Hand on heart. Hasn't everyone already toyed with the idea of investing all their savings in a wickedly expensive mountain bike? Such a top model, with a carbon frame and golden add-on parts. Dreams are allowed, but the reality is usually quite different. The rent is due again soon and the car has been begging for new summer tyres since last September. The bank account makes the dream of a high-end bike disappear faster than you could google the model in question. Does this mean you have to let it spoil the fun of biking? In our test, we find out how much fun there is in four trail bikes under € 2000.
We tested these four trail bikes:
- Canyon Neuron AL 6.9
- Focus Vice Pro
- Giant Stance 0 LTD
- Radon Skeen Trail 8.0 (BIKE tip: test winner)
Trail bike, what was that again? Not an easy question, because even manufacturers' opinions differ on the definition. At least three out of four bikes clearly have the same orientation. Good rolling tyres, moderate stem lengths and double drivetrains show that Canyon, Radon and Giant attach great importance to touring suitability. Focus equips its trail bike with wide rims and a slack steering angle more for downhill fun. While the touring trio can also cope with a marathon start at any time, the core competence of the Focus lies more in trail orgies. Even if the trail bike genre leaves room for manoeuvre in its interpretation, these bikes are basically about combining extended tours with lots of downhill fun. A challenging Alpine crossing should not be a problem with any of these bikes, despite their low prices.
It's just a shame that the trails between Garmisch and Riva del Garda are still covered in a thick blanket of snow during the test phase. On the Kalmit, the highest mountain in the Palatinate Forest, there is hardly any sign of winter in mid-February. The spring temperatures are just one reason for holding the test in the Palatinate. The root passages at the start of the trail serve as a natural test bench for the suspension. This is followed by a winding section with lots of berms and small jumps. Ideal for checking how playfully the test bikes can be manoeuvred through the dense trees. The climb between the small town of Maikammer and the roof of the Palatinate Forest is mainly on tarred roads and exposes any climbing weaknesses over an altitude difference of more than 400 metres. In our eyes, only bikes that perform equally well in all sections are true trail bikes.
Five-figure sums are not uncommon for the top models that you occasionally dream of. So what can you expect from a mountain bike for under €2,000? The 2017 vintage has good answers to this question. With the new SLX drivetrain from Shimano, eleven-speed technology has now established itself in the entry-level segment. And the Focus and Giant bikes even have a dropper post. Canyon and Radon score with high-quality suspension. Ok, the slight excess weight is undeniable. Our test candidates weigh an average of 13.9 kilos ready to ride. Last year, this test group was half a kilo lighter. Thadeus Tisch, engineer at Focus, is nevertheless trying to combat the cheap image of this price class. He is thinking beyond the initial purchase: "Our Vice frame is deliberately kept simple in order to minimise maintenance. On the other hand, it offers a perfect basis for tuning if customers have money to spare some time after the purchase. For 1500 euros, nobody can expect a carbon frame with flawless features." But good geometry costs nothing extra to manufacture. After all, the industry giant Giant offers a complete XT drivetrain including brake system for little money. Gear group or not, in the end it's all about having fun on the trail. Do the affordable fullys live up to our expectations?
On the way to the summit of the Kalmit, they at least skilfully distract from the excess weight. Even when pedalling out of the saddle, most of the rear triangles remain completely calm. Annoying bobbing, which has to be suppressed by a platform, can only be found on the Giant. The inexpensive rear triangle with flexing seat stays of the Stance cannot keep up with the higher quality Maestro counterparts from Giant in this respect. Despite the extra pounds, the other bikes climb quite adequately. Not least thanks to the comfortable riding position. However, the single drive on the Focus requires firm calves when the going gets steeper. The strengths of the Focus obviously don't lie on the climbs.
Short stem, playful geometry and wide tyres. No bike is more fun to ride downhill than the Vice in the Bird of Paradise design. But the rest of the test group also proved to be no slouches when it came to singletrack. Canyon, for example, remains completely calm in particularly rooty sections. The mail order company from Koblenz is the only one to send a 29er to the test and clearly benefits from the better rollover behaviour of the large wheels. This brings many advantages, especially with tight suspension travel of around 120 millimetres. Giant and Radon also master the descent with ease. Thanks to their smaller 27.5 mm wheels, they are slightly more manoeuvrable, but don't have the confidence of their 29er counterparts at higher speeds.
Whether you prefer a playful or a smooth ride on the trail is a matter of taste. No matter what you choose, these bikes deliver a decent amount of riding fun for less than 2000 euros. So there's no need to despair if your bank statement makes you realise that the expensive top models will remain a dream.
CONCLUSION by Ludwig Döhl, BIKE tester:
It's amazing how much riding fun you can have for less than 2000 euros. Although you still have to lower the saddle manually on two out of four bikes, the basic function of a good full-suspension bike is guaranteed even in this price range. More expensive bikes are above all lighter.
THE DETAILS OF THE TRAIL BIKES IN THE TEST:
It's worth taking a closer look, especially when it comes to inexpensive bikes. It is often the details that bring decisive advantages on the tour - such as the option of fitting a bottle cage.
You can read this article or the entire issue of BIKE 4/2017 in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
