Rockrider AM 100 S – Can Decathlon pull this off?

Many bikers are looking for a good fully for less than €2000. But are inexpensive fullys fun at all, or do they only bring trouble? We subjected the Rockrider AM 100 S, the king of this price range, to an extensive practical test.

The lavish selection of bikes extends into the smallest niches. The best example: If you want to spend more than €10,000 on a mountain bike, you can choose your desired object from over 150 models. The situation at the other end of the price range is very different. If you are looking for a full-suspension mountain bike for less than €2000, you will have a much smaller selection. The market has just 32 fullys in this price range. In this article we explain the reasons why there are so few cheap fullys. So much in advance: For many manufacturers it is simply impossible, to put good fullys on the wheels at a competitive price under 2000 €. The French sports goods discounter Decathlon is known for its competitive prices. So it’s no surprise that the Rockrider Fullys under €2000 caught our eye in our market analysis. It’s reason enough to take a closer look at the Rockrider AM 100 s.

What was the Rockrider AM 100 s designed for

With its 150 millimeters of travel on the fork, the well-profiled tires and the telescopic support, the Rockrider AM 100 is a classic all mountain bike. (In this article we will tell you what an All Mountain is and what other types of mountain bikes there are.) So the bike was developed to convey riding fun even on rough trails. Alpine terrain or the occasional trip to the bike park are definitely in the specifications of the French bike. The Rockrider fully also claims to be able to conquer high mountains with pure human muscle power. The suitability for touring is the strong suit of the All Mountain category, compared to the downhill-oriented enduro bikes. By the way, we also have an article that only deals with the All Mountain category. The question that naturally arises now, is: Does the Rockrider AM 100 s meet these requirements?

You have to accept compromises

We can already reveal that much at the beginning of this section. You have to accept certain compromises in this price range. But first things first. We have been on the bike for several days on a wide variety of trails and long tours. And we always had a good time with it. But with a complete weight of 15.8 kilos, the bike simply demands strong calves on the climb. Even if the damper in the rear can be immobilised using the lockout lever, the rider is challenged more when climbing. More expensive bikes score with a lower overall weight. The seating position is pleasantly upright and the gears also have a small climbing gear. The bike tackles every climb if you’re willing to put up with a few beads of sweat. There is no other way in this price range.

This is how the Rockrider AM 100 s drives on the single trail

But the crucial question for an All Mountain is of course: how does the bike fare on the technical single trail going downhill? Anyone who buys a bike with 150 millimeters of travel primarily wants tohave fun going downhill. Already on the first few meters it becomes unmistakably clear that the Rockrider doesn’t want to hide its character. Because unlike most current bikes, the handling is not absolutely smooth. Less experienced riders in particular can intuitively change direction on the trails with the balanced handling. The chunky tires do their job and provide enough grip even on loose surfaces. The fork works sensitively. However, the bike does not come without criticism on the descent either. The brakes could decelerate significantly better. Larger brake discs or a caliper with 4 pistons in the rear could provide a cheap remedy here. In addition, the rear end (damper) releases the suspension travel a little quickly. Sporty drivers in particular would like a little more counter pressure here. But we also have to be honest here. This still ain’t no dealbreaker.

Details & Rockrider AM 100 s

standards Worthy of praise: Despite the competitive price, the Rockrider designers have succeeded in giving the AM 100 s an individual look. You can clearly see this on the damper mount in particular, but also on the front end. The cables are laid continuously on the outside of the down tube. Visually, this is not next level, but it is quite practical in the case of a check-up trip to the shop. Details such as the tension clamps or the bearing screws leave a valuable impression. The frame also has a press-fit bottom bracket and offers mounting options for a bottle cage. The manufacturer specifies the frame weight as 2.7 kilos, which is acceptable, given the price.

• Bottom bracket: Pressfit (screwed)
• Line routing: continuous outside
• Seatpost: 31.6mm
• Headset: integrated, tapered 1.125 to 1.5 inches
• Wheel size: 29 inches
• Wheel Axles: Boost; 110x15mm (front); 148×12 mm (rear)
• Bottle cage positions: 1
• Rear triangle: supported single pivot
• Spring travel: 140 millimeters

The fiercest competitors among fullys under €2000

One of the toughest competitors is definitely the Radon Skeen AL 8.0. In addition, you should always take a look at trail hardtails in this price range. Because our extensive test of the Rose Bonero showed that if you don’t have a shock absorber in the rear, you make fewer compromises in terms of parts. Here you can compare the three bikes directly with each other. The direct comparison: Radon Radon Skeen AL 8.0 VS Rockrioder AM 100 s VS Rose Bonero

The Rockrider AM 50 s – the little brother of the AM 100 s

In addition to the AM 100 s, there is also the AM 50 s, which is slightly cheaper. The bike is not only cheaper, but also “slim”. The tires are narrower and the fork has 10 millimeters less travel. On the descents, it exudes significantly less self-confidence than the AM 100 s. You can see both bikes here. An overview of the Rockrider AM Fullys

In this article, the author Ludwig Döhl has incorporated his experience from more than 100,000 kilometers in the mountain bike saddle.