Riding the Binary Molotok
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- By Cody Gagnon for Sun & Spokes
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A look into riding the Binary Molotok. Titanium hardtail made for riding rad trails
Binary Molotok: Arizona Ride Review
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been putting the Binary Molotok through its paces on rugged Southern Arizona trails and one thing became immediately clear: this bike wants to party.
It delivers the efficiency you’d expect from a hardtail, but with a level of confidence and handling that feels much closer to a full suspension bike. If you’re looking for a hardtail that thrives on speed, playfulness, and aggressive trail riding, the Molotok absolutely fits the bill.
The Binary Molotok at a glance:
- Best for playful trail riding where descent capability and having a rad time is priority
- Not ideal for being the XC machine wearing full lycra
- Standout features: Big travel, slack headtube, short chainstays, and of course TITANIUM
- Ride feel: Smooth and playful
Now let's dive into the nitty gritty. I don’t want to make your eyes glaze over, but rather, give you an idea of what you’re working with. Again, it seems as though Binary Bicycle’s intention here was to make a hardtail that isn’t boring. Something that wants to RIP but still offers efficiency and trail feel of a hardtail . Pull manuals, slap through turns, hit the jibs on the side of the trail… you get what I mean?
Size Large Frame:
- 65.5 Head Tube angle
- 75 Seat Tube angle
- 478mm Reach
- 425-445mm Chainstay
- 652mm Stack Height
- 1220mm Wheelbase
- 148mm Boost
- 150mm Fork
During my time on this bike I tested the Molotok on fast, smooth, and flowy singletrack as well as chunky, rocky, technical trails. It felt comfortable on both types of terrain.
On Smooth, Fast Trail
For the smooth fast stuff, I was able to play and throw the bike around yet still get the power efficiency of riding a hardtail MTB. The bike feels tall in that you sit quite upright vs an aggressive race bike position. This made for super easy manuals, hopping over obstacles, or any other reason you needed/wanted to get the front wheel off the ground.
On Technical Terrain
On the more technical trails, it’s almost easy to forget that you’re on a hardtail. With the 150mm fork, slack head tube angle, and higher stack height, you’re sitting in a very comfortable position while bombing downhill. Carrying speed into and through obstacles was no issue! The occasional chattery rock garden was the only thing that reminded me I was on a hardtail.
I rode this exact trail the next day on the Binary Maniak and instantly could tell the difference. Although the Maniak is a fantastic bike, it is more along the lines of a traditional hardtail and was nowhere near as fast through the more chunky technical trails with fast turns, drops, rocks, and bigger compressions. I mention this not to downplay the Maniak but, rather, to further emphasize the advantage that the Molotok has on more aggressive trail riding!
In addition to the riding feel and capability, Binary’s aesthetic is simple yet oh so good. Raw titanium with black logos makes for a super clean looking bike and chances to make pops of flare with colored hardware and parts. This bike in particular had anodized hardware throughout giving it a simple yet pro look. Even titanium bars to match the frame!
Who This Bike Is For
The Molotok is for riders who:
- Want a hardtail that can handle aggressive trail riding
- Prioritize fun, playfulness, and descending capability
- Like the simplicity of a hardtail but don’t want to feel undergunned
If you haven't yet checked out Binary’s lineup, now may be the time! I’ve really enjoyed riding the Molotok and I’m excited to check out their more bikepacking focused MTB and gravel frame. Living in southern Arizona, we get a lot of good weather and adventure rides are inevitable! A Binary might just be my next adventure rig.
Check out a few last photos of my time with the Molotok:
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