Test: Evolved from the classic hardtail mountain bike, the ATB is still very popular. With the Sharptail Street, Bulls has a model in its range that symbolizes the practical all-rounder and represents a good synthesis of suitability for everyday use and sportiness for young and old.
As a sporty everyday bike, the ATB is very popular with young people (or their parents). No wonder, since such an "all-terrain bike" meets the requirements of all parties involved: it promises young bikers sportiness thanks to the clear MTB borrowing; Mom and Dad, on the other hand, enjoy the suitability for everyday use and road safety. The fact that the genre stands for a lot of solidity is another plus.
Mountain bike fork and frame
So what sets a bike like the Bulls Sharptail Street apart? In order to be considered an ATB, you first have to have a frame set from the mountain bike sector. Bulls delivers a stable aluminum frame that, with a clearly sloping top tube, allows a great deal of freedom when adjusting the seat height - a particular advantage for young riders. A quick release on the seat clamp makes height adjustment easier; the seat post with a modern two-screw clamp ensures that the saddle angle can be adjusted precisely. The seating position itself is balanced and sporty; the frame geometry is based on current off-roaders with a long top tube and flat steering angle. As with these, a short stem ensures manageable steering with safe straight-line stability at the same time.
The Suntour suspension fork with a whopping 100 mm of travel fits this concept perfectly – significantly more than typical trekking forks have and definitely suitable for trails. The advantage of the large spring deflection is that you can reduce the preload of the fork and thus adjust it comfortably without the risk of it bottoming out in the event of large impacts. When driving on asphalt, the fork can be adjusted harder.
Optimal: 27,5 inches
The wheel size is also taken from modern mountain bikes: 27,5 inches is considered the ideal compromise between smooth running and handiness. The almost 60 mm wide tires on the Bulls offer additional advantages: If the air resistance is reduced a little, driving comfort and traction increase; on rough ground, the large tire volume reduces the risk of punctures. The tires are not profiled too heavily, so they roll comparatively easily on the road. The angular shoulder studs ensure a good grip on soft ground.
In addition to these modern features, the Sharptail's gears look almost "retro". The three chainrings at the front and seven sprockets at the rear are a concession to the low price; with a current 1×11 groupset, the bike would have to cost around a thousand euros. After all, the 21 gears allow a wide range up to a very light translation for steep climbs. The mechanical disc brakes aren't up-to-date either, but they're pretty snappy and easy to maintain. Compared to hydraulic systems, they have to be readjusted from time to time, but this is not a problem with the adjusting screws on the brake levers.
Everything has been said here about the Sharptail as a mountain bike - but as an ATB it naturally has even more to offer. Typical of this category are the "sports mudguards" made of plastic, which can be easily removed (at the front) or could (rear) for off-road use if the wiring of the rear light positioned on the mudguard would not prevent this. But it doesn't matter, because ultimately this type of fender is about the combination of reliable protection with a snappy look, which young drivers love - so they can stick with it even on off-road tours.
Always light thanks to dynamo
The lighting system is based on a fail-safe hub dynamo, which is securely connected to the fork with a screw axle; With 25 lux, the front light is already relatively bright and allows good visibility even on dark stretches of road. As is common today, a parking light is mounted at the rear – an important safety feature, especially on youth bikes. A luggage rack could easily be retrofitted if required; With a rear stand attached to the inside of the chainstay, the bike is already prepared for this use.
... and for adults as well
And otherwise? The Sharptail, which is available in four frame sizes and four color variants, is naturally not super light - 16,3 kilos including pedals are again due to the low price, but also to the solid design. And it is also because of this that not only young people, but also everyday drivers appreciate the advantages of the ATB. Which, by the way, is available up to frame size 56 and therefore also fits adults well. And also for significantly younger children, because Bulls also offers the bike with identical equipment with 26-inch wheels and 80 mm spring travel, as well as a 24-inch bike with 50 mm forks, seven-speed derailleur gears and rim brakes.
