Submitted by
Peter McMullin
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC Date Reviewed: May 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
West Point Cycles
Strengths:
Strong frame - This bike is a true freeride. Why pay twice the price for a Norco or a Kona for the same thing. Besides the single pivot is rated better than most multiple linkage systems.
Weaknesses:
Chain falling into crank- Fixed this problem by shortening chain- removing big ring and adding a Blackspire rock ring. The paint does scratch easily, but watever cant keep it lookin pretty forever..
Similar Products Used:
This is my 1st dually-- and I bought it brand new in 2001- and here we are in 2006. Love it!! My previous bike was a Brodie ClimbMax hardtail
Bike Setup:
The 2001 comes stock with 6' hayes hydraulic brakes and deore gears. I added Jr.T 6', softer rear spring for the Vanilla R 5',wellgo flat pedals, 2.8/26 fr Michelin, 2.6/24 rr Kenda w/ ryhno lite rims, Everything else is stock.
Bottom Line:
This bike rules!!..Its a real head-turner. People will stop and talk to me about my bike. You can throw anything at the Thumper. Brodie bikes give you what you pay for and more. Buy a BRODIE! I would recommend this bike to anyone who loves riding!
If anyone says it's heavy, cuz its a freeride/DH bike, its built to take the hits. I ride my bike on the road, in the dirt, downhillin, take jumps, sit and have a coffee with it at Starbucks, urban style, stairs, lips, bumps, watever.
Hmmm you shouldn't buy this bike..If your not going to ride it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Fort Collins Date Reviewed: September 20, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Really burly, versatile, nice FSR style rearend, did I say burly? This thing is insane. Really smooth progressive suspension. Takes big hits easily. No flex at all. Kickin' geometry.
Weaknesses:
A bit on the heavy side I guess, but it ain't breakin' any time soon. Never mind that's a strength.
Similar Products Used:
Heckler, Banshee Chap (great bikes)
Bike Setup:
XTR, Flick Plus, other burly stuff. Bike was built up by me.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 03 Thumper, much better than the earlier models (they broke alot...) It has a FSR rearend rather than single pivot (2002 and earlier) and this thing is truly a freeride bike. Lots of travel options - 5.5 to 9 inches depending on the shock you run. The more expensive Devos are the same frame with a 2.25" stroke shock. That's my setup and it gets 6.75 inches in the back. The rearend is fairly de-coupled from the drivetrain due to the FSR linkage; bob isn't a problem even with a plain old Vanilla R. (Seems like being a Canadian company and not selling in the US, they've ripped off the FSR linkage, but I guess that's how you get a frame like this for 300 bucks:)
Geometry with a 5 or 6 inch fork is sweet for everything - Technical downhilling or stunts. Front end seems to pop up whenever you want it to but not excessively so. Frame is also fine to run a double crown up to eight inches. Seriously a do-it-all frame.
Uphill can be a chore but that's life. Going down more than makes up for it. Five or six footers to flat feel like nothing. Besides, this bike slows me down so I can climb at my girlfriend's pace. Can't complain about that. I do have to wait a bit longer at the bottom...
Anyway, if you can find one of these buy it. They are rare down here and you'll probably never meet one on the trail. If you do manage to break it Brodie's crash replacement policy rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
connor bergman
a Downhiller
from salmon arm Date Reviewed: August 27, 2005
Favorite Trail:
rock star
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
skookum cycle and ski
Strengths:
well i payed 500 dollars for the frame and som z 1 bmbers so i have nothing tock on this bike but it is a very strong bike. i have taken it off some really easy nine foot drops and it has held up very well
Weaknesses:
not much but the drerailer whacks my frame somtimes
Similar Products Used:
brodie devo, kona stinky, rocky mountain rmx, brodie zig zag, norco shore and team DH
Bottom Line:
this is a very good bike that is worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh
a Downhiller
from Kelowna BC Canada Date Reviewed: June 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
Super strong frame, I've landed right on the downtube a few times and it left only a couple small chips in the paint. The rear suspension works like a dream, only 6" but with a stiffer coil it can take massive drops. I can't say much about the stock parts because i dont have any, the only things stock are the frame and rear shock, but the z5 is a terrible fork, especially if it's got 5 inches travel. If you can you should sell it and get something better, because these things snap in half for no reason. They can be brand new and it won't matter.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, small seat tube. It's a bit tricky to throw around while you're dirtjumping, center of balance is decent but it's a bit of a tank. If you're into DH then you'll probably have to cut your seat post, because it has such a small seat tube.
