Explore Neuhaus Metalworks Mountain Bikes
Nestled in Marin County, California – the spiritual cradle of mountain biking – a different kind of bike company is quietly crafting a name for itself. Neuhaus Metalworks doesn’t scream for attention with flashy ads or celebrity endorsements. Instead, it builds bikes. Carefully. Thoughtfully. One at a time. For riders who know the difference.
Neuhaus is part of a broader movement of boutique bike brands reshaping the cycling landscape. These companies aren’t just making bikes; they’re rethinking what bike manufacturing can and should be. Quality over quantity. Community over commerce. Sustainability over shortcuts. And if you want a clear case study, look no further than the Hummingbird.
The Minds Behind the Metal
Nick Neuhaus, founder and master fabricator, spent years wrenching and riding before he ever considered building a frame. Based in Novato, California, Nick brings a hands-on, rider-first philosophy to every weld. His partner in design, Daniel Yang, is a Southern California native with a background in engineering and 3D printing. He focuses on design and production methods that elevate both form and function, aligning seamlessly with Nick’s vision.
Together, they form the kind of partnership that feels inevitable in hindsight: the artisan and the engineer, the craftsman and the CAD wizard. Their shared belief? That bikes should be built to last, designed with purpose, and tailored to the needs of real riders, not marketing teams.
From Passion to Production
Founded in 2020, Neuhaus Metalworks began not with a business plan but with a conviction. Nick wanted to build the kind of bikes he couldn’t find on the market – strong, beautiful, and endlessly rideable. With the global bike boom and the supply chain chaos of the pandemic era, the moment was ripe for reinvention.
What started as a garage project quickly earned traction in local cycling circles. Riders noticed the attention to detail, the ride quality, the way a Neuhaus frame seemed to hum with responsiveness on the trail. Orders followed. Then press. Then a full-fledged production facility.
Product Line: Precision in Every Frame
Neuhaus offers a focused but refined lineup:
- Hummingbird Core: A steel hardtail MTB frame priced at $1,199. Complete builds start at $3,599, making it a solid entry point for riders who want boutique performance with a fully-built bike.
- Hummingbird Custom: A made-to-order steel frame starting at $2,500. Complete builds are available with extensive options to fine-tune geometry, components, and finishes.
- Hummingbird Ti: The titanium evolution, with frames starting at $3,950. Complete builds offer a premium ride with the benefits of modern geometry and titanium’s durability.
- HBSL: A titanium XC race frame starting at $5,500, built for speed and strength. Complete race-ready builds are also available.
- Epyon: A titanium gravel frame starting at $6,000, designed for endurance, adventure, and off-the-beaten-path exploration. Complete builds bring this spirit to life with premium components.
Each bike isn’t just a product; it’s an iteration of the brand’s core philosophy: build light, build tough, build for the long haul.
Craftsmanship: Where Innovation Meets Tradition
Neuhaus bikes are a blend of old-school craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation. The company employs 3D-printed chainstay and seatstay yokes – not just for flair, but to increase stiffness and reduce welds at high-stress junctions. Each frame is designed with size-specific geometry and stiffness tuning. That means a small rider and a tall one aren’t just on scaled versions of the same frame – they’re on bikes that perform optimally for their size and weight.
This isn’t a factory floor in Taiwan. This is a fabrication space in Northern California where every weld is done in-house and every frame gets ridden and refined before it sees a customer.
Philosophy: Ride. Refine. Repeat.
At the heart of Neuhaus Metalworks is a single idea: continuous improvement. The team doesn’t believe in static designs or “good enough” geometry. They solicit rider feedback. They tweak. They prototype. Then they do it again.
The result? Bikes that evolve. Not every few years, but constantly. Small changes in tube shapes, dropout designs, and manufacturing methods yield big gains in ride feel and durability. It’s not fast. It’s not cheap. But it’s right.
Community and Sustainability: Beyond the Bike
While Neuhaus doesn’t lead with eco-taglines, their commitment to sustainability is embedded in their process. Building bikes that last a lifetime is one of the most sustainable things a manufacturer can do. Their production model avoids overseas shipping and minimizes waste through small-batch, on-demand fabrication.
They also support community riders and causes. From showcasing at the Sea Otter Classic to supporting adaptive athletes like Josie Fouts, Neuhaus is more than a framebuilder – they’re part of a culture that believes bikes can be tools for freedom, connection, and progress.
Voices from the Trail
What do riders say about a Neuhaus bike? Words like “nimble,” “responsive,” and “confidence-inspiring” come up often. The Hummingbird, in particular, has earned rave reviews for its playful feel on technical singletrack and its steady composure at speed. One rider noted, “It feels like it knows where I want to go before I do.”
It’s that kind of connection that boutique brands are uniquely positioned to deliver. And Neuhaus Metalworks delivers in spades.
The Neuhaus Legacy
Neuhaus Metalworks is more than a brand; it’s a manifesto on two wheels. In an industry dominated by mass production and marketing noise, they’re quietly showing what’s possible when you build bikes the right way, for the right reasons.
And they’re not alone. Across the country and the globe, boutique builders are proving that better is possible. That cycling can evolve without losing its soul. That communities can grow around craftsmanship. That the ride matters.
Neuhaus isn’t just building bikes. They’re building belief. And for riders who care about how and why their bikes are made, that’s worth more than carbon layups or brand names.
It’s worth the ride.
