Diamondback

Haanjo Complete Bike - 2015

How many times have you been trying to make a decision between two or three different options — such as, say, which car to buy, or which restaurant to try, or which socks to wear — and you just wish you could take the best features of each and combine them into one optimal choice, without compromise? Diamondback thought the same thing when taking a look at its product line, so it designed a machine to meet the needs of riders who want the toughness of a mountain bike without the bulk or knobby tires, the low weight of a road bike without the aggressive position or skinny wheels, all with the practicality and comfort of a commuting machine. The result? The Haanjo. And for a real steal, check out the 2015 Diamondback Haanjo Complete Bike.

What makes the Haanjo such a wonderful mutant? Let’s start with the frame. DB began with its Endurance Road frame — the one you'll see on its road bikes designed to do 100 miles or more in a day — because it's light, smooth-riding, and it's comfortable for long distances. For a boost in practicality, the top tube of the frame was flattened a bit to make the bike easier to shoulder when walking up stairs, for example. Then, they make the frame ready for the superior stopping power of disc-brakes, since the Haanjo is ready to be loaded up with racks and cargo.

The Haanjo's handling is both light yet stable, thanks in no small part to the tapered head tube — wider at the bottom, where the fork meets the frame. This wideness means lateral stiffness, which makes handling much sharper and more predictable. When all the Haanjo's frame's details come together, you get a tough, light, and most importantly, balanced machine that you can comfortably use for commuting, for errands, for some light off-road exploration, or even some laps around the park when you want to get in a workout. It's a truly versatile and capable bike.

Want some more details? The Haanjo's drivetrain is the Sora system, brought to you by Shimano, a proven maker of some of the industry's most reliable parts. The FSA Gossamer Cross crankset is a standout here, being a piece that wouldn't be out of place on competition-worthy cyclocross machines. The Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes provide consistent and powerful but controllable stopping, regardless of weather conditions. Diamondback wraps its strong Equation CS wheelset in Kenda Happy Medium tires, so named for the exact reason you imagine: they're comfortable on pavement or dirt roads, with durability to spare. The DB flat alloy handlebar also puts you in a happy medium, comfortably between go-fast low and too-high high, while the DB Eldorado saddle will keep you rolling for miles without complaint.

The 2015 Diamondback Haanjo Complete Bike comes in four sizes — 50cm, 53cm, 56cm, and 59cm — and in the color Blue. Pedals are included.