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A comparison of affordable hardtailsWhat can the Radon Jealous AL 8.0 for € 1299 do?

Max Fuchs

 · 05.03.2024

Radon Jealous AL 8.0 // 12.53 kilos // 100 millimetres of travel // 29-inch // 1299 euros // aluminium
Photo: Max Fuchs
Inexpensive, uncomplicated and versatile - these are the attributes that hardtail MTBs aim to make mountain biking appealing to beginners. We put the Radon Jealous AL 8.0 through its paces in the BIKE test to see if it can do this.
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We chose the hardtail MTBs for this test because they are affordable and versatile. They should make mountain biking appealing to beginners, but also attract advanced riders with their uncomplicated, robust character. To find out for whom the Radon Jealous AL 8.0 is worth recommending, we tested the bike and frame.

Radon Jealous AL 8.0 - Fact check

  • Weight: 12.53 kg without pedals
  • Suspension travel: 100 millimetres
  • Wheel size: 29-inch
  • Price: 1299 Euro
  • Frame material: Aluminium
  • Suspension fork: Rockshox Judy Gold RL
  • Gear system: Shimano Deore 1x12
  • Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-51 / 510 %
  • Brakes: Shimano BR-MT 410 180/160 mm
  • Wheels: Sun Ringle Düroc 30
  • Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ray/Ralph; Addix Performance TLR 29 x 2.25
  • Available frame sizes: 16", 18", 20", 22"
Whether on gravel paths or tame trails - sporty riders are ideally equipped for their first attempts at mountain biking with the affordable hardtails. However, if you are planning to do serious off-road cycling, you should invest in an all-terrain trail hardtail right from the start.Photo: Max FuchsWhether on gravel paths or tame trails - sporty riders are ideally equipped for their first attempts at mountain biking with the affordable hardtails. However, if you are planning to do serious off-road cycling, you should invest in an all-terrain trail hardtail right from the start.

With the Jealous AL 8.0, the mail-order company Radon offers its purist cross-country racer at the best price. Narrow tyres, a rigid seat post and the lightest wheels in the test serve only one purpose: maximum propulsion. The fact that the sporty equipment reduces the total weight to a tolerable 12.53 kilos is a welcome side effect.

The suspension fork can be locked from the handlebars via a remote lever. This allows the bike to convert every watt into propulsion, even when pedalling out of the saddle. The riding position is propulsion-orientated and sporty thanks to the long stem. However, due to the short top tube, you don't sit quite as stretched out as on the competition from Rockrider. This makes for pleasantly agile handling on undulating trails. You can climb steep ramps quickly with enough pressure on the front. The steep steering angle implements steering movements very directly and guides the Radon swiftly through tight bends.

On fast descents, the Jealous demands maximum concentration. Due to the shortest wheelbase and the steep steering angle, the bike quickly becomes nervous and puts the rider in their place early on. Praise goes to the seat clamp with quick release.

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Radon Jealous AL 8.0 - Geometry, lab data and rating

The geometry of the Radon Jealous AL 8.0 in frame size 18".
Photo: BIKE Magazin

Conclusion from Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor

The Radon Jealous is an old-school race hardtail: fast, light and agile. But you have to know what you're doing on the downhill, because this racer doesn't forgive mistakes.
Max Fuchs, BIKE test editorPhoto: Dan GriffithsMax Fuchs, BIKE test editor
Max Fuchs

Max Fuchs

Editor

Max Fuchs hat seine ersten Mountainbike-Kilometer bereits mit drei Jahren gesammelt. Zunächst Hobby-Rennfahrer und Worldcup-Fotograf im Cross-Country-Zirkus, jetzt Testredakteur und Fotograf bei BIKE. Sein Herz schlägt für Enduros und abfahrtsstarke Trailbikes – gern auch mit Motor. Bei der Streckenwahl gilt: je steiler und technischer, desto besser.

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