Radon gravel bike - quality at good prices for everyone
H&S Bike-Discount GmbH is based in Bonn and was founded in 1989 by Ralf Heisig and Christopher Strahl, both of whom still run the company today. The first Radon bikes were sold five years later, and due to the growing success, the Bike-Discount Megastore was opened in Bonn-Hardtberg in 2013 to meet customer demand in public appearance. Thanks to the English internet presence, customers around the world can enjoy Radon bikes, whether in Australia, Asia, or the USA. With the Radon professional teams, there is an opportunity to test prototypes in competitions, and the experience gained contributes to the constant improvements of the series models.
Among the Radon gravel bike novelties are the Radon Regard 8.0 FE, Radon Regard 9.0 FE, as well as the Radon Regard 10.0. The models start at frame size 50 and go up to frame size 61. Further Radon bikes are available as road bikes, mountain bikes, trekking & cross bikes, as well as e-bikes. For those exploring the market, check out the gravel bikes under $500, gravel bikes under $1,000, gravel bikes under $2,000, and gravel bikes under $3,000.
Although gravel bikes enjoy steady popularity, they were somewhat in the background at Radon Bikes over the years, which changed with the introduction of the Regard bikes. The Regard 10.0 is an all-rounder with an aluminum frame that weighs 2300 grams and is one of the lightest compared to the competition. The total weight is around 10 kg, with the heavy wheelset, at more than 4 kg, playing a significant role in this. The advantages of the Regards are good handling and traction control, performing optimally on forest and meadow paths. Additionally, it can function as a cyclocross bike, as it also excels in terms of performance.
The basic equipment is relatively simple, but the Radon Regard 10.0 is equipped with enough mounting points to attach bike bags, bottle cages, mudguards, or even racks. This makes it ideal for bikepacking tours as well as for the daily route to work. From spare parts to a change of clothes, everything can be stowed there, and thanks to the mudguards, you are well protected from dirt even in inclement weather. The wide handlebars, with several grip options, along with an upright seating position, ensure that you sit comfortably in the saddle even on longer trips. Due to the higher weight, it lacks a bit of spryness, but this can be remedied with a lighter wheelset. The single chainring in front on the Regard 10.0 limits the gears, but this can be upgraded with a 2x crank and an additional front derailleur. The cable pulls lead from the stem to the inside of the frame, rounding off the bike as an optimal overall package. It is an excellent choice, awarded for its outstanding price-performance ratio by Road Bike Magazine.
The two more affordable models, the Regard 9.0 FE and Regard 8.0 FE, come with simpler components in the basic equipment but are already supplied with a luggage rack and mudguards. This complete package ensures, alongside a good price-performance ratio, that the bikes are often in high demand and quickly out of stock. The high demand is a testament to the value you get with Radon gravel bikes.
With the Radon Regard 9.0 FE, an extremely complete bike is available that, in addition to the solid equipment, features a second blade on the rear derailleur, allowing for smooth gear changes like on a road bike, and making it easy to navigate technical terrain. The Busch & Müller Lumotec MYC T Senso Plus front headlight ensures safe navigation even at night, connected via the hub dynamo to ensure you can always see your path ahead.
The Regard 8.0 FE represents the ideal gravel bike for beginners, already equipped with everything you need for daily commutes and bikepacking adventures, from mudguards to a Büchel front headlight and additional mounting points for bottle cages and bags. Again, as with the other two Regard models, the frame is crafted from lightweight aluminum. It's not often that you find such a complete bike at such an attractive price, offering everything you could ask for in a foundational gravel bike and ensuring enjoyable rides.
All of the Regard bikes are perfect for entering the world of gravel biking, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors without needing a mountain bike right off the bat. You can save on expensive shocks and still maintain high speeds on asphalt when necessary. The Cube Nuroad is a notable competitor in the gravel bike market and serves as a relevant comparison point for price and components.
In the choice components were used solid and proven series
Although Radon aims to cater to the lower and middle price segments, this does not mean that the components of the bikes compromise quality. On the contrary, they utilize extremely reliable components that may not be the absolute top-of-the-line but have proven effective over the years, albeit with slightly more weight. Components from Shimano, Level Nine, SDG, or Continental have been incorporated, along with innovative ideas from their development department.
Derailleur groups & brakes
In the shifting groups, the Shimano GRX 810, Shimano SLX, Shimano Deore, and Shimano 105 are utilized. The Shimano GRX 810 is employed for the rear derailleur, shifter, and crank, while the Shimano SLX, Shimano Deore, and Shimano 105 are used for the cassette. The ergonomics of the Shimano GRX series are specially designed for gravel riding, ensuring a stable drive and not merely based on road bike components. If needed, the Shimano Ultegra and SRAM shift groups can also be utilized. With the Regard gravel bike, modern disc brakes are guaranteed, as riders won't want to sacrifice braking power, even on more affordable models.
Saddle / seatpost & handlebar / wheels
For the saddle, the Bel Air 3.0 from SDG Components is a popular choice, while the seatpost, handlebars, and stem boast the usual good quality from Level Nine. The durable wheels come from Mavic, such as the Mavic Allroad. If this wheelset, at over 4 kilograms, is considered too heavy, lighter alternatives, like the Newmen Evolution, are available at bike-discount.de. For tires, the Continental Terra Speed ProTection 40 mm is a solid choice; however, users are free to opt for other tires such as the Schwalbe G-One or Pirelli Cinturato Gravel.
Additional equipment
Depending on the model selected, luggage racks and mudguards come included in the basic equipment. At radon-bikes.de, you can also find appropriate clothing for road cycling, including short-sleeve jerseys, long-sleeve options, and padded bib shorts, along with snapback caps and Radon water bottles available in the online store.
Whether I have already made the right choice with a gravel bike from Radon
The road bikes, available in aluminum and carbon, are suitable for those who prefer high speeds on the tarmac, such as the Radon R1 Disc with an aluminum frame and the Spire Disc and Vaillant Disc bikes featuring carbon frames. Under trekking bikes and cross bikes, you’ll find options equipped with suspension forks at accessible prices, enabling mountain excursions. For more demanding applications, hardtail and full-suspension mountain bikes are available, like the Radon Cragger or Radon Jealous, which is equipped with only a suspension fork, and the Radon Jab Enduro MTB or Radon Skeen Trail Bike, which features an additional rear shock, allowing for enhanced control on technical trails. If you enjoy a motorized experience in the mountains or forests, Radon offers an e-bike division with E-MTB options, such as the Radon Render featuring a Bosch motor, as well as trekking bikes to help you power through climbs.
The Radon Regard series bikes usually sell out quickly; to avoid long delivery times, you might want to explore women's gravel bikes or even consider looking for a used bike immediately. If you have any questions regarding the condition of a used bike or what to look for, feel free to reach out to us at Buycycle, and we'll gladly assist you.
