Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite Review
- Frame: Steel
- Tires: 29″Aluminum
- Gear: 1×12
What we like about it: A rugged-looking hardtail trail bike with a solid frame and reliable components.
What we didn’t like about it: The steel frame with the heavier weight, is difficult for some riders to accept.
Rating: (4.8/5)
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 has a steel frame with excellent components, making it an excellent all-round performance and rugged bike that can adapt to a wide range of surfaces.
Below, we analyze the riding experience, key features, components and specifications of the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 and other versions.
At the end of the REVIEW, we also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, you can follow us.
Cycling Experience
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite is a bike that performs well in all aspects of riding ability. For me, it’s a bike that feels comfortable to ride and has decent off-road riding ability.
To that end I planned to ride the Appalachian Trail again with my Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3. I then booked a hotel around my destination on IHG, packed my bike and headed out.
The trail features some relatively flat uphill climbs and rocky, overgrown loess trails as well as some rugged descents.
Move Upwards
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3’s hardtail frame construction allowed me to pedal more directly when climbing and riding without too much drag on the tail.
Upward pedal power transfer was also more direct and efficient, allowing me to ride faster on climbs.
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 is equipped with a Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed drivetrain that has 1×12 speeds. On steeper grades, I just used the largest few flywheel gears and the instant ease of pedaling allowed me to ride up climbs with more ease and save more physical exertion.
Next, the excellent geometry, coupled with a large-grain off-road outer tire that was wide enough to keep the bike firmly glued to the ground without tire slippage.
Pedaling became more efficient and the upward ride was more stable.
At the end of the day, I think the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 is a bike that has the ability to be no less than any other bike of its type in climbing riding.
Go Down
The ability of the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 drop ride to adapt to the road surface is great.
The steel frame created some subtle deformation toughness when hitting bumps, absorbing all the vibrations and reducing body shake as much as possible on this rocky and root-laden section of trail, making my ride more comfortable as well.
Next, the FOX FLOAT 34 Step-Cast (SC) shock-absorbing fork offered 120mm of damping travel to soak up all the shocks on rough, high-speed descents.
Combined with a large 29-inch wheel diameter and a wide off-road outer tire with a front 2.5-inch and rear 2.4-inch, it made my descents more stable at high speeds and provided me with more confidence.
On the trails the bike is also respectable enough. The braking on the Shimano Deore XT M8100 has a linear and light feel, with powerful braking that helped me to reduce speed quickly.
The stable and reliable braking components also helped me have nimble handling and a smooth riding experience on the trails.
In the end, the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3’s descending ability performance, which I found to be reliably strong, was a bike that spurred me on to want to achieve faster descending rides.
Specification
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite has 3 sizes of externally cable routing steel frames to choose from.
The steel frames absorb some of the road vibrations while riding for a more comfortable ride.
The 3 frame sizes fit riders from 5’5″-6’6″ in height. The external cable routing gives a rugged look and the components are easier and simpler to maintain and replace.
The slack geometry, combined with the 29-inch wheelset, makes this bike more stable for descending and more powerful for passing, and the shorter rear dropout ensures nimble maneuverability for riding on trails.
Besides, the dropper design keeps the rider’s center of gravity stable between climbs and descents and maintains ride continuity.
Video
What we like about it
- Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite has a tire spacing that is loose enough, with more widths of outer tires to choose from on your own.
- The bike is designed with external routing, which will be more convenient for the maintenance of the cable ducts.
- 29-inch wheelset with loose geometry for a more stable descent.
- Reliable Shimano Deore XT M8100 hydraulic disc brakes provide smooth, consistent braking that remains reliable in even the harshest environments.
- The dropper is designed to stabilize the center of gravity between climbs and descents, ensuring ride continuity.
- Shimano Deore XT’s 1×12-speed components provide high drivetrain efficiency and a smooth shifting feel.
What don’t we like about it?
- Steel frame, heavier in weight and difficult for some riders to accept.
FAQs
- Where is this bike made?
All prototyping and manufacturing is done at our factory in Derbyshire, UK, or by our specialist partners in England or Asia.
- Who rides this bike?
It has a sturdy frame and great performing components that will ride well with both novice and experienced riders.
- How do I choose the right size?
Here we have provided you with a sizing chart, but of course this doesn’t srtrictly have to be followed. The best way to find the best fit is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 5’5″ – 5’10” | 17 |
| 5’10” – 6’2″ | 19 |
| 6’2″ – 6’6″ | 21 |
Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Standard Specs
Build
| Frame | SteelBB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded |
| Fork | FOX FLOAT 34 Step-Cast (SC), FIT4 damper, Kabolt axle, 44mm offset |
| Rear Shock | None |
| Bottom Bracket | BSA, 73mm, threaded |
| Headset | Stanton |
| Stem | Stanton |
| Handlebar | Stanton |
| Saddle | Stanton |
| Seatpost | RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper, 175mm drop |
| Pedals | None |
| Grips | Stanton |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed |
| Front Derailleur | None |
| Crank | Shimano Deore XT |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed, 10-51 tooth |
| Chain | Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed |
| Chain Guide | None |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore XT, 2-piston |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Deore XT |
Wheels
| Rims | Hope Tech Fortus 30 wheelset |
| Spokes | Hope Tech Fortus 30 wheelset |
| Front Hub | Hope Tech Fortus 30 wheelset |
| Rear Hub | Hope Tech Fortus 30 wheelset |
| Tires | Front: WTB Vigilante, 29″ x 2.5″, Rear: WTB Trail Boss, 29″ x 2.4″ |
Comparison Table
| Bike | Click View | Travel | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Canyon Stoic 3 | Click View | 140mm front | Aluminum | SRAM Guide T | 1 × 12 |
| Kona Big Honzo DL | Click View | 130mm front | Aluminum | Shimano MT410 | 1 × 12 |
| Cannondale Habit HT 2 | Click View | 130mm front | Aluminum | SRAM Level | 1 × 10 |
| Nukeproof Scout 275 Race | Click View | 140mm front | Aluminum | Shimano MT4100 | 1 × 10 |
Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite vs Canyon Stoic 3
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite and the Canyon Stoic 3 use different frames, with the former having a steel frame that absorbs some of the road vibrations for a more comfortable ride. The latter’s aluminum frame has a lighter mass for a lighter ride.
In terms of drivetrain components, the former Shimano XT M8100 components have a smoother shifting feel, and the corresponding component level is higher than that of the latter SRAM SX components.
The Shimano XT M8100 drivetrain efficiency is better than that of the SRAM SX, which also has a better shifting feel.
As for braking components, both the former’s Shimano XT M8100 brakes and the latter’s SRAM Guide T brakes have powerful and reliable braking performance. The former has a more linear feel, while the latter will be more violent.
Finally, comparing these two bikes, I would recommend the more powerful Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite.
Learn More: Is Canyon Stoic 4 Worth Buying? [Canyon Stoic 4 Review]
Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite vs Kona Big Honzo DL
The Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite and the Kona Big Honzo DL both share the same excellent geometry and carefully selected components.
The former’s FOX FLOAT 34 Step-Cast (SC) fork is more supportive and provides better shock absorption for aggressive riding.
The latter’s RockShox 35 Silver fork has a more responsive rebound, making it ideal for continuous small bumps.
In terms of drivetrain components, the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite uses Shimano XT M8100 drivetrain components at a higher level than the Kona Big Honzo DL’s Shimano Deore 6100 components.
The Gen 3 Elite has a more efficient drivetrain efficiency, and the shifting feel is smoother and lighter in weight.
As for the braking components, the former’s Shimano XT M8100 brakes have a higher level of braking than the latter’s Shimano MT410, with better braking ability and brake feel.
Finally, between the two bikes, the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite has a higher-end use of components and a correspondingly better riding ability.
Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite vs Cannondale Habit HT 2
Both the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite and the Cannondale Habit HT 2 are excellent trail bikes.
For starters, on the shock absorbing forks, the former’s FOX FLOAT 34 Step-Cast (SC) fork offers better support than the latter’s RockShox 35 Silver fork, which is more reliable in intense riding conditions, while the latter’s rebound response is more responsive for successive small bumpy trails.
In terms of drivetrain components, the former’s Shimano XT 1×12-speed drivetrain has more speeds than the latter’s microSHIFT Advent X Pro 1×10-speed components, and is more reliable and durable with better rideability.
When it comes to the braking components, the former’s Shimano XT M8100 brakes will feel a bit lighter. The latter’s SRAM Level is a bit more violent and direct.
For braking ability, the Shimano XT M8100 is still more powerful.
In the end, between these two mountain bikes, I would like the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite because it would be more reliable and ride better.
Learn More: Is Cannondale Habit 5 A Good Bike?[2022 Cannondale Habit 5 Review]
Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite vs Nukeproof Scout 275 Race
They both have an externally cable routing frame design, but the former dropper is designed to better stabilize the center of gravity between climbing and descending rides.
Both bikes use Shimano components in the drivetrain and braking components, but the former uses a higher level of components and will be correspondingly more powerful.
As for the damping system, the former’s FOX FLOAT 34 Step-Cast (SC) fork damping travel is a bit shorter than the latter’s RockShox Recon Silver, but the support will be better.
Overall, the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite enjoys a better all-round performance with higher level components that have a more powerful ride, so I would recommend it more.
Learn More: Is Nukeproof Scout 290 Race Splendid – [Nukeproof Scout 290 Race Review]
Summary
Above is my riding review of the Stanton Sherpa 853 Gen 3 Elite. In our opinion, this is a solid and well ridden hardtail trail bike. That’s why we gave it a 4.8 rating.
Of course, if you’re looking for other hardtail trail bikes, we also review a lot of interesting bikes at all price points, so feel free to check out our tests on those as well.
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