Wild to think that 4 years have passed since we originally released the Doppo High Plains Drifter model. That first small batch of US manufactured “Klunker” style frames arrived with fan fare and made a splash in the realm of unique, versatile, heritage-inspired frame set offerings that we’ve since seen from other brands in the industry. We learned a lot with that original product launch, and while we encountered some uncertainty and delays with getting a subsequent batch built- we’re proud of how it turned out- and thrilled to finally have these frame sets available to ship out to presale customers and potential riders- with a limited stock of frames still available for sale.

We designed the High Plains Drifter to evoke a sense of nostalgia amongst those who have a historical and cultural reference for some of the earliest “mountain bikes”. The term “klunker” gets tossed around to refer to these early bikes- which were adapted from modified, and reinforced cruiser bikes. That twin top-tube silhouette, along with a reinforced front fork assembly were hallmarks of bikes that were being asked to do more than what they were originally intended to do- which was mosey down the street to the pier or boardwalk at relaxed pace. What those bikes had going for them that made them suitable for adapting to hair-raising mountain descents was beefed up tubing profiles, plenty of tire clearance, longer chain stays for descending stability, and higher bottom brackets for obstacle and pedal strike clearance. Their more relaxed head tube and seat tube angles gave them less twitchy handling characteristics that made them more forgiving at navigating technical terrain. All of these characteristics would go on to become the expectation in specification and geometry as the bike industry gave birth to some of the first “mountain bikes”.

The High Plains Drifter was designed around the idea that you can tap in to many of those origins, and embrace a heritage aesthetic and compelling simplicity while adapting some modern machine specifications that make the bike all the more capable as an all-rounder. We’re living in an increasingly segmented consumer landscape. Bicycle rider’s understandings and expectations for what they are hoping to get out of a “Mountain Bike” or a “Gravel Bike” or an “Adventure Bike” or a “Mountain Cruiser” is creating specious justifications for people feeling like they need to invest in several bikes for the various kinds of riding they love to do. The modern ATB offering is a broadening segment of bikes that offers some relief from the idea that you need to hang a bunch of bikes in your garage, and that maybe- just like when you were a kid- what you really need is a bike that you can ride just about anywhere. There’s liberation to be found in versatility.

What distinguishes the Doppo High Plains Drifter from other ATB bikes is that it was inspired by a fairly specific concept- and that is the visual cues of a Klunker style bike. If you start with some widely accepted and respected bicycle geometry figures relative to how a bike handles in mixed (challenging) terrain, from there you have some parameters and now you get to connect those points with lines (chromoly tubing in this case) that give the bike a unique silhouette and aesthetic.

Giving the HPD some modern off-road bike specifications makes it a more capable bike in a broader range of environments. Disc brakes, Boost Spacing, and the ability to utilize a dropper post are chief among those points. I’d argue that the invention of the modern dropper seat post has done more to alter and improve our experiences in riding bikes than any other technology in bikes in the last 20 years. Descending steep or challenging terrain can be accomplished more confidently with the stopping power offered by mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes. Boost spacing in our wheels allows for a stiffer and stronger wheel build which can offer added longevity to the life cycle of your bike- particularly on a rim where you aren’t wearing through a milled braking surface. The High Plains Drifter’s tapered head tube and fork steerer help to stiffen up the front end- offering more precise steering input and less deflection when riding in rough terrain. Thru-Axles have all but eliminated concerns surrounding properly securing quick-release skewers.

With the geometry and specifications arranged, you can then build in some features that distinguish a bike even further. HPD’s twin top tube is a visually appealing aspect of the bike- and creates an intentional space in which to mount a custom frame bag- which we offer as a recommended addition to this bike. Provisions for mounting a front or rear rack, as well as cargo cage mounts on the fork blades and underside of the down tube offer up solutions for using High Plains Drifter as more of a capable off-road touring solution. We’ve even included fender eyelets at the dropouts, fork crown and stay bridges as a welcome feature- particularly for those of us in wetter climates like our own Pacific Northwest, who fall in love with the utility of this bike and want to enjoy it year-round.

As with the first batch of High Plains Drifters, v.2 was constructed right here in Portland, OR. This city has a deep pool of talented bicycle fabricators, machinists, makers and industry veterans that are equipped to jump in to small batch production work. Oscar Camarena had overseen the production of the original High Plains Drifter frame sets 4 years ago, and he’s back for Act II- this time acting as sole fabricator. Oscar’s background in BMX and MTB riding, along with his diverse range of skills and experience with metal fabrication, coupled with a work history that he and I have shared going back almost 15 years made him a logical and highly qualified contractor for the job.

Cody Forsythe who had built us frame bags under his ‘Jack Supply’ brand for the original HPDs is back in action on this second go-around as well. The new bag has upgraded waterproof zippers and is constructed from X-11 X-Pac fabric. The Olive fabric and Coyote webbing play harmoniously with the bike’s ‘Prairie Sage’ powder coat finish. Obviously varying in capacity relative to frame size- there’s enough space here to pack some tools, a light layer, some food, and other riding or EDC solutions.

Back in the mix this go-around again, is Keaton Haire from Doom Bars in Albuquerque. The HPD bar that he created for us has a knurled center section on it’s consistent 22.2mm outer wall spec, nickel-plating with masked polished graphic, and a ton of carefully placed file strokes that’ve gone in to executing some beautifully finished fillets. While this handlebar would be a worthy option on many bikes- we designed and commissioned it to be built as a complementary component of the High Plains Drifter. It’s heritage aesthetic, durable chromoly construction and twin-tube construction all blend in seamlessly with HPDs design elements.

In the 4 years since we originally released the High Plains Drifter, the bike industry has continued to develop products that are relying more and more on gratuitous technological advancements to market and sell new products to consumers in the bike world. Wireless shifting systems, e-bike offerings that continue to get lighter, more powerful and less expensive. Electronic sensors in our suspension systems; the list goes on, and while there’s an expected inevitability to all of this as you reflect on how ingrained technology has become in all walks of our lives, a measure of what’s being proposed here with High Plains Drifter is a dismissal of a lot of this questionable tech; a concerted effort at choosing to take a step back from it. Maybe riding a bike can still be an analog offering, and you can strum a chord that doesn’t feel quite so…dampened. HPD doesn’t have a performance proposition to offer you. It’s not tapping in to some new-school idea on how a modern bike should handle. While it’s leaning in to some design elements from some older generation bikes- albeit as a tip of our cap, it’s not a reproduction. We aren’t wanting to position it or market it as a nostalgia piece for a segment of riders who grew up riding early mountain bikes. SimWorks’ mission with it was to inspire both new and familiar riding experiences, and to offer a unique vehicle that brings a fresh perspective to your riding style, while perhaps renewing the excitement of routes you may have ridden countless times before.

DOPPO HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER SPECIFICATIONS

• Tig welded and Brazed Chromoly Construction
• Included Unicrown chromoly fork – 55mm rake / 430mm AtC 
• 110mm x 15mm Boost front thru-axle standard
• 148 x 12mm Boost rear dropout
• Capacity for 29” x 2.4” or 27.5” x 2.6” tires
• EC34/EC44 Tapered Head tube and 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ fork steerer
• 73mm BSA Threaded BB
• Front and Rear fender and rack eyelets
• Custom Bolt-on Truss assembly
• 31.6 Internal Dropper Post routing
• 34.9mm Seat Collar
• Twin top-tube design with optional custom frame bag from Stitch Tech
• Optional “Klunker” style DOOM handlebar for sale with frame purchase
• Frame available in 4 sizes: S,M,L,XL
• All frames powder coated in ‘Prairie Sage’ color