We tested these three downhill bikes:
(Click to go to the individual rating)
All topics in this test:
The test report
My colleague Max Fuchs from sister magazine BIKE masters his enduro like a young god. He jibs, flicks, braids, jumps, speeds - but he's never ridden a big bike before. How can that be? The answer: modern enduro bikes are increasingly replacing downhill bikes. That's why I want to take up the cudgels here for the big bikes among mountain bikes: long live the big bike!
Downhill bikes are sexy!
Big bikes are fast, safe and sexy. Take a look at the Specialized Demo: massive double bridge fork from Sweden, wide cockpit, snappy brakes, martial frame shapes and a spray paint that sparkles like a starry sky! Downhill bikes look like motocrossers. They are true bodyguards. Once you've been shaken up and softened up on your enduro bike, you sprint to the gondola on your big bike to squeeze as many park runs out of your lift ticket as possible. Fatigue? Not a chance! Not forgetting the huge reserves of the powerful suspension. If you're skidding through the roots on your Enduro like a getaway car on a chase, you'll be in full control on the downhill bike. Converted? Let's get down to business:
Three big bikes show what they can do in the bike park
We sent three downhill bikes to the comparison test. Two big players from the USA (Specialized Demo and Trek Session 9) and the downhill bike from the young German label Kavenz, which is more geared towards freeriding. We know from the Downhill World Cup that the former MTB can go fast. That's where and why they were developed. But we were also interested in park use, not just Vmax. After all, very few of us compete in downhill races. In terms of price, the test bikes were far apart. This hardly had any effect on performance, especially as top suspension was fitted everywhere. Surprisingly, despite the price difference, the fun factor of the test candidates is comparable, and the freeriders are also very close in terms of performance. The Kavenz, which is over a kilo lighter, is not really inferior to the American bikes, but is designed more for freeride missions, which earned it a high park suitability rating. The Specialized has the most plush suspension with its creamy-soft, sensitively responding steel rear suspension. If you value safety reserves, this bike is the fastest. Very close: the Trek. It manages the balancing act between race and freeride suitability a little better.
Conclusion on the 2023 downhill bike test:
Downhill bikes rule! With no other bike class can you dare so much, ride so fast and feel so competent as with these large calibres.
Range of use for downhill bikes
The weights in comparison
Race ranking
- Specialised
- Trek
- Cavity
Park ranking
- Trek
- Cavity
- Specialised
FREERIDE ranking
The number (maximum 10 points) reflects the overall impression of the testers and is not an addition of the performance points.
- 10 Test winner, it couldn't be better
- 9 Very good. Buy recommendation
- 8 Good. Solid performance
- 7 Below average. The product has weaknesses.
- 6 and less: We can only warn against this!
How we test
We tested the downhill bikes in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Špičàk and Geißkopf bike parks. Not only on the downhill trails, we also rode the big bikes through enduro trails, over stunts and jumps. The renovated downhill trail on the Geißkopf in particular now offers a good mix of rock fields and jumps at the top, tighter bends in the middle section and a firework of jumps (Whistler feeling!) in the lower section. We were more interested in the park shred qualities than the pure speed potential. For the suspension setup, we stuck to the manufacturer's specifications and then made modifications to get the best out of the bikes.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
