Rennstahl 853 MTB Trail tested: Versatile, elegant and customizable

Test: The Rennstahl 853 MTB Trail is an exclusive trail bike with a very nice steel frame and a wide range of uses. Since you can assemble the equipment yourself using a modular system, you get an individual, convincing overall package, which, however, also has its price.

Rennstahl 853 MTB Trail: The facts

Frame material: Steel
Suspension travel: 120 mm - 140 mm
wheel size: 29 inch

Weight: approx. 13 kg

Price: € 4.850

The Upper Bavarian manufacturer Rennstahl builds special bikes: Not only do you stand out from the crowd with steel as the frame material, but you also put an extra portion of (detail) love into your own bikes. This is also very evident in one of the new additions to Rennstahl's rather extensive portfolio, the 853 MTB Trail. On the one hand, the bike is consistently designed as a trail hardtail, but at Rennstahl, as always, they think outside the box and have created a wonderfully versatile bike. But first things first - the key data of the steel frame read very promising. The 853 MTB Trail is pleasantly flexible in terms of spring travel and wheel size. Thanks to Rennstahl's modular system, you can choose between 120 or 140 mm of travel at the front, and the wheels are either classic 29-inch wheels or 650b with thick plus tires. A "mullet structure" is also possible, i.e. with a large 29er at the front and the high-traction B+ tires at the rear.

Great frame with lots of nice details

While we're on the subject of flexibility and versatility: There are also eyelets on the rear triangle for mounting a luggage rack. What at first glance may not seem right for a sporty bike like the 853 MTB Trail should still make a lot of sense for many buyers. For example, the racing steel also becomes a reliable companion for an Alpine crossing, where you can do without a heavy backpack. We like it!

A lot of effort was put into the topic of cable and train laying. These now all run in the frame - completely from the down tube to the chainstay or even directly to the dropout. This ensures an extremely clean look and is also very high quality. The inputs and outputs are screwed, which also allows the outer shells to be properly clamped and tensioned. This is important to prevent rattling inside. What naturally suffers with such a solution is ease of maintenance. Especially because you also have to remove the press-fit bottom bracket to thread it through.

Another special feature of the Rennstahl 853 MTB Trail is the rear triangle. At first glance it doesn't seem to do much differently than the competition: 148 mm wide, Boost thru-axle - yes, the dropouts are extremely nice, the dimensional accuracy is at an excellent level. But the real highlight is the asymmetrical design of the chainstays, which puts the hub in the center of the wheel or rim. In practice, this means that the rear wheel can be spoked completely symmetrically. Same spoke length, same tension on both sides.

Balanced geometry and individual equipment

With so many highlights and special features, you almost lose sight of the basic data of the frame such as the geometry. Here the bike is modern, but not extreme. The steering angle is around 66° (depending on spring travel and wheel size), the seat angle is 75°. These values ​​promise balanced, intuitive handling even in demanding terrain, without being so extreme that you are forced to adopt an active riding style. The spacious main frame with a long top tube offers plenty of freedom of movement on the trail and thanks to the pleasingly short chainstays, the bike remains quite compact and agile.

There are no ready-made equipment variants at Rennstahl - each bike can be equipped with the configurator or in a personal conversation with the components that best suit your preferences and the area of ​​use. Our test bike came with an overall very high quality but not unreasonable choice of components. In terms of price, the bikes start at just over 3.500 euros, but our test spec should probably be around 5.000 euros. A proud price, no question - but you not only get the exclusive steel frame, but also really noble components. The F535 fork from DT Swiss that we installed fits like a glove and is very easy to set up. Like the brakes, the 12-speed gears come from the Shimano XT series. We have absolutely nothing to criticize about the drive – range, performance, ergonomics, all at a very high level. The same applies to the brakes in the trail version with 4 pistons. These offer a lot of power, but can always be dosed well.

The wheels installed on our test bike consisted of Tune King/Kong hubs and Rennstahl's own carbon rims. These have an inner width of 30 mm and therefore got along well with the installed Schwalbe Nobby Nic with a width of 2,35 inches. Speaking of tyres: even if the Nobby Nic is a really good all-rounder, we would rather choose the Hans Dampf from the Rennstahl configurator, which rolls a little worse but offers significantly more traction, especially at the front.

Matching the exclusive equipment, there is also an ergonomically successful cockpit from Acros that suits the area of ​​use of the bike and a BikeYoke Revive dropper post, which is one of the best that the market has to offer in this regard.

Rennstahl 853 MTB Trail: On the trail

Wow! With its lovingly designed steel frame and high-quality equipment, the Rennstahl knows how to please right away. A look at the geometry table reinforces the first positive impression and makes you want more. So off to the trail!

After boarding, you will be greeted in a sporty and modern way. The reach is ample, but not extreme, and the steering angle also seems to be very well chosen. The first time you press the Revive Dropper Post, it quickly becomes clear: the equipment has been chosen with attention to detail and, above all, with a view to well-functioning components. The DT Swiss fork is not only elegant and clean, it can also be set up very easily using the "Setup Guide" on the manufacturer's website - great!

In the configuration of the Rennstahl 835 Trail available to us, climbing has emerged as the parade discipline. The very efficient seating position literally encourages you to shift up a gear and increase your speed with every meter you ride. No other bike in our test field climbed the mountain as willingly and efficiently. The Shimano XT 12-speed gears change gears with the usual crispness and the stiff carbon wheels consistently convert every pedal turn into propulsion. The Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires in a hard but easy-rolling Speedgrip compound do the rest. But do the famous climbing properties mean that you have to make compromises in downhill? Partially!

Fork, brakes and cockpit ergonomics - all great! However, the powerful and stiff combination of steel frame and carbon wheels makes the bike seem a bit nervous at high speeds and on rough terrain. Even the tires cannot counteract this. They lack self-damping, puncture protection and traction. Fortunately, all Rennstahl bikes can be configured individually. If you are looking for a powerful trail hardtail, you should simply check the wheels and tires for more powerful variants and you will then receive an exclusive, beautiful and great trail hardtail!