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Submitted by
Jahaziel
a Cross Country Rider
from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | El Cimarron | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | Used Frame from a fr | | Strengths: | Frame strength is remarkably good for its wheigth, and I feel it's extremelly eficient for up-hill pedalling. Sear shock is very stiff allowing hard pounding w/o bottoming. Short tailed frame gives very good cornering when going fast in a downhill trail. I recommend this bike for people that runs XC like trials with some rooks an roots (I mean, unprepared trials), especially if youre a little heavy for the size of bike you shuld use. Or if you plan to use it harder than a XC bike. | | Weaknesses: | Some may find rear travel short. In my group, some people like to adjust saddle height very often, this frame doesn't allow too much adjust, only 2 or 3 inches. I dont recomend it for people who needs to set the saddle low for descending and back up for climbing. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek VRX 400, Trek VRX 200 (allowed for 4 inches of seat heigtht, adj, longer tail, less cornering ability, less efficient pedalling) GT XCR 4000. Trek Fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou xVert-t fork, Alluminum double wall rims, WTB velociraptor front tire, unbranded $20 rear tire, WTB saddle, triple height handlebar, suntour crank, suntour 9-speed cassete, Shimano XT derrailleurs, Shimano Shifters. Unbranded V-brakes and Levers. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike whit a llitle more wheight than it's simillars but pays back whith the pedelling eficiency. It has a little pedal bowing, but is not likely you'll suffer it since this bike somehow lets you use harder gears even in very step hills.
I use it in routes where we climb ann then descend shwitching very quikly and it the best I've had, I dont have to ajust anything from being climbing side to side whith an XC rider to going along with my downhill partners. I feel I have advantages in both cases! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerson
a Weekend Warrior
from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | El Cimarron | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | Used Frame from a fr | | Strengths: | Frame strength is remarkably good for its wheigth, and I feel it's extremelly eficient for up-hill pedalling. Sear shock is very stiff allowing hard pounding w/o bottoming. Short tailed frame gives very good cornering when going fast in a downhill trail. I recommend this bike for people that runs XC like trials with some rooks an roots (I mean, unprepared trials), especially if youre a little heavy for the size of bike you shuld use. Or if you plan to use it harder than a XC bike. | | Weaknesses: | Some may find rear travel short. In my group, some people like to adjust saddle height very often, this frame doesn't allow too much adjust, only 2 or 3 inches. I dont recomend it for people who needs to set the saddle low for descending and back up for climbing. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek VRX 400, Trek VRX 200 (allowed for 4 inches of seat heigtht, adj, longer tail, less cornering ability, less efficient pedalling) GT XCR 4000. Trek Fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou xVert-t fork, Alluminum double wall rims, WTB velociraptor fron tire, unbranded $20 rear tire, WTB saddle, triple height handlebar, suntour crank, suntour 9-speed cassete, shimano XT derrailleurs, Shimano Shifters. Unbranded V-brakes and Levers. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike whit a llitle more wheight than it's simillars but pays back whith the pedelling eficiency. It has a little pedal bowing, but is not likely you'll suffer it since this bike somehow lets you use harder gear even in very step hills.
