Hi-Tale Hardtail MTB
AVAILABLE December 2026
Sklar's XC mountain bike designed around a 120mm fork. Fun, fast and snappy!
Sizing Calculator
Set to your height for a starting estimate, then fine-tune the saddle height below. Saddle height is measured center of bottom bracket to top of saddle — we recommend measuring a bike you own for the most accurate result.
Your height
Saddle height (center of BB to top of saddle)
Auto-filled from your height — drag to match your actual saddle setup
Recommended size
Have any questions about what size you should ride?
Please drop us a line, we are happy to help.
Build Kits
Each build is thoughtfully assembled in our San Francisco workshop. The lead time for a complete bike is typically 3-5 weeks. We will reach out to confirm sizing after you place your order if we already haven't done so. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
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Eagle 90 Mechanical
This build features the Eagle 90 mechanical drivetrain. No recharging batteries here and a reliable fun bike.
- Fork -Rock Shox Pike Select
- Shifter - SRAM Eagle 90 Mechanical 12sp
- Derailleur - SRAM Eagle 90 Mechanical 12sp
- Crankset - SRAM Eagle 90 165 32T Ring
- Bottom Bracket - SRAM DUB
- Wheels - DT Swiss XM 1700 SPLINE
- Optional Carbon Wheel Upgrade - DT Swiss XRC 1700
- Brakes - SRAM DB8
- Tires - Vittoria Agarro 29x2.5"
- Stem -MSW 35mm
- Seatpost - PNW
- Headset/Spacers - Sklar
- Handlebars - Sklar Trail Bar
- Saddle - Ergon
- Bottle Cages - Sklar Titanium
XX Eagle Transmission Wireless
Light, precise electronic shifting built around all of our favorite parts, carbon wheels and a very nice fork.
- Fork - RockShox Pike Select
- Shifter - SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission wireless
- Derailleur - SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission wireless
- Crankset - SRAM XX 165mm 32T Ring
- Bottom Bracket - SRAM DUB
- Wheels - DT Swiss XM 1700 SPLINE
- Optional Carbon Wheel Upgrade - DT Swiss XRC 1700
- Brakes - SRAM Maven Ultimate
- Tires - Vittoria Agarro 29x2.5"
- Stem - MSW 35mm
- Seatpost - RockShox Reverb wireless
- Headset/Spacers - Sklar
- Handlebars - Sklar Trail Bar
- Saddle - Ergon
- Bottle Cages - Sklar Titanium
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Frame Geometry
* All dimensions in mm unless otherwise stated
Design Brief
Build a hardtail that is simple yet capable. Something that feels natural and surprises you with its comfort and ability. A frame compatible with the most standard "standards," easy to maintain so riders can focus on getting out there instead of maintaining their bike. Built from the highest quality materials available to last a lifetime.
Geometry
The geometry is informed by progressive trail bikes, but not beholden to their over-the-top slacked out tendencies. We found ourselves reaching for something between the PBJ – our rigid, fast, capable all-terrain bike – and the Tall Tale, our 140mm aggressive trail bike. That gap is exactly where the Hi-Tale fits in. Steeper angles and a higher BB give it all-day comfort and a sense of nimbleness that is fun on a wider variety of terrain, and higher stack puts it in line with the new fit standard taking hold across the industry. Calling it XC would be selling it short. This bike is fast and nimble, but built to handle most anything you throw at it and have fun while doing it.
Materials
The Hi-Tale is built from the finest available steel tubing. Each size-specific tubeset is designed by us and custom drawn for these frames to have superior ride quality and durability. Our in-house designed chainstay yoke is cast from 4130 steel and heat treated to allow for an optimal chainstay length and tire clearance (up to a 2.8" tire), while asymmetrical chainstays – tuned independently side to side – manage drivetrain flex and fine-tune ride quality without adding weight. The top tube is ovalized, not for looks, but because an oval cross-section flexes differently than a round one under load – part of what gives this bike the best ride quality that steel can offer. We spec custom oval-butted tubing throughout, thicker where the frame needs strength, thinner where it can afford to flex, so ride quality is built in rather than left to chance.
Longevity
We build around the most widely available standards – threaded bottom bracket, standard headset, common axle spacing. Some proprietary standards can buy you a marginal gain in stiffness or weight, but that gain isn't worth what it costs: a part you can't find in ten years. We'd rather build a frame any shop can service today or two decades from now, with parts that are actually on the shelf.
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Frame Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Frame Material | Double Butted, Heat Treated Chromoly Steel |
| Rear Spacing | 148 x 12mm Boost |
| Dropout | UDH — SRAM Full Mount or any Derailleur |
| Rear Brake Mount | ISO |
| Tire Clearance | 29" x 2.6" (most 2.8" fit) |
| Seat Post Diameter | 31.6mm (stealth routing) |
| Bottle Cage Mounts | 2 in front triangle + 1 under down tube |
| Rear Rack Mounts | Yes |
| Bottom Bracket Shell | 73mm BSA |
| Headset | EC34mm / 44mm |
| Max Chainring | 36T (52mm Boost Chainline) |
| Cable Routing | Full External, stealth dropper |
Hi-Tale FAQ's
What size wheels/tires can I run?
The Hi-Tale is designed around 29 x 2.5" tires and we recommend 2.3 to 2.6" tires but you can get away with a little more or a little less. We do not recommend running 27.5" wheels on this frame because it will make the bottom bracket super low and the tire clearance won't be in the right place. We totally understand why you might want to run 27.5" wheels on your MTB but those reasons are also things that we baked into the design of this bike, so we think you might still like it :)
What size headset/crownrace do I need to order?
The headset is EC34/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower with a 1.5" crown race.
To make it easy on you we sell headsets that work great, you can find those here.
What is included with this frameset?
All frames ship with a seat post clamp, cable guides and thru axle included.
Where are the framesets manufactured?
These frames are built in Taiwan
Can I run a rigid fork?
This frame is designed around a 120mm-130mm suspension fork. Most rigid forks are corrected for 100mm or suspension, meaning a rigid fork will be 30-50mm shorter than what the frame was designed for. For that reason we would not recommend running a rigid fork. If you are looking for a rigid hardtail that can handle a 100mm-120mm fork, check out our PBJ Frameset.
What suspension fork should I run?
Travel:
The Hi Tale is designed around a 120mm fork with 51mm offset.
How is the Hi-Tale for Bikepacking?
The Hi-Tale is an amazingly capable camping rig. The frame has plenty of room for a frame bag, triple-boss mounts under the down tube for extra water or gear storage, and 4 bosses on the seat stay to mount a rear rack if that's your style.
What are the rear thru-axle dimensions?
The Tall Tale comes equipped with a rear thru-axle. If you want a replacement, here are the correct dimensions:
Rear: 178mm, 12 x 1.0