I'm reviving the Surly Karate Monkey that was gathering dust at home!

Hello, this is Ikeda.

Mountain biking is so much fun! Ever since I saw young people with sparkling eyes riding bikes, I've completely fallen for it.

I couldn't sit still, and thinking only of MTBs, I had an idea.

Yes, let's revive the Surly Karate Monkey I've been storing in my home warehouse!

I'd like to ride Fujimi Panorama sometime soon, so I want it to perform well off-road.

Here's its current state. It's just as it was when I pulled it out of the warehouse.

This Karate Monkey is a model that was released about 10 years ago. Its translucent low-color "Spray Tan" look is a favorite of mine.

The components installed were entirely transplanted from a "GT" brand complete MTB that I used to ride.

If you want to change the ride feel or enjoy a new bike without spending a lot of money, it's a good idea to reuse your existing parts instead of getting all new ones!

Now, those complete bike parts have been in use for about 12 years, just looking at the age.

"Alright, it's about time for some customization!"

So, I decided to reassemble it by consolidating parts from another mountain bike, parts from a touring bike, new parts, and so on, regardless of age.

Here's what it looks like now.

The brakes are cable-actuated, which is perfectly fine for city riding, but for off-road riding, I'd like a bit more stopping power.

The tires are clincher type.

The original GT complete bike was rim brake spec, so there are brake marks on the rim sides. About 10 years ago, many MTBs had frames and wheelsets that could use both rim brakes and disc brakes, which is why it looks like this.

The saddle is a WTB Pure saddle that was released at the time.

Perhaps due to the passage of time, the seating surface has become a bit stiff.

I'm thinking of replacing this to make it a bit more comfortable for my behind.

As for the dropper post... I'm still deciding what to do.

The drivetrain has 3 speeds in the front and 8 speeds in the rear, for a total of 24 speeds.

It's perfectly fine for commuting and practical use. However, since I'm planning to ride trails this time, I'm thinking of upgrading to something with a bit more precision.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

By the way, do you have any MTBs at home that are just sitting around, unridden?

The weather is getting nice, so why not pull it out after a long time and ride together!

We can also help with bike washing and cleaning at Grumpy!

If you have any concerns or need inspections of any parts, please let us know.

Let's enjoy mountain biking!

By the way, here's the 2025 model of the Surly Karatemonkey.

It features 27.5x3.0 inch semi-fat tires, offering a plush ride.

The front is a single gear, but the rear is a 12-speed with an 11-51t gear.

The current model has updated specs in every part, so if you're looking to start riding now, be sure to check it out!

Surly Karatemonkey 

Color: Snow Mold White

Price: 369,600 yen (tax included)