Parts in danger: Electric phone support, discount store protector, battery cleaner and sports goggles

Kind Shock LEV Circuit variable seatpost

706 grams incl. remote / 689 euros >> available here

Tester: Max Fuchs

I like it when smaller manufacturers rebel against the industry giants. In the business of electronically adjustable seatposts, Kind Shock slips into this role. Well, almost, because the LEV Circuit can't really hold its own against the top dog, the Rockshox Reverb AXS. This starts with the workmanship of the remote lever. Even after the first few uses, the ultra-sensitive response behaviour is annoying. Even the slightest touch causes the post to shoot upwards. Due to the almost non-existent breakaway torque of the button and the undefined pressure point, the LEV Circuit often triggers unintentionally. This is a nuisance when stowing it away in the cellar, loading it into the car or when pushing the bike.

Poor battery management

The second and, in my opinion, the biggest shortcoming is the battery management. In continuous operation, the seatpost battery barely lasts longer than four to five rides. Even worse: the battery level indicator LED is located on the head of the seat post and cannot be seen when the saddle is mounted. There is also no suitable app to check the charge level. Until I had developed a feeling for the endurance of the LEV Circuit, the post let me down a few times on tour. Towards the end of the one-year test phase, technical faults started to creep in. Firstly, the mechanism for tilting the saddle got play, so that the saddle was now too far up or too far down depending on the weight shift. Secondly, the seals of the battery compartment have recently started to weaken due to constant exposure to mud and water. Since then, dust and dirt occasionally block the contacts and the support stops working. The only positive aspect was that the LEV Circuit did not draw air during the entire test and can still be lowered easily and smoothly - but that alone is not enough to compete with the industry giants.

+ no lateral play
+ retracts and extends quickly and smoothly

- Poor remote handling
- weak battery management
- wear-prone battery compartment

The LEV Circuit is currently not a serious alternative to Rockshox and the like - neither in terms of performance nor price. - Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor

There are more parts in danger here: Tyres, shorts, pads & jacket - New MTB parts in practical test

And you can find even more parts in danger here.

Newmen Forge E-Bike Crank

430 (165 mm) gram / 58 Euro

Tester: Stefan Frey

Jacking up, hanging up, turning upside down - there are so many ways to lubricate the chain on your e-bike. But none of them are really relaxing because they are so heavy. The problem: if you turn the crank backwards to lubricate the chain as usual, only the freewheel of the motor moves, but not the chain. Newmen has developed a simple and ingenious solution with the Pin-it system. When the Forge crank is moved backwards, a return pin engages in the locking ring of the chainring and locks the motor freewheel. This allows the chain to be lubricated as usual. If you take the pressure off the crank, the pin springs back automatically. For me, this is one of the most ingenious inventions since the advent of e-bikes. The 430 gram crank can be retrofitted to Bosch Gen4/5 and the new SX motors and also fits the Brose Drive3. At 58 euros, the crank is also a real bargain. I think there should be a version for all common motors.

Ingeniously simple. The Forge crank solves the problem of chain lubrication on e-bikes with an absolutely simple mechanism. This should be standard on e-bike cranks. - Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor

Decathlon back protector Ghost D30

935 gram / 150 Euro >> available here

Tester: Adrian Kaether

It's amazing how fast modern bikes have become downhill. Into a rocky field at 30 km/h? What only downhillers used to dare to do is also possible with modern enduro bikes. So bikers have to upgrade. Fortunately for us, hard shells are a thing of the past. Decathlon, for example, claims to have created a solution that is particularly comfortable to wear with its protector waistcoat. Unusual for the outdoor discounter: At 150 euros, the waistcoat is only slightly cheaper than competing products from MTB specialists. Decathlon also uses branded D3O protectors. In practice, the concept works well. The waistcoat with its strong level 2 back protector fits snugly to the body and is well ventilated. Put it on in the morning and forget about it until the evening - that's how it should be. Not a real park protector without a chest protector, but a good safety advantage for demanding enduro trails. Caution: The fit is a little short and wide for very long and thin people.

Not cheap, but worth it: the Decathlon waistcoat is very comfortable to wear despite the level 2 protector. A good piece, even for action-packed tours. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE test editor

Ryobi One+ HP EZClean

41 bar pressure / 8:30 min running time / 279 Euro

Tester: Stefan Frey

No water connection, no electricity, no problem! The Ryobi One+ EZClean Battery cleaner draws water from almost any source. In addition to a 6 metre suction hose with dirt filter, the scope of delivery also includes an attachment for a PET bottle and two 2500 mAh rechargeable batteries. The Ryobi also needs these, as one charge only lasts a good eight minutes. With a maximum pressure of 41 bar - there are three levels in total - the Ryobi shoots even nasty dirt off the frame. I wasn't entirely convinced by the handling of the Japanese cleaner: the gun with the bulky battery container is heavy to hold even after cleaning the first bike, and the long lance sits a little wobbly in the holder. Of the three spray modes, I could only really use one for bike washing. For a little more flexibility, a folding canister (like the Stihl RCA 20) and a transport bag would be useful. Then you could simply take the Ryobi and wash water with you on tour in the car.

Shimano S-Phyre 2 Ridescape GR

29 grams / 190 euros >> available here

Tester: Marc Strucken

Shimano can not only shift gears, but now also offers a wide range of glasses. The new S-Phyre sits firmly and securely on the head despite its low weight and cuts a fine figure, and not just for gravel use. I really like the green tint of the GR lens because, as promised by the manufacturer, it covers a very wide range of uses. The moderate darkening also works well on passages in the forest or in the shade. The interchangeable system with magnetic holder is wonderfully simple and holds very securely. However, I have never managed to replace the nose bridge at the first attempt. The solution would be to buy a replacement bridge that stays on the lens. But even without this investment, the price of just under 190 euros is high and not commensurate with the rather complicated handling. If you change the lenses frequently, you would be better off with self-tinting glasses - some of which are already available at much lower prices.

Thanks to the magnetic holder, changing the lenses would be so easy. Unfortunately, you're always afraid of demolishing the glasses when changing the nose bridge. - Marc Strucken, BIKE editor

The BIKE testers are in constant use and push the parts to the limit on their tours. To buy or not to buy? Here we give our opinion. Here we have tested Canyon's new Disputr CFR helmet, a lightweight rain jacket from GripGrab and the adjustable saddle mount from Fair Bicycle.