Some are now calling them “drop bar mountain bikes,” but whatever you call them, the all-new Ibis Hakka MX is guilty as charged. Built to tackle any road you want with a variety of rubber — 45mm on 700c or 2.1″ on 650b’s — the Hakka MX is just what the doctor ordered for all-road adventures.
My first true taste of this type of bike was the 3T Exploro and it honestly blew my mind. It handles roads like a proper road bike, yet it was an absolute blast on singletrack. The Hakka MX is very similar to the Exploro in many regards with versatility to spare. Rock some 28mm slicks for the group ride, or jam some 2.1″ 650b’s on that bikepacking trip you’ve been eyeing. The beauty is in the versatility and disc brakes with thru axles are giving us the adventure bikes we didn’t know we needed.
The old Hakkalugi was a great bike with lots of versatility, but the Hakka MX takes a more modern approach with adventure in mind. With the aforementioned tire clearance, you can bomb singletrack and because Ibis builds their frames to mountain bike standards, you can (gasp) catch air on this one without worry.
Other Hakka MX highlights:
- Versatile geometry to be at home on the road, CX course or endless Midwest gravel
- Available in two build kits: SRAM Rival 1x and Shimano Ultegra/XT Di2
- Utilizes T47 threaded bottom bracket (huzzah)
- ENVE Cross Disc Fork with post-mount brakes
- Rear brake is flat mount standard with 160mm rotor clearance
- Internal cable routing (Di2-friendly)
- 31.8mm seatpost diameter
- 430mm chainstay length
- Dropper post compatible
- Frame weight ~1000 grams
- Colors: Coal or Fireball
- MSRP: $1999 (frame/fork) or $3299 – $6400 and up (completes)
The Hakka MX with the Ultegra / XT Di2 kit and 650b tires.
The Hakka MX in SRAM Rival 1 guise and 650b tires.
Our take on the Hakka MX
Honestly, this bike looks great on paper and Ibis makes great bikes. The Hakka MX has already proven to be a capable CX bike for those looking to suffer for 45 min every week throughout the winter. And, at the same time, it’s able to take adventure-ing to a whole new level. You have a list of gravel roads that you’d like to ride; well, now’s your chance.
The specs are solid and the price is very competitive. The only head-scratcher is the mixture of disc brake mounts front-and-rear. ENVE does make a gravel fork with flat mounts, but it only has a 1.25″ tapered steerer. That oddity aside, I’m sure Ibis has also built the frame around the CX fork’s geometry, clearance and measurements for the best possible experience. I’d expect a rolling change to flat mount front brakes once a new fork can be procured.
Something else to note is the drop chainstays that Ibis has gone with. It’s in line with many other gravel bikes and allows massive tire clearance without having super-long (and wonky) stays.
More Info: Visit IbisCycles.com
Photos courtesy of Ibis Cycles
