Bike Check: Ralf Holleis' Euro-Tastic Moorhuhn 129

Jul 15, 2020
by James Smurthwaite  

Moorhuhn
BIKE CHECK
Ralf Holleis's
Moorhuhn 129
Photography by Marc Ohlmeyer

Ralf Holleis no doubt left an impression when he unveiled his additive manufactured steel frame last month. His mission statement was to make steel sexy again and there's no doubt he delivered on the frame thanks to a swooping aesthetic and a mirror shine finish.

It only seems fitting that he would complement the frame with an equally exotic build, and he's pulled no punches in assembling the most boutique European parts to finish it off. The spec list reads like a mountain biker's Christmas list, with precision German engineering on the brakes and suspension, deluxe Spanish carbon controls, an Italian CNC'd drivetrain, French rubber sticking the bike to the ground and British components taking most of the contact points.

The result is a chrome beauty that is comfortably in the running for sexiest bike of the year. The bike was made as part of the #theeuropeanbikechallenge on Instagram, a competition showing off the very best of European MTB manufacturing. You can follow along with the rest of the builds, here.

Ralf is currently only producing 12 of these frames a year at a price of €6,000, however that may change soon as, following feedback from the previous article, he is hoping to run a Kickstarter at the end of the year to reduce the price.
Moorhuhn


Moorhuhn
Details
Frame: Moorhuhn 129, 129mm travel
Shock: Intend Hover
Fork: Intend Hero, 150mm travel
Wheels: True BC Carbon Trail rims, Extralite hubs, 29"
Tires: Hutchinson Griffus, front 2.5", rear 2.4"
Drivetrain: Ingrid 12 speed, 32T chainring
Brakes: Trickstuff Piccola HD, 180mm rotors
Cockpit: Gemini Kastor, 810mm width, 20mm stem.
More info: @ralf_holleis

Moorhuhn
These blue top tube details are the only disruption of the mirror finish frame.

Moorhuhn
Moorhuhn
Spawned from the brilliant mind of Cornelius Kapfinger, Intend's Hover shock takes care of rear suspension duties. Ralf runs it with 500psi.

Moorhuhn
Moorhuhn
It's Intend again up front thanks to the 150mm travel Hero fork, this time pressurised with 100psi.

Moorhuhn
Gemini's 1 piece bar and stem makes up the cockpit of the bike. The lack of adjustability may put people off, but the integrated construction allows for a 20mm stem, 10mm shorter than you can normally go using a traditional design without a height penalty.

Moorhuhn
Italy's Ingrid components provide the drivetrain. The 10-48T cassette is made from 2 CNC'd blocks of steel and aluminum.

Moorhuhn
Ingrid also provide the 32T chainring.

Moorhuhn
Moorhuhn

Moorhuhn
These pedals come from Carder Tech in the UK, it's the first time we've come across their handiwork and it looks super-neat.

Moorhuhn

Moorhuhn
Trickstuff probably need no introduction now and Ralf pairs their Piccola HD brakes with 180mm rotors.

Moorhuhn
Cable routing is integrated into the 3D printed, stainless steel lugs.
Moorhuhn
A 212mm dropper post from Vecnum.

Moorhuhn
Truebc carbon rims, Extralite hubs and Hutchinson Griffus tires finish off the build.

Moorhuhn


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks Trail Bikes Moorhuhn Moorhuhn 129


Author Info:
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160 Comments
  • 191 3
 Well, I'm not going to be able to stand up from my desk for a while. Some people are at work, needs a NSFW designation.
  • 43 0
 Ingrid cranks. I wish there was a better shot of those arms. Gorgeous.
  • 9 67
flag fartymarty (Jul 15, 2020 at 10:26) (Below Threshold)
 Sorry but it needs black fork lowers and a wolf tooth stainless chaining.
  • 6 32
flag fartymarty (Jul 15, 2020 at 10:27) (Below Threshold)
 and some black eewings.
  • 32 1
 @kcy4130: arm guy eh?
  • 7 1
 @kcy4130: i do love the ingrid stuff...
Can real humans actually buy their drivetrain? I would to put one on my next build.
  • 6 1
 @fartymarty: Agreed but it's supposed to be 100% euro parts so that kind of excludes wolf tooth
  • 15 0
 @fartymarty: You're getting some downvotes but having black lowers (I assume you mean stanchions) would make the bike more symmetrical and match the dropper. But we're being such dicks right now. This bike is beautiful.
  • 1 0
 @Lanebobane: yeah you can't mix black and kash. But you're right it's a stunner and of course I would ride it.
  • 2 0
 biciclista.us/collections/ingrid
  • 4 0
 Tell people it's the pleats in the pants. Need to take them back to the pants store.
  • 1 0
 @Geochemistry: think he means their derailleur/shifter setup. Doesn't appear on their site that you linked.

