Rockrider Race 900 S: The Decathlon cross country bike in the endurance test

Decathlon - in France almost synonymous with any sporting goods - is still better known in this country as the affordable alternative to other manufacturers. For some time now, however, the French company has been taking off and bringing high-quality bikes, accessories and clothing onto the market. And at prices that are still very attractive. When the announcement for new Rockrider models, Decathlon's MTB brand, came to the editorial office in January, we wanted to see what it was all about:

• How does shipping work?
• What else do I have to fit to the MTB myself?
• What does the Rockrider Race 900 S do?
• Are there any quality restrictions at this price?
• Is the mountain bike fun in practice?

The answers in a nutshell can be found in our conclusion.

We tested the Rockrider from mid-April to mid-November. We rode just under 1000 kilometres with it: a bit through the city, a lot on the local trails in the Munich area, a few tours in the Garmisch and Murnau Alps. We only had one defect, which slowly crept up on us, but then significantly dampened our riding pleasure. Not for long, because Decathlon responded quickly with help.

Shipping: the Rockrider Race 900 arrives with us

Like many bikes, the Rockrider Race 900 S arrived at our editorial office in a box. We wanted to see how much is pre-assembled, what customers have to do themselves and where questions might arise, because not everyone has a team of BIKE technology professionals in their basement who can help. The first impression of our unboxing: Decathlon takes great care to minimise waste, especially plastic waste. Apart from the large delivery box, there were very few parts left to throw away after assembly.

The main task when assembling the Decathlon MTB is actually to remove the protective and stabilising material that was needed for transport. But even here, apart from a film the size of a bin bag for the handlebars and a small one for the saddle, all that remains is crepe tape and cardboard. Then the handlebars have to be attached to the stem, the front wheel to the fork and the pedals to the crank - a matter of perhaps half an hour if you are not experienced. Small instructions are also included. Even better, however, is the Decathlon mini-tool with various bit attachments, so that you don't need your own tools for the assembly, but then have a small, fine tool. The Velcro straps used to attach parts in the box can also be used afterwards, for example when bikepacking or - attention: uncool - to tie the trouser leg tightly around the leg so that it doesn't get dirty on the chain!

Decathlon also includes various accessories in the package:

• Cat's eyes
• Lamps for front and rear
• Spare spokes incl. tool
• Sram chaingap tool (white, pictured)
• Brake pad spreader (black, in the centre of the picture)

What is missing, however, but is necessary for the optimum adjustment of the suspension fork and brakes, is a shock pump. This is the only way to correctly adjust the pressure in the suspension components. Although both the fork and the shock have sag indicators, the exact air pressure value means you don't need to slowly approach the correct position. Moreover, only the Rockshox Reba suspension fork offers an air pressure table. However, the SidLuxe Select+ shock is factory-filled, so you can approach the desired sag by carefully releasing the pressure.

Rockrider Race 900 S FC - the equipment of our test bike

At the time of our order, there was a choice of 4 equipment variants with Sram GX and electric GX AXS and Reynolds carbon wheels and Mavic Crossmax in aluminium. In the meantime, Decathlon has added a variant with Rockshox SID Base suspension fork and Reynolds carbon wheels in the programme. We received the cheapest configuration for testing with mechanical GX gears and aluminium wheels. All models come with the same SidLuxe Select+ shock. A cross country fully weighing 11.75 kilos (size M) is available for 2999 euros. The frame is made entirely of carbon, which is indicated by the "FC" in the name: Full Carbon. Incidentally, the "S" stands for suspension, i.e. full suspension.

The first thing you notice on the handlebars is the twist grip. This allows the shock and fork to be (almost) completely closed - the fork still gives a little, while the rear is completely rigid after turning. A component without which a few tours would have been very frustrating. But more on that later.

Frame

• Full carbon frame, weight: 1,980 g (manufacturer's specification, size M)

The Decathlon website states the following about the Rockrider Race 900 S: "This MTB was developed for performance-orientated riding in the XC and XC marathon sector." The frame is the same as the one used in the World Cup and the French Championships. This means that the Race 900 should live up to its name and go to the front. A seat angle of 73 degrees and a reach of 420 mm position the rider sportily forwards and with good pressure on the front wheel when going uphill. On flat sections, there's a lot of weight on your hands if you're not used to this position.

