Roughly two years ago, Esker Cycles quietly paused their full suspension bikes. It was a move that went largely unnoticed, unless you happened to be in the market for one of their Orion suspension-equipped frames. But rather than getting out the full suspension game completely, it appears that Esker was just taking a break while completely redesigning the lineup (including their hardtails).
Now, Esker’s back in the full-suspension game, and they’re ditching carbon to focus entirely on aluminum and titanium frames. Esker’s new Howdy and Woodsy models keep things refreshingly simple while still rocking Dave Weagle’s Orion Suspension System from their previous lineup.
Think of these bikes as their beloved hardtails with just enough rear squish added for extra comfort and control. No gimmicks, no fluff — just straightforward metal bikes with balanced geometry and simple mechanics at a solid value.
Perhaps most interesting is the frame material options. For both models, you can choose from a full aluminum version or a titanium front triangle paired to an aluminum rear triangle. Both bikes are also built around 29 x 2.6″ tire clearance with UDH 148mm Boost dropouts, and threaded bottom brackets.
Howdy & Howdy Ti (125mm – Trail Full Suspension)
Named after the “Good Outdoor Manners Raccoon” from that 1950s Forest Service campaign, some of us may remember that flannel-wearing raccoon who taught us not to litter and to be respectful in the woods. That’s as important as ever, and seems like good inspiration for a bike name.
The shorter travel model, Howdy is meant to pair a 140mm travel fork with the 125mm travel rear suspension.
What makes it tick:
Suspension: 125mm rear travel via Dave Weagle’s Orion Dynamics design
Frame options: 6061-T6 alloy (front and rear) or titanium front (3/2.5 seamless, butted, cold-shaped) with alloy rear
Geometry: Trail-oriented 64.8° head tube, 77° seat tube, 435mm chainstays, modern-but-not-extreme reach/stack
Colors: Raw, Unicorn, or Salmon
Other Frame Features: External cable routing, 73mm threaded BB, 148mm boost spacing, 29×2.6″ tire clearance, and a Universal Derailleur Hanger
Woodsy (145mm Trail – Rowdy Full Suspension)
Named after another cartoon public service announcement, Woodsy Owl is the Forest Service mascot who’s been telling kids to “Give a hoot! Don’t pollute” since 1970. He’s still out there fighting litter and teaching environmental protection to new generations.
The bike itself is a 145mm rear travel all aluminum or titanium/aluminum all-mountain bike. Pair it with a 160mm travel fork for an extremely capable build.
What makes it tick:
Suspension: 145mm rear travel via the same Orion system
Frame options: Same alloy and titanium combos as the Howdy
Geometry: Slightly slacker with 64.5° head tube, 77.5° seat tube, 440mm chainstays, similar reach/stack philosophy
Colors: Raw, Verde, or Ranchera
Other Frame Features: Same practical specs as the Howdy
Pricing
Both the Howdy and the Woodsy follow the same pricing structure. The aluminum frames start at $2,000 for the frameset, or $4,000 for complete bikes. To bump up to the titanium/aluminum frame, the pricing jumps to $3,500 for the frameset and $5,500 for the complete builds. Check out the site below for all the all the build options.
EskerCycles.com