I use it in routes where we climb ann then descend shwitching very quikly and it the best I've had, I dont have to ajust anything from being climbing side to side whith an XC rider to going along with my downhill partners. I feel I have advantages in both cases! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Same as I put in the one below | | Weaknesses: | Same as below | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | This is where i forgot to put something..Everything is just the same as below but I have switched the link around and i flipped the shock and put it in the bottom hole. Its a lot lower but it increases travel a bit and its a lot softer in back too | | Bottom Line: | same as before | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very upgradeable, Strong | | Weaknesses: | some of the stock parts need to be replaced... the z-5 fork is a little soft for most things but can be pumped back up .. rear shock has not so good rebound and nothing to tune it except for teh spring. | | Similar Products Used: | many others | | Bike Setup: | Sun Rhyno lite rims/deore disc...shimano deore disc brakes...azonic shorty stem...titec hell bent bars...xt drivetrain...odi rouge lock on grips with lock jaws xtr cables and new housing... green cable end caps | | Bottom Line: | This is one hell of a bike... I have ridden the hell out of it the last two years and the worst thing is that i have had to put some money into it for upgrades .. but nothing sincce then.. I love this bike and I am planning on trying to find an older marzocchi jr.t (2000-2001, if anyone has any info on where to get one now a days please tell me). My biggest drop with this bike is about 7' and the only thing that happened was that the fork bottomed out.GREAT BIKE | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dick Hill
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, Ca
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | mount laguna trails | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$660.00 | | Purchased At: | Oshmans sports superstore | | Strengths: | Overall bike set-up when bought was great for an entry level full suspension bike. Not the best of all components but overall the bike was quality. | | Weaknesses: | Diatech disk brakes on my bike were recalled and replaced with promax dc 600 mechanical disk brakes which worked well but don't ever try to get new pads anywhere as they are non-exsistant. Promax is no help at all. After numerous e-mails to them over 6 months I still can't get pads. Stick with a company that stands behind their products. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized fsr xc | | Bike Setup: | stock except for a specialized body geometry seat for a little added comfort. | | Bottom Line: | This was my first full suspension bike and although it is a little on the heavy side it does help you build some leg strength while your climbing. Hopefully your riding buddies on there 23lb hard tails will be waiting for you at the top of the hill but if they're not then you can still make up ground going downhill as I never really have to ride around much on this bike. You just point the thing downhill and go. I've tried several different tires since my original Geax Sedonas wore out but I haven't found any that makes the bike handle anywhere near as good. The marzocchi Z-5 shock had to be rebuilt once but it still working great. Overall I'm very pleased with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simply Huge
a
from Canton, GA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Blankets Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Galyans | | Strengths: | Nice entry level bike for a someone new to mountain biking. | | Weaknesses: | Most components that came stock were not durable. Bike is a little heavy compared to other full-suspension/free-ride bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi X-Fly 100; Fox Vanilla R; Easton Monkey Lite handlebars/seat post; Magura Louise Disc Brakes; Selle Italia Flite Saddle; XT/LX component mix; Shimano 858 Pedals; Mythos IRC tires; Mavic 317 XT disc wheels 14/15; Kore stem; Cane Creek C2 headset | | Bottom Line: | Again, nice bike for someone new to mountain biking. It is my first mountain bike and I could have made worse choices. I have replaced every part on the bike from the original setup. I seem to be good at breaking things! Maybe because I'm a bigger rider (6'2" 230 lbs) and ride hard especially for someone my size. One good thing about this is I have it fitted almost perfectly for me now. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent Haeseker
a Cross Country Rider
from Crystal River, FL USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos (local) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop in Crystal River | | Strengths: | Strong and dependable (after a few upgrades). Very comfortable ride. | | Weaknesses: | Stock brakes suck, stock drivetrain always had issues for me. | | Similar Products Used: | Most all other popular makes and models have been test rode since purchasing this bike. | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades over the years include: Avid mechanical disc brakes (one of the first in line to get them :-), XT drivetrain (front and rear derailer, rear cogs, front chainrings, cranks, bottom bracket, shifters and cables), Serfas ddvado seat, WTB Mutano Rapter 2.2 tires, WTB grips. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike in February of 2000 so I'm not sure if it's a 2000 or a 1999 model. This bike has been responsible for my current addiction to mountain biking. A fantastic ride. The stock brakes were so bad they were dangerous, but a rather inexpensive upgrade to Avid mechanicals will get you all the braking you need (I like them better than Hayes) with very little maintenance. I always fought with my original drivetrain on this bike, cursing it many times to the point I was shopping for a new bike. Instead, realizing how much I still loved this bike, I opted the cheaper route of upgrading the drivetrain to all XT. Man, what a difference! And the bike feels lighter now too. It basically feels like a new high-end ride now.
I've also changed out the well wore in GEAX tires for WTB Mutano Rapters. The WTB's seem lighter and faster although they don't have the grip of the GEAX's - especially while cornering.
The hard stock seat has been changed out for a more comfy Serfas seat.
This bike has been riden hard and often for 2 and a half years now and still wants more. My main riding buddy has a Rocky Mountain Element Race and I can't tell you how many times I beat him on the climbs dispite the other bikes design to be a better climber (and ironically, he usually beats me on the downhills dispite my bikes design towards be better geared for downhills).
The only real complaint I currently have of the bike is it's steering. It doesn't cut as hard as I want it to. I've riden other bike to compare and the X2 indeed likes to go wide. Because of this I slow more for tight corners than I want and lose momentium - otherwise I might get off the trail. It also drifts on hard/steep climbs as the front wheel twitches - I'm adapting a technique were on steep climbs I have to lift the front wheel off the ground and yank it back over where I want it to go.
