Angular carbon tubes, a new look, and a clear cut: with the POACHA FULL PARTY, GHOST usher in a new era of trail bruisers. The bike is designed as a freerider, recently won our bike park comparison test, and also delivers a tremendous performance uphill. With these characteristics and a robust spec, it fits perfectly into this enduro comparison test: 180 mm of travel front and rear, mullet wheels, and Ghost’s proprietary TractionLink 3.0 system – a dual-link rear suspension with a virtual pivot point. In short: plenty of travel, plenty of reserves, but not one-dimensional – party on the descents without dropping out on the climbs.
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY: Specifications and Details
The Full Party spec variant of the POACHA retails at 8,000 €, tipping the scales at 17.6 kg in size L – very heavy, in fact the heaviest non-motorised bike in this test. The suspension is a full RockShox Ultimate package: a ZEB Ultimate with Charger 3.1 damper at the front – easy to tune and delivering excellent performance on the trail – and a Vivid Ultimate shock at the rear. This also offers a wide adjustment range, and thanks to the SAG markings on the shaft, the basic setup is quickly done. A small fender on the seat tube provides extra protection from dirt.
Practical: there’s an XLC multitool integrated into the steerer tube. It’s not the most sophisticated tool in the world, but better than nothing – and the position works well. There’s also a tool mount on the top tube in case you want to carry other items, like a spare inner tube – which comes in handy given the lack of a storage compartment in the frame. The electronic GX Transmission drivetrain with direct-mount derailleur offers the best price-to-performance ratio in SRAM’s lineup, and a bash guard can be mounted directly to the chainring if needed. A generous seat and chainstay protector ensures a quiet ride, while a generously sized TPU plate extends far up the downtube but doesn’t wrap very far around the sides.
The FULL PARTY build leaves almost nothing to be desired – just hop on and start shredding.
For the cockpit, GHOST use SRAM’s Descendant aluminium handlebars – but the original grips are a no-go. We swapped them out right away for the test, which we’d also recommend doing. Powerful SRAM MAVEN Silver brakes do stopping duties, delivering the same excellent performance as the Ultimate top-tier model, just without the titanium bolts. The brakes are paired with 220/200 mm rotors – a perfect match. The cables disappear into the frame through cable ports in the head tube: they’re clamped at the ports, ensuring a clean look and a quiet ride, although this solution doesn’t look quite as premium as on bikes from Pivot or LAST. The same applies to the dropper post cable. The TranzX Rad+ dropper offers a solid 200 mm of travel but can’t be fully inserted into the frame. However, it can be adjusted tool-free in 5 mm increments.
For the wheelset, GHOST rely on a robust DT Swiss FR1500 aluminium wheelset – we’re big fans. The rims are paired with Continental tires, with a Kryptotal FR in the SuperSoft compound at the front, and a Kryptotal RE in the Soft compound at the rear, both in the durable Downhill casing – perfect for this type of use.
GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY
Specifications
Fork RockShox ZEB Ultimate Charger 3.1 180 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Vivid Ultimate 180 mm
Seatpost TranzX Rad+ 200 mm
Brakes SRAM MAVEN Silver 220/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 10-52; 32
Stem Truvativ Descendant 40 mm
Handlebar Truvativ Descendant Riser DH 790 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss FR1500 MX
Tires Continental Kryptotal Fr, Super Soft, Enduro Casing/Continental Kryptotal Re, Soft, Enduro Casing 2.4/2.4
Technical Data
Size S, M, L, XL
Tuning tip: new grips
The geometry of the GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY
Our test bike in size L has between 490 mm and 496 mm reach, depending on the position of the flip chip. Overall, the sizing runs quite big. GHOST offer the POACHA in four sizes, S to XL. However, the seat tube isn’t among the shortest in its category, and even though GHOST fit a long dropper post across all sizes, this can’t be fully inserted into the frame, limiting freedom of movement. The flip chip in the seatstay can be switched between a low and high setting, which mainly affects the bike’s reach, head and seat angle, as well as bottom bracket height. Important: the chip must be rotated on both sides of the linkage. It’s a bit more effort, but with some practice, it can be done even on the trail. The head tube also allows for the use of the included reach cups, letting you shorten or lengthen the reach by 5 mm each.
| 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 FULL PARTY on the trail
Despite its full-party attitude, the POACHA pedals remarkably well. The pedalling position is compact yet comfortable, and the rear suspension performs with great efficiency and minimal pedal bob. Sure, it’s the heaviest non-electric bike in this test, but once it’s rolling, the weight quickly fades into the background, and the bike climbs in a relaxed, efficient manner.
On descents, the GHOST impresses with excellent balance. The front end sits low, noticeably lower in the Low setting, which integrates you deeper and more securely into the bike. That was our preferred setup, as it feels intuitive, easy to ride, and inspires confidence. There’s a small trade-off: in the lower, more secure position, you need to actively weight the front wheel to avoid understeer. In the High setting, the balance feels more neutral, but the front end sits higher and feels slightly less confidence-inspiring than in the lower setup.
Heavy on paper, but on the trail it’s super agile, confident through root sections, and insanely fun.
The rear suspension is on the firm side, which makes it easy to pop off jumps and pump through berms without losing speed. Despite the generous 180 mm of travel and the hefty weight, it’s one of the most playful bikes on jump trails. You can generate a lot of speed, yet still have enough traction to brake in time. In rough terrain, the POACHA also shines with its impressive composure. The low riding position inspires confidence through nasty root carpets and fast rock gardens. Hard hits are absorbed effortlessly without your ankles getting smashed in the process. In short: actively pushing and going fast is just as much fun as cruising at a relaxed pace.
Who should take a closer look at the GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY?
The GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY is a great option for anyone looking for a capable all-rounder. It’s one of the best bikes in this comparison test and strikes an excellent balance: agile with a firm suspension, yet offering plenty of traction and stability. The great spec lets you charge hard without worrying about going too far – apart from the grips and the high weight. Thanks to its all-round capabilities, it’s a great choice for most riders, offering plenty of reserves when you need them. It’s also great for long tours and perfectly at home on most types of trails – whether big jump lines, flow trails, or steep downhill tracks. And for shuttle laps in places like Finale and beyond, it’s top-notch, especially if you appreciate robust components and intuitive handling on long days.
Conclusions about the GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY
From bike park champion to enduro favourite: the POACHA FULL PARTY is once again among the strongest bikes in this comparison test. It combines agility and composure into an extremely fun, easy-to-ride package that doesn’t shy away from high-speed sections. Despite its generous travel and high weight, it pedals efficiently and covers a wide range of use cases. The spec is well thought-out, high-quality, and ready for the trails straight out of the box.
Tops
- Strong all-rounder
- Well-thought-out spec
- Great balance of agility and composure
Flops
- Heavy
For more information, visit the GHOST Bikes website.
The Testfield
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
All bikes on test: GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY | Instinctiv Kodiak MX 150 (Click for review) | Lapierre Spicy CF Team (Click for review) | LAST COAL V4 (Click for review) | MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | Orbea Rallon E-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Firebird Team XX Eagle Transmission (Click for review) | Propain Spindrift (Click for review) | RADON JAB 10.0 (Click for review) | Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV (Click for review) | Starling Mega MurMur (Click for review) | Trek Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 Gen 7 (Click for review) | Yeti LTE T4 (Click for review)
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.
Words & Photos: Peter Walker
