The GHOST POACHA Full Party – In Our Group Test for the Best Bike Park Bike of 2025

What if GHOST entered our park-bike comparison test with a completely new, fresh-looking rig – and won right away? The POACHA could be the perfect candidate, as long as you’re into big jumps, steep berms and fast descents.

Edgy, modern and ready to party – the new GHOST POACHA marks a real paradigm shift and fits right into our comparison test with a new look and generous suspension travel. With 180 mm front and rear, a mullet wheel configuration and robust spec, the POACHA was designed to be a full-on park rat rig. It features the revised TractionLink 3.0 system, a dual-link rear suspension with a virtual pivot point, which is designed to deliver maximum traction and an active ride feel.

For an overview of this comparison test, click here: The Best Bike Park Bike of 2025 – 6 models in review

Spec and details of the GHOST POACHA

GHOST are pulling out all the stops with the POACHA, and enter our comparison test with the 8,000 € Full Party spec – which is also one of the heaviest bikes in the test field at a hefty 17.6 kg in size L. Only the Canyon Sender and the YT eMTB are heavier. In return, you’ll get burly components across the board: a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork with the latest Charger 3.1 damper offers countless adjustment options and delivers a tremendous performance on the trail. A Vivid Ultimate air shock handles the rough stuff at the rear, with handy SAG markings on the piston shaft making setup easier – a small but clever detail. A plastic fender on the seat stays protects the shock from muck and dirt on wet park days. For emergencies, there’s an XLC multi-tool integrated in the headset – not the slickest tool in the test, but it’s there and easy to access. If you want to carry more trail essentials, you can use the additional tool mount on the top tube– though there’s no storage compartment in the downtube of the POACHA.

Shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM GX Transmission drivetrain – still the best bang-for-the-buck among direct-mount drivetrains in our opinion. You can mount a bash guard directly to the chainring, while a tough plastic skid plate protects the underside of the frame—not the sides, unfortunately, but it does extend impressively high. A generously sized seat and chainstay protector effectively prevents chain slap. Powerful SRAM MAVEN Silver brakes with 220/200 mm rotors do stopping duties, providing powerful deceleration and good adjustability – just without the titanium bolts found on the Ultimate version. The 200 mm TranzX RAD+ dropper post can be adjusted in 5 mm increments without the need for tools, and can be inserted all the way into the frame. All cables are routed internally and disappear into the frame through clamped cable ports, which ensure a clean look and a quiet ride. The SRAM Descendant alloy handlebars suit the bike well, though all our testers quickly swapped out the Prologo grips – something that rarely happens. A real highlight: the DT Swiss FR1500 alloy wheelset. We’re big fans of their robust rims and hubs. Combined with the burly Continental Kryptotal tires in the sturdy Downhill casing – FR in SuperSoft up front, RE in Soft in the rear – you’re all set for long, hard-hitting bike park days.

Seriously, what more could you want? The GHOST POACHA comes with the perfect spec for maximum fun in the bike park.

Tuning tip: New grips

The geometry of the GHOST POACHA

With a reach of 490 mm or 496 mm in size L, the GHOST POACHA is anything but compact – it’s a rather large bike overall, so make sure you choose the right size. That said, there are only four sizes available, from S to XL. Flip chips in the seat stays allow you to switch between a “Low” and “High” setting. This adjustment affects not only the reach but also the head and seat tube angles as well as the bottom bracket height – all key factors for handling. Although it takes some effort to change the position of the chips on both sides, this is easy enough to do once you’ve got the hang of it. Additionally, GHOST use an Acros headset on the POACHA, which allows you to shorten or extend the reach by 5 mm – a cool option for dialing in the fit to your size and preferences.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	415 mm	430 mm	445 mm	475 mm
Top tube	570 mm	603 mm	630 mm	652 mm
Head tube	100 mm	105 mm	115 mm	125 mm
Head angle low/high	63.5°/64°	63.5°/64°	63.5°/64°	63.5°/64°
Seat angle low/high	78°/79°	78°/79°	78°/79°	78°/79°
Chainstays	439 mm	439 mm	444 mm	444 mm
BB Drop low/high	14 mm/7 mm	14 mm/7 mm	14 mm/7 mm	14 mm/7 mm
Wheelbase	1,224 mm	1,256 mm	1,291 mm	1,315 mm
Reach low/high	435 mm/440 mm	466 mm/471 mm	490 mm/496 mm	510 mm/516 mm
Stack	636 mm	640 mm	649 mm	658 mm

The GHOST POACHA on the trail

Not only does the GHOST POACHA surprise with its spec and modern look, but also proves surprisingly versatile on the trail. Together with the YT, it’s one of the few bikes in this test you can pedal to the trailhead without a lift – and it holds its own just fine. The pedal-neutral rear suspension responds sensitively without bobbing, while the pedalling position is comfortable enough for long transfers – perfect if you want to squeeze in one more lap after the lifts close.

When it’s finally time to drop into the trail, the GHOST shines with well-balanced handling, especially in the low flip chip setting. This ensures a lower center of gravity and a planted, secure ride feel, particularly in steep or rough terrain. The front end is nice and high in this setting too, which boosts confidence – no feeling like you’re about to fly over the bars. However, you’ll need to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking – a small trade-off if you prefer a more deeply integrated riding position. In the high setting, the bike feels slightly more balanced overall, but the lower front end doesn’t inspire quite as much confidence – so our clear favourite for bike park laps remains the lower setting.

The stiff rear end gives the bike serious punch – it’s playful in the air, generates tons of speed through berms, and still remains under control. Despite the sporty suspension tune, the shock generates plenty of traction to handle even the gnarliest braking bumps. Best of all: the GHOST is hands down the most agile and responsive bike in this test – even ahead of the Atherton S.200. Big hits and botched landings? No problem – the stiff rear end remains composed and prevents your ankles from exploding. Even in fast, technical sections, the POACHA holds its own against thoroughbred downhill bikes. It ploughs through root gardens with impressive composure, and the low riding position gives you loads of confidence here too.

There’s no other bike in this group test that lets you rail berms and boost jumps as playfully and agilely as the GHOST POACHA.

Who should take a closer look at the GHOST POACHA?

The GHOST POACHA is hands down the most fun bike in the entire comparison test – no other rig was as playful, as agile and at the same time as versatile. With its stiff suspension and impressive composure, you’ll have no trouble keeping up with your downhill buddies—grinning all the way—while riding a bike that feels noticeably more nimble and lively.. Combined with the well-thought-out spec, you’re getting a setup that just works straight out of the box and leaves nothing to be desired—apart from the grips, which you should swap out immediately. For most bike parks, the GHOST POACHA is the perfect choice: whether it’s sending huge jumps, railing steep DH tracks, cruising fun flow lines, or hammering shuttle laps in Finale Ligure – this bike is up for it all. And if you need to pedal a bit or link some trails, the GHOST takes it in stride with surprising ease.

Conclusions about the GHOST POACHA

With the POACHA, GHOST are not only entering a new visual era – they’re also freeriding their way straight to test victory – congratulations! With its high-end spec, stiff suspension, and well-designed geometry combined with an agile and playful character, the POACHA is the ultimate tool for the bike park. Whether you’re hitting jumps, flow trails or DH tracks, the POACHA leaves you wanting more and proves that GHOST are dead serious about the freeride game.

For more information, visit the GHOST Bikes website.

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The Testfield

For an overview of this comparison test, click here:
The Best Bike Park Bike of 2025 – 6 models in review

All bikes on test:
Atherton S.200 (Click for review) | Canyon Sender CFR Team (Click for review) | Ghost POACHA Full Party | Orbea Rallon D LTD 2026 (Click for review) | Specialized Status 2 170 DH (Click for review) | YT DECOY Core 4 (Click for review)

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Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker