Just over a year ago, we went back home to Switzerland to upgrade from our classic touring bikes to a lighter bikepacking setup and a suitable bike. Our choice: The RAW GP Offroad. The RAW was developed by the Swiss company MTB Cycletech as a special bikepacking bike and was launched in spring 2016. MTB Cycletech writes: "We have balanced the RAW frame so that the weight distribution on multi-day tours with some bikepacking bags remains optimal, and you are agile even on the narrowest trails." We are now on tour with the RAW a little longer than "several" days. In the last year, we have covered 15,000km. And we are happy to admit that MTB Cycletech kept its promise and the bike is not only suitable for a short trip, but also for the long tour.

The RAW offroad rides smoothly, super stable and at the same time agile on gravel roads and trails. We were cycling with 26" wheels before. We noted the stability, which can be achieved by 27,5" wheels on the first downhill in rough terrain. At the same time, we never felt a lack of maneuverability. This is certainly due to the short chain struts, which MTB Cycletech creates with the integration of their special RAW connecting element.

Martin writes in his RAW short test on biketour-global.de "The Raw Offroad needs gravel roads, needs dirt and rough terrain." For us this is not compulsory. The strength of the RAW geometry lies exactly in the fact that it achieves the balancing act between MTB and road bike. An important requirement for a long-term bikepacking bike. If you are on the road for a year or longer and are not only picking up the offroad pearls, you will find yourself sooner or later for longer distances on tarmac roads. We have never missed the geometry of our classic touring bikes or felt us on the wrong place on the RAW. It allows a relatively upright sitting position, if one wants. The top tube is lowered, but not excessively, which is important to create space for a large 8 liter frame bag.

The RAW spins on tarmac roads like a touring bicycle and on trails like a mountain bike. It is designed for a high degree of multifunctionality - as it shows its compatibility for different gearing systems. The RAW Offroad is available in a version for chain shifting as well as for the Rohloff hub. It can be ridden with normal chain, but also with belt drive. Especially with the latter, we personally think that MTB Cycletech has perhaps tried to make a too daring balancing act here. Although it is great that such a multifunctional frame makes it possible to pick up tire widths up to 2.4" with a short chain strut, and in most cases this is absolutely sufficient, but on a long-term voyage you are sometimes exposed to sand and snow. And then it would be nice, if you had the possibility to mount a 3" tyre.

Martin was in his review rather on war with his belt drive and for a really long journey a normal chain drive is probably still the more carefree decision. We would gladly accept a bit more tire-space in return to the loss of the belt drive option. As an additional note: since we are on the road with the RAW Offroad, MTB Cycletech has launched a Pinion version. In this model, MTB Cycletech was able to integrate a wider wheel width. An exciting option which we would definitely consider in the case of a new purchase.

The RAW offroad was voted the most beautiful bike at the Eurobike 2016. Not a criterion? We also focus primarily on functionality. But MTB Cycletech accomplishes both, and this is a nice plus. We think that you can see that the bike was designed with love. And when you focus on the details, you realize that this may well play a role. For example, we hardly know a bikepacking bike that has a solid mount for a Pletscher kick stand. And believe us: for a really long journey a solid stand is a nice thing even on a lightly packed bike. It saves material and nerves and makes it easier to unload and pack the bike.

MTB Cycletech has also opted for Reynolds 853 or, alternatively, 520 steel. This makes the RAW not exactly a light weight, but for a long-term journey, steel is still our first choice. Screw-on eyelets at the right places offer the possibility to pack the RAW with hybrid bikepacking solutions and to mount enough bidon holders.

MTB Cycletech offers a range of options, but these are more oriented on "microadventures" and lightweight. For long-term bikepacking and more remote adventures, simplicity and robustness are more important. On the basis of these different criteria, we made the change to the following components on our RAWs: SUN Inferno 31 rims welded, "Spyke" mechanical disc brakes from TRP (Shimano compatible brake pads, important for worldwide availability, as well as adjustment possibilities from both sides) Schwalbe Smart Sam tyre (an excellent all-rounder, both for rough dirt roads and longer tarmac stretches, long-lasting). After problems in the first few weeks with the RockShox suspension fork delivered by MTB Cycletech, we switched to the TS8 suspension fork (29" version) from Magura, that with its grease lubrication makes a small fork service along the road a piece of cake. The fork is built simpler, less vulnerable and needs lower maintenance than a RockShox. This set-up has now proven itself over a year and 15,000km.

Our first purchase criterion for a long-term bikepacking bike was Rohloff compatibility. We admit it: We are completely in love with the magic hub. The RAW Offroad offers a Rohloff version (RAW GP Offroad). Installation and cable routing are clean. The chain is straightened by an eccentric bottom bracket, which is easy to handle and works well. The only problem is that during tensioning, dust often passes between frame and bearing, which leads to some annoying squeaking. Therefore it is necessary to remove and clean the bottom bracket relatively frequently. Our RAW's were delivered with the aesthetically beautiful Alfine pedal crank. This fits perfectly into the overall design of the RAW and also has a solid bash guard, but with the relatively large 42 teeth chainring (the smallest, which is available for Alfine), we had to mount a 18 teeth sprocket from Rohloff in the back to make the climbs with the loaded bike on trails.

Let's be honest: there are cheaper bikepacking bikes, especially on the American market. But MTB Cycletech offers something for the money with its RAW Offroad: it is a bikepacking bike, which is passing the qualification test for a long-term trip with almost no limitations. It is thought out, carefully manufactured and looks noticeably cleaner and more robust than many of its competitors. It is smooth to ride, but nevertheless agile and its multifunctionality leaves hardly any wishes open. For the really long tour we recommend to buy only the RAW frame set, and then build the bike with long-term-specific components.