Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, SA, Australia Date Reviewed: November 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Eagle mountain bike park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Life Cycles
Strengths:
Thanks to the U-turn Pike the Pitch is three bikes in one. At 95mm travel the bike climbs quite well. At 120mm travel it is a typical trail bike, handle corners well and allows you to be seated whilst pedaling through the rough stuff. At 140mm travel and with the seat lowered a bit the Pitch is a stomper. It's super stable and confidence inspiring. The wide bars give you plenty of leverage and the suspension smooths out the bumps extremely well. Spec. is good for this price and the frame looks great. The Fusion shock does it's job well but lacks the 'trail cred' of fox shocks. But, if you ride fast enough no-one will even notice.
Weaknesses:
The fork needs a lockout as it does get some bob but this is expected. The Hayes brakes are super strong but have little modulation which takes a while to master. Unfortunately, the cranks seem like they were found at the back of a storage room and have none of the modern technology that new cranks have.
Similar Products Used:
Scott Scale, Azonic Samurai, Norco Manik, Specialized Epic and Giant Trance
Bike Setup:
Standard with a Specialized Captain 2.0 rear tyre, Shimano clip ins, and a Truvativ Bash plate. Why fix something that isn't broken?
Bottom Line:
Great value, Superb fun and hard wearing bike that will allow you to come home not feeling like you spent the day in a washing machine. The extra couple of kilos is easy to push around because you conserve energy other ways. The Pitch definately fits the all mountain category well. Plus at the price you can find these bikes nothing else compares.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ezol
a Weekend Warrior
from Somerset, England Date Reviewed: September 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Quantocks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Certini, Saltash
Strengths:
Seems to be alot of bike for the money. My brakes worked fine (good set up) from the start, even on techy downhills.
Great total stopping power and good for fluttering. Size medium was a bonus for me (about 6ft). Just about big enough for climbing, small enough to throw around with seat down. Nice to be able to alter the front fork from 90mm to 140mm, as you certainly don't need near 6 inchs for climbing and XC. Also good traction, had alot less wheel spin.
And being a bit of a tart the 8 Inch front rotor, chunky tyres and the clash of the grips, forks and frame colours are beautiful.
Weaknesses:
The stock Pedals are awful, really dig into feet and hurt. Would be better if they came with none. No lock out on rear shock (not suprising for the price), still would have been nice. Every bounce going up hill saps the morale probably far more than the actual energy lost.
At 15 1/2 stone the front fork spring is probably a little light for me (I've heard they're for upto 12 Stone?). Yes I've got a good 1-2 Stone that should be taken off (in an Ideal world) but myself and many others will never be 12 Stone.
Similar Products Used:
Used a Reign 2 breifly. Previous bike an older hard-tail, not really comparable in price or ability.
Bike Setup:
Stock except replaced pedals with my old BMX style flats.
I will give everything else forks, rear shock, tyres and even the much maligned grips a fair chance before deciding on up grade.
Bottom Line:
The bike is a comprimise in 2 ways.
1. It's all-mountain, jack of all trades etc. If like me you'd love a light XC bike, but know you'd never be able to resist the drop offs, downhills etc (that would kill your XC bike) then this style of bike is the only real choice.
2. The price, I feel (excepting the pedals) that the spec is even across the board. You can treat it like any 140mm travel bike straight off. There's no major parts that scream out for changing straight off. It's just a little heavier, and lower quality (relatively) than bikes that cost twice as much.
For me this bike is a good introduction to aggressive trail bikes. If you're experienced enough to genuinely dislike (through experience not snobbery) alot of the spec then the chances are you already own a £2000/$3000+ bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BluePitch
a Weekend Warrior
from Saratoga Springs, NY, USA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1499.00
Purchased At:
PlaineandSon
Strengths:
A lot of bike for the money. Heavy duty frame. FSR suspension. Color.
Weaknesses:
Components are a little week, but you never get exactly what you want when you purchase a complete bike. The Hayes Stroker Ryde brakes so far aren't very impressive. I realize there is usually a brake in period for brakes but I think I am past that right now. No matter how hard I pull the front brake it just doesnt seem to grab.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll 600 Disc
Bike Setup:
Stock for now.
Bottom Line:
My previous bike was a 2004 Cannondale Jekyll 600 Disc. While this was advertised as an All Mountain bike I always felt it was more of a Cross Country Trail bike. The Jekyll had 120mm front travel and 130mm rear travel but I never considered it plush. This bike was very twitchy and unpredictable like my old hardtail.
The reason I got the Pitch was its laid back geometry. While I would never consider myself a downhill or freeride guy, I would also not consider myself a cross country rider. The Pitch seemed to be the right fit as far as what kind of riding I do, a little of everything. Every once in a while I like to take it to the ski slopes and take the lift up and do some fast technical stuff, but for the most part I ride single or double track that is relatively flat. The trails I ride near my house I have to ride half road, half trail. I can definately tell this bike is heavier than my Jekyll, and the 2.3 tires are just too big and heavy.
The suspension so far is far more plush than my previous bike, and you can easily just point it downhill and take almost any line you want. Before I had to make sure of my line before I started, if not the ride could get ugly fast. I dont think I have the rear suspension dialed in perfectly yet because I seem to be using all of the travel despite the fact that I am taking it on easy trails.
So far the bike has exceeded my expectations. The suspension is plush, the components are average, and the ride is awesome. I will be making some changes to the components to try and shed some pounds and make it faster on the flat stuff, but overall it is a great bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bozo
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: July 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Flowing single track with jumps
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Cycle world
Strengths:
Its simple, clean and well built. It has the coolest geometry around, it sprints well and bounces like a rabbit in heat. Easy to throw around and affordable. I love it.
Weaknesses:
The front shock is way too spongy for my frame. I bottom it out on everything. Im hoping an upgrade to a stiffer spring will help this. Would have been nice if it came with an air fork. It isnt as fast a pedallar as a Cross country bike but who cares, fast and fun.
Similar Products Used:
GT Force, Mongoose, Santa Cruz Bullit
Bike Setup:
Standard except for new DMR pedals
Bottom Line:
Soooo much fun. Awesome geometry, clean and no hassles.
Get the pro if you can for better suspension options, or make them change the front spring if your a man. Enjoy,
what a bargain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
portlandpomeroys
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: July 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Powell Butte
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Shiloh Bikes
Strengths:
Great Frame similar to Enduro. Price is unbeatable...thought it might be a bit heavy pushing up hills but seems to climb good and downhill is awesome which, really surprised me how plush the stock shocks rode.
Weaknesses:
Components - are kinda week and I have already upgraded to full SRAM X9 drive train. Rear shock doesn't have a lock out..I'm a 210 pound rider and its set at very firm setting. Also debating if I should upgrade the spring in the front shock...Brakes work and at this point..some noise from them but nothing I can't handle. Had problems shifting under duress going up steep climbs..let me say they shifted fine but struggled to find the the right gear...meaning it wasn't a fast shift like XT's I'm used too..wheels a bit heavy but bomb proof. None of this really maters because you can always upgrade all of these components
Similar Products Used:
Reign, trek remedy, specialized FSR Elite and Enduro $$
I did a lot of testing and liked the Pitch Comp the best.
Bike Setup:
SRAM X9 drive train, cassette, and chain...Race face xc cranks (all of this was $300 online at Greenfish sports). Also race face deus cock pit and post...soon will upgrade rear shock (RP2 or RP23) I want a lock out or pro-pedal.
Bottom Line:
You can't beat the price and the frame is killer for a 6 inch's of travel...I picked this bike over a lot of other great bikes....component wise....you can always upgrade! I gave the bike 4 chilis..could have had better components and a lockout RP2 rear shock... but happy as hell with my purchase!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mr.604
a Weekend Warrior
from Shanghai China Date Reviewed: June 27, 2009
No Significant weakness, besides the stock pedals, changed them at the dealer, the cable routing isn't great either.
