Bergamont isn’t a familiar name to most UK riders, but with decent geometry and great specs, this German brand are worth paying attention to. The EnCore uses a concentric dropout pivot to help deliver 165mm of supple rear wheel travel. This is controlled by a RockShox Monarch RT shock, with a low-speed compression damping lever that’s worth using to save energy and maintain the relatively steep 75-degree seat angle on the climbs.
When it comes to the angles, Bergamont haven’t been shy. The head tube sits at a slack 64.6 degrees and our medium bike had a decent reach, at 450mm, and a wheelbase measuring just over the 1,200mm mark. Short 430mm chainstays make it nimble enough when slithering through tight sections of trail or lofting the front end up and over trail features.
Ground hugger
On steeper technical trails, the plush rear end feels properly planted and keeps the quality Maxxis rubber tracking every bump and undulation as you pick your way down the hill. It’ll deal with chunder and braking bumps without fuss too. But on higher speed tracks underneath some of our fastest testers, when the hits were coming thick and fast and corners were being smashed, we felt the EnCore’s back end lacked the support of some of the top contenders here.
At the business end of the bike there’s little to moan about though, with the 170mm-travel Lyrik RC fork doing a sterling job of balancing sensitivity and support in equal measures for a traction-rich, groundhugging ride. While the majority of the spec is pretty much dialled, the lowrise bar and short steerer tube leave the front end of the bike feeling a little low. Also, while the Magura MT4 anchors offer masses of power, they can pump up on long descents and we had to send our front brake back after just one day of riding.
Solid spec and decent angles but not quite enough support when pushing hard
SPEC
Frame 6013-T4/ T6 aluminium, 165mm travel
Fork RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air, 170mm travel
Shock RockShox Monarch RT DebonAir
Drivetrain SRAM GX with Mozartt HXR chain guide (1x11)
Wheelset SUNringle Inferno 29 rims on BGM Pro hubs, Maxxis High Roller II EXO 27.5x2.4in tyres
Brakes Magura MT4, 203/180mm
Bar/stem BMG Pro DH, 780mm/ Answer AME, 45mm
Seatpost/saddle Manitou Jack 150mm dropper/ SDG Falcon RL
Weight 14.5kg (M)
Price $4200