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The fastest XC hardtails in the world exert a very special fascination. At a time when everything is becoming more and more technical and complex, the full-suspension mountain bike has long dominated large areas of cross-country and marathon sport. Nevertheless, hardtails have lost none of their appeal. On the contrary: they are the purist form of a racing machine. Reduced, focussed, pointed like a racing car, the most exclusive hardtails on the planet are primarily geared towards speed. No other type of bike translates physical strength into speed so radically and without loss. Philosophically inclined engineers may even speak of the most efficient machine in the world.
One rider, one bike, no frippery - at least that's what you'd think with lightweight hardtails. However, the amount of development work that goes into an unsprung frame today may surprise many. It's all about controlled flex in the carbon set-up, asymmetric designs with superior power transfer and, last but not least, five-figure sums for the purchase price. We wanted to find out what the current spearhead of XC hardtails is capable of and asked the most exclusive bikes from Bike Ahead, Cannondale, Pinarello and Storck to test them.
The test candidates at a glance
Four high-end hardtails go head-to-head in this test to find the best race bike with a rigid rear end. We were the first in the world to have the opportunity to test the super-lightweight Bike Ahead The Frame customised frame. The flyweight from German production competes against a pioneer of progressive hardtail geometries: the Cannondale Scalpel HT Lab71 with the characteristic Lefty fork. In third place, the Pinarello Dogma XC hardtail enters the ring. The Italian super bike has already claimed Olympic and world championship victories this year. All three racing bikes come from the top end of the respective product portfolios - it doesn't get any better than this! But they could hardly be more expensive. That's why we invited a fourth hardtail, the Storck Rebel.4 Platinum, to the test, which also has a sophisticated and high-priced carbon frame, but is significantly cheaper when fully assembled. The details of the test bikes already read like the trump cards of a hardtail quartet. All test bikes had frame size L.
1st Bike Ahead The Frame
- Suspension travel: 100 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Price complete bike: approx. 8850 Euro (custom build, no complete bike sale in series)
- Price frame: 1978,99 Euro
- Weight of complete bike: 8.34 kg
- Frame weight: 911.7 g
- Special features: Frame made in Portugal, parts made in Germany, custom build by Bike Ahead company boss Christian Gemperlein
2. Cannondale Scalpel HT Lab71
- Suspension travel: 110 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Complete bike price: 10,500 euros
- Price frame: no individual sale
- Weight of complete bike: 9.01 kg
- Frame weight: 1035 g
- Special features: extra-light Lab71 frame with special paint finish, Cannondale Lefty Ocho carbon suspension fork
3. Pinarello Dogma XC
- Spring travel: 1o0 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Complete bike price: 11,000 euros
- Frame price: 5000 Euro
- Weight of complete bike: 9.05 kg
- Frame weight: 1215 g
- Special features: highly asymmetrical carbon frame, Olympic victory and world championship title in 2024, strong cockpit system integration
4th Storck Rebel.4 Platinum
- Suspension travel: 110 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Price complete bike: 4199 Euro
- Price frame: 2499 Euro
- Weight of complete bike: 9.74 kg
- Frame weight: 1160 g
- Special features: extra-light Platinum frame, carbon wheel upgrade, significantly lower complete bike price
Comparison of the super sports cars: a close race
In the reduced world of top-class sport, extremes are constantly being explored - even when it comes to equipment. Basically, the sinfully expensive bikes from Cannondale and Pinarello are not for everyone, but exclusively for racers who want to compete at a high level. While the Scalpel HT at least offers more affordable options for mere mortals, a Pinarello Dogma XC requires an investment of at least 7,000 euros, or 5,000 euros for the frameset alone. Let's not kid ourselves: Nobody in our editorial team rides like Tom Pidcock. The test clearly shows that the Pinarello needs a lot of guts to perform well on the cross-country course. The proportions and the radical approach of the charismatic Italian are something that only a few bikers can relate to. The Dogma may ultimately be a masterpiece, but it also requires a master hand. But perhaps a painting by Leonardo da Vinci doesn't belong on the wall of a student flat.
The similarly priced Cannondale is more popular and can be ridden quickly through the terrain even without a world championship title. In this comparison test, the Scalpel HT can confidently be described as a classic race hardtail. Even though it was once a pioneer of the XC discipline with its slack head angle and extra suspension travel, today it joins the ranks of its sporty mates without any conspicuous extremes. The riding position and handling are sporty but comfortable. As a racer, you can't go far wrong with the Scalpel HT. However, no matter how much the basis has been perfected to the limit, the equipment details still cloud the high bill. Nevertheless, fans of sports equipment reduced to the essentials will come very close to their dream bike with the Cannondale Scalpel HT Lab71.
The Pinarello is completely different. Long, flat and toxic, it is the most striking bike in the test. Too extreme for 95 per cent of bikers, a merciless competition weapon for the five fastest per cent in the world. Similar to an Italian sports car, the Dogma XC is beautiful to look at, but you need a professional at the wheel to push it to the limit on the race track. The starkest contrast to the uncompromising Pinarello, however, is the Storck. For a fraction of the price, you get more comfort and suitability for everyday use, but also significantly less race attitude. To speak of reasonableness at several thousand euros is always a question of proportion. For most cross-country bikers, however, the Storck offers a solid basis.
