Stevens 2025 APPLEBEE / Galactic Black 16" (27.5") / Galactic Black

Stevens Applebee Galactic Black – hardtail mountain bike with air suspension and Shimano CUES

The name of this colour variant says more than one might assume at first: Galactic Black describes a deep anthracite black with a slight metallic shimmer in which the contours of the frame stand out clearly under grazing light – and it is the second of two finishes in which the Applebee is built. Technically it is the same hardtail: The frame in 6061 TB aluminium works with a 135 mm O.L.D., a 73 mm BSA bottom bracket, a high direct-mount front derailleur mount, internal gear cable routing, external brake cable routing and IS disc brake mounts. This combination is deliberately chosen because it keeps weight low while preventing dirt and water from getting into the cables. At 13.1 kg in 27.5 inches and 13.4 kg in 29 inches this bike belongs to the lightest in its class, and with a permitted total weight of 115 kg there is enough reserve left for luggage and a bidon.

The fork is the component that decides the character of this mountain bike: The SR Suntour Raidon XC RL-R Air offers 100 mm of travel, works with air suspension and is operated via a remote lockout on the handlebar. Off-road, this travel absorbs unevenness without ground clearance suffering on narrow passages; on paved roads the suspension is deactivated at the remote, so the same machine rolls smoothly and efficiently. Because the suspension is air-sprung, it can additionally be adjusted to the rider's body weight – an advantage compared with steel springs, where the same adjustment is not possible. Also fitting: a tapered steerer from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 inches and the headset with ZS44/28.6 on top and ZS55/40 at the bottom for direct steering over roots and through tight bends.

Shifting is handled by the Shimano CUES U6000, a chain drivetrain with two chainrings and 20 gears. The two-piece FC-U6000-2 crankset delivers 36 and 22 teeth, the Shadow RD-U6020-10 SGS rear derailleur works in 10-speed, and the CS-LG300-10 cassette reaches from 11 to 39 teeth – together a total capacity of 44 teeth. This range is the reason why this bike rides smoothly through tight serpentines and, at the same time, drives efficiently on long, flat passes without constant shifting. The CN-LG500 LINKGLIDE chain keeps the connection reliable even in dust and mud, and the SL-U6000-L and SL-U6000-10R shift levers sit on the grip in such a way that a gear change is done quickly even with the suspension switched on.

For the brakes, the bike relies on Shimano BR-MT410, hydraulic disc brakes with two pistons each, operated by the two-finger BL-MT401 levers in aluminium. The Shimano SM-RT54 rotors measure 180 mm at the front and 160 mm at the rear, both centre lock – a split that is unusual for a hardtail, because it means the additional braking torque at the front wheel is converted reliably on loose gravel. The wheels rest on the Formula hubs, CL-51 at the front with QR5x100 mm axle and CL-52 at the rear with QR5x135 mm axle, plus the Oxygen RM-M19 rims in 19x584 and 19x622. The Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance tyres in 57-584 and 57-622 bring the full MTB width of 57 mm: they grip deeply in gravel and soft forest soil, stay pleasantly quiet on asphalt and can be folded for transport. This package is rounded off with the Oxygen Driver handlebar with 740 mm width, 9° backsweep and 25.4 mm rise, the Oxygen Driver stem at 6°, the Oxygen Havoc saddle, the Oxygen Driver seatpost with 350 mm length and 27.2 mm diameter and the ATB Pro Reflex pedals. The luggage rack eyelets on the frame also allow panniers to be fitted, which opens the bike up to longer tours as well.

Galactic Black and the name Applebee – what lies behind it

The name is made up of two English words which, taken individually, have little to do with bicycles and together form a picture: "apple" – the apple – stands for freshness and a certain lightness, and "bee" – the bee – for liveliness, activity and the diligence that is present in every chain. Combined, this gives "Applebee", and this mixture describes the manufacturer's intention: a mountain bike that appears fresh and rides lively. Unlike the AV IOLO, KALEA or CALETA lines, whose models are differentiated by numbers such as 6.1, 7.1 or 8.1 and frame codes such as HT, LT and Forma, this bike carries no model number and no frame code – it is an independent name for an independent concept: an aluminium mountain bike with a 20-speed Shimano chain drivetrain and suspension fork. "Galactic Black" is the colour designation, the second finish alongside Blue Grey, and just as the two paints show the same bike in different temperaments, the technology remains identical in both cases.

How the Applebee compares to CALETA, AVIOLO and E-LIVENZA

In the overall programme, this bike occupies a clearly recognisable gap. Compared with the CALETA 6.1 and the CALETA 8.1, which are designed as city and touring bikes with 45 mm Schwalbe G-One Overland tyres, hub dynamo lighting and hydraulic disc brakes for paved roads, commute routes and luggage tours, the Applebee relies on what counts away from paved roads: 100 mm of air suspension, 57 mm tyres and a 20-speed drivetrain with 44 teeth of capacity. Compared with the E-LIVENZA 7.4.1, an e-bike with Bosch Performance Line SX and a 400 Wh battery, it remains a purely muscular bike – the difference lies not in the power of the motor, but in the fact that every climb is mastered with one's own strength and one's own technique. Compared with the AVIOLO 9.1 with magnesium air suspension fork and Shimano CUES 8000 in 2x11, it remains the more honest, lighter choice: 22 instead of 20 gears are an advantage on fast asphalt stretches, but on gravel and roots what counts is the roughly two kilograms lower weight. In turn, the luggage rack eyelets clearly raise it above a pure race hardtail, because they make the transition to a touring bike possible.

The Applebee Galactic Black as a versatile cross-country and touring bike

The purpose of this bike is the range between fast trail riding and long day tours. The remote lockout makes it possible to ride a flowing asphalt route on the same day and then turn into the forest without tools and without readjusting anything – and vice versa. The 100 mm of air suspension takes on the work that a rigid frame otherwise passes to the body: it absorbs unevenness before it becomes fatigue in back, neck and arms, and keeps the bike running in control over roots instead of bouncing away uncontrollably. The 20 gears with 44 teeth of capacity support exactly this tempo: tight hairpins are taken slowly and safely, while long passes are ridden in one calm, efficient gear. Anyone travelling further uses the luggage rack eyelets for two panniers, a bidon and a day pack, and with 13.1 kg of bike weight stays within a range where even carrying the bike up steep paths remains realistic. For racing mountain bikers who want narrower tyres and even more push, a broader and lighter range of bikes exists in this segment – for everyone else, the Applebee is the balanced choice that convinces on the trail and does not become a burden on the way home.