Blackthorn 145 Eagle 70 Mountain Bike

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"The Blackthorn 145 Eagle 70 runs SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission on a 6061-T6 aluminum Split Pivot frame with a RockShox Lyrik 160mm fork and Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock for 145mm of rear travel. Split Pivot isolates pedaling and braking forces independently, delivering better small-bump compliance and braking traction without sacrificing climbing efficiency. The flip chip adjusts BB height by 5mm and head tube angle by 0.3 degrees for terrain or preference, and the Split Pivot+ design allows conversion to 125mm rear travel by swapping control and shock links."

Who It's For

All-mountain riders who want longer-travel construction with purpose-built suspension.

The Blackthorn 145 Eagle 70 targets riders with solid trail experience who are ready for a longer-travel all-mountain bike capable of handling steep, technical terrain on big days out. It suits those who want a stable, confidence-inspiring chassis with suspension performance.

What It's For

Steep and technical all-mountain terrain, varied singletrack, and conditions changing without warning.

The Blackthorn 145 is built for rides where you don't always know what's coming next. The 63.9-degree head tube angle and 160mm fork create a long front center for stability on loose, steep descents, while the 77.4-degree seat tube angle keeps riders in a comfortable pedaling position on sustained climbs. Short chainstays keep the bike agile and maneuverable on tight technical sections regardless of frame size.

Why We Like It

Split Pivot suspension engineering, progressive leverage rate, and a complete all-mountain spec.

Salsa's Split Pivot rear suspension design places the rear axle pivot concentrically with the rear wheel axle, isolating pedaling and braking forces from each other so both can be tuned independently. The result is excellent small-bump compliance, smooth and predictable braking throughout the travel, and efficient pedaling performance on sustained climbs. The progressive leverage rate delivers supple small-bump performance at the top of the stroke and strong bottom-out resistance for confidence on bigger hits. The Split Pivot+ design methodology means the Blackthorn 145 frame can be converted to 125mm rear travel by swapping control and shock links along with the rear shock and fork, giving riders two distinct ride characters from one chassis. The flip chip provides a 5mm BB height adjustment and 0.3-degree head tube angle change for riders who want to fine-tune handling for terrain or tire size.

SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission with a 10-52 cassette and 30T chainring covers every gradient on long all-mountain days, and the MRP 1x iO SL chain guide keeps the drivetrain secure on rough terrain.

SRAM Maven four-piston brakes with 200mm rotors front and rear provide powerful, progressive stopping power matched to the travel and terrain this bike is designed for. Teravail Kessel 29x2.5 tires with Durable casing front and Durable Plus casing rear handle loose, rocky, and technical all-mountain surfaces with grip and durability. WTB ST Tough i30 TCS rims ship tubeless-ready with TCS valves and sealant included, and two bottle mounts on all frame sizes keep hydration sorted on long days out.

Heads up! We do our best to keep bike specs and images current, but occasional component changes can happen without warning, and sometimes the photos might not show the exact build you'll receive. If you want to double-check the details, our Gearheads are always here to help.