With the Nerve AL 29, the Koblenz-based company is presenting its first 29er full-suspension bike, and it has done away with the classic objections to 29er bikes. The frame weighs no more than the 26er bike, the wheels are the lightest in their class, the suspension swallows even the roughest debris. The agile bike also offers great riding fun on winding trails and is aimed at sporty, ambitious riders. Especially in Switzerland, the Pure Cycling concept, which is backed by the German brand Canyon, opens up previously unimagined price advantages.
by Henning Heilmann & Rolf Fleckenstein
The week can start worse than when the UPS man rings on Monday morning and brings over a brand new 29er-Fully for testing. For one and a half years I myself ride a 29er, albeit in a completely different price range and not full suspension. The Nerve AL 29 8.9 has, as the name suggests, an aluminum frame, which with its 2,650 grams is not heavier than the 26er of the manufacturer. So unpacked and immediately once weighed the individual parts. How often do 26er purists complain that the wheels alone would weigh much too 29er.
The wheels of the Nerve AL 8.9 - by the way, the lightest wheels in comparable 29er models - are equal times about 300 grams lighter than in my 29er, despite solid steel bearings and reinforced rims they come only to 2020 g per pair. The 720 mm wide aluminum handlebar Crankbrothers Cobalt 2 Riser is a true flyweight and especially recommended in cross-country use. With all individual parts was paid close attention to the weight. The motto: less is more.
Everything in the frame
The frame convinces in addition to its low weight by an exemplary stiffness and exemplary equipment, all shift cables are internally routed. The pilot takes a very central place and this also benefits the excellent suspension. Its futuristic shape with curved top and down tube inspires, the most modern hydroforming processes were used. There is also room for a water bottle in the frame. This was immediately mounted for the first ride, which held for us at about 1,800 meters of ascent and descent all imaginable climbs and surfaces: steep climbs with heavy scree, snow mud and mud, descents on asphalt and tricky single trails on which the Nerve had to prove its agility. The Nerve proved to be extremely versatile during the ride, convincing in the rough with high comfort and stable balance, but also on asphalt with great running speed.
Two times ten
All 29er models of the Nerve have 2×10 drive, so a two-speed crank in front. The manufacturer justifies this with the translation requirements of the large wheels, for which the large chainring is too "thick" to be able to use it meaningfully. The SRAM X9 2×10 circuit with dual crank is of course......
You can find the whole article in the issue 02/2013
English 
Deutsch 
Français 
Español 
Italiano