Contrail

mtb1999–4999 EUR

Origin

2015. The Contrail was launched at Eurobike 2015 alongside the Trailster as Bergamont's new full-suspension lineup. It filled the 120mm XC/trail niche while the Trailster covered 140mm all-mountain. The original flagship 'MGN' (Mehr Geht Nicht) was named as a bold claim that it represented the maximum possible.

Specifications

Frame: 6061 'Super Lite Tubing' aluminium (5/7/9/Pro) or Ultra Lite HSC carbon (Carbon Elite/Ultra, 2018+)
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: 1× drivetrain by variant: Shimano Deore/SLX 12sp or SRAM NX/GX/X01 Eagle 12sp
Brakes: Hydraulic disc by variant (Shimano 4-pot / SRAM Guide / Level TLM); rear caliper on chainstay
Wheels: 29" (27.5+ convertible via flip chip), 30 mm internal-width rims on upper builds

The verdict

+Strengths

Geometry Conversion Technology (29" ↔ 27.5+) unique and practical — no geometry compromise
Stashbox integrated tool storage — ahead of its time (2018), genuinely useful
Rear brake on chainstay eliminates brake-jack — suspension works cleanly under braking
Progressive suspension kinematics — sensitive off-top, stable mid-travel
Fun-loving character praised by BikeRadar — 'surprised us in testing with its capabilities'
Syncros cockpit integration gives coherent aesthetic and weight savings
Low BB drop (38mm on carbon) provides excellent cornering and stability

−Weaknesses

Conservative tyre choice from factory (Maxxis Forekaster MaxxSpeed, Schwalbe Nobby Nic) — lacks grip in loose/wet conditions
Long stem (70mm on Pro) robbed agility — BikeRadar recommended dropping to 40mm
Bars at 760mm too narrow for larger riders
Marzocchi Z2 fork on Pro 'less hard-hitting' than Fox 34 — adequate but not class-leading
67° head tube angle — 'on the steep side' even for 2018–2020 trail bikes
Pedalling-induced bob reported on some AL variants
Discontinued — no new acoustic full-sus Contrail in current lineup

Did you know

01'MGN' = Mehr Geht Nicht (German: 'More Isn't Possible') — the name of the original 2015 flagship Contrail. A bold product naming choice that set the marketing tone.
02The Contrail Carbon introduced a Stashbox — an integrated tool storage compartment above the BB, under the shock. This predates the trend of frame-integrated tool storage by several years.
03The Geometry Conversion Technology (27.5+ ↔ 29") required both a flip chip AND a lower headset bearing swap. Bergamont included the alternate bearing in the box.
04Syncros cockpit on the Contrail is a direct product of Scott Sports ownership — Syncros is Scott's own component brand. This created supply chain efficiencies but also limited aftermarket appeal.
05The rear brake is intentionally mounted on the chainstay (not seatstay) to eliminate braking-induced suspension interference — a subtle but technically significant engineering choice.
06BikeRadar named the Contrail Pro a Bike of the Year 2020 contender despite criticising the long stem and conservative tyre choice — an indicator of the strong underlying chassis.

Who it’s for

All-day trail rider prioritising efficiency and comfortXC marathon racer wanting a full-sus optionAdventure/cross-country tourer on technical terrainRider who values ride quality over aggressive descending