Ghost Lector LC 6, a sharp cross country racer
The Ghost Lector LC 6 is the German brand’s third model up in its cross country hardtail lineup. Within the Lector range, you find drivetrain and brake options from both Shimano and SraM, and with Fox or RockShox handling the suspension duties.
Ghost Lector LC 6
Components: Shimano XT
Suspension: Fox 32 Float Performance Remote 100 mm
Wheels: Rigida Rival 21 rims with Shimano XT hubs
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Price: $3,000
Website: mec.ca
The Ghost Lector LC 6 is the German brand’s third model up in its cross country hardtail lineup. Within the Lector range, you find drivetrain and brake options from both Shimano and SraM, and with Fox or RockShox handling the suspension duties. With this mix, you can likely find a model that has your preferred components. It seems Ghost wants to make this line for the serious XC rider/racer. The highest three models do use a different carbon-fibre blend but all share the same construction.
The graphics on the Lector LC 6 have a matte black base with striking geometric white details that complement the frame’s non-traditional tubing shapes. The sloping top tube seamlessly blends into the seat tube before the seatstays split off. The head tube is among the shortest on the market relative to frame size, which definitely helps get the rider in a more aggressive position. The overall fit of my mediumsize test bike was very good. The combination of the frame’s long top tube and 90-mm stem help make the handling very nimble and precise. The 720-mm flat bar is more than wide enough for most XC riders. My only issue came from the Ghost-branded lock-on grips which, while ultra-light and secure, simply added to the harshness of riding a hardtail. Once I switched them out for my favourite ergonomic model of grip, it was a different story. The whole ride of the bike improved once my hands weren’t screaming at me. The only other hurdle was positioning the Fox fork’s remote lever. Having it nicely in position where you can reach it with your thumb without taking your hand off the grip is the goal. Unfortunately, this setup rendered the front shift levers unusable. The only remedy was rotating the lockout straight up, which made it less than convenient to reach. The remote has three positions, but I found no noticeable difference between the first two positions. RockShox definitely has the upper hand with their Pushloc system. Performance-wise, the 100-mm travel Fox 32 fork was adequate for the trails that this bike is built for.
One of the highlights of this modestly priced race bike is the abundance of reliable Shimano XT components, including the complete drivetrain, brakes and even the hubs. The front derailleur is the new side-swing design, which needs less force to activate. It also makes for very clean cable routing with the cable housing emerging from the top side of the down tube, just inches from the derailleur itself. Also the wider gear range provided by the 11-40 tooth cassette allowed me to stay in the larger 36-tooth front ring except on very steep, sustained climbs. The Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires never let go, but never gave me a great feeling of confidence in the corners. If it was my bike, I would choose some other rubber or switch to a tubeless setup.
The Ghost Lector LC 6 has a great amount of value and, with a few minor changes, would be a great option if you are looking for a light, fast and goodlooking ride.
