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The last 1000-euro hardtail with full Shimano XT equipment, Rockshox Reba suspension fork and an attractive weight of less than 11.5 kilos rolled into our test cellar in 2015 - a Bulls Copperhead 3 RS. Rising production costs, inflation and exploding transport costs have turned the market upside down, and not just since corona.
Over the years, the general Price increase for bicycles also the entry-level segment. You can't currently get a serious sports bike for 1000 euros, let alone a mountain bike with full Shimano XT equipment. In recent years, we have therefore had to successively adjust the price limit of our entry-level test field.
1000 euros used to be
Our current test field of affordable entry-level hardtails in BIKE 04/2022 therefore ranges from 1100 to 1700 euros. To round things off at the top end, we invited the brand new Trek Roscoe 9 for 2599 euros, an even more expensive MTB hardtail, to the test as a reference.
But alongside the sad fact that even beginners have to dig deeper into their pockets, there are also rays of hope in the absolute beginner segment. This is because the variety of hardtails has increased significantly.
Years ago, most front-suspension bikes were still heavy copies of lightweight cross-country hardtails, but the range of possible uses has broadened considerably. Our test field includes versatile everyday bikes, robust sports bikes, classic all-rounders and downhill-orientated trail hardtails.
A few hundred euros more is often money well spent
If you are in the entry-level segment, you will realise that the equipment and all add-on parts are calculated very precisely. A hundred or even two hundred euros more or less have a much greater impact than in the 5000-euro class, where a lot of money is wasted in the brand's lettering, so to speak. This is precisely why the well-known maxim applies more than ever in the entry-level segment: Buy cheap, buy twice.
Our test field shows, for example, that for less than 1200 euros you have to do without thru axles for wheel mounting in some cases or even completely. On the two cheapest models in the comparison, the rear wheel or even the rear and front wheels are only locked with quick-release levers. However, these hold the hubs in place less reliably and have become obsolete on sporty mountain bikes.
In most cases, every extra euro is directly reflected in better equipment. For 1199 euros, the Bulls Copperhead 3, for example, is one of the cheapest hardtails in the test. The Copperhead 3S for 1699 euros is a little more sporty, but unfortunately it was not available for this test.
The 500 euro more expensive Copperhead also has an aluminium frame, but also with a thru-axle on the rear wheel. The complete equipment of the 3S is also better across the board. The front derailleur has been omitted, replaced by the 1x12 Shimano XT, a modern and lighter drivetrain with XT cranks - albeit with a slightly reduced gear range.
Instead of a Rockshox Judy, Bulls also specifies a higher-quality Reba suspension fork on the 3S. For lower rolling resistance and more grip, the bike also rolls on the more expensive Evolution tyres instead of the simpler Performance tyres. Let's get this out of the way: The Bulls Copperhead 3S would have scored extra points in our test.
In order to be able to perfectly compare the equipment of all test bikes, we have compared all the important components for you, including the gear range. The exact names of the parts can of course be found in the test reports in the comprehensive entry-level hardtail test in BIKE 04/2022 - read now!
Get the Comparison test of the 7 hardtails from BIKE 04/2022 for only 1.99 euros individually as a PDF for download. You will find the download below this article.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
Entry-level hardtails: We have tested these bikes for you
¹ Price for consignor bikes plus costs for packaging, despatch and coordination where applicable.
