Size selection and voting

With a body height of 178 centimetres, many would probably choose a medium frame. However, it is usually personal preference that is decisive when choosing a frame size - in my case, a size L bike. The good thing about the Bold Unplugged is that, thanks to the low position of the shock, very long-travel dropper posts are possible. Despite my short height for an L and relatively short legs, the 200-millimeter seatpost could have been pushed another three centimeters into the seat tube.

The adjustment of the shock absorber hidden in the frame is almost self-explanatory. To do this, the down tube protection must first be removed, which is not a major exercise. The plate is then lifted slightly using the push button at the lower end and extended at the upper end of the opening. The valve is easily accessible at the front of the shock. The Fox Nude shock gets 220 psi to achieve the recommended 30 percent negative suspension travel for a rider weight of 75 kilograms. The value is simply read off the magnetic scale. I tend to set the rebound slowly according to personal preference. The latter is a little fiddly to adjust, as the screw is a little hard to reach. However, Bold is not alone in this respect and is no worse off than bikes from other manufacturers, where the accessibility of certain adjustment screws is often questionable.

Riding up made easy

The trend in enduro bikes has increasingly shifted towards downhill in recent years. Towards heavy mini downhill bikes, which you usually put in the cable car instead of cranking them up the mountains under your own steam. As massive as the new Unplugged looks, the first few meters uphill reveal that Bold is not entirely following this trend. The twentyniner with 160 millimetres of rear travel and robust equipment rides amazingly well uphill.

Not only is the frame extremely stiff here, but the shock is also very quiet - additional locking is practically unnecessary. There is practically no bobbing, even if you can make the suspension even more drive-efficient by activating the TracLoc lever in Ramp Control or Climb modes. It feels like hardly a watt is wasted. Furthermore, you quickly feel comfortable on the new Unplugged, which gives you the good feeling that the ride could last all day without tiring prematurely. The bike also copes well with more demanding singletrack climbs. However, despite all the praise for the uphill qualities, the question inevitably arises: does this come at the expense of downhill performance?

Efficient suspension

The answer to the latter question is no, but this requires some explanation. But first things first. As expected, the rear suspension with "Fox Float X Nude PE Evol" shock does its job well. It responds sensitively and doesn't shy away from big hits. It shines with an early onset of progression. Thanks to this, the bike remains stable in its suspension travel even in berms and offers sufficient pop when overcoming obstacles or jumping. At the same time, the crisp end progression ensures that the shock doesn't bottom out on rough descents and only taps into its reserves in extreme situations. The new Unplugged therefore sits firmly on the trail, whether at high speeds or in rough terrain. At the front of the Pro model is a Fox 38 Performance fork with 170 millimeters of travel. It does a rock-solid job. The Unplugged Ultimate, on the other hand, has an Öhlins M.2 Air fork, which offers slightly more complex adjustment options but also slightly better performance.

Smooth, agile, versatile

The lower bottom bracket compared to the first Unplugged, resulting in a lower center of gravity, makes the bike noticeably smoother but also more balanced. Despite its extremely smooth ride, its maneuverability is impressive, although it could certainly be better. This is due to the chosen frame size. Even though I usually ride size L bikes, the new Unplugged is a bit on the upper limit, which is also noticeable in the riding pictures. The size M would have been the better choice here, even if the "too big" bike is still surprisingly playful to ride. But even size L can be even more playful.

Bold offers sizes S and M as a mullet, with a 27.5-inch wheel at the rear and a 29er at the front. Even though this configuration is not offered for the size L, it can still be used here. Although the Unplugged loses some of its climbing power in the Mullet version, it is noticeably more agile with the same frame size, without sacrificing smoothness. Where one step follows the next on the downhill, the Mullet conversion provides even more security. All you need to change to a 27.5-inch rear wheel is an additional 27.5-inch rear wheel and the minitool hidden in the crash plate. The conversion only involves lifting the bottom bracket using a flip chip, which can be done in just a few minutes.

About the mini-tool: Not only is the small tool hidden under the crash plate, but also the "Safe the Day Kit" with mini pump, tire levers and inner tube. This can be pulled out just as easily as the handlebar plugs. These are just as helpful and, with a tire plug and a small knife, offer quick help with small tubeless repairs. The clamping lever on the rear wheel axle can also be transformed into a tool. When pulled out of the axle, it can be used as a six millimeter Allen key as well as a 25 or 30 mm Torx.

Conclusion

The second generation of the Bold Unplugged is not just a visual success. With its 160 millimetres of suspension travel, packed into the very efficient IST-VP rear triangle, it offers maximum versatility. It is equally at home on enduro race tracks, in bike parks and on demanding tours, without going to extremes, which the majority of mountain bikers are unable to cope with. There is no such thing as the best enduro bike, but it is precisely the versatility of this bike that lifts the Unplugged into the top ranks of enduro bikes.

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