Similar Products Used:
Similar to my friends heckler
Bike Setup:
Stock except jl pedals
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price I paid, climbs great; handles light downhills well too. This bike is extremely versatile and worth every penny. Great for riders who just begun... like me! =)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SpecialPitch
a Weekend Warrior
from Twin Cities MN, USA Date Reviewed: June 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All trails in MN
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Erik's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Bike is quick to get comfortable on, climbs great thanks to it's FSR suspension setup, and a blast on downhills. Brakes are sweet, & stock tires grip everywhere.
Weaknesses:
NONE so far.
Similar Products Used:
A XC bike that sucked for my type of riding
Bike Setup:
Stock, with Crank Bros. Candy pedals, and a serated Salsa bash guard
Bottom Line:
It's not a light race bike by any means, handles good and steers quick with a short stem which is a good thing since I have a XL frame. Tackles all but the most serious downhilling, jumps really well and just a great get out and ride kind of bicycle. Will deff. put a smile on your face.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
amato
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, Ca, US Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Demo forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
trailhead cyclery
Strengths:
Plush fork and rear shock,great geometry for climbing and descending,pretty light weight, good value compared to other 6 inch all mountain bikes, responsive brakes.
Weaknesses:
Bend in the seat tube makes lowering seat all the way impossible, The front derailleur isn't the greatest, The stock pedals are pretty bad, and no lock out on rear suspension.
Bike Setup:
Stock with new grips and wellgo MG-4a pedals
Bottom Line:
I would definitely recommend this bike to anyone looking for an affordable all mountain bike. The pitch handles over rough sections very easily and it is very confidence inspiring. I would like to see better pedals and a better front derailleur but it's hard for specialized to do that and keep the price down. The pitch is the funnest bike i have ridden and is my go to bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sdcrash
a Cross Country Rider
from painesville Date Reviewed: June 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
west branch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Eddys bike shop
Strengths:
Light n strong frame. Fork isnt to bad, rear shock is good but seems a lil weak at times
Weaknesses:
None really. may replace the fork n rear shock... and thats only cuz i wanna. theres nothin that needs replaced.
Similar Products Used:
cannondale f5
Bike Setup:
Race Face locking grips, e13 lg1 chain guide... some maxxis tires in the near future
Bottom Line:
Everything! this bike climbs, it decents, it jumps, it does drops, it does it all. This is my first full suspension bike, but i absolutly love it. Theres a few things ill prolly replace... not needed too but its always fun to make things better, right?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
esoelsch
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC, USA Date Reviewed: June 3, 2009
-bent seat tube (can't drop the seat all the way)
-cable routing
-proprietary front derailleur
Similar Products Used:
SC Heckler, Canyon Torque 3
Bike Setup:
marzocchi z1 sl
Bottom Line:
Great frame! coming from a Heckler--which is also a solid frame--the suspension feels way more active on the Pitch. It has a long tt and wheelbase, so I wound up with a size Small (I am 5'10"), and it fits about the same as a Medium Heckler. Definitely a little small, but I like a small frame... I've been surprised at how well the bike climbs, and also at how well the x fusion rear shock performs. I do have to have it set slightly stiffer than recommended--otherwise it bobs all over the place. Also, the finish on the bike is great. Every little bolt looks first class.
This frame would be perfect in my book if not for a few quirks. First, you can really only lower the saddle by about 5 inches at most. I like being able to drop the saddle all the way for jumps and steeps and such, so I had to get a titec scoper post for it--which weighs a ton. Also, I had issues with the cable routing. I don't like having all the housing exposed on the downtube, and I had an issue with the rear housing popping out of the rear derailleur. I ran the rear brake and shifter lines along the top tube and problem solved--though it doesn't look as clean. Also, I could not adjust the front derailleur to work with my raceface crankset. The pitch uses a proprietary front derailleur that is not as adjustable as a standard or e-type. I actually had to take a file to the metal spacer to get the derailleur in far enough (apparently this is not a problem with shimano cranksets?), and you cannot adjust the derailleur with an allen wrench in the field--so I had to do an entire ride in my granny gear when my cable slipped.
so--it has a few quirks, but when it comes to ride quality it's my favorite bike so far!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MotFot21
a Downhiller
from Ottawa, ON, Canada Date Reviewed: May 19, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
ABC Cycles
Strengths:
Everything is pretty good on it, its an allaround well built bicycle.
Weaknesses:
Only 2 things:
1.The Fork (RockShox Pike 327) Isn't the greatest. If you get an opportunity to upgrade it to something different, I recomend that you do.
2.The rake (angle of the fork) is an increased rake, so it isn't the best for technical stuff, but for fast descents, it rips it up!
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
All stock except Fox Float RP23 (rear shock)
Bottom Line:
Great Bike, well built, worth the money!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RC
a Cross Country Rider
from Worthing UK Date Reviewed: May 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Raven Trail Brechfa
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn Cycles Hors
Strengths:
It has all the base elements you'll need for a true all mountain bike, the X-Fusion rear shock is pretty good. The frame is solid - and it feels great to ride!
Weaknesses:
Some of the kit could be better - Alexrims wheels are not very resilient and buckle easily, the Hayes brakes are quite sharp with poor modulation, The front fork is badly undersprung for riders over 90kg
Similar Products Used:
Marin Hawk Hill SE, Mount Vision 5.8, Bear Valley SE
Bottom Line:
This bike is pure value for money - I am a Marin fan and in performance terms I couldn't see where the £1,000 difference is between the Pitch and the Mount Vision. You can see where the cost compromises have been made with the wheels and groupset, but if you are looking for a bike to cruise on, and take the Welsh trails this it it. A solid good all round bike, that climbs well, but downhill it is a beast! Buy it, ride it and with its limitless upgrade potential you can create a bike far more capable than its rider!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sc6988
a Weekend Warrior
from Plainview, NY Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Glacier Ridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Fork (after I put in a firm spring), Lightweight-Strong Frame, Brakes are very strong.
Weaknesses:
XFusion rear shock bottoms too easily, but after putting on an Fox RP23 I have not had a problem since. Bent one of the seat rails after a few rides. The front x-5 shifter is starting to go after a year of riding.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money. In my opinion it is a great all mountain bike, not a great cross country race bike or a freeride bike. But you can do anything you want on this bike, it just wont be the best bike for all of the situations. I have gone downhilling and entered a cross country race on this bike and it did well in both instances.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
peter bonney
a Racer
from london Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
leith hill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
evans cycles
Strengths:
9
Weaknesses:
fundamental flaw: forks
Similar Products Used:
lots
Bike Setup:
n/a
Bottom Line:
bottom line is it would be hard to beat this bike value for money comparing it to anything else in its class, its nearly perfect except for the fact that the pike 327 forks are best suited for any nearby bin, they are the worst ive ever used, and i have used many. i would encourage anyone buying the bike to get these forks changed before it leaves the shop and save yourself some money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daniel1821
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami Beach, FL Date Reviewed: April 7, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Strengths:
Components, looks, rides great.
Weaknesses:
Hayes Brakes. These brakes are horrible! Had the bike shop bleed out both the front and rear and adjust the brakes and still don't feel confident with them. Will switch to another brand.
Bike Setup:
Stock, but am replacing the rear shock with a Fox Van
Bottom Line:
Get this bike if you want a great all mountain bike for the money. This bike is a lot of fun to ride but the brakes can make for a scary or exciting ride...depends on your personality, I guess.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Altor91
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen, Scotland Date Reviewed: April 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Kirkhill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1441.00
Strengths:
Pikes are great, plenty of travel! Love the Hayes, in my opinion, better than the Juicy three's on the pitch pro. Better feel to them.
Weaknesses:
No lockout, although the FSR rear suspension has surpassed my expectations for bounce created through regular pedaling; so long as you are sitting down! Could be doing with full Deore crankset, will upgrade that.
Similar Products Used:
Pitch Pro.
Bottom Line:
Absolutely Yass! Well worth the money, especially if you get it for less than the RRP.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pitch B*tch
a Weekend Warrior
from South Coast, UK Date Reviewed: March 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere away from traffic!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Strengths:
Frame, ride, stability, value and bang for buck!
Weaknesses:
None really, rear shock, cranks and heavy wheels but these can be upgraded.
Similar Products Used:
Old Heckler, older Enduro and Superlight.
Bike Setup:
As it came out the box.
Bottom Line:
Complete bike like this for £900, couldn't even get a SC frame for that here in the UK! Feels very plush and stable - wheelbase 4in longer than my Superlight but still turns and changes direction quickly, I was surprised how well it climbs but I did notice the extra weight, still getting around my regular routes in the same time but just putting in a bit more effort on the ups, but I reckon some Hope Hoops, XT cassette and better cranks could knock a couple of pounds off in the future. Everything works fine for me, so I won't be upgrading until I have to, X-Fusion rear shock does as it's supposed to, would prefer something with compression adjustment but not lock-out (can't see the point of lock-out on suspension!?), Hayes brakes are good, bigger rotors than on my other bikes that have 160mm so feel more powerful. You'll find yourself going quicker over the rough sections and changing lines just for the fun of it, it just soaks it all up. Ideal if you're looking for a plush ride, value for money, and a bit more fun on a do-it-all bike. I guess if your used to something costing over twice the price you'll notice the cheaper componentry, I tested an Enduro costing 2.5 times more and couldn't tell much difference in the ride - buy this and upgrade a few bits to your preferred kit and take it to the alps for 2 weeks with the money you save.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Balls deep
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins, CO. USA baby!! Date Reviewed: March 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything with a fast downhill section
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
peleton cycles
Strengths:
Good geometry after adjustments, color, shifts very solid, lots of adjustments all over for great fit
Weaknesses:
finicky front rotor, cause its so big. seat kinda sucks untill you get it dialed in right. and the grips. Orey all the way!
Similar Products Used:
Specialized stumpjumper, Specialized hardrock
Bike Setup:
stock. have heavier duty springs on order right now. Im 165-170 lbs.
Bottom Line:
The hardrock was bad ass for climbing and not to bad for desending. but the only thing that was stock on that was the frame and seat post. Pitch is alot heavier than im used to but man is that thing fun to bomb hills on!!!! I ride roads to the trails and then ride the trails with little adjustments. I can tell not having a lock out is killing a lot of my power for short bursts and on road, and do plan on up grading in the next year to a fox with a lockout. But for now and for the price, i feel like i got a steal of a deal on a killer all mountain bike!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jarv
a Weekend Warrior
from Nottingham UK Date Reviewed: March 13, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Strengths:
Forks, Frame.
Weaknesses:
ear Shock, Brakes.
Bike Setup:
Uprated brakes to Avid Juicy 7, Rear shock to Fox Float RP3.
Bottom Line:
Upgrade the brakes and Rear shock and its a monster!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Gauld
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: March 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hayfield to Edale
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Harry Hall's
Strengths:
Colour Scheme, Value for money, downhill performance
Weaknesses:
Vague Brakes - Fork need to be air sprung its a little heavy for XC
Similar Products Used:
Scott Scale 50
Bike Setup:
Out the box
Bottom Line:
After three years on a Scott Scale 50 hardtail I decided it was time to move to a full suspension setup and having enjoyed a cycling holiday in the Sierra Nevadas I wanted an all mountain set up. Here are my comments after first outing. The brakes are vague and don't inspire confidence but i am hoping that this is due to some residual manufacturing residue; I anticipate they will get better. Climbing is a tad slower that I am accustomed to having always ridden stripped down hardtails but i guess that is to be expected. Wind the fork down to its lowest for climbing and you get a firm traction and very little lifting. Pedals are low and regularly clip roots and stones. I would guess I'm losing about a minute off a 20 minute climb. Tyres have a clear ridge that bites well on fast fire roads; you don't get that feeling that the front is washing away on fast corners. Don't stand up to climb the last section of a fast ascent - Its like pedalling in treacle. Descending is where I really noticed a diference. This bike wants to go down. I felt very confident to tackle drop offs roots rock gardens - the lot. SRAM shifters a dream with very little thumb pressure required. I am very pleased and would recommend this to anybody who wants to extend their XC riding to include a faster descent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BarBender
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, New Zealand Date Reviewed: February 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Riverhead
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Avanti Plus Waitack
Strengths:
frame, ride, versatility
Weaknesses:
Stock Eska tyres
Similar Products Used:
GIANT Trance, Spesh Enduro
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
What a bike! Been riding a hardtail for the last year or so and this bike has no respect for roots, ruts, drops and just ploughs through like they werent even there. Like a previous reviewer Im heavy by riding standards (260-265lbs) and wanted a bike that could give me confidence and this bike did. I think the bike is great stock if you're light (say - up to 200-220) and want a versatile rig that will do a bit of everything. However I think the rear Fusion and the 327 Pikes will stuggle with heavier riders up hills, under acceleration, over big drop downs and even on some corners as the bottom bracket will have dropped as much as an inch under pressure. So watch where your feet are when their roots and rocks around. Im getting a RP23 and stiffer coils in the next week to help.
Jury is still out on the Strokers...a little quick tempered but I can get used to that and they're fine for what I do at the moment. Personally I'll go to Shimanos if I decide to get new picks...only because in my experience they're so reliable and require minimal servicing
The only thing Id say would be good to improve are the hoops. We get the Eskas as stock...which I think are OK when the tracks are dry...but I found they didnt inspire much confidence when it got wet.
Other than that - what a rig and what a price. Up until I rode a Pitch - Id been looking at an Enduro. Not anymore. Me and the Pitch gel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sbmac
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntington LI Date Reviewed: September 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Used
Strengths:
Great frame, light, strong. Super climber, great control fast, and amazing downhill.
Weaknesses:
Replace the pedals. Everything else is great. Yes, the comps are better on the Pitch Pro, but at 150 LBS, the forks and rear shock were super for me, and I was riding better than I ever did on a hardtail up and down tough trails.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper disc, Iron Horse
Bike Setup:
Standard except for Crank Bros 50x50x pedals
Bottom Line:
If you have the xtra $$$, the pro is better because of Fox Float w/propedal,
but you can always upgrade later. A super deal for the money, and a lot tougher than most other xc/trail rigs. I'd go as far as to say it's a zipper lighter Enduro with stepped doen parts, but a solid solid ride and bike. The HAyes Disc brakes are strong and amazing. Better than the mech disc Avid BB5s on my other bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fredrik
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockholm Date Reviewed: August 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Nacka
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
TCM tyresö
Strengths:
Extreamly fun to ride. very god geometry. looks stuning with blue and purple frame. fantastic suspension.
Weaknesses:
The saddle is strange small and hard but easy to come down behind on steep decendings. Not a lot of tuning options on the pike fork/x fusion, but it works so great i don´t need it.
Similar Products Used:
08 Trek ex fuel 8, 08 Kona blast
Bike Setup:
Everything original beside new flat pedals
Bottom Line:
Im pretty new to mbt-ing, i´ve been riding my kona blast for 4-5 month and wanted something better... been looking at forums and done some research but when i tried this bike i new it was right for me.
It feels fantastic down hill and climbs very good to, it will give you confidence to try things i wouldnt do on my kona.
It feels almost like cheating to use a bike like this it floats over anything allmost, just sit down and pedal.
I can recomend this bike to every one who just want to have fun on trails or up/down mountains but not for people trying to set new speed records or anything.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
giladb31
a Weekend Warrior
from ISRAEL Date Reviewed: August 4, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Bottom Line:
HI THERE I HAVE THIS BIKE 3 MOUNTS AGO
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
phnord
a Downhiller
from Fairfax, VA Date Reviewed: June 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Strengths:
Tough frame, good geometry, solid components for the most part, good bang for buck.
Weaknesses:
X-Fusion rear shock, Hayes Strokers
Bike Setup:
Pitch, Kona Stinky (custom)
Bottom Line:
This is a solid bike that is pretty killer for trail riding. The weight isn't too bad and you can swing this bike around rather easily. The geometry of the frame makes it a breeze to handle. I've been riding this bike for a while now and only have a few complaints (and recommendations):
1) The X-Fusion rear shock is a piece of junk. It really can't handle much in the way of even small (2ft) drops. I would highly recommend swapping it out for something burlier. I am 175lbs and bottom out the shock all the time. (yes I have the rebound/PSI/etc dialed in right). The shock is only good for XC trails with little to no TTFs.
2) The Stroker disc brakes are only average. I swapped them out for some Juicy 7s and it has made a HUGE difference. I was pretty let down by the Strokers.
3) The seat post can't be dropped down all that far (if needed). I recommend either chopping it or replacing it with a smaller one.
4) Not sure about the stock tires as I swapped them out for High Rollers...but I have read good reviews on the stock tires.
Other than that, pretty solid bike. Ditch the rear shock with something better and you won't be disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Monkeywrench
a Weekend Warrior
from Butte, MT, USA Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008
brakes honk like ruptured goose when wet. Stock springs in pike too weak for big guys. Saddle is way too hard.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper,Specialized FSR XC various Gary Fishers, Haro X6
Bike Setup:
Stock right now except saddle, just took the one off my old bike.
Bottom Line:
I've only owned this bike for about 2 weeks now so when I get some more trails in I'll post an update.
I'm a bigger guy at 270 and needed a bike that could withstand some small jumps/drops as well as xc and not snap on me. I've only taken this bike on 4 rides so far and it seems to be holding up well. This is my first "real" moutainbike. Everything else I've had was a department store bike so I can't base it on previous bikes.
My first trail was some old 4wheeler trails during a nice rainstorm. Bike did better than I did climing to the top (I was sucking air all the way up...I'm not in shape). Only gripe I really had going up was that the stock springs in the Pike are way too weak for a big guy. They made the front want to bounce alot climbing up obstacles even with the rebound cranked. Taking it in next week to have the springs upgraded to the biggest ones RockShox has. Other than that it handled whatever the mountain had just fine. The ride down was a different story. Felt incredible on the way back down, only thing was that it felt low in the front on some steeper parts more than likely due to the front compressing so much with the light springs. For someone under 200 I'm sure the stock springs are fine but for us big guys you need to get them changed. Rear shock seemed to work just fine although a lockout would have been nice. Little rebound on it along with the fsr supsension kept the back wheel on the ground and good traction even in the mud. All in all the frame feels good and the components seem to be a good value for the money. Upgrades I would look at in the future would be a rear shock with lockout and maybe the air pike instead of the spring one just for adjustability(not worried about weight). I probably won't upgrade anything else till it wears out/breaks.
Anyone that has questions pleae feel free to email me. I know how annoying it is to look up reviews and all you find is one's saying it sucks or yeah its the most awesome thing I've seen.
Only giving it 4 chilis on value because I think they could have given it a rear shock with lockout and only 4 for overall because I haven't ridden it enough yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris french
a Weekend Warrior
from devon, england Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
haldon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
hot persuit
Strengths:
Very nice bike for the price, the blue frame with pike forks look really nice, bike has really plush feel and is great value for money!
Weaknesses:
erm dunno really cos never ridden anythin like it!!
Similar Products Used:
had a breif ride on a carrera banshee, but doesnt really compare!
Bike Setup:
ive had it set up half and half for trail/road!
Bottom Line:
really nice bike for the money + im paying 0% finance for 24 mnths so i didnt have to save up buy it!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fishcake
a Weekend Warrior
from West Yorkshire. UK Date Reviewed: March 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Stainburn. West Yorkshire. UK
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At:
Ellis Briggs Cycles. West Yorkshire. UK
Strengths:
Frame, Forks, Brakes well just about everything
Weaknesses:
tyres, grips (although I wouldnt say weakness, I just swapped these off my other bike)
Similar Products Used:
Kona Dawg Deluxe
Bike Setup:
Standard except for Conti Diesel 2.5 up front and conti Gravity 2.3 @ the rear, Steve peat lizard skin grips
Bottom Line:
Firstly the blue frame is really nice and looks cool with the white pikes. The fork is excellent it climbs really well when wound down to 95mm and really eats up the rough stuff when set to 140mm. The x-fusion shock works well, very little peddle bob. The Hayes Strokers are amazing brakes very powerful and feel really good. Quite light for a 6" travel bike around 30-31 lbs (i think) I sold my 1 year old Dawg Deluxe to get the Pitch and got a very good deal, only paid £1050
This bike is awesome, I just wish it would stop raining so i could ride it! sodding British weather. Fishcake :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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