Test reviews
Three dream bikes under test - SLIDE TRAIL 10.0 in mountain bike rider 08/19
02.08.2019
"Like the next cool band you've never heard of that hits the big time, RADON has slipped stealthily under the radar of many riders in the UK. But for those in the know, this German direct-to-consumer brand has been producing hit after hit Take the SLIDE TRAIL 10.0, for example. This is RADON'S long-travel big wheeler that blurs the line between trail and enduro and it's a total ripper. With 140mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm fork, the SLIDE TRAIL 10.0 is a bike that' s impossible to pigeonhole. The SLIDE TRAIL 10.0 benefits from a full carbon frame thats plenty stiff enough to keep you planted when the trail gets rowdy without holding you back when the path points upwards. Its tried and tested four-bar suspension system is one of the most popular designs to date and with good reason – it works.
Bringing it up to date, Radon has specced a trunnionmounted Fox DPX 2 Factory shock ith bearings. It the rocker link to reduce friction and add a little more suppleness at the start of the stroke. Moving on to the geometry, the SLIDE TRAIL adopts a thoroughly modern approach that doesn't go to extremes. With a just about perfect head angle for a wide range of riding and a seat angle that will help you on even the steepest of climbs, the SLIDE TRAIL makes a perfect companion for any off-road adventure. Better still the linkage also features a flip-chip system that lets you tune the head angle by one degree and the BB height by 14mm. The component sheet reveals no chinks in the SLIDE TRAIL'S armour SRAMS Eagle drivetrain makes mincemeat of the climbs with its widerange 10-50 tooth, 12-speed cassette.
When the SLIDE TRAIL 10.0 gets into its favourite territory – the descents – the top-of-the-range SRAM Guide RSC brakes, with a 200mm rotor up front, will give you all the control and confidence you need. And what can we say about Fox's superlative 36 Float Factory fork and the equally dreamy Float DPX2 shock that hasn't already been said before? The GRIP2 damper version of the 36 is one of our favourite hard-hitting forks and the DPX2 factory with the slippery smooth Kashima coating is the perfect match. The SLIDE TRAIL 10.0 is a bike that feels just as comfortable shredding in the bike park as it does taking on an Alpine epic. An all-round top performer that comes at a price that we had to check wasn't a mistake."
More information about the SLIDE TRAIL 10.0