I don't know how many bikes I've tested in the last 15 years. Five hundred for sure, probably more. I can recognise my favourite bikes at first glance. Over the years, I've become increasingly selective. My motto: Why should I ride bad bikes when there are good ones out there? In a nutshell: marketing ballyhoo and "the coolest bike ever" promises roll off me like Teflon. Two years ago, I had to look around for a new "bike for everything". Previously, I had ridden the Rocky Mountain Slayer - a great bike with a sexy look. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of the Radon Swoop. The paintwork in rubbish-coloured orange and the awful 90s design: creepy. But the inner values were right. The 10.0 model impressed in our enduro test. And this version with the massive Vivid Air shock and the highly praised Lyrik 170 with DH cartridge should be even freeride. Just the way I like it.
The geometry: very pleasing. Sit on it, feel good! Highlight of the good equipment: the outrageously expensive carbon wheels from DT Swiss. They gave the bike an unprecedented turbo effect. The Radon whizzed through corners super-fast and elicited yodels of pleasure every time. My mini modifications were more of a cosmetic nature: I fitted a 780-width Thomson cockpit, taut Aaron Win grips from Odi and the comfortable SQlab 611 ti platform saddle. I protect the down tube and chainstays with foam pads from Ion. I rode the Swoop for two years:
Mountain tours, single trails, jumping around, drops, alpine trails, occasionally even bike park missions (although I prefer riding big bikes in the park) - the whole programme. I wouldn't have put my hand in the fire for either the filigree rear triangle or the carbon fibre wheels. But the stuff held up. Apart from the occasional creaking noises, which quickly disappeared with a little lubrication; the bike didn't get any more care. The Swoop proved to be a loyal companion, inspiring with its liveliness, plush suspension and yet direct ride feel. No wonder Radon built the Swoop 175 unchanged for four years. In 2016, there will be a successor under the same name with a completely newly developed frame shape and, thankfully, a much more stylish paintwork design. Designer Bodo Probst says: "It goes uphill better and downhill better!" That's quite a statement. The old Swoop can easily keep up with modern bikes - and with its 26-inch wheels, it doesn't have to hide from the 27.5-inch competition. My next bike: the test-winning Kona Process 153, because: I'm not stupid!
Conclusion: Awesome box. A lightweight freerider par excellence. I would take the Swoop again or want to continue riding it.
PLUS Feel-good geometry, wheels, chassis
MINUS Design (looks cheap)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Distribution www.radon-bikes.de
Material / Sizes Aluminium/S, M, L
Price / weight without pedals 4199 Euro / 13.7 kg
Measurement data
Front/rear suspension travel 170 mm/175 mm
Reach / Stack 418 mm/601 mm
Steering / seat tube angle 66°/74,5°
Top tube length / chainstays 586 mm/436 mm
Wheelbase / bottom bracket 1166 mm/340 mm
Legend to the picture above: FREERIDE tester Dimitri Lehner's favourite way to ride enduro: Helmet (Specialized Ambush, € 180), cotton T-shirt (FREERIDE, € 30), lightweight shorts (Ion Traze Epic, € 80), lightweight gloves (Ion Ledge, € 50), cosy socks (Soxego Bike, € 5). All-weather shoes (Five Ten Freerider VXi Elements, € 125).
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
