2020 Ghost Kato

The Ghost Kato has always been a good looking and good value for money mountain bike. The different versions available are all trail bikes, so I have scrutinised the components Ghost have put on them, to see if they made some good choices.

The frame is made from a lightweight aluminium, which makes it very easy when climbing. The forks are from Suntour. These are not particularly high end, but is typical for a hard tail mountain bike in this price range. All versions of this bike have 100mm of travel on their forks. Normally, you would get a slightly different amount of travel with different wheel sizes, but with the Kato it is 100mm for all options. These days most bikes come with the 27.5″ and 29″ wheel options. But the 2020 Ghost Kato has gone old school and thrown in a couple of options for those that like 26″ wheels.

At this point it is probably worth pointing out which wheel size you may want to choose.

• 26″ – These are becoming more rare, as the industry standard has moved on to 27.5″ and 29ers. 26″ wheels make it really easy to change direction, but they don’t roll over bumps as well as larger wheels, meaning they are a bit slower in a straight line. Personally, I would avoid 26″ wheels now, as it is harder to find good tyres for them.
• 27.5″ – This is the perfect wheel size for me. It offers a good compromise between agility and rolling resistance. It is perfect for me, due to my riding style and my build.
• 29″ – 29ers roll over bumps much more easily and offer more comfort. They are also quicker in a straight line, but give your bike a less nimble feeling. 29ers are usually ridden by taller riders.

A great bonus of this bike is that it comes with a lot of Shimano components. These are good quality parts that durable and will should last a long time and work well.