Storck Adrenalin.2 Pro - Test marathon bikes: Steep can be really cool with the Storck
Jan Timmermann
· 14.07.2024
It's been a while since you've seen the words "Storck Adrenalin" in the starting block of a marathon. The overhauled Adrenalin.2 will have to prove itself in a race bike shootout at the Alpentour multi-day race in Schladming and as my gaze wanders over the 400 participants, there is not a single Storck to be seen. Wrongly? For a long time, the German company stood for fast, lightweight bikes made of high-quality carbon fibre and with an eye-catching look. Today, its core business seems to be focussed on racing bikes. All the greater the joy, when the Storck Adrenalin experienced its rebirth at Eurobike 2023. So far, however, Storck fans have had to be patient. The 120-millimetre marathon fully will not be available to buy in shops until the end of August 2024. We were able to secure a Storck Adrenalin.2 test bike and compare it with the competition from Cervélo and Mondraker in a real UCI marathon race.
Storck Adrenalin.2 in detail: old values and new ambitions
Our Storck Adrenalin.2 shows two faces during the first stocktaking. Due to difficulties with availability, it is the only bike in this comparison in frame size L. In order to fit our 190 centimetre tall test editor, an 80 millimetre long stem and a vario post with a full 175 millimetres of travel were installed. Even in size XL, the reach of the carbon frame does not reach the dimensions of the Mondraker and the seat tubes are rather long for Storck. Otherwise, however, the chassis has nothing to hide: We measured the same progressive values for seat and head angle as the Spanish competition. Here the Storck is even more modern than the Cervélo. However, it has a major disadvantage compared to the Cervélo in terms of frame weight. Without the Flex-Pivot design, the Storck frame weighs 408 grams more than the Cervélo - and that in the smaller frame size. The fact that the Adrenalin is still ahead of the Cervélo and on par with the Mondraker in terms of overall weight is mainly due to the Storck's lightweight wheels.
We also tested these two marathon full-suspension bikes for their suitability for racing:
In fact, a look at the wheelset initially raises a question mark. Rims with an inner width of 25 millimetres and 2.2 inch narrow tyres have not been standard on high-quality race bikes for many years and can now even be found on some gravel bikes. Can Storck's dropbar influence be felt here? After all, Storck offers the option of upgrading to carbon wheels with an internal width of 30 millimetres. In the narrow configuration, the Adrenalin.2 achieved by far the best acceleration values on the wheel test bench. Compared to the competition, other features of the Storck also seem a little out of date: Sram Level brakes without Stealth standard and a Sram GX Eagle AXS drivetrain without transmission technology still seem to be on last year's level. Will that cost points in practice?
Practical test of the Storck Adrenalin.2 in everyday marathon use
It's no coincidence that I choose the Storck as my partner for the first day of the race, because I have to admit: In view of the tyre choice, a little scepticism remains. However, on the first stage with dry track conditions, 50 kilometres and 2130 metres of elevation gain with many asphalt climbs and gravel descents, this will prove to be completely unfounded. On firm ground and on flat terrain, the Storck rolls faster than the Mondraker and even faster than the Cervélo. Unfortunately, there is no remote on the handlebars, but the suspension is rather firm even in open mode. Accordingly, the rear suspension offers a lot of support when travelling through the suspension travel. This is great for pedalling. The suspension of the Storck Adrenalin.2 hardly wastes any energy and the platform levers of the suspension components can cause a complete lockout.
Storck combines a riser handlebar with a 76.5 degree seat angle. This results in a compact riding position that is not uncomfortable even during long hours in the saddle. Thanks to the short head tube and steep seat angle, you can put a lot of pressure on the pedals at the tip of the saddle. The Storck climbs steep ramps extremely well. So well, in fact, that on the fourth day of the Alpine tour, I once again opted for the Adrenalin.2. The last stage is an individual time trial on the mountain. The Storck is ideally suited for the 1100 metres in altitude under full physical load, although the frame is nominally a tick too small for me. Despite the 34 chainring, I manage to climb the 22 per cent gradient on the trail sitting on the Adrenalin. In the end, I clock 1:06h.
Even on trail climbs, the Storck Adrenalin.2 winds skilfully up the slope. The traction is good and the weight can be distributed well over the not too long top tube at all times. On mountain time trials, the lane is sometimes very narrow and congested with other riders. Here too, the compact Storck scores points and, thanks to its short wheelbase, simply scurries around all the uphill obstacles. The individual time trial pushed me to my physical limits like never before. In the end, I was rewarded with my best result of the stage race: 18th place in the Men III class. On the last day of the Tour of the Alps, the Storck with its strong climbing ability really scored points once again. However, it was almost exclusively uphill. However, the first marathon stage of the race showed more of the character of the Adrenalin.2.
Cramped and relaxed: The Storck Adrenalin.2 opens the multi-day race
Back to the first day of the Schladming Alpine Tour. Just as the Storck's uphill strengths are immediately noticeable, a few details are immediately apparent. First and foremost, the massive rubber grips, which Storck has been fitting to almost all flatbar bikes for decades - whether MTB or city bike. Here too, the initial scepticism evaporated during the practical test. Despite the provocative visual appearance, the hands rest well on the rubber and can utilise two grip positions. The lamellae provide better damping on descents than the silicone grips on the Cervélo and offer space to claw your way up really steep uphill ramps. The Sram GX Eagle AXS rear derailleur without transmission standard shifts gears even faster than the newer version on the Cervélo, but is clearly inferior when shifting under load.
Even if the Sram Level TL brakes seem a little outdated when you first compare them with the other candidates, they surprise you in the practical test with the best braking power in the test despite having two pistons. However, this is probably not due to the stoppers themselves, but to the combination with the thicker, heavier Sram HS2 brake discs, which can handle heat particularly well. All in all, an unusual but well-functioning brake combination. Less good: The carbon fibre rocker is so wide that well-trained marathon bikes can drag on it. The poor frame protection is a no-go. Only a tiny sticker covers the chainstay, otherwise the chassis is bare. On bumpy descents, the chain bangs loudly against the carbon fibre and stones hit the down tube unhindered.
When it comes to bottle cages, Storck takes an unconventional approach with the Adrenalin.2. Instead of on the seat tube, there is a second mount on the down tube. To be able to use both in practice, two sideloader bottle cages are required. A maximum of 1.5 litres can be transported in series. As with the competition in this test, the lines run through the headset into the inside of the frame. However, Storck uses its own cover with individual openings for the respective cables. The elegant metallic paint with the golden logos is a real eye-catcher!
Race file on Epo: The Storck Adrenalin.2 on the marathon trail
If the Storck can make up places on the test competition on the climbs, it unfortunately easily loses them again in the downhill classification. However, the Adrenalin.2 is by no means a bad descender. However, the Storck can't match the impressive smoothness of the Mondraker and the unagitated handling of the Cervélo. While the front end with its slack 66.5-degree head angle and the classy Fox 34 Factory fork feels good on the downhills, the firm rear end is a bit of a bitch. The rear passes on a lot of feedback to the rider and the narrow tyres are also stingy with damping.
The firm and agile Storck Adrenalin.2 can be fun on built bike park tracks, as the counter support in the suspension encourages you to push over waves and pull off jumps. On the marathon long distance, however, the rider has to take a few knocks. Despite its slack geometry, the Storck has the most reactive and strenuous downhill behaviour. I finish the very hot first day of the Alpentour with a good 21st place in my category, but I'm still struggling with nasty muscle cramps hours after the end of the race.
The Storck Adrenalin.2 Pro in the BIKE test: data and grades
- Front suspension travel: 120 mm
- Rear suspension travel: 120 mm
- Frame material: Carbon
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Area of application: cross-country / marathon
- Price: 6599 Euro
- Available from: Specialist retailers
- Warranty: 2 years
Equipment
- Fork: Fox 34 SC Factory
- Shock: Fox Float Factory DPS
- Gear system: Sram GX Eagle AXS, 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 34; 10-52 / 520%
- Brakes: Sram Level TL, 180 / 160 mm
- dropper post/stroke: Kind Shock LEV Integra / 175 mm
- Wheels: DT Swiss X1900 Spline
- Tyres: Continental Race King, Black Chili, Protection TR, 29 x 2.2"
Measured values
- Total weight: 11.7 kg (without pedals)
- Frame weight: 2373 g (without shock absorber)
- Weight damper: 292 g
- Fork weight: 1496 g
- Weight of wheels: 4054 g
- Impeller inertia: 2651 kg x cm²
Grading
Driving behaviour (65 %): 2.3
- Uphill riding behaviour (14%): 1.50
- Uphill efficiency chassis (13%): 1.75
- Downhill riding behaviour (20%): 2.25
- Downhill suspension (18%): 3.50
Laboratory (10 %): 2.0
- Weight (6%): 2.25
- Wheel acceleration (4%): 1.50
Equipment (25 %): 1.9
- Equipment quality (5%): 2.16
- Usability/added value (5%): 4.00
- Transport volume bottle cage (5%): 1.25
- Saddle retractability (5%): 0.50
- Quality/processing (5%): 1.50
Final grade: 2.2
Conclusion from BIKE Test editor Jan Timmermann
Even if the equipment list of our Storck Adrenalin.2 test bike looks a bit 'old school', it is still a very strong marathon bike for racers with good fitness. Thanks to its firm suspension and fast wheels, it is the best choice if you want to climb a lot of metres in a short space of time. Despite 120 millimetres of suspension travel and a slack steering angle, the bike offers little potential for recovery on descents. Storck still has some homework to do when it comes to small details.
Pro
- Top acceleration and drive neutrality
- Reactive driving behaviour scores points on tight courses
- powerful brakes
Contra
- little chassis comfort
- High frame weight
- Missing frame protection
Jan Timmermann
Editor
