Wethepeople Pathfinder Frame Review

by Douglas Laird
Dec 20, 2020

Just like most of the Wethepeople frames, the Pathfinder is great for technical street riding. It has a steep headtube, a short bottom bracket, and taller toptube lengths. My favorite thing about it is the beefed-up frame tubing for strength in grinds. You get 3 color options and it weighs 5.2lbs.

This review is about the 2020 Wethepeople Pathfinder frame.

Highlights

Frame Features
12.75" Chain Stay
Top and Down Tube Gussets
5.2 lbs
Extra thicc bottom bracket and chain stay

Overview

New for 2020 we’ve given Felix Prangenberg’s signature “pathfinder” frame a full revamp.

Now boasting a shorter 12.75” chainstay and some fresh new graphics, the pathfinder frame utilizes groundbreaking offset thickness chain stay and bottom bracket shell, to strengthen the frame in areas susceptible to grind damage.

Includes lifetime guarantee.

From Wethepeople

Felix Prangenberg Signature

Promo Video

Specs

Price: $329.95

Colors

Sizes

20.75"
21"

Learn about frame sizes here

Specs

MATERIAL: Full 4130 Chromoly

HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 76°

SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 71°

CHAIN STAY LENGTH: 12.95"

BB HEIGHT: 11.7"

WHEEL SIZE: 20"

STANDOVER HEIGHT: 9.35"

DROPOUT SIZE: 14mm

HEADSET TYPE: Integrated

BB TYPE: Mid

BRAKE MOUNTS: Brakeless

GYRO TABS: Brakeless

WEIGHT: 5.2 lbs

Geometry

A: Top Tube Length: 20.75", 21" – Learn what size is right for you here

Check the size guide to see if its right for you..

Getting a top tube that is taller than suggested will make the bike feel more controlled and less responsive

Getting a top tube size that is smaller than normal will make the bike feel a lot more snappy and responsive.

B: Chain Stay Length: 12.75" Slammed and 13" Centered – Learn About Chain Stays Here

This is a medium chainstay.

A short chain stay makes the bike feel twitchy. Spins will be easy, but airing and jumping might feel hard to control.

A long chain stay will make the bike feel really controlled. Spins will feel sluggish, but manuals and air tricks will feel nice because it will be more stable.

C: Head Tube Angle: 76° – Learn About Head Tube Angles Here

This is a steep headtube angle.

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: 11.7″

F: Stand over height: 9.35"

This is a Tall standover.

A tall standover makes your seat higher up and will allow you to pinch it easier when learning barspins.

While a Small Standover will make it harder to bar but easier to whip

What is the Price?

The Wethepeople Pathfinder frame costs $329.99. This is one of the lowest-priced frames out right now. It does not use WTP's hydroformed tubing but uses gussets instead. It is pretty basic, but still a good frame.

Why does it cost as much a complete bike?

It's kind of crazy to think that you can get a complete bike for less than this frame. However, this frame is for high-level riding and will outlast a complete bike by YEARS. Here are a few things that make it more expensive than a complete bike.

These are a few reasons that this frame cost's so much:

Lifetime Guarantee: WTP is confident in the frame's ability to hold up. So they have a lifetime guarantee.
Sanko Chromoly: The Elite Japaneese frame material.
Gusseted Toptube & Downtube: Added slabs of metal on the top and downtube where frames often break. This keeps the welds stronger for longer.

What is the Weight?

The Wethepeople Pathfinder Frame weighs 5.2lbs on average. This is the weight of the 20.75" TT frame. The 21" will weigh just a little more but not much.

So far, this is the lightest WTP frame that I have reviewed. They added gussets and a thicker bottom bracket and chain stay which all add more weight but make the frame stronger.

Conclusion

I'm a little confused by the Pathfinder. It seems like most wethepeople frames have a really specific type of rider. But this one is really general. They designed it to fit any rider who likes all types of street riding. It has a medium chainstay that will balance tech riding with controlled riding.

My favorite thing about the Pathfinder frame is the offset thickness bottom bracket and offset thickness chain stays. WTP is very innovative and this is really cool. They made the bottom of the bottom bracket thicker and the lower sides of the chainstay thicker so that grind will not dent and destroy. I'll put the pictures from their website showing this below.