"Comparison is the end of happiness and the beginning of dissatisfaction," said the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard 200 years ago.
He's right. Incidentally, this applies not only to salary, skills, house and holidays, but also to bikes.
All topics in this test:
Four of the most exciting models from each of the three bike classes:
TRAIL:
- Santa Cruz 5010 X01 (Test from BIKE 10/2022)
- Specialised Stumpjumper Expert
- Kona Heei Hei CR/DL
- Cube Stereo 120 HPC
TRAILDURO (ALL MOUNTAIN):
- Canyon Spectral CF 8
- Last Glen Custom Mullet (Test BIKE 8/2022)
- Rocky Mountain Instinct C70 (Test BIKE 7/2022)
- Orbea Occam M10
ENDURO:
- Rocky Mountain Altitude C70 (Test BIKE 7/2022)
- Canyon Strive CFR (Test BIKE 6/2022)
- Radon Swoop 10 HD
- Mondraker Superfoxy Carbon R
We testers are spoilt by decadently expensive bikes that we could never afford and would never want ourselves. As we all know, light weight costs a lot of money.
We often receive letters from readers who are upset about this. Ralf K. wrote to us by email: "Stop always penalising the weight so much, I ride a bike weighing 16.8 kilos from 2014 and can do anything with it." Ralf may be right, and the fact that he has fun with it is what matters. However, if we were to put Ralf on one of our flagship bikes, we're pretty sure he wouldn't want to swap. The moral of the story: If you've never ridden a modern, potent and lightweight bike, you shouldn't either, unless you can afford it.
Three bike classes in the FREERIDE comparison
We dared to make a comparison and chose three mid-priced flagship models. These bikes are intended to be exemplary for the respective bike category, but in terms of price, weight and capabilities, they are the exception rather than the rule, unfortunately. Our conclusion at the end is not indicative of every trail, trail enduro or enduro bike.
Even if we choose a clear class winner, some people may see it differently. Because of course it depends on what you do with your bike. If you like to shuttle a lot, take it easy on the climbs to the trail entrance and don't want to compromise on the descents, then an enduro or freerider is the right choice.
Our requirements for the test bikes were as broad as possible. So we pondered for a long time what the "one bike for everything" must be able to do and thus also inferred your needs.
We are most often out and about on our home circuit: up & down, rather tame, few metres in altitude.
metres in altitude. In summer on mountain tours, on descents, like in Freiburg with forest road uphills, and challenging downhill trails. We can count shuttle holidays, like in Latsch or Finale Ligure, on one hand and bike park visits on three. Do you see parallels to your own bike activities? Then you can take our judgement at face value. We say: The "one bike for everything" is not a utopia, but a reality.
There is one thing you should not forget: The tyre is the component on the bike that is
least willing to compromise and at the same time has the greatest influence on the character of the bike. There is tuning potential here.
The representatives of the test classes Trail - Trailduro (All Mountain) - Enduro:
Test result: "Tame home circuit" test track
In our reader survey, almost 70 per cent of you said that you are most often out and about on your home circuit and on nearby trails. No wonder, after all, you don't want to get back in the car after work, you want to set off straight away. Most "home trails" in Germany are associated with uphills of less than 250 metres in altitude, or they tend to undulate up and down and are stingy with descents - like on our home trail, the Isar trails in Munich.
On our test track, all testers quickly agreed: propulsion is key! Trail bikes - like the YT Izzo - are the right tool for the job. Thanks to their low weight, they are easy to launch into the air when you're on the ground, and the steeper steering angle gives the bike direct handling. The weight and fast-rolling tyres also ensure plenty of propulsion, which is exactly what you want when the trail is stingy with vertical metres. Tip: For tame terrain, we recommend fast-rolling tyres at the rear and slightly grippier tyres at the front. This significantly enhances the trail bike character and reduces the weight.
Our Trailduro Propain Hugene with its light weight performs similarly well. It pedals comfortably, and thanks to the platform function you can tune the rear end with more compression on undulating trails - lighter and faster rolling tyres would tease even more trail bike out of the Propain. Our Enduro Nukeproof Mega 297 takes last place here. The weight, the flat geo and the grippy but heavy tyres feel overpowered on the tame, undulating trail. If you want to accelerate, you need more power in your legs.
