The pro-e-bike arguments are mostly:

• I'm not as fit and can't keep up with others
• I have little time for biking and want to cover longer distances than with my fully

Great, then a hardtail is just the thing. Because such a light bike can be accelerated effortlessly, it rolls well and you can get much further in the same amount of time than with a fully. And to be honest, as long as the trails are not very rough, a hardtail is usually a lot of fun to ride down without any effort.

The Razorblade 29 SL III model from Austrian manufacturer Simplon is a pure race bike. Ralph Kessler (Marketing Manager Simplon Fahrrad GmbH) highlights the following advantages of this bike:

"With a frame weight of 850 grams in size L, the Razorblade SL is one of the lightest in its class. The cables run through the headset into the inside of the frame and ensure a tidy and completely new look. We offer the bike in frame size XS with a top tube specially designed for smaller people".

Equipment

The Simplon bikes can be individually configured on their website. The test bike provided comes with top equipment. Brakes and 12-speed gears from the Shimano XTR groupset are paired with the classy XRC 1200 wheels from DT Swiss and the high-quality FSA K-Force Light carbon cranks.

Rarely found on a bike like this is the Acros headset with cable routing and steering stop protection. The Schwalbe Racing Ray and Racing Ralph tire duo ensures an ideal mix of traction and low rolling resistance.

Processing & details

The frame has a thick head tube, which provides a lot of stiffness. The solid construction around the bottom bracket ensures stiffness during propulsion and has a slight lateral flex. This makes for a pleasant, not too stiff ride. The workmanship is of an extremely high quality and the discreet paintwork with bold color accents is pleasing. "You can do it!" is written on the top tube, quite a statement for a bike with the name razor blade!

The rear triangle offers enough clearance for the 2.25 mm tires. In addition, thin stainless steel plates are glued on at the relevant points to prevent scuff marks. There is a large film on the down tube to protect the frame. In true "race style", various threads are closed with light rubber plugs instead of screws.

On the flat

The riding position is sporty, but not too stretched out. In combination with the 7o millimeter short stem, this results in a good mix of pleasant steering behavior and straight-line stability. The propulsion is high thanks to the stiff carbon cranks and rigid frame.

Up the mountain

As you would expect from a hardtail, the Simplon climbs the steepest ascents smoothly and easily without lifting the front wheel. Rooty single trails can be mastered effortlessly and with plenty of grip.

The Razorblade shoots downhill true to line and provides a relatively comfortable ride for a hardtail. The Fox 32 Stepcast Factory suspension fork plays a big part in this. It not only responds very sensitively, but also quickly releases a lot of the 100 millimeters of travel without bottoming out. The late progression gives a lot of confidence. The balanced geometry ensures agile handling

Conclusion

The frame says "You can do it!" - yes, you can! The Simplon Razorblade 29 SL III is a comfortable hardtail for a quick ride or the next long-distance race. There are certainly lighter and more aggressive race bikes, but the extra comfort is ideal for marathon use. The excellent equipment gives the bike a wide range of uses: whether for a quick after-work ride, racing or chasing KOMs on the home trail.

Recommendation

If you're thinking about buying an e-bike because you're not that fit or want to get far in a short time, you should seriously consider buying a race hardtail like the Razorblade. It's just as fast, but doesn't have to carry half the weight. As long as you don't ride rough trails most of the time, this machine is perfect.
And anyone who doesn't care about fullies and prefers a fast yet comfortable hardtail will find what they're looking for with the Razorblade.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.simplon.com