RADON SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 review

The components specced on the € 3,999 flagship RADON SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 model sound almost too good to be true. The German direct-to-consumer brand is known for putting together some excellent value builds, but did it save in the wrong places with the RADON SWOOP HYBRID 10.0?

For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head

The key features of the new RADON sound promising: Bosch Performance CX motor, metallic red aluminium frame with 165mm travel at the rear and a 170mm travel fork, both provided by FOX Performance suspension. The 23 kg bike rolls on a 29″ DT Swiss Hybrid wheelset, with a Shimano XT drivetrain and powerful XT four-piston brakes. The tidy cockpit isn’t only pleasing to look at, all the levers are where they belong, feeling comfortable and ergonomic. But the initial euphoria starts to fade when you take a closer look at the aluminium frame. The Bosch motor is mounted to the bottom of the frame without any form of protection beneath it. The external 500 Wh battery also seems like an afterthought. Below it there is a hollow that will quickly accumulate mud and grime. On top of that, there is no charging port integrated into the frame so the battery of the SWOOP HYBRID has to be removed for charging. The SWOOP HYBRID is limited to 115 kg of total weight.

Good value? Despite high-end componentry at an affordable price, the RADON SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 couldn’t really convince on the trail.

The RADON SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 in detail

Fork FOX 36 Performance 170 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPX2 165 mm
Motor/Batterie Bosch Performance Line CX 500 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XT 11 speed
Brakes Shimano XT 4-piston 200/200 mm
Seat post SDG Tellis Dropper 150 mm
Stem Race Face Turbine R 50 mm
Handlebar Race Face Turbine R 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss H1900 SPLINE 29″
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf 2.35″

Size	17″	19″	21″
Seat tube	440 mm	465 mm	490 mm
Top tube	598 mm	616 mm	634 mm
Head tube	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head angle	65.8°	65.8°	65.8°
Seat angle	75°	75°	75°
Chainstay	499 mm	499 mm	499 mm
BB Drop	-8 mm	-8 mm	-8 mm
Wheelbase	1,262 mm	1,281 mm	1,301 mm
Reach	432 mm	447 mm	463 mm
Stack	620 mm	629 mm	638 mm

The RADON SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 in review

The sitting position on the SWOOP HYBRID is pleasant and comfortable, with your weight distributed evenly between your bum and your hands. Together with the sensitive rear suspension, this makes for a comfortable bike for long rides and multi-day adventures. Even on technical climbs, the RADON stays sure-footed and composed. The front wheel of the SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 always stays weighted and on the ground. Yet it can’t keep up with the competition on steep climbs. To blame here is the shock: it wallows deep in its travel, putting your weight too far back. This results in an inefficient pedalling position, which in combination with the drivetrain’s too small gear range – the SWOOP HYBRID lacks an easy climbing gear – reduces the bike’s climbing prowess. Even the turbo mode of the powerful Bosch motor can’t compensate for the back-heavy pedalling position and the gearing.

170 mm travel, 29″ wheels, slack head angle… With the exception of the extremely long chainstays, most of the key figures of the RADON SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 hint at potent descending capabilities. Real world testing shows, however, that you mustn’t let yourself be fooled by isolated figures. Yes, the suspension of the SWOOP HYBRID generates an incredible amount of traction. With its 29″ tires and plush suspension, it also rolls over obstacles like no other bike and its immense composure instils the rider with confidence. But the bike lacks agility. The 499 mm long chainstays together with the lack of support from the suspension require a lot of physical effort when changing direction or jumping. On wide, open and fast corners, the extremely long rear triangle positions the rider centrally on the bike, distributing your weight evenly between the wheels. For most corners on the trail, however, the rear end is just too long, which makes you feel like a truck driver trying to navigate through the back alleys of an old Italian village.

How long is too long? The nearly half a meter long chainstays of the SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 make navigating tight corners a full-body workout.

Conclusion

The RADON SWOOP HYBRID 10.0 offers an incredibly high-quality build spec for a reasonable price. On easy rides, the bike offers a lot of comfort and composure. But as soon as the trail points downhill, it feels cumbersome and requires a lot of physical effort to get around corners because of the long chainstays.

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For more information head to radon-bikes.de

The Test field

For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head

All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON 7.0 | COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE | CONWAY eWME 629 | FLYER Uproc7 4.10 | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | Specialized Turbo Kenevo Comp

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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl