa, with a carrying capacity and feature set that’s optimized for long rides, and yes, even bikepacking. So how does the Blackthorn 145 perform out on the trail?
Based on a size large:
Travel: 145 mm (rear) 160 mm (front)
Wheel Size: 29” or Mixed 29”/27.5”
Size Tested: Large
Build Tested: C XO Eagle AXS
Head Tube Angle: 63.9° (low setting, 29" rear wheel)
Measured Weight: 33.375 lbs (15.14 kg)
MSRP: $8,999
--
Subscribe to Freehub Magazine: bit.ly/FreehubMag
Follow Us!
YouTube: youtube.com/user/FreehubMagazine
Facebook: facebook.com/freehubmag
Instagram: instagram.com/freehubmag
Twitter: twitter.com/freehubmag
![Thomas Vanderham rides Juniper Ridge // [POV] Perspectives on Velocity](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qoq1h6qD6CM/mqdefault.jpg "Thomas Vanderham rides Juniper Ridge // [POV] Perspectives on Velocity
Hop on board with Canadian free-ride legend Thomas Vanderham as he follows Matt Hunter down Juniper Ridge during one of the many stages of the 2019 Trans-Cascadia.
Everyone interprets a trail differently, and while there’s no wrong way, there are certainly some more impressive ways. Perspectives on Velocity aims to unravel the mysteries of speed, line choice and reaction that are unique to the best mountain bikers in the world. Hop on board with an array of fast, smooth and stylish riders as they take on select trails throughout North America.
Trail Forks link: https://www.trailforks.com/route/juniper-ridge-loop-via-dark-meadow/
#thomasvanderham #juniperridge #freehubpov
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