Just add race numbers. The official bike of the privateer cross-coountry racer, the Zaskar pays dividends for riders who pay their own way by providing them with the lightweight, responsive ride they need to be able to rise through the amateur ranks. New 29" wheel, force optimized construction carbon, triple triangle design hardtail, w/ tapered 1.5" - 1.125" head tube, post mount style disc brake mount, replaceable derailleur hanger.
Submitted by
psyclist
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2012
Strengths: Light and tough
Great vibration damping
Stiff in all the right places
Great climber
Great component kit
Weaknesses: Gel coat quite fragile and easily scratched
Wheelset seems a bit overbuilt for this type of bike
OE tyres a bit on the sketchy side
Ridiculous girly white grips
Would have liked to see a BB30 intreatd of the outboard bearings
Bottom Line:
This is one great bike. It is smooth and certain in its handling and typically for a 29er rolls over the rough stuff beautifully. Tapered headset and 12mm through axle on the front give incredible stiffness. BB is plenty stiff but would have liked to see a BB30 at this level. Rear dropouts are great and have the ability to be changed out or modified.
Wheelset is on the heavy side but I guess it is bombproof..but hey..this is a XC bike so why would you put an all mountain wheelset on it, or if it is an all mountain set why wold you fit the light MaxxisAspen tyres?.
Component mix otherwise is excellent. I have no experience with the Formula R1X but they are powerful enough and have great feel... they tend not to lock up.
Shimano XT 2 by 10 is great! you can use every gear combination. might be a bit tough for less strong riders..but they are not likely to buy this baby are they!
