Issue #019 RSS

Issue #019, Review -

The Duel of the Tyre Sizes: 27.5+ vs. 27.5″ and 29er Bikes

Unclear circumstances, unfair conditions, but the ultimate truth. The year’s most unfair group test to beat its way through the fog and marketing hype surrounding the wheelsize chaos! The mud’s flying, the chain’s rattling, and then suddenly you recognize the dreaded crack of the frame breaking… but that’s just a minor problem these days. What’s much worse is actually trying to navigate your way through the fog to find which bike to buy. With endless categories that split cycling into every potential discipline or even ride type, there are wheel sizes and tyre sizes being touted, from 26”, 27.5”, 27+, 650B, 29”, 29+, tour, super tourer, trail, all-mountain, super all-mountain, enduro, enduro light, freeride light… which direction are we supposed to take? And while the answers should be pretty easy, it doesn’t seem like the marketing professionals, the magazines, or the tech geeks want to accept this.

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Issue #019, Review -

SCOTT Genius 900 Tuned vs. Genius 700 Tuned Plus in Comparison

The Genius is a staple in SCOTT’s portfolio, and it comes in a multitude of models. In fact, the Swiss company have managed to create a total of fifteen bikes coming in three wheel sizes. We compared the SCOTT Genius 900 Tuned againt the Genius 700 Tuned Plus to find out which bike is designed for which rider?

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Issue #019, Review -

STEVENS Whaka ES 27.5” vs. 29” vs. 27.5+ in Comparison

Even before the Plus trend wave hit the industry, Stevens were already producing bikes that were tailored to meet the wide-ranging demands of riders – largely based on rider height. The Stevens Whaka ES with 27.5” wheels is intended for small to regular-sized riders (with 16”-20” frames), while the 29” is available for taller riders, with the choice between an 18” or a 22” frame. Now the Whaka ES 27.5+ poses another alternative. So which one are we supposed to buy?

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Issue #019, Review -

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 650b vs. 6Fattie

The 35-year-old Specialized Stumpjumper has been on the market for more years than our average reader has been alive for (FYI: 33 years). Since this Californian classic first emerged, it has been through many iterations over the years, and Specialized now produce a hardtail range of the Stumpjumper as well as full-suspension models in all three wheel sizes. We’ve compared the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 650b against the 6Fattie to find out which bike is for which type or rider.

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Issue #019, Review -

GHOST ROAMR Review: Never Stop Exploring

Clammy hands and an increased heart rate are rare at EUROBIKE, as most ‘breaking’ news can already be considered old news, and instead of the proclaimed revolutions most things just tend to be an evolution. However, this year was different – particularly at GHOST’s stand, where this sandy-coloured, full-suspensioned beauty stood proudly with its Pinion gearbox, hub dynamo-meets-USB charging port, and various frame bags, leaving me with images that spun around my head for the next few nights: The GHOST ROAMR.

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