Test: Enduro is currently the magic word when it comes to mountain bikes. Building a good enduro bike is not that easy. The demands that such a bike has to meet are too broad. It has to be agile, but also smooth-running. It has to be good at climbing, but above all it has to flex its muscles on the descents. The list could be extended indefinitely.
Simplon has also taken on this challenge. With the Kuro 275 , the Austrians are launching a bike that's definitely up to the task.
equipment and practice
This little black beauty from the Alps boasts excellent components. SRAM's XX1 groupset not only looks great but also delivers impressive performance. We were particularly impressed by the crisp shifting and the milled chainring. Small tabs on some of the teeth effectively prevent the chain from derailing, even on rough terrain, making a chain guide unnecessary.
What's also interesting is the combination of the XX1 shifting components with Shimano's XT brakes. On the trail, however, they prove to be quite responsive and generally easy to modulate.
Next to the left brake lever is the remote lever for the KindShock Lev Integra dropper seatpost. It's nice that Simplon has also opted for internal cable routing for the seatpost. This fits with the frame's overall design, where all external cables are also routed internally.
Regarding the wheels, the Austrians rely on products that have proven themselves in enduro racing. The DT Swiss Spline 1 wheels are fitted with Schwalbe's all-rounder, the Hans Dampf tire.
But so much for the components. Ultimately, the heart of the Kuro 275 is its frame. Its geometry is characterized by a short top tube, long, asymmetrically designed stays, and a short top tube. This results in a very compact riding position, which is nevertheless quite comfortable. Surprisingly, despite the long stays, the bike handles very well. Combined with the low handlebar position, this makes the Kuro 275 a bike that practically begs you to attack on the trail.
The carbon swingarm houses a RockShox Monarch RT3 shock with 160mm of travel. This is paired at the front with a RockShox Pike RC DP fork, which offers adjustable travel from 130 to 160mm. Here, too, the well-thought-out design is evident, as the lower front end clearly demonstrates its advantages on steep climbs.
The Kuro 275 has good responsiveness. It almost feels like a 4X full-suspension bike. The bike only bobs slightly while pedaling. The suspension travel is used well, but offers little bottom-out protection.
At low speeds, the handling is very good. In the high-speed range, however, it seems a bit nervous and restless, which is particularly noticeable on really rough trails. We were positively impressed by the very good flight characteristics. Here the bike seems predictable and invites you to let the gas stand again and again. However, the bulky rear end could be a bit stiffer.
Conclusion
The Simplon Kuro 275 is a lightweight and playful trail bike with good enduro genes. It's well-designed and a real eye-catcher. Anyone who likes versatility on the trail will definitely find this bike to their liking.
product Highlights
- very agile and playful
- well made carbon frame
- very good flight characteristics
price and web
- EUR 4.199,00
- www.simplon.com