RADON are known for selling high-spec eMTBs at low prices. In our 2023 budget eMTB group test, they secured both the coveted Best in Test and Best Buy titles with their downhill-orientated RADON DEFT. This year, the German manufacturer takes on the competition with the trail-orientated RENDER 10.0 HD 750. But is it enough for RADON to secure both titles for the second year running?

RADON RENDER 10.0 HD | Bosch Performance Line CX/750 Wh | 160/140 mm (f/r)
24.5 kg in size L | € 5,999 | Manufacturer’s website

RADON count amongst the biggest direct-to-consumer brands in Europe, offering high-spec bikes with a strong price to performance ratio. Forgoing a local middleman really paid off for the German manufacturer last year! In our big 2023 budget eMTB group test, the potent RADON DEFT secured the coveted Best Buy badge and even emerged as the test winner in our 2023 budget eMTB comparison test, asserting itself against 30 of the hottest eMTBs under € 7,000. This year, RADON enter the race with the RENDER 10.0 HD 750, which was developed to deliver a tremendous performance on the trail without making any compromises. Although it ranks right below the potent DEFT model in RADON’s portfolio, it wants to be the one bike for all situations. The RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 is an updated version of the 2022 model, which relies on exactly the same geometry as its predecessor but comes equipped with a new Bosch Smart System and top-tier, performance-oriented components. The main carbon frame is paired with an alloy swingarm, 29″ wheels and a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which delivers 85 Nm of torque and 600 watts of peak power. While at 24.5 kg in size L, the RENDER 10.0 HD 750 isn’t the lightest full-fat competitor in this test, it’s by far the cheapest, retailing at just € 5,999 – a whopping € 4,331 less than the average price in this test field. But how did the RENDER stack up against the competition?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 – 27 of the most exciting models in our comparison test

The man in black – What sets the 2024 RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 apart from the competition?

If Will Smith had to choose one of the bikes in our test field, we think it would be the RENDER 10.0 HD 750, which comes in a sleek “Deepblack” finish, combining a gloss main frame and matte swingarm. Like the DEFT, the RENDER features a cross brace between the top tube and down tube, which has become an integral part of the German manufacturer’s design language. The black finish is rounded off by minimalist branding, with discrete RADON lettering decorating the side of the down tube – the RENDER isn’t exactly a wonder of fashion! The German manufacturer also keeps it simple with the frame details, providing the main frame triangle with just two bosses for a bottle cage. Unfortunately, our test bike lacked the option to fit a range extender, but this should be available for purchase in the future according to RADON. The cable routing is rather disorganised around the cockpit area, making for a rather messy overall look. The cables disappear into the frame through conventional cable ports at the back of the head tube and reappear just above the motor. From here, they’re routed externally and secured to the seat stays all the way to the component where they’re needed. The data cable of the bulky Bosch LED remote is wrapped around the handlebars to take up the slack, which doesn’t affect performance but looks rather cheap. The built-in Bosch Kiox 300 display sits right next to the stem and tucked away behind the handlebars, where it’s protected from impacts.

Well hidden
The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is integrated seamlessly into the black silhouette of the RENDER.
The battery cover is secured with a rubber strap, which makes it quick and easy to remove.
The many cables make for a rather messy-looking cockpit. However, the conventional cable routing concept makes it easier for home mechanics to service the bike

A small cut-out on the top tube allows you to retrofit a Bosch System Controller. At the heart of the RADON lies the 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which is integrated neatly into the frame, though not quite as seamlessly as the CX Race drive of the Pivot Shuttle AM. The motor draws its power from a 750 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which can be removed from the down tube and is protected with a plastic cover. The battery is secured with a key lock and an additional rubber strap holds the cover in place. RADON rely on their in-house resources for the charging port, which is positioned above the bottom bracket area and protected by a rotating cover which protects the connection against the elements. Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed SRAM X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain, which ensures butter-smooth shifting. For the wheels, RADON rely on a 29″ NEWMEN EVOLUTION SL E.G.30 alloy wheelset and MAXXIS tires, combining an ASSEGAI at the front and Minion DHR II at the rear. Both tires use the MaxxTerra rubber compound and EXO+ casing. Heavy, aggressive riders should upgrade to more robust tires with the tougher DoubleDown casing, at least at the rear, and swap to the softer MaxxGrip compound for more traction.

