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In front of us, a tracked excavator is leisurely chugging up the slope to remove the last traces of the winter season. The car park is yawningly empty. The lift chairs sway gently in the wind. No, we haven't set off too early for our all-mountain bike test or chosen the wrong location. We deliberately travelled to the Bikepark Katzenkopf in Leutasch, even though the season has not yet started here. Because, even though our all-mountain test field with fullys with 150 millimetres of travel supposedly includes strong downhill riders, we naturally don't want to exclude the uphill qualities. So today it's all about pedalling.
The test field: 7 all-mountain bikes from 3000 to 3750 euros
There are seven all-mountain bikes in the BIKE Transporter. Six of them are priced between € 2999 and € 3750, with the YT Jeffsy marking the lower price limit and the Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alloy the upper one. The Rocky Mountain Instinct C 70 costs twice as much at 7200 euros and should show whether you can have more fun with the considerably more expensive reference bike.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast doesn't look so rosy. Thunderstorms are forecast for this afternoon. Just in case, the rain gear is ready to hand - right at the top of the bag. So we'll have to get stuck in. As we unload, we can already guess what's in store for us today. "Quite a big one," test editor Max realises with a scrutinising look. In the 3000 euro class, there are no more weight records to be expected among the downhill-orientated all-mountain bikes. A quick glance at the table from our test lab confirms the feeling of our "hand scale": On average, the test bikes weigh 15.6 kilos with pedals. That's a good 1.3 kilos more than our more expensive test group of 2000 euros BIKE 3/22. While Radon and Specialized are still within a tolerable range at just over 15 kilos, the Focus Jam weighs in at almost 17 kilos.
Our all-mountain bikes in the test: you don't like climbing
The very first steep ramp makes it clear that you won't find any proven climbers in this test group. There's simply no getting rid of the extra pounds. However, thanks to the steep seat angle of around 76 degrees, there is at least enough weight on the front wheel for relaxed climbing. Only the Radon Slide with a slightly slacker seat angle gives the feeling of pedalling from behind. Here it is helpful to push the saddle slightly forwards. As you continue up to the Katzenkopf, the gradient becomes more pleasant.
After 250 energy-sapping metres in altitude, the Katzenkopfhütte is reached. Finally, the all-mountain bikers can shine in their favourite discipline.
And our expensive reference bike? The Rocky Mountain Instinct is only half a kilo lighter than the Radon. Uphill, the Rocky therefore holds back discreetly and doesn't really stand out from the test group. Downhill, however, the tide turns: especially in the faster sections of the test track, the Instinct is more confident on the trail, offers very good damping control and also rides more quietly, without annoying rattling noises. So there is a difference. But to speak of twice the riding pleasure would probably be an exaggeration.
We noticed this in detail on the all-mountain bikes:
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
You can find these 7 all-mountain bikes in the test:
- Rocky Mountain Instinct C70 (reference bike)
- Conway WME 3.9
- Focus Jam 6.9
- Giant Trance X 2
- Radon Slide Trail 9.0
- Specialised Stumpjumper Comp Alloy
- YT Jeffsy Core 2
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