Wolverine (v.4.1) Type-A (Adventure/Monstercross)
The original inspiration for the Wolverine was “monster cross”, but it is seriously so much more. Its geometry is stable enough for off road touring, but sporty enough for all-around adventure and gravel riding. With its sliding dropouts, you can run single-speed, derailleur gearing or hub gearing.
2023 brings our version 4.1 A-Type that adopts flat mount brakes on the frame and optional fork.
The A-Type is a little more "modern" than the B-Type. It adopts 142mm rear thru-axle and a 44mm headtube that will fit 1-1/8 straight steerer or tapered steerer with the proper headset type (better compatibility with third party carbon fiber gravel forks); however we removed the seat stay break, so it isn't Gates belt-drive compatible like the B-Type.
Uses full length cable housing, so it does not have the old school downtube shifter bosses. (See chart in photo gallery for other differences between A and B)
- Tange Prestige heat-treated double butted CrMo tube set
- Clearance for 700x45c tires w/ fenders
- Rear hub spacing/type: 142 x12mm Thru-Axle
- IRD Broski sliding dropouts allow for geared or single-speed builds (integrated flat mount disc)
- Optional Matching Fork:
Unicrown CrMo straight blade 15mm thru-axle fork with cage bosses, 50mm rake, with flat mount disc
(No lugged crown fork offered for the Type-A. But compatible with most carbon gravel forks with 400mm axle to crown)
- Braze-ons for rear rack and fenders (disc brake-compatible racks only)
- Three sets of water bottle bosses
- 44mm head tube (Use ZS44/28.6-ZS44/30 headset for 1-1/8” steerers) (Use ZS44/28.6 -EC44/40 headsets for 1-1/8”-1-1/2” steerers)
- Sizes: 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58. 60, 62 and 66cm (We recommend 650b tires on the 46cm)
- 4.89 lbs (frame)
- Paint: Pumpkin Orange
Wolverine (v.4.1) Type-A (Adventure/Monstercross)
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What is the cable routing like on the Wolverine A-Type 4.1?
The Wolverine A-Type runs shifter cables externally along the downtube. We believe that bicycles with with internally routed create maintenance headaches that outweigh their benefits for this type of bike. Rear brake line is on top of the top tube at about the 10 o'clock position and run down the seatstay. The frame is not compatible with old school downtube friction shifters. Continuous cable housing is used. Cable guide braze-ons need C-clips(included) or zip-ties to hold the cable housing to the frame. Also included is a small plastic guide for housing to fasten under the bottom bracket shell.
1) We recommend using compressionless cable housing if running mechanical disc brakes
2) Reuseable C-clips are generally reliable, but can sometimes pop off. Replace them before riding. Zip-ties should be trimmed flush to avoid sharp tips. And cable ends should be covered with a cable crimp.
3) It is common on bikes that cable housing can rub on the paint of the bikes when you turn the bars. We recommend getting stickers (cable dots, frame protection tape) applied in areas you see rub. -
How to take care of the Wolverine's unique rear triangle?
1) Follow our official max tire guidelines which is 700c x 45mm with fenders and 29 x 1.95 without fenders.
Why is using too big a tire a possible problem?
a) To fit a fatter tire than recommended requires user to slide the insert to the rear of the dropout. Sliding the insert to the very rear creates extra leverage on the dropout and the frame versus having it in the center or front of the slot.
b) Using fatter tires makes the rider think he/she can ride more aggressively than the frame tubing is designed for. The Wolverine is not an XC/trail bike.
2) Make sure the bolts holding the sliders are safely tightened at all times. Those bolts should be tightened to about 25nM. Make sure sliders are evenly aligned. Loose bolts here can be hazardous to riding. Try carbon paste on the sllider contact areas, if you are experiencing slipping even though the bolts are adequately torqued. -
Wolverine v.4.1 Type-A Component Specs
- Headset: 44mm (Use ZS44/28.6-ZS44/30 headset for 1-1/8” fork steerers) (Use ZS44/28.6 -EC44/40 headsets for 1-1/8”-1-1/2” tapered steerers)
- Bottom bracket shell: 68mm wide, English threads
- Front derailleur clamp: 28.6mm
- Rear hub: 142 x 12mm thru axle type
- Rear Thru-axle spec: 142 x 12mm, 168mm length, 1.75 or 1.5 thread pitch(double check yours)
- Rear Brake compatibility: Flat Mount Disc mount, designed for 160mm rotors
- Seatpost: 27.2mm
- Seat collar: 29.8 to 30mm (not included)
- Chainstay length range: 429-445mm (Please avoid the sliding the wheel to very back of the dropout)
- Tire Fit on size 50cm and up:
Max. Tire fit: 700c x 45mm with fenders; 29 x 1.95" w/o fenders
Min. Tire fit: 650b x 47mm
- Tire Fit on size 46cm:
Max. Tire fit: 650b x 45mm with fenders; 27.5 x 1.95 w/o fenders
Min. Tire fit: 650b x 38mm
Forks: On both the lugged forks and unicrown forks, the flat mount bosses are located farther up from the axle than standard spec, so it will not fit a 140mm rotor. Use the 140mm setting on the adapter to allow the caliper to fit 160mm rotors. Use the 160mm setting on the adapter to fit 180mm rotors. We don't recommend 180mm rotors on the lugged crown fork because of the lighter fork blades.
