Endurance test performance: 5,349 km | 44,237 m elevation gain
What do you expect from a marathon bike? That it fulfils exactly this purpose - and lasts a long time. The Stevens Sonora ES seemed to be the right choice for the 2013 season, at least on paper: a complete XT groupset, a Fox 32 fork and Easton EA 70 wheels. The Hamburg-based manufacturer rounded off the package with its own in-house Oxygen components. In the past, these have not made a name for themselves through weight records, but through their durability. Stevens mounted the whole thing on a high-strength carbon frame.
On the trail, the Sonora ES proved to be a real racehorse: although it was designed for the coast, the Nordlicht really felt at home in the mountains. Hardly any other hardtail has given me more fun on uphill sections to date. The bike climbs in a balanced manner and gives the rider enough room to catch their breath on the downhills. Our three candidates in the Four Peaks Challenge, which we also equipped with the Stevens Sonora ES last year, confirmed my impression. But how did the bike perform over time? Was it really a marathon bike with staying power? After the Four Peaks, the Transalp, several marathons, two weeks in England, a trip through the Norwegian undergrowth and too much rain in winter, the Sonora just keeps going and going and going. The triple XT drivetrain shifts well as usual with minimal maintenance. The add-on parts remain rust-free even after salt spray in winter, and even the lightweight carbon frame has coped with a few falls and many stone chips.
ConclusionA lot of bike for a fair price. The Sonora ES is a workhorse. There is still tuning potential in the add-on parts. If the 32 mm Fox hadn't died after a short time, the bike would have earned full points for durability.
Functionality *****
Shelf life *****
(max. 6 stars)
CHANGES
- 56 km - Saddle swap: The narrow Oxygen model swapped for an Ergon saddle
DEFECTS
- 296 km - Fork defective: The Fox 32 Float Performance CTD collapses. Sent directly to Stevens and received a new one
- 456 km - Brake fails: The pressure point starts to wander a lot during the BIKE-Transalp. The local Shimano service fixed it.
- 865 km - Tyre change: The Schwalbe Rocket Ron has lost a lot of tread - replaced with the same model
- 1345 km - Chipped paintwork: The Transalp and the race have left their mark on the paintwork - strangely enough on the top tube.
- 4170 km - Cable replacement: Wetness and mud have taken their toll on the old cables and sleeves.
