BULLS COPPERHEAD 3 RSI
Special-delivery German performance
Bulls Bikes, a company based out of Germany, has been making a splash in the European bike market for many years, but recently the company jumped across the pond to entice the American market. Don’t run down to your local shop just yet, though, because Bulls only offers its bikes online, making shopping for your next bike in your pajamas a reality. Bulls believes that shopping online not only offers you better prices, but also more sizes and colors. It also saves you time and gas driving to and from bike shops. Even though most of the MBA crew developed a passion for bikes working in shops, we understand that times are changing and online sales are more popular than ever. So, we called up Bulls and put its latest Copperhead model to the test.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
The Copperhead 3 RSi is made for riders who have fun simply by being out on the trails and who aren’t looking to hurtle them- selves off boulders at Mach speeds. The Copperhead’s rider will most likely seek out cross-country trails and show little interest in overpriced carbon wheels. This bike’s light and efficient hardtail frame makes it fast on the climbs, and its 27.5-inch wheels make it quick and nimble on the way back down. Cross-country riders and relaxed trail riders will find this bike perfect for the job.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
Bulls built the Copperhead 3 RSi with a triple-butted aluminum frame that comes with a one-year warranty. Some of the Copperhead’s key features include internally routed cables, a tapered head tube and a Press Fit bottom bracket. The Copperhead 3 RSi has 27.5-inch wheels with a geometry to match; however, a 29-inch version with a few tweaks is also available.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
The Copperhead 3 RSi is the top-of-the-line model in the Copperhead series. Our Copperhead had an XT 2×11 drivetrain and a Fox Float 32 featuring a remote lockout. Continuing with the Shimano theme, the bike sports a pair of XT hubs wrapped with WTB rims and a pair of Shimano Deore brakes with 180-millimeter rotors front and rear. To top it all off, Bulls includes a pair of Wellgo pedals to get you rolling right out of the box.
Good ol’ 2x: The Bulls Copperhead uses an XT 2x system up front. Yes, there are two chainrings in the front to effectively double the gear ratio. Diehard front-derailleur users will love this system.
Shimano XT: An 11-speed Shimano XT derailleur takes care of the shifting aboard the Bulls Copperhead. Shimano’s XT drivetrain is smooth, and the clutch systems works well to keep the chain from slapping around.
Lock it out: A flip of a conveniently placed switch will allow a rider to dial in their Fox Float 32 for the trails. The three setting-open, medium and firm—are perfect for any scenario a rider may face on the trails.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Setting sag: The lack of rear suspension on the Copperhead made setting the sag a walk in the park. The Fox Float fork worked best for us with around 20-percent sag with about 7 to 8 clicks of rebound from the closed position. The fork’s remote lockout is easy to use and allowed us to cycle through the fork’s three positions (open, medium and closed) without taking our hands off the bars.
Like floating on clouds: The Fox Float 32 is a great match for the Bulls Copperhead. This fork offers the perfect mix of cross-country efficiency and plush trail-riding performance.
Moving out: Hopping aboard the Copperhead, we immediately noticed the narrow handlebars. At 680 millimeters, the bars were much narrower than we normally ride, so it took us a little time to get used to them. Other than the handlebars, the bike’s overall fit seemed comfortable, and the 27.5-inch tires gave the bike an agile feel.
Climbing: The combination of 27.5-inch wheels and a ridiculously low gear ratio (26-tooth front, 40-tooth rear) made spinning the cranks up any steep climb effortless. Shimano’s 2x drivetrain was appreciated every time the trails pointed upward. The Copperhead’s rear triangle felt stiff and efficient in or out of the saddle, and the Fox Float’s remote lockout was a nice bonus.
Latest addition: The Copperhead 3 RSi is the latest addition to the Bulls Copperhead family. This model comes equipped with a high-end drivetrain and a plush Fox fork, but best of all, it’s delivered right to your front door.
Cornering: The Copperhead’s narrow handlebars didn’t quite provide the confidence or leverage we had hoped for, but the Copperhead’s geometry and ground-hugging tires gave us plenty to get excited about. The 70-degree head tube angle, along with the 27.5-inch tires, made the bike feel quick and maneuverable, allowing us to dive into sharp turns or whip around switchbacks. The WTB Trail Boss tires gripped the trails well and kept us firmly planted rubber side down.
Singletrack slayer: The Bulls Copperhead 3 RSi is built to shred singletrack in or out of the saddle. The hardtail rear end makes the Copperhead efficient and fast, while the Fox remote lockout allowed riders to cycle through the fork’s three settings with ease.
Descending: Smooth singletrack is a blast to rip down on with the Copperhead. Up front the Fox Float did wonders to smooth out the ride, so long as we remembered to flick the remote back to the open setting. Out back our legs were put to the test trying to absorb the rocks, ruts and breaking bumps on rougher trails. Planning our rides around the bike’s abilities was the key to having a good time.
Sport-bike handling: The narrow bars and steep head tube angle on the Copperhead gave the bike a MotoGP feel. Diving into sharp corners was quick and easy, and the WTB Trail Boss tires held traction well.
Braking on a budget: Shimano’s Deore brakes with 180-millimeter rotors offer ample stopping power at an extremely affordable cost. The levers have great ergonomics, and the reach can be adjusted with the help of a small Allen wrench.
Braking: Shimano trickles down technology from its high-end components to its entry-level components, and because of that, Shimano’s Deore brakes offer really good performance at a very affordable price. Pairing these brakes with 180-millimeter rotors front and rear gave us plenty of stopping power. Our Fox fork performed well under braking forces and managed to stay high in its travel under heavy braking. The rear end of our bike held traction well when a normal amount of braking force was applied.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
The first component we would look to swap out on the Copperhead 3 RSI is the handlebar. Even for a cross-country bike the bars seemed too narrow for the American market. A wider bar, around 740 millimeters, would be much appreciated. Setting up the WTB rims and tires tubeless is also a worthy upgrade that only requires the rider to purchase a pair of tubeless valves and the sealant of his or her choosing.
BUYING ADVICE
Buying a bike online that you haven’t touched or ridden can be a little intimidating, but Bulls makes the shopping experience pleasant. If you’re curious what size bike you should buy, just click on the “What is my frame size?” button and you will be asked about your gender, height and inseam. The Copperhead 3 RSi is then sent right to your door 99-percent assembled, only requiring the rider to attach the handlebars, front wheel and pedals. If for whatever reason you’re unhappy with your purchase, you have 15 days to box it back up and send it back; however, with a sweet hardtail like this, we don’t see any reason you’d want to.
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