RSD Wildcat V3
Words by Sarah Moore; photography by Tom Richards
While we had plenty of expensive carbon machines this time around, at US$3,999, the aluminum Wildcat V3 was not one of them. Don’t mistake that price to mean it’s not worthwhile, though. There are adjustable dropouts that allow you to run a 29” or 27.5” rear wheel, DVO suspension at both ends and a solid spec that does a good job of prioritizing fun on the descents.
• Travel: 125mm rear, 140mm fork
• Aluminum frame
• 65° head tube angle
• Reach: 462 mm (medium)
• 76º seat tube angle
• Bases from 425 to 440 mm
• Sizes: S, M (tested), L, XL
• Weight: 34.2 lbs / 15.5 kg
• Price: $3,999
• rsdbikes.com
There were two Wildcat V3 models available at the time of testing, although they recently released a longer-travel Wildcat 150 with the same name. The shorter 125mm-travel version is available in the Deore version that came with our test bike, or an SX version for $3,249 USD. Each is available with a 27.5+ or 29er version, with or without a dropper post, and there’s a frame-only option for $1,799.
Trailforks regions where we tested
We had the chance to explore the natural and technical network of trails in the Vallée Bras-du-Nord during the Downcountry Field Test. The network was the farthest for us to access from our home base at Mont-Sainte-Anne, but it was well worth the trip and we had a blast filming amidst the wet roots and on the interesting lines that meander along the Neilson River. Unfortunately, although we avoided the July thunderstorms for the most part, our drone didn’t have such a good day after being engulfed by the beautiful river. RIP beautiful drone shots!
VBN mountain bike trails Saint-Raymond sector
Escalation
We had some of the best climbing bikes available for purchase in this field test, but the RSD Wildcat V3 was not one of them. It’s not a terrible climber, it’s just more versatile, so it doesn’t make you feel like a superhero when the trails point up like the Ibis Exie and BMC Four do. Race-focused Stoke LT.
Nowhere does RSD claim the Wildcat is going to win cross-country races, and while it may not compare to a bike designed to race neck and neck in spandex, it’s a perfectly confident climber. if you are just looking to cover a lot of ground without the pressure of the clock. It has great traction and feels stable on tough technical climbs, though it doesn’t feel snappy or snappy in any way.
As for your position on the bike, it’s much more relaxed and comfortable than conducive to flat out speed. Along with a riding position closer to that of a trail bike than a cross-country bike, the size medium we rode weighs 34 pounds 4 ounces. While it may cost less than half the price of some of the carbon bikes that weigh nearly 10 pounds less, there’s no doubt that the extra weight holds the Wildcat V3 back on the climbs.
The Wildcat V3’s weight isn’t helped by the fact that it has adjustable seatstays, and we had to wonder how many people ask for more than 27.5 bikes. The hardware needed to make adjustments to the chainstays definitely contributes to the overall weight of the frame.
Descending
Downhill is where the Wildcat shines, and I would go so far as to say it was probably the most confident of any bike we tested in Quebec on the downhills. It maintained traction on off-camber rocks and slippery post-storm root sections with ease and there was far less apprehension when approaching steep, technical descents than on race-focused bikes.
RSD stands for Rubber Side Down and it is aptly named since the Wildcat V3 certainly required less energy, both mental and physical, to stay upright than a bike like the BMC Four Stoke LT. The Wildcat V3 was the easiest bike to turn off your brain on the descents and you could allow the bike to load more instead of picking your line carefully.
The Wildcat V3 was the longest and slackest bike we rode in Quebec with its 65 degree head tube angle and it also had the most travel with 125mm of rear travel paired with a 140mm fork , so it’s not entirely surprising that he was such a monster on the descents. However, it was nice to see how well it held up compared to bikes that cost more than double its price. The DVO suspension worked well over small bumps and big hits, smoothing out the terrain below, and the spec was well-selected to prioritize fun and confidence on the descents with 200mm/180 rotors mm, 150mm dropper on size medium, short stem and wide bars.
#Field #test #RSD #Wildcat #Descender #perfect #capabilities #Pinkbike