And what about the Ahead bike? Never before has a mountain bike magazine had the chance to test the label's first own hardtail frame. In the weight classification, the bike made in Europe outperforms all other candidates. Of course, The Frame also has race potential, but not quite as uncompromising as Cannondale or even Pinarello. In the custom build, the Ahead bike secures the riding fun rating. Overall, it is the most versatile bike.
However, cross-country racers are not necessarily looking for versatility on a hardtail. But they do look for perfection. In the case of Cannondale and Storck, equipment details spoil the overall picture - a fact that is difficult to overlook given the prices on offer. The Pinarello isn't perfect either. It is too extremely customised for a specific riding style. In the end, the Ahead bike scores the most points. With a super-light weight and a more favourable frame compared to the competition, which is also produced in Europe, The Frame deserves to win the test.
Cannondale and Storck both make good hardtails at completely different price points. The sheer extravagance of the Pinarello is hard to resist, but in practice the riding characteristics are too extreme. The Ahead bike convinced us the most in the lab and in practice. Here, the package of winning potential, riding fun, price and performance fits together best. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
Laboratory data at a glance
Weight of wheels
- Bike Ahead: 3678 g
- Cannondale: 3642 g
- Pinarello: 3933 g
- Storck: 3720 g
Impeller acceleration
The wheel weight is per set with tyres, cassette and brake discs. The following applies to wheel inertia: the lower the measured value, the easier it is to accelerate.
- Bike Ahead: 2952 kg x cm²
- Cannondale: 2499 kg x cm²
- Pinarello: 3301 kg x cm²
- Storck: 2605 kg x cm²
Stiffness front / rear
- Bike Ahead: 5.4 / 17.7 N/mm
- Cannondale: 6.1 / 22.4 N/mm
- Pinarello: 6.0 / 18.5 N/mm
- Storck: 4.7 / 21.3 N/mm
Seating comfort
- Bike Ahead: 6.89 mm
- Cannondale: 7.33 mm
- Pinarello: 12.01 mm
- Storck: 7.08 mm
The test results in points
If engineering performance were the only deciding factor, it could have been a close call between Pinarello and test winner Bike Ahead. Outside the lab, the German product is convincing, the Italian diva is too extravagant. The Cannondale is a great riding machine, but not quite up to scratch in terms of equipment. Storck offers a hardtail that is solid in almost all respects. However, average is not enough to keep up in this glossy test. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
How BIKE tested
No other category has had as much time to develop as XC hardtails. This is another reason why we pay special attention to the data from the BIKE lab. At least three experienced editors test the bikes in a direct practical comparison. The BIKE rating carries real weight. At BIKE, we go to unprecedented lengths to objectively assess mountain bikes. These criteria are decisive for the evaluation:
1. driving behaviour
The most important point in the evaluation system accounts for 45 per cent of the final score for hardtails. We differentiate between how well a bike can be ridden uphill and downhill and how the suspension works accordingly. On the uphill side, we assess the geometry: Does the comfort fit? Is the power transfer right and can you stay in the saddle for long days? On technical climbs, there are penalty points for a front wheel that climbs early and a lack of control in key sections. Features such as a handlebar remote are rewarded by our points system. Also important: Is the traction right or does the rider have to labour to get the watts onto the trail? The play instinct rating is dedicated to riding fun. Handy bikes with lively handling score points here. Models with high (wheel) weight, indirect suspension and bulky geometries are at a disadvantage here. In the downhill classification, we differentiate between the riding characteristics and the suspension qualities. In the first category, we place particular emphasis on the riding position: are you well integrated in the bike, can it be controlled intuitively and how much confidence does the geometry convey on steep terrain or at high speeds? Suspension includes the fork's ability to absorb shocks and its response behaviour. Does it also absorb fast impacts?
2. laboratory values
The overall weight and wheel inertia make up a total of 30 per cent of the overall score in the XC hardtail category. Our lab crew determines frame stiffness and exact geometry data so that we don't have to rely on the manufacturer's values for geometry or an individual's gut feeling when it comes to stiffness. We also determine the inertia of the wheels and seat comfort on our test benches.
3. equipment
Behind the 25 per cent are a total of five assessment criteria. In addition to the quality of the components and add-on parts, we assess things that create added value for the rider. This could be an integrated tool or a steering stop limiter, for example. We also honour the size of the water bottles that can be transported on the frame, the retractability of the saddle and finally the quality and workmanship of the frame.
4. service friendliness
A traffic light in the points table provides information on how easy it is to carry out service and maintenance work on the bike. Green stands for good service friendliness, orange for medium, and red warns of stress when tightening screws. We rate the cable routing, how easy it is to replace the bottom bracket and headset, whether the frame is sufficiently protected in problem areas (chainstay, down tube, etc.) and whether a universal derailleur hanger has been specified.
5 The new spider
We show the strengths and weaknesses and therefore the character of a bike at a glance with the new spider diagram. Basically, the larger the coloured area, the better the bike. But the rating in the individual criteria is also visible here. We adjust the weighting depending on the bike category. In this way, we do justice to the different requirements of cross-country or trail bikes, for example. The propulsion is made up of the total weight and the wheel inertia
More current race hardtails in the BIKE test
Cross-country hardtails are welcome guests in the BIKE test editorial team. It's nice to see that the market for fast mountain bikes without rear suspension is so diverse. We have also tested these current hardtails in recent months:
Jan Timmermann
Editor
