By now the Solid Magix 650B has done several thousand metres climbing and descending since the presentation and our first ride report. After several day rides in the Lech valley we headed to the Serfaus Bike park for a weekend and a on a further trip to the Livigno bike park in Italy. There were also loads of local trail kilometres from the Allgäu and Stuttgart areas. Until now we haven’t been able to break the long-term test bike and the Magix is riding as impeccably as on the first day.

Phänomenal: In den Allgäuer Alpen fühlt sich das Magix wohl.
The stuff of dreams: with the Magix the alpine air frees your mind and body!
Das Solid Magix hat bis jetzt ein super Job geleistet.
The Solid Magix has done a superb job so far and will hopefully continue to do so for a long time yet. The specification is superb for € 2999 with X01 drivetrain, a RockShox Pike fork and a RockShox Reverb Stealth post – all have functioned perfectly.

The flat 65.5° head angle and 438mm short chain stays are combined with a relatively long 1199 mm wheelbase (frame size large) and allow the bike, or put better the rider to have real fun downhill staying off the brakes for as long as possible. Just as the geometry stats let you guess, this bike is a real bullet downhill. Even if “flat out” is the preferred speed setting the Magix also feels right at home on the steep, technical and rough trails of the high Alps.
Solid have fitted the bike with a very high-end and well thought out parts mix which have given us zero problems until now.

Bei teils sehr verblockten, teils sehr schnellen Naturabfahrten in den Allgäuer Alpen kann das Bike sein volles Potenzial ausschöpfen. Bei Tretpassagen findet man dank 1x11 schnell den richtigen Gang.
The bike can make use of its potential on natural trails of the Allgäu Alps: sometimes very fast and sometimes very techy. On pedal sections you can always find the right gear with the 1×11 drivetrain.
Enduro - und das mit 175mm am Heck? Dass das funktioniert zeigt Solid eindrucksvoll am Magix. Trotz der großen Reserven beim Downhill, lässt sich das Bike sehr gut bergauf treten.
Enduro – with 175mm rear travel? That this concept works is clearly illustrated by the Solid Magix. Even with its huge downhill capabilities it can still climb up the hills.
Bashguard sei Dank: Schon das ein oder andere Mal hat der massive Bashguard die Ketten und das Kettenblatt vor harten Schlägen geschützt.
Thank the bash guard: nice that the substantially built bash guard was able to protect the chainring and chain from several hard impacts.
Ausgeliefert wurde das Magix mit einem Kettenblatt mit 30 Zähnen. Für teils extrem steile Anstiege sicherlich ein guter Kompromiss. Bei schnellen Abfahrten geht einem aber doch ab und zu das Speed-Pedalieren ab.
The Magix is supplied with a 30-tooth chainring. Certainly a good choice for really steep climbs but on fast descents but you miss a higher gear for pedalling at high speeds.
Mit dem Hans Dampf hat Solid eine sehr vernünftige Reifenwahl getroffen. Die Reifen überzeugen mit solidem Grip und relativ guten Selbstreinigungseigenschaften.
Solid made a sensible choice in speccing the Schwalbe Hans Dampf tyres. They offer lots of decent grip and clear mud.
Für Touren mit vielen selbsterklommenen Höhenmetern klettert es sich besser wenn der Sattel relativ weit nach vorne geneigt ist.
For long ride with lots of human powered climbing life is easier if the saddle is adjusted quite a long way forwards.
Nach einigen tausend Höhenmetern hat das Magix im Antriebsstrang überraschend laut geknackt. Hinter dem vermutetem Defekt steckte aber letzen Endes nur ein lockeres Tretlager.
After a few thousand kilometres the Magix started to creak loudly under pedalling forces. This wasn’t due to any defects, just the bottom bracket cup coming loose.
Dei Avid Elixir 9 Trail verzögert immer zuverlässig. Auch wenn bei längeren Abfahrten die zuzuwendende Kraft deutlich zunimmt. Kühlt die Bremse aber wieder ab, ist die Bremspower wieder top.
The Avid Elixir 9 Trail brakes are always reliable stoppers with their 180mm rotors even if the amount of rider power needed increases noticeably on longer descents.
Once they’ve cooled down the power is top once more.
Nach längerem Herumprobieren, wieviele Spacer für mich am meisten Sinn machen, fahre ich das Bike im Moment am liebsten wieder im Auslieferungszustand.
After much experimenting on the right number of spacers I am back as the bike was originally delivered with 2cm spacer under the stem.
Eine Drehmomentangabe auf jeder Schraube erleichtert das Nachziehen enorm!
Having torque settings for each bolt really helps keeping things tight. All of the bearing bolts needed re-tightening quite soon, which we put down to the assembly quality.
Der Rockshox Monarch High Volume ist potenter als vermutet. Um ihn durchschlagen zu lassen muss schon ein ordentlicher Einschlag erfolgen.
The Rockshox Monarch High Volume shock is much more potent than expected.
Thanks to the end-stroke progression bottom outs were a rarity.
So cool der Raw-Look auch aussieht. Kabel-Scheuern oder Fahrrad-Träger hinterlassen ziemlich schnell bleibende Spuren.
As cool as the raw look is cables and bike carriers quickly leave lasting blemishes
Die relativ dünnen Griffe von Reverse Components bieten sicheren Halt am Lenker.
The relatively thin Reverse Components grips offer a secure bar contact point
Ein kleine Anfahrt in den Gegenhang - das Solid Magix macht Spaß!
The Solid is even fun on the other side of the hill
Mit dem Magix macht es Spaß, auch aus den kleinsten Wurzeln Airtime herauszuholen. Der Charakter des Bikes ist trotz 650B sehr verspielt.
With the Magix you have a ball getting airtime over every tiny root. The bike has a very playful character.

Conclusion:

Without a single modification the Solid Magix is a bike, which has completely won me over. The long wheelbase, short rear end and perfectly harmonised front and rear suspension give the bike its outstanding ride quality.

You can see what the Solid – and all of the other long-term test bikes experience on our long-term test bike timeline. That’s where we catalogue all replacement parts, report on any modifications or upgrades and show you the best rides – take a regular look it’s worth it!

Words: Klaus Kneist Photos: Sebastian Hermann, Klaus Kneist


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