Submitted by
mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Littleborough, lancs Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
ladybower. twar. mbr. stainburn
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
this bike is a true all rounder. stomps down any techical descent the peak district has to offer yet still light enough to do the grizedale challenge on.
Weaknesses:
pivot bushes instead of bearings. also, torque the pivot bolts and they come loose, tighten em a bit more and the suspension has stiction.
Similar Products Used:
norco six one. specialized sx. marin wolf ridge. santa cruz bullit. specialized big hit.
Bike Setup:
stock apart from mavic sx wheels and some carbon bars.
Bottom Line:
this bike is truely amazing, it gives me the confidence my norco used to but is still light enough to do a days riding to somewhere remote. its not without faults though, the suspension design lets it down, with needle bearings or shanked bolts that could be tightened properly, the suspension would really come alive. also the lyric fork doesn't get full travel. 2 chilis for value because there aren't any performance gains from the carbon frame, 4 for overall because its a phenominal piece of kit but still room for improvement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, California, USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
soquel/demonstration/brail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
The Off Ramp
Strengths:
Good weight for the cush travel (about 6&1/2" & currently weighs in at 32lbs). Excellent manufacturer & dealer support on warranty stuff.
Weaknesses:
I wore out the seals on the rear shock in 9 months. High pressure required at rear shock(400+psi). Stock rims & tires in 06 were on the weak side for a heavy rider (around & above 200).
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz vp free, Specialized Enduro, Intense 6.6
Bike Setup:
Swapped rear shock for Specialized/Fox brain, Tubeless mavic, Formula Oro Puro brakes, Maveric speedball post, Odi lock-on grips, Crank bro acid1 peds.
Bottom Line:
While the honeymoon period is over, I still love this bike! The fun factor is there (although pricey). I had some trouble with the rear shock but Scott came through for me. I kept the added brain shock intalled after I received my replacement because I liked the uncluttered bars (minus remote). The bottom bracket is set relatively low which makes for great cornering, but occasionally allows the big ring to hit logs & stuff. I Plan to dump the big ring & add a low profile bash guard for added clearance. This bike has been my ticket to getting in shape & adding excitement to my week. If you are looking at this bike you should also check out the Specialized Enduro for a good comparison.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, California, USA Date Reviewed: October 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Stevens Creek Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
The Off Ramp
Strengths:
Great travel, weight & value. Very versatile bike for lots of different riding (xc, single track & light downhill).
Weaknesses:
Carbon frame chips slightly on underside of bb (factory protection doesn`t extend over bb), but nothing structural yet.
Similar Products Used:
Demod Santa Cruz vpfree, previous bike was a Specialized xc pro.
Bike Setup:
Amazing as stock
Bottom Line:
Once you get the fork & shock dialed in, the ride is perfect. Nice laid back geometry for confident & fast riding, yet still agile enough for good technical climbing(I can clean most stuff that might have been a struggle on my old xc). If you weigh over 200 lbs, this might not be the bike for you (rear shock specs only to 195). Add some lizard skin protectors to protect the bb. I didn`t like the stock front tire on downhill turns & swapped it. Through bolt axel on the Fox 36 makes flats a drag so I swapped for air lock tubes. This is a truly innovative bike that makes you look forward to weekends & after work rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
