Submitted by
Justin Nordmeyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenx AZ Date Reviewed: December 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Good ole trail 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Air park
Strengths:
Ive spent so much time on a mono-link suspension that that the four bar seems like a wonderful dream that I have yet to wake from. With the frame design coupled with a stable platform shock, its hard to tell that Im not on a hard-tail... untill I hit a rock garden, that is.
Weaknesses:
The frame is so light that I dont know if I can trust it yet.
Similar Products Used:
Haro, Mongoose
Bike Setup:
Avid bb7 mech. disc, Mavic crossland wheels(weigh a lot but tough) XT cranks and XTR everything else. Manitou Minute 1:00 holds up the front and a fox rp23 holds up the rest.
Bottom Line:
This frame does somthing special for me. I used to surround my old frames with top end stuff to squeese every bit of performance out of them. This frame does the opposite of that. From what Ive read, I got a FANTASTIC deal on this frame. Im gonna ride it like the two grand machine it is though. Im pleased.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vaughn
a Cross Country Rider
from Oroville, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
South Fork of the Walla Walla River
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
The Broken Spoke
Strengths:
Light Weight Appearance Durability
Bike Setup:
Medium Truth 2000, Z1 with the old arch, xt/xtr, thompson raceface, with new Romic rear shock, dialed for my 185 lb weight, replacing the Float R.
Bottom Line:
This is my third post on this bike. I'm very pleased with my third summer on this bike. No durability issues so far. The pivots have been quite maintenance free, the usual bane of all full shush bikes. Silence is wonderful.
The Romic is a great upgrade. It is so much more responsive than the Float R. I'm not very sophisticated about dampening, just adjusted the dials middle of the road and left it. No objective data here, but I think I can carry more speed with more control.
I do kind of bristle at the recent proclamations from Ellsworth regarding what is and what is not covered by warranty. I happened to purchase the Romic just a couple months before Ellsworth came out with the statement that warranty will not be covered if the Truth rider weighs over 180lbs and uses an air shock. Seems like a pretty subjective declaration. The air shock has worked fine for every other bike company. Why not make your bike stand up to the industry standard set by Fox? A few extra ounces of frame support to keep this a 'safe light' bike would be no big deal.
This issue of incompatibility with industry standards carries over into the problem with the derailleur hanger. A Kmart bike can even get this part right. I am sick of hearing my derailleur pulley rub up against my 34 tooth climbing gear. Maybe flipping the B-tension screw backwards works, but that is so stop gap. The screw head sits so precariously on the edge of that hanger nubbin' that it does not take much to chip that nubbin right off. The derailleur then rotates forward as the screw pushes forward, putting that upper pulley right up against the 34 tooth again. I have replaced one hanger for this reason. I understand the company line is that Shimano is to blame for making a derailleur that won't work with the Ellsworth frame. What is that?
The recent Mountain Bike Action review of an Ellsworth ID ended with a query why this 'freeride' bike only came with a 32 tooth granny rather than 34. Good question. The ID would be an ideal bike for a 34 tooth. It will take a bit more power to push this big beauty up a grade than a Truth.
The obvious reason is because the current hanger and Shimano derailleur would not work with the 34 tooth. This does not strike me as an engineering conundrum. Why does Speedgoat have to take it upon themselves to machine a hanger that is 4mm longer? Why can't Ellsworth do this? I don't think you really need a longer hanger, all you need is a hanger with the b-tension stop located a few millimeters rearward.
The last thing is just a personal thing. I like the E-plate top swing front derailleurs. In general, I like the top swing a lot better than the old bottom swing derailleurs. This bike requires the bottom swing because of the rear shock lower frame mounts. The E-type bottom swing gives snappy shifting, a low profile, and eliminates the possibility of losing your chain into your bottom bracket. I would like to see Ellsworth put an E-plate bolt tab down there along the bottom bracket.
This may be a nonpoint considering the new XTR that is coming out. That XTR bottom bracket with the externally mounted bearings does not look too compatible with an E-bracket, and I'm guessing most people in the market for a Truth would plan on dressing it up in XTR.
A minor picky thing is the rear disc brake setup. To echo Mountain Bike action...why not set up that disc side seatstay with a cable housing stop? It has got to be a little cleaner looking than my little ziptie cobbleworks. I know there are cute little aftermarket cable mounts that I can strap, zip, glue on my frame, but why? For this kind of money, I'd like to see the manufacturer take care of all these things. Probably 1 in 2 people purchasing this frame are going to put hydraulic or mechanical discs on this bike.
I have seen almost all the generations of the Truth. Each production run, even within 4 to 6 months has a little something bored out, lightened up, or reinforced. Ellsworth is constantly improving an already excellent design. Disc cable stop and derailleur hanger are easy additions to this design.
Overall, I'm quite happy with the bike. It is an all day rider. Over 2 1/2 years it has held up very well.
I almost sold this bike to a friend a few months ago, but after I thought about it I decided I would just buy another Truth if I sold it. My friend will still get a Truth sometime. I'm happy I kept mine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dogbert
a Cross Country Rider
from Lebanon, NJ Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Chimney Rock Park
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
light weight quick, snappy handling great traction on climbs Ellsworth's customer service long top tubes for a given size
Weaknesses:
not stable at speed, descents, or through rough stuff short head tube
Similar Products Used:
own(ed): Turner XCE, '99 Truth, '98 C'dale Raven 2000 demo'd: too many boutique-builder & mass-produced fs bikes to list with hi/low single pivot or horst/non-horst linkages.
I spent a year on the older Truth ('99) and almost 2 yrs on the newer Truth (2000½ SE). I will focus my review on the newer Truth for the most part.
The rear suspension on the Truth is great. It really sticks to the terrain, especially when climbing, and bobs very little. The Float R rear shock had reliability problems, and it would blow through its mid-travel. The Romic was a super upgrade, regardless of the weight penalty. Although I added the plushness of coil, each pedal stroke would spit me forward instead of causing the bike to wallow in its travel.
The Truth has nice quick handling, which is good if you're riding slow, tight, twisty, technical terrain. Once speed picked up, or the trail pointed down, the Truth would find itself out of its element. It also didn't instill confidence while riding through rock gardens since it tended to get bounced around. I eventually resorted to running a 130mm travel Z1 MCR to calm it down, although this made certain climbs more of a chore (as well as voided the warranty if I kept it that way).
With a short head tube, I had to run several spacers to give me a more comfortable "trail riding" position as opposed to a low, race-like setup.
When I noticed a cracked chainstay on my Truth, Ellsworth warranted it no problem, and fast. Kudos to Ellsworth's customer service!
In order to have a light frame, the tubing is thin. I dented the top tube on my first Truth when one of the brake levers swung around on a crash and clipped the tt. I had a dent on my new Truth on the down tube, which must have been caused by a rock kicking up.
The Truth is a fine bike, but now that I've been on a Turner XCE (which has all of the positives of the Truth, albeit in a little heavier package, but none of the drawbacks), I can say that the Truth wasn't appropriate for my riding style/terrain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, MA Date Reviewed: September 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Kingdom Trails, VT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
From LBS mechanic
Strengths:
Smooth ride, no bounce on climbs, will go over most of the roots and rocks we have in Massachusetts, beautiful bike. Creates envy in the hearts of other riders.
Weaknesses:
I snapped the top tube immediately behind the weld to the head tube, but it was a 2 year old bike
Similar Products Used:
Turner, Santa Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
XTR, Hayes hydraulics, Rolf Dolomite wheels, Thomson stem and seatpost, Race Face air alloy lite riser bar and headset
Bottom Line:
This bike is great, and even though it is expensive compared to many other FS bikes, it is worth it if you can afford it. There are a ton of reviews expressing similar thoughts, but I want to defend Ellsworth customer service because I know some reviewers have complained.
I was the second owner and had the bike for 5 months when the top tube snapped while riding a moderate singletrack at Pedrosfest. I called Ellsworth and sent it to them. Andrew in customer service helped me the whole time, and he was great. I had a new frame with the old rear triangle in a week. In my choice of colors. All I can do is praise their customer service, and I have no idea what others are talking about. It may have helped that I was nice but persistent with them. Who knows?
One last point: I think that some people buying Truths believe that it can be a freeride bike as well, and at least in New England, that may be a bad idea. Get an Id or Joker if you want to huck big stuff. But for XC riding here, it's an awesome bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pissed
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntsville AL Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
K2 Montsono State Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
hbs
Strengths:
Looks great, rides like a hard tail under power, solid as hell on roots, rocks, and anything else you can think off.
Weaknesses:
Fram broke above front D. This is not a down hill bike. I never did any big drops. 1footers at the most. Hard to get set up on shifting perfect for more than 4 rides. New stuff. Also broken lower rear end.
Similar Products Used:
856 proflex,animal proflex, (rode both for 4 years no breaky), back-up bike a rocket 88
Bike Setup:
all xt, still 30 pounds
Bottom Line:
All I can say, Is the best bike I have ever ridden. But all that doses not count if I have to send it off evey year for replacement. I ride 3 to 4 times a week 6 to 10 miles a ride. Teck single track (no big jumps). I spent big money so I would not have this problem. Never broken frame before this one. Have been riding for 7 years. I weigh 210. All I can say to ellsworth build an extra few pounds into the fram to make it last. 2 weeks out on new frame, not bad. Not much value if you have to send it back,2 chilis. Proformance Untouchable,5 chilis
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
atpjunkie
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: June 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
My Dirty Little Secret
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
North of the Border
Strengths:
Handles like a dream, great technical climber and descender. Looks great in Green. Good customer service and warranty. See Below.
Weaknesses:
seattubes tend to break, dents easily.
Similar Products Used:
Intense Tracer, Uzzi, Specialized FSR
Bike Setup:
XTR Derailleurs, XT Pods 8 Speed still rules. Avid Arch Supreme w/ Speed Dial Mag levers. Syncros Revolution Crankset, Time Pedals, Stratos Helix Expert, Marzocchi Z-2 Bam, White Industry Hubs, Sun Rhyno Lite Wheels and Thompson Post.
Bottom Line:
As you can tell first I'm not a weight weenie. I'm about 230 lbs (6'4"+) I'm big not FAT, so I built my Truth to be a Trail Bike. I'm not a wanna be North Shore drop king, just a guy who puts 150-200 miles (Road, MTB and Cyclocross) in a week. I'd consider myself a Trail Rider not a racer or freerider. So here's the skinny, first I love this Bike but I've broken 2 in less than 2 years. The second one in about 500 miles. The 2001 seat tube has a design flaw that distributes too much stress to the area just below the Gusset and just above the front derailleur. So somewhere in the middle of a ride "POP" goes the seat tube. I have now logged a total of 15 miles of hiking out of the boondocks with a broken bicycle and the second one broke on a climb, tipping me over and down into a ravine. Yes I have broken 2 in the same place. I'm now on my 3rd a 2002 which supposedly addresses the problem. I'll post a review if it happens again. Like I said I LOVE this bike it handles like no other, I just wanna be able to finish rides pedaling. Ellsworth has been great replacing them and I've had none of the customer service issues most complain about.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carbon
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Chubb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Classifieds
Strengths:
Very Light, strong, plush, great looking frame.
Similar Products Used:
First Full-suspension bike. Test rode several others.
Bottom Line:
I use to ride a Voodoo Hardtail and loved it, but I was getting tired of always having a sore ass. It was time for a new bike and had only heard of this frame. I read the reviews and found a used frame to buy.
It has lived up to everything everyone said about this frame. I constantly feel like it has a motor on the back when I'm climbing. My confidence level has sky rocketed. Perfect fit for me. It handles anything and everything nicely. Back wheel digs in with no slips on climbs. No wheelies, graceful down hill, - my love for the sport has really grown since I got this frame. I'm always wanting to ride now, whereas before it was only one of the other sports I enjoyed.
Everyone complains about the stickers falling off. I wish mine would b/c then it would keep other riders from oggling my frame and make me stop worrying so much that someone is going to steal it. I don't care what the label says or how my frame looks, just that it's a blast to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ROD
a
from CASTRO VALLEY Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
ANYTHING FAST
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
MOVIN'ONCYCLERY-----WHATS UP GREG
Strengths:
KILLER DESIGN, LOVE THE OLD ENGLISH WRITING, VERY PLUSH, LIGHT.
Weaknesses:
PRICE--HAD 2 TAKE A PARTIAL WITHDRAWL FROM MY INSURANCE POLICY 2 BUY THIS SUCKER!! DONT LIKE THERE CREST ON THE FRONT
Similar Products Used:
HAD A FISHER HARD TAIL, THIS WAS ANYTHING BUT SIMILAR
Bike Setup:
2002 TRUTH, 80X-FLY, AD-12, PAUL BRAKES, XTR,RACEFACE NEXT,KRIS KING HEAD SET AND HUBS,THOMSON STEM,EASTON CARBON BARS AND POST,WTB 250 STEALTH,MAVIC 517
Bottom Line:
TURNED MY GOLF BALLS INTO BASEBALLS AFTER 1 RIDE. IT MAKES THE TRAILS SEEM LIKE BUTTER. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING AHEAD THAT LOOKS SKETCHY JUST GO FOR IT, THIS BIKE WILL SOAK IT UP! i HAVE HAD THIS BIKE 4 A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SO FAR IT SEEMS BULLETPROOF. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. SAVE YOUR PENNIES BROTHER AND GO BUY AN ELLSWORTH!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hoser
a Cross Country Rider
from chula vista,ca Date Reviewed: January 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the Bandito trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
mission cyclery
Strengths:
light weight, good suspension travel, quick nimble handling, no real bobbing to speak of. excellent downhiller, killer climber, excels in difficult situations whether it's slick rock in Sedona or shale an' steps in Pasadena, the Truth does it all well. i did a 24 hour race in Idyllwild last year, i used my Trek STP an my Truth. i rode thru Ellsworth 20 hours straight, aboot 115 miles. it flew flawlessly down the wore out trail hour after hour saving me from certain pain an' agony that was awaiting in every corner, ditch an downhill of an endurance race. sad to say, after hour 21 the front Dolomite snapped a spoke sidelining it. if that spoke hadn't broke i woulda rode it the whole race. i've drug/carried it to immeasurable trails in search of fun, downhilled into mysterious places in Mexico with never thinking about the reliability of the bike.
Weaknesses:
i have Truth SE #33, they don't make SE's any more. the sticker's came off in aboot 6 months, but that gave me an excuse to do some customizing with some local shop stickers. hum, that's the only weakness i can come up with.
Similar Products Used:
Trek VRX 500, Sugar 1, too many Trek Y's to count
Bike Setup:
Manitou black 100-120 air, carbon monkey bars, Chris King headset, XT/XTR derailleur, XTR brakes an' shifters, hollow tech crank arms and rings, 34-22 cassette, coda hubs/bontragger hoops, Terri Ti seat, Easton seat post, Fox Vanilla Rc, 858's, panaracers firepro r-1.8/f-2.1, an slime light. flats suck.
Bottom Line:
the bottom line for me is a bike that i can take anywhere to have fun on. isn't that what were doing this for? Fun. Yeah, sometimes we race, but the whole thing is aboot fun. whether your flying down fire roads of picking your way through a rock strewn single track, this is the bike of choice for me. it's had a few teething problem but what bike hasn't. a few of the people have some harsh words for Tony an his crew, but i don't. they're good people an' they've been square with me when ever i speak with 'em, on the phone or at an event.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kenny prather
a Weekend Warrior
from boynton bch,fla Date Reviewed: January 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
J.D.
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
wheels of wellington
Strengths:
reliability, comfort,looks,the fact that not every other rider on the trail is on one.
Weaknesses:
none so far.
Similar Products Used:
4 banger,tried several other before the purchase
Bike Setup:
xtr and race face goodies,Sid sl.....
Bottom Line:
I thought I would do a one year update to let everyone know how it is holdin' up. The Ellsworth is well worth the high price tag. I went to Costa Rica for the La Ruta da los Conquistadores race. 300 miles across the country in three days 104 degrees day one, 45 degrees day two, 24,00 feet of vertical climbing, blah blah blah, it was feally stinkin' hard.I did not have to do one bit of maintinence (other than new brake pads) to my bike. The Truth was excellent. It is light (for all the climbing), 4 inches of travel on the downhills was soooooooooo nice, and the 12 miles of railroad tracks on day three was worth the $3,500 alone, I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am with this bike. I did meet two other riders on Truths, and they felt the same way I did....HAPPY!!!! I would recomend this frame highly,the riders who are unhappy with their Truths dont know what thier talkin'about.You can't be huckin' it off 8 foot drops and expect it to stay together,its for cross country riding and it doesnt get any better than this!!!!!!! RIDE ON
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
great craftsmanship, good climber w/little bob, great descender, lifetime warranty
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Fisher Sugar 1, X-Caliber
Bike Setup:
Psylo Race, Hope mini's, full XT/XTR, Easton, Thomson
Bottom Line:
You can't beat the Truth for lightweight and still 4" travel....doesn't climb as nice as the Sugar 1, but it's definately faster on the descents and alot more fun to ride.....it's an incredibly smooth bike to ride. If you are looking for the ultimate XC bike and can afford it, look no further.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony S.
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1475.00
Purchased At:
pro-form
Strengths:
smooth feel, great craftmanship.
Weaknesses:
no hydro hose mounts, poorly fitting rear disc adapter, routing of rear der cable.
Similar Products Used:
gt i-drive
Bike Setup:
romic rear shock, bomber atom 80, king, etc.
Bottom Line:
bad a** ride, but for the price I want the whole package. I would have liked to see hydro hose mounts. Also I had to grind down the rear disc brake adapter at the seat stay to fit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JP
a Racer
from Burlington, VT Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Suspension design, weight, finish, quality
Weaknesses:
Under the top tube cable routing, price
Similar Products Used:
Dean Scout, Cannondale hardtail, Cannondale Jeckyl
Bike Setup:
XTR, Thompson, Synchros, Easton, Sid 100
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. As a recent convert from hardtails, I was apprehensive about peddle feedback. The bobbing on this frame is neglible, and I only notice it if I'm looking down at the shock. When I do want to spin and accelerate on climbs, this bike responds quickly. On flats and downhills, this bike is much faster than hardtails because you never have to stop peddling. Having this efficiency with 4 inches of travel is awesome. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend this frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: November 3, 2001
2002 Elsworth Truth, Shimano XTR, Marzocchi X-Fly 100, Fox Float-R, Mavic 519 rims, Mythos Slicks, Race Face bars, CaneCreek bar ends, Time ATAC Carbon, etc...
Bottom Line:
I'm still dazed that I spent $4000 on this bike, yikes; what was I thinking? The good news is that this sucker is really well built (incredible design, laser etched decals, etc...) easily the BMW of XC bikes. I've ridden several full-sus bikes but have only owned hardtails. Aside from bombing down hills like you might expect, this bike really climbs well. It's not light and stiff like a hardtail, but the suspension really keeps the rear tire hooked up and for some reason the bike actually makes it easier to balance and "pop" over lumps that kill your momentum on a serious uphill. By far the best bike I've ever ridden, if the store offered my money back I wouldn't take it; highly recommended. Life is too short to suck, get a Truth!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jimbo Rides
a Cross Country Rider
from Glastonbury, CT USA Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
the one I have yet to ride....
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
IBD
Strengths:
Light, supple, predictable. Does what Tony says it does!
Weaknesses:
Big $$$$. Graphics, bushing durability.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondales
Bike Setup:
Cane Creek AD 10 shock, Marzocchi Z2 80mm, Cane Creek WAM Ti wheels, Race Face, XTR and SRAM
Bottom Line:
NOTE: I weigh 165 and ride the shock at 225lbs - against all recommendations made in magazines etc. Makes for a firmer ride, but makes an awesome XC set up.
I highly recommend the Truth, especially now that they have put in sealed bearings.
Best ride in the World - that's the Truth.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Albert Lew
a Cross Country Rider
from Medford MA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
harold parker sf
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
North Shore Cycles
Strengths:
straight as an arrow, confidence inspiring, plush, reliable
Weaknesses:
dents easily
Bike Setup:
ride rocks and roots at 25 lbs: Z1 XFly, Conti Survival Protection 2.3", Avid discs, XTR cranks, SRAM, King headset & hubs, Ritchey WCS stem, Monkeylite hi-rise carbon, Fox Float R, Speedplay frogs, flak jackets
Bottom Line:
This is a followup to my last review.
The Truth is a very confidence inspiring ride. The rear suspension has the three Ps: o Plush o Progressive o Predictable
and it is missing another P: o Pogo
I was inspired to write this review after doing a 3+ hour ride through Harold Parker State Forest today with dozens of other riders. Simply put, it doesn't look like anyone riding any similar bike out there has nearly the confidence you get with the Truth. Stair step rocks, roots, steep rock garden descents, drops: this is a great bike that allows to point and shoot. Heck, when there are leaves on the ground like there were today, you *can't see* what you're riding over. And riding the Truth over that terrain just feels totally natural and comfortable.
From another perspective this is a bike that puts the smile back into riding. For the hardtail convert, it will bring a whole new dimension of what is possible. For those with lesser full suspension bikes, be prepared for a quieter, stiffer, more predictable, lighter and less nervous ride.
I forgot to mention that throughout the New England spring and summer (both muddy), no maintenance was required. I can't tell you how many squeaky iDrives and others I encountered on the trails during that time.
The downside? Watch out for hard object impacts! I received dents on the top tube from someone working in my basement (they moved the bike and leaned it hard against a metal pole) and from bashing the downtube on a rock at low speed. Caveat to that is that I've heard lots of rocks banging off the bike at high speed and seen no damage to the rear "triangle" or downtube.
You get what you pay for - this is 2 grand well spent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Chicago Date Reviewed: October 27, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Anything with dirt, roots,rocks..steep and deep!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4370.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
You gotta be kidding. My bike rocks at 24lbs for a full suspension. I'll probably lighten it even more with a few upgrades.
Weaknesses:
Building a Truth cost me my part of my down payment for my BMW M3...than again, I shouldn't have blown 13G during my last trip to Vegas. Oh, well. (Note, when you're up 7000 in 20min., by a copy of MBA and drool over your next bike). Hope it doeasn't dent as easily as some others claim.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing even close... was gonna go with a Tracer, but everyone that I've met that owned a Tracer (OK 2 people), said they think the Tracer is a bit heavy. 0.7 lbs extra heavy???
Bike Setup:
Chris King headset and hubs/mavic 517. Raceface turbine Isis cranks. Easton mg60 stem, ct2 seatpost, monkey light low bar. Sid SL (should've waited for the carbon race). XTR F/R deraillers/shifter, cassette. Paul motolite brakes/levers. Vanilla R shock. Time WCS pedals.SDG Bel-air seat.Hutchinson python tires (Should've bought the Nokians)
Bottom Line:
IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, GET ONE. AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
william okura
a Cross Country Rider
from mission potato, ca. Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Crested butte.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1995.00
Purchased At:
the bike company- they rock.
Strengths:
pretty plush... i wonder if the fsr/specialized linkage is is plusher though. efficient. my friends who try it think there's a motor on it. no flex.
Weaknesses:
the new laser etched "truth" sux compared to the old style.
pedaling out of saddle's a ? though. maybe my imperfect out'o'saddle technique though. ano-finish scratches easier than most believe! paper thin tube walls dent way toooo easily. get the Id if you're rough on things. i've got a nasty eye soar of a ding under the down tube(does no harm in overall structural integrity though). i hear a lot of negative things about the quality control of these frames nowadays. BEWARE of funky inconsistent defects before you buy these products!
Similar Products Used:
spec' fsr enduro, 99 fsr elite. klein mantra(sux). the Id. lts. and my dear '94 chrome stumpjumper hardtail- many EPICjurneez on that! inherited by my fiance!
Bike Setup:
fox coil, xt drivetrain/disc, z1 qr 20 so sweet!, thomson stem/post, truvativ stylo, hayes/hugi front disc hub, rhyno lites-----------welter weight TANK! ~28LBS.
Bottom Line:
dont get me wrong... i f^@#ing love this machine!!! i truly wet my eyes through the sheer joy of riding this beast! - but that's partly due to worshipping my God in thanks for giving me health to ride and providing means for the bike.
just be careful of being swept up by the inaccurate hype about these ellsworth truths. trust no one. do your own research by test riding other great contenders like the titus switchblade, Id, spec' fsr enduros(maybe that's stretchin' it). tracers are overglorified fsr enduros. giant nrs and ventana don't work under braking..
anyways, my truth rocks! and so after 6 months...
EPICjurneez
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from Palo Alto, CA Date Reviewed: October 20, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1995.00
Purchased At:
Reed's Cyclery, San Jose, CA
Strengths:
Plush ride. Great climber. Bearings at pivots. WAS available in green. Cane Creek AD-12 is super.
Weaknesses:
Shoddy workmanship, advertised weight is bogus, BB threads not chased, company has a holier than thou, mercenary, attitude.
Similar Products Used:
Intense Uzzi
Bike Setup:
AD-12, SID SL, SRAM, Precision Billet, Tune hubs and crank, Frogs, Mrazek brakes, Monkey Lite bar, Alien post, Gore cables
Bottom Line:
Above price I paid was for the frame only. Most people looking for a Truth have already read the magazine and MTBR reviews, so I want to write mostly about my customer service experiences. I did a fair amount of research before selecting this frame and was impressed with prior posts in MTBR. However, I think Ellsworth is trying to become too mass-market oriented. The basic design I feel is very good, but the execution is appallingly poor for a frame of this price range, and the customer service borders on arrogant. First off, when I purchased my frame, I noticed that I could not make the brake arms line up with each other. After closer inspection, I discovered that the rear brake bosses were not parallel with each other, (in the horizontal axis), i.e. one boss pointed up, and one pointed down. My dealer, who is EXCELLENT by the way, agreed and called Ellsworth. The rep there, I believe it was George, checked all the other rear triangles there. He told us that ALL the rear triangles they had at their facility had bosses that were not parallel, but some were off only in the vertical axis. Another words, he was able to find a triangle where both bosses were parallel horizontally but not vertically, i.e. they got closer together towards the bosses tips. This would cause the brakes to be toed out when they were installed. I figured I could at least compensate for this inaccuracy by toeing in the brake pads more than normal, so I accepted this flaw. Incidentally, a Santa Cruz Superlight frame I first bought (as well as three others the dealer had on the floor), also had unparallel brake bosses. I found out later that the same factory the builds the Superlight frame builds the frame for Ellsworth. But at least the Superlight frame costs MUCH less! I know a lot of companies advertise bogus weights for their components, and the Ellsworth Co. seems to lack integrity in this regard as well. They widely advertise 4.9 lbs for this frame. I have a medium 2001 model in green that weighs exactly 2,608 grams with the AD-12 shock, or 5.75 pounds! Even then, I was able to build up my bike to 21 pounds complete, including a Tune bottle cage. The bottom bracket threads were not chased. I have installed many BBs over the years, and had to have the dealer chase the threads on this frame before the BB could be installed. He said that he hasn't had to do this to a new frame in years. Though not relating to construction, the Ellsworth headtube sticker was placed off center and tilted, obviously placed hastily and without much pride. When asked about this, Jody at Customer Service told me curtly that it's crooked because "it's handmade you know". When I asked her for a replacement sticker, she told me that I had to PURCHASE an entire sticker kit! After getting upset about this, she said that she'd throw one in since I was buying over $100 worth of merchandise at the same time. My merchandise came, but the sticker didn't. I had to call again and it was shipped later. When I exchanged my rear triangle, the replacement one came without the Ellsworth chainstay guard that was on the original one. I was told that I had to purchase one for $10.00. I purchased by phone, at full retail, an Ellsworth t-shirt, cap and jersey when I first bought my bike. I was told that I could exchange or return anything that did not fit. When I tried to return the jersey, I was told by George that there would be a 15% restocking fee. Here I'm buying over $100 worth of merchandise after buying a $1,995 frame, I’m giving Ellsworth free advertising, and I'm being accessed a restocking fee. I was never told I would be charged a restocking fee when I ordered the merchandise. It took one month and 4 telephone calls to George to finally get my credit card credited after they received the jersey. Due to my hassles however, he did rescind the restocking fee. I started my own company 23 years ago in the service industry, and we are still thriving today. If I treated my customers like the Ellsworth Co. treated me, I do not think this would be the case. I've always emphasized customer service. If the customer is not happy, I bend over backwards to make it right, and I certainly do not charge the customer any more money to make it right! I cannot really fault the employees who didn't treat me right, because their policies and instructions on how to run the business I'm sure come from the top. Unlike many of you who have received a phone call from a Cathy at Ellsworth after purchasing their Truth, I received no call from anyone there. (Yes, I did send in the Warranty Card). I get the feeling they are now too busy to follow up with their customers anymore. Their bikes get good reviews, but I just want to give any prospective Ellsworth buyers a heads up on what being paying customer is like. I give the frame a 2 chiles for value and poor customer service, and overall rating of 4 stars. (3 1/2 would be more accurate though.) Bottom Line: The owner has a business degree and he tries to milk every last dollar from each of his customers, at the expense of long term goodwill and loyalty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenny Prather
a Cross Country Rider
from wpb,fla Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001
Favorite Trail:
409
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
wheels of wellington
Strengths:
Customer service is super! Cathy rules. PLUSH,sweet lookin', etched name is classy, shotpeen finish is classy,workmanship is first class, bearings are oh so smooth........
Weaknesses:
NADDA
Similar Products Used:
4 banger,TREK,Cannondale
Bike Setup:
All XTR,Chris King,Easton,Race face,Time,blah blah blah....
Bottom Line:
Well I see the last reviewer works for Outland or Titus,'cause the other 100 reviewers and myself cant all be wrong,and the BIG guy before him needs to learn how to ride like a human.The new bikes are perfect! Anodized, not paint, lazer etched,not stickers,and the welds are fine,I dont know what Sam S.is talkin' about. Had mine almost a year now and I cant say enough about how sweet it is,like one reviewer said......you waste 20 min. ride time havin' people talkin' to you and checkin' it out. Save your money up and just buy one,you wont be sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Submitted by
greg miller
a Racer
from Rochester Date Reviewed: September 22, 2001
Favorite Trail:
letchworth park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Super lightweight, magnificant engineering, beautiful looks, superior handling both cross country and downhill.
Weaknesses:
I'd say, Price, but you get what you pay for. It's well worth the price. With the ball-bearing rear-end suspension, it will last for years.
$ 1995.00
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