There’s a glaring omission from the Longitude’s spec sheet that even a casual observer won’t take too long to notice – there’s no suspension fork.Once you’ve picked yourself off the floor at this apparent oversight on nearly a grand’s worth of bike, consider this – few manufacturers offer expedition-ready bikes in their range, let alone at a price this affordable. The simple, solid build, combined with all those rack mounts, could be exactly what’s needed if you choose to use it for year-round commuting as well as weekend off-roading.Worth a closer look?We thought so...
The frame
Everything about the Longitude is different from the norm, right down to the choice of steel (rather than the ubiquitous aluminium) for the plumbing.Why steel? On a bike that may find itself halfway up an Andean mountain loaded to the gunnels, it makes sense – a broken steel frame is much easier to mend than a frame made of anything else.A village blacksmith could probably do it.
The skinny steel tubes also made it simpler for the designers to build in enough mud room to fit 3in tyres, both front and rear.Yes, you read that right – a full 3in, although you’d have to ditch the triple crankset for a single ring because there isn’t enough clearance for the front mech.With the stock 2.4in tyres there’s enough mud clearance to fit an entire muddy field between stays and tyre.
Curiously for a bike with more braze-on mounts than you can shake a shop full of bolt-on accessories at, there are no Crud Catcher mounts. That’s the only omission though. Want a front rack? No problem. Rear rack and mudguard? Yep. Three bottle cages? Check. Fit a pair of slick tyres and appropriate rackage and you’ve got a rugged, no-nonsense commuter or tourer.
The fork will raise eyebrows – after all, why would you not want suspension? It’s a fair point, but this is a bike that’s designed to be as simple and maintenance-free as possible. So much so that Genesis haven’t even built the frame with suspensioncorrected geometry – so you can’t upgrade to a suspension fork without ruining the handling. Genesis say it’s so they could tailor the frame and fork to work as a complete package, reducing the length of the fork legs to allow narrower tapered blades for a more forgiving ride.
The equipment
Anyone expecting a hop-up in the component spec in exchange for the lack of suspension is in for a disappointment. The Shimano Deore transmission won’t get anyone excited at this price, though it’s plenty reliable enough, while the TRP mechanical disc brakes – another touch aimed at easy maintenance on long-haul trips – lack the progressive feel and bite of most mid-range hydraulics. The wide 35mm rims and 2.4in tyres work well to provide plenty of grip and float at lower pressures than you’d normally run though, and the radically swept back handlebar gives a natural feeling ride position that’ll make you wonder why more bikes aren’t specced that way.
The ride
With its long top tube, swept-back bar and easy-rolling, 29in wagon wheels, the Longitude quickly demolishes any concerns that it’s going to be a harsh handful on the trail.Weight distribution is spot-on and the chunky Continental X-King tyres deliver all the grip you’ll need, whatever the terrain. The big wheels and comparatively laidback geometry mean the Longitude is never going to be the quickest of singletrack slayers, but it’s adept at doing what Genesis designed it for – devouring big chunks of trail mile after mile, day after day, with no fuss.
You’ll definitely feel the lack of suspension, but it’s worth remembering that all mountain bikes used to be made this way. The constant chatter of feedback from the fork takes a little getting used to but it’s easy to modify your riding style. You soon learn to read the trail a bit further ahead, pick the line of least resistance and use your upper body to help finesse the front end over and through the worst of the obstacles.
It makes progress a bit slower than on a hardtail with a decent suspension fork, but there’s very little that the Longitude won’t take in its stride – and there’s nothing to beat the feeling of satisfaction of a tricky line cleared with no sprung assistance.
It won’t suit everyone, but the Longitude offers a genuine lowmaintenance alternative to the host of hardtails out there.
SO GOOD
Simple, lowmaintenance design lends itself to yearround riding or longdistance touring Surprisingly good handling and exceptional mud clearance
NO GOOD
No suspension fork – and no option to upgrade – won’t suit everyone Surprisingly modest spec for the money
The Longitude swims against the tide, but the result is a likeable and versatile – if utilitarian – trail bike
Price 1500$