It seems like love at first sight, and admittedly, the RADON JAB 10.0 looks damned good! But for a lasting relationship, it’ll take more than good looks. Is the RADON JAB good for more than just a short affair or is it better to sneak off the next morning without an exchange of names or numbers?
Meeting the RADON JAB is similar to the careful scanning of potential partners in a bar. The first eye contact is overwhelming, and on closer inspection, your impressions are confirmed. Beautiful componentry as far as the eye can see, brimming with technical sophistication. One of the most important elements is the carbon frame itself, which not only looks good but at 2,350 g is also light. It would be a shame for that beauty to fade. Fortunately, the integrated protectors on the chainstays, on the rocker just behind the bottom bracket and on the down tube protect the frame from flying debris. But, annoyingly, it’s not only debris that could potentially damage the frame; when pedalling, you will occasionally catch your shoes on the wide rear triangle. With the flip-chip on the rocker, you can decide whether you want the bike to climb well, with a higher bottom bracket and a steeper seat/head angle or whether you want it to descent with confidence.
To avoid spoiling the stealthy look of the frame, the cables are routed internally and, thanks to the tensioners at the inlets, nothing rattles. Just like the cables, the bearings are also integrated into the frame design so that they are hardly noticeable. Due to the recess in the down tube, the piggyback shock fits on the JAB with room to spare.
Just as modern as the design of the RADON JAB is the frame’s geometry: long, slack, short, steep. In this order, in a size large the JAB has a long reach of 466 mm, and the fork meets the horizontal plane between the axles at a slack 65.2° head angle (in the slack flip-chip position). The wheelbase is 1,215, of which only 427 mm make up the chainstays. The only thing steep on the RADON JAB is the seat tube angle, which at 74.6°, on paper at least, promises a pleasant seating position.
The Radon JAB 10.0 in detail
Fork FOX 36 Float Factory 160 mm
Rear shock FOX X2 Float Factory 160 mm
Brakes SRAM Code RSC
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory
Stem Race Face Turbine R 40 mm
Handlebar Race Face Turbine Next R 800 mm
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary / Schwalbe Hans Dampf
Wheelset E*Thirteen TRS+
Weight 12.81 kg
Price € 4,999
To further support the stealth look of the bike, RADON has cleverly hidden the bearing points. Nice!
The SRAM Code RSC brakes, when required, will reduce your speed in an instant
The clamping screws at the inlets of the internally routed cables leave no room for movement and make the bike pleasantly quiet
… or rather don’t. The flip-chip lets the bike climb even more efficiently, but at the cost of composure and fun on the downhills.
The RADON JAB is available only in carbon and starts at € 3,599. The top of the range starts with the RADON JAB 10.0 at an impressive € 4,999. Our test bike was the top model with FOX Factory suspension, consisting of the 36 FLOAT EVOL fork and an X2 FLOAT rear shock. The FOX Transfer Factory dropper post completes the Kashima/stealth look of the RADON and works as faultlessly as the suspension. The 12 gears of the SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain also shift perfectly. Only, the new Schwalbe Addix tires are a bit ambivalent: with the Magic Mary in front and the Hans Dampf in the back, they are supple and offer a lot of grip. But you’ll end up with a flat tire very quickly as soon as sharp-edged rocks line the trail.
The geometry of the Radon JAB 10.0
| Size | 16″ | 18″ | 20″ | 22″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 395 mm | 425 mm | 455 mm | 490 mm |
| Top tube | 576 mm | 598 mm | 620 mm | 642 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm | 135 mm |
| Head angle | 65.2/65.8° | 65.2/65.8° | 65.2/65.8° | 65.2/65.8° |
| Seat angle | 74.6/75.2° | 74.6/75.2° | 74.6/75.2° | 74.6/75.2° |
| Chainstays | 427 mm | 427 mm | 427 mm | 427 mm |
| BB Drop | 14/8 mm | 14/8 mm | 14/8 mm | 14/8 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,170 mm | 1,193 mm | 1,215 mm | 1,238 mm |
| Reach | 429 mm | 448 mm | 466 mm | 482 mm |
| Stack | 587 mm | 597 mm | 606 mm | 619 mm |
The Radon JAB 10.0 on the trail
An enduro bike has to be fast both up and downhill! Uphill there is little to complain about on the RADON JAB, as long as the FOX X2 FLOAT shock is locked out. Otherwise, the rear suspension bobs noticeably and on steep and technical sections, it wallows. However, once you set the blue knob to “firm”, the JAB 10.0 willingly climbs up any mountain. Thanks to the 74.6° seat tube angle, you sit upright and centrally above the bottom bracket. If you’re looking for maximum uphill performance, you can set the flip chip in the steeper position. However, we recommend leaving the flip chip in the slack position, as the JAB still pedals well in that setup, but, conversely, the downhill performance is significantly worse in the steep position. Not negligible when climbing: the low weight of 12.81 kg and the huge range of the SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain.
RADON markets the JAB as a downhill machine, which pushes you to ride hard. Unfortunately, we don’t agree. Instead, the bike is super playful and very agile. In turns, you feel very planted thanks to the central position and the low bottom bracket. Direction changes are precise and direct thanks to the short stem and the short chainstays; The tighter and more technical the trail, the more comfortable the JAB feels and invites you to play and pop off things. However, as soon as the trail becomes fast and the ground littered with roots or rocks, the bike becomes restless and nervous. For one, the rear suspension doesn’t provide the desired traction, and secondly, the short chainstays make for nervous handling. On flowing trails with jumps, on the other hand, the JAB is in its element. It lets itself be playfully chucked into turns and lifts off at only the hint of a lip.
More a trail bike than a full-on enduro bike! The RADON JAB is super agile and playful.
Conclusion
In the end, the question remains: Is the RADON JAB good for a lasting, happy relationship? Yes and no. Ultimately, it depends on your own expectations. If you’re looking for a touring bike that scores points for outstanding components, climbs well and is at home on narrow, technical and flowing trails, you will find a faithful companion in the RADON JAB 10.0. But if you’re expecting a potent enduro racer, don’t be fooled by the first impression.
Strengths
– playful and agile handling
– lightweight
– great value for money
Weaknesses
– nervous on fast and rough trails
Downhill
Stability
Agility
Value for money
For more info head to: radon-bikes.de
This article is from ENDURO issue #031
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