Ghost Lector HT 2024 cross-country novelty: Lighter, more relaxed, longer for its 30th birthday

When Ghost Bikes was founded in 1993, the lettering "Lector" was emblazoned on the first hardtail ever sold. Since then, a lot has happened at the bike manufacturer from Waldsassen in Bavaria. The Ghost Factory Racing Team has been competing in the Cross-Country World Cup since 2011 and recently even won the the prestigious Cape Epic stage race with a perfect eight out of eight stage wins. Anne Terpstra, Nicole Koller, Isla Short, Finja Lipp and Caroline Bohé are usually at the start line of the World Series on the Fully Ghost Lector FS. However, according to the experts, there are still courses in the World Cup where a hardtail has an advantage. The racers therefore wanted a competitive, light and, above all, fast hardtail with 110 to 120 millimetres of suspension travel. Voilà, the new Ghost Lector HT, vintage 2024.

Ghost is using its birthday to polish its own brand image and is now marketing its mountain bikes under the claim "Built for the rough". The new Ghost Lector HT also profiles itself as a clear, uncomplicated racer with a new design language. The carbon hardtail picks up on the colours of the original Lector, but dispenses with the rigid fork and Onza bar ends of the past and instead lifts itself into the modern present. BIKE had already tested the first Ghost Lector in 2008. Since the last predecessor rolled through our test system, however, almost three years have passed. We were all the more excited about our first ride impression, which we were able to get together with the professional women from the Ghost Factory Racing Team at the former World Cup stop in Albstadt.

>> The Ghost Lector HT Worldcup 30 on test: Lighter than a gravel bike, longer than an enduro bike

Facts about the Ghost Lector HT 2024

• Area of application: Cross Country / Marathon
• Wheel size: 29 inch (29")
• Suspension travel: 110 mm (size XS-M) / 120 mm (size L-XL)
• Frame material: Carbon
• Complete bike weight: 10.24 kg (BIKE measurement, without pedals, frame size XL)
• Frame weight: 930 g (LC) / 885 g (ULC) (manufacturer's specification, frame size S)
• Price: 2299 to 9000 euros (four models)

The Ghost hardtail gets lighter and stiffer

When developing the new Ghost Lector HT, it was clear from the outset that the new carbon frame should be significantly lighter than its predecessor. To achieve this, the Bavarians have said goodbye to the distinctive angular frame profiles and opted for a much rounder design. The strongly curved seat stays are also history in 2024. Nevertheless, the steeply sloping transition to the seat tube still creates a high recognition value. Overall, the new design has simultaneously increased stiffness and significantly reduced weight through material savings.

Ghost claims that the stiffness of the head tube of the Lector HT 2024 is 15 per cent higher than its predecessor and that bottom bracket stiffness has increased by five per cent. The new Ghost hardtail claims to be a full 24 per cent lighter and should therefore have eliminated the former handicap of the old Lector HT. Our test bike in size XL weighs in at a respectable 10.24 kilos without pedals and including tyre inserts. Ghost offers the Lector HT in two frame variants. According to the manufacturer, the LC (Light Carbon) frame weighs 930 grams in size S. The ULC (Ultra Light Carbon) frames of the two most expensive models are specified by Ghost at 885 grams.

The difference in weight between the LC and ULC full carbon frames is due, among other things, to different cable routing. While the cables on the LC frames disappear behind the head tube into the inside of the frame, on the ULC frame they run through the headset, or on the top model even directly through the cockpit unit to the inside. This visually minimalist solution is also intended to reduce air resistance when riding at speed. With the now lighter hardtail, Ghost not only wants to attract professional racers, but also lightweight fans and purists.

Ghost Lector HT 2024: fast hardtail for uphill and downhill riding

The predecessor of the Ghost Lector HT already had one or two unique selling points thanks to its progressive geometry data and was clearly ahead of its time with a relatively slack head angle and a long reach. When further developing the geometry, the engineers therefore orientated themselves on the proven competencies and incorporated feedback from the team riders. They wanted a slightly higher bottom bracket so that they could pedal in technical sections without crank contact. The bottom bracket height of the new Lector HT has therefore been increased by five millimetres. The fact that the athletes on the predecessor regularly came back from the bike fitting expert with the saddle pushed all the way forwards gave the impetus to steepen the seat angle by 2 degrees. The head angle remains at 68 degrees in 2024.

For an XC hardtail, the 497 millimetre reach of the predecessor in frame size L was already strikingly expansive. For 2024, the value even rises to 510 millimetres. On our test bike in size XL, the reach measures a gigantic 535 millimetres, outperforming even most enduro full-sussers. Ghost also offers the Lector HT in five frame sizes from XS to XL to cover as many body sizes as possible.

