Parts at risk: Bulls Vuca Evo AM 2, Kenda Double Black & Topeak E-Booster
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To make up for the long winter in the Alps, Andreas Kern was already busy collecting metres in altitude on the E-All-Mountain Bulls Vuca. However, a faulty cable briefly pulled the plug on the carefree bike. Here is the permanent test update of the Bulls Vuca.
Bulls Vuca Evo AM 2
- Suspension travel: 150/150 mm
- Weight: 26.39 kilos (without pedals)
- Size: L
- Price: 8699 Euro >> available here
- Motor: Pinion MGU
- Reach/stack: 465/644 mm
- Tester: Andreas Kern / 1.88 metres / 90 kilos
The adjective "revolutionary" should be used with care. And with superlatives too. Nevertheless, the Bulls Vuca Evo AM 2 is a perfect example of both. The Pinion motor-gearbox unit, the belt drive and the large 960 Wh battery are state of the art and promise low maintenance and care requirements. That would be right up my street. What's more, there's no more rear derailleur that gets out of adjustment or shears off on rough rock contact. Ideal for collecting metres of elevation gain and I'll hit the ground running. My favourite torture route leads from the ski jump in Partenkirchen (not Garmisch!) up to the Osterfeld summit station. The Bulls devours the 16 kilometres and 1300 metres in altitude without a break in just under an hour. In the first month alone, I cycle the route six times in all of the six U stages. Conclusion: Even with low support, the smaller 720 battery is pretty empty at the top. So in future, I'd rather use full throttle. That's the most fun anyway, and with the 960 battery, long tours are also possible. At least in theory. Because when Friedemann Schmude from Bulls installs the large battery in the Vuca, nothing happens at first.
The diagnostic computer just shrugs its shoulders. The culprit: a faulty connection cable. A week later, the bike is fresh again and the orgy of altitude metres can continue. Nebelhorn, three thousand metre peaks around Bormio: The 100,000 metre altitude project is underway! At the Bocca di Profa at an altitude of 2663 metres, I have to repair my first puncture on a bike with a strap. It works a little differently than usual, but it works. What happens next? We'll keep you up to date.
+ Low maintenance thanks to MGU and belt
+ good driving characteristics
- somewhat heavy
- Pinion system makes the bike relatively expensive
Kenda Double Black Enduro 2.4
1209 grams (29x2.4) / 65 euros
Tester: Laurin Lehner
The Double Black is the latest MTB tyre in the Kenda range. It is designed to close the gap between the Pinner and Hellcat tyres. There is a choice of three carcass variants. The Downhill for heavy gravity and park use, the Enduro version tested here and a light rolling All-Mountain version, which I put on the rear wheel.
I fit the enduro version of the Double Black tyre on the front wheel of my Levo SL. In tubeless construction with 1.4-1.6 bar, the tyre steers reliably over forest ground and generates grip at the highest level - at least in dry to wet conditions, there are better tyres in the wet. In extreme lean angles, the Kenda slips away very smoothly so that you can counteract this with a sure instinct. Unfortunately, we don't have any lab results yet. In terms of feel, the tyre rolls solidly. The weight is good, the price is favourable. I haven't had a flat tyre yet, but I've only ridden on rather tame surfaces. On sale from June.
With the new Double Black Enduro, Kenda offers a successful tyre with plenty of grip, cornering stability and low weight at a fair price. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE test editor
Topeak E-Booster Digital
7 bar maximum pressure / 600 mAh battery / 100 euros >> available here
Tester: Matthias Borchers
After the well-known manufacturers of floor pumps and mini-pumps have so far tended to hold back on the trend towards battery-powered small compressors, Topeak is now launching the E-Booster Digital. After unpacking, the first impression is positive: The independent shape with the boiler-like pump head does not resemble any of the previously known no-name products. Practical additions are the non-slip silicone cover and the ten centimetre long tube adapter, which significantly improves handling at the tyre valve. The display with illuminated digits is easy to read, even in sunlight, and the operating logic can be understood by everyone after two or three attempts. Topeak promises a maximum pressure of 8 bar and four fillings of 1.7 bar with 2.4 tyres. Our practical result: 7 bar maximum pressure and just over three fillings at 1.7 bar with a 2.4-inch tyre.
Rechargeable mini compressors are designed to quickly and conveniently press air into bicycle tyres. We also tested how the rechargeable air pumps perform in practice in 2024. These are the best mini compressors from 2024 tests by our sister magazine TOUR.
Stefan Frey
Editor
