Aggressively shaped tubes and ultra-lightweight machined parts combine to form a nimble 6” all-mountain trail bike, that’s as much fun going up as it is going down. Forged and machined swingarm yolks give the new rear end world class stiffness for solid go-anywhere performance. Sophisticated aluminum rocker is built for zero-flex and ultra plush, big bump performance.
Submitted by
funkle
a Downhiller
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: October 28, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
BikerBob.com
Strengths:
Does everything that an all mountain bike should do well. It's very well balanced and confident, whether you're going up, down or cornering. Very stiff. Rugged, light enough.
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket means you may have to watch your pedals a little more, but it is pretty much a non issue once you get used to it, and if you're not using a big chain ring.
Before getting this bike, I needed 2 bikes, but no longer. This bike climbs better, descends better, corners better than any of the other bikes I've owned. For my money, it climbs better than my Motolite did. The front end stays planted & the bike goes where you want it on steep technical, without adjusting the fork travel - I just keep it maxed out at 160, for everything - that's pretty cool. It's a little heavy, but I honestly don't notice it when I'm pedaling. I really don't ever miss a shorter travel bike. But I can see getting a longer travel bike for freeride stuff - The EG can certainly handle some light freeride with confidence, but it is not really in the same league as a dedicated FR or DH bike - it wont absorb big stuff like a big hit bike, but that's not what it is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shimaani
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland Date Reviewed: October 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
all of 'em
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$940.00
Purchased At:
Interweb
Strengths:
Stunningly beautiful color (gold), gorgeous welding job, the frame geometry, great customer support, a rock-solid frame that takes anything you throw at it with a smile.
Weaknesses:
None found so far
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth™ Moment, Commencal Meta
Bike Setup:
08 Frame in color Gold, Magura Wotan, DHX5 Coil plus all the King and Thomson ding-a-lings
Bottom Line:
This handsome beast rocks - really. It corners and climbs even better than my Moment. Get one if U can, you will not regret it.
In one word: WOW!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
plastics
a Weekend Warrior
from houston Date Reviewed: September 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything i can find
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Strengths:
Good on the uphill amazing on the down.
Weaknesses:
Nothing thus far.maybe cable routing on my 08 model.
Similar Products Used:
Titus ML1- wonderful too, but the el guapo is better on the downhill (its all in the angles)
Bike Setup:
xt-sram x9 drive train, formula brakes, havoc am wheels,CK headset, v1 stem and carbon handlebar. but it really doesn't matter, the frame is the killer part.
Bottom Line:
This is an amazing bike, it takes whatever you throw at it (or at least whatever I can throw at it).
Simply a fun all mountain rig that will keep you wanting more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KBGriff
a Cross Country Rider
from Kings Beach, CA Date Reviewed: September 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
hole in the ground
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Lateral Stifness, Weight, Great Climber with Talas RC2 and RP23
Weaknesses:
Price
Similar Products Used:
Ibis mojo, Giant Reign X0
Bike Setup:
DT Swiss E540 wheels, FOX Talas RC2, RP23, XT Drivetrain, King HS, Carbon Bars, Formula Brakes, Thomson Stem
Bottom Line:
Bike that does it all well, but is neither an XC race bike or a full on FR bike. Perfect Trail bike for epic rides and 6" terrain like Downieville. Just rode Downieville today and the bike killed it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
runawaymachine
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, NV, USA Date Reviewed: August 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mr. Toads Wild Ride
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2650.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Cyclist
Strengths:
Active, Efficient, Laterally Stiff. Great climber. Better descender. STRONG! Low bottom bracket. Uninterrupted seat tube. Hydroformed, forged, machined, expertly welded, shot peened, anodized work of art.
Weaknesses:
The low bottom bracket is not a weakness but trade off to become a true trail rail.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Nomad, Intense VP Free, Turner After Burner, Specialized Big Hit, Karpiel Disco Volant
Bike Setup:
Lyric Solo Air, RP23, X9, Crossmax SX, Juicy 7, Holzfeller, Stylo 3.3 GXP, King, Thompson. Sub 32lbs.
Bottom Line:
This bike performs the way I always wanted a suspension bike to perform. It is fully active, even under hard braking and climbing. Climbs and descends like it is glued to the ground yet does not wallow in travel. Durable FSR design with a world class build. Out of Keith Bontrager's saying "Cheap, Light, Strong, Pick any two." El Guapo is 1/2 part cheap, 1/2 part light and 1 part strong.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pbbreath
a Weekend Warrior
from Redding, CA Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Time Warp, (Ashland, OR)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
MTBR Classifieds!
Strengths:
Laterally Rigid! Rails corners! Silent, Easy to work on.
Weaknesses:
DHX 5.0 Air is a little hard to tune but very rewarding once you get it figured out. Low BB Height makes for more pedal strikes but it rails corners.
Pike 409 Fork 150mm, Azonic Outlaw Wheels, DHX 5.0 Air Shock, CB Joplin seatpost, Mostly XT and SLX.
