Affordable riding fun is the speciality of Polish manufacturer Dartmoor - and it shows: the aluminium enduro bike for 2699 euros is not only the cheapest model in the three-strong Rocbird family, but also the cheapest bike in our comparison test. But you can expect more than just downhill performance from an aluminium enduro bike weighing 16.3 kilos. In our test field of three, the Rocbird Evo had to compete with the equally affordable combos from Merida and Haro.
Also in this test group:
| Category | Value |
| Total weight | 16.32 kg (without pedals) |
| Weight of wheels | 6027 g |
| Impeller inertia | 4405 kg × cm² |
| Model weight | 16.3 kg |
| Spring travel | 160/160 mm |
| Wheel size | 29 / 27,5" |
| Price | 2699 Euro |
| Frame material | Aluminium |
Functional equipment
The equipment is correspondingly simple but functional: slim aluminium frame, Shimano Deore gears, Magura MT Thirty brakes and a suspension mix of X-Fusion rear shock and Rockshox Lyrik Select up front. The 200 euro more expensive Merida is hardly any better in this respect. Only Cube offers better equipment at a similar price.
| Component | details |
| Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select |
| Damper | X-Fusion H3A RCP |
| Circuit / bandwidth | Shimano Deore 1x12 / 510 % |
| Brakes | Magura MT Thirty (203/180 mm) |
| Impellers | Dartmoor Patrol |
| Tyres | Maxxis Assegai Exo Protection 29 × 2.50 / Assegai 3C MaxxTerra Exo+ Protection 27.5 × 2.50 |
| Seat post / stroke | X-Fusion Manic / 170 mm |
| Max. system weight | 110 kg |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
| Special features | none |
At first glance, the only fly in the ointment is the choice of tyres. Why a Maxxis tyre with a 3C compound is only specified for the rear wheel raises questions. We would also have preferred a softer rubber compound at the front. There are no frame extras such as a flipchip for fine-tuning the geometry or the option of converting the bike to 29-inch wheels.
Interesting: Dartmoor is the only manufacturer to use a slightly shorter fork with 160 millimetres of travel and slimmer stanchions. This saves some weight, but requires minimal compromises in terms of absorption capacity and stiffness compared to the 170 mm forks of the competition.
Special geometry
The riding impression is characterised above all by the extreme geometry. With a reach of 487 millimetres, the Dartmoor has the longest frame in the test field, while the chainstays are very short at 429 millimetres. Together with the stubby stem, this results in a very rear-heavy wheel load distribution, which requires a skilful hand when choosing lines. To compensate for the imbalance in geometry, you have to actively weight the front. This makes the Rocbird less intuitive to ride than more balanced bikes such as the Propain. However, once you get used to this peculiarity, the short rear end rewards you with a lot of riding fun. The Rocbird is therefore more suited to bike park use than classic enduro racing.
Room for improvement in the chassis
The suspension was not entirely convincing. Even the set-up cost us nerves: with 30 per cent sag, 70 kilos of rider weight and open rebound, the rear seemed over-damped. In addition, all testers missed some support. Although the Rocbird willingly releases travel in rough terrain and generates comfort, it lacks the reserves for harder landings due to a lack of progression. Thanks to the short stem, you sit comfortably and upright on the climbs despite the long reach. On steep climbs, the front end climbs early and the rear end pumps under chain pull, but the three-stage shock platform reliably compensates for this.
BIKE rating and conclusion
| Category | Subcategory | Value | Weighting / Note |
| Price | Price | 2699 € | - |
| Driving behaviour | Uphill - Riding behaviour | 2,5 | 8 % |
| Driving behaviour | Uphill - Efficiency chassis | 2 | 10 % |
| Driving behaviour | Play instinct | 3 | 7 % |
| Driving behaviour | Downhill - Riding behaviour | 3 | 20 % |
| Driving behaviour | Downhill - Chassis | 4 | 20 % |
| Driving behaviour | Driving behaviour grade | 3,28 | 65 % Total |
| Laboratory | Total weight | 4,5 | 6 % |
| Laboratory | Impeller inertia | 4 | 4 % |
| Laboratory | Note Lab | 4,30 | 10 % Total |
| Equipment | Equipment quality | 3,56 | 5 % |
| Equipment | Usability / added value | 4,25 | 5 % |
| Equipment | Transport volume bottle | 1,5 | 5 % |
| Equipment | Saddle retractability | 2 | 5 % |
| Equipment | Quality / Processing | 4,75 | 5 % |
| Equipment | Equipment grade | 3,21 | 25 % Total |
| Miscellaneous | Guarantee | 2 years | - |
| Miscellaneous | Service friendliness | medium | - |
| Miscellaneous | Frame rigidity (v/h) | 6.8 / 28.1 N/mm | - |
| Overall grade | BIKE grade | 3,36 | 100 % |
Footnote: 1 Serviceability: How well the frame is protected and how easy it is to service the bike. Frame stiffness: Lateral stiffness in N/mm separately for the front frame triangle including the fork (front) and the rear triangle (rear). 2 The BIKE grade is made up of practical impressions of the test riders and laboratory measurements. The grade is independent of price. Grading range: 0.5-5.5, analogue to the school grading system.
For park riders and freeriders, the Dartmoor is a dream: affordable, functional and fun to ride. However, the Rocbird does not fulfil the all-round requirements of a real enduro bike - it climbs too poorly and offers too little suspension reserves for rough terrain. However, we know from previous tests that with a better shock, the Dartmoor can also really deliver in enduro use. In this setup, it's only good enough for third place. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE test editor
Max Fuchs
Editor
