Raft XC – Sram TXX SL 1x12sp

On trails, this rating is about rolling speed and momentum, not suspension feel or handling sharpness. What pushes it in this direction is typical trail-width tires and a high-end drivetrain that tends to feel crisp under load. On smoother terrain, the tire setup is biased toward rolling speed on firm ground (with a bit of defaulting). In real riding, it's better suited to relaxed riding than pushing fast splits.

Climbing rating: 7.4/10. Within Mountain bikes, it ranks above average. It’s set up for smooth spinning on steeper climbs. In numbers, the low gear is roughly 18.0 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~47% versus similar bikes. Gear inches is basically “how easy is the easiest gear”. Lower numbers help you keep your legs spinning on steep bits. This kind of low gear helps you stay smooth on long or steep climbs. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Suspension setup comes out at 5/10 — “Confident trail control”. It’s built for clear bump absorption and more reliable wheel control on mixed surfaces. Suspension at both ends helps keep wheel tracking steadier when the surface gets rough. This level usually brings more reliable wheel tracking on rough patches and repeated hits.

Sporty fit - more tuck for efficiency, but still manageable for many riders. This is mainly because the bar sits about 75 mm below the saddle (a moderate drop), and you'll be stretched forward about 597 mm in total (very long). Plan for roughly 34 degrees of lean.

So it lands in Moderately Adjustable. Here is the simple reasoning behind the fit flexibility rating: The cockpit is modular (separate stem and handlebar), so it is easier to adjust or swap fit parts, A more service-friendly routing setup makes changes easier - A dropper post adds practical adjustability while riding. Put simply, it describes how practical it is to reconfigure your position later.

Ride comfort is 6.4/10 — on a real ride it feels nicely smooth. That’s the reason it lands as Firm. The posture is forward, attacking (posture 7/10, torso ~34°), which loads the front wheel, which feels great for control but a bit more direct through the bars.

This is priced well above what we’d usually expect for a similar setup. 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 291% above what similar builds typically cost. In its peer group, it’s one of the pricier listings, beating only about 1% of them. Quick reference: €10.500 listed versus about €2.682 for a comparable build. Put simply: it’s priced more like a premium pick than a value buy.

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. Overall, the setup matches this surface range well.