Johannes Fischbach's Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016

Jul 8, 2016
by Paul Aston  
Weight 16.5kg approx Tyres magic Mary front and rear. Both down hill casing 2.35 vert star compound. Front pressure 1.7 bar Rear pressure 1.85 bar Shock Spring rate 450 titanium.

When Four-cross racing was holding on for dear life and many riders jumped ship to enduro, Johannes 'Fischy' Fischbach turned his German championship winning pedal power into downhill. Currently sitting in 10th overall in the UCI rankings after winning three out of three IXS European cups, the reigning German national champion's World Cup season's best was 24th in Cairns - the fastest German for years!

Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
The Radon Swoop 200 weighs in at 16.5kg approx, has a 63.5-degree head angle and a tight 433m chainstay.


Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Johannes is sitting 34th in the World Cup series, but his UCI overall ranking points put him into 10th place.

Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Schwalbe Magic Mary's front and rear, downhill casing, 2.35" width and in the tacky VertStar compound. Pressures are set at 1.7 / 1.85bar - 24.5 / 27psi


Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Answer ProTaper handlebars in 780mm width.

Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Magura's MT7 brakes are probably the most powerful available, and they're fluro yellow.


Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
A Fox DHX2 shock with a 450lb titanium spring. Johannes opts out of a lower chain guide but still runs a bashguard.


Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Attention to detail - the integrated fork bump stop/cable guides are molded into the shape of the Radon logo.
Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
One of the few riders piloting Manitou's classic upside-down Dorado at the helm.


Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
A standard Sram X01 DH 7-speed drivetrain.

Johannes Fischbach s Radon Swoop 200 - Lenzerheide DH World Cup 2016
Fischy is running Ergon's new downhill specific saddle and an Answer carbon post.


Johannes finished timed training in 35th place yesterday, one spot behind his number board - let's hope he can top that in the finals tomorrow. We'll have a 'Getting to Know' with Fischi soon too so watch out for that!

MENTIONS: @RADON-BIKES / @SramMedia / @HayesBrakes / @ergonbike


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Radon Bikes Radon Swoop Johannes Fischbach


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62 Comments
  • 46 1
 The colouring takes me back to the black and green Sunday of old, classic paint work!
  • 4 1
 It does look a lot like a Sunday now that you mention it.
  • 21 1
 "16.5kg approx." Whats this in Canadian $s?
  • 29 1
 @richierocket: 16.5kg
  • 1 0
 Amen... Still dreaming of owning one. Chrome Stanchioned Boxxer WC's n all!
  • 3 16
flag fartymarty (Jul 8, 2016 at 7:53) (Below Threshold)
 but it still looks like a Session.
  • 2 0
 @richierocket: .
  • 19 0
 Go Fischi Go!!
  • 14 0
 "a tight 433m chainstay."

