There are giants among us, and we’re not just talking about basketball players over 7ft. For pedal cyclists, being too tall can cause serious problems – even with XL frames. That’s where DirtySixer comes in with its extra-large-framed, big-wheeled bikes and e-bikes. The latter are now powered by Bosch motors.
This isn’t the first time we’ve hung out with the big boys, so let’s recap. DirtySixer was founded in 2013 by David Folch after he broke his ankle on a regular-sized bike in 2011, and the 36er was born, a ride specifically designed for people over 6.5ft (1.98m).
The 36er name refers to the wheel size of these monster bikes, and the large frame and oversized components are designed to fit together perfectly. We first saw the DirtySixer at the North American Handmade Bike Show in 2016, when the company took to Kickstarter to fund its scaling plans and increase production.
That crowdfunding campaign attracted enough supertall riders to exceed its goal, and all of the hand-built bikes shipped in December. The 36er bikes continued to be released, and DirtySixer began work on a slightly smaller mountain bike model called the 32er — it debuted as a concept prototype in 2017.
DirtySix
Unsurprisingly, over the years the company has attracted a roster of former and current NBA players to its customer list — including LeBron James, Rik Smits, Keith Closs, Shaquille O'Neal, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell. In 2021, a new 36er variant hit the Indiegogo platform, a rigid-framed mountain bike with versatile ambitions.
This time around, the campaign coffers were overflowing with more than $370,000, but the bike took a bit longer to ship than initially anticipated. In 2022, DirtySixer joined the e-bike revolution with a 36er featuring a Shimano STEPS e8000 motor in the bottom bracket and a 500-Wh downtube battery.
Now, Shimano has been replaced by Bosch, and the eDirtySixers come in both 32- and 36-speed versions to fit tall e-bikers from 5.83 ft to 7.38 ft (1.78-2.25 m).
DirtySix
“The highly acclaimed Bosch CX Performance mid-drive motor with Intelligent System delivers up to 85 Nm of torque [62.6 lb.ft] The company confirmed in a press release that it has “600 watts of torque and power assist activated via the pedals.” “With electric assist, long climbs to the top of the most enjoyable descents are now easy, and commuters no longer need to change underwear.”
Pedal assist is provided at speeds up to 20 mph in the US and 25 km/h in Europe, but other than the promise of “long battery life,” no details have been revealed about the matching Bosch Power Pack, nor is it known whether mounts for the Frame Pack range extender are included.
Both models feature new all-terrain tires made specifically for the big-wheeled DirtySixer bikes by VeeTire. The e36er rims are wrapped in 2.25-inch T-Monster rubber, while the e32er benefits from 2.4-inch variants. The electric 36er is considered best suited for gravel riding and commuting, but it’s also “unmatched in the way it rolls over the toughest terrain.” The 32er variant can handle all of those, “but it finds its sweet spot on tight singletrack.”
DirtySix
Elsewhere, the bikes are built around a 6061 aluminum frame with a chrome-molybdenum rigid fork and big handlebars. There’s a gel-filled Velo saddle, Samox cranks, and proprietary pedals. A 10-speed Shimano CUES gearset offers flexible riding options, and reliable stopping power is provided by Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 203mm rotors. An optional rear rack and frame-fitting bags are available for bikepacking needs.
The suggested retail price for both models is $8,999. They’re currently available for pre-order, but if you act fast, you can get a significant discount through an in-house crowdfunding effort (which we’re told will close this weekend). Either way, shipping is expected to start in February of next year. There’s more in the video below.
New eDIRTYSIXER Bosch (official video)
Product page: eDirtySixer