The fairly slack steering angle of 68 degrees and long chainstays of 455 mm ensure that the bike runs smoothly and safely. At very slow speeds, however, the front wheel has a strong tendency to drop, which requires active steering, especially on steep climbs. Together with the 120 mm suspension travel, the Rockrider Race 900 is also ready for - from a cross-country perspective - rougher terrain. In a direct comparison with the Trek Supercaliber (2022), for example, the Race 900 is plush and unwavering on the trail. Even deep gravel is no reason to slow down the descent, although the 2.3 inch wide tyres certainly have an influence. This is a lot of fun and a big plus point of this MTB.

The very long and -7° inclined front wheel also puts a lot of pressure on the front wheel. Stem on the Rockrider XC-Fully. This comes with a length of 60 mm in size S and increases by 10 mm each time up to a length of 90 mm for frame size XL. The rigid seatpost is made of carbon. However, a retractable dropper post would be useful here, as this would make the Race 900 even more fun and safe to ride downhill.

Suspension

• Fork: Rockshox Reba RL 120 mm, 32 mm dropouts, thru axle, Boost format; Rockshox Twist Lock 2022 (2 positions); weight: 1,670 g
• Damper: Rockshox SidLuxe Select+ (190 × 45 mm) - according to the manufacturer, specially adapted to the kinematics of the bike - weight: 236 g

The suspension on our Rockrider Race 900 is well equipped with the Rockshox Reba RL suspension fork. 120 mm travel is now the norm for cross-country bikes - only purists and weight fetishists have 100 mm. However, the extra 20 mm is great fun on our bike, especially as the fork can be closed from the handlebars if you need to go uphill. However, the compression adjustment can only be used in on/off mode and is unfortunately not infinitely variable. The Reba RL also has a rebound adjustment for the rebound speed.

The shock, on the other hand, is "special" on our Rockrider MTB. So that the lockout twist grip can do its job, the cable on the SidLuxe Select+ is attached to the compression adjuster. However, the adjustment screw for the rebound is located right behind it. This is difficult to reach and you have to push the blue arm away with the cable to be able to place the Allen key on the adjustment screw.

And then there was this insidious defect: at some point I noticed that the Race 900s started to bob slightly when pedalling - but without having changed the shock. A little more pressure, another turn of the hidden adjustment screw and everything was fine again... until the next tour. The bobbing could no longer be tamed, the MTB could only be ridden properly with the shock closed. However, Decathlon Service quickly provided us with a new rear shock - after which the firm riding sensation was restored.

Brakes

• Sram Level T, centreline 180 mm front, 160 mm rear, 6-hole mounting

The brakes are also from Sram. The Level T brakes are certainly not the hottest on the market, but with their cross-country-compliant 180/160 mm discs they are powerful and stable enough for all the tours that the Rockrider Race had to take us on. The only thing we couldn't get used to was the ergonomics of the brake levers. We prefer to grip them with two fingers, but the straight lever is somehow too short for that. The reach can be adjusted with a knurled screw or Allen key, but if it gets closer to the handlebars, the angle of the brake lever doesn't match the finger position. Perhaps a subjective feeling. At least the brake discs show no abnormal wear and have not annoyed me with nasty squeaking noises.

Drive

• Rear derailleur Sram GX Eagle, 1 x 12-speed

To the Gear shift There's not much to say about the Sram GX Eagle with 12 gears, except that it always works perfectly, didn't need to be adjusted once during our endurance test and wear and tear was very limited - despite a few rainy rides in the first few months. Mounted are a Chainring with 32 teeth (but according to the manufacturer, 30, 32, 34 and 36 teeth are also possible) and a Sram Cassette with 10-52 teeth (i.e. the usual 520 % spread). As Crankset Decathlon relies on a Truvativ Stylo 6K aluminium with 170 mm in sizes S and M and 175 mm in L and XL). Thanks to a fairly high bottom bracket, there were no bumps with the cranks.

Impellers

• Mavic Crossmax 2022 Tubeless Ready, 1,760 g
• Hutchinson Kraken Racing Lab 29 × 2.30; weight: 700g / 800 g (rear)

The Mavic Crossmax Impellers have been around for half an eternity and stand for absolutely reliable performance. With an inner width/mouth width of 25 mm, the rims could also be slightly wider, which would ensure even better damping and riding behaviour. Although the Hutchinson Kraken tyres are already 2.3 inches wide, they are very round on the rims and therefore look narrow on our Rockrider Race 900. The Supercaliber has to serve as a comparison again: Here, the Bontrager Kovee Pro 30 rims with 29 mm inner width and 35 mm rim width pull the 2.2 inch tyres wide.

