Review: Perkins Cloudwalker 32er Hardtail MTB
I finally got the Cloudwalker out for a proper testride today and have some keen observations. My goal is to bring some clarity to the advantages/disadvantages for this new wheelsize!
The Ride
My testride was a 30 mile jaunt up waterton canyon to the start of the Colorado trail, then up to the Indian Creek loop. Ride time was about 4 hours, there was 3700 feet of climbing. This is a ride I have done before but never on a hardtail. I chose it because it has a nice variety of terrain without getting overly chunky. In other words, a nice longer xc race simulation. I expected to encounter some steep, loose conditions, switchbacks, flowy singletrack, and some varied climbing.
It was immediately obvious that the bike wanted to move once you got it rolling on the gravel road leading to the Colorado trailhead. I PR'd my end to end despite stopping to observe the local fauna and having ridden this section previously on a gravel bike! Maybe they should have named this bike a Cloudrunner...
The last section leading up to the Colorado trail gets up to 13% grade and is quite loose but I barely noticed any traction change. "Cloudy" just rolled right up.
The switchbacked singlterack leading to the Indian Creek loop was dispatched simply enough, despite needing to add some air to the rear tire (the bike had been up at 10k feet the day before). One of the switchbacks had a rock outcrop that tripped me up. I was trying not to fall over and chip the paint on this new whip so I didn't go 100%.
The real meat and potatoes of the ride starts here. After attaining the ridge, riders are awarded with views of the Colorado foothills left and right, while the trail undulates for a bit and then turns downhill steeply into a gully. The Cloudwalker surprised me with it's downhill prowess despite only having 130mm travel on an upside-down fork. The large wheels tamed the numerous 1-2 drops and the suspension took the edge off. The bike tracked well. I was surprised to forget at times that I was riding a hardtail, my old bones don't like jarring drops anymore.
After a brief descent the trail turned more towards climbing with some techy bits, again the I hung up on the technical outcrops occasionally, but I'd like to come back and try again with some different threads since the Aspen are adequate but not amazing against technical rock climbs.
Some undulations and dismountings to allow the equestrians to pass, I arrived at camp, leading to another long uphill singletrack, which transitioned into a gravely road, at times degraded to the point where you'd really want a 4x4. The Cloudwalker shined here, it was easy to manage the ruts when you got into them, and if you played your cards right, you could ride around the ruts with some heavy, precice leans. This part that is usually stressful became joyful. Along with the rutty downhills were some steep, loose uphills, and while the bike was ready to handle them, her mount was not, but I endured a bit less hiking than I remember last time. I made it to the sign.
I carried on down the remaining single track, and having drank the remainder of my water on this 90* day, well I was suffering a bit but managed to finish the lolly, despite a bit of minor trouble on the downhill switchbacks and sped down the dirt road, dodging mountain goats, pausing to watch a nervous baby goat run back to mama before being joined by a confused rider who asked how I was going so fast, pushing so much rubber. I ensured him it was just my 32 inch wheels to blame and offered him a test ride in the parking lot, to which he obliged. "The future is now" he exclaimed.
Summary
This bike is fun and interesting to ride. I was initially brought back to childhood days riding a bike that feels a bit too big for me, but after an hour I had forgotten that I wasn't on my tried-and-true fully suspended 29er downcountry. Uphills were faster when loose, as long as it didn't get too technical (but this could be a lack of experience). Drops were better than expected especially considering the rigid rear end. This bike definitely garners attention from other riders who are in tune with recent trends.
| ✅ Pros | ⚪ Neutral | ❌ Cons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uphill | Loose/rooty climbing; dirty gravel (massive momentum) | Steep non-loose gravel | Rock outcroppings seem more difficult |
| Downhill | Slightly downhill gravel (massive momentum); Drops!; rutted gravel roads; very stable at high speed | Flowy singletrack | Flat corners; downhill repeated switchbacks (uphill fine) |
The Rider
I'm a 40-something rider with more than 30 years of riding and wrenching experience. I am an an amateur racer who rarely podiums but has a pension for the more technical stage races in and around Colorado like Moab Rocks and Breck Epic. He's hard on his gear and has spent years finding the stuff that lasts.
Who is this bike for?
If you are a racer aiming for Leadville, I think this rig might give you an advantage, especially down power-line. If you ride a lot of power line trails in general, this might be your ride. You might enjoy riding more if you do a lot of rides with chill terrain and long gravel sections or lead-in, it'd be hard to beat. On the front-range of Colorado, Waterton, Buff Creek, and Table Mesa trail systems come to mind as ideal targets for this bike. The Cloudwalker could also meet the needs of a rider who wants to be on the cutting edge and doesn't mind some attention.
The Bike
The Cloudwalker weighs in at 25.5lbs without pedals. It's got a carbon frame with magnetic internal storage (which came in handy on this ride). The frame comes with a 5 year warranty and crash discounts for wheels and frames. The wheels are hand-built with Perkins branded rims and Berd spokes and hubs. The spokes are the Polylight Extreme spokes adding rigidity to the wagon wheels. Attention to detail on the wheel build is critical, and these wheels have washers on the brass nipples for longevity. If you know, you know. They come in at an impressive 1695g for the set. AXS GX derailleur, Rock Shox dropper are the reliable drivetrain bits you need, paired with a Race Face crank and chainring paired with a ridiculously light and flawless Garbaruk 10-52 cassette to get the job done. Maxxis Aspen threads round out the wheels and the new Magura Louise brakes are consistent, strong, and modulate well.
The Pitch
Flow State has an exclusive arrangement to sell Perkins bikes, and we have a pre-order available. Perkins is small, grass-roots brand, but growing and working hard to fill gaps in the market. The pre-order is needed to gather capital to bring this next-generation build to market. Delivery is expected in September, with a $500 deposit for the $5999 retail.