Test conclusion:
As expected, the YT Izzo trail bike wins on the tame home circuit. Our Trailduro from Propain was surprisingly close. The Nukeproof enduro bike feels overpowered, especially on undulating trails.
Test result: "Mountain tour" test route
For the mountain tour, we chose a route where we had to pedal and carry our bikes - because that's also part of mountain tours. The descent of our test route has everything a good pre-alpine trail needs: Roots, loose gravel, steep descents, undulating passages, hairpin bends and short uphills.
On the gravel Uphill, everyone gets on well with their test bikes at the beginning. Even the enduro rider is pleased with the pleasantly compact geometry and the efficient platform in the shock of the Nukeproof Mega. However, as we testers swapped bikes, the differences became noticeable. Of course, you can feel the two kilos extra weight of the Nukeproof. But the realisation confirms that it's the comparison that makes the difference. The YT Izzo and the Propain Hugene are close to each other, not only in terms of weight, but also in terms of drive neutrality and the comfort of the riding position. Weight is the only thing that counts on the carrying section, of course. The Enduro loses out here, but gives the rider an extra portion of fitness.
We let the air out of the tyres for the descent - this is much more relaxed with the puncture-proof tyres of the enduro bike than with the thin tyres of the trail bike. Risk of punctures! Whether it's slow, technical passages or fast root blocks: our Trailbike from YT with its trail tyres and short stroke requires more precise steering and more riding skill. The Enduro Nukeproof Mega 297 nothing disturbs you: just keep going. However, as soon as the trail becomes tamer again, the downhill geo seems sluggish. Our Trailduro Propain Hugene is the best way to achieve this balancing act.
Test conclusion:
The trail bike only wins on the climbs. The enduro bike can go fast, but seems a little sluggish on tame passages. The Trailduro can do everything well. Clear winner.
Test result: "Downhill/park" test track
Ideally, bike parks have many different trails. Our test bikes had to prove themselves on all of them. From the blue flow trail to the black enduro descent. Good: All bikes have park clearance.
Of course, the frame, tyres (!) and components of our trail bike are not designed for park use. Keyword: durability. Park use should therefore remain the exception. During our test, the Trail bike YT Izzo well, as long as we were riding on built, rather flat trails, such as the Supernatural in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Bike Park. Then you get that slopestyle feeling and even a little pull on the handlebars gives the bike and rider plenty of airtime. However, the Izzo doesn't have any reserves for landing mistakes. Again, more for experts.
All descents beyond the flow and blue sections push the trail bike to the limit and demand a lot of skill and fitness. The Trailduro Propain Hugene manages this much better. Despite moderate suspension travel (140/140 mm), the bike takes bumpy sections in its stride and irons over root carpets. The Enduro Nukeproof Mega feels right at home and masters angry tracks with even more composure and speed. The geo and the 170 millimetre front and rear suspension boost the rider's self-confidence and allow more laps without a break. The Enduro even irons out rough stone fields and root networks on the downhill track. If you don't hit the line, the thick Rockshox ZEB fork takes care of it. The added robustness is noticeable on drops and botched landings.
Test conclusion:
The Enduro has reserves, stability and is fun even on DH trails. Our trail enduro bike can keep up to a certain extent. The trail bike is only capable of lapped trails, but they are a lot of fun.
The opinions of the testers
We say: The 'one bike for everything' is not a utopia, but a reality. Trail enduro bikes have the most all-rounder genes.
Statement from Stefan Frey, FREERIDE tester:
"The decision is easy for me. A good trail enduro bike has the most all-round genes. The Enduro is a specialist, even on rough descents it seemed too extreme for me. On the climbs, the trail bike and trail enduro worked almost equally well."
Statement from Lars Kuswa, FREERIDE tester:
"The trail bike is limited by the choice of tyres. I could imagine fitting a second set of fat tyres alongside the standard wheelset. That way you could quickly swap tyres depending on the intended use and perhaps have the best all-rounder."
Statement from Laurin Lehner, FREERIDE tester:
"If I could only ride one bike, I'd go for a good trail enduro bike. But a freerider can also be the 'one bike for everything'. It depends on what the rider wants to do with the bike and how much power they have in their legs.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
