If we had to judge based only on looks, the debut of the new RADON RENDER would be a certain success. With 29” wheels, the latest Bosch motor, a carbon frame and an impressive spec list for € 5,499, everything looks promising. But does the RADON RENDER 10.0 cut an equally good figure on the trail?
Click here for an overview of the best budget eMTB
The new RADON RENDER is the direct-to-consumer brand’s flagship carbon eMTB. The € 5,499 RADON RENDER 10.0 is styled from top to bottom. The 29” MAXXIS Minion tan wall tires match the frame just as beautifully as the silver 150 mm RockShox Pike Ultimate fork, which is complemented by a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock offering 140 mm travel at the rear. RADON go their own way when it comes to integrating the Bosch Performance CX motor and 625 Wh battery. The soft plastic battery cover is attached to the frame with a rubber strap and the ACID bracket for the Kiox display is positioned next to the stem. Despite only recently being released, the RENDER ON still relies on an exposed spoke magnet for the speed sensor. That aside, in terms of componentry the RADON has the highest quality spec of all bikes on test. Unfortunately, it turned out on the trails that the components aren’t always best matched to what the RENDER 10.0 is intended to do. Case in point, the SRAM G2 RSC brakes struggle keeping the 24.35 kg (size XL) bike in check with the small 180 mm rotor at the rear. In addition, the SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain relies on the much heavier GX cassette. Combining a GX derailleur with an X01 cassette could do a lot to reduce the unsprung weight while delivering top-notch shifting performance. However, the DT Swiss H1700 wheelset and SDG Tellis dropper post are hard to fault, the latter being by far the best dropper on test.
RADON RENDER 10.0
€ 5,499
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 75 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
Display Bosch Kiox
Fork RockShox Pike Ultimate 150 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate 140 mm
Seatpost SDG Tellis 150 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 RSC 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle 1x12
Stem Race Face Turbine R 50 mm
Handlebar Race Face Turbine R 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss H1700 29"
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHR II Skinwall 2.5"/2.4"
Technical Data
Size M, L, XL
Weight 24.35 kg
Perm. total weight 135 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 110 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no
Geometry of the RADON RENDER
Riding the RENDER on level terrain isn’t the most comfortable. Even though the riding position is relatively back-heavy, it still puts a lot of weight on your hands. The 800 mm wide, zero-rise bars are partly to blame as they tend to pull the rider forward.
Jumps, berms and rollers are the RADON RENDER 10.0’s favourite terrain. It feels less comfortable on steep trails.
Size | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 425 mm | 455 mm | 490 mm |
Top tube | 592 mm | 615 mm | 637 mm |
Head tube | 110 mm | 120 mm | 135 mm |
Head angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
Seat angle | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° |
Chainstays | 458 mm | 458 mm | 458 mm |
BB Drop | 28 mm | 28 mm | 28 mm |
Wheelbase | 1,216 mm | 1,240 mm | 1,263 mm |
Reach | 441 mm | 461 mm | 478 mm |
Stack | 617 mm | 626 mm | 640 mm |
RADON RENDER 10.0 on test
Thankfully, the RENDER 10.0 benefits from this riding position as soon as you start climbing. Unlike the rear wheel, the front wheel sticks resolutely to the ground. However, on slippery surfaces, the suspension and the relatively hard compound of the MAXXIS Minion tire on the rear don’t offer as much traction as the best climbers on test, like the Moustache and Specialized. However, with a little practice and the natural support of Bosch’s eMTB mode, you’ll still be able to get up technical climbs.
While speccing tires, RADON clearly prioritised the looks of the bike. There’s no other way to justify the thin casing and hard rubber compound of MAXXIS’ tan wall tires.
Climbing aboard the RADON RENDER 10.0 after riding any other bike on test, you’ll immediately notice the firm and direct character of the bike’s suspension. As such, it provides a lot of feedback from the trail and encourages you to ride actively and use every opportunity to catch air. The RENDER loves hitting berms at full speed and encourages you to lean it in far, which can be a lot of fun. Both the RADON RENDER and the Trek lead the charge on fast flowing trails. However, turn towards more technically demanding terrain and things will quickly get uncomfortable aboard the RADON. The MAXXIS tires have to be ridden at high pressures to avoid puncturing the thin EXO casing and combined with the firm suspension, traction becomes non-existent. Together with the underpowered brakes and the handlebar pulling you forward, you feel like you’re about to be ejected over the bars, despite the bike’s overall length. We recommend adding more spacers under the stem or fitting bars with more rise to help reduce this feeling.
Tuning tips: 200 mm brake rotor on the rear | more robust and grippier tires | handlebar with more rise
Riding Characteristics
7Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
Conclusion of the RADON RENDER 10.0
The RADON RENDER 10.0 is damn sexy, but this comes at the cost of performance on the trail. Nevertheless, with its firm and direct suspension, it’s an excellent choice for riders who love hurtling down well-shaped flow trails, though the suspension isn’t plush enough for more technical terrain.
Tops
- firm and poppy suspension
- dropper post
- looks
Flops
- thin tire casing
- underpowered brakes with a small rotor at the rear
- exposed speed sensor and spoke magnet
For more information head to radon-bikes.de
The test field
Click here for an overview of the best budget eMTB
All bikes in review: CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i (Click for review) | CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC (Click for review) | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 4 | RADON RENDER 10.0 | Scott Genius eRIDE 920 (Click for review) | Specialized Kenevo Comp (Click for review) | Trek Rail 7 EU (Click for review)
Relaxed and comfortable riding on surfaced roads, both uphill and downhill.↩
Easy climbs up trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate incline.↩
Active and playful descents on easy trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate slope.↩
Single-track climbs on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and occasionally extreme inclines.↩
Singletrack descents on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and small jumps as well as some very steep descents.↩
High speed descents on sometimes very rough trails with large jumps and obstacles that you can’t roll over.↩
The rating used for riding characteristics refers to the bikes in the group test and the current state of development of eMTBs. The best bikes managed to blend supposedly opposite riding characteristics, feeling both lively and stable at the same time. The handling describes the balance of the bike on downhill sections. The information regarding motor-power refers to the ride-feeling in the overall context of the bike and not exclusively to the motor – that’s why the same motor can present different values.↩
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Words: Photos: Finlay Anderson