First ride review: RADON RENDER 10.0 HD – RADON’s first carbon full-susser with the new Bosch motor

Attention RADON fans! The wait is over as RADON have finally introduced an eMTB with the new Bosch Performance Line CX 2020 motor. The RADON RENDER promises to be a true all-rounder on the trail and we’ve taken a closer with a first ride review of the flagship RENDER 10.0 HD.

Since our review of the SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 earlier this year, things have become very quiet around RADON’s eMTBs. While countless other manufacturers presented their latest bikes with the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor months ago, we didn’t hear anything from RADON. However, with the brand new RENDER, they now present their latest Bosch powered eMTB. To accommodate the new motor, they’ve designed the carbon frame from the ground up: with 29” wheels, 140 mm to 160 mm of travel and a large 625 Wh battery, it promises to be a lot of fun on every kind of trail. The paintjob of our pre-production test-bike is not final and is still subject to slight revision.

The RADON RENDER 10.0 HD in detail

For the RENDER, RADON opted to construct the front triangle of carbon fibre. This not only gave them more freedom in the design but also saved some weight. The €6,499 flagship model RADON RENDER 10.0 HD weighs XXX kg. RADON have gone their own, smart way in integrating the battery and motor. For example, the battery cover is held in place by a rubber band, which keeps it pressed against the frame and prevents it from rattling. The long chain stay protector also helps make the RENDER 10.0 HD pleasantly quiet on the trail. The charging socket and the KIOX bracket are well designed and implemented. Unfortunately, RADON still uses an exposed spoke magnet for the speed sensor.

Tuning Tip: The Kiox display can be screwed onto the bracket, which keeps it better protected in the event of a crash or on really rough trails.

Spec, weight and technical data of the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD

When it comes to the components, RADON hit the mark quite well with the RENDER 10.0 HD. The Magura MT7 brakes with a large 220 mm rotor up front suit the bike just as well as the 160 mm travel FOX 36 Factory GRIP 2 fork. SRAM’s wireless X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain is responsible for power transmission from the motor to the rear wheel, keeping the cockpit nice and clean. The MAXXIS Minion tires with the tan walls look great on the RENDER. Unfortunately, they chose to spec the harder dual-compound rubber and puncture-prone EXO casing.

Overview of all new RADON RENDER models

In addition to the flagship RENDER 10.0 HD, RADON are also offering three other models with shorter 150 mm travel forks. However, they all feature the same 625 Wh battery, the latest generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a carbon frame into which they’re integrated. The entry-level RADON RENDER 8.0 is priced at € 3,999 and comes with a RockShox Lyrik Select fork and a Deluxe Select+ shock for the suspension. In contrast to all other models, the RENDER 8.0 doesn’t come with the KIOX display. Here, RADON rely on the Purion display/control unit.

The € 4,799 RADON RENDER 9.0 is the only bike in the RENDER range not to feature the stylish MAXXIS tan wall tires, specced with a pair of Schwalbe SuperGravity tires instead, which are much more robust. The build includes a mix of Shimano XT and SLX components for the drivetrain and brakes. Unfortunately, they combine the SLX shifter with the XT derailleur. If they had done it the other way around, you would benefit from the significantly better feel and function of the XT shifter, such as multi-release shifting.

The € 5,499 RADON RENDER 10.0 comes in a nice black and silver finish. To our surprise, unlike the entry-level model, RADON combine the RockShox Super Deluxe shock with a Pike Ultimate fork. With its silver crown and lowers, it matches the bike perfectly, but it’s significantly less stiff than the Lyrik on the RENDER 8.0, which heavier riders are most likely to notice on the trail. Besides that, you also get a pair SRAM G2 RSC brakes and an X01 Eagle drivetrain.

Geometry and sizes of the RADON RENDER

The RADON RENDER is only available in frame sizes M, L and XL. With a reach of 441 mm in M, it’s on the more compact side of the spectrum. If you prefer a longer frame, you’ll have to pay attention to the length of the seat tube. Size XL has a reach of 478 mm but the seat tube is 490 mm long, which can significantly restrict freedom of movement. The 65° head angle is appropriate for the bike’s intended application. The longer fork of the RENDER 10.0 HD changes the geometry compared to the other models. The head and seat tube angles are slightly slacker and the reach is a bit shorter.

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°	65°	65°
Seat angle	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°
Chainstay	458 mm	458 mm	458 mm
BB Drop	28 mm	28 mm	28 mm
Wheelbase	1216 mm	1240 mm	1263 mm
Reach	441 mm	461 mm	478 mm
Stack	617 mm	626 mm	640 mm

First ride review of the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD

We already had the opportunity to ride the RADON RENDER 10.0 HD on our home trails around Stuttgart. The size M test bike was compact even for our smaller test riders (approx. 1.75 m). The pedalling position is correspondingly relaxed and upright. This way, you can comfortably tackle longer riders. However, on steep climbs the RENDER 10.0 HD positions you very far over the rear wheel. You can improve things by pushing the saddle forward. In eMTB mode, the assistance of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor feels very natural yet powerful. The motor’s smart electronics adapt the level of assistance to the riding situation. Thanks to which, the rear tire doesn’t spin despite running relatively high pressures.

The high tire pressure is especially necessary on the descents since the thin-walled EXO casing on the rear wheel can quickly get damaged on rocky trails. Otherwise, the FOX suspension performs well and reliably absorbs even the biggest hits. However, it doesn’t isolate you from the ground, but rather keeps you informed about what’s happening on the trail beneath you. The limiting factor here is the compact size M frame, which often restricts your freedom of movement at higher speeds. You have to be careful of hitting your knees on the KIOX display. Our insider tip: screw the KIOX display to the bracket.

Conclusion

RADON is making an impressive comeback with the RENDER 10.0 HD: the design and details of the carbon frame are excellent and the specced components offer good value for money. However, our first ride on the compact Render wasn’t long enough to make any final conclusions, which is why we’ve already ordered the larger model for our upcoming group test.

For more info head to radon-bikes.de

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Words: Felix Stix, Robin Schmitt Photos: Felix Stix, Valentin Rühl