Long-standing bike testers are sometimes threatened by an occupational disease: loss of grip. When titanium bikes for 8,000 euros or front wheels for a thousand seem almost normal, it's time for a reality check. The average new bike cost around 650 euros in Germany last year, barely more than a quarter of that worldwide.
Our Bergamont therefore epitomises the average German bike in terms of price and as a member of the best-selling "trekking bike" category. Bergamont, a brand with a generally good price-performance ratio, calls the Horizon a bestseller.
And technically? Everything on board that characterises an average trekking bike: Shimano derailleur gears, hub dynamo, disc brakes, Suntour suspension fork, Schwalbe tyres, black paintwork. A suspension seat post is added on top.
We set up the bike ready to ride and immediately realised that comfort is key. The saddle is wide, as befits the upright riding position, and the handlebars - and not all manufacturers think this far ahead - are curved backwards accordingly. On the road, the Horizon 6.0 with its three times nine gears proves to be pleasantly rattle-free, smooth and functional. Nevertheless, there is no real riding pleasure. The many features add up to almost 17 kilos and there is so much on it that not everything can be really good at this price.
Bergamont delivers a very good average bike - at this price. And that is the problem: really good suspension elements, disc brakes and lighting have their price. Anyone buying an 800-euro bike should think carefully in advance about which features it must have. The fewer there are, the better they can be.
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 4/2017.
