The Ultimate Trail Ripper and Bikepacker Setup - Joey's SB120
What kind of setup does an ex-DH racer turned long-distance bikepacker use for the bulk of his riding? Adventurer Joey Schusler has built up a Yeti SB120 to be lightweight trail ripper, ready for long and fast trails around the world -- whether on the Front Range of Colorado or the summits of the Alps. It often transitions between a quick lunch ride machine to a fully loaded bikepacking rig.
Some interesting bits and bobs include a piggyback shock for keeping oil cool on long descents, four piston Code RSC brakes with wide HSC rotors, a 2.6 front tire for traction, and cross-country weight wheels. These all come together for a light-enough setup that won't leave him stranded. The bike can tackle a century of pedaling in a day, while remaining durable enough to handle rocky descents in the middle of nowhere.
With the flat angle of the Code brake levers, the hoses are kept close to the bar, making fitting handlebar bags easier. At 5' 11", he is between sizes. He prefers a large for bikepacking and adventure rigs like this one, to make the ride stable when loaded down. He opts for a medium on enduro bikes for playfulness while riding aggressively.
He rides M525 wheels, ENVE's lightest mountain wheel, to keep weight down. He likes to use tire casings to control the durability and ride feel of his setup, opting for a thicker casing when on long adventures to keep from getting stranded in the wild. The M6 handlebar and stem with 25mm rise and 50mm length make for a neutral cockpit position.
- Frame: Yeti SB120 Large Turquoise
- Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate
- Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Air
- Wheels: ENVE M525 - 29”
- Stem: ENVE M6 - 31.8mm 50mm length
- Handlebar: ENVE M6 - 31.8mm 25mm rise
- Hubs: Industry Nine Hydra
- Drivetrain: SRAM Transmission XX1
- Dropper: SRAM AXS 170
- Tires: Teravail Kessler F: 29x2.6 | R: 29x2.4
- Brakes: SRAM Code RSC with HS2 Rotors
- Saddle: Specialized Power
- Grips: Truvativ Descendant
About Joey
Joey Schusler is a photographer, cinematographer, and adventurer who transitioned from downhill racing to self-supported long distance bikepacking. He’s traveled all over the globe on mountain and gravel bikes. In 2023 he conquered 600 miles and 100k vertical feet on his mountain bike in the Alps. See that story here.
