There are niches in every market. The socket harmoniser, for example, is supposed to use "zero-point energy" and "nano-quantum technology" to improve the power from the socket and thus make the sound of the stereo system richer. The actual benefits of the product are more than questionable. So-called trail hardtails have been leading a similar niche existence for years. Exotic bikes with the attitude of an enduro bike, but with an unsprung rear end. Fat tyres, short stems and slack steering angles are intended to give the bikes unimagined downhill qualities despite the rigid rear end. This is not necessarily compatible with the masses. And yet it seems that these "do-it-all hardtails" are just finding their way out of the niche. Even high-volume manufacturers such as Ghost or Bulls now offer bikes with up to 140 millimetres of travel at the front but a rigid rear end. We wanted to find out how much trail bike there really is in a hardtail and put eight models between € 2100 and € 3000 through their paces.
We tested these trail hardtails:
Bulls Duro
Conway WME MT 929
Cotic Solaris Max
Felt Surplus 10
Ghost Asket 8 AL (BIKE Tip: Allround)
Last Fastforward Trail 29 (BIKE tip: test winner)
Mondraker Vantage RR+
Orange P7 Pro
The first glance at the range of candidates is striking: rarely has a test field been more diverse. From 29" to 27.5" to plus tyres, all wheel and tyre sizes are represented in the test. Bulls delivers a particularly exciting concept with the Duro. A plus-size tyre at the rear is designed to improve grip and damping, while a 29er wheel at the front makes it easier to roll over obstacles. There is also a choice of frame material: in addition to modern aluminium frames, Cotic, Last and Orange weld together their classic diamond frames from slim steel tubes. However, because the bikes have to cope with a lot of off-road riding, you shouldn't expect any weight records here. The frames weigh between 2.2 and just over 2.8 kilos. When ready to ride, the weights rocket up to a massive 14.4 kilos on the Orange P7. On average, the weight is still a bearable 13 kilos. The Ghost literally falls out of line. The cheapest bike in the test weighs just 12 kilos without pedals. At 1839 grams, the frame has also probably been on a long diet. The only small compromises have to be made in terms of equipment. Shifting is done with Shimano SLX instead of XT, as with most other manufacturers, and the front suspension is a Fox Performance fork instead of the expensive Fox Factory or Rockshox Pike versions. However, Mondraker and Orange show that it's possible to go even lower-end: Sram's NX groupset and Level-T brakes on the Vantage RR+ and a wild mix of Shimano and Race Face components on the P7 hardly seem up to scratch for the price tag. Striking: Seven manufacturers in the test rely on single drivetrains. But only Bulls and Cotic use the wide-range 11-46 cassette from Shimano. With a 40 or 42-speed sprocket as the lightest gear, the climb on the other bikes becomes a sweat-inducing experience. Conway is the only manufacturer to play it safe and does not compromise with a solidly geared double crankset.
Setting up the trail hardtails is basically done quickly. There is nothing more to adjust than tyre pressure and suspension fork. In order to get as much traction and a touch of comfort as possible from the unsprung rear suspension, you should slowly approach the minimum tyre pressure that can still be ridden. At 1.6 bar at the rear (1.0 bar for plus-size tyres), there is still some room for improvement before the tyre kisses the rim flanges with every bump. As the only suspension, the forks need a little more pressure than the manufacturer specifies, otherwise they bottom out too quickly off-road.
Most of the bikes in the test completed the compulsory part of the test lap at a rather leisurely pace. The comfortable riding positions and grippy tyre compounds hardly tempt you to sprint on the climbs. Despite its large wheels, the Ghost Asket is the easiest to accelerate and pulls away from the competition on the gravel track. Only Bulls and Felt are able to keep up to some extent thanks to their easy-rolling tyres. Their wide Plus tyres roll noticeably more comfortably over rocks and roots than the 2.35 mm standard tyres of the competition.
As soon as you turn into the descent, the trail hardtails show their true colours. With steering angles of around 66 degrees, 30 to 60 millimetre short stems and the potent suspension forks, you want to turn on the gas downhill. The slightly higher weight hardly matters here. Bikes like the Mondraker, Last and Orange sit firmly on the trail, are easy to push into corners and accelerate out of bends. Even on steep descents and over small jumps, the smooth-running geometries convey a lot of confidence. The lightweight Ghost dances nimbly over the trails and doesn't shy away from jumps. It's amazing what technical trails are possible with a hardtail - as long as the line is right. Where a full suspension bike would have you carelessly rolling over roots and rocks, every riding mistake on a hardtail is met with a kick in the arse. If you mess up the landing or drift too far off track, the rigid rear triangle bucks like a rodeo bull. Even the fat plus-size rollers on the Mondraker and Felt don't help. The steel frames in the test are surprising. Even if the laboratory values give a different picture, steel feels more organic and compliant than the stiff aluminium competition. Nevertheless, the legs always have a lot to do and are busy keeping the rear wheel on the ground. They virtually replace the missing rear suspension. Even if you roll out of the trail with a big grin on your face after the descent, many a biker will probably long for a comfortable fully at the end of the day. After all, niche products are rarely suitable for the masses. And so trail hardtails, just like the plug-in harmoniser, could remain a product for a small, select fringe group.
Conclusion from Stefan Frey, test editor:
It's amazing how much fun you can have on the trail with a hardtail. The modern geometries tempt you to play. In addition, hardtails are easier to maintain, lighter and cheaper than comparable fullys. If you are looking for maximum downhill performance, you will find it with Last, Mondraker and Orange. Cotic and Conway are solid all-rounders, Bulls and Felt with their fast but less grippy tyre compounds are more suitable for light trail tours. The ultimate bike for all occasions is the affordable Asket from Ghost.
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 7/2017 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
THE PERFECT HARDTAIL
1. Between 120 and 140 millimetres of travel are ideal for trail use. More is hardly possible with a rigid rear end, otherwise the steering angle becomes too steep when compressing and the bike becomes too nervous. 66 degrees is a good starting point.
2. Modern geometries now also make agile 29er bikes possible. In combination with wide rims (approx. 30 mm) and wide, but generally light tyres (2.2 to 2.4", around 800 grams), this results in a noticeably comfortable rear end. Our choice would be a grippy compound at the front and an easy-rolling tyre at the rear. The large wheels also roll much more easily over root carpets.
3. The cockpit is an important component for the handling of the bike. The shorter the stem, the more agile. We find 50 millimetres ideal. We recommend a maximum of 70 millimetres. With a handlebar width between 720 and
760 millimetres is the right choice for most trail bikers.
4. A telescopic seatpost is actually a must. The ups and downs of our test track once again showed that lowering the seatpost by 150 millimetres significantly increases riding enjoyment.
5. Single drivetrains are ideal for use on a hardtail because they keep the chain securely on the chainring even in rough terrain. With Shimano in particular, look for a cassette with the widest possible range. If you are travelling a lot in the Alps, you will be better off with a double gear ratio. Play it safe with a lightweight chain guide.
6. Most brakes allow the lever width to be adjusted without tools. The disc size is usually 180/180 millimetres. Even better are 200 millimetres at the front.
A CLOSE LOOK
Choice of material, the right gear ratio and the right rim width. When it comes to trail hardtails, many factors determine maximum riding enjoyment.
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 7/2017 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Stefan Frey
Editor
