2021 Sunday Forecaster (Aaron Ross) Review

Highlights

⛔️ - Full Chromoly
✅ - Under $500
⛔️ - Double Wall Rims
⛔️ - Pegs
✅ - Fully Sealed Bearings
✅ - 3 pc. Cranks
✅ - Freecoaster - What is a freecoaster?

Overview

The Forecaster is a model that rides, feels and looks like a pro-level bike.

When you see a Matte Pale Pink Forecaster, then you can be sure that Aaron Ross is the guy behind it. You’ll find other Ross spec’d design cues like the Odyssey Keyboard v2 grips and Mexican Blanket saddle, combined with incredible parts like an Odyssey Clutch v2 Freecoaster hub, Odyssey Twisted Pro pedals, and Path Pro tires.

A truly dialed bike for every style of riding, just how Aaron likes it. Follow @theaaronross.

from: sunday

Bike Specs

Price

$479 on sourcebmx.com

Colors

• Matte Pale Pink

Key Features

Odyssey Clutch v2 Freecoaster

Sealed Front & Rear Hubs

Sunday Lightning Rims

Removable Brake Hardware

Odyssey Keyboard v2 Grips

Odyssey Mexican Blanket Pivotal Seat

Sunday Freeze Top Load Stem

Odyssey Springfield Brakes and Lever

Odyssey Path Pro OEM 2.40" Tires

Odyssey Twisted Pro Pedals

FSA Conical Headset

Specs

Frame: 20.5" top tube, integrated 1-1/8" head tube, chromoly down tube and dropouts, removable brake hardware

Fork: Sunday Forecaster, 20" fork w/ 2-piece chromoly steerer tube and welded pre-load

Handlebar: Sunday, 2-piece

Stem: Sunday Freeze front load, 48mm

Headset: FSA integrated conical, 1-1/8"

Alloy Cap: Sunday M16, aluminum

Brake Lever: Odyssey Springfield

Brakes: Odyssey Springfield U-brake

Brake Cable: Odyssey Quik Slic

Grips: Odyssey Keyboard v2, dual-compound

Seat: Odyssey Mexican Blanket, Pivotal

Seat post: Sunday Pivotal

Seat Clamp: Sunday

Sprocket: Sunday Sabertooth v2, 25T, steel

Cranks: 160mm, 3-piece, chromoly

BB Parts: Sealed, Mid, 19mm

Pedals: Odyssey Twisted PC Pro

Rims: Sunday Lightning, 20", 36H

Front Hub: Sunday, 36H, low-flange, sealed , 3/8" female axle

Rear Hub: Odyssey Clutch V2 FC, 36H, 14mm female axle w/ 9T driver, RHD, non-drive side plastic guard

Spokes: 14g steel, black

Tires: Odyssey Path Pro OEM, 20 x 2.4" (F & R)

Chain: KMC Z1 wide

Approx. Weight:26.78lbs (with brakes)

Frame Geometry

A: Top Tube Length: 20.5" - Learn what size is right for you here.

This is a medium top tube.

Perfect for riders who are 5'3" to 6'

B: Chain Stay Length: 13.2” - 13.5" - Learn About Chain Stays Here

This is a longer chain stay, it will give you more balance when doing manuals and pulling up for higher bunny hops.

C: Head Tube Angle: 75.5° - Learn About Head Tube Angles Here

This is a steep head tube.

Steep head tube angles make the bike "snappy" meaning more responsive to fast turns.

A less steep head tube gives you more control.

D: Seat Tube Angle: 71°

E: Bottom Bracket Height: 11.5"

F: Stand over height: 9"

This is a tall standover.

A tall stand over allows you to pinch more of the seat for bars and t-bogs.

Price

Even though the bike is $479, I round up to $500. And this bike just doesn't seem worth $500 to me. It has a tiny bit of chromoly added in, and stronger single wall rims... but it's not enough to justify that price.

Quality

The Ross version of the forecaster is still beginner quality. Even though it has a little bit of added quality in parts like the forks, after-market freecoaster, and chromoly down tube. It still won't have the core quality parts that make up a high-level bike.

Highlights

Arron Ross is cool

Almost everyone loves Aaron Ross. The first how-to whip video that I watched was from him and ever since then, I was hooked. Support him by buying his signature bike.

Lowlights

Hi-tensile steel/single wall rims

Most of this bike is hi-tensile steel, and the Sunday Lightning rims are thicker single wall. Be careful because I have broken parts similar to this when I was learning.

An interesting concept is that the down tube and dropouts are chromoly. These are usually the weakest parts of the frame. So maybe it will hold up similar to a full chromoly frame. I'm super curios about this and will be doing more research.

Buy if you are learning:

• 180
• 360
• Manuals
• Barspin
• no-handers
• footjam
• grinds
• Freecoaster tricks

Don't buy if you are learning:

• Grinding hand rails
• Huge drops
• 720
• Flips

Conclusion

I think that this is an interesting bike. What I mean by that is Sunday took a unique route when designing the Forecaster. With a chromoly downtube and dropouts, it strengthens the weaker parts of the frame. It comes with a really good after-market freecoaster. But it is still a beginner to mid-level quality bmx bike. If you are relatively new to bmx you will have fun progressing on the 2021 Forecaster.