Preview Group Test: 6 fast XC Trail Bikes
Full speed ahead! Pedal up to the start of the trail at high-speed, and then hammer down the downhill. That was the motto of our latest group test, featuring six fast XC bikes, which will be published in issue #012 of ENDURO. The bikes had to prove their skills on the many trails around Landau / Germany. It quickly became clear that with these bikes, despite only around 100mm of travel, far more will be possible than you might think at first glance.
If you take a look at the tracks of the current Cross Country World Cup, you will realize that these bikes despite their low travel and minimal weight, are well capable of mastering hard trails.
For this test, we were supported by the experienced World Cup proven Rotwild AMG team rider Nadine Rieder. She gave us useful tips and helped us to evaluate our test results.
The test field was full of six extremely interesting bikes, including highlights such as electronic E:i Shock Suspension System, frames with flexing seatstays and some unique suspension designs. In addition to four 29″ bikes we also had two 27.5″ in the group test.
Here are the bikes at a glance:
At the meeting point we waited for Nadine. After a short time, her arrival was announced by a sonorous hum from the distance. Not really hesitant, the young Rotwild AMG team rider hammered her Mercedes GLA 45 AMG up the narrow road to the agreed place.
Which bike could convince the tester most and has secured the coveted Test victory you’ll see in the next issue #012 of ENDURO. For sure, free & digital and recently now on your iPhone too!
ENDURO Magazine iPhone App Teaser from WWW.ENDURO-MTB.COM on Vimeo.
Until then enjoy reading the current issue.
A special thanks goes to Nadine Rieder for the great support throughout testing process.
Words & Pictures: Christoph Bayer