Even though the "Element Ladies Only" was designed specifically for women, it cannot deny its origins in men's racing. The Canadians shortened the top tube and wheelbase only moderately compared to the classic "Element" in order to appeal primarily to sporty, ambitious women. The concept works. All three testers confirm the sporty orientation, praise the good propulsion and the decent climbing ability. Thanks to the steep seat angle, a lot of weight rests on the front wheel and keeps it on the ground for a long time, even on steep ramps. The equally steep steering angle of just over 71 degrees leads to very direct steering behaviour and was found by one tester to be "too jittery on descents". Anyone looking for a cosy tourer will be disappointed by the "Element". For comfort-orientated cruising and confident downhill performance, the rear suspension of the sports bike could be more sensitive and the handlebars wider. There are no nasty surprises with the average equipment. Shimano "LX" and "XT" components, Fox suspension elements and in-house Race Face parts round off the picture. However, the overall look of the bike was only considered mediocre by our testers. In particular, they criticised the saddle, which did not quite fit into the overall sporty structure in terms of comfort.
CONCLUSIONFast bike with firm suspension for sporty, ambitious female riders. For relaxed tours, the rear suspension could work more sensitively and actively.
TUNING TIP: Swap saddle.
Web: www.bikeaction.de
