Building My First Steel MTB - Surly 'Karate Monkey' Build and First Impressions

NEW BIKE DAY! In this video I’m building up my brand new Surly Karate Monkey — my first ever steel-framed mountain bike — from the frame up. This versatile hardtail will be my go-to for all kinds of adventures, from mellow trail rides to bikepacking missions. I’ll take you through the build process, talk about why I chose this frame, and share my first impressions on a gentle test ride while I wait for the correct stem to arrive. Please note: This video is for entertainment purposes only and is in no way a tutorial. I’ll talk more about the frame spec’s etc. in my full review of the bike in due course. This video is for those thinking about building a Surly Karate Monkey or just those of you who love MTB bike builds. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more MTB builds, trail rides, and adventures from DJFXC! 👉 Grab your own bike maintenance poster to print: https://www.djfxc.com/l/Bikeposter LAUNCH OFFER - 25% OFF, USE CODE: DJF25 Note: These links are to amazon affiliate, meaning I get a small kick-back on the sales made. Grease Applicator: https://amzn.to/4g6FedV Torque Wrench: https://amzn.to/4ozisz6 Swiss Champ: https://amzn.to/47UhHdQ 📸 Follow my rides & behind the scenes: Instagram: djf.xc Bike Build Specs: • Frame: Surly Karate Monkey (4130 Chromoly Steel) • Wheel Size: 29” • Fork: Rockshox Reba • Drivetrain: SRAM NX 11 Speed • Brakes: Shimano MT200 • Tires: Vittoria Barzo 29 x 2.25 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:33 Frame Versitility 03:22 Build Quality 05:01 Surly Durability 07:55 Gentle Test Ride and First Impressions