Ghost have exploded onto the scene over the last couple of years. Their range offers a set of well-performing bikes that are also great value too. The SE range is aimed at “athletic and tour-orientated mountain biking”. We got hold of the SE6000 and went for a razz.
Ride & handling: Super fast handling, generally good feel
As the athletic aim would suggest, the Ghost transfers the power well thanks to its stiff frame, and helped with the relatively lightweight wheels and fast-rolling Schwalbe tyres it’s easy to really blast those fireroad climbs and still have plenty of energy left at the top for coming back down.
The 69.5-degree head angle, 80mm stem and 620mm bar translates to super fast handling, which can get twitchy on tight descending singletrack. The Recon fork handles itself well and the turnkey damping does the job effectively too, with the PopLoc coming in handy when it comes to getting the power down on terrain that’s not so bumpy.
We took the bike out of its comfort zone to give it some welly around the local hardcore cross-country test loop, and it handled it surprisingly well. Aside from the twitchy moments we mentioned earlier, the feel was generally good. The 580mm (22.8in) top tube on our 44cm size test bike was spot on and comfortable for longer rides with the stem at its highest.
With the stem dropped down, another side to the SE comes out – a side with much more of a race feel. We don’t think it would be out of place on a cross-country race start line. The Ghost does a great job as a recreational jack-of-all-trades, and it would make a great starter bike, especially when you consider the overall value of the package.
Frame: Well thought-out with an overall sleek look
Constructed from 7005 aluminium, the frame sports Ghost’s custom tubing, with an ovalised down tube, forged 3D dropouts and a great finish, with the graphics painted on too. The seat tube/top tube gusset is nice and neat, and the head tube takes a semi-integrated headset. The cable routing is well thought-out too, with neat Allen key fixed guides running under the top tube.
The quoted head angle is 71 degrees, but we measured it at a slightly slacker 69.5 degrees. All the other quoted geometry was spot on. Ghost have even included rack mountings in case mountain bike touring is on the cards, and these are nicely placed on the frame, helping towards the overall sleek look.
Equipment: Good value, decent spec for the price
Ghost have embraced SRAM to provide a well priced groupset and have also specced a RockShox Recon air fork, X7 mechs and shifters, Juicy 3 brakes and a Firex chainset. Ghost’s own seatpost and saddle combo features frame-matching graphics, as do the 620mm bar and 80mm stem. Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres with puncture protection keep the bike rubber side down, and SRAM hubs and Ghost’s rims are built into a light wheelset for the bike’s price.