Ghost AMR 5700 – First ride review

Ghost opt for a tried-and-tested Horst Link suspension system on this AMR, which allows them to concentrate on polishing how the rear feels, rather than defining it from the ground up. What we have here is a bike that goes pretty much anywhere quite quickly with no hysterics or pogo feel.

Ride & handling: Great trail ability and a reassuring feel

We immediately felt at home on the AMR and the ride feel is reassuringly familiar. You know instinctively that there will be no scary moments where the bike tries to tip you into the bushes. On an unrelenting climb that had lots of holes and rocks to negotiate, our one-third sag was about right, allowing the bike’s very able Schwalbe 2.25in Nobby Nics to search for traction.

The ride position is fairly neutral, although we’d shorten the stem to boost the bike’s ability on the descents. Although it’s not naturally gifted going down, the AMR handles descents with a high degree of confidence – easily good enough to satisfy the average trail rider. Get into trouble and a dab of the Avid Elixir Five brakes will get you back on track.

The stiff front end made direction changes instantaneous; we looked as far ahead as we dared at the smoothest line and the bike took us there. The tapered head/steerer tube on the Fox 32RL helps front-end accuracy, and the standard 9mm quick-release dropouts are now the weakest link. The 5700’s big brother, the 7500, gets a QR15 through-axle fork and we know the difference is worthwhile.

Pinging the 7500 though twisty rock runs, we could hold tighter lines than with the otherwise identical chassis of the 5700. As well as a through-axle fork, we’d like half a degree out of the head angle and a centimetre more in the top tube to let the front end track more comfortably through fast rough sections. Still, all our testers enjoyed the ride, most liked the look, and all felt they could find a home for the 5700 in their fleet.

Frame: Built to last, with proven suspension design

Our medium-sized frame weighed in at 12.9kg (28.4lb). It’s a well crafted blend, featuring large hydroformed top and down tubes, with a buttress supporting an extended seat tube to provide lots of standover height. If the tapered head tube looks big, that’s because it is. The frame sports a long, lithe set of heavily machined rocker links, which drive the rear X-Fusion 02 PVA rear shock into delivering its 120mm of travel. 

Pivots are a make or break area for any full-suspension bike and Ghost take no chances on the multi-pivot AMR by using needle bearings throughout for a supple and reactive ride. Meanwhile, the 69-degree head and 73-degree seat angles are contemporary, if a little safe.