Hi there. I bought a Radon slide 29″ 9.0 about a year ago and I must say I’m quite happy with it. It’s incredible value for money in terms of parts, and the bike is a joy to ride – if you like 29er and their stability and grip. If cornering is what you enjoy most go for a 27.5″ bike. Compared to my old Radon slide/stage 26″, a new canyon Nerve 27.5″ and a Cannondale scalpel 29″ it’s quite forgiving and not very agile downhill as well as not a super sprinter on the way up. But it’s tremendously calm and stable down on the S0/ S1 trails I mostly ride in the Heidelberg area in Germany. More skilled riders might enjoy S2 trails as well on this sturdy and robust bike.
All the testers say – and I like to agree – that the bike frame is a bit heavish and not the bike not the most agile, but I think a 75-80 mm stem sorts the agility out (at least for me) without making the bike nervous and the weight is OK if you consider that I comes with a dropper seat post. In turn, it’s also incredibly forgiving and stable downhill as well as a good climber.
I had to choose between a Cannondale trigger 29″, a Canyon Spectral 29″ and the slide 29″. I bought the slide as the Cannondale had a great feel and geometry but was way too heavy (+1,5 kg/6 pounds over the other two bikes) and canyon simply wouldn’t deliver for about 2 months. Plus the slide had the best parts and was on the same level as the spectral.
Bottom line: buy this bike if you are looking for good value for money, a calm and reliable ( but at times not so agile) 29er MTB. You might be equally well equipped with a canyon spectral 29″ or if you want it faster and less technical on your way down a canyon nerve 29″.
Hope this is of any help,
Cheers!
Sebastian