At first glance, the Bulls Six50 like the bestseller par excellence: the tyres come in the trendy - and on the E-MTB also sensible - Plus format. The suspension promises comfortable and safe handling with its 150 millimetres of travel. The Bosch Performance CX motor also impresses with very good durability. But how does the overall package perform on the trail?
We have already been able to test the 4500 euro Bulls Six50 E FS S on the Propain and Monte Sole trails in the Vinschgau Valley. Uphill, the Bosch drive pushes powerfully as usual and shortens the waiting time for the following descent. The riding position is compact and comfortable thanks to the short top tube and high front end. The rear suspension remains calm when pedalling, only pumping when pedalling out of the saddle. Thanks to the long chainstays, the front only climbs late, but with a shorter head tube, significantly steeper ramps would still be possible.
Even downhill, the position is rather compact, you are more "on" than "in" the bike. At high speeds, the short front end is limiting, while the long chainstays prevent maximum agile handling. The rear suspension is plush (with 30 per cent sag) and swallows even big chunks. The Rock Shox Yari suspension fork can't quite keep up. It lacks compression damping when ridden at speed.
All in all, the Bulls Six50 delivers a solid performance, but a few details dampen the joy: the chain rattles loudly, the pressure point of the actually powerful Magura Trail brakes wanders on our test bike. The Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres without Apex protection have to be ridden with a lot of pressure to prevent flats, and the "ergonomic" grips are unfortunately not ergonomic at all, but limit you on bumpy trails. A dropper post is a must in this price range!
Test summary of the Bulls Six50
With the Six50, Bulls has a solid touring bike on offer, which is slowed down a little by its somewhat dusty geometry and other minor details when ridden hard on the trails.
