KATHMANDU, PRO

For MTB speed, tire choice and rolling resistance matter a lot, and that's baked into the score. Most of the story comes from a heavier build, relatively narrow MTB tires that roll quickly, and a more budget-friendly drivetrain that focuses on value. Put together, they influence both acceleration and the effort needed to hold speed. On hardpack, the tire setup is biased toward rolling speed on firm ground.

Climbing rating: 8.4/10. Within Mountain bikes, it sits above average. When it gets steep, the gearing feels very easy. Your easiest gear lands around 16.9 gear inches. Compared with similar bikes, this low gear is easier than about ~77% of them. Think of “gear inches” like a difficulty score for your easiest gear: lower = more spin-friendly on climbs. With roughly 17.0 kg under you, you’ll feel the weight on longer climbs even with a decent low gear. It’s set up so climbs feel controlled rather than a grind. Specs can vary by size and build, and some manufacturer details aren’t always published, so treat this as a strong guide rather than a guarantee.

Suspension setup comes out at 4/10 — “Basic bump control”. It’s designed for light bump absorption and steadier tracking on uneven patches. The fork does the smoothing; the rear stays straightforward and efficient. On choppy terrain, it can help the wheels track more consistently. You’ll get better control on light roughness, but larger impacts can still unsettle the bike.

Comfort fit - a relaxed road posture that stays friendly on longer rides. This is mainly because there's about 81 mm of drop to the bars (large), with roughly 557 mm of forward stretch to the bar (long). Estimated lean is about 36 degrees.

What affects adjustability on this bike: Separate bar and stem components keep fit changes practical, Routing is relatively straightforward, which helps when you change cockpit parts; Seatpost details do not strongly point to a very locked-in or very flexible system. That is why it is in the Adjustable bucket. In practice, it is about how easy fit changes are with normal parts and service work.

This scores 5.6/10 for comfort, so it feels balanced out on the road. That’s the reason it lands as Race-Stiff. It’s running about 47 mm tires on 700c wheels, and there’s enough tire volume to keep it from feeling sharp on roots, rocks, braking bumps, and repeated hits. The posture is neutral (posture 5/10, torso ~36°), which gives a steady, predictable feel without pushing you too far forward.

From a value angle, this comes out as a standout deal. 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). Based on the parts list, it’s roughly 33% cheaper than what similar builds typically cost. Among comparable bikes, it sits around the middle on price (cheaper than about 64% of listings). To anchor it: price €1.058 versus an estimated €1.591 for a similar build. Put simply: this is strong value for what’s included.

This setup is aimed at fast trail riding on less extreme terrain. It has about 63 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which suits smoother trails. Suspension type (Hardtail) fits this kind of terrain.