|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Prague-AM-Rider
a Downhiller
from Prague
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | www.jejamescycles.co | | Strengths: | Very light and easy to manouver! Love the Equilink system its fantastic with minimal to 0% pedal bob. Forks are fantastic and you can adjust whilst riding :) - Jumps very well and the overall quality is fantastic value for money! (Oh also... people cant help but stare at this bike all the time!) | | Weaknesses: | *Bars & Stem - These (At 50mm rise)are just wrong! The bike is about 2 inches shorter due to the Equilink system being in the way! this should (hypothetically) mean they add the extra length to the the front stem to compensate for this (but they dont) Read the Bikeradar review on this Bike here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/redemption-2-08-31372
* Seatpost - you can compensate the odd frame sizing by buying a Thomson Elite Layback! these are super strong and look cool too!
*Seat - Like riding on a granite slab but this is OK for half hour (MAX!) I swaped mine for a WTB Pure V Race Saddle - This is Wade Simmons saddle choice and its very comfy..
* Tyres - The Maxxis Ignitors are top notch tyres for Downhill/Freeride! "BUT" For rolling ressistance for those of us who ride a fair bit of road to get to our trails then maybe these are not best! I had alook around and for the money I have gone for 2.1 Tioga Square 8 Tyres. These are great for the road & super gripy too + when I go off road they are very nice & again love the rocky hard packed dirt and lose stuff for trails (They dont like thick mud though so be warned)
* Lastly the breaks are not he strongest & they are very squeaky if wet/a bit gritty but they managed to save a guy and his dog when they stepped out in front of me from nowhere!! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stab (2006 - my previously much loved baby) | | Bike Setup: | Swapping Stem for: Thomson Elite X4 Stem 80mm 0deg (or) FSA-FR 70mm as I tried a FSA Ride @ 100mm but was to long and far to flimsy/flexi!
* Swapping to 25mm riser bar: Either FSA K-Force carbon (or) 19mm Race Face Atlas?
* Will be adding a E-13 DRS - BB (ISCG)Chain Guard soon too!
*Also as stated I have changed tyres too Tioga Square 8 Tyres
*Next new Item coming will be: Rock Shox Poploc Pure Lockout Upgrade Kit (This costs £61.99 from chainreactioncycles.com)
| | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome+++++! It rides amazing and is a dream on the trail/downhill! (I would advise getting an air valve pump as the bike comes with only bout 180 in the can! I weigh in @ 94Kilo's so I had to put it up to 270 otherwise it felt a bit to spongie)
I have made a few changes to the bike over the time I have had it and I think I am now totally happy with it! As I only paid $1300 for it I think it was a bargain! I could of gone for a Kona Coilair (which was my other choice) but that was an extra $500 more so i saw no need when this bike is fantastic! I would have to say that if your after a good bike for not to much $$$$ then this is the one for you!
(Please note) I ride about 70% road and 30% trail - this bike was not really suited for what I want & had it not been so cheap I would of gone with something a bit lighter & with front & rear lock out) "But" I only wanted 1 bike I could ride in all conditions/terrain - whether it be, Road/Trail/Downhill/North-shore & all with minimal pedal bob! I live in Prague (CZ) & we have a lot of mixed terrain here! so i needed something Light/With a bolt through front axle/200mm+ front disc & 6"travel & to top all that off it had to be around £800!! This I have to say is 100% all my boxes ticked!
I only put 4 chillies as I see having to spend money on a seat/Post/Bar/Stem a bit of a waste! It warrants 5+ for the ride alone I assure you :) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pvsd4090
a Cross Country Rider
from Breckenridge, CO. USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Peaks Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Freeride | | Strengths: | Lyric fork is stout with tons of adjustment. Geometry fits me well. Nice paint scheme. Strong brakes. Nice feel to the cockpit; stem,bars,grips all have great feel and geometry to me. | | Weaknesses: | Fox DHX 3 Air seems to have poor mid stroke compression and limited adjustability. Seat is uncomfortable and there is no quick release on seatube; which is essential for a 6+ inch travel mtb. | | Similar Products Used: | 05 Jeckyll 800 | | Bike Setup: | 08 Redemption 2; stock. | | Bottom Line: | Got the bike 50% off from local dealer. Overall great bike for AM. Very beefy frame and with good part spec. Lyrik fork is off the chain; strong, stiff, great adjustability. DHX in rear does not equal the capability of the Lyrik in front. Bike is well spec'd for heavy duty AM. Around 35lbs for M 17.5 on my scale. If your trails are very bumpy with steep down segments this is the bike for you.
Will give 4 flamin' chilis for value because this bike listed for 3500$...could have better rear shock,seat,cassette,chain,wheelset for that price; but for what I paid..I am very happy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CraptacularOne
a Weekend Warrior
from Hollywood Florida
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Washing Machine | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes & Boards | | Strengths: | Pedaling efficiency, extremely predictable descending, equilink suspension, climbing is also very easy thanks to your weight being over the rear tire. | | Weaknesses: | Weight (but if you're descending this becomes a plus) | | Similar Products Used: | 07 Felt Virtue 3
| | Bike Setup: | 08 Felt Redemption 3, all stock from the factory. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is amazing in it's forgiving ride characteristics. You can literally make your own line with this thing. While your friends doge and weave to find a good line you can just pedal over nearly anything on the trail. From rock gardens, to gnarly roots and everything in between this bike eats it for breakfast.
The bike is surprisingly fast and really transitions it's weight well in the corners. It climbs nearly as good as my last bike (07 Felt Virtue 3) but it lets descend that hill you just climbed with supreme confidence. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Exfactoryguy
a Weekend Warrior
from Waianae, HI
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Horse Thief | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | IT & B | | Strengths: | This Bike is absolutely Amazing. I love to ride technicle stuff and this bike is extremely balanced for it. This rig climbs fantastic and screams downhill. | | Weaknesses: | The Equilink gets in the way of the anchor bolt on the SRAM X9 front derailleur. | | Bike Setup: | Felt Redemption Team Frame, DHX 5.0 rear shock, Marzocchi 55 slider, sunline carbon bars, sunline headset, Thompson seatpost, Thompson X4 stem, Hadley Hubs with 819 wheels, Pure V Team saddle, Full XT M770 transmission triggers and shadow rear derailleur, Hayes Stroker Trail brakes, | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome. I built my bike from the ground up. This bike is the most efficient bike I have ever had. This bike has almost seven inches of travel yet it is as efficient as a light weight, three inch travel, cross country bike. Out here in Hawaii we have a variety of terrain, dry powder and mud and wet roots, and everything in between depending on where you are and the weather. This bike is great on the dry stuff and it is just as good on the wet. Steep climbs, Steep descents, slow technical obstacles, high speed technical stuff, nothing fazes this bike. I did a race on this bike and my lap times were almost as fast as those that had "high speed" race cross country bikes. This is a true all mountain bike. Buy one you will not be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scarney19
a Downhiller
from SAn Dimas, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2399.00 | | Strengths: | I love this bike. I have only had it for week and gone on 3 rides with it. I have taken it on some pretty aggresive trails and have had no issues with. Now that I got the suspension tuned right, I can really fly down the hills. I like the bike because it has the a mild downhill bike feel, but it climbs really good as well. The RockShox Lyrik fork in amazing and I think the best feature on the bike. | | Weaknesses: | I have heard the horror stories about the rear Fox DHX air 3.0 shock. I have had any problems yet, but if I do, I may have to upgrade. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. The price tag is a little hig($3500), But I got a steal on mine....$2399 well worth every penny. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dirtbikerpbdave
a Downhiller
from Bolton, Connecticut
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Fern at Case Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | The bike (Felt Redemption 2)is awesome so far. Although I've only had it for 2 days and gone on 2 rides with it. It only weighs 34 pounds so it climbs very well for a Dh/FR bike. Also, the Equilink works really good. I don't have any pedal bob when sitting down and pedaling. Uphill the Equilink helps because you still get power and it still absorbs all the bumps. Its a really easy bike to climb with because bumbs are so smooth on it even when you have the pressure in the shock high like I do. Off of jumps the boost valve works great. I went off a 6 or 7 foot drop with a really really flat landing and that was the only time that I got the measuring O ring thing to go to the bottom of the shaft (but it didn't fall off the shaft. I also could have pumped the shock up more and that would have helped with that drop but overall it was very smooth for the size and roughness of the drop. Its extremely smooth going downhill. I cant really get the travel to go to 165mm in the front it only goes to 160 on the gauge but thats fine. Apparently the shock is famous for having problems (look at the review for the 3.0 air on this website) but mine came with custom valving and its fine. Overall its an awesome bike and if you could get it I would recommend it. | | Weaknesses: | None so far really. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Coil Air. | | Bike Setup: | nothing but stock stuff i think. | | Bottom Line: | get it if you can get a good deal on it. msrp is $3500 so its not cheap if u get it new. Oh and the paint job is awesome. I only gave it 4 chilis for value because its so expensive new. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ejheverest
a Cross Country Rider
from Gloucester, Ma.
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dogtown | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 1800.00- | | Strengths: | equilink rear suspension design, efficiency of bike. Bullet proof frame, Rock shox Lyric U-turn 160mm fork works great. Build kit is ok, avid juicy 5 brakes, sram 9 rear, sram 7 shifters, lx cranks. | | Weaknesses: | haven't found any yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Transition Preston FR 2007, Norco Six one 2007, 2008 | | Bike Setup: | stock build 2008 Felt Redemption 2, plan to buy different pedals, a quick-release seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I was looking at all-mountain full suspensions for the last year, I compared the Cove G-spot, Norco Six 2, Santa Cruz Bullit, and Transition Preston FR.
If you are looking for a capable XC full-suspension bike but, want something to take to the ski areas in the summer and bomb downhill without worrying about breaking the frame this bike kicks ass. It weighs around 33 lbs and has the 1 1/2 headtube for more fork options. A new Redemption 2 goes for around 33-3500$. My bike was a demo and was only ridden a few times plus I paid half price. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
