The Breezer Thunder should not only inspire steel fans and retro followers. With a variety of attachment options, it is also interesting for bikepacking adventures. And somehow it also made it clear to me what used to be better.
How? Everything was better before?! That's not true. But a lot of things used to be pretty good, and definitely easier. This also applies to the birth of the mountain bike. Joe Breeze was already building mountain bikes in 1977, before I was born. Back then, of course, made of steel, which was not only the most common frame material back then, but practically the only one. I got to know Joe once, in his bike museum in Fairfax, between a burger and a motel, just like it is on a trip to the US. cheesy, right? Yes, a bit too much stereotype and pigeonholing. But it fits. Especially about this article, because the rides on the Thunder are a bit of a ride on a timeline for me. The rides raise questions about cycling itself and also about the motivation behind some technical developments. And in the end there is an almost romantic feeling and also a little self-knowledge. What a snitch....
Breezer Thunder – classic modern
The Thunder is available in Europe in 3 sizes (17, 19 and 20,5 inches) and is therefore accessible to many people. Only very small people have to order a 15 inch wheel overseas, for example in the USA. The geometry is calm but not old-fashioned. At 67,7 degrees, the head angle is rather slack for a bike of this type without suspension, and the seat tube angle is rather steep (between 74 and 75 degrees, depending on the frame size). The top tube is not too short, but not super long either, as is currently the trend in the full suspension sector. However, the rear end is rather long at 450 millimeters, which is due on the one hand to the freedom for large 29-inch wheels with tires up to 2,8 inches wide, but probably also to the desire for smooth running, which is particularly important on long journeys with a lot of luggage on board Make sense.
The wide 780mm low-riser handlebars and the short stem would also look good on an enduro. This also applies to the Kind Shox dropper post. And there we are already in the middle of the modern part of Thunder. There is a thru-axle front and rear and solid Boost wheels with a 30 millimeter inner rim width. It is shifted with a complete Shimano 12-speed Deore and 10-51 cassette. You can get anywhere with it, if you want to, and the matching Shimano disc brakes (BL-MT501 lever with BR-MT500 saddle) are always enough to come to a safe stop. A 180mm disc is installed at the front and a 160mm disc at the rear. With a heavy body weight and luggage, you might wish for larger discs. On rough terrain, you might want to rein in a bike without suspension. WTB Vigilante tires in 2,5 always provide plenty of traction and comfort and contribute to a successful look with their light-colored sidewalls. The other WTB attachments, grips and the saddle are also very functional and I like them. Even the saddle quick release is very valuable, ergonomic and does not require any plastic.
What's worth mentioning is that Breezer didn't skimp on threaded grommets. Front and rear mudguards and a luggage rack are no problem. There is space for 2 bottle cages in the main frame and there are also "triple cage mounts" on both sides of the fork and on one side of the rear triangle. These are bottle cage threads, but instead of two, there are three of them in the familiar design and the usual spacing. Various bags or platforms can be attached to take everything possible with you on the next overnight adventure. The Thunder even has two of these eyelets for a bag on the top tube, at the front of the stem. 
So the Thunder is only old school at first glance. It is unsprung and therefore unusual for a modern mountain bike. But all modern standards are taken into account insofar as they make sense. There are boost dimensions and thru-axles, disc brakes and 1×12 gears.
How does the Thunder feel?
So now for the romantic part of my affair with the Breezer Thunder. It has come to stay. A planned “One Night Ride” turned into a permanent relationship. After a few rides I picked up the phone and asked for an invoice for the bike. Why? There are several reasons for this. No, I didn't have a head over heels crush! That's more likely to happen to me with any Race Enduro with bling bling parts. But we liked each other right away and I recognized crank turn for crank turn that the Thunder would not let me down. That's what matters, isn't it? A passionate acquaintance can inflame us, but honest and deep friendship lasts.
Overall, I find the geometry to be very balanced. Somehow predictable, so safe and yet not boring. Climbing works without any problems, since the high-traction tires, the lack of suspension and the 12 gears with 51-tooth rescue sprocket have a positive effect. This makes you forget that you are not dealing with a light carbon racer, but with an all-rounder weighing over 14 kilos. You can also pedal quite well through rougher sections while sitting without touching the crank. There aren’t any bounces on the descent either, but the choice of line on the trail still needs to be well thought out. There are no rollover feelings, the weight distribution is right and the front is high and the steering angle is flat enough. But the suspension is missing and at higher speeds it rumbles properly. But the wheels are solid and the thick tires stay on track. For a hardtail with a rigid fork, it drives quite effortlessly.
What I've become very fond of is the WTB saddle and grips from the same company. They only had to give way because my bike tipped over and tumbled down the slope. It was sort of an unplanned crash test. The saddle was bent and a handle was torn. The Breezer also forgave me for this carelessness and dutifully "hobbled" with me to the end of the tour. On our last rides there was even a touch of fat bike feeling. I swapped the WTB tires with their pronounced profile for Terravail Corronado in 2.8 width. A little more volume and a little less coarse studs, that was the plan. Ideal for the many gravel and meadow paths on which it accompanies me. The plan works, so I would also go on a longer trip.
The current Shimano 12-speed Deore is something you just don't need to say a lot about. Lots of functionality for a reasonable price. It's similar with the brakes: Unspectacular! You just don't think about it because you're neither overwhelmed nor do you miss anything. Unless you're very heavy, then maybe you could think about bigger discs. But only maybe.
The WTB Vigilante are more for rugged trails, and I prefer to ride them with other bikes. But "no offense", the equipment is really high quality and well thought out. I swapped the handlebars for a more rise Chromag, but that's a personal preference. The only thing that disappointed me was the paint. The quality is not necessarily above average. The brake lever has scratched the paint on the top tube because the handlebars have twisted and there are visible marks on the down tube from driving on the freeway in the bed of a pickup truck, despite the padding. But who blames their friend when they get wrinkles? No one! Experiences weld together and I'm sure the Thunder will accompany me on a few more. And what about the announced self-awareness? I don't like to admit it... but I really enjoy this bike for a good one and a half thousand euros. I wonder if I really always needed as much technology and expensive parts as I sometimes thought. The pure and unfiltered riding experience of a bike like the Thunder one takes me back to my first attempts at mountain biking.
Everything wasn't better before... but it was simpler and sometimes simpler just feels better. Less is more, so to speak. Totally analogue cycling. You don't need a charger for a battery, you don't need a suspension setup... Reduce to the Max?! Too bold? Yes, maybe. But you know what I mean? Just ride a bike!
