Admittedly, 1,800 euros is a lot of money. Especially for a rather unspectacular hardtail without an elaborate rear triangle. Nevertheless, this group has something special. Our research with the manufacturers shows: When it comes to hardtails, the 1800 euro bikes are the best-selling price category of all. This is no coincidence, because from this price you get a lightweight, competition-ready machine with durable and high-quality components. Our test field of six bikes is a colourful mix. In addition to classics from Specialized, Centurion and Cube, there are modular suppliers such as Steppenwolf and Hai-Bike, as well as Canyon, a mail-order bike.
The test requirement for the manufacturers was clear: cross-country race hardtails for around € 1800 - it was logical that we would rate these bikes in our new test system according to the criteria for race bikes. "Uphill-optimised bike for racing with a weight-optimised frame, lightweight components and aggressive geometry" - this is the definition of a cross-country race bike. On our Munich test ride, we were able to put the hardtails through their paces on the last few beautiful autumn days.
You can find these bikes in the PDF download:
Canyon Grand Canyon, Centurion Backfire Light, Cube Reaction SC, Hai Light, Specialized SJ Comp Disc, Steppenwolf Taiga