Next week I'll actually be entering my first race and I'll be riding this bike. I don't expect to win by any means, and I know this isn't the most race oriented bike, but with the upgrades I've made it's quite zippy now. I'll also be taking it up north again to Tsali and Pisgah in North Carolina in the coming month. I expect to be riding this bike still for some time to come. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun
a Downhiller
from pittsfield mass
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | travel,fork(marzocchi),4 bar linkage,bars,stem | | Weaknesses: | those brakes suck!the rear shock is a bit squeaky until you get it broken in.the rims bend somewhat easily on nose-dives.(i know from experence)but it is an overall great. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for sun ryhno lite rims and new cables.the other rims were weak! | | Bottom Line: | this bike is a great beginers freeeride\ downhill bike.once you get some better rims this bike is almost bomb proof! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Whittingham
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Middlesex Fells | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Rides like a Cadillac. Lots of Rear travel. Good value for the price. | | Weaknesses: | LEAD SLED!!!! WEIGHS A MILLION POUNDS!!!! Seriously, if you like to climb as much as go down, this bike will make it a challenge. | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS-3 / Giant XTC-1 NRS | | Bike Setup: | Stock - LT/Avid/Disc/Judy Rock | | Bottom Line: | If you want to drag a lot of weight around, this is the bike for you; if you're a heavier rider who loves the downhills, this bike is for you. If you like XC and/or racing, this might not be the right choice. I had a lot of repair problems, chain slippage (after removing multiple links), couldn't get rear derailuer dialed-in quite right, etc... this is a good intermeidate ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Gainesville, FL
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Very plush, frame is laterally stiff, front and rear shocks work very well together, great parts package. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, although it's still not bad for a dualie. Stems come way too short for frame size. | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | LX drivetrain, Judy XC front, Judy deluxe rear, swapped disks for Avid SD 7 to enable wheel swapping with my hardtail, otherwise stock. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks. It's not much for sprinting out of the saddle, but how many dual suspension bikes are? If you want to ride rocks and roots all day and be ready to ride again the next day, this is your bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Downhiller
from Indpls, IN
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | jumps, downhill, anything but up | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Good beginners downhill bike. Good building platform for upgrades. | | Weaknesses: | No bearings in the piviots. Squeaking from piviots/shock, once you ride other things you'll discover that the supension is very active, it just bounces over a lot of things. Rear shock is sticking a bit. With chain guide can't get to bottom piviot. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn 4 Banger, Foes ZigZag, Foes DHS | | Bike Setup: | I bought frame only and built up, Pyslo XC, Kooka Cranks, Mr. Dirt chain guide, Sun Ringle Mammoth rims on Xt Disc hubs with Xt Disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Good beginner dh bike or xc. Great bike for the money. Feels like a solid frame, like it will last a while. I can only talk about the frame because which I think is pretty good. It is not very active on some downhills but is fine for just about everthing else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike c
a Weekend Warrior
from cherry hill n.j.
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | P.P. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bus. Bikes | | Strengths: | price
frame
components
rims
great platform of a bike to build on and make minor improvements
brakes are great after a short brake in period and then dial them in correctly
looks. i have the all black with the black judyxc at 100mm
em in correctly. | | Weaknesses: | rear shock coil spring 550 toooo soft. i changed mine out
for a fox 800lb spring now it handles it all
mid ring on deore bent twice BAD. changed that out for xt ring now no problems.
