REI - DRT 1.2 Upgrades & Review
This Upgraded REI Coop DRT 1.2 has been an impressive addition to my stable. It can tackle some blue tech trails, has an built in mounting points for bike packing and a large triangle that perfectly fits a 6L Ortlieb Frame Bag.
Berm Party Build
Frame: DRT 1.2 Large
Bars: Deity Black Label
Stem: 35mm Reach
Fork: Fox Factory 34 - 130mm
Dropper Post: Fox Factory 125mm
Wheels: Hunt E_Enduro 37mm internal 29/27.5 (Discontinued)
Tires: Eliminator T9/T7 2.6 Front | Grond Control 2.6 T7 Rear
Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc
Refined Bottle Holder: Rattlesnek Kej by Portland Design Works
Who is it for?
New riders who have a local REI store and want a budget friendly entry point to mountain biking.
Keep in mind the DRT 1.1 is not the same frame as the DRT 1.2…
I wish REI made this clear to riders because the upgrade options on the DRT 1.1 are not sufficient in my opinion due to the QR axel frame design.
What can the REI DRT 1.2 do?
We ran back to back tests between the custom DRT 1.2 and Growler DC 80 build.
Our take was that it is a capable bike that is great at damping the trail.
The comfortable geometry, damping and frame mounting options would make it an awesome bike packing rig.
For bikepacking, we would consider upgrading to a lighter wheelset, such as:
Hunt Trail Wide
Proven Carbon XC
paired with appropriate tires for mixed terrain.
Check back for our next DRT 1.2 review featuring our bike packing upgrades later this year.
Why REI for new riders?
REI gives families and new riders a great place to start their journey into the mountain bike world because they typically staff knowledgable friendly staff and offer skills courses in most major cities. At a certain point you may want to seek out a local bike shop for more MTB specific expertise.
