Endurance test performance: 3,600 km
Ghost's touring full-suspension bike has a difficult legacy, as its long-term test predecessor, the Trek Remedy 9.9, was one of the high-flyer bikes of the season. Both start in the same class: 150 millimetres of suspension travel with 26-inch tyres. Despite the carbon main frame, the Ghost costs just half the price of the Trek full carbon bike at 3399 euros. The greatest strength of the Ghost AMR+ Lector is its indestructible, reliable character: if you set off on a long tour in the Alps with a mini-tool and spare inner tube, you have everything you need with you.
Not a single puncture (!) marred my long-term test over 3600 partly alpine kilometres. The only scary moment: after 700 kilometres, the spokes on the rear wheel suffered an attack of weakness and hung without tension in the eyelets of the rim. A quick repair and truing in an Italian underground car park kept the wheel in shape for all further test kilometres.
Function takes precedence over weight for almost all the add-on parts on the Ghost. The best example is the Vario seatpost: the X-Fusion Hilo (without handlebar remote) did its job just as willingly in the Tuscan summer heat as it did in the harsh winter. It worked excellently until the end of the test. The XT drivetrain, XT brakes and Fox suspension didn't suffer any failures.
When riding on the trail, the strengths of the Ghost suspension are clearly downhill. Uphill, on the other hand, the rising front end and the heavy bobbing of the rear end always remind you to activate the shock platform and lower the fork. But I'm fine with that: I find it easier to accept small compromises when riding uphill and enjoy the descent to the full.
ConclusionThe Ghost AMR+ Lector is certainly not a high-flyer bike. But it is exactly what most customers in this price range expect from a touring fully: an all-round carefree bike with potent suspension and no frills.
Functionality ****
Shelf life ******
(max. 6 stars)
Tuning
- 1200 km of sealing milk: After numerous flat tyres due to low air pressure, I didn't fill the tubes with more PSI, but with sealing milk.
Wear and tear
- 700 km - Rear wheel: All the spokes in the rear wheel are suddenly loose. After a quick repair, however, the rear wheel lasts the entire test distance.
- 1000 km - Tyres: After frost damage to the front tyre, Schwalbe replaces the Nobby Nic as a gesture of goodwill.
- 1250 km - Crash: In a crash, the front wheel takes a knock. It remains in the rim until the end.
- 1800 km - Brake pads: After 1400 kilometres, the front brake pads were changed, 400 kilometres later the rear ones were replaced.
- 2000 km - Damper: The damper is slurping: The rear suspension has drawn air and slurps when compressing. After lubrication it stops again.
