Tested: Trek Rumblefish Pro 29er Trailbike
Oktober 2012 in Davos, the swiss alps. We are on our way with a Scott Genius, Morewood Jabula and the Trek Rublefish: Three Bike, three categories and now one goal:
We were particularly excited about the Trek Rumblefish with its 29” wheels, but – to be quite honest – a little nervous as well.
Before we even started, there was a bit of a fight over the other two bikes. Nobody wanted to go downhill in alpine terrain on a 29er with only 120mm of travel. As it turned out, after the first turn the Trek was already lots of fun on the primarily flowing and open trails. That’s when we got excited about taking the first more technical and steeper sections. Especially in those more challenging technical sections, the big 29 inch wheels were a plus. They created security throughout the steeper parts of the trail, and offered a bit more riding comfort and a smoother feel in rough terrain. You could have easily thought you had another inch of rear travel at hand. This was not least because of the DRCV suspension technology built into the Trek, which ensured linear spring characteristics providing a harmonic feeling of the suspension. Don’t underestimate the need for more pressure on the 29 inch front wheel to push it through tight curves. After a couple of hundred meters of downhill there was the first climb. With its comfortable and sporty seating position, the Rumblefish climbs very efficiently.
Quick acceleration, even though the suspension is fairly pedal-neutral ,seems a little dull due to the big wheels. Thanks to the more efficient roll-over characteristics of the big wheels, obstacles on climbs or rough terrain can be left behind effortlessly.
CONCLUSION: The Trek Rumblefish Pro was a convincing trail and single-track bike with its linear suspension and balanced geometry. A telescopic seat post, as well as a shorter and wider stem/bar combo, would push the fun factor even more.
PRICE: 3999 €
WEIGHT: 12,8 Kg
INFO: www.trekbikes.com
Text: Robin Schmitt Photography: 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.
