A different bike for every purpose - who can afford that? I was looking for the perfect partner for everyday biking and was not disappointed by the Bergamont Fastlane 8.4. The reasonably priced carbon Fully had to put up with a lot, from a brisk round the house to a few Alpine crossings, trail weeks in Finale Ligure and South Tyrol and even towing the children's trailer.
The suspension with its firm 100 millimetres of travel always worked perfectly and sensitively, making the bike feel plush on the trails. Annoying bobbing on the climbs was nipped in the bud by the effective platform of the Fox shock. Together with the RockShox Reba suspension fork and the large wheels, the Bergamont felt like it had more than the actual 100 millimetres of travel. I felt secure in every conceivable position. Only the defective lockout lever on the fork spoilt the otherwise good overall picture. The geometry is a successful mix: efficient in propulsion, safe on steep terrain and smooth on fast descents. Only on very technical and twisty trails did the bike feel a little sluggish due to the large wheels. The gears and drivetrain, a mixture of Shimano SLX and XT components, worked well and unobtrusively. With one exception: due to too much dirt, the joint of the rear derailleur seized up and completely gave up the ghost on an Alpine crossing. The Avid Elixir brakes were more stable and could always be controlled well. The rest of the equipment is sensible and robust, but certainly won't win any lightweight construction competitions. Perfect for everyday use.
ConclusionIf you're looking for an affordable all-round carefree package, the Bergamont Fastlane 8.4 is definitely a good choice.
Functionality ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ (5 out of max. 6 points)
Shelf life ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ (5 out of max. 6 points)
TUNING
- 35 km - Changed saddle: Changed from Fizik Tundra to the comfortable SQlab 611
- 202 km - Changed grips: Lever for operating the seat post interfered with shifting
DEFECTS
- 1793 km - Lockout defective: Fork can only be locked manually
- 2233 km - Rear wheel rattles: Bearing play of the hub readjusted
- 2673 km - Rear derailleur defective: Had to be replaced during a Transalp
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