Submitted by
KmfC
a Racer
from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Date Reviewed: November 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Trails at Slaughter Pen (to date…)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$480.00
Purchased At:
trails-edge.com
Strengths:
Steel, rigid, wet cat geometry, tire clearance, very nice price, and fast — a quality two-niner built by a dedicated two-niner company.
Weaknesses:
I wish the sweet head badge was included. That's it. I can't think of anything else as a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Rig
Bike Setup:
Built to race: SRAM X.O Twist, Middleburn 2X9 40/27, Avid Elixir CR Mag, Stans ZTR 355 with ZTR Hubs, Kenda Small Block 8s, Crank Bros Egg Beaters, KORE Elite flat bar, Ergon Grips, Thomson Stem and Seatpost, WTB Shadow V…
Bottom Line:
I love this bike — and my chosen set-up. I don't even ride the Rig that much anymore — except for the hangover inducing pub crawls. The Vassago 2010 Bandersnatch is my dedicated XC race bike. I climb better, descend faster and tight twisty singletrack is no problem. Flowing singletrack is even better. I cant wait until Summer 2010 to attack the Rocky Mountains of Colorado on this baby.
My next purchase will be the Vassago Jaberwocky single speed. Bye-bye Rig.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
thaphillips
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: October 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Erwin Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Dallas Bike Works
Strengths:
"Wet Cat" Geometry & Price
Weaknesses:
Paint, Poor Welds, Heavy Tubing
Similar Products Used:
99' Schwinn Moab, Old Specialized M2 Single Speed, 01' Bianchi C.u.S.S., 02' Jamis Dakar, 06' Strong
Bike Setup:
80mm Reba Race, 80mm Titec Pluto Stem, Truvativ Team Straight Bar, Ritchey Carbon Seat Post, WTB Saddle, Stan's Flow Rims on DMR Revolver Hubs, XT Cranks, Sram X9 Shifters, X7 Front Derailer, X9 Rear Derailer, Sram 971 Chain, UN-72 Square Taper Bottom Bracket, Avid Juicy 5's with 120 Rotors, Salsa Skewers and Seat Post Clamp. Oury Grips - Total Weight 25.4 pounds
Bottom Line:
I am not going to feed you a bunch of B.S. to try and make myself feel good about my bike purchase.
This is a 29er and will never be as nimble in the tight twisty turns as a 26" bike ......period. I tried lots of handle bars and diffrent stem lengths to try and get the bike to steer quicker. I think I finally have the bike where it steers quickly without being sketchy and still decends well. You will probably go thru alot of handle bars and stems as well if this is your first 29er. I think part of the reason the steering seemed slower was because my average speed went up. While this bike will never feel as quick steering as a 26" bike it does seem to be better than the other 29" bikes I have tried.
The geometry of the frame is what initially attracted me to the bike. Other 29" bikes felt like I was in a higher riding position and being 5'8" it felt a little unatural for me. With a 16" Vassago I felt my center of gravity was a little lower and closer to where it would be on a 26" bike. The guys here who ride these bike recommend a 80mm fork and so did the Vassago website. I really wanted to run a 100mm fork and would be intrested in hearing from those who do. I think Vassago should have designed the bike around a fork with more travel. This is the only thing I would change about the geometry. I feel this bike is a Cross Country machine built to go fast and long.
My beefs with the bike is a couple areas of quality control. The welds on the bike are not very pretty and for a $450 frame I have seen much better welds. It's cheap for a 29" frame, but frames for 20" bike cost more because they are in vogue. My other concern was the quality of the paint. I have the Blood Red and it immediatley began to chip after the first ride. This is by far the worst paint job I have ever had on a bike. Hopefully Vassago will remedy this in the future.
Last beef with the bike is the tubing used. I understand they use 4130 to keep the cost of the bike down. In the future I hope they will offer models with better quality tubing and a lighter overall frame weight. I would pay more for it.
Last issue is the gearing in general for 29" bikes. Because of the larger tires your rollout on a 29" bike is diffrent than that of a 26" bike. The granny gear could be a little smaller for Mountain climbing. The best option avail is Middleburn as they make 20T 30T 40T chainrings that are more suitable for 29" bikes. Hopefully other manufactures will take note.
Do I love the bike? YES!!! Love the speed I keep on this bike!!!
Would I buy this bike again? No I would probably get a custom builder to copy the geometry and get better welds, better tubing, and a lighter weight from the bike. I would expect to pay more for a custom frame, but I also put $1200 worth of parts on the bike and could justfy spending a litte more on a nicer frame. The bike can be built up as a budget 29er and get people into a 29" for right at a grand.
Overall Rating & Value 4 due to poor welds and paint.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
utahmountaineer
a Cross Country Rider
from Ogden, Utah Date Reviewed: June 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Steep and technical
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Lightweight, great hill climber
Weaknesses:
None found
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Vassago Bandersnatch with all the trimmings
Bottom Line:
I would love to sit and write about how awesome this bike is, but I think I'll go for a ride instead.
It's just something you have to experience for yourself.
Great job Vassago!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamesmichael
a Cross Country Rider
from newbury park Date Reviewed: April 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
any dry trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At:
bike bling
Strengths:
strong welds, steel frame, hard tail, blood red color
Weaknesses:
paint, but who cares
Similar Products Used:
first one
Bike Setup:
reba racce fork, 355 wheels, 240 hubs, elixir cr brakes, 185 rotor in front, carbon post, and bars with ergo grips. grip shifters, xtr cranks, egg beater ti's, smp saddle, 25 lovely lbs, RR2.4 front, and 2.2 rear with sealent
Bottom Line:
my 26er sits for outter towners to use. The 2.4 RR up front are fantastic, stablizing, and the ergo grips this bike feels sooo great. I love it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
plastics
a Weekend Warrior
from houston, tx Date Reviewed: February 27, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$429.00
Strengths:
Fun all rounder. rolles realy fast. excellent climber. can also stand the abuse of all mountain, light dh.
Weaknesses:
paint.
Similar Products Used:
Titus ML1- 26"
Bike Setup:
FOX 29 80MM FORK, XO shifters and RD, Truvativ stylo crank, xt hubs with mavic rims
Bottom Line:
Fun, fun, fun bike. Totally different than 26". not better or worse just two different rides. 29" wheels are perfect on hardtails, feels like my full suspension.
Excellent customer support.
Highly reccomended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jolson
a Racer
from Myersville, Md Date Reviewed: January 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Frederick watershed
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Web
Strengths:
This is a great riding bike. On the trail it feels smooth and strong rolling over everything with ease. The greatest strength however is this bikes ability to climb. Its almost like something is pushing you up the hill.
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Full rigid with the Odis fork (also great)
Bottom Line:
Bottom line, Vassago makes a fast and comfortable 29er that rides great(especially climbing). I have done short cross country races to 100 milers and the bike felt great the whole time. Even after spending 12 hours on my Vassago I still look forward to riding it the next day.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
livdatrail
a Cross Country Rider
from Puerto Rico Date Reviewed: December 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Monagas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$429.00
Purchased At:
Bike29
Strengths:
Price, steel makes for a very smooth ride, geometry steers like a 26er (no joke)
Weaknesses:
Doesn't come with a seat clamp...
Similar Products Used:
Salsa Mamasita only 29er. Have owned SC Blur and Heckler, Specialized Stumpy FSR, Gary Fisher Sugar and even a Haro VL120
Bike Setup:
Large frame, Fox F29 100mm, Crossmax 29er, Sram XO, Thomson stem and seatpost, Crhis King headset, Shimano xt cranks, Titec carbon riser, Avid Juicy Ultimate disc and eggbeater pedals = 25.8lbs
Bottom Line:
I don't usually write reveiws but this bike deserves one!!! My first 29er was a Salsa Mamasita and it was a good bike if you are a racer. It was compliant but it was just to nervious on the downhills.
Well back to the real deal. This bike is AWESOME!! No joke. It is very forgiving and compliant as the Mamasita but the stabilty on this thing is incredible. This is what Vassago is proud of and they have the right to be. The geometry is different than other 29ers with traditional 72 degree angles. This bike has a 71 degree angle and add a Fox F29 100mm and you got a decender. I find myself ripping through choppy rooty downhills with a few steps on the way and can't wipe the smile of my face at the bottom. The steering is even more awesome. It really steers like a 26er but carves turns way better. This is my only bike since I sold my 4" fs stumpy and don't regret it at all.
With all this talk you would think I work for Vassago but how can I. I live in Puerto Rico. If you are contemplating on a 29er don't ignore this baby. You will not be dissapointed...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SheDevil
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All of them...
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Perfect geometry....AWESOME climber....very smooth bike and very forgiving for a hard tail. Goes where you point it...and handles almost anything.
Weaknesses:
Hard tails keep you out of your seat....there are no weaknesses other than not finding it sooner!
Similar Products Used:
Salsa Dos
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, XT 29er rims, carbon and ti...light light light!!!
Bottom Line:
I've ridden a few bikes over the last year...and this one is impressive. It'll climb anything and be your new favorite to ride. Trust me ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
OilcanRacer
a Racer
from wasatch Date Reviewed: September 17, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The geometry is perfect. Slight steel flex is in the right place to be comfortable and usable(downhills and rough spots) while being stiff when climbing. For a hardtail I am fresh all day long and it soaks up/rolls over rocks.
Weaknesses:
Mid rage price and weight. But good enough to race on.
Similar Products Used:
I tried niners, moots, astrix, Gary Fisher, redline, specialized, cannondale, kona, salsa all hardtails
Bike Setup:
Currently f29(80mm), all xtr, stans flow/hope pro II, ti bolts though out, shwallabe RR 2.4 front, michelin xc at 2.2 on back, formula oro barakes, carbon post and stem....21.33 lbs
Bottom Line:
This bike has revolutionized my riding. I have been reinspired to race again and have had nothing but 1st place finishes again. I cannot wipe the smile off my face after a ride.
I am 5'10" and choose the 16". With the longer top tube and a 100mm stem I feel perfect and very stable. I would not have thought with the numbers that I could be so comfy streached out, but it works better than any other bike I have owned(many many). I am in a better areo position and more stable for downhill at the same time.
I can feel the frame flex on really rough downhill trails, but not while hammering/standing hillclimbs. My backround is velodrome sprinting and road racing(hill climb jersey everytime). I can shear teeth off of chainrings and snap chains, but this frame stands up amazing in the last year I have punished it on our utah trails. We have some of the steepest, punishing trails around and this bike has shined though all of them.
I am the kind of guy that rides to the mountain, rides up the mountain road to the trail, rides it, then rides home. Even on the street this bike is great.
There is a Ti version, but I like the way the steel feels better. I spend all my money on bikes, so i can afford anything under the sun. I like this bike best.
Next year I will even be entering a couple of road racing hillclimbs on it(while everybody else rides road bikes) and am still the odds on favorite to win.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
plantme777
a Weekend Warrior
from winston salem nc usa Date Reviewed: September 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
overmountain victory trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
bike 29
Strengths:
(design, geometry, handling) - versatility - seems willing to recieve abuse - The 2008 blood red is a very nice paint job - lateral rigidity - vertical compliance
Weaknesses:
The frame came with enough overspray on one of the rear brake mounts that I had to face this before mounting the rear brake. However, this appeared to be a fluke, as if the masking there had peeled back a bit and allowed some paint build up where bare metal was supposed to reside. Very minor problem, and the only weakness I have found after just two weeks of riding.
Similar Products Used:
redline monoocog flight - have mostly ridden fs 26inch bikes for the past several years
Bike Setup:
18 inch 2008 blood red bandersnatch-110mm White brothers 20mm thru axle-1x9-abuse rated components-about 27 lbs as is.
Bottom Line:
I decided to make the switch from full suspension 26 inch to hardtail 29 inch based on curiosity from all the review and forum talk and the desire to ride faster, lighter, with more finesse, and work towards getting in better riding shape.
The bandersnatch won me over after much research. Also in my top five were the niner mcr or sir, on one inbred, qball, redline flight (which I have owned previously).
So I anxiously awaited the arrival of the frame from bike 29. (very personable and pleasing service from George) Built it up from a parts bike that I bought way cheap on ebay, and rolled onto the trails with a very capable complete bike that cost me about $750 total. Ebay is unbelievable sometimes and the Bandersnatch is a great deal.
Enough of the secondary stuff, as far as the RIDE: It is not overrated at all! I have tried to be very objective about my perception while riding this bike. In the first two weeks I have often been pleasantly surprised. I wanted an efficient hardtail that could handle the torque and weight of my 215lb frame. I wanted to be able to treat it like an all mountain/light freeride type of machine at times. I wanted to be confident when both wheels leave the ground for seconds at a time. This bike allows me all of these confidences. It climbs like a goat, is oh so flickable in the air, and the vertical compliance is very much noticeable. I am truly impressed. I had my fears about a 110mm fork affecting the handling poorly, but George at Bike 29 assured me that the thru axle rake would compensate, and it did. The handling is second nature. I haven't even given much of a thought while riding because it seems so familiar. This bike is nimble and stable and strong, all in one package. I promise I am not usually this easily impressed. This bike is worth a try...
Long term review to follow in a few months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
vmaximus
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego Date Reviewed: August 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon, Santa Ana River Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At:
North of the Border
Strengths:
For the money its hard to find fault on this frame. The paint job is gorgeous and Vassago is definitely on to something with the "wet cat" frame geometry, it is spot on. I am 5' 8" and I do not feel like I'm riding a bike that has larger wheels at all. If anything the geometry actually makes me feel like I am lower to ground, with very nice center of gravity. The combination of larger wheels and frame geometry forces you to lean into corners and use more body english, but it is a willing steed on all types of terrain. There a lots of discussions regarding 29ers being sluggish to accelerate, this is completely true, however they also seem to keep more momentum when they get going, hence the reputation for 29ers climbing prowess. This frame is an excellent climber, so much so that I built it as a 1 x 9. I've yet to miss my granny or big ring.
Descending on this bike is surprisingly smooth, it definitely takes some getting used to. I'm no Freeride/DH'er, but its is actually a very supple frame.
Complete bike can be built up to a svelte sub 24lb ride rather easily.
Weaknesses:
The frame weighed in at almost half a pound heavier than advertised for a 16".
Some of the welds are not so nice.
The wait to get one was 6 weeks, and it seemed the Vassago rep took his sweet time shipping it out from the East coast.
Similar Products Used:
'93 Stumpjumper M2, '97 Litespeed Obed, 2000 KHS Team.
Great deal for the money. I was looking to replace my Tracer but I found the whole 29er scene intriguing. The frame is cheap enough to build up a complete bike for less than $1200, but its nice enough to justify putting really nice stuff on it too. Most importantly its a blast to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
goose8
a Cross Country Rider
from Saranac Lake, NY, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
flume trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$429.00
Purchased At:
Trails Edge (free sh
Strengths:
Stable, nimble. Climbs beautifully and carves singletrack with aplomb. The steel frames flexes where it should and is stiff where it ought to be (BB area, etc.). I am pretty big and tend to be hard on equipment and I can't flex the BB enough to notice it. Rolls over things that would stop a 26er dead.
Weaknesses:
Weight? Reasonable for a steel frame. Limited sizes? Not really an issue for me because it fits well. Paint has scratched a bit but that is to be expected when you fall onto rocks. No test rides/demos available in my neck of the woods - the only dealer within 3 hours didn't have a frame built up for me to try.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F29, Specialized Rockhopper 29
Bike Setup:
RST M-29 80mm fork. Mary bar.
Bottom Line:
The first time I rode this bike on the road I was surprised at how stable it was. I was worried that it would turn into a tank on tight trails but it actually rides better than any of my 26ers ever did. During my first trail ride I felt confident enough to tackle the hardest obstacles despite the brand new bike - riding this bike just plain feels good!
Let's just say that I tried this bike on a bit of a whim and I am thrilled that I did. It's now the only mountain bike in my stable - sold my full-suspension Giant Trance because I liked this better.
If the geometry of the frame fits you, then take a leap and give it a shot. It's a great frame period, but it's especially appealing given the price. I love this bike and heartily recommend it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stuart Gray
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, LA Date Reviewed: April 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Comite
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Mid-City Bikes
Strengths:
Frame, this thing is surprisingly nimble. Vassago nailed the geometry with the Wet Cat design. My build was designed with durability in mind, since I am rough on components. My bike weighs 30 pounds, and it handles effortlessly.
Weaknesses:
Color options.
Bike Setup:
This crap don't matter, spec it to suit your style.
Bottom Line:
I LOVE THIS BIKE!!!
Handles great, fast, climbs great....everything about this bike kicks ass. I am so glad I got a 29er. This thing eats roots and craps rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Erikson
a Weekend Warrior
from UT Date Reviewed: April 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry, Broken Mesa Rim
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Vassago web site
Strengths:
Excellent on the climbs, quality frame, rides like a short travel suspension bike without the weight
Weaknesses:
Limited colors, no replaceable derailur hanger
Similar Products Used:
Kona unit29, GF Rig
Bike Setup:
Reba SL, XT hubs/Delgado, XTR/XT drivetrain, Race Face post/stem, Easton Monkey bar
Bottom Line:
Overall I am really diggin' the bike, after riding with my buddy (who was on a FS bike) and seeing him drive a straight line through the rocks and then him realizing I was right behind him doing the same. Then when we got to the water pit at the bottom of the hill he got hung up and had to put his feet down and I just trucked right through it without thinking of stopping. AMAZING.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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