The rear suspension on the Slide 125 does its job diligently even when rolling comfortably along wide gravel paths - the rear is extremely sensitive. Thanks to the centred position and the steep seat angle, you can put a lot of pressure on the pedals on the climbs. Even without Climb mode, almost no energy is wasted in the shock. With the 700 mm handlebars, the Slide is good-natured and stable through muddy bends and over rocky sections. Only at the limit could the versender bike be a little more precise through the undergrowth: Here you can clearly feel the lack of thru-axles on the fork and rear triangle. But that's complaining on a high level. In contrast, the weak RX stoppers from Formula were clearly behind the competition from Avid or Shimano - despite the 180 mm brake discs.
ConclusionWith its fine chassis and top equipment, the Slide 125 is one of the best in its class - except for the brakes.
PLUS Balanced geometry, high-quality equipment, sensitive chassis
MINUS Weak brakes, no thru axles
The alternative: The Radon Skeen 8.0 offers a sporty alternative to the Slide for 2199 euros. With 115 mm travel, a complete XT groupset and DT-X1600 wheels, the Skeen weighs half a kilo less.
