140 millimetres of suspension travel, 12 kilos in weight and a purchase price of over 10,000 Swiss francs. These are the key figures for the Stoll T2. A carbon frame manufactured in Germany according to individual customer requirements truly has its price. If you look at the frame in detail, you wonder whether it is a piece of sports equipment or a piece of art. You can argue about taste, but not about good design. There is a lot of it on the T2, right down to the last detail.

What makes a custom bike like this?

• The frame is the heart of every bike. We invest precisely where savings are made in mass production. By producing the frame in Germany, we can offer a customized carbon structure.
• On the T2, we have once again worked on efficiency and dynamics. Downhill performance and easy climbing on long alpine tours should not be a contradiction. At +/-11 kilograms, the T2 is one of the lightest trail bikes ever.
• Not only the almost complete production in Europe, but also our second-hand platform testifies to our striving for quality and sustainability. All owners can trade in their bike from the first series with us. We refurbish them and offer them for resale on our website. The manufacturer's warranty is transferred to the second owner.

Statement from: Jan Bhalla, Creative Director and Co-Owner, Stoll Bikes

Special features

• Artfully shaped frame made from exposed carbon
• Carbon head badge
• Milled link with honeycomb look
• Perfect cable routing from the handlebars into the frame
• Srams "Universal Derailleur Hanger" derailleur hanger
• Wolfpack tires

On the flat

The slightly stretched riding position makes for sporty pedaling. The Stoll goes off "like a horse". This is not surprising, because the low weight - in combination with very light rolling tires from Wolfpack - ensures a lot of speed. The T2 accelerates efficiently out of tight bends, making winding paths just as much fun as flow trails.

Up the mountain

There's no denying that this trail bike has cross-country genes. Long climbs are child's play and this bullet becomes a KOM hunter. The platform of the shock is only needed when sprinting, otherwise the rear remains calm. The VPP system still needs to be optimized. It's easy to get stuck on steps with the rear wheel and you can't carry the full momentum. The problem is not unknown. However, you need a sensitive foot to feel it.

Downhill

The T2 shoots downhill with precision and smoothness. The rear is firm, the damping is generally high, as is the end progression. That is intentional. Thomas Stoll - a former cross-country professional - has geared his fleet towards precisely these riding characteristics; he likes it firm for the corresponding climbing performance. Although the suspension is sporty, it absorbs impacts efficiently, regardless of whether you are riding slowly or in race mode. The stiff rims reduce the ride comfort somewhat. The T2 is easy to control on steep and technically demanding terrain.

Conclusion

The Stoll T2 is not a normal trail bike, it is an exclusive piece of sports equipment with a stealth bomber look. It has to be, so you don't get flashed in the 30 km/h zone. Speed limits make no sense with this bullet. If you're not put off by the price, you'll get a fast and sporty bike that has no equal in terms of looks. The range of uses is wide and extends from KOM hunting to relaxed day trips in the Alps.

Recommendation

You can hardly get more "custom" than Stoll. Why not spend a little more and get a truly unique bike that you can keep for longer? It's guaranteed to be cheaper than buying the latest "fad" every three years. Because that's usually much ado about nothing.

Specifications

Frame material:	Carbon
Price:	CHF 10'600.00 (from CHF 8200.00)
Weight:	12.0 kg (frame size M, with pedals)
Suspension travel:	140 mm front / 140 mm rear
Suspension fork:	Rock Shox Pike Ultimate
Suspension strut:	Rock Shox Deluxe Ultimate
Shift:	Sram Eagle XX1
Brakes:	Shimano XTR 4-piston, 180/160 mm
Crankset:	Sram Eagle XX1, 175 mm
Wheels:	Duke Crazy Jack 6ers / DT Swiss 240
Tires:	V: Wolfpack Enduro, 29 x 2.4 H: Wolfpack Trail, 29 x 2.4
Saddle:	Selle Italia SLR Boost Carbon
Saddle post:	Yep Uptimizer 3.0, 150 mm
Front end:	Newmen, 40 mm
handlebars:	Bike Ahead, 800 mm, 00 mm Rise

Geometry

All data here: Link

Manufacturer/distribution

www.stoll-bikes.ch

Test report published in issue 02/2021 of Ride magazine