While all sizes come with 29-inch wheels, there is a size split in terms of suspension travel. In sizes XS to M, the suspension fork provides 110 millimetres of travel. In sizes L and XL, it is 120 millimetres. The chainstay length is a compact 430 millimetres in all frame sizes. The dimensions of the cockpit are also the same across all sizes. The stems measure 65 millimetres in length and the handlebars are a full 780 millimetres wide.

On the hardtail to the 2024 Olympics

As a world-class racing team, the Ghost Factory Racing crew naturally didn't want to leave anything to chance and studied the race behaviour of the new hardtail at an extra training camp in Tuscany. On a lap comparable to the corresponding World Cup routes, the team compared the Ghost Lector FS Fully with a six to ten second advantage on the uphills with consistently identical times on the downhill. This gave the riders the confidence they needed to reach for the hardtail more often in an emergency. St this year's Olympic Games in Paris we are very likely to see the racers fighting for gold without rear suspension.

Details of the new Ghost Lector HT

There is also a major innovation on the seat tube of the Ghost Lector HT. The hardtail separates from the integrated Eightpins vario supports and now comes with a diameter reduced to 31.6 millimetres. Only the top model is equipped with a dropper post ex works. Of course, the new Ghost hardtail also has two bottle cage mounts. The Bavarians also remain true to their bottom bracket standard and continue to rely on DUB press fit. A change to the threaded BSA standard was not under discussion during the development process due to the width and stiffness in the bottom bracket area. As befits a modern race bike, the Ghost Lector HT 2024 is compatible with the wireless drivetrains from the Sram Transmission lineup thanks to the UDH derailleur hanger.

For the rear brake mount, the Ghost Lector HT 2024 breaks new ground and says goodbye to flatmount brake callipers. Instead, a Postmount mount sits on the dropout and an aluminium insert embedded in the carbon seat stay. By changing the adapter and reversing the insert, you can choose between 160 or 180 millimetre brake discs at the rear.

A minimalist chain guide now keeps the drivetrain in line. Although the hardtail has slimmed down considerably in terms of weight, the new Lector HT is still approved for a total weight of up to 120 kilos. Another interesting detail: the top model comes with tyre inserts as standard. Factory racers say they would never compete without inserts. So why deliver the product differently for the end customer?

Models & prices of the new Ghost Lector HT

Ghost offers four equipment variants of the Ghost Lector HT 2024. The hardtail with LC carbon frame is available from a pleasingly affordable price of 2299 euros. The bikes for 3699 and 9000 euros come with the optimised ULC frame. There is a big price difference between the second most expensive model, the Lector HT Pro, and the 30th anniversary Limited World Cup version. Ghost justifies this with the maximum exclusive equipment package of the top model with the top Sram XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission electronic drivetrain and DT Swiss carbon wheels. All other bikes come with aluminium wheels, mechanical gears and no dropper post. Common to all complete bikes is the tame profiled Maxxis Aspen tyres with a width of 2.4 inches.

• Ghost Lector HT Universal: 2299 Euro
• Ghost Lector HT Advanced2799 Euro
• Ghost Lector HT Pro: 3699 Euro
• Ghost Lector GT World Cup 309000 Euro

First ride impression: How the new Ghost Lector HT 2024 rides

It's clear from the first metre that the Ghost Lector HT is a pure athlete. The reduced overall weight is noticeable right from the start. The fast Maxxis Aspen tyres accelerate more than decently despite their 2.4-inch width and the luxurious equipment package of the 30-year top model, which costs € 9000, is beyond reproach. Due to the length of the main frame, the seating position on the predecessor was already sportily stretched. The fact that this does not tip over into extremes despite the additional millimetres of reach is thanks to the steeper seat angle.

However, the length of the chassis is noticeable both uphill and downhill. The tight hairpin bends on the XC circuit in Albstadt definitely required a solid riding technique and active physical effort to encourage the hardtail to change direction. At the same time, the long reach and 12o millimetres of travel provide a high level of reserves at the limit. This means that the Ghost Lector HT is easy to control over its length, even with slippery tyres and on rough steep descents.

The fact that Ghost has given its hardtail an upsizing in the truest sense of the word with travel reserves, fat tyres and additional length is an interesting approach. For cross-country courses on which the bike is intended to be used, competitors like Specialised or Trek downsizing their fully platform. Even hardtails with 120 millimetres of travel, such as the Focus Raven or the Rose PDQ are in vogue, but have not yet been seen in the XC World Cup. The Ghost Lector HT certainly makes a good first impression. You will soon be able to read the detailed test including all the data from the BIKE test lab here at BIKE.