f
or a fox 800lb spring now it handles it all. | | Similar Products Used: | relighm8000,gary fisher hoo kooekoo | | Bike Setup: | replaced outer ring for tooth fairy bash ring/THE front fender/fox 800lb coilspring on rockshox delux rear/bontrager front and rear specific tires/vistalights rest is pretty much stock
| | Bottom Line: | bike is excellant for the money.this is my first full suspension and it is alot of fun to ride.from freeride to xc
to drops to the down hills you will not be disappointed. with a few more upgrades the bike will be perfect. buy one if you can. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Clayton, CA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mitchell canyon/red road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$998.00 | | Purchased At: | Clayton Bicycle | | Strengths: | Slick looks, decent value, plush on downhill and rough stuff. Very fun and versatile all-around bike. I have no problems with the suspension, tires, rims, headset, bars, weight etc.. | | Weaknesses: | Disk Brakes (they squeak, grab, or don't stop)Transmission (pops in and out of gears on steep climbs or under torque)seat is a little hard! | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great all-around graduate-to-full-suspension bike for the fire roads I ride on Mt. Diablo. If I were doing it over I would have put the same $$$ into a bike w/ no disc brakes and better drivetrain components. (but you don't figure that stuff out until you've ridden it awhile) Those of you who got the bike for 650 should not be complaining at all (crybabies!) This bike has made me ride more often, I'm now out there almost every morning for about 45 mins to an hour. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. Albert
a Cross Country Rider
from Tahoe City, CA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Very solid overly built FSR style frame, Mavic rims and 2.25 Geax tires, Koski components, decent Marzochi fork, although the green colors in this bike do not match, black on black color scheme on an overly clearcoated frame makes this bike a head turner every where i ride | | Weaknesses: | Absence of bearings on all frame pivot points, suspension squeak in rear shock mounts, frame weight on heavy side for a XC bike, tires too wide and heavy for extended periods of XC riding, rear Rockshox could be better, lack of provisions in frame design for disc brake cable routing | | Similar Products Used: | Kona ManoMano, Schwin Rocket 88 | | Bike Setup: | stock with Grimeca System 8 discs, Kore b52 stem, Kore easton handle bar | | Bottom Line: | I believe the manufacturer created this bike as a XC and entry level DH hybrid hoping to get both markets by using cheaper priced components like Deore group, Z5 Bomber, Diatech brakes and Rockshox deluxe and combined it with a solid frame and wheel set. The bike feels solid on very steep and long downhill runs (with Grimeca's) yet very heavy on long hill climbs and even on flat loosely packed surfaces. The only thing i did NOT like about this bike is the lack of bearings on all the pivot points in the frame whereas everything else can be upgraded . I believe problems relating to shifting and chain falling are due to the lack if not absence of adjustment made by the dealers selling these bikes who use young and unskilled hired help who assemble these out of the box. Also, the folks who mentioned shifting problems on inclines should know better than not to be shifting under load because this is how you break chains and spocket teeth or both. For those who paid MSRP of $1199, i can only say we got what we paid for. And for those who paid $629 @Supergo, i say your getting a heck of a deal. For all its worth, i fell of a 30 ft ledge in the slick rock trail in Moab recently with only scratched up pedals and bar grips on the bike itself. As for me, an almost broken ankle, heavily scratched left leg and heavily bruised ego causing at least 3 weeks worth of recovery which is why i have all the time in the world to write this review. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mickey borg
a Downhiller
from bountiful, ut, usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$720.00 | | Purchased At: | pedersons ski and sports | | Strengths: | rims, suspension, frame, ALL! | | Weaknesses: | clipless pedels suck!!!!!!!!!! dia tech macanical discs are pieces of garbage. | | Similar Products Used: | raliegh (many extras) m7000 | | Bike Setup: | rock shock deluxe rear shock, mavic x223 rims, marzocchi z.5 forks,xt rear derailer, avid levers, dia tech machanical disc. | | Bottom Line: | A MODEATE DOWNHILLERS DREAM COME TRUE! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RIddell_13
a Weekend Warrior
from Marino, FL
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | The frame is solid, the components are great for the price range. The disc brakes are outstanding once they are adjusted and broke in. It handles great on the trails. Kicks Ass on the DH courses. Great balance and minimal flex. | | Weaknesses: | The chain falls off quite a bit, the brakes need a long break in period. The fork( Judy XC) is weak for anything more than light free riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock, K2 Attack | | Bike Setup: | Stock- LX cranks, derails, etc. Avid brake levers and judy XC fork, mavic 223 rims, Hays disc brakes ( cable) | | Bottom Line: | This was a great intro F/S bike for me. I've beat the sh*t out it and the only damage is the chain pops every once in awhile. It's allowed me try trail rides, downhill and light free ride. I have a better idea of where I want to go in the sport and didn't waste a sh*t load of cash to figure it out. I'll modify this one as a strict DH bike next season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc Ferrara
a Weekend Warrior
from Roseville,CA USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | folsom lake area/american river | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Awesome fork on this babe wheels and disc brakes are cool too but thats it! | | Weaknesses: | chain always falls of about every 10 miles or so and I ride my bike a lot, 293 miles in 2 months.A piece of sh*t frame just yesterday I grabbed about 5 feet of air and bent my frame useless.rear shock is sh*t too. | | Similar Products Used: | proflex 657,trek y frame,fsr | | Bike Setup: | LX rear, deore/front/levers/cranks shimano clips all stock bike. | | Bottom Line: | frame/shifters/rear shock suck everything else is fine i'm going to get scram 9.0 shifters and a new frame b/c frame is bent horribly! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gonzalo Carrasco
a Weekend Warrior
from Norfolk, VA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$630.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo.com | | Strengths: | Most of the components are really good for the price.
