A BIKE mega test is just as tough as the casting for "Deutschland sucht den Superstar". To stand out among 22 bikes in the same price category, you need experience and exceptional talent. When it comes to the BIKE tip, the testers are as pedantic as Dieter Bohlen on the jury: a small flaw, such as a poorly damped suspension fork, can cost a bike the coveted rating. After all, there are some of the candidates who let themselves be driven round the test track at full throttle and don't let out a murmur. Willing companions that don't need to be fitted with wider handlebars and a shorter stem until everything is just right. This shows who among the bike makers not only works on the drawing board, but also on the trail.
Different characters: After each lap, the testers had to prove their adaptability again. They constantly switched from bikes with race geometry to comfort tourers and sometimes to a thoroughbred enduro bike. Building a race-ready
building a race-ready bike for 1600 euros is the highest art - but many fail at the psychologically important 13-kilo mark. No marathon racer wants to push more than 12.99 kilos up the mountain. Most manufacturers focus on putting together a comfortable touring bike. This allows them to invest in good suspension elements without constantly looking at the scales.
The bikes in this test:
Canyon FX 4000, Chaka Kapu, Corratec Glacier, Cube Pro XC, Focus Vario Rookie, Fuji Lite 2, Gary Fisher Sugar 4, Giant NRS 3, Hai Tension 03, Hawk High Pressure, Heavy Tools Dot Three, K2 Attack 3.0, KTM Team XCA 3, Maxx Razor Maxx, No Saint Demian LX Hot, Poison Arsen, Red Bull Werks CC 400, Rocket Jupiter, Soil PH-11, Specialised Rockhopper FSR Comp, Steppenwolf Tycoon XC L.E., Stevens F-9 Lite V
