Our first impression: Wow, what a beautiful bike! In addition to the beautifully painted carbon frame, the new Onza Canis Plus tires in the Skinwall version provide the proverbial dot on the "i". The bags for loading the luggage (handlebar bag, saddle bag and top tube bag) all come from Blackburn and must be purchased separately.

We load the bike with equipment for a two-day bike tour with as much self-sufficiency as possible. While the Sherpa weighed 14.2 kilograms "naked" (frame size L, with pedals and lowerable Easton seat post), it weighed 19.7 kilograms when loaded, plus 70 kilograms for the rider and four kilograms for the backpack. Loaded like this, we first increase the pressure in the suspension fork and then in the shock to get back to a negative suspension travel of around 25 percent, leaving the tire pressure at around 1.1 bar. We're ready to go.

The upright riding position is comfortable and you immediately feel at ease. Despite the high weight, the bike rolls surprisingly easily over the gravel path, which is still flat at the start of the test lap. After a few kilometers, the fun stops and the path begins to climb. The incline indicator on the display tells us what is already making our legs sore: a 15 percent gradient. But thanks to the 2x10 gears and the enormous grip of the wide tires, the bike still climbs the hill decently, we are pleasantly surprised.

Amazingly good handling

On reaching the top, we turn off the forest path onto a single trail. We ride over the first root passages, lean into natural berms and brake hard before hairpin bends, the Sherpa does everything willingly and yes, it's really fun to ride the loaded bike.
After a few bumps when rolling over roots, the pressure in the shock is increased again. It is certainly an advantage if you like making changes to the suspension settings and tire pressure. Because you won't find a "one-size-fits-all" setting here. However, the fun of riding makes up for the effort.

The tire and rim combination also impresses when riding on slopes. Although there is a slight sideways slip and the steering becomes a little spongy, this is manageable given the low tire pressure and high payload. The wide tires really come into their own when riding over soft and sandy terrain - you literally float over it.

The dropper seatpost is worth its weight in gold when riding over steep steps, but unfortunately this is not fitted to the standard bikes. In general, the installation of "exotic" parts and standards was largely avoided so that the bike can be repaired anywhere at a well-stocked dealer. The carbon frame was chosen in favor of a manageable overall weight, although some outdoor freaks would probably prefer an aluminum frame.

The Blackburn bags kept our luggage absolutely dry, even though we didn't miss a puddle or mud hole and, to top it all off, we gave the bike and luggage a good shower with the garden hose. The fact that the bags can't be purchased directly as accessories with the bike irritated us a little. However, manufacturers such as Blackburn, Porcelain Rocket and others offer plenty of choice when it comes to equipping the bike.

Conclusion

The Rocky Mountain Sherpa mastered the ride over the narrow ridge brilliantly. The bike impresses with its great handling, especially when loaded. The riding position is too upright for a classic all-mountain bike and the rear end is too over-damped. As an adventure bike, however, it even outshines its own golden paint job. As a second bike, however, it is rather expensive.

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