Cleverly tucked away
Behind the handlebars, the Bosch Kiox 300 display is well protected against impacts.
Subtle!
RADON rely on discreet black lettering.

For the suspension, the German manufacturer relies on a FOX 36 Factory fork with the finely tunable GRIP2 damper and a matching FOX FLOAT X Factory shock, both with a fancy Kashima coating. FOX also supply the Transfer Factory seatpost, which perfectly matches the suspension, rounding things off nicely. However, with only 150 mm of travel, the dropper post isn’t long enough for taller riders. We recommend upgrading to a model with more travel for additional freedom of movement, especially for riders with long legs. The seat tube’s generous insertion depth allows for long-travel dropper posts – we were even able to slam a 190 mm version all the way into the frame. MAGURA MT7 four-piston brakes with a 220 mm rotor at the front and 203 mm disc at the rear provide relievable and powerful deceleration.

RADON RENDER 10.0 HD

€ 5,999

Specifications

Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 750 Wh
Display Bosch Kiox 300
Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X Factory 140 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 150 mm
Brakes MAGURA MT7 220/203 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle AXS 1x12
Stem Race Face Turbine R 40 mm
Handlebar Race Face Turbine R 780 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN EVOLUTION SL E.G.30 29"
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI MaxxTerra EXO+/MAXXIS Minion DHR MaxxTerra EXO+ 2.5/2.4

Technical Data

Size M L XL
Weight 24.5 kg
Perm. total weight 135 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 110 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Tuning tips:
– Upgrade rear tire to DoubleDown casing and front tire to a softer rubber compound
– Dropper post with more travel for more freedom of movement on the bike

Uncompromising trail ripper? What is the 2024 RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 capable on the trail?

On level ground, the RADON places you on top of the bike rather than integrating you between its wheels. The front-heavy pedalling position makes it easy to negotiate moderate climbs but, as the gradient steepens, the front wheel lifts off the ground too easily, even if you actively shift your weight to the front. However, if you pedal out of the saddle and push your upper body over the front end, you’ll be able to tackle even steeper uphills. On moderate gravel climbs, the powerful Bosch CX motor packs a punch, with the powerful Turbo mode allowing you to negotiate climbs close to the 25 km/h threshold. On technical uphills, however, the RENDER’s CX motor struggles to keep up with the powerful CX Race drive of the Orbea WILD, which makes it easy to tackle even the nastiest of climbs with its long overrun. If you need a caffeine fix at the top of the mountain before dropping into the trail, you can shut down the motor functions using the Bosch eBike Lock function when leaving your bike outside the refuge.

Black finish with golden accents. The RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 lets the components speak for themselves.

When the climb gets steep, the rider benefits from the comfortable riding position and the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 climbs solidly up technical sections.
Riding downhill, the front-heavy riding position doesn’t do the rider any favours and results in unpredictable handling, especially on steep descents.

When gravity takes over, the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 is great fun on flowing trails, with its predictable character making it easy to shred your way back into the valley without any nasty surprises. The direct, agile handling allows you to play with the trail features on moderate trails but requires a vigilant riding style when the going gets rough. The suspension provides plenty of support and good progression but feels rather firm. Compared to the SCOR 4060 Z ST GX, it’s noticeably less sensitive, passing on impacts to the rider almost unfiltered and thus ensuring less predictable handling. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to plough through nasty rock gardens at full speed or stick to your line at moderate speeds. On steep, technical descents, the predictable character suddenly changes, with the Pivot Shuttle AM performing significantly better with the same amount of travel. Moreover, the RENDER’s low cockpit pulls you far over the front end, making it harder to tackle steep descents and thus robbing you of confidence – there’s always a feeling you might fly over the bars. The hard MaxxTerra rubber compound doesn’t make things easier, and, despite the low front end, forces you to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking.