Sweet components, reminds me of the trick CNC'd stuff from the 90s. But this time it actually works!
  • 1 0
 I'm interested to know what bb and headset were used in this all Euro build?
  • 5 0
 @landscapeben: Hope or Royce would keep it Euro (well UK anyway, are we still Euro? f*ck knows). I think Royce only do retro bb's now though. Showing my age with knowing about Royce...!
  • 1 0
 @Obidog: True but as I can't make it out in any of the photos, it peaked my curiosity!
  • 1 0
 @landscapeben: BBs and headsets are mostly hidden internally now anyway, a Euro brand would mostly just be for nit-pickers!
  • 1 0
 @landscapeben: I think it might be an intend stiffmaster
  • 1 0
 @thegoodflow: ah yes I see that in the link now a stiffmaster.
  • 1 0
 was it the 212mm dropper post?
  • 1 0
 @landscapeben: I'm not sure about the bb but the headset is a Intend Stiffmaster (upper cup) and I believe a Extralite (lower cup).

In general there are quite a few companies that make such products in Europe:
BB: Hope, Rotor, Ride Works, Reset Racing, and more
Headset: Hope, Works Components, Reset Racing, Extralite, and more
  • 1 0
 @TEBP: cool thanks Beer
  • 59 2
 I want to learn how to braze steel for the sole purpose of sending Mike Levy a frame with 22 bottle mounts
  • 55 4
 Maybe a food grade aluminum or stainless steel frame and you can just fill the frame with water. A little straw coming out of the top tube. Then you don't need water bottle mounts or space.

