Endurance test performance: 2,860 km | 37,200 altitude metres
The passionate discussion about wheel sizes was short-lived in my case: I already knew after my first contact with the big wheels that my next bike should be a 29er. Trek's Rumblefish Pro is not lavish, but it is sensibly equipped. The only thing I was missing was an adjustable seat post. I customised the cockpit to my taste with a shorter stem and wider handlebars. The modified cockpit perfects the very pleasing geometry of the Rumblefish.
The central riding position, the low front and the low centre of gravity ensure homogeneous and direct handling on the trail. The Fox 32 fork with Trek's DRCV adjustment is surprisingly potent for 120 millimetres. The fork absorbs all impacts sensitively, and the excellent compression damping ensures confidence at the front even when the going gets rough. The rear responds slightly less sensitively to small bumps than the fork. Overall, however, the DRCV suspension works very harmoniously and is extremely forgiving for 120 millimetres. At over 13 kilos, the bike is no lightweight.
Halfway through the test, I swapped the sturdy but heavy standard wheels for the lighter E13 TRS+ set. This tuning measure made the bike more agile. The Rumblefish accompanied me on tours throughout Europe, both privately and on my jobs as a BIKE photographer. On many photo shoots, I used the lift to cover the metres in altitude. As a result, the bike was ridden downhill a lot and not subjected to much wear and tear. Only the shock had to admit defeat towards the end of the test and be replaced.
Functionality ******
Shelf life *****
(max. 6 stars)
ConclusionReliable all-mountain bike with a wide range of uses: The Rumblefish is too heavy for pure uphill cyclists. If you are looking for a complete bike for fun-filled tours, this all-rounder is the perfect choice.
Tuning
- 100 km - dropper post: Rock Shox Reverb 125 installed
- 200 km - Cockpit new: stem/handlebar swapped: 70 mm Ritchey Comp/Syntace Vector Carbon 740 mm
- 1050 km - Wheels: The lighter TRS+wheels from E13 fitted
Defects
- 1400 km - Brake pads: Brake pads down: new pads fitted front and rear
- 2700 km - Damper leaking: Damper loses air and was replaced by Trek under warranty.
