Just introduced, the Soma Jawbone is a new bikepacking frame offered in two options: one with thru-axles and a lugged fork, and another with sliding dropouts and a unicrown fork. Find details and images of both here…
While the Soma Wolverine monstercross frame has been quite popular among dirt tourers and bikepackers over the years, Soma saw a gap in their range. They wanted to create a drop-bar bike made for bikepacking and touring that fits true mountain bike tires. To fill this niche, they just released the Soma Jawbone, which they call “the perfect platform to build a drop bar mountain touring and bikepacking rig.”
The Soma Jawbone is built on a Tange Prestige heat-treated double-butted CrMo steel frame with clearance for up to 29 x 2.25″ and 27.5 x 2.6″ tires (with good mud clearance). The frame is designed to have more stability while loaded thanks to a longer wheelbase and slightly stiffer design. It’s also outfitted with plenty of mounts for packing gear. There are two variations on the frame: the A-type with thru-axles and a unique lugged fork, and the B-type with sliding dropouts and a unicrown fork. Find details on each below.
Soma Jawbone A-Type
The Soma Jawbone A-Type features a Tange Prestige heat-treated double-butted CrMo steel frame with a butted CrMo rear end. It has investment cast vertical dropouts for a 12 x 142mm thru-axle and a replaceable stainless steel hanger. It also gets flat mount disc brake tabs on rear. Here are the full specs from Soma:
- Front derailleur compatible (bottom pull)
- Rear rack and fender eyelets
- Two sets of bottle cage bosses; one set of cargo cage bosses on downtube
- 44mm headtube: Fits 1-1/8″ steerer tubes and tapered steerer tubes with a headset swap
- 27.2mm post size/28.6mm front. der. size/29.8mm seat collar, 73mm bottom bracket (English threads)
- Tire Width Range: 27.5 x 47mm to 2.5” / 700c x 38mm to 29 x 2.25”
- Color: Sage Green
- Sizes: 650b only: 50cm, 52cm. 29″: 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm, 64cm
Optional Fork Features
- Tange CrMo steel
- Steve Potts Type II-R design
- Axle to Crown: 420mm
- Rake: 50mm
- Investment cast thru-axle dropouts (12mm x 100mm)
- One set of cargo cage bosses per leg, lowest boss can be used for a pannier rack
- IS disc mount
The Soma Jawbone A-Type sells for $795.95, and the Steve Potts-designed A-type fork is available for an additional $379.95. Find details here.
Soma Jawbone B-Type
The Soma Jawbone B-Type features a Tange Prestige heat-treated double-butted CrMo steel frame with a butted CrMo rear end. It has IRD Broski Sliding Dropouts that allow it to run derailleurs or be set up with an internally geared hub or as a singlespeed. Stock dropout inserts are for 135mm QR, but you can also get 142 x 12mm thru-Axle inserts which are available separately. Here are the specs from Soma:
- IS mount disc brake tabs
- Front derailleur compatible (bottom pull)
- Rear rack and fender eyelets
- Two sets of bottle cage bosses; one set of cargo cage bosses on downtube
- 44mm headtube fit 1-1/8″ steerer tubes and tapered steerer tubes with a headset swap
- 27.2mm post size/28.6mm front. der. size/29.8mm seat collar, 73mm bottom bracket (English threads)
- Tire width range: 650b x 47mm to 27.5 x 2.6” / 700c x 38mm to 29 x 2.25”
- Sizes: 650b only: 50cm, 52cm. 29″: 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm, 64cm
- Color: Slick Black
Optional Fork Features
- Tange CrMo steel
- Fits QR hubs
- Axle to Crown: 420mm
- Rake: 50mm
- IS disc mounts, rotor fit up to 180mm
- Two sets of cargo cage bosses per leg, pannier rack bosses on inside and outside leg
- Two set of rack/fender bosses at fork ends
The Soma Jawbone B-Type sells for $769.95, and the QR B-type unicrown fork is available for an additional $269.99. Find details here. You can also read more on how this bike was developed and where it fits into their lineup over on the Soma Blog.
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