Ghost Asket CF LTD Review: The most expensive organic bike from the MTB brand boasts high-quality components and impresses with its performance. While at first glance it appears to be geared more towards trails and tours, it also appeals to those who simply want to pick up speed off-road.
The extent to which e-bikes have changed the cycling world is evident in a brand like Ghost. The most expensive e-bike hardtail from this traditional MTB manufacturer now costs... 1.500 Euros; for trail full-suspension bikes, the price range still goes up to 4.500 euros. Everything above that is electric, and here Ghost offers models up to the five-figure range. The most expensive bike without a motor, meanwhile, is a gravel bike – namely the Ghost Asket CF LTD, which in its top version has 6.999 The currency is the euro.
Ghost Asket CF LTD: the highlights
- Price: 6999 Euro
- Weight: 8,48 kg (without pad, with hoses)
- Versatile carbon frame with various mounting options
- SRAM Force AXS component group
- DT Swiss GRC 1100 Dicut 30 mm wheelset
- Zipp Carbon handlebars and seatpost
Geometry with clear MTB influences
As a true Ghost, this model boasts a healthy dose of mountain bike DNA: the manufacturer calls its concept "the perfect hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike," and with this design, the Asket is good for plenty of riding fun. It starts with a frame geometry that clearly borrows from MTBs. The 74° seat tube angle is quite steep, which shifts the rider's weight forward and enables good power transfer. On the size M test bike, the head tube angle is a slack 69,5° – together with the short 70 mm stem, this results in the typical combination of stable straight-line tracking and excellent maneuverability that makes modern MTBs so appealing on fast descents and playful trails.
The frame's stack and reach are chosen for a relatively sporty feel; however, the short stem and the pronounced sweep of the tops result in a rather compact riding position. Those gripping the Zipp carbon handlebars at the top might find the Ghost short; however, in the brake hoods position, a very balanced position is achieved with a noticeable, but not uncomfortable, drop between the saddle and handlebars.
Also available with a suspension fork
A typical MTB feature is the short head tube combined with a tall fork – clearly, the idea is that the bike can also be equipped with a suspension fork. The Asket CF Full Party and the Asket CF 30 are examples of such models. Even without a 40mm fork, the Ghost can certainly offer a degree of comfort: a 50mm tire fits easily in the front and very likely in the rear, which also improves the bike's rolling characteristics. Ghost could improve this by slightly increasing the chainstay spacing so that two-inch tires could be used without any problems. With its slightly higher bottom bracket, the Ghost has an advantage on challenging terrain – the risk of catching or hitting a pedal is about a centimeter less likely than on other gravel bikes.
The fitted 45mm Continental tires also perform very well, and those who ride the bike with narrower tires can coax even more agility out of the chassis. In any case, the Ghost Asket proves to be exceptionally exhilarating: The frame, with its wide bottom bracket area, is stiff and efficient, and thanks to its low weight of just under 8,5 kg, the bike accelerates lightning-fast. Those who switch to tubeless can easily save 250 grams of "rotating mass"—Ghost uses heavy 180-gram inner tubes. The combination of DT Swiss rims and Continental tires proves to be very airtight; there's no sensible reason to ride this bike with inner tubes.
Threaded holes for bikepacking
Up to this point, the Ghost Asket has come across as rather sporty, but it also has another side: with threaded mounting points on the fork and top tube, it's also designed for bikepacking; three bottle cages can be mounted, but not fenders. The SRAM Force drivetrain with 13 gears and a wide gear range is also well-suited for this purpose. The wireless shifting is, as usual, flawless, and the brakes also work perfectly – with this and its low weight, the SRAM Force XPLR is currently the best gravel groupset available on the market.
The high price of the Ghost Asket CF LTD can't be explained solely by its high-end component set. The fact that the bike costs nearly €7.000 is largely due to the DT Swiss GRC 1100 Dicut wheelset, which is officially listed at €2.500. This wheelset, with its 30mm deep rims and ceramic bearings, is undeniably high-quality and, at around 1.400 grams, quite light. However, value for money isn't its strongest suit, to be honest. That makes it all the more welcome that Ghost offers the Asket CF X in a version that's €2.000 cheaper, where you don't have to compromise on almost anything. This bike also features a carbon wheelset from DT Swiss, the GRC 1600 Spline, weighing in at around 1.700 grams; the only savings are made on the handlebars and seatpost, which are aluminum.
Offering a more affordable model with almost identical features alongside the top-of-the-line Asket is a nice touch from the manufacturer and makes the Ghost brand even more appealing. With gravel bikes like these, the transition from a traditional mountain bike is sure to be a success!