Ah... I think an additional m is needed to make the measurement in millimeters correct.
Otherwise he has a very interesting wheelbase.
  • 1 0
 So you don't have to worry about pedalling on track, just behind the start gate!!
  • 17 1
 I wonder what would happen if I rode up a hill with that saddle..
  • 8 0
 Depends, do you want kids?
  • 12 0
 I wonder what is done to his Dorado's dampener because I see a non stock rebound nob.
  • 15 0
 Its got the new MRD kit installed. Just got my kit installed and its killer. Gives you Pressure release buttons on the tops of the rebound and pressure cap, new evil seals and and a second air spring in the bottom of the air chamber leg to control ramp up kinda like tokens but this one is controlled by air pressure. By far the nicest fork i've ever ridden with the new kit installed. Surprised they didn't say more about it.
  • 2 0
 @nismo325: I have the kit also, and it doesn't change the rebound knob. This certainly looks some factory custom tuning / parts.
  • 2 0
 @intensemack10: Agreed I have that kit as well but yes the rebound nob is still the factory blue little guy. There's definitely something done to the dampener.
  • 2 0
 @nismo325: Well I talked to a guy at Manitou and it sounds like it's just some custom aesthetic parts rather than tuning upgrades.
  • 2 0
 @intensemack10: @tcmitchell oh geez didn't even notice the raised rebound knob. good eyes!
  • 11 0
 More bike checks please! Awesome stuff
  • 8 0
 Didnt he crashed in Training? I hope he is fine.
  • 5 2
 What makes the saddle downhill specific?...and why do downhillers need saddles?...seems like you can save 'a lot' (relatively speaking) of weight. If they use Ti springs and bolts, then whay not got for something very different...
  • 15 0
 What makes the saddle downhill specific? Shape and features. The saddle is used as a control element rather than a pure sitting element.
www.pinkbike.com/news/ergon-downhill-series-crankworx-les-gets-2016.html
  • 2 0
 Would you want a seat post or the frame where the sun don't shine???
  • 4 1
 For those who still use lbs, the converted weight of this Radon swoop 200 comes out to be a hair over 36lbs at 36.3.
Nice build, Fischbach has been killing it, all the best to him this season (and many more).
  • 4 0
 Looks nice! Would love to win one in that contest! Go Fischbach! (my fantasy secret ninja guy)
  • 2 1
 Are inverted forks just inherently more flexy given the narrower stanchions are at the bottom near the wheel axle vs. a regular double crown fork? Never ridden one but would like to try it for myself!!
  • 16 1
 I'd think they are inherently more flexy because you don't have the arch connecting the lowers, they're only connected by the axle.
  • 11 2
 I had a chance to ride the Dorado and could tell no difference. Probo if you are not a top 10 level pro, you wont either
  • 17 1
 Actually it is an overgeneralisation to say they are more flexy, period. In fact, their lateral stiffness is higher than that of a comparable non-upside-down fork, while of course their torsional rigidity is less. This means that they deform less under braking or from hard up-front impacts, but the wheel can "seek" it's path a little more flexibly than on a normal fork.
Some people really like that, others don't - I think it comes down to preference: You like precision steering, go for a normal fork; you like your fork not working against you if your line choice wasn't the best, go for upside-down.
  • 4 0
 Had some Shivers back in the day and they were the plushest forks of the era (had monsters boxxers and jr T's too). But i swear sometimes the front wheel was next too me instead of in front!! Very flexy torsional speaking. A mate had some of the single crown shivers and they were even worse. Was a long time ago though so things have changed a lot since then!
  • 5 1
 I've got a pair of 2014 Dorado's and have been super stiff forward and backward like you would want them to be. The so have a slight amount of torsional flex but I honestly think it's at just the right amount where it actually helps me hold a line rather than get bounced off. I've never thought of my Dorado's as a "flexy" fork.
  • 7 4
 Hmmmm, I have upside down forks on my motocross bike and 400+ pound 180 horsepower track bike. Do you think I worry about them being flexy?
  • 1 0
 Ran 2010 or newer Dorados for years and they have been awesome. My line choice isn't great so I really appreciated how they helped me track through the more technical stuff. My biggest complaint about the Dorado was that one time I got to the bottom of a long run and the seal above the front brake had blown out and there was oil on my rotor.
  • 3 1
 My 2014's Dorados were quite flexy, but their plushness will make you forget about that.
  • 2 0
 Went from boxxers to dorados last year and I can't notice any difference in stiffness but the dampening is about a million times better haha maybe if your a really big dude i'm only like 170ish
  • 7 0
 @streetfighter848: Are your moto forks alloy/magnesium and under 3kg or do you think the ~175hp difference lets you carry a little more metal to reduce the flex?
  • 3 4
 @PhillipJ: I guess you missed my point. The UD design is not inherently flexy, just a misconception. Of course the moto versions are quite a bit beefier. Buy there's also a reason most moto forks don't use the standard triple clamp forks, especially when you go high end like Ohlins.
  • 2 1
 @streetfighter848: I have seen UD forks twist by pushing forward on the bike while holding the brake on. Never tried it with the new Dorados.
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: My dorados don't do this at all. I really think the misconception about the dorados being flexy is the older versions with the 30 and 32mm stanctions. The 2009 MRD and the 2010+ dorados are not what I would call flexy.
  • 1 0
 Petty spiffy.... fischy!! But, how come alot of frame styles are kinda lookin the same?????????? Only a few stand out from the rest these days.... oviously theres some reasoning for it..
  • 7 0
 They found a suspension layup and tubing that have many pros and few cons, so they all make it nearly the same way. No need to make something different only to be different.
  • 1 0
 As soon as I saw the pic load that was the first thing that came to mind. Sure it is proven and functional, but to me, it is like another civic or corolla on the freeway.
  • 2 0
 I guess manitou needs to do some updating to their current shock platform? Otherwise he would run a manitou shock in the rear instead of fox...
  • 1 0
 I think he Revox Pro is a great shock. However the twin tube designs of the dhx2, TTX22M, and the CCDB offer much better performance than the typical ifp or so it seems.
  • 2 1
 Paul - do you think there is a benefit to a more flexing fork/rear end? Obviously there is in MotoGP but what about DH speeds?
  • 3 0
 Okay im not called paul but il put something just to give me summat to do.
Flex in moto go bikes ect is to get around the fact that at high lean the suspension doesn't operate anything like when the bike is upright riding over bumps like a dh bike , as the bike is at such a steep angle of dangle. The fork is being pushed from the side so to speak. So there must be an degree of chassis flex /twist ect to absorb the bumps.
With the lighter upright right nature of mtb riding I prefer less flex for sure. But maybe the pros do like a bit of flex for whatever reason they can feel at there speeds
  • 3 0
 @markg1150:
Rocks push you sideway so some flex can be good.
  • 4 1
 It's a no bling bike looks industrial but gets the job done Smile
  • 6 0
 Radon = perfectly working bikes for little money
  • 4 0
 Good luck, Fischi!
  • 2 1
 Am I the only one who keeps having to explain to people that, no, my Magic Marys are not installed backwards. This is the proper rotating direction!
  • 1 0
 Well, im constantly explaining to people to run one up front for goodtimes.
  • 1 0
 This really bugs me too. I am sure Schwalbe have good reasons, but I would love to see an "ask us anything" article for Schwalbe so I could ask them what the pros/cons are.
  • 1 0
 Looks great! Nice work Radon and Bodo Smile
And good luck Fischi! Bring the green beast fast to the finish line Wink
  • 1 0
 These days the Bikes are not the ones who win Races!
  • 1 0
 Super clean geometry... Has to work 200%!
  • 1 0
 Mixing fox and manitou ? How did that sponsor out ?
  • 1 2
 Looks like a transition.
  • 1 3
 Swoop rhymes with.........
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