DURATION TEST PERFORMANCE: 17,000 altitude metres | 2600 km
As a graphic designer, I am very much guided by visual impressions. You owe it to your job. So, the black and white design of the Superior has something timeless about it for me - the best prerequisites for remaining in a biker's possession for a long time. However, the appealing look is spoilt by a tangled tangle of cables in front of the cockpit: Sure, brake and gear cables can't be witched away, and I wouldn't want to do without a hydraulic seat post with handlebar remote control. However, I don't see the need for remote-controlled shock and fork lockouts - in my opinion, a lockout is used too rarely for that.
What's more, the lockout for the fork didn't even work on this bike. So, the tangle of cables isn't nice, but the fact that the many buttons and levers on the 660 mm narrow handlebars make it quite cramped is more important from a functional point of view. On the Isar trails, where you're constantly going up and down, the saddle remote, shock lockout and gear lever can get in each other's way in the heat of the moment. Not that I would have rushed down the descents with the dropper post extended and the suspension locked in the lowest gear, I just think it should be easier!
On the training laps along the Isar, the 120 mm travel was absolutely sufficient for my body weight. However, the rather marathon-like geometry of the bike wasn't quite as much fun on very rooty trails - the rear wheel sometimes slipped off. The Superior climbed confidently on Lake Garda, the telescopic seat post helped on the descents, but I would have liked a more comfortable suspension or larger wheels.
Test summary of the Superior TF 930
Universal, solid touring bike that requires good riding skills on demanding terrain.
Functionality ****
Shelf life ******
(max. 6 stars)
TUNING
- 35 km - saddle changed: Fizik Gobi swapped for the comfortable Prologo X-Zero Nack CPC
- 35 km - Lever moved: The lever for operating the seat post interfered with shifting.
DEFECTS
- 1550 km - lost pin: The shift cable had unravelled at the end and had to be replaced.
- 1700 km - new brake pads: After the Lake Garda holiday, the brake pads were worn out.
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