The RT has had a massive revamp this year. It takes inspiration from the popular Ghost AMR series but has 20mm less travel and focuses on long distance, enduro-style riding.
Ride & handling: Capable machine that climbs swiftly and descends with confidence
It doesn’t take a lot to get the RT moving rapidly. A few powerful pedal strokes and you’ll be right up to warp speed thanks to the stiff frame and efficient pedal action the rear end produces. The rear wheel travel is used both wisely and effectively here.
Though it provides a firm enough platform from which you can really hammer the pedals and make the most of the sprightly feel of the bike, when called upon it’s more than happy to take the sting out of the gnarliest trails you’re likely to encounter on this type of bike.
The narrow 620mm bar and 80mm stem do make things feel a little twitchy but this is easily solved with quick swaps and certainly goes some way into tapping into the RT’s potential. Climbing is a breeze thanks to the roomy cockpit and the shock’s firm compression tune (we never even touched the ProPedal platform damping lever).
We found the PopLoc on the RockShox Reba fork handy for getting rid of unwanted bob when we were out of the saddle, and it’s a great asset when you’re on a long leg-burning slog. Going back down hills is a balanced affair and proves the RT is more capable than it seems on paper.
The Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres are a little dicey on wet hard-pack trails, but they clear well in muddier conditions. That said, due to the 2.25in width and limited tyre clearance of the rear triangle, clogging can be an issue on wetter days.
Frame & equipment: Fully redesigned chassis offers 100mm of trail-friendly travel
The Lector 7700 uses a high-modulus carbon fibre front triangle and an aluminium rear one, and the RT frame is packed with features that Ghost have lovingly labelled with acronyms. The THT (Tapered Head Tube) means the front end remains stiff, while the SCL (Specific Chainstay Length) offers varying chainstay lengths with different frame sizes.
The SRS (Smooth Ratio Suspension) translates to a leverage ratio of 2:1, which aims to make the back end more sensitive. They’ve even used Enduro needle bearings in the shock mounts to keep them ultra smooth. And in a bid to block the grot, the RT comes ready to house continuous gear cables.
The Fox RP23 rear shock does a grand job of controlling the 100mm (3.9in) of rear travel, and its upright positioning means the ProPedal lever is easy to reach when you want to make the shock even more efficient.
Shimano take care of braking and transmission duties with their difficult-to-fault XT hardware. All pivot bolts use Torx keys, not Allen keys, making it harder for them to be destroyed.
