Best of Test 2016 – All Winning Bikes of this Season
ENDURO Issue #25: 5 Trail Bikes under €2,000 on Test
We all lust after Ferraris and Lamborghinis. As children, we stared transfixed at posters of exotic cars on our walls – but we know that unless our lottery numbers come in, we will never own one! For most of us, the closest we get to a supercar is when they howl past our tired family sedans on the motorway. It’s the same with bikes: we all dream of owning the latest and greatest masterpiece, sculpted from carbon and titanium – but in the real world, we typically set our sights a little lower. Can you get a great bike for under €2000? To find out, we tested five of the best affordable trail bikes to find out which offered the most bang for our hard-earned bucks.
Best in test: Trek Fuel EX 5
The Trek Fuel EX 5 29 is a born descender – punching forward like a Russian sprinter jacked up on HGH and testosterone, hammering down the trail faster than the brakes can deal with. Its poise and confidence makes a mockery of rocks and obstructions, and the rolling speed is enough to blow your eyeballs out the back of your head. It takes the ‘Best in Test’ with ease but Chain issues did result in much profanity, however.
Best value: Radon Slide 130 8.0
The Radon Slide 130 8.0 offers a great specification for the money taking our Best Value award, and its distinctive looks carry a premium feel that belies its budget-friendly price. However, the Slide’s downhill credentials are hampered by poor componentry choices and tall geometry, making it more suited to day-long trail adventures and flow trails.
All bikes in test: Cube Stereo 120 HPA Race | Lapierre Edge AM 527 | Radon Slide 130 8.0 | Trek Fuel EX 29 5.0 | Vitus Escarpe
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