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By now the Solid Magix 650B has done several thousand metres climbing and descending since the presentation and our first ride report. After several day rides in the Lech valley we headed to the Serfaus Bike park for a weekend and a on a further trip to the Livigno bike park in Italy. There were also loads of local trail kilometres from the Allgäu and Stuttgart areas. Until now we haven’t been able to break the long-term test bike and the Magix is riding as impeccably as on the first day.
The stuff of dreams: with the Magix the alpine air frees your mind and body!
The Solid Magix has done a superb job so far and will hopefully continue to do so for a long time yet. The specification is superb for € 2999 with X01 drivetrain, a RockShox Pike fork and a RockShox Reverb Stealth post – all have functioned perfectly.
The flat 65.5° head angle and 438mm short chain stays are combined with a relatively long 1199 mm wheelbase (frame size large) and allow the bike, or put better the rider to have real fun downhill staying off the brakes for as long as possible. Just as the geometry stats let you guess, this bike is a real bullet downhill. Even if “flat out” is the preferred speed setting the Magix also feels right at home on the steep, technical and rough trails of the high Alps.
Solid have fitted the bike with a very high-end and well thought out parts mix which have given us zero problems until now.
The bike can make use of its potential on natural trails of the Allgäu Alps: sometimes very fast and sometimes very techy. On pedal sections you can always find the right gear with the 1×11 drivetrain.Enduro – with 175mm rear travel? That this concept works is clearly illustrated by the Solid Magix. Even with its huge downhill capabilities it can still climb up the hills.Thank the bash guard: nice that the substantially built bash guard was able to protect the chainring and chain from several hard impacts.The Magix is supplied with a 30-tooth chainring. Certainly a good choice for really steep climbs but on fast descents but you miss a higher gear for pedalling at high speeds.Solid made a sensible choice in speccing the Schwalbe Hans Dampf tyres. They offer lots of decent grip and clear mud.For long ride with lots of human powered climbing life is easier if the saddle is adjusted quite a long way forwards.After a few thousand kilometres the Magix started to creak loudly under pedalling forces. This wasn’t due to any defects, just the bottom bracket cup coming loose.The Avid Elixir 9 Trail brakes are always reliable stoppers with their 180mm rotors even if the amount of rider power needed increases noticeably on longer descents.
Once they’ve cooled down the power is top once more.After much experimenting on the right number of spacers I am back as the bike was originally delivered with 2cm spacer under the stem.Having torque settings for each bolt really helps keeping things tight. All of the bearing bolts needed re-tightening quite soon, which we put down to the assembly quality.The Rockshox Monarch High Volume shock is much more potent than expected.
Thanks to the end-stroke progression bottom outs were a rarity.As cool as the raw look is cables and bike carriers quickly leave lasting blemishes
The relatively thin Reverse Components grips offer a secure bar contact pointThe Solid is even fun on the other side of the hillWith the Magix you have a ball getting airtime over every tiny root. The bike has a very playful character.
Conclusion:
Without a single modification the Solid Magix is a bike, which has completely won me over. The long wheelbase, short rear end and perfectly harmonised front and rear suspension give the bike its outstanding ride quality.
You can see what the Solid – and all of the other long-term test bikes experience on our long-term test bike timeline. That’s where we catalogue all replacement parts, report on any modifications or upgrades and show you the best rides – take a regular look it’s worth it!
Words: Klaus Kneist Photos: Sebastian Hermann, Klaus Kneist
