Ghost Kato Fs 37 Bike - 2019 Review

Ghost is a German make that'south aiming to brand inroads into the US marketplace via an sectional relationship with REI. A smart movement, I might add together. Just, does the Kato FS 7 concur its own or is information technology simply a upkeep cycle that's skimped too much of the good stuff?

2015 Ghost Kato FS 7 Features:

• 27.five″ wheel size
• Hydroformed aluminum frameset utilizing a classic four-bar Horst linkage
• Play a trick on Float CTD Fifteen rear shock delivers 120mm travel
• Play tricks Float Evolution CTD fork features 130mm travel
• Near-total Shimano XT 2×10 drivetrain (Deore cassete, concatenation and BB)
• Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes
• Ghost-branded cockpit items
• Wheelset uses Alex Medico 21 rims with Shimano XT middle lock hubs
• Schwalbe Nobby Nic ii.25 tires
• Weight: 29.2 lbs (actual)
• Price: $2599 (exclusively at REI)

Quite the affordable parcel.

Permit the Ghost Out of the Box

For over twenty years, the Ghost make has made hay — merely non in the United States. With the Kato FS vii, Ghost is entering the U.s. marketplace with a ton of value for the money (and making a bit of hay in the process). That value was at the forefront of my mind as I unpacked this cycle and scanned through the parts spec. A full-suspension, aluminum, iv-bar 27.5 cycle with full a Shimano XT group outfitted with a Fox Evolution Series shocks for an affordable $2599?**caput scratcher**

To accomplish that cost point, Ghost employs several firm-brand parts and does make careful selections elsewhere. While the overall spec is impressive, in that location are some omissions including a lack of thru axle front and rear, a bit of an outmoded bar width/ascent and a rather mesomorphic saddle.

Out of the box, the Kato FS 7 tips the scales at 29.two lbs. — very respectable at this price. I've tested carbon bikes that counterbalance that much, and so kudos to the product managers at Ghost for delivering a really solid value that won't bog you down on the trail.

The full kit is quite impressive for the price.

All This for $2599?

Indeed. That's what I kept telling myself as I began to ride the FS vii. I've honestly not ridden a full suspension bike in this price range in, well, a long time. And then it was skilful to go back into the meat of the market place where most consumers live. No, $2599 is not pocket change, but for what yous're getting, it'due south a fantastic deal and it has performed across my expectations.

As an aside, bike companies are delivering a ton of value these days on both the road and mount side — allowing riders to either extend their upkeep and get a lot more than or stay on a tight budget while nonetheless getting first-class performance. The Kato FS seven is a great case of that.

The Kato FS 7 uses the proven Horst-link 4-bar suspension platform.

Solid Trail Manners

With the Goldilocks of cycle sizes, the Kato has an advantage out of the gate. And when y'all add the predictability of a true Horst link suspension design on top of that, you're going to get a reliable performer. In my case, I've been peculiarly impressed with the responsiveness of this bike. Pedaling efficiency is solid as I've found myself climbing up steep terrain and nabbing PR'south on a scattering of my test loops.

Equally far every bit shock settings become, I found myself climbing in Trail Mode most of the time. In fact, I merely switched out of that mode on long descents. As usual, I only put information technology in Climb Mode for the fun of it, but never utilized that setting for real. The active nature of the interruption pattern is such that it certainly climbs best in Trail Mode. While you can't go past the weight of the FS vii (compared to the 23 lb. bikes I'm used to), it is a respectable dance partner on long climbs. Going tubeless may reduce rolling weight a petty and provide a piddling actress shot in the arm on climbs.

While I am admittedly a 1×11 fan, the workhorse Shimano XT kit performed flawlessly with responsive shifting and appropriate gearing for any terrain I've ridden. I spent most of my fourth dimension in the big ring, simply did find it overnice to have the granny as a bailout. In all gear combinations, the pause remained active and supple — again a keen attribute of a proven pause design.

Overall handling has been solid — I just wished for a little wider bars. Regardless, this bike is easy to throw effectually at all speeds, but particularly when descending. The Fob fork and daze provide a smooth and progressive experience with enough of a platform to transmission and moving-picture show the bicycle around when necessary. Rolling, twisting singletrack is a boom on this rig.

High-speed cornering is when you'll realize that the lack of thru axles does make a difference. Information technology's been quite some time since I've ridden a full-suspension bike without them and now I know why. That said, it's a flaw that's livable and only really noticeable by someone who has ridden bikes that cost three times as much. The reality is, that small amount of flex doesn't detract from the bike'south solid overall trail manners.

And, while the break design here is predictable, information technology lacks some of the bottomless feel that y'all become with the DW-Link or VPP platforms. Further tweaking might improve it slightly, simply it nonetheless yields to those (more expensive) designs.

Bits and Pieces

Again, it's worth noting that this bike features a near-complete Shimano XT kit — including the venerable XT hydraulic disc brakes. Shifting and stopping were never a problem for this bike. Kudos for going with 180mm rotors for actress power — it came in handy.

Again, I'll add that the full Fox Evolution treatment (fork and shock) is really nice at this price betoken. Again, it sports a standard QR up front, but the quality of travel is fantastic. All too often yous'll observe depression-quality, oversprung suspension at this level, just the Evolution serial units are consistently smooth throughout their travel.

Some of my pocket-size gripes (like the relatively narrow bars and the huge saddle) are easily changed for not much coin. Yous likely have your favorite cockpit items anyhow, and then those pieces are really a wash.

The Expert

• A heck of alot of bike for $2500
• Smooth and responsive intermission blueprint
• Fox Evolution fork and stupor delivers quality travel
• Can take abuse like a champ
• Efficient and fast climber
• Lay information technology down and it responds
• No-fuss Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes
• Nimble handling
• Stealth dropper post routing (nice for a time to come upgrade)
• Excellent tires that roll well and hook up nicely
• Plenty of room for a large water bottle

The Bad

• No thru axles?!? (forepart or rear)
• Bars are a chip narrow past today's standards
• Saddle is too wide — really hard to drop off the dorsum

The Bottom Line: Ghost Kato FS seven

Bringing this cycle to the US market should prove to be an instant win for Ghost, and consumers akin. In that location is a ton of value hither with a few quibbles I'chiliad willing to overlook and others that are easily remedied. If you're not looking to spend an arm-and-a-leg but want true functioning, head into your local REI and swing a leg over this ane and I dare you to notice a better value for your difficult-earned money.

Purchase Now: Available Exclusively at REI

In Summary

8.5 Unbeatable Value

The Ghost Kato FS 7 is something of an anomaly in a world of high-dollar machines. You could certainly spend more, only this bike is a apartment-out awesome value. It pedals efficiently, isn't also heavy and is a butt of fun on the trails. Once you become by the lack of thru-axles, all yous demand to practise is swap out the bars and saddle and you're golden.

• Treatment 8

• Climbing 9

• Descending viii

• Pedaling Efficiency viii

• Fun Gene 8

• Value ten

piercesagifen1964.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.feedthehabit.com/mountain-biking/ghost-kato-fs-7-review/

Share this post