The JUDY XC fork is fine, but air-forks I've tried (e.g. Noleen Mega Air) had much less stinction.
The rear shock is pretty good.
The frame is solid and has no flex under extreme conditions, although a little heavy.
The components work perfectly AFTER I tuned everything myself (supergo didn't do it). Even the fork came installed as a 2.5 inch travel, which I had to switch to 4 inch. Nothing too difficult, but aren't they suppossed to do it? | | Weaknesses: | The Geax Sedona 2.25 tires might be good for dirt, but for freestyle stuff they are bad.
The Promax disc brakes took >100 miles to start working decently.
Supergo customer service did NOT attend my complains (well, we emailed back and forth, but no solution was reached) that the brakes weren't working fine.
Who needs that looooooooooong seat tube? | | Similar Products Used: | K2 Beast '98 | | Bike Setup: | Stock (full Deore group, Promax disc brakes, black Rock Shox JUDY XC).
Switched tires for Tioga DH 2.3 (good for freeride-street stuff) and Wellgo platform pedals (the best and a bargain for 20 bucks) | | Bottom Line: | It's true that getting a disc brake equipped bike with these specs for 630 is the best deal ever. But I wish I had gotten the Avid brakes (or anything better than these Promax, which took so long to start working fine).
The bike is a fine long-travel full-suspension XC or street bike, but the K2 Beast '98 felt more of a DH bike.
The black disc-only Mavic rims are wonderful and very good.
For aesthetes the all-black bike look is pretty elegant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oliver
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Bottom Line: | For the price this is an awsome mnt bike. Although I ended up replacing the forks, brakes, tires, stem and bars it's still a really good value. My suspension is a little noisy after 1 year, a little mainenence helps but the noises persist. Spend the bucks and get a better version of the same thing if you ride a lot, otherwise this bike will definitly hold up for the weekend warrior. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Nordland, WA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Price,value,frame,fork, rims | | Weaknesses: | Apparently the derailleur hanger and chain, brakes are minimal. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback XR1 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Sun Ringle Zu-Zu pedals. Will have an XT rear der. once hanger shows up. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike for my 15 year old son (6'2", 210 lbs.)so he could ride with my friends and I on our full suspension bikes. I figured at the price he could beat the heck out of it and I wouldn't be out a fortune. Unfortunately, 40+ days after the purchase the chain pulled the rear derailleur and hanger (twisted and snapped)off. The chain is my only guess at this time, since we were riding a pretty easy section of single track when it happened. Now comes the fun. Supergo was polite but said sorry, "without proof", no warranty, and Diamondback will only sell the der. hanger through a dealer. So one week before my son's first beginner DH, we are at the mercy of our LBS to get the hanger.
Other than this the bike has been a pretty good investment. The Marzocchi fork works great, and even the Rockshox shock had a strong enough spring. The Diatech mechanical brakes aren't great, but get the job done so far. I had a Diamondback XR1 last year, and the frames are identical. After a few trade outs I think this bike will be could be as good as that one was. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spokexx
a Cross Country Rider
from Philly,PA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the illegal ones | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$630.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo.com | | Strengths: | Good grief, where do i start? I guess in the front end. The Marzochi is awesome. No more elastomer forks for me. The shifters are spot-on after a little barrel adjustment. The tires are my fav item on the bike. MOTOCROSS!! They ride ontop of the mud, not sink into it. The disc brakes put rim style brakes to shame, especially after riding through mud and water. Oh yeah, and 5" of rear travel, this is why i bought this bike. | | Weaknesses: | The stock seat is hard. I mean impotent inducing!!!! Doh! | | Bike Setup: | I changed the stock 800lb rear spring to a 550lb spring (i weigh 135 lbs.) The stock seat is too hard,so i went down to Kmart (yes Kmart) and bought a Bell Extra comfort gell seat. I swear by this seat folks, it will add atleast an hour or more of riding time. And then i returned the stock seat in the Bell packaging and got a refund! hