Landscape

The moment you get on this bike, you feel relaxed . The positioning feels good, the frame is very straight, but not to the point that it feels like an old man’s bike . The Damper SX needs a bit of a work-out before it will perform really well . However, the hydraulics are good and the ped- als are well-positioned, though at 14 .3kg, it’s on the heavy side . As a result, it grinds a bit on the flat and rises up a bit on the ascents . Like all self-respecting enduro machines, it’s on the descents that this bike shows its full potential . Comfortable on hard terrain at high speed, it’s also very solid on the jumps and slopes . However, it’s on narrow little singletracks and tight bends that this bike comes into its own . It’s re- ally extremely responsive, turns exceptionally well, and you can make it go exactly where you want it to, which makes it a real gem! To sum up, the Damper SX doesn’t climb as well as an XC bike, and it doesn’t take the descents like a DH bike, but it performs well every- where, making it an excellent en- duro bike . With the frame retailing at €1,650 (and around €2,000 for the frame + shocks), this MDE is cer- tainly not a cheap option, but you’re paying for the fact that it is hand- built and a bit special . . .