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CONTENTS:
Tyres: Continental Argotal / Kryptotal RE
Conti's new Tyres called Kryptotal in the harder Endurance mix seems to be baked from some kind of super material. It accompanied me on shuttle and bike park tours for almost the entire season. Where I usually easily wear out two rear tyres, the Kryptotal hardly showed any abrasion. I only had to replace the endurance tyre after a tear in the casing due to contact with a rock. Although the compound is not one of the stickiest, the tyre rolls very well and its coarse tread provides sufficient grip in most situations. If you combine it with the Continental Argotal in soft compound on the front wheel, you get an excellent all-round tyre for enduro and bike park use. The significantly grippier compound of the Argotal provides a lot of confidence and also wears out slowly.
Price: Argotal Enduro / Crypto Valley RE Trail74.95 / 59.95 Euro
Statement by Max Fuchs, BIKE editor:
Especially in times of inflation, the Continental Kryptotal RE in the slightly harder trail version is for me the perfect tyre for shredders who don't want to constantly put on new tyres.
Glasses: Julbo Rush Reactiv 0-3
With the Rush, the French company Julbo was an early adopter of the panoramic lens trend. The field of vision is correspondingly large. The temples and nose bridge are adjustable, allowing the Glasses also sits securely off-road. I've been wearing the Julbo Rush since 2020, which is unusual because I'm not exactly squeamish about sunglasses. I like to wipe mud splashes dry out of my field of vision - a real killer for any lens. But the self-tinting Reactiv lenses hold up surprisingly well and don't show any annoying scratches. Thanks to the wide spectrum from very light to fairly dark, the Rush is the perfect all-rounder and can also be ridden in the dark. Only on very cold days does the lens not light up completely.
Price: 224,90 Euro >> available at Fahrrad XXL
Statement by Laurin Lehner, FREERIDE editor:
A good fit, optimally adjustable and the perfect tint in any weather - the Julbo Rush Reactive may not be quite as hip as it used to be, but it's functionally top-notch.
Floor pump: SKS Rennkompressor
There are Pumps for extra large volumes, with a digital pressure gauge or with an additional tank for tubeless tyres. But that's all a lot of rubbish. Because there is also the racing compressor from SKS - and has been for over 50 years. This classic with its solid metal tube, cast-iron base and flattering wooden handle is an investment in the future. With a maximum pressure of 16 bar, it can handle any type of tyre, from road bikes to mountain bikes. I have also used it to install tubeless systems. The foot can be folded away to save space and the hose is a comfortable length. Ok, the pressure gauge is small and positioned low. On the other hand, almost every component of the pump made in Germany is available as a spare part. There really is no such thing as broken. Therefore, the racing compressor is perhaps the last bicycle pump of my life.
Price: 69,99 Euro >> available from Rose
Statement from Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor:
I was able to get hold of the special edition in fire engine red for the 50th anniversary. After replacing the valve head and seals, it pumps again like on the first day.
Bike shoes: Crankbrothers Mallet Speed Lace
I'm happy every time I slip into the Mallets again. The Mountain bike shoes look good, handle perfectly and are as comfortable as plush slippers. Thanks to the Speed-Lace fastening, there's no need for tiresome lacing or threading. Although the sole is on the softer side - so not for racers - the shoes are also well suited for pushing or carrying passages. Apart from the abrasion on the toe box, which unfortunately appeared after just a few weeks, the Mallet shoes show no nasty signs of wear even after more than a year of use. The shoes are now also available in different designs as well as in a laced and a Boa version. Our colleague Stefan Frey has also been using the latter for a year now and is just as impressed as I am.
Price: 169,99 Euro >> available from Maciag Offroad
Statement by Florentin Vesenbeckh, EMTB editor:
Put them on, forget about them and take them off again in the evening. The Crankbrothers Mallets are super comfortable shoes for long days on and off the bike.
Shimano Saint SPD pedal
Like all Pedals of the Japanese, the Shimano Saint are also absolutely carefree parts. They have been doing their job on dozens of bikes for years without a murmur - day after day. I find the slightly larger platform particularly pleasant because it provides a slightly firmer footing when jumping and in rough passages and minimises the risk of unintentionally clicking out. For me, this is a clear plus in terms of safety. I unscrewed the four pins on each side because they don't have any contact with your shoes when you're riding with them clicked in, so you don't unnecessarily puncture your shins when pushing. At 546 grams, they are slightly heavier than Shimano's XT pedals, for example, but in terms of function and durability there is no reason to criticise them.
Price: 164,95 Euro >> available at Amazon
Statement by Florentin Vesenbeckh, EMTB editor:
Shimano pedals are known for their durability. For me, the larger footprint of the Saint pedal provides a plus in terms of safety, the pins could be saved.
Cane Creek eeWings titanium crank
Titanium is twice as hard as aluminium and only half as heavy as steel. In addition, the precious material does not rust and is also resistant to scratches and impacts - the perfect material for a crank for hardcore use. At just 400 grams, the Cane Creek EeWings is also significantly more stable than a carbon crank. If a house were to collapse over the EeWings, you would probably hold them in your hands again after the rescue, sparkling like on the first day. The 1000-euro crank is only available with a 30-millimetre shaft. The chainring and bottom bracket are not included in the price. The matching chainring is flanged to the crank using Sram's Direct Mount standard, which results in a wide selection of possible suppliers.
Price: For me, the 999 euros are an absolutely sustainable investment >> at Maciag Offroad available
Statement by Henri Lesewitz, BIKE Editor-in-Chief:
Even after years of hard use, the Cane Creek eeWings look like new. Any carbon crank would have been covered in scratches and dents long ago.
Chris King NoThreadSet headset
A tax rate of Chris King is a declaration of war against the throwaway society - precisely manufactured in Portland, USA, fully serviceable and blessed with a lifetime warranty, it will probably even outlive its owner. My NoThreadSet headset has been with me from bike to bike for around 15 years and is currently on loan to a friend's gravel bike. The production of King products is a showpiece for any climate protector: metal shavings are recycled, the milling machines run on bio-oil and the waste heat from the machines feeds the company's own heating system. There can hardly be a company with a better eco-balance.
This and the almost endless shelf life of the products also relativise the Price of currently about 190 euros.
Statement from Dominik Scherer, BIKE test lab mechanic:
In the fast-moving bicycle industry, many products are outdated, out of fashion or broken after just one year. A Chris King headset, on the other hand, lasts forever.
Brake: Hope Tech 4 V4
Even though the Hope Tech 4 almost looks like a motorbike brake compared to the Shimano or Sram models, the braking power and stability are simply amazing. Even after more than 50,000 metres of downhill riding, I'm still braking on the first pads. Particularly exciting: The pivot point is mounted on industrial bearings, which reduces manual forces. In addition, the Tech 4 is the only brake in my testing career where the wheels for the pressure point and lever width are easy to reach and run smoothly. Due to the bulky design, essential components such as seals, bearings and the reservoir are more robust, which plays into the hands of durability. Thanks to the long lever, you won't run out of power even on the longest descents. Arm pump? I've never experienced that with this brake.
Price: 275 euros per piece.
Statement by Max Fuchs, BIKE editor:
The CNC-machined Hope Tech 4 is not only beautiful to look at. The MTB brake from England also packs a punch with four pistons. Hope keeps wear parts in stock for many years - very sustainable.
Telescopic support: Vecnum Moveloc2
An externally hinged telescopic seat post. Who would screw something like that onto their bike, you might ask? But the Moveloc2 has some advantages to offer. It works super fast, purely mechanically and, unlike hydraulic/gas suspension systems, reliably even in the cold - and in my case has done so for around 12,000 kilometres. The external cable can be easily removed and replaced, the entire post can be serviced without special tools and easily fitted to another bike. In the event of a defect, the Moveloc can also be operated via a lever on the seatpost, clever right? Unfortunately, the 200 millimetre travel post only engages in four positions and now exhibits slight lateral play. In view of the mileage, however, this is completely ok.
Price: From 277 euros.
Statement by Jan Timmermann, BIKE volunteer:
When my bike mates are having trouble with their telescopic seatposts, I grin as I press the lever on the Vecnum Moveloc2 and roll relaxed into the descent.
The testers from our BIKE, EMTB and FREERIDE editorial teams
They are in action 365 days a year. Because when they're not on the road for a test, they're out on the trails in private.
