We covered the Hudksi Doggler when it first debuted back in 2020 and it quickly became our favorite adventure bike. It can do pretty much anything. We’ve ridden 40 mile gravel races on it. We’ve bikepacked. We’ve taken on black diamond single track. We’ve ridden one handed through city streets, sixpack of beer cradled in the other hand. It truly and proudly earns the moniker not of road bike or gravel bike or mountain bike, but, simply, “bike.” It will do what you ask of it.
And now it is probably even better.
They’ve lowered the bottom bracket by some 20mms, a significant change meant to “give a more in-the-bike feel, versus on top of the bike,” according to Brian Szykowny, the bike’s chief designer. The Large and XL sizes went from a 57mm to 76mm BB drop. They also slackened the head tube angle a bit to 67.5 degrees, pretty much in line with most progressive “down country” bikes in the shops.
urban rider
mountain version
The numbers put the bike in the same category as the Specialized Diverge Evo and the Evil Chamois Hagar, both drop bar bikes. The Hudski smokes those two when it comes to all around fun and capability though. The flat bars, designed by Hudski, with a nice sweep are just far more versatile than drops will ever be.
“Overall the new changes give a more stable feel on loose sweepers, but still holds on to its playful feel on the trail and road as well.”
This reviewer coulda used that more stable feel as I was bucked off my first-gen Doggler last winter on a loose gravel downhill, and destroyed my shoulder. Just nursing way through post-surgery recovery right now as a matter of fact.
But that was my fault, not the bike’s. The new version looks super fun, and of course, we want one of these too.
The price will increase $200, to $2,200, but the spec is fantastic. Shimano SLX drivetrain and brakes paired with PNW dropper and Raceface crankset. Very, very solid stuff. As with the first gen, they will sell three versions of the Doggler: gravel, mountain, and urban, all with slight tweaks to wheel size and or handlebars and tires.
They’re taking pre-orders now, and sold out of everything last time, so get on it while you can.
Justin
I admire your enthusiasm for bikes. From one surfer to another. How do you cultivate that more ?
What a good question. It helps that I live in a bike paradise, I suppose. I started riding mountain bikes like 5 or so years ago, prob a bit longer now that I think about it, when the surf sucked. Then, I started riding bikes even when the surf was good. Now I surf only if I really feel like it. That’s after surfing every day for over 25 years. I think I was hooked by the reliability, immediacy, and predictability of bikes. When I go for a ride, unless I have a bad fall, I know I will have fun. I don’t have to worry the winds or the tides will ruin a session, crowds are never an issue. I can get 90% of the fun, the communion with nature, the escape of surfing, every single time. Too often over the past decade, surfing felt like a chore I needed to do because I was a surfer. I’d surf when the waves sucked because I didn’t have another physical outlet, and I felt it was important to surf five times a week to maintain my performance level. God, what a pain in the ass it became. Nothing on a bike reaches the joy of scoring unexpected tubes, or those rare glassy, overhead afternoons when the water color is perfect and there’s no crowd and the waves just keep coming. So those are the days I surf. But how often does that happen? Every single time I put my foot on a pedal, I’m having a fun session. Surfing just can’t beat that. For what it’s worth, most of my hardcore surfer friends up here in Marin County — good surfers, lifelong surfers, big connections to the industry, etc., all in their 40s, are riding bikes now, and doing it way way more often than we surf. Could be an age thing too. All I know is, I thank god I found bikes though I also thank god I surfed as well as I did for as long as I did.
That’s funny because that’s how I started riding my bike again back in the 80s when I was addicted to windsurfing. Generally, the wind sucked, so while waiting for it to come up (and it usually did not), I’d head out for a spin. Eventually, the reliability of being able to ride overruled. Then I got a mt bike and windsurfing took a definite back seat. Let me see, drive 1-2 hours for maybe windsurfing, or ride.
Well said Justin! Like my friend said more succinctly, the bike trails are always 6′ and offshore.
6’ and offshore. I love it.
Thanks, Justin. It’s validating to hear your and your friends story of transformation. It’s nice that you still get in the water and some wave time. I hope your paddling doesn’t suffer cause of your pedaling, but I suppose that’s the trade off.
That’s a nice package – hydro brakes, dropper post(!), good drivetrain, sensible gearing – just good, thoughtful stuff. I like how they use the same frame for each package.
Oh, forgot to add, what the heck is Doggler Alloy? Every metal frame is alloy, so is this alu, steel, ti (ok, probably not), or what?
Aluminum with a carbon fork