With its agile, direct handling, the RADON is a playful companion for moderate trails.

Size M L XL
Top tube 592 mm 615 mm 637 mm
Seat tube 425 mm 455 mm 490 mm
Head tube 107 mm 117 mm 132 mm
Head angle 65.1° 65.1° 65.1°
Seat angle 75.1° 75.1° 75.1°
Chainstay 459 mm 459 mm 459 mm
BB Drop 24,7 mm 24,7 mm 24,7 mm
Wheelbase 1,220,1 mm 1,244 mm 1,267,4 mm
Reach 436,5 mm 456,3 mm 473,4 mm
Stack 629,2 mm 615 mm 642,9 mm
Helmet Fox Speedframe Pro | Glasses NAKED Optics The VOLT | Backpack CAMELBAK Chase Protector Vest | Jersey ION MTB Jersey Traze | Pants ION MTB Tech Logo | Shoes Five Ten Freerider Pro | Socks Fox Ranger Sock | Gloves Troy Lee Designs Flowline

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750 and who should look elsewhere?

Retailing at € 5,999, the RENDER 10.0 HD 750 is the cheapest bike in the entire group test and clearly aimed at the price-conscious rider. However, you’ll have to either stick to flowing, moderate trails or get used to the demanding handling if you want to ride more challenging terrain. Privateers who want good value for eMTB racing should factor in a few upgrades before starting the season, or take a closer look at the RADON DEFT, which secured Best Buy in last year’s group test.

Riding Characteristics

DESIGN

  1. unbalanced
  2. coherent

USER FRIENDLINESS

  1. cumbersome
  2. clever

VALUE FOR MONEY

  1. flop
  2. top

TREKKING & COMMUTING SUITABILITY

  1. low
  2. high

HANDLING

  1. demanding
  2. intuitive

FUN FACTOR

  1. boring
  2. lively

Intended Use

Gravel roads

Technical climbs

Flowtrail descents

Technical descents

Our conclusions about the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750

With the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD 750, the German manufacturer claims to offer an uncompromising trail ripper at an unbeatable price. Unfortunately, that’s not entirely true, with the RENDER quickly reaching its limits when the going gets rougher. However, if you stick to flowing trails and moderate gradients, the RENDER 10.0 HD 750 is a reliable, affordable partner with a top spec.

Tops

  • Fair price for top spec
  • Good performance on moderate trails

Flops

  • Cable mess in the cockpit area
  • Handling gets tricky in rough terrain

For more information, visit radon-bikes.de

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 – 27 of the most exciting models in our comparison test

All bikes in test: BULLS VUCA EVO AM 2 (Click for review) | BULLS SONIC EVO AM SX-I (Click for review) | Canyon Strive:ON CFR LTD (Click for review) | Canyon Torque:ON CF Roczen (Click for review) | CENTURION No Pogo SL R8000i (Click for review) | CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 (Click for review) | FLYER Uproc X 8.70 (Click for review) | FOCUS SAM² 6.9 (Click for review) | GASGAS ECC 6 (Click for review) | GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 (Click for review) | KTM Macina Scarp SX Prime (Click for review) | Lapierre Overvolt GLP3 (Click for review) | Merida eOne-Sixty 10K (Click for review) | Mondraker Neat RR SL (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 FOX (Click for review) | Orbea WILD M-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Shuttle AM Team (Click for review) | Propain Ekano 2 CF (Click for review) | RADON RENDER 10.0 HD | ROTWILD R.X 1000 Ultra (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV (Click for review) | SCOR 4060 ST (Click for review) | SCOTT Voltage eRide 900 Tuned (Click for review) | SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax Pinion (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo Pro (Click for review) | Spherik E-SMT XX AXS (Click for review)


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Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Mike Hunger