FREERIDE trail bike test 2022: Eight trail bikes from 3399 euros in comparison

We're daring: we're throwing a bike category into the ring: Trailduros. A play on words from Trail bikes and Enduros. Anyone who rolls their eyes or even raises their finger and says: "This niche already exists: All Mountain!" We say: it's true, but only partially. Because these modern trail enduro bikes have nothing in common with the classic touring all-mountain bikes. They have modern geometries, robust components, powerful suspension and usually large wheels. In short: with these attributes, the new trail enduro bikes are pushing the former all-rounder enduro bikes into the downhill niche and are laying claim to the all-rounder throne themselves. Some test bikes do it better, some worse, but the claim is always justified.

We tested these eight trail bikes:

• Liv Intrigue 1 (women's bike)
• Intense Primer 27.5
• Kona Process 134 DL 29
• Giant Trance 1
• Propain Hugene CF 29
• Radon Slide Trail 10.0
• Specialised Stumpjumper Evo Comp
• YT Jeffsy Core 3

We requested the following models, but the manufacturers were unable or unwilling to supply a test bike: Canyon Spectral, Rocky Mountain Instinct, Orbea Occam, Cannondale Habit, Mondraker Raze, Norco Optic, Raaw Jibb, Raymon Fullray, Commencal Meta TR.

All topics in this test:

• The all-rounders in the test
• How FREERIDE tests
• The area of application
• The weights in comparison
• Rating Allround
• Valuation departure
• How useful are special women's bikes?
• Character amplifier: The tyres have a major influence on the area of use.

FREEIRDE trail bike test: The all-rounders have to prove themselves

It goes without saying that all-rounder bikes have to be able to do everything. Whether up (mountain tour) or down (bike park), whether up & down (undulating home circuit) or long (making distance). We tested and evaluated all eight trail enduro bikes in these disciplines. And because we FREERIDE Magazine are, playfulness and downhill fun were slightly more important to us than uphill efficiency. We still found it difficult to rate the bike, and just looking at the points in the test letter can be deceptive. "How can you penalise a first-class downhill bike just because it's heavy? Maybe there are bikers who just shuttle with it anyway," asked celebrity tester Steffi Marth. Yes, Steffi is somehow right.

Take the downhill expert Specialized Stumpjumper Evo, for example. The bike would probably perform better in an enduro test. But in the test field of all-rounder contenders, we have to criticise the chubby weight, because the excess weight makes the bike sluggish and acceleration sluggish. Our appeal: think for yourself where your bike should perform best and then check the test results. In any case, we have awarded a lot of points to the bikes that did everything particularly well.

Conclusion on the 2022 trail bike test:

If you want to do everything with one bike, you should set your sights on these trail enduro bikes. Our favourite: the Propain Hugene.

>> You can find more trail bikes in the test at BIKE Magazine <<

How FREERIDE:

Four testers rode the bikes in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis bike park. We combined the Supernatural and Hill Bill trails. Here we found the ideal test terrain with waves, bends, root carpets and jumps to compare the playfulness, suspension and manoeuvrability of the bikes. To check propulsion and climbing ability, we chased the bikes over undulating trails near Munich and undertook mountain tours. When setting up the suspension, we initially followed the manufacturer's recommendations and made modifications where necessary.

FREERIDE ranking:

The number (maximum 10 points) reflects the overall impression of the testers and is not an
addition of the performance points.

• 10Test winner, it couldn't be better.
• 9: Very good, recommended purchase
• 8Good. Solid performance
• 7Below average. The product has weaknesses.
• 6 and less: We can only warn against this!

The area of application

FREERIDE categorises the test bikes into trail, enduro and freeride.

The weights in comparison

Here we show the weights of the trail bikes in the test, overall and of the wheels.

FREERIDE trail bike test: All-round rating

• 1. propain
• 2. radon
• 3. giant
• 4. YT
• 5th Liv
• 6th Specialised
• 7th Intense / Kona

FREERIDE trail bike test: downhill rating

• 1st Specialised
• 2. YT / Propain
• 3. radon
• 4th Kona
• 5th Giant
• 6. intense
• 7th Liv

How useful are special women's bikes?

We asked our guest testers Bella Chen and Steffi Marth:

Statement by Bella Chen (height: 1.64 m):

"I am light (58 kilos) and therefore exactly the target group for the Liv women's bike. However, I found the geometry and suspension of the unisex Giant Trance model more comfortable. It was more stable and gave me more confidence. However, I think the saddle, grips and brake levers on the Liv Intrigue are great."

Statement from Steffi Marth, FREERIDE guest tester (height: 1.73 m):

The specially tuned suspension may be useful for small, lightweight women. For me, however, the Liv Intrigue felt too soft and like little bike.

Character amplifier: The tyres have a major influence on the area of use

Tyres: No other component on the bike determines the range of use as much as the tyres. Many manufacturers tend to fit grippy, puncture-proof but heavy and sluggish tyres on trail bikes. This brings enormous advantages downhill, but on undulating trails the bike's agility is lost. For tame up & down trails, for example, we recommend the Onza combination: Ibex Soft Dual Compound 2.4 (front) and Porcupine Medium Dual Compound 2.4 (rear). If you're focussing on downhill riding, you could go for the Kenda combination: Hellkat ATC 2.4 (front) and Pinner ATC 2.4 (rear).).

>> You can find more trail bikes in the test at BIKE Magazine <<