Praise for the assembled TyresHutchinson Kraken Hutchinson Kraken Racing Lab (Hardskin, rear). Even though they are quite heavy for XC tyres at 700 or 800 grams (rear) and therefore reduce the liveliness a little, they have surprisingly good grip even in rain and mud. And they also roll very well. We didn't have a puncture during the test phase, even though they are ridden with a tube.

Riding impression of the Rockrider Race 900 S cross country bike

Unlike our large test series, in which the MTBs are also pushed to their limits, our endurance test of the Rockrider Race was about seeing if there were any defects or if the design was annoying at any point over time. That's why the Decathlon bike was mainly ridden on trails in the foothills of the Alps, i.e. classic XC terrain. Nasty, steep climbs, which are completed after 15 minutes, or downhill sections with maybe 100 metres of descending - these were the general conditions as a rule.

What can the Decathlon MTB do uphill?

The weight of 11.8 kilos is heavenly light for the downhill fraction - the really fast XC files sometimes crack the 9-kilo mark. As already described, other tyres could save half a kilo or lighter rims, which would certainly give a little more lift on the climbs. But the Rockrider Race 900 S climbs very well as it is. What's really fun is that the front hardly tends to rise at all. Long chainstays and the long stem distribute the weight very favourably. And with the familiar Sram gearing with a 32 chainring and 52 sprocket at the rear, you can climb almost anything. This is also ensured by the Kraken tyres, which really dig into the ground.

Only when the climb is on fairly flat ground, such as a mountain road, do the calves make more contact with the seat stays. This is a very subjective impression, as it depends on your personal physiognomy, riding position and leg position. What is certain, however, is that the rear triangle is bulky and the entire frame is less delicate than stable. Not a graceful marathon gazelle. On the other hand, various paint protection films are glued to the frame - including on the chainstay, where the shoe can rub. All in all, however, the films are very sensibly positioned.

A real mate downhill

Only the protective film on the top of the chainstay, where the chain could hit the chainstay in the event of heavy shaking, should be replaced with a rubber one to be on the safe side. However, the chain rarely touches the chainstay, which is probably due to the shape of the chainstay. When it comes to the downhill, the Race 900 has proven to be a real mate. It forgives small mistakes, keeps your back free with enough suspension travel and gives you the feeling that the two of us can do it together! But the Rockrider also wants to be moved quickly downhill. In hairpin bends, the front wheel tends to drop and you need to keep a firm grip on the handlebars. But that also makes it quite easy to turn. If you haven't ridden a cross-country MTB before, you may have to get used to the forward-facing riding position.

Conclusion on the endurance test of the Decathlon mountain bike

The starting point for our endurance test were 5 questions that we asked ourselves about the Decathlon mountain bike. The bottom line is to clarify: What is the price-performance ratio like? For 3000 euros (maximum 4000 euros with wireless gears and carbon wheels), you get a well-equipped cross-country MTB from a renowned designer. A storage compartment is missing - there is no tool integrated into the frame - you can retrofit tubeless yourself. Ok. So those are our answers:

• How does shipping work?

The assembly was problem-free, no defects, only a damper pump is not included, but necessary. Excellent: little (plastic) waste, reusable parts.

• What else do I have to fit to the MTB myself?

Mount the handlebars on the stem, fit the front wheel with thru axle, screw on the pedals and adjust the saddle height.

• What does the Rockrider Race 900 S do?

The XC bike is fun, uphill and downhill, the equipment is good and works perfectly. The design is modern and powerful. The geometry and equipment provide confidence downhill, but the riding position is sporty.

• Are there any quality restrictions at this price?

No tubeless tyres and aluminium rims, rather heavy tyres, no dropper post

• Is the mountain bike fun in practice?

The Rockrider Race is fun because it covers a wide range of uses. It has a beautiful design and (functional) details, such as frame protection film or discreet decals, make it look very high quality. The overall weight is also good with 120 mm travel.

Looking at the XC or marathon bikes for up to 8000 or 9000 euros, the Rockrider is certainly a good choice for beginners who really mean business, or ambitious bikers who don't want to put too much strain on their bank account. After our endurance test, we came to the conclusion that the Decathlon MTB Rockrider Race 900 S Price and performance are in a very good relationship. The Race 900 S is not just a cosy touring bike - but with its name, nobody would have seriously thought that.

>> You can find more great value for money in our article: 11 BESTSELLER 2023 TEST: Which MTB offers the best value for money? <<