German consumer-direct brand, Radon, has produced some great-value mountain bikes that have turned heads — and garnered top test results — for their performance as well as their quality components specs and pricing.
The 29-inch-wheeled, 140mm-travel 2020 Radon Slide Trail is the latest addition to the company’s line-up, and the fact it starts at just €2,499 for a complete build is definitely something to shout about.
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Built around a carbon-fibre front end and aluminium rear end, the frame features a shock mount flip-chip that allows the head angle and bottom bracket height to be tweaked (there are two positions, steeper/higher and slacker/lower) for personal preference or varying terrain.
The bike is debuting with three new models, all with 29-inch wheels. The bike comes in four sizes (16, 18, 20 and 22in — think of them as S to XL) with 140mm of rear-wheel travel and 150mm up front.
All of the bikes are fitted with decent parts, although some riders might be disappointed by the press-fit bottom bracket over a more fuss-free (and increasingly popular) threaded option.
As Radon puts it, the Slide Trail is “a modern trail bike with some enduro-genes mixed in”.
The geometry numbers are on-the-money, but certainly not boundary-pushing, with a head angle of 65.6 or 66.6 degrees depending on frame setting, a seat angle of 75.5 or 76.5 degrees, a bottom bracket drop of -25 or -11mm and a wheelbase ranging 1,180 to 1,248mm across the four sizes.
The bikes start at a very reasonable €2,499 for the well-equipped Slide Trail 8.0, €2,999 for the 9.0 and €3,799 for the 10.0 and can be purchased exclusively online through Bike-Discount. International shipping is available.
Radon Slide Trail 8.0
- Frame: Radon Slide Trail 29
- Colour: Stealth Grey/Deep Black
- Weight: 14.20kg
- Sizes: 16in, 18in, 20in, 22in
- Fork: RockShox Revelation RC Debonair, Boost, 150mm travel
- Rear suspension: RockShox Deluxe Select Debonair, 140mm travel
- Wheelset: DT Swiss M1900 Spline, 30mm, 110/148mm
- Brakes: Magura MT5 w/Magura Storm HC, 203/180mm, 6-bolt discs
- Crank: SRAM X1 1000 Eagle DUB, 12-speed, 30t, 170mm, Boost
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB, Pressfit, 92mm
- Shifter: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed, Shiftmix
- Rear derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1230 Eagle, 11-50
- Chain: SRAM SX Eagle
- Chain guide: MRP 1X, ISCG05
- Handlebar: Race Face Æffect, 35 x 760mm, 20mm rise
- Stem: Race Face Æffect R, 35mm
- Headset: Acros AzX, ZS44/ZS56
- Grips: SDG Slater
- Seatpost: Radon Dropper, 31.6mm
- Saddle: SDG RADAR
- Tyres: (F) Maxxis Minion DHF Skinwall Dual EXO TR 29in x 2.5in WT; (R) Maxxis Minion DHR II Skinwall Dual EXO TR 29in x 2.4in WT
- Price: €2,499
Radon Slide Trail 9.0
- Frame: Radon Slide Trail 29 9.0
- Colour: Shiny Mustard/Deep Black
- Weight: 14.30kg
- Sizes: 16in, 18in, 20in, 22in
- Fork: Fox 36 Float Performance Elite FIT GRIP2, Boost, 150mm travel
- Rear suspension: Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite, 140mm travel
- Wheelset: DT Swiss M1700 Spline, 30mm, 110/148mm
- Brakes: Magura MT5 w/ Magura Storm HC, 203/180mm, 6-bolt discs
- Crank: Shimano SLX FC-M7100, 12-speed, 30t, 170mm
- Bottom bracket: Shimano BB-MT500PA, Pressfit, 92mm
- Shifter: Shimano SLX SL-M7100-R, 12-speed
- Rear derailleur: Shimano XT RD-M8100-SGS, 12-speed
- Cassette: Shimano SLX, CS-M7100, 10-51, 12-speed
- Chain: Shimano CN-M7100, 12-speed
- Chain guide: MRP 1X, ISCG05
- Handlebar: Race Face Æffect R, 35 x 760mm, 20mm rise
- Stem: Race Face Æffect R, 35mm
- Headset: Acros AzX, ZS44/ZS56
- Grips: SDG Slater
- Seatpost: SDG Tellis, 31.6mm
- Saddle: SDG RADAR
- Tyres: (F) Maxxis Minion DHF 3C MaxxTerra EXO TR 29in x 2.5in WT; (R) Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO TR 29in x 2.4in WT
- Price: €2,999
Radon Slide Trail 10.0
- Frame: Slide Trail 29 10.0
- Colour: Olive Green/Deep Black
- Weight: 13.90kg
- Sizes: 16in, 18in, 20in, 22in
- Fork: Fox 36 Float Factory FIT GRIP2, Kashima, Boost, 150mm travel
- Rear suspension: Fox Float DPX2 Factory, 140mm travel
- Wheelset: Newmen Evolution SL A30, 30mm, 110/148mm
- Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC
- Brake discs: SRAM Centerline, 200/180mm, 6-bolt
- Crank: SRAM X1 Eagle Carbon, Boost, DUB, 30t, 170mm
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB, Pressfit, 92mm
- Shifter: SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed, Matchmaker
- Rear derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle
- Cassette: SRAM GX Eagle, XG-1275, 10-50
- Chain: SRAM GX Eagle
- Chain Guide: MRP 1X, ISCG05
- Handlebar: Race Face Turbine R, 35 x 780mm, 20mm rise
- Stem: Race Face Turbine R, 35mm
- Headset: Acros AzX, ZS44/ZS56
- Grips: SDG Slater
- Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory, Kashima, 31.6mm
- Saddle: SDG RADAR
- Tyres: (F) Maxxis Minion DHF Skinwall Dual EXO TR 29in x 2.5in WT; (R) Maxxis Minion DHR II Skinwall Dual EXO TR 29in x 2.4in WT
- Price: €3,799
