Radon's new enduro bike from impresses visually with its aggressive stealth look. However, the mail-order brand also shows great attention to detail: in order to perfect the appearance in detail, Radon has revised the previous Horst link and main bearing design and, thanks to newly developed mounting, was able to realize the mounting points in a concealed stealth look.

Precisely fitting strut, heel and down tube protectors made of high-strength composite material protect exposed areas on the frame against external impacts such as chain slaps, stone chips or heel rubbing. Internally routed cables complete the sleekly shaped carbon frame. Thanks to innovative cable entries, unnecessary noise caused by rattling cables has been minimized. Replacement should be quick and easy.

A recess in the down tube provides the frame with sufficient clearance for shocks with reservoirs. Furthermore, the Jab frame also has enough space to accommodate a water bottle in the frame triangle.

The latest standards

Despite the fact that frame manufacturers are increasingly opting for threaded bottom brackets again, press-fit bearings are still the first choice at Radon. Press-fit bottom brackets stand for reliable performance and make it possible to achieve a lower weight in the bottom bracket area in carbon frame construction thanks to the absence of bottom bracket sleeves and adhesive joints. The disadvantage lies in the handling and possible noise development if the dimensional tolerance is too large.

Radon already used the Boost standard for the "Jealous" cross-country hardtail. Now the larger installation width of the Jab also ensures more propulsion thanks to an extra portion of stiffness in the frame, wheel and drive unit.

Geometry

Thanks to its longer wheelbase, slacker steering angle and low bottom bracket, the Jab has the necessary smoothness to ensure that its rider feels comfortable even at higher speeds. Thanks to the flip-chip, these angles and the bottom bracket height can be easily adjusted. The seat angle thus varies between 75.2 degrees in the steep position and 74.6 degrees in the flat position. The steering angle oscillates between 65.2 and 65.8 degrees.

Short chainstays ensure that the Jab is still agile enough to be piloted nimbly through technical passages. At 427 millimetres, the Jab's chainstays are among the shortest on the market.

Simple and shorter

In the meantime, single-speed drivetrains have become established among many mountain bikers. Nevertheless, there are still many fans of 2x systems. While some manufacturers limit their frames to 1x drivetrains, Radon still offers the option of mounting a sideswing front derailleur on the Jab. The frame has an E-mount mount for this purpose.

More travel with a shorter installation length: this is one of the advantages of the new trunnion mount for rear shocks. Thanks to this new standard, the shock mount can be lowered by 25 millimetres, which also lowers the center of gravity somewhat. Wear is also reduced, as plain bearings are no longer required and the support is wider.

Three models

With the Radon Jab, you have a choice of three models: The entry-level model in the Jab family is available for 3,599 euros. The price for the top model is 4,999 euros. This is roughly the price in Swiss francs, excluding shipping costs.