Mountain bike displayed on rocky terrain with greenery in the background. Esker Cycles

LONG LIVE LONG RIDES

 Say hello to Howdy! The shorter travel sibling to Woodsy. Built with long rides in mind, the Howdy can get up over and down anywhere you can think to pedal it. Don’t be fooled by the modest 125mm of travel, this peppy trail bike can handle it all.

The Howdy boasts a durable aluminum frame that instils confidence on every ride. The robust bearings of the Orion suspension make for an incredibly smooth and laterally stiff ride.While the external cable routing ease of maintenance. A straight-forward metal bike at a good value.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Named after the "Good Outdoor Manners Raccoon." of the mid-twentieth century US Forest Service campaign. Howdy was born deep in the woods of Pennsylvania in 1959, and burst on the scene as the US Forest Service’s companion to Smokey the Bear.

This smiling, flannel clad raccoon encouraged the nation to not litter, be fire aware, but most importantly to practice good manners while using the forest.

Two mountain bikers riding through the Utah desert landscape at sunset.
Mountain bike on rocky terrain under a blue sky. Esker Cycles
FEATURE PACKED
 
29" wheels
 
Clearance up to a 2.6" tire
 
125mm frame travel, for 140mm fork
 
6061 T-6 Aluminum frame  
 
External Cable Routing, Keep it simple, keep it clean
 
Orion Suspension - Dave Weagle Design - Moto meets Mountain Bike
 
UDH Compatible

Design & Order your Howdy

COMPLETE

Starting at $4,000 - Click to Configure

FRAME/FORK
 
Starting at $2,000 - Click to Configure

Geometry

S1/SM S2/MD S3/LG S4/XL

Effective TT Length

559

589

619

650

Reach

427

454

481

508

Stack

601

617

637

656

HT Angle

64.8*

64.8*

64.8*

64.8*

HT Length

90

107

129

150

Effective ST Angle

77*

77*

77*

77*

Estimated Saddle Height for ESTA

565

656

745

831

ST Length

365

398

431

464

Max Seat Tube Insertion

265

298

331

364

Chainstay Length

435

435

435

435

Fork Offset

44

44

44

44

Fork Length

551

551

551

551

BB Drop

37

37

37

37

Wheelbase

1180

1214

1250

1287

Stem Length

50

50

50

50

Recommended Rider Height

5'3"-5'7"

5'6"-5'10"

5'9"-6'1"

6'0"-6'4"

Full Suspension geometry based on 0% fork sag

Looking for 'Standover Height'? - Check out our thoughts HERE

Frame Specs

Frame Material

6061-T6 Aluminum Front and Rear Triangle

Frame Weight

X,XXX grams for Medium - Weight includes Frame Hardware, Axle and UDH, Seat Collar, and Cable Guides and Bolts

*No Shock*

Suspension Specs

Fork: 140mm suspension fork (551mm A-C) - Forks within +/- 10mm approved

Rear Shock: 125mm of travel // 210x50 shock length

Headset Specs

ZS44 upper // ZS56 lower

Rear Dropout

UDH // 148mm Hub Spacing // M12 x 1.0 x 173mm Axle

Tire Clearance

Designed around 29x2.5" Accomodates up to 29x2.6"

*Clearance may vary based on your drivetrain choice (Chainline), rim width, actual tire measurement, and dropout position*

Seatpost Specs

34.9 clamp, 31.6 post, internally routed

Bottom Bracket

Threaded 73mm BSA

Chainring Specs

Maximum = 34t round / 32t oval

52mm or 55mm Chainline

Howdy FAQ

  • Q - What size frame should I buy?

  • See the table below for a complete Esker Cycles model line-up size guide

  • NOTE: Many folks can fit more than a single frame size. If you find yourself at a height in which you can fit 2 different frame sizes, ask yourself what your riding style is like and where/how you intend to use the bike. A larger frame will feel more stable at high speeds, but not as maneuverable in tighter and more technical situations on the trail. Inversely, a smaller frame will be less stable at speeds, but allow you to pick up and place your wheels in technical sections of trail much easier.

Q - What length dropper comes with a complete build?

  • SM = 150mm PNW Loam dropper that can be adjusted down to 125mm of travel

  • MD/LG = 170mm PNW Loam dropper that can be adjusted down to 145mm of travel

  • XL = 200mm PNW Loam dropper that can be adjusted down to 175mm of travel

    • For more information on the adjustability of the PNW Loam dropper, click HERE.

Q - How many water bottles will the Howdy carry?

  • SM/MD/LG/XL = 1 bottle in the front triangle, 1 bottle under the downtube.

Q - Do you do custom builds?

  • We do not. We offer a limited menu of upgrade options for all of our bikes, but we do not do custom builds.

  • If you'd like to have a custom Esker built up, please reach out to one of our Retail Partners and they'll work with you on getting you exactly what you want!

Q - What does your warranty look like?

Q - Can I order one of your frames/bikes through a local bike shop?

  • Absolutely. That would be the best way to order one of our frames/bikes! Working with your local bike shop allows you to get great insight on which model is right for you, which size may work best for your intended use, and ensure that your bike gets built up and fit to your exact specifications. Jump on over to our Dealer Locator to see a full map of our retail partners and find the one closest to you.

Q - Can I demo a bike before I buy it?

  • We do our best to travel around throughout the year and often partner with regional mountain bike festivals or local retail partners to host demos. For the most up to date opportunities, check our Dealer Locator.  You can also see a full map of our retail partners - reach out to them if you're nearby and ask them what they may have available for you to demo locally.

Q - I want to buy a frame bag before my bike/frame arrives, can you provide the frame bag dimensions for the Howdy?

  • We don't recommend buying a frame bag until you have your frame/bike on hand. That is the absolute best way to ensure you get the right size and shape for your bike.

  • If you're looking to make a custom bag(s) for your Esker, we've partnered with some incredible custom frame bag makers that all have our frame dimensions and files on hand. Please reach out to one of the following frame bag makers to get the exact bags made for your bike that you want!

 

Mountain bike with a gray frame and wide tires.
Mountain bike close-up showing frame and front suspension.
Close-up of a bicycle's rear derailleur and cassette.
Close-up of a bicycle's bottom bracket and crankset.
Close-up of a bicycle tire and frame from the front view.
Raw aluminum bicycle frame with suspension components.
aluminum bicycle frame with suspension components, angled view.
Close-up of a shiny metal object with a raccoon logo.
Close-up of a bicycle frame featuring a shock absorber.
Silver metallic object with a logo on top and attached cables.
Close-up of a bicycle frame's bottom bracket area.
Bicycle frame close-up showing the rear suspension and linkage system.

 

 

BUILT FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY
We here at Esker enjoy long rides into the wild spaces and are proud to say our bikes are truly Built for the Backcountry. That means they are designed and built on three values:
REFINED GEOMETRY
Specific geometry to suit the riders needs for each different model, we have designed and developed a quick and responsive ride quality for all Esker models. Our geometries are refined, stable, and comfortable to provide a bike that always feels right at home.
DURABILITY
We build our bicycles with the highest quality metal tubing for the utmost in durability.
Each tubeset provides a greater strength to weight ratio than other frames on the market and engineered specifically for its application. Every Esker frame is tested to our own internal standard far exceeding ISO 4210, for a true lifetime of constant use. Esker will get you into the backcountry as far as you want to go, but it will also get you back!
RIDE QUALITY
Not too flexy, not too stiff…but just right! We are riders, and design our bikes by riding them, constantly, to refine the perfect feel. We toil over every model to ensure the ride simply feels right and comfortable, like your favorite hoody