Test: Trekking bikes have been popular bestsellers on the bicycle market for more than two decades. The KTM Trento XT from Zweirad Stadler skilfully continues this tradition. We tested it.
It is perhaps the best-selling bike of the last 20 years, has hundreds of thousands of friends, millions of kilometers under its belt... No, of course that doesn't mean the KTM Trento XT specifically, but the classic trekking bike in general, for which this bike is representative KTM range is complete. In black, equipped with a suspension fork and three x gears, the trekking bike is a modern classic - the civilian version of the mountain bike, so to speak, from which it once took the components. Combined with the 28-inch wheels of conventional everyday and touring bikes and equipment suitable for everyday use, it became the perfect all-rounder: with a large range of gears suitable for steep climbs and fast descents, with slightly coarser tires it is safe on different terrain and suitable for travel thanks to the solid luggage rack.
KTM Trento XT: proven and yet modern
And even if the trekking bike has remained the same in its basic features, it has moved with the times. With the KTM you can see that very nicely in many details: Of course disc brakes are used, and on trekking bikes the brake lines and shifter cables have long been routed in the down tube, which gives the bike a very tidy look. The mounting of the fender and luggage rack is very successful: the latter seems to float above the former and there are no classic fender struts either - everything is held by a bridge under the fender.
Well-known and high-quality equipment
Typical for a solid trekking bike is also the price of 1.000 Euro – just under 1.080 for the KTM. At this level, suppliers can take full advantage of the spec and rely on high-quality brand-name accessories: The Trento features a Selle Italia gel saddle, puncture-proof Schwalbe tires, and a Busch & Müller lighting system. The suspension fork is lockable, and the heart of the 27-speed gear system is a durable, precise Shimano XT rear derailleur, which securely routes the chain over the 11-34 tooth sprocket set of the cassette. Combined with the three chainrings ranging from 48 to 26 teeth, the gear range is enormous; in everyday life, you can ride almost anything on the middle chainring and only need to shift at the rear.
The operation of the Trento XT is therefore quite comfortable, which also goes with the pleasant, balanced sitting position. Thanks to the adjustable stem, it can be easily adapted to the user; one could of course wish for a slightly more backwards curved handlebars, which allows a more relaxed position of hands and arms. Changing the handlebars is a minor exercise for the experienced bicycle mechanic.
Anyone who can handle the handle well (which is mitigated by ergonomic handles) will also find otherwise well-functioning material on the KTM, plus three frame shapes for every taste in different sizes. And that makes the Trento XT a worthy representative of this genre, which has been popular for more than two decades.
