HardNine 7

This off-road speed rating describes how quickly the bike rolls under pedal power on smoother ground. Compared with comfort-biased setups, this build is shaped by typical trail-width tires and a solid drivetrain that supports efficient riding. In day-to-day use, it tends to feel slower when you try to hold a high tempo. It won't change your fitness, but it can change how fast the bike feels for the same effort.

Overall on climbs: 8.6/10. Within e-mountain bikes, it ranks near the top. On climbs, the lowest gear feels very easy. Your easiest gear lands around 16.9 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~91% versus similar bikes. We use “gear inches” as a shortcut for climbing gearing. Lower numbers mean you can spin more easily when it gets steep. E-assist can take the sting out of steep ramps, especially at lower speeds. It’s set up so climbs feel controlled rather than a grind. Real-world feel depends on setup and size, and some details aren’t always listed, so this is best seen as a well-informed estimate.

On suspension support it’s 6/10, marked “Confident trail control”. It’s the kind of setup that stays more composed through repeated small-to-medium hits. You get suspension movement at the front, while the rear stays firm and direct. It should feel noticeably calmer through repeated bumps and rough patches. When exact travel numbers aren’t available, we base this on the suspension layout and what’s typical for similar builds. Expect steadier tracking on rougher sections without feeling like a long-travel downhill setup.

Balanced fit - a versatile position for long rides and faster efforts. That's driven by the cockpit sits 16 mm below the saddle (a very small drop), and the cockpit stretches you forward by ~640 mm (extreme). Plan for roughly 23 degrees of lean.

This bike's adjustability comes down to cockpit, routing, and seat setup: Standard cockpit parts make it simpler to fine-tune your position over time, Less routing complexity makes swaps and adjustments more practical. Another point: Seatpost info looks fairly neutral, so most fit change comes from cockpit choices. That is why it is in the Adjustable bucket.

Ride comfort is 6.7/10 — on a real ride it feels nicely smooth. So it’s tagged Firm overall. It’s running about 65 mm tires on 29" wheels, and the high-volume tires add a lot of damping and grip on roots, rocks, braking bumps, and repeated hits. The posture is neutral (posture 6/10), which gives a steady, predictable feel without pushing you too far forward.

This setup is aimed at fast trail riding on less extreme terrain. It has about 120 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which suits smoother trails. Even though it’s tagged Trail, the setup fits Flow Trails better.