In their search for new equipment, sporty touring riders have recently been faced with a problem. Trail bikes, which are actually the right mountain bike category for all-terrain kilometre eaters, have merged with the all-mountain genre beyond recognition (the link to the overview of all MTB categories can be found at the end of this article). Robust equipment, chunky tyres and large wheels have increased the weight of trail bikes to such an extent that even our well-trained test riders have recently run out of breath. All of the trail bike test bikes that we have recently ridden over the trails and through the BIKE lab were characterised by a massive weight problem. For around 3000 euros, most manufacturers supplied us with bikes weighing over 14 kilos. A few years ago, even affordable enduro bikes undercut this weight mark. The conclusion in the trail bike tests was therefore always similar: downhill they are unstoppable, uphill they ride with the handbrake on. The test marks "super" and "very good" were often denied.
The increasingly downhill-heavy bikes have not only elicited critical comments from us, but have apparently also kept potential customers' wallets under lock and key. After all, a quick search in the industry revealed that sales figures for fullys are on the decline. No wonder that touring bikers in particular are postponing their purchase decision - who likes to lug around excess weight on long mountain tours?
The delaying strategy could now pay off, as many manufacturers have recognised the gap in their product range and are therefore offering new bikes for Alpine crossers and sporty touring riders. In order to combine an attractive weight with good riding characteristics on single trails, more and more bike companies are pumping up the lightweight carbon frames of their marathon fullys with larger 120-millimetre suspension forks. In addition to the pioneers Rocky Mountain, Cannondale and Cube, Orbea, Focus, Felt, Corratec and other manufacturers have recently started to use this strategy to tune their marathon fullys into trail robbers. To find out whether the factory tuning is worthwhile, we ordered two of these upgraded marathon bikes, a classic trail bike and a race bike for testing. Which concept performs best on sporty tours and scores the most points in our trail category?
You can find the entire article with information on these trail bikes, including points tables and a score overview, as a PDF in the download area below:
- Focus O1E 8.9
- Mondraker F Podium-R
- Rocky Mountain Element C50
- Scott Spark 910
You can find the complete comparison test including all data, points tables and the score overview in BIKE 9/2019. The comparison test costs € 1.99 as a PDF. Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CATEGORIES AT A GLANCE
There are specialised bikes for every conceivable area of use. Most bikes can be divided into the following five categories based on suspension travel. Some of our test bikes dance between the marathon fullys and trail bikes.
CC - Cross-country hardtails
100 millimetre suspension travel (front) Low weight, low maintenance and good prices are the reason why hardtails have a large fan base. No bike accelerates more easily. The other side of the coin: hardtails are not very comfortable. The rigid rear triangle hardly absorbs shocks from the ground. Hardtails quickly reach their limits on rough descents.
MA - Marathon Fullys
100-110 millimetres of suspension travel Marathon fullys were designed for the race track. 100 to 110 millimetres of suspension travel on the fork and rear suspension provide racers with significantly more comfort than hardtails on long distances. Selected models are suitable for touring use. The main focus of this category is the low weight and high efficiency of the chassis.
New: Sport-Tourer
110-120 millimetre suspension travel Bikes such as the Rocky Element and the Focus One are somewhere between the trail bike and marathon genres. The frames are derived from race fullys, the suspension forks with 120 millimetres have been specially built for this intermediate genre. The tyres have slightly more tread than on marathon fullys, but are not bursting with grip. The component mix keeps the weight lower than on classic trail bikes.
TR - Trailbikes
120-140 millimetres of suspension travel Trail bikes should actually combine downhill fun with good climbing characteristics. With 120 to 140 millimetres of suspension travel, this category also feels at home in demanding terrain without ruining your ride to the summit with excessive weight. The sporty models in this category even allow the occasional marathon start. Recently, however, this category has suffered from being overweight.
AM - All Mountains
140-160 millimetres of suspension travel All-mountain bikes can cope with any terrain. The generous suspension travel absorbs even the roughest bumps and allows the rider to glide over bumpy trails like on a sedan chair. An all-mountain bike should always remain suitable for touring, even if the rider has to pay tribute to the high weight. This category has also become successively heavier in recent years and has sometimes increased its suspension travel.
EN - Enduros
160-180 millimetres of suspension travel Blocked trails, steep berms or jumps - an enduro bike can handle anything. Heavy tyres, thick suspension elements and downhill-oriented geometries make the climb more difficult. If you are prepared to invest over 3000 euros, you can also get a relatively light enduro bike that is suitable for touring to a certain extent. The robust bikes can handle a visit to the bike park without any problems.
You can find the complete comparison test including all data, points tables and the score overview in BIKE 9/2019. The comparison test costs € 1.99 as a PDF. Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
