Exceed CF 8

On smoother singletrack, faster-rolling tires and lighter builds show up clearly, and that's what this score reflects. It ends up here thanks to a light setup, a lighter-feeling build that helps when you're pedaling for speed, typical trail-width tires, and a high-end drivetrain that tends to feel crisp under load. When you're pedaling, the tire setup is biased toward rolling speed on firm ground.

Overall on climbs: 9.9/10. Within Mountain bikes, this comes out near the top. The easiest gear is very spin-friendly on hills. In numbers, the low gear is roughly 16.6 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~88% 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. At about 10.5 kg, it’s in a normal range, so gearing matters more than weight swings here. Good for keeping cadence steady on climbs without overcooking it. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Suspension performance: 5/10. It’s grouped into “Confident trail control”. This usually points to stronger bump control and steadier tracking when the surface gets choppy. It’s a common compromise: calmer front wheel, efficient rear end. Travel means the suspension’s movement range over a bump. On this bike it’s about 100 mm up front. Generally, more travel helps when hits get bigger or come faster. It should keep the bike more controlled on mixed surfaces, especially through repeated small-to-medium impacts.

Sporty fit - a performance-leaning position that encourages speed. That's driven by there's about 93 mm of drop to the bars (large), with roughly 604 mm of forward stretch to the bar (very long). Expect a lean angle around 37 degrees. Estimated spacers: ~11 mm.

So it lands in Moderately Adjustable. Here is the simple reasoning behind the fit flexibility rating: Standard cockpit parts make it simpler to fine-tune your position over time. At the same time, The front-end is easier to work on, supporting fit tweaks over time. This mainly reflects how easy it is to adjust or swap key fit parts over time.

Comfort comes out to 6.4/10, which usually translates to a comfortable ride. That’s why it’s labeled Balanced. The posture is forward, attacking (posture 8/10, torso ~37°), which puts you in an attack stance, which can feel more intense on long, rough descents.

This feels like you’re paying extra for the same kind of bike. The value score is 1–10. Higher means better value for money; lower means the price is high for what you get. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). On the spec comparison, it sits roughly 31% above what similar builds typically cost. Compared with similar bikes, it trends a little expensive (cheaper than about 42% of listings). Quick reference: €4.199 listed versus about €3.212 for a comparable build. Overall, it doesn’t look like the best value for the spec.

This setup is aimed at fast trail riding on less extreme terrain. It has about 100 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which suits smoother trails. The Hardtail setup supports this riding style.