CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 in our group test – The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023

The CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 is a full-suspension off-road step-through bike equipped with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and removable 625 Wh battery, and is priced at € 4,800. Thanks to its rear triangle, the bike evokes a feeling of déjà vu for many downhill mountain bikers. Find out how it performs in our comparison test!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023 – 4 ebikes in review

The CONWAY CAIRONSUV FS 5.7 is a full-suspension step-through bike that combines the riding comfort of a hovercraft with the stability of an eMTB. The successful frame concept is well received by both comfort-oriented leisure riders and courageous off-road adventurers. Thanks to the elaborately designed rear kinematics, it stands out in our test. At first glance, despite its struts, the frame appears filigree and not quite as bulky as the competition. At second glance, however, you notice that the rear triangle has massive welds and enormous wall thicknesses to compensate for the extra stress and strain caused by the missing top tube. From our racing days, we still have fond memories of the shock linkage on the Specialized Demo 7 downhill bike with the easily accessible shock running horizontally through the split seat tube, just like in the CONWAY. This gives the rear triangle an enormous responsiveness. As soon as you leave the well-paved asphalt road, you notice that a lot of effort has gone into the development and fine-tuning of the CAIRON. The suspension and frame were not separated from each other but considered as a whole. On paper, the bike offers the most suspension travel in the comparison test with 120 mm at the front and 100 mm at the rear, and in practice it also delivers the most suspension reserves.
It convinces with its comfort in everyday use and provides a high sense of safety off the beaten track due to its full and stable handling, which is further accentuated by the knobby Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires providing plenty of traction.

The CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 has two faces: It masters the slow and relaxed pace as well as the fast and rough ride

Outdated or time-tested technology? The motor and battery system of the CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7

The powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85 Nm torque provides sufficient support and draws its energy from the 625 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which can be removed from the down tube for charging. In contrast to the other step-through bikes in the comparison test, which make it possible to remove the battery to the side or upwards, the CAIRON requires you to reach awkwardly under the ebike. Although the charging port is easily accessible directly behind the head tube, it’s not reliably protected by the fiddly and thin rubber cover.

You can keep track of the charging status and the selected riding modes with the Bosch Kiox display. In addition, the motor can be disabled thanks to the eBike Lock function, a practical feature providing additional protection against theft. In contrast to ZEMO or Victoria, which already use the new Bosch Smart System with integrated eBike Lock function, this is, however, subject to an additional charge on the CONWAY and is not included in the Companion app.
In order to stay on the right track in unknown terrain, the Kiox has a rudimentary navigation function in connection with a smartphone, which, however, does not differ from the navigation function of the newer Bosch system. For all those who still can’t do without the extra connectivity features of the Bosch Smart System, there is good news: A successor to the CAIRON with a modern motor and battery system is already in development.

From commuting to trekking – the CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 in the test

The CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 has two faces: It masters the slow and relaxed pace as well as the fast and rough ride. We can reassure all those who mourn their favourite cycle path because deep potholes have killed the joy of riding there, the CAIRON has the highest riding comfort in the test, so you are not immediately knocked out of the saddle by the potholed trail. The bike’s safe handling quickly awakens the desire in more adventurous spirits to leave familiar paths and explore the surroundings. Those who go on long tours with a lot of luggage will benefit from the enormous riding stability because there is no handlebar wobble even with a heavy load at the rear. This step-through bike has such stoic straight-line stability that you have to put a little more pressure on it when taking a corner with a heavy load and at high speed.

The everyday features score points thanks to the AtranVelo COMMUTE PRO rear rack with compatible AVS mounting system. The permitted load of 27 kg is also the highest in the test. Nevertheless, you should try to travel light, as the permitted total weight of 130 kg is reached relatively quickly, especially for heavier riders. The spring flap also bothered us when attaching universal luggage carrier bags. The rest of the everyday features are not quite convincing either, such as the rattling SKS plastic mudguards and the CONTEC lighting, which does not appear to be of high quality. At least the rear light reacts automatically when braking hard by lighting up brighter, but it is not directly connected to the brake like on the ZEMO.

The adjustable stem guarantees a pleasantly upright riding position and can be quickly adapted to your liking with an Allen key when several riders share the bike. However, if you are looking for a bike with a low and wide step-through area, you won’t find it on the CAIRON. The seatpost can only be lowered a little and the limited space between the down tube and seat tube becomes even tighter when a bottle cage is mounted. This requires good aim and lifting the leg much higher to get it through the gap. At least active and more agile riders have the water bottle within reach at all times, even while riding. The CONWAY is equipped with a RockShox Recon Silver RL fork and a FOX Float DPS air shock, both offering first-class performance.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	420 mm	460 mm	500 mm	540 mm
Top tube	580 mm	600 mm	620 mm	640 mm
Head angle	68°	68°	68°	68°
Seat angle	73°	73°	73°	73°
Chainstays	500 mm	500 mm	500 mm	500 mm
Wheelbase	1,176 mm	1,196 mm	1,216 mm	1,236 mm
Reach	392 mm	412 mm	425 mm	445 mm
Stack	631 mm	631 mm	650 mm	650 mm

Looking at the rest of the overall package, the bike does not impress with the classiest look, premium attachments or high-tech features, and is instead equipped with functional and purposeful components. Design highlights are few and far between: Apart from the elaborately designed rear kinematics, the only thing that stands out is a discreet metallic paint effect in direct sunlight. Heavy riders as well as altitude junkies with steep climbs on their tour would appreciate a wider gear ratio range than the simple Shimano DEORE 10-speed cassette can offer. While the TEKTRO HD-T390 two-piston brake in combination with a 203 mm disc at the front provides enough power, the smaller 180 mm disc at the rear wheel lacks power and fade resistance on long descents.

CONWAY’s CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 scores high with a successful, stable frame, and lets former downhillers revel in nostalgia. The responsive chassis provides plenty of comfort, riding stability, and safety. The step-through bike offers a solid and comprehensive package at a fair price. It can’t quite keep up with the functionality, connectivity and premium look and feel of the best bikes on the test, which is why it fell slightly short of the test victory. However, it does secure our best buy recommendation!

---

For more information, visit conway-bikes.de/en

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023 – 4 ebikes in review

All bikes in test: CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 | Malaguti Collina FW6.0 | Victoria Parcours 5 | ZEMO SU-E FS11

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Mike Hunger, Julian Lemme