- Downtube shifters: No mounts
- Water bottle bosses: 3 sets
- Optional unicrown fork specs: Flat mount 160mm (180mm rotors will fit, but only unofficial adapters exist for that application), 15 x 100 thru-axle, double eyelets on fork ends, cargo cage bosses.
- Maximum weight with rider and cargo: 270 lbs
Wolverine (v.4.1) Type-A (Adventure/Monstercross)
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The Unicorn
“I used to ride Bo Ridge on my trusty _____. It was fun with 700c X 42mm rubber, but I had to slow down to a crawl on the backside descent, which is rutted out double-track best suited for a hardtail. Even taking it slow, this part of ride always left me feeling like a jackpot ball in a pinball machine. I wanted a bike that could make the ride comfortable but also efficiently cover the 20 miles of pavement at the end of the loop.
Thinking through this was how my Unicorn was born. I sold my ____ last summer to fund the build. The Wolverine takes everything I liked about the ____ and does it better: bigger tire clearance, slacker geometry and disc brakes are the highlights. To maximize the level of rad, I asked Oakland-based frame builder Erik Billings to drill the seat tube for a dropper post and installed the Redshift ShockStop suspension stem, which takes the sting out of mistakes on the trail.
For me, the Wolverine is all the cross-country mountain bike I need. What makes it unusual in this crowded genre is that it can run 2X compact cranks on a standard 68mm bottom bracket shell while *unofficially* clearing 2.1″ tires in the rear. I have tight, narrow hips that are much happier on narrow q-factor road cranks. Unfortunately, most drop-bar 29ers rely on a 73mm shell to clear fat tires and assume the rider will be happy with a 1X setup. I dig 1X for my mountain bike, but I feel a mixed terrain bike is best served with the closer spacing you get with an old-fashioned wide-step double.”Matt, SF Bay Area, CA
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the Favorite
“If you were to ask me what’s my favourite bike from my collection I would definitely answer “The one I’m Riding on!” In all reality this bike is the most versatile. We’ve conquered dirt, mud, steep black diamond descents, climbs of all kinds and 1000’s of km of dirt/paved roads, fully loaded. I might love my Wolverine a little more but don’t you dare tell the rest of the fleet, I don’t want them to get jealous.”
Blunt Objeckt, City, State
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650b Wolverine
“I have one. I set mine up on 650b wheels with the IRD carbon fork.
Such a great bike. I take it on single track, gravel and road missions, it really holds it own. The new geometry is really stable and with the 650b wheels I get good clearance for technical trail riding although the bb is a bit lower so I get some pedal strike with my 175 cranks.
Running 2.2 in the front and 1.9 in the back with lots of clearance.
”swiaq, Reddit, USA
Wolverine (v.4.1) Type-A (Adventure/Monstercross)
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Bicycle Quarterly: Fun Versatile Bike
[For an older Wolverine model. The Wolverine A-Type does not have bosses for downtube shifters] Excerpt from the print magazine: .... The Soma Cazadero tires on our test bike cleared the chainstays with just enough clearance for a little mud. Soma reckons that 42mm tires will fit with fenders – and it seems plausible, since you can slide the rear wheel backward in the dropouts. But otherwise, the Wolverine covers all the bases: Disc brakes eliminate issues with brake judder (cantilever brakes) or excessive brake flex (long reach sidepulls). There are multiple rack eyelets. Downtube shifter bosses give you options of how to operate your derailleurs, while sliding dropouts allow running the bike with a single-speed drivetrain. ....The Wolverine [is] a fun bike. ...the Wolverine tracked straight, handled predictably and faded into the background like a good bike should. On the truly muddy stuff, the Wolverine’s handling seemed a little less predictable than that of my Alan cyclocross bike – probably a function of the Wolverine having more trail and wheel flop, and thus less steering precision. It wasn’t a deal breaker, and even while powersliding the bike through muddy turns, not once did I have to unclip to restore my balance. If you are looking for only one bike to own, and don’t know yet how you’ll use it, the Wolverine is a great choice. It can take you on many adventures, whether it’s touring, gravel riding, cyclocross, or even a bit of road racing.