Mountain bike model

Person riding a mountain bike on a rocky trail surrounded by greenery.

GET OUT THERE

From backyard singletrack to long days exploring the alpine, the Japhy was designed to get you on the trail no matter the destination.

A modern hardtail can be the best choice for getting WAY out there without worrying about complicated setup and maintenance. Durable, simple and dependable means fewer things to go wrong.

Go deep into the backcountry on remote singletrack or simply rip around on your local trails, this is the bike to get the job done.

USER FRIENDLY

With size-specific headtube lengths, steeper seat tube angles, and revised reach lengths, the Japhy provides an accurate fit and maximizes handling and comfort for every sized rider.

This generation of the Japhy sees an increased stack for comfort and control, shorter seat tube for more dropper post insertion, steeper seat tube angle for more climbing comfort, and an absent seatstay bridge for increased compliance and ride quality.

Bolt on your favorite bags and racks for a month-long tour, or strip back the complixities with a stealthy single-speed build. The Japhy delivers a pure trail bike experience no matter what your goals are.

Two mountain bikers navigating a rocky trail in a green forest.
Close-up of a bicycle's rear wheel and disc brake components.

FEATURE PACKED

29" wheels

Clearance up to a 2.8" tire

120mm travel

Custom Tubing - seamless, double-butted, and cold-shaped 3/2.5 Titanium

Portage Dropout - for adjustability, singlespeed and upgradeability.

UDH Compatible


Design & Order your Japhy

GEARED COMPLETE

Starting at $4,500 - Click to Configure

SINGLE SPEED COMPLETE

Starting at $4,200 - Click to Configure

FRAME/FORK

Starting at $2,500 - Click to Configure


Updated Features for 2025

Updated Features:

  • Simplified sizing range:  SM, MD, LG, XL

  • Updated Geo: Increased Stack offset with a longer Effective TT

  • Removed Seatstay Bridge:  Increased compliance and ride quality

  • Optimized Dropper Port Location:  To ease cable routing

  • Bolt-On Cable Routing:  Allowing for bolt-on frame bags and stealthier routing for those using fancy robot shifting…or no shifting at all

  • Custom Chainstay Protector:  Its protection for your chainstay…and its custom

  • Slimmer Top Tube:  Smaller diameter Top Tube for increased compliance and reduced weight

  • New Chainstay Yoke:  Slimmer profile

  • Hitching Post: Seat Tube bottle boss/gear strap - Allows for increased seatpost insertion

Geometry

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

Effective TT Length

570

611

634

660

Reach

420

450

470

500

Stack

600

610

625

645

HT Angle

66*

66*

66*

66*

HT Length

95

105

125

145

Effective ST Angle

76*

76*

76*

76*

ST Length

375

410

440

475

Max Seat Tube Insertion

275

310

340

375

Chainstay Length - Adjustable

430-444

430-444

430-444

430-444

Fork Offset

44

44

44

44

Fork Length

495

495

495

495

BB Drop

65

65

65

65

Wheelbase

1130

1164

1192

1231

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"

*Hardtail geometry based on 30% fork sag*

For more information about chainstay length and our Portage Dropout System go to our Portage Dropout Page

 

Frame Specs

Frame Material

Seamless, Butted and Cold-Shaped 3/2.5 Titanium

Frame Weight

X,XXX grams for Medium - Weight includes dropouts, UDH, axle, seat collar, and cable guides

Recomended Fork Travel

120mm suspension fork at 30% sag (495mm Axle to Crown Measurement)

Forks within +/- 10mm approved

Headset Specs

ZS44 upper // EC44 lower

Rear Dropout

Esker Portage Dropout - Adjustable - UDH // 148mm Hub Spacing // M12 x 1.0 x 180mm Axle

Tire Clearance

Designed around 29x2.6" Accomodates up to 29x2.8"

*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

Japhy Titanium 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 - Should I get a Hayduke or a Japhy?

  • How do you ride?
      • The Japhy is an everything trail bike - its your night ride bike, its your durable hardtail, and it can even do an overnighter once in while. The geometry is designed to be a bit more stable at high speeds, wheelie and bunnyhop easier, and lower your center of gravity by not only using a smaller front triangle and lower standover height, but a lower bottom bracket to get your feet a little closer to the ground. It also has a steeper seat tube angle than the Hayduke, making it much more enjoyable for seated climbs, and a little less forgiving on flatter, more pedaling based rides.
      • The Hayduke is a more dedicated bikepacking bike made to take more gear. It has more front triangle space, more neutral geometry for hauling a load, and more places to mount gear. It also has a more relaxed seat tube angle than the Japhy, which makes it more comfortable for flatter, more pedaling based rides.
      • If you carry gear 10% of the time, and mostly just want an awesome riding hardtail that you can depend on, get the Japhy. If you carry gear more than 50% of the time, and wanted a more dedicated bike for that purpose, get the Hayduke.

Q - How many water bottles will the Japhy Titanium carry?

  • SM/MD/LG/XL = 2 bottles in the front traingle, 1 bottle under the down tube

Q - Can I put a rear rack on the Japhy Titanium?

Q - Can I single-speed the Japhy Titanium?

  • You betcha! Our Portage Dropout System allows you to adjust the chainstay length by up to 14mm, allowing you to run a single speed setup reliably, quietly, and with ease. Heck, we even have a single speed build option that you can buy!

Q - Can I run an internally geared hub on the Japhy Titanium?

  • Technically, yes, but we recommend working with your favorite professional mechanic to figure out which hubs and support parts may be needed. Have fun!

Q - How does the Portage Dropout System work?

  • The Portage Dropout System attaches to our hardtail frames and allows you to adjust chainstay length (for ride characteristics or tire width clearances), chain tension (for single speed application), or different hanger types (UDH or Classic).

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 - Do your steel frames ride different than your Titanium frames?

  • Yes and No. Based on our own riding input, as well as a ton of great input and feedback from our customers, find that our steel frames have a very similar feel when it comes to compliance on the trail in comparison with our Titanium frames. The biggest difference that most individuals feel is the weight savings of Titanium. Our Titanium frames are around 650-900grams lighter than their steel counterparts. This weight savings results in a 'snappier' and more 'lively' riding characteristic when on the trail.

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 near by and ask them what they may have available for you to demo locally.

Mountain bike with a sleek design and wide tires.
A mountain bike frame in metallic gray color.
A metallic bicycle frame on a white background.
Close-up of a metal clip attached to a pole.
Close-up of bicycle frame components, showcasing suspension linkage and design details.
Close-up of a mechanical hinge with metallic components and rubber grips.
A close-up of a bicycle frame's rear suspension components.
Close-up of a bicycle frame's bottom bracket and pedal area.
A metallic object with the engraved word
Close-up of a bicycle frame's handle with a logo.

 

 

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