Skip to main content

Bergamont Encore 8.0


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
Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Seven 100

We've rolled up to our local woods, with a meandering blue trail, some natural wooded tracks and a bit of fire road chucked into the mix to see how the Big Seven 100 tackles trails that entry-level riders are likely to cut their teeth on.

READ MORE >>