Bike Setup:
Thumper, bombshell, race face, mavic, maxxis, etc.
Bottom Line:
This is a good sturdy bike. It'll get you from A to B with no hassles and will get you through the rough spots. It's really durable, good for DJ, DH, and urban. It's a good fully to learn on, and still good when you have experience. I think this is a top quality bike, if you're looking for something like this, just give it a try and you'll be hooked.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
darryl
a Downhiller
from vancouver Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
on top bike shop
Strengths:
i've been execeptionally happy with this bike. nice setup good all around freeride bike. climbs well, descends even better and handles the technical great! this is for the 2002 model (btw)
Weaknesses:
little heavy huffin it up those long steep hills but not a huge deal. whaddaya expect?!
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky, cove g spot, spechialized frs
Bike Setup:
stock with exception of droping the big ring and putting a bashguard on.
Bottom Line:
lookin for a nice freeride, first dually? look no further. the bike is far more fun than i could have imagined and theres not much more i can say bout it...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: July 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Boogeyman
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
www.johnhenybikes.com
Strengths:
It's a cheap, solid, freerider with lots of travel - it's a great 'first dually' bike. The bike is spec'ed better than any other bike in it's price range - Hayes Hydraulic, Bombers, Fox Vanilla R, etc - great components for the price.
Weaknesses:
The WTB Motoraptors bite - very flexy sidewalls mean lots of slippage. Switch 'em up as soon as you're ready to graduate from the sidewalk!
The z5's leave something to be desired, but really, there's no need to replace them until they're blown. Heavier springs and thicker oil will improve the ride considerably.
There's a lot of chain suck, even once it's been shortened drastically. You'll need a chain tensioner for sure if you're going to be thrashing this bike.
Similar Products Used:
2001 Kona Stinky Deelux, 2001 Rocky Mountain RM-6, Norco Drop, Giant AC-2, Specialized Big Hit
This is an awesome bike - no, the PERFECT bike - for anyone who's just getting into riding the sketchy stuff. I've been pretty far from smooth, and this bike has saved my hide countless times. I've had to replace lots of stuff on it, but only because of my own mistakes, and general lack of finesse. Still, the frame's taken more than it's fair share of abuse, and it's still going strong. You'll get 5/6" of ultra-forgiving travel in the rear, and 5 up front. It smooths out all the bumps (provided you've set it up properly) and keeps coming back for more. Ultra aggressive riders might prefer to look at a 4-bar setup, but for everyone else this bike is unbeatable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Paddon
a Downhiller
from Canada Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Shoal Bay
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
TNT
Strengths:
-Suspension is stiff (could be a bad thing, but this is my first duel suspension bike) -Brakes -Wheels -Geometry
Weaknesses:
Tires, Motoraptors are fine until you want to turn. Fork, its a Z5 which means its fine until you break it. 4 inch version is fine. 5 inch is just a matter of time before it snaps
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky, Norco Drop, Santa Cruz Bullit, Rocky Mountain RM6/RM7
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Intense 2.5 tires
Bottom Line:
Great bike. I didn't pay full price for it though. It retails for around 2800 cdn., but I only paid 1800. Anyone coming off a hardtail into a full suspension and doesn't want alot of travel. This is the bike for you. The 2002 model is ever better. 3 flamin chilis because at 2800 you'd expect a better fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Randy's/EagleRidge or Oil Can/Grouse
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
The Ridge
Strengths:
Excellent beefy frame and love the single pivot.
Weaknesses:
Not much for weeknesses 'cept for the derailleur bent (but that coulda been the 7 foot bail off a ladderbridge :( The paints a bit weak although i did find a perfect colour match at Canadian Tire (some Ford car paint). A coupla pounds on the heavy side but for the money it's great!
Similar Products Used:
2001 Kona Stinky (almost bought that one instead...)
Bike Setup:
Stock except for a RaceFace headset, rockguard & stiffest springs for the Z-5's
Bottom Line:
I just absolutely love the bike! This thing just cuts through the bumps and is pretty stable flying downhill. Still a decent climber although at times I do wish I had my hardtail back but oh well. The price you pay to play!! :P Last thing wanting to do is upgrade to the Marzocchi Junior or Super T..... This bike will suit anyone looking to raise a little hell! Hucks 'n' Drops!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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