GHOST has presented the new SL AMR X as the antithesis of marketing hype and hot air. The bike’s stand-out feature is its coil shock on the rear. But does this concept work on a trail bike, and will it make the GHOST SL AMR X the ultimate all-purpose weapon?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: Good times guaranteed! 7 trail bikes under € 3,000 in Review
GHOST has evolved dramatically in recent years, rehauling their once pretty tired brand image with a sweeping upgrade to the entire range and designing some far more contemporary offerings. Their latest creation, the SL AMR X 5.9 AL, rolls on 29″ wheels, has a significantly stiffer frame thanks to the new rocker link and offers 145 mm of rear travel, taken care of by a Cane Creek DB inline coil shock. With a price tag of € 2,599, the GHOST might be the cheapest bike in the group test but it still proudly sports high-quality Wide Trail MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHR II tyres on 30 mm wide DT Swiss wheels.
The SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and MAGURA MT Thirty2 brakes are inspired choices, but it’s a shame to see that the seatpost only has 115 mm of drop. The SR SUNTOUR AION suspension fork delivers a sub-par performance when compared to the RockShox or FOX models in the test field. It responds poorly and is overdamped so we were never able to make full use of the travel. The long seat tube also makes it difficult to run a dropper seat post with more than 125 mm of stroke, which is a pity.
The rear end of the SL AMR X hardly ever gets fazed!
Despite not being a lightweight and being coil sprung on the rear, the GHOST SL AMR X still climbs with amazing efficiency and comfort. Pedal-bob is virtually non-existent and there’s ample traction, which you’ll notice especially on technical climbs. Acceleration is held back somewhat by the wide MAXXIS Minion tyres: they provide great downhill grip, but also make the bike a bit sluggish. The GHOST’s heart obviously beats for the descents, with a rear end that sucks up roots and rocks more efficiently than your vacuum cleaner sucks up the crumbs under your kitchen table. Thanks to the low bottom bracket (30 mm drop) you’re comfortably integrated in the bike, giving you a lot of traction in corners. The front triangle is rather short with a reach of 446 mm, but the bike offers a high degree of composure and grips well. Unfortunately, the fork cannot keep up with the performance of the rear end, so expect fast, hard blows to rob your arms of strength. When accelerating, the GHOST SL AMR X is a little sluggish with its high weight and grippy tyres. Through tight downhill sections, on the other hand, the bike is surprisingly agile and is anything but sluggish when you want to change direction.
Ghost SLAMR X 5.9 AL in detail
Fork SR Suntour 150 mm
Rear shock Cane Creek Inline Coil CS 145 mm
Brakes Magura MT Thirty2 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle
Seatpost RJD Dropper 115 mm
Stem Ground Fiftyone 45 mm
Handlebar Ground Fiftyone Race 780 mm
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF / Maxxis Minion DHR II
Wheels DT Swiss M1900 Spline
Weight 14.90 kg
Price € 2,599
There is currently no better option than SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain for trail bikes with its wide gear range and smooth shifting
Both the design and colour scheme are aesthetically pleasing
With the Cane Creek DB inline coil shock, the GHOST’s rear end is super plush
The loud clatter of the cables on the GHOST SL AMR X and the Giant Trance almost drove us crazy on demanding descents. The quieter, the better!
The SR SUNTOUR AION suspension fork cannot keep up with the competition, demonstrating harsh responsiveness and insensitivity
Geometry of the Ghost SLAMR X 5.9 AL
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 569 mm | 595 mm | 621 mm | 655 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 105 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm |
| Head angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Seat angle | 74° | 74° | 74° | 74° |
| Chainstay | 438 mm | 438 mm | 438 mm | 438 mm |
| BB Drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1157 mm | 1183 mm | 1209 mm | 1243 mm |
| Reach | 398 mm | 422 mm | 446 mm | 476 mm |
| Stack | 609 mm | 615 mm | 619 mm | 628 mm |
Upgrade tip: Clad the cables or somehow secure them in the frame
Upgrade the fork
Conculsion
We’ll say it like it is: If you’re looking for an agile, spritely trail bike, you won’t find it here. The GHOST SL AMR X 5.9 AL craves gravity. With its powerful rear end and large wheels, it’s ideal for demanding descents. Unfortunately, however, the fork holds it back.
Strenghts
+ excellent rear linkage
+ good climber
+ tires
+ highly predictable
Weaknesses
– harsh, unresponsive fork
– rattling cables are annoying
– dropper seat post lacks drop
Uphill
Downhill
Stability
Agility
Value
For more information head to: ghost-bikes.com
The test fleet
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: Good times guaranteed! 7 trail bikes under € 3,000 in Review
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral CF 8.0 | Giant Trance 1.5 LTD | ROSE ROOT MILLER 2 | Trek Fuel EX 8 29 XT | Whyte T-130 S | YT JEFFSY 29 AL Comp
This article is from ENDURO issue #033
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