Athletes love to have the same equipment as the best of the best. That's why bikers love the Bulls Wild Edge Team. Cross-country and marathon racers can buy exactly the right MTB in the team kit, that the professionals also push to the starting line. Unlike many of the big bike manufacturers, Bulls is not asking for a five-figure sum, but is selling the Wild Edge Team for 6399 euros. How good can the price-performance ratio be for such a professional bike? To find out, we put the Bulls Cross Country Fully through its paces.
The Bulls Wild Edge Team on test: how the pro bike rides
The desire to own the same bike as the multiple Cape Epic winner Karl Platt also makes the Bulls Wild Edge in the team version interesting for hobby racers. With the help of the Bulls homepage, the suspension could even be set up one-to-one like that of marathon legend "King Karl". Of course, the King only rides the best. Rockshox Ultimate suspension meets carbon on the frame, wheels, seatpost, handlebars and even the stem. The Cologne-based company installs a Shimano XTR groupset without blenders. A race bike could hardly shift and brake better.
In acceleration phases, the lightweight Bulls shoots forwards. A comparatively slack seat angle and a low, long front end pull the rider into a sporty riding position. When pedalling, the rear end nods noticeably, but is locked in no time at all with a twist of the wrist on the Twistlock remote. However, the Bulls Wild Edge with its narrow 2.25-inch tyres then lacks traction. The three-stage platform damping of the new SID suspension elements would suit it better on bumpy climbs.
The Bulls Wild Edge Team: An XC bike for technical race tracks
Downhill, the royal blue suspension inspires with plenty of pop and good support. The Bulls Wild Edge is lightning fast through berms and over small jumps. The riding fun skyrockets. The highly reactive XC bike also impresses on technical challenges. It effortlessly negotiates tight hairpin bends and can be easily manoeuvred over obstacles. In fast and rough sections, however, the sensitive handling of the Bull does a poor job. Although the powerful XTR stoppers and wide handlebars provide a certain amount of confidence, the short wheelbase and thin tyres require precise line choice.
Technical data and notes on the Bulls Wild Edge Team
Manufacturer information
- Category: Cross Country / Marathon
- Price¹: 6399,95 Euro
- Available from: Specialist retailers
- Frame material: Carbon
- Wheel size: 29 inch
Measured values
- Suspension travel: 103 mm (front) / 107 mm (rear)
- Weight without pedals: 10.40 kg
- Frame weight: 2170 g
- Weight of wheels: 3826 g
- Acceleration wheels: 2880.82 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 760 mm
- Frame stiffness (absolute): 31 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: Mavic Crossmax SLR Carbon
- Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ray / Racing Ralph Evo SuperRace Addix Speed TLE 29 x 2.25
- Fork: Rockshox Sid Ultimate
- Shock: Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate
- Brakes: Shimano XTR 180/160 mm
- Gear system: Shimano XTR 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-51 / 510 %
- Seatpost / Ø: FSA KFX Carbon / 31.6 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 27 from 30
- Chassis efficiency: 20 out of 25
- Rolling resistance: 12.75 out of 15
- Weight: 22.5 from 25
- Inertia impellers: 10.5 out of 15
- Bottle cage: 9.5 out of 10
- Driving behaviour downhill: 22.5 from 30
- Rear suspension: 12.75 out of 15
- Front suspension: 9 out of 10
- Saddle retractability: 7 out of 10
- Brakes: 9 out of 10
- Tyre grip: 10.5 out of 15
- Driving stability: 1 out of 10
TOTAL MOUNT: 102.25 from 120
TOTAL RECOVERY: 71.75 from 100
- Other: 21.75 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: weak
BIKE test rating²: Very good - 195.8 out of 250 points
Conclusion on the test of the Bulls Wild Edge Team
With the classy Bulls Wild Edge, even mere mortals can feel a bit like Karl Platt. However, a safe riding technique is a prerequisite. Tight, technical courses are more suited to the Bulls than wild high-speed rides. - Tobias Knetsch, BIKE tester
¹ Price may be subject to additional costs for packaging, dispatch and coordination.
² The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-180 P.), good (179.75-155 P.), satisfactory (154.75-130 P.), with weaknesses (129.75-105 P.), unsatisfactory (104.75-0 P.). The weighting of the points in the individual assessment criteria varies depending on the bike category.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
