Ghost has always been what is known as a value-for-money brand: Significantly cheaper than the competition despite expensive components. A complete "XTR" at prices for which you can only get an "LX" from other manufacturers. What the Waldsassen-based company didn't have was independence in the frame. If you wanted innovation, you were at the wrong address with Ghost.
But in the 2005 model year, the turnaround came: Ghost invested in its own engineers and carried out development work - to give the brand its own face. And the investments paid off: the "Enduro" long-travel bike was the first stroke of genius. Now the "AMR" all-mountain bike follows the same concept. With features that are hard to find elsewhere: For example, the chainstay length changes with each frame size. Alpine crossings, tours, marathons - the "AMR" is intended to cover a huge range of uses and thus close the gap between Ghost's race and enduro models. In the ride test, the "AMR" fully fulfils the specifications: Centred, you take a seat on the gold anodised bike and immediately feel comfortable. The "AMR" is manoeuvrable on single trails, climbs without rearing up and benefits from the powerful suspension elements on downhills. The rear suspension system - a classic four-bar linkage - is always drive-neutral. We didn't feel any annoying pedal kickback or pedalling suggestion in any chainring/sprocket combination.
There is nothing to criticise about the equipment either: High-quality Fox and Manitou suspension elements, Mavic "Crossmax" wheels, SRAM "XO" gears and Avid "Juicy" brakes - the combination of components on the "AMR" is well thought out. If there's anything to criticise, it's the rather heavy weight: we can't understand where the 13 kilos come from with this equipment. By way of comparison, the Fusion "Raid", which plays in roughly the same league in terms of range of use, is three quarters of a kilo lighter.
CONCLUSION:
The "AMR" is an all-rounder that will cause a sensation in the upcoming comparison tests. The package is available at a fair price.
