With fresh geometry, more suspension travel and a dropper post, Bulls is sharpening the Wild Edge for technical cross-country courses. The classic in a new guise is intended to appeal to sporty long-distance riders as well as modern racers. On paper, it's a direct hit - but how does the Team version fare in a direct comparison?
We got to see the revised marathon classic from Bulls for the first time at Eurobike 2024. With a completely new frame design, 20 millimetres more travel, a dropper post ex works and a longer, slacker geometry, the ZEG brand has optimised the Wild Edge for modern cross-country use. However, Bulls is by no means exploring the extremes here, but wants to continue to target the classic marathon rider with the bike - that was our first impression at the trade fair in Frankfurt.
Facts Bulls Wild Edge Team
| Fact | Value |
| Price (RRP) | 6999 Euro |
| Wheel type | Marathon Fully |
| Wheel size | 29″ |
| Suspension travel (v/h) | 120 mm / 120 mm |
| Frame material | Carbon |
| Total weight | 10.92 kg (without pedals) |
| Frame weight | 2239 g (without damper) |
| Impeller weight (set) | 3695 g (incl. tyres, cassette, discs) |
| Impeller inertia | 2727 kg-cm² |
| Component | details |
| Fork / damper | Rockshox SID Ultimate / Rockshox SID Luxe Ultimate |
| Circuit | Sram XX Eagle Transmission |
| Transmission range | 520 % |
| Brakes | Shimano XTR BR-M9100 / 180 mm front, 160 mm rear |
| Impellers | Mavic Crossmax Carbon |
| Tyres | Schwalbe Racing Ray / Racing Ralph Addix Speed Super Race, 29 × 2.25″ |
| Seat post / stroke | Rumble Escalator Ultra / 150 mm |
| Handlebar-stem unit | Carbon monocoque |
| Max. system weight | 125 kg |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
An overachiever on paper
When we tested the Team version of the bike almost a year later against the competition from MMR and Megamo, this impression was confirmed. The reach is the longest in comparison. Paired with the 80 millimetre long negative stem and the slackest seat angle, you sit extremely stretched out on the Bulls - just the way the marathon faction loves it. Pressure on the front? More than enough. Add to that the fast Schwalbe tyre combination and the Wild Edge encourages you to go full throttle on the flat. Total weight, wheel weight and wheel acceleration: all top values. This is how the candidate secures the points victory in the laboratory evaluation.
With the finest transmission groupset from Sram, carbon wheels and suspension elements from the Ultimate series from Rockshox, the Bulls also scores big points in terms of equipment. The only drawback: Bulls only offers the legally required two-year warranty on the Wild Edge.
The geometry of the Bulls Wild Edge limited
Up to this point, the Wild Edge team's overall package seems virtually flawless. In practice, however, the industry giant has to admit defeat to its two rivals from Spain. On technical climbs, the extremely stretched riding position makes control difficult. Equalising movements, quickly lifting the front wheel or pulling the rear? All of this is much easier with the competition. In addition, the response behaviour of the rear triangle under chain tension leaves a lot to be desired. We liked the comfort and traction of the MMR and Megamo better.
The bike also loses out on the downhill. That's a shame, because the long geometry creates a very smooth ride. However, the low front end and the stretched riding position reduce confidence at the limit. Forgiving? Not at all. Reaching for a smaller size could make the riding position a little easier - Bulls only recommends size L from 1.80 metres. On hard landings or big hits, the rear end offers plenty of travel and feels more potent than the competition. However, as soon as the impacts hit the suspension faster, the rear end often passes the shocks on to the rider without any damping. Another pity: in rough terrain, the cables rattle inside the frame.
Rating Bulls Wild Edge Team - Category: Marathon
| Category | BIKE grade | Comment |
| Driving behaviour | 3,2 | Lively acceleration, but geometry makes handling difficult, less sensitive chassis |
| Laboratory | 1,5 | Very light, top measured values for wheel inertia and weight |
| Equipment | 1,6 | High-quality components, very good overall quality |
| Overall grade | 2,6 |
Conclusion Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
The Bulls is beautifully light, superbly equipped and the riding position is extremely sporty. It almost seems as if the developers had designed the Wild Edge specifically for stage races with long flat sections. This is where the Bull's strengths really come into their own. However, as soon as you set off on technically demanding trails, the consistent orientation puts a damper on the riding fun.
Max Fuchs
Editor
