First Ride: The Solid Magix X01 RAW 650B
Right after the Blade Enduro, Peter Schmied from Solid presented his newest baby to us: The Solid Magix 650 Enduro with a downhill-oriented geometry and 175 millimeters of rear travel. For a price of only 2.999 euros this well equipped bike could be the new ride for everybody. To get the best first riding impression, Peter invited us to Bad Wildbad to test the bike on one of germany’s toughest downhill tracks.
The simple raw finish is pure understatement and looks pretty good. The weight of 13.5 kg (M-size frame), with big Schwalbe tires and solid aluminum construction, is not to bad too, especially if you bring the price into the equation.
While the performance of the RockShox Pike was outstanding, we were surprised to find only a Monarch and not a Monarch Plus or even an Vivid Air in this bike, especially when looking at the aggressive geometry. Could this work on the hard trails in Bad wildbad? We were curious!
With a pretty central position on the bike, we’re climb to the start of the trail. The 760 millimeter wide handlebar in combination with the short stem create a sense of security. Thanks to SRAMs 1×11 drivetrain and matchmaker-clamps, the cockpit looks clean. The Pedaling position is efficient, some will push the saddle a bit more to the front though. The Solid Magix accelerates surprisingly quickly and is pretty good uphill, although there is pedal feedback into the suspension. Activating the compression-damping on the Monarch, reduces this effect.
With a 1172 millimeter wheelbase, a steering angle of 65,5 degrees and 438 millimeter chainstays, the geometry-data unashamedly indicates what the strengths of the bike lie: Highspeed riding in rough terrain. While the Pike was precise like a scalpel as usual, we were surprised with the great performance of the rear suspension. The Monarch works really well, providing enough travel without creating an undefined feeling. A well selected end progression avoids harsh bottom outs. You not only feel the 175 millimeters of travel, you really profit from them. The fact, that the fork has less travel does not influence the balancing of the bike negatively. We didn’t notice any variations in performance or an overheating rear shock, the Monarch seemed to handle it all well.
Despite the long wheelbase, probably because of the short reach, the Magix is still agile in narrow turns, but requires more force to corner. Some airtime over jumps was no problem too, but for an even safer feeling in the air we’d prefer a bit more standover height – or at least a smaller saddle.
Bottom line
No design gimmicks, just a good bike: The Magix is modest, robust and strong -those who are looking for an exclusive eyecatcher are out of place with this bike. The Solid is a honest bike with gravity oriented geometry and suspension, that still climbs well. Equipped with top parts, the Solid Magix is a real bargain at 2.999 Euros and an recommendable companion for many adventures.
Words: Klaus Kneist / Robin Schmitt Photos: Fabian Rapp
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.