Bottom Line:
Amazing bike Rails corners like nothing I've ever ridden, Climbs technical sections amazingly well for a 33# build and 6" of travel! Every bike has its weakness and this one's ONLY weakness is also its strength which is a low BB height. Makes for better cornering but more frequent pedal strikes. Bike feel completely indestructible I've hucked it off of some pretty nice drops so far and every landing just begs you to huck it off of something bigger. 5 Chilis for value ONLY because I got a killer deal on a barely used 08 with custom powder coating on the MTBR Classifieds! $2200 for a new frame would be more like a 3 or 4.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MUSTCLIME
a Weekend Warrior
from fortreee Date Reviewed: May 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
seven bridges
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
campmore
Strengths:
Strong, suspension design that still works with the brakes on, lite for what it can do.
Weaknesses:
2008 cable routing
Similar Products Used:
ac1,motolite,bighit
Bike Setup:
36 van r, sram,jusy 8's and hope wheels
Bottom Line:
To date, the best bike I have ever been on, if you are only going to have one bike, this is it. Bike is put togather with a strong biuld and is weighs 32 lbs. The suspension works with the brakes on in the rocks and decending and that a big deal around here(N.E.). If you look around, you can pickup a 08 for less than a grand, that makes these the deal of the year.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
skerry00
a Cross Country Rider
from Blacksbrug, VA Date Reviewed: April 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Several
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2195.00
Purchased At:
East Coasters BIke S
Strengths:
Climbs surprisingly well, descends great.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Heckler
Bike Setup:
'09 Titus El Guapo, 36 TALAS RC2, XT drivetrain, Avid Elixir.
Bottom Line:
Wow, just took it on it's first ride and what a bike. I tried putting it through a little of everything (steep climbs/descents, rock gardens, smooth singletrack) and the bike performed fantastic! I need to further tune the suspension (I had too much sag on the rear) but I'd recommend this bike to anyone looking for a bomber all-mtn bike that can get past the price tag.
Can't wait to introduce El Guapo to Moab next fall....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jling360
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: February 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
South Mtin, McDowell Mtn, Trail 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Strengths:
Great climbing bike. Descends even better. Very solid with no flex.
Weaknesses:
Pearl shock.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Fat Possum, Titus Motolite, Marin Rift Zone
Bike Setup:
XT Drivetrain, Fox Talas & RP23, Formula brakes, DT Swiss E540.
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome. I can't believe that this 6 inch travel bike climbs as well as it does. It is very plush and descends extremely well. You feel like you can take on any trail with this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SEA_MTBR
a Weekend Warrior
from Yokosuka, Japan Date Reviewed: January 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Comfortably Numb (Whistler Canada)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Strengths:
Do almost anything bike. Latteral stiffness. Confidence building. Frame quality and looks. The bike climbs just as well as my motolite but descends significantly better. Customer service and responsiveness. Low bottom bracket.
Weaknesses:
Cable routing (corrected for 2009). Weight. Low bottom bracket.
This is truly a do it all bike; Freeride to XC. It climbs just as well as my Motolite and descends better then both my 5-spot and Intense 5.5. Better then the RFX in every catagory.
The most laterally stiff bike I have every ridden. Bottom bracket height is both a strength and weakness. Lower center of gravity for railing corners but pedals strikes are more frequent until you get used to it.
Swapped out frame and fork at the same time so it is hard for me to determine if the frame is all that. The fork is pretty impressive by itself. May consider coil over shock for more freeride oriented riders.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wayndar
a Weekend Warrior
from McCall, Idaho, USA Date Reviewed: January 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bartlett Wash Moab
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
competitive cyclist
Strengths:
Solid construction- no flex in the rear end. Great geometry. Titus customer service
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Ibis Mojo, Turner 5-spot TNT, Azonic Saber
Bike Setup:
Custom build with RS Lyrik 160mm,SRAM x9
Bottom Line:
This is the most under-rated bike around- it climbs great and descends even better. I still prefer Horst links to DW or Maestro or the other designs that stiffen up when climbing. The geometry on this bike is great. The slightly low bb helps with cornering and climbing. Needs a 160mm fork at least.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
linecookPDX
a Downhiller
from Portlandia, OR, USA Date Reviewed: November 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
South Fork, Bend
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Cyclepath, Bill is t
Strengths:
Versatility
Weaknesses:
definitley not a racing bike, but thats not really a bad thing
Similar Products Used:
Spesh Enduro
Bike Setup:
Pearl, Talas 36, DT swiss E540, Formula Oro K24,XT drivetrain,shifters and cranks,lo-pro mags
Bottom Line:
It took me a long time to decide on the perfect bike for me, and i made the right desicion. Hardly any basis for comparison with my 06 enduro, absolutely blows it out of the water in all categories. I feel like i can do anything on this bike, even with a fairly light setup (32#). Heading out to Post Canyon this week.......
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
smmcpherron
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy, utah, USA Date Reviewed: November 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Several Wasatch trails linked together
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Revolution
Strengths:
Great Ride. Very attractive. Excellent geometry. No weird flex. Very quite. No chain slap no matter how hard the going gets.
Weaknesses:
The cable routing along the side of the top tube is a bit strange.
Similar Products Used:
Ventana and IBIS Mojo
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas 36 RC2, Marta SL brakes, Easton AM Havoc wheels, Joplin Seatpost.
Bottom Line:
This bike weighs about 31 lbs, but, it climbs like it is 27. It handles technical terrain and made me a much better rider. I let an ex racer freind try it out, and he was amazed at the set-up and performance of this bike. It just works.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wasea04
a Weekend Warrior
from St.George Utah Date Reviewed: October 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
AMA, Barrels
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
bitterbrush cycles
Strengths:
Quality, Suspension Design, Utility (does it all better than most specialty frames)
I bought this frame in an effort to size down from my 7 inch 42lb Bullit, Plus Titus has a great rep and the price was awesome. Hands down this is the best all around bike out there, and IMO the best bike on the market to date. I have ridden nearly every supspension design around and the good 'ol Horst is the best! I hate lateral play in my frames, I'm super tuned to notice any bit, this frame has absolutely none! It tracks like it's on rails! I've put this frame through some abuse (relentless drops 4-8 feet) and it handles it with ease! I can't say enough good about this bike, alas I'm sick of typing so I'll stop now but could go on quite a bit more! Buy it, you'll love this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
palacios27
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, Utah Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Park City trails, Moab trails...
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1850.00
Purchased At:
Park City Rides
Strengths:
It gives you confidence on the descents. Feels natural in the air. Amazing on tight, technical, steep switchback climbs. Will give another review after Moab...
Weaknesses:
None so far...could be lighter, I guess that's why they make the Ti model.
For only having the bike 3 months, it's been a great bike. I have ridden it on some moderately technical terrain, it gives much confidence. The climbing amazed me. The DT Swiss fork made it a more nimble descender, and the climbing feature on the fork is amazing... I will give another review after more miles and a Moab trip.
Note: Price is for frame only.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Holgs
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA Date Reviewed: April 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4200.00
Strengths:
Fantastic handling on climbs and downhills. The suspension and tracking is awesome
Weaknesses:
None found
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro, Santa Cruz Heckler, Kona Dawg
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas 36 RC, Pear Shock
Bottom Line:
I love this bike!!! It handles so well I feel like I am cheating on the trail. I instantly was able to tackle terrain that used to give me trouble. It drops like a beauty. So far it has handled 5 footers with no problems. I highly recommend it!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dominic
a
from NoCal Date Reviewed: April 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Braille @ Demo Forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
BikerBob.com
Strengths:
Strength, climbing ability, cornering, jumping, looks, it's a Titus - 'nuff said!
Weaknesses:
I can't stop thinking about how great it is!
Similar Products Used:
Titus Ti ML, Titus ML, Blur 4X, Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup:
(M) El Guapo/Fox Talas 36RC2/Pearl(soon to be CCDB)/DT Swiss EX1750/Joplin/XTR w/ Bash/XO-XTR Drive/Formula "The One"/Schwalbe Sneakers
Bottom Line:
Everything about this steed is solid! The frame gives you a level of comfort that allows you to feel confident as you ride. It is a goat up the hills and a jaguar down them. I own a Titus Ti Moto-Lite and I thought that bike could do everything that a trail bike should do!? This bike takes it to the next level! I have ridden it only once but I'm so excited about that I couldn't wait to write a review. It's getting a Cane Creek Double Barrel soon so it will make this thing only that much more "Handsome"! :-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
woodyak
a Downhiller
from Rockport, MA Date Reviewed: August 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Hammerhead
Strengths:
Rails like a mofo, Climbs w/o pogo, tough a as a hobo. This frame is amazingly stiff
Van36RC2,DHXAir5.0,DT5.1 rims w/Hadley/Hope combo, XT stuff, Fat Alberts, other stuff.
Bottom Line:
Hands down best bike I've ever ridden. A true do-all (do most at least) bike. It handles jumps and drops with great confidence. Yet it still climbs with the best of them. This frame has seen large drops as well as epic XC trips. Heck, I even just finished a 24 hour race with her. The El Guapo is one handsome women!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Danger Hanson
a Downhiller
from Chandler Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
National South Mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Javelina Cycles 480-598-3373
Strengths:
Weight, this is a downhill bike that you climb without killing yourself before you drop the bars. Weighs about 32lbs.
Weaknesses:
I thought price was but realy I could not find the same at less?
Similar Products Used:
Niner, Santa Cruz
Bike Setup:
I went with Fox Talas RC2 fork, Sram x.9,XT cranks, Maxm post,stem and bars
Bottom Line:
This is a freeride/downhill/XC bike that realy does it all. Just keep a lock on it! Rick and Scott at Javelina were great thanks guys.
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:
Overall Rating:
