What's annoying when biking? The nasty grinding of a dirty gearstick, for example. Cleaning these filthy gears. Branches that get caught in the chain and cause the derailleur to collapse. Scratches in the paintwork. Diva-like suspension. And, of course, the looks, whose appeal fades with the flare-up of the next fashion. The Hoplit PI is built not to be annoying. Despite all the carbon trends, the Bavarian company Falkenjagd is fully committed to titanium.
The arguments are convincing: titanium is durable, hard-wearing, scratch-resistant and decoupled from fashion trends. The integration of the Pinion gearbox is therefore only logical. With its 18 gears, it offers a wider gear range than normal gears and is protected from mud and dust. Unfortunately, the gearbox weighs in at around three kilos. Enduro riders may get over this. But friends of sporty endurance tours? Anyone pedalling over gravel on the Hoplit PI will be amazed at the ease with which the bike, which weighs almost 13 kilos, rolls along.
Changing direction is child's play and the back is protected by the high front. However, as soon as the riding style becomes brisk, the Hoplit PI reaches its limits. The sprinting qualities are moderate. The gearbox grinds under load and then - like Rohloff - can no longer be shifted. You have to briefly take pressure off the pedal to operate the twist grip. Yes, that's annoying. As much as having to constantly look after a derailleur? That's for everyone to decide.
Conclusion Noble, durable customised pearl for stress-free tours. Marathons are possible, but not the chocolate discipline.
PLUS Robust, durable, scratch-resistant, stress-free gearbox, high frame rigidity thanks to exclusive tubes, good fork
MINUS Delivery time (about three months), test drive only possible to a limited extent, heavy gearbox, no shifting possible under load.
