With Canyon, Cube, Radon and Trek, four manufacturers have equipped their top models with Rock Shox's new upside-down fork. "Surprising, because so far only José Hermida has used the fork in the World Cup," says test rider Moritz Milatz. Because it works better? Probably not, because although the RS-1 can easily keep up with a Rock Shox SID (for example in Centurion and Focus) or a Fox 32 (Stöckli), it in no way outshines the proven 100-millimetre forks. However, Milatz, who came fourth in the World Championships, and his test and training partner Markus Bauer do not attest to the RS-1's lack of stiffness, which upside-down forks often have to contend with due to their design. With a body weight of less than 65 kilos, this is not surprising.
Ticket to the Formula 1 of bike sport
However, this is not to say that potential buyers of these bikes have to follow a diet plan and train strictly according to wattage values. The carbon fibre racers are developed by the companies to take victories on the toughest race tracks in the world. However, they are not bought by Jaroslav Kulhavy or Manuel Fumic, but by ambitious hobby bikers who buy a ticket to the Formula 1 of bike sport for 6000 euros.
You can find these top hardtails 2015 in the test:
- Bianchi Methanol 29.1 SL Team
- Cannondale F-Si Carbon Team (BIKE Tip test winner)
- Canyon Grand Canyon CF SLX 9.9 LTD (BIKE tip comfort)
- Centurion Backfire Carbon Team.29
- Cube Elite c68 SLT 29 (BIKE tip handling)
- Focus Raven 29R 1.0 XC Team
- Merida Big.Nine Team
- Radon Black Sin 29 Supreme
- Scott Scale 900 RC
- Specialised S-Works SJ World Cup
- Stöckli Beryll RSC
- Trek Superfly 9.9 SL
The fastest hardtails in the BIKE test with professional support
Moritz Milatz (32), fourth in the 2014 World Championships (BMC Racing Team)
The 2012 European marathon champion and 2013 German champion can look back on a mixed season: he had to retire at the DM due to a defect. In the World Cup, the Freiburg native took third place in Nove Mesto and was fifth at his home race in Albstadt. In August, Milatz secured the overall classification in the Swiss BMC Racing Cup. However, he presented himself in outstanding form at the World Championships in Hafjell. There he only just missed out on a medal in fourth place. The 32-year-old is currently looking for a new team, as his contract with BMC has not been extended.
Markus Bauer (25), third at the DM 2014 (Lexware Mountainbike Team)
A third place at the German Cross Country Championships marks the highlight of Bauer's season. But the Kirchzarten native already showed last year that he can also keep up with the best on the long distance: He took silver at the Marathon-DM and a stage win at the Trans Zollernalb. Bauer lives in a cycling flat share with Heiko Gutmann and Julian Schelb in Kirchzarten. The 25-year-old has signed a contract with the Kreidler works team for the coming season.
You can read the detailed test of the fastest race hardtails (BIKE 1/2015) in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the issue in the DK shop reorder:
