Description:If you’re looking for big, fast, and light, your search ends with Mamasita. The scandium frame uses specially shaped chainstays (ala the Dos Niner) along with newly designed carbon seatstays to facilitate vibration damping. Cable housing guides are also directly integrated into the carbon seatstays.
Mamasita is the evolution of the proven Moto Rapido hardtail into the 29’er format. The frame is designed around an 80mm travel RockShox Reba suspension fork. The 18” frame weighs 3.4 lbs while the complete bike pictured comes in at just under 21 lbs.
Submitted by
rhadrj
a Racer
from Fenton, MO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Chubb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Incredbily fast handling, light and stiff. What more can you ask for.
Weaknesses:
Probably will not last forever with how light the bike is built.
Similar Products Used:
Dos Niner, Moots YBB, Independent Ti Deluxe
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Reynolds Topo 29, Ritchey WCS everything else.
Bottom Line:
What more can you ask for at the price. No other bike I have ever raced has been more comfortable and fast at the same time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ejprez
a Racer
from Erie, PA, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Asbury.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Countrysidecycling.c
Strengths:
Light, stiff, and rides great.
Weaknesses:
Flat chainstay on rear disc side gets scratched when I take out the wheel by the rotor.
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper, Trek Elite 9.8, BMC Team Elite.
Bike Setup:
Kings hubs, Stan's Arch, Aerolite spokes. Sram X.0, Juicy Carbons, Race Face Deus, Solos Headset, Thomson post. Yada, Yada, Yada.
Bottom Line:
The more I read about 29ers, the more I wanted one. Read an article in Velonews with Jeremy Horgan Kolbelski. A week after reading, sold the 26er and fork. Relaced the hubs to Stan's Arch, and got myself a Reba Race. I love the way this bike rides, I made the rotational weight of the wheels as light as possible.
Could of been lighter, but thought the Arch rim would be better suited to me than the ZTR Race 29 rim. You can get a lighter frame by niner, fisher or orbea, but I think this bike is light enough. I would only save a half of a pound. Put the money in the wheels, I will eventually experiment with a rigid fork and cross tires.
Had some issues with trying to take the rear wheel out, my rotor sometimes hits the flattened chainstay, I need to learn better finesse. The flat chainstays are really cool looking and I'm sold on that they smooth the ride out. I had a carbon mountain bike before and this rides similar. The bigger wheels might be a part of that too. 6'2 ride a large, and think the fit is right on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA Date Reviewed: May 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
blankets creek
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Strengths:
Light and very fast. Climbs amazing.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher
Bike Setup:
XT Cranks, X.9 shifters and rear derailer, XT front derailer, Reba fork, Bontarager post and stem, Bontrager bars, Juicy 7's.
Bottom Line:
This is my first product review. I like this bike so much that I felt the need to write a review. I am 6'2" - 190 and this bike in a large really does fit me great. I have had a few scratches here and there on the frame but the paint really doesn't seem that fragile to me. I have had an FSR and a hardtail 26er singlespeed for 3-5 years and this is my favorite bike. I sold my FSR and bought this bike and have no regrets. The gearing on the 29er does take some getting used to. I am sold on the 29er technology. It is not quite as soft as I thought it was going to be but still a great bike. I would recommend this bike to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tozamile
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington DC Date Reviewed: April 16, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
super light, climbs like a mountain goat, rolls over anything. The 29" wheels and carbon seatstays make for comfortable/responsive ride. This bike is just as comfortable and out performs my old FS by a long shot
Weaknesses:
a bit narrow on rear wheel clearance, but not really an issue.
Bike Setup:
rock shox reba, X9/7 drivetrain, truvativ cranks, FSA carbon riser bars, avid BB7, Thomson stem and seatpost, Chris King headset and hubs, Stan's Arch rims
Bottom Line:
The best hardtail I've ridden. I built this for some xterra and cross country racing this season. For shorter distance races and being 6'2" the 29er hardtail seemed the way to go. So far it's surpassed all my expectations.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark dunn
a Cross Country Rider
from portland, or Date Reviewed: March 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Burma peak/ Greys Butte
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycles in Corvallis, OR
Strengths:
Seems to handle well, manueverable, predictable, very supple in terms of absorbing bumps but still providing rider input to trail. Also well balanced. Climbs well and descends equally well. Fabrication appears to be of quaility - no ugly welds, uneven surfaces or paint drips.
Weaknesses:
Very cheap finish - easily scuffs and scratches. Those fancy flared chain stays are great mud collectors
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Key points here is that I have a Ti Syncros seat post that is complementary in terms of soaking up shock. For wheels I had some fairly light Velocity Blunts laced to Hope Pro hubs. Wide width of 28MM - allows very low tire pressure.I would recommend the wide rim for larger riders. Mike Garcia was the builder and he is great to work with. The Reba SL seems to work just fine. But I am not one to constantly fiddle with fork set-ups.
Bottom Line:
Overall a pleasure to ride. I am new to the 29ner scene. I am only 5'9' and feel fairly comfortable on a Md/lrge (2007 model) size. In 2008, Salsa went to the normal small, medium and large sizing. My report is initial in that I have only done 3 hour rides. I will update with a later with a more comprehensive report on longer rides with varying terrain experiences. Concerns are on the durability of the Scandium frames which are pretty much known to be disposal. But I think that the carbon seat stays should help with the durability. I hope this review helps.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from New Mexico Date Reviewed: February 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Monarch Crest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Outdoor Adventures LC NM
Strengths:
Reasonable weight, quick steering for a 29er, smoother than most hard tails.
XT Cranks, X.9 shifters and rear derailer, XT front derailer, Reba race fork, Salsa Delgado rims, Thomson post and stem, Bontrager carbon bars, Juicy 7's.
Bottom Line:
This is not the lightest bike, but the ride quality is exceptional. The head tube is a bit steep, but does not detract from the stability of the bike, while it allows it to steer quickly. I am 6'3" and ride a 22" which has roughly the same tob tube length as a Genesis 1 Fisher XL.
I really love the bike, the carbon stays seem to take a little bit of sting out of rough stuff, and the bike feels stable all of the time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from San Jose Date Reviewed: February 12, 2008
Just an initial review after a ride or two but this frame is really well made. Not sure how it's going to hold up but it rides great (very fast) and the carbone helps take the edge off on long rides. This is my first 29er after racing for years on 26" F/S and Hardtail. Much [prefer the way a 29er handles around here. I also have to say that both Salsa and bikeman.com were great about advice and setup assitance. I would love to give them lots of my business going forward. After riding a cross bike and mothballing my F/S I'm convinced that 29ers are the way to go for just about every kind of riding (especially when you're 6' 3" like me).
~Cheers
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eli L
a Cross Country Rider
from Belmont, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tamarancho
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Light, responsive, striking graphics, great geometry, unrivaled traction
Weaknesses:
more clear coat needed - scratches too easily
Similar Products Used:
Giant Reign, GF 29er (test ride), On One Inbred (Demo)
Bike Setup:
F29, C29SSMAX, KForce Light, XO, Marta SL, Exiwolf
Bottom Line:
This bike is extraordinary. After demoing an Inbred 29er and test riding a few others, I went full bore into 29er. I even sold my 6" travel rig - and I have no regrets. The bike has handled everything that I endeavored to do with my 6" rig with agility and confidence. In some instances it even does it better! I have done back to back rides with both and the Mamasite excels in climbing and cornering traction, certain rocky descents, and "flight stability." I still prefer the full suspension rig for mindless bombing, tight switchbacks, and ill-advised landings. That said, the Mamasita forces me to make better (wiser) choices...and that sounds like progress to me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon Date Reviewed: January 7, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycles.com
Strengths:
Light frame, striking paint and graphics. Nice ride quality Solid fit and finish
Weaknesses:
Made in Taiwan Nice looking bike for 1 week than scratches take over - more clear coat, please.
Similar Products Used:
Custom Vulture, Blur LT, road bikes
Bike Setup:
White Brother's Rock Solid carbon 29er fork, Xero Element wheelset and some borrowed parts from other bikes to get it up and running.
Bottom Line:
What an awesome Christmas gift - I love this bike! The paint is fragile and scuffs very easily - moreso than any other bike in the fleet. That being said, it's all good - it's muddy right now anyway.
I like the ride quality, it's not too stiff and feels very intuitive into and out of turns. While the head angle seems steep on paper, it rides very nicely and does not feel twitchy and I'm no XC racer. This is the steepest head angle of my 3 MTBs, but it seems 'right' for the bike. I think the solid front fork helps with handling and makesw the front end feel 'flickable' by keeping the weight down. It does seem a bit sluggish up steep singletrack climbs, but a 2200 gram wheelset with Panaracer 2.35's aren't helping that either.
I was nervous when I saw 'Scandium' that it would be a harsh ride, but honestly, (as with all scandium frames) I'll bet it is well less than 1% Scandium and it seems built right to be very responsive but short of harsh. Full Cycles.com rocks and this bike is a keeper for sure.
Great ride so far. I'll post more in the dry weather.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from falls church virginia USA Date Reviewed: December 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Lane (VA)
Strengths:
light and very quick handling. great for twisty single track.
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
fisher paragon, ferrous
Bike Setup:
Old XTR, Stans 355s with King hubs, Gobi saddle, Avid Mech Discs, easton carbon bars and seatpost, XTR pedals, FOX RLC fork, maxxis ignitor/crossmark tires.
Bottom Line:
great race bike. handles much quicker than the fisher 29ers i own, wo being twitchy. almost do not know i am on a 29er. rides much like my old rocky mountain vertex (71/73 race bike). bottom bracket seems low, as expected on a race bike. my heel sometimes brushes the shaped chain stay. just replaced rigid switchblade with FOX Fork. that gets it to 25.5 lbs with pedals. So far the extra fork weight is well worth the performance improvement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scooter Fleming
a Racer
from Frisco, CO USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Montezuma Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4900.00
Purchased At:
Bike Source
Strengths:
Very light race frame, quick, and comfortable for a hardtail.
Weaknesses:
Still a big bike! Hard to get an XL frame down to low 20 lbs.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Rig 29 SS, Trek Top Fuel 110, Specialized Epic
Bike Setup:
XTR crank and fder, Avid Juicy carbon hydraulic brakes with 8 inch rotors, XO trigger shifters, XO rder, Easton EC90 carbon seatpost, Easton carcon monkey-lite handlebar, Easton EC90 stem, Chris King headset, Reba race front fork, Fizik Aliante ti carbon saddle, DT Swiss custon built wheels with Maxxis race tires, Crank Brothers quad-ti pedals.
Bottom Line:
So far, a great bike! Climbs very well and descends with confidence. I have built this as light as I can, and for a XL this bike weighs 25.5 lbs. I'm 6'4" and 190 lbs and the bike fits me so much better than my 26' race bike. I race and train in Colorado, so this bike will be tested! As a note, BikeSource in Denver was terrific to deal with in the build process. Ask for Bob Copeland and he will take very good care of you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a Racer
from Hayward, WI Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Strengths:
Light Weight Looks Geometry
Weaknesses:
Thin tubing? It is light. Paint is a little delicate. The price you pay for pretty.
Similar Products Used:
Salsa Bandito Trek 5200 Redline Monocog 29er
Bike Setup:
1x9 w/ Carbon Rigid Fork
Bottom Line:
Great racing frame with a nimble feel for a 29'er. My build is very light and coming off of the Monocog I feel like I gave away a kidney or two, and took some EPO. Fast up the hills.
I am 6' 5" tall and the 22" frame feels great to me.
I am giving it a good review after one race. I looked at a lot of 29'ers and I am happy with the feel and value of this frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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