Haro Double Peak Comp 2023 - Cherry Cola

HARO DOUBLE PEAK COMP (2023)

Most recreational mountain bikes are advertised as good for bike paths, rail trails and family bike rides.

But what if you’re planning on bike rides that are more adventurous?

Perhaps mountain biking is an activity you’d like to pursue but don’t have the budget for a proper dual suspension mountain bike.

This is exactly where the latest 2023 Double Peak Comp fits in.

This preview will tell you a little more about the bike and why it should be on your shortlist.

WHAT IS THE DOUBLE PEAK COMP?

The Comp has been designed for intermediate (blue-square rated) mountain bike trails. So it’s quite different from the other Double Peak models.

Haro has designed the physical geometry of the Comp to deliver extra stability. This calms the bike down riding at speed over small tree roots and rocks.

Plus, the components are chosen to perform better in harsher conditions. Stuff that would wear out, lasts longer on the Double Peak Comp.

WHO IS THE COMP FOR?

With the above in mind, the Double Peak Comp rider is someone who is eager to start riding mountain bike trails, while still spending time on rail trails or bike paths with family and friends.

Someone who just wants a mountain bike that “feels” calmer and more controllable on off-road surfaces may be looking for a bike with a longer wheelbase, slacker head tube angle, and more travel.

These features will help to make the bike more stable and less likely to get tossed around by rough terrain.

Additionally, the Comp’s with wider tyres and lower gearing will make it easier to maintain traction and control on loose surfaces - especially when climbing up these surfaces.

WHAT MAKES THE COMP SO DIFFERENT?

One word - geometry. This thing is what makes a great bike, not necessarily the parts bolt to the frame.

You may fall asleep during this part, but I’ll do my best to keep you awake. And for context sake, I’ll compare this to the Giant Fathom 29.

Starting at the front.

The head tube angle measures 66-degrees. Same as the Fathom 29.

This angle is responsible for making the steering more or less twitchy. 66-degrees is very modern.

So riding the Comp over some rocks or tree roots at speed will feel calmer than riding the same trail with the Giant Talon (68.5-degrees).

Next we have the chain stay length. This is how long the back-end of the bike is.

The Double Peak Comp is 12mm longer than the Fathom.

A longer back end makes the bike more stable at speed and over technical trail sections. The bike is less likely to be forced off its line which improves control. The downside though is that it’s not as nimble changing directions on the trail.

So it’ll boil down to what you value most - stability (Double Peak Comp) or agility (Giant Fathom 29).

Out of the two characteristics, stability is perhaps the more important of the two.

Because, you can adapt to a bike that’s less agile but to build stability into a bike is near impossible.

Stability also helps riders from crashing too.

THE COMPONENTS

Starting at the front.

The Comp is suspended on a RockShox Judy Silver suspension fork which uses air pressure instead of a spring. This means we adjust the air pressure to suit the rider’s weight. More pressure for heavier riders and less for lighter.

Air suspension forks feel much smoother than a basic elastomer spring system like on lower level suspension forks. And it’s a much lighter product than more basic suspension forks.

Unlike so many recreational mountain bikes, the Comp and the Fathom 29 use a 130mm travel suspension fork. This means the suspension moves 130mm. Most other recreational bikes have 100mm of suspension movement.

The extra 30mm doesn’t sound like a lot. It is. It’s a significant difference; making the Comp one of the standout options for mountain biking because it handles so much better than your average mountain bike.

An air cap allows access to the valve for riders to easily adjust air pressure. You must use a suspension pump to adjust this.

Next we have the gears.

There’s a single gear on the front paired to 10 gears on the back.

This setup makes the drivetrain super simple and easy to maintain and use - perfect for mountain biking.

Adding some technical information:

The rear cassette range is massive. From a tiny 11-tooth sprocket to generate speed on downhill sections through to a massive 48-tooth sprocket to climb those Everest-like climbs.

The chosen brand for most of the drivetrains components is microSHIFT.

You may not have heard of the brand but they have been producing components for 24 years. They have industry leading component warranty (4 years) and (as good as Shimano is) microSHIFT tends to take the edge over Shimano in the mid-range and higher level mid-range components.

The Comp level build gets microSHIFT’s top of the range Advent X rear derailleur and gear shifter.

Pulley wheels on the rear derailleur use taller teeth to help the chain stay on in challenging conditions.

It also has a stabiliser built into the rear derailleur. When you’re riding over rough trails, exposed tree roots and rocks, the back wheel can cause the chain to move (quite violently at times) up and down.

This stabiliser actually stops the chain from moving too much when traveling over rough surfaces. The point? Your drivetrain is quieter and the chain doesn’t bounce off.

Next, the Advent X shifter has a really nice textured silicone thumb paddle that makes shifting a little more comfortable.

The shift paddle also rotates on a bearing, so only light effort is required to shift gears.

Lastly, the Samox crankset is full aluminium and features an external bearing setup.

Meaning:

Instead of tiny bearings being crammed inside the frame, the area has been designed to have the bearings sit outside (or external) of the Comp’s frame.

This allows for the bearings to be designed much larger in size, which provides several advantages.

First, larger bearings can support more weight, which makes the Comp more durable.

Second, larger bearings have a lower rolling resistance, which makes the Comp more efficient.

Third, larger bearings are less likely to get clogged with grit and mud, which makes the Comp much easier to maintain.

On a bike like this hydraulic disc brakes are a must.

Hydraulic disc brakes require much less maintenance than mechanical versions.

They also deliver more stopping power and safer control in both dry and wet conditions.

For small hands, the brake levers can be adjusted closer to the handlebar without affecting the power.

Now, some stuff about the wheels.

Strong double-wall aluminium rims are laced to Novatec hubs.

The big deal about using Novatec hubs is that they are well above-average quality. And not something we see at this price point.

Because you see, hubs are where most brands cut corners. That’s because most customers don’t realise their importance.

After all, it’s what your bike rolls on. Improve this one area and the bike feels better.

Not only are they lightweight, more importantly, these Novatec hubs roll on sealed bearings. Dirt, mud and grit doesn’t get in and contaminate the bearings.

For mountain biking it’s perfect because you can ride in all seasons without putting time and money aside to maintain the bearings.

Once they do wear out, the bearings are easily replaceable. And set for another couple of years.

Just avoid high pressure washing this area.