#stoplimitingsuspensiondesignforwaterbottlespace. LOL
  • 5 0
 @vjunior21: Specialized sort of already does this on their tri-bike
  • 9 0
 @vjunior21: there be wisdom in the ravings of this mad man!
  • 6 0
 @vjunior21: Not for drinking water, but I have seen something similar for fuel! Mike Curiak had a custom titanium bike for arctic adventures that stored camp stove fuel inside in the fork legs and the frame. There was a drain valve at the bottom of each spot (not a drinking straw, of course!)
  • 13 0
 @showmethemountains: So I could have a mountain bike crash and the bike would explode like crashing cars always explode in cheesy action movies!!!!??? hehe
  • 2 1
 @vjunior21: Santa Cruz lower link, perfect suspension design, 2 bottle cages.
  • 5 0
 Did you design the new Marin Pine Mountain?
  • 1 0
 @elmaar: Maybe
  • 1 1
 Just drill and fit 44 rivnuts to any old frame so.
  • 3 0
 @kcy4130: How do you think they made the Friday Fails intro?
  • 1 0
 @fussylou: We don't need sensible suggestions here
  • 1 0
 @subwaypanda:
Maybe take the battery out of an E-bike, the frame, and then you have a downtube that acts as a water bottle for long bikepacking avdentures. LOL
  • 1 0
 @LaurensVR:
Yeah but who wants to ride a tri-bike? hehehe
  • 3 0
 just fill the inside of the frame with water,then put a camelback style connector and you have a camelbike. I think you can carry a good amount of water...Perfect bike for Mike Levy,stealth water bottle would made Specialized swat thing looks like build by a 5 year old kid.
  • 33 3
 pfft no waterbottle
  • 24 0
 heilige Mutter Gottes!
  • 2 0
 You made my day ????
  • 6 0
 Jesses Maria!
  • 22 2
 That is one Sexy Bike!!! Time to do a few extra root canals to buy this one!!!
  • 19 1
 C3PO called. He wants his bike back.
  • 10 0
 I believe you mean U-3PO
  • 15 0
 is ingrid named after "riding" just chopped in 2 and remixxed...curious..
  • 43 1
 Ingrid is a fairly common name for elderly women in Scandinavia (70+ years).
I'm guessing that the company is run by an Italian dude with a thing for GILF's.
  • 7 0
 @Nygaard: you reckon they were named Ingrid before they were 70 too?
  • 14 0
 now this is a custom bike.
not like usual pb "custom" repainted china boutique assembled from mainstream china parts
  • 1 0
 It's as custom as it gets I'd say.
  • 24 13
 Wow. I must really be an outlier as I think that bike is ugly as sin. I appreciate why I am in the vast minority here - but to me - its just too damn shiny and spindly. To each their own!
  • 4 0
 Yeah I’m not feeling it either.
  • 2 0
 Yeah but it's so freaking shiny!
  • 2 4
 You sir are wrong. Fact.
  • 3 0
 @blackthorne: he’s entitled his opinion and he wasn’t ripping it apart. Fact.
  • 3 2
 @beanandcheeseburrito: you take things too seriously. Fact.
  • 1 0
 kill it with fire!!
  • 11 0
 Anybody have any real time experience on that Intend Hover rear shock?? Super curious to hear some feedback about it.
  • 2 0
 We pretty much have to wait for danger Holmes to finish his DH bike build. Personally I wasn’t willing to drop $1500 to import a rear shock. The fork is even more expensive. $2000 for the single crown and $2500 for the dual crown. This with EU to USD conversion and VAT.
  • 12 0
 That's a work of art.
  • 8 0
 While it would be nice if he was "producing 12 of these bikes a year at a price of €6,000," I think that's the frame...and not the bike. So...maybe €10,000?
  • 3 0
 Correct, and good spot! That’s been changed now.
  • 31 0
 I would guess 15000€ or more.
Eyeballing the components,I would guess 2000€ for the fork,3000€ for the wheels,1000€ for the brakes,1000€ for the drivetrain...
I love it. It's the Pagani of mountain bikes.
  • 2 0
 @nozes: nice comparison with Pagani.... Just wonder how this will autodestruct itself if it has no combustion engine to explode
  • 7 3
 Hey Pinkbike, you should have music that plays upon opening these stories. Maybe “Rock Ice” by Hot Boys for this one...
“My Rolex crushed out, my chrome stay spinnin',
Hot Boy wit so much money, I don't know how to spend it”
  • 11 1
 Had to check this tune out on youtube just to make sure it was as fucking awful as it sounded. Can confirm. It was absolutely terrible.
  • 3 11
flag WRCDH (Jul 15, 2020 at 13:39) (Below Threshold)
 @gabriel-mission9: Haha, better than most N-word-laden modern rap numerous white pro mountain bikers put on their Instagram video edits (my face cringes at the thought of it). But you’re from the UK, so I didn’t expect you to appreciate 2000-era rap from Down South US and Louisiana — it has a special place in American pop culture and pop music evolution worldwide. I’m guessing you also find Tupac’s music absolutely terrible as well. Oh well, at least you have Stormzy, hahaha (MY EARS! THE PAIN!)
  • 3 5
 @gabriel-mission9: For example, here’s one of Ethan Nell’s recent Instagram videos which is utterly painful to watch, on so many levels, like so many similar Instagram videos. Not only do the lyrics just not fit, but this sort of modern laptop-produced rap music style is ummm, hmmm...lacking. Lacking in rhythm, groove, listenability, even coherence of what they’re trying to communicate. Lots of modern rap like this, with its auto-tune and ear-piercing flutes and nondescript synthesized noises (made by producers of questionable musical talent and with cheap production equipment), make modern rap like this so immensely less tolerable than my recommended Rock Ice track — which, by the way, specifically relates to the theme of having too much money and flaunting wealth with expensive shiny status artifacts like that bike =P
www.instagram.com/p/B-m0lUHFHNL
  • 1 0
 @WRCDH: 100% Agree. Most instagram videos these days get an instant mute from me. Admittedly this hot boys tune wasn't as bad as some of the modern stuff pretending to be hiphop currently, I just don't like money rap and I was being a dick about it Big Grin
I'm actually a big fan of 90s era US hiphop. Lord of the Underground, Arsonists etc. Discovered a new modern ~(ish) artist recently I really like. Kaan. I recommend.
  • 7 0
 500 psi??? Is that a typo?
  • 9 1
 Climbs like a hardtail...
  • 12 1
 No. Go check out Intend, and come back amazed at the interesting mind of Cornelius Kapfinger.
  • 3 0
 I *think* the Hover basically uses the IFP pressure as the main spring. Normal IFPs get charged to ~300psi, so needing to go higher when you don't have a main spring makes sense. I do wonder how the stiction from a seal designed for that kind of pressure balances with what I assume is the reduced seal length from a narrow shaft.
  • 1 0
 @melanthius: The top section is a negative air spring so there isn't very much stiction at all
  • 6 0
 I'll give a grand, xbox and a vhs recorder with 1st edition Debbie's Does Dallas for the bike....thanks
  • 6 1
 gonna get crucified for this comment-still hate skinwalls. the rest of the bike is sexxy AF
  • 3 0
 Those are tanwalls.
  • 3 1
 I'm just wondering about the optical distortions in the pictures, headangel looks odd. Nice details and part choices, the kinematik looks average, but should work. The finish is amazing.
  • 4 0
 That's where I'm at with this bike too, I suspect this is not a high performing mountain bike overall due to kinematics, weight, some spec choices, etc. . And I'm truly in to the idea of spending frivolous and excessive money on a bicycle, but only if it works some fraction of an amount better. Hope I'm wrong.
  • 4 0
 I'm ok with the pricing on this frame. If you've got money to burn and want something truly unique, why not?
  • 3 0
 I want to know more about the Ingrid stuff. The Trigger and derailleur esepcially as you can find nothing more about it anywhere except for rumors and teasers.
  • 3 0
 I love finding out about brands I've never heard of before.

The Ingrid site doesn't show any mechs or shifters. Are these on the way?
  • 4 0
 Wouldn’t such a short stem make weighing the front wheel impossible?
  • 4 0
 It does exactly that. Want to make a Mondraker front tire stick in turns? That's easy, just put a normal 40-50mm stem on it.
  • 3 2
 This is a bike with a 6000 euro frame that weighs eight freaking pounds. It has an upside down fork, a design that has repeatedly been rejected by the market as heavy and flexy. But yes, it's shiny and looks cool. Ugh.
  • 3 0
 Looks like the Terminator
  • 2 0
 Damn that thing is sweet... I'm not sure I could ride it. I wouldn't want to get it dirty.
  • 3 0
 insanely cool... insanely unobtainable... i love it.
  • 3 0
 How does one inflate a shock to 500 psi?
  • 3 0
 Using a high pressure shock pump? www.bike24.com/p263771.html
  • 2 1
 Those pedals look nice, but I'm pretty sure a concave ramp on the front is basically the second worst possible shape to put there to help it deflect off rocks.
  • 2 0
 I really wish upside down forks were the best solution for mountain bikes, they look so pretty!
  • 1 1
 Specialized pays big bucks to produce fake news about their bikes being the coolest, but at least we can sift thru the marketing bullshit and have nice things like this still.
  • 1 0
 there were people on Instagram saying: "how is this a good looking bike"
Hopefully next time they realize that the people on Instagram are crazy
  • 1 0
 What about the size of the pins in those pedals !!!!!
"Dear shins, I hate you" ????. Grip must be insane. Really cool bike.
  • 1 0
 IIRC the Ingrid transmissio uses a SRAM shifter, amirite @jamessmurthwaite ?
  • 2 0
 I didn't realize this was such an erotic website.
  • 1 0
 Where does someone buy a pump to go to 500psi anyways? Or is this factory set and not adjustable?
  • 1 0
 I believe you get a high pressure shock pump with this shock. There are also shock pumps out there rated for 600 PSI, Rock Shox has one.
  • 1 0
 Man, what a beauty! Also cool to see an increasing number of people run Intend BC suspension,
  • 1 0
 Everybody else: "Yes" "No" "Yea" "Nah"
Me: "Why the f* is there a bottle standing in the forest?"
  • 2 0
 Wow very impressive bike. Best 3d printed thing I saw by far...
  • 5 3
 Looks flexy.
  • 3 1
 Flexy sexy
  • 1 0
 So how does it ride? ????
  • 1 0
 For a minute I thought it said 'Rolf Harris'!
  • 2 0
 Wow, nice looking bike.
  • 2 0
 Sweet lord...
  • 1 0
 WwooOOoowW .... affordable ?
  • 1 0
 Christ that’s a gorgeous bike, euro exotica too nice
  • 1 0
 anyone know what the saddle is please?
  • 1 4
 As a proper steel bikes lover and defender, I can`t spit on such a thing, BUT it is too much.
Carbon rims and that alien cockpit kills the magic, even if I understand the goal to reach The killer machine at any price.
What misses to that thing?: humility.
Beautiful piece of work/art craft though.
  • 3 2
 That is a butt ugly bike.
  • 1 0
 How?
  • 2 0
 Well its expensive.
  • 2 0
 And very heavy.
  • 2 0
 does it go fast
  • 1 0
 I had to double check the name spelling for a moment there......
  • 1 0
 Id ride that, but with a different fork
  • 1 0
 crying shame it doesn't have a nickel coated wolf-tooth ring
  • 3 3
 No fork guards = Show pony bike build for trade show stands and footpath demos.
  • 1 0
 Imagine if it had those white tires on it
  • 1 0
 Wow
  • 3 2
 weight of frame?
  • 8 1
 More than you can afford pal.
  • 1 2
 The headangle/fork offset makes it look weird to me... But everything else is pretty much perfection.
  • 2 0
 "But everything else is pretty much perfection."... Except for the 6000 euro price for the 8 pound frame.
  • 1 0
 @Insectoid: yeah but it looks better than anything i've ever seen before
  • 1 0
 500 psi
  • 1 0
 This is gorgeous, thnx
  • 4 6
 Dope AF!!.....except the fork stanchions will get torched by rocks without a moto style guard. It would look sweet if they put a new Zeb fork or silver Lyrik on there.
  • 8 1
 Eewww!! Go away with your disgusting little forks,you peasant!
  • 2 1
 @nozes: that fork looks like it can fit a 36 inch tire.
  • 3 0
 @kyle1812: Remember that on a USD fork the tyre comes up to meet the crown.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: I guess you have a point there. I never considered that. But just looking at the lowers on my bike it seems like that area of the bike takes more abuse from trail debris. It would be interesting to see in a long term test which layout takes less abuse. I guess trail conditions also are a factor.
  • 1 0
 mais surtout Ingrid ...
  • 1 0
 Missing a valve cap
  • 1 0
 What, no steel rims?
  • 1 0
 Cover the wheels from hub to knob in foil. Anything less is amateur hour.
  • 1 0
 @BenPea: Scraper bike!!
  • 1 0
 500 psi?!??!
  • 1 0
 Damn Gina!! Sweet Build.
  • 1 0
 Amazing.
  • 1 0
 looks flexy
  • 1 0
 hell yeah.
  • 1 0
 mummy!
  • 1 1
 I hope he's not going to get that dirty.
  • 1 1
 I hope it's actually going to get dirty.
  • 1 0
 Simply Gorgeous
  • 1 0
 Simply stunning!
  • 1 4
 Only 12 frames a year, each for 6000 euros? This is not a bike, it's trick to allow the manufacturer to get paid 72,000 euros for working once a month. The only good thing about this bike is its finish.
  • 1 0
 I bet the guy who downvoted me is the one who's trying to milk Pinkbike readers for 6000 euros a month for around ten hours of work. At least the idiots who end up buying this stuff are rich.
  • 1 0
 @Insectoid: Well at least it looks better then any bike most people will buy
  • 9 11
 These new aluminum bikes that they’re coming up with nowadays look a lot sexier than most carbon bikes out there
  • 17 1
 Yeah, but don't count these steel bikes out. Just look at it!
  • 9 1
 This frame is made of steel
  • 8 8
 Richard pound
  • 3 6
 This bike sucks dick.
  • 6 1
 What's wrong with sucking dick? You don't like getting your dick sucked?
  • 2 5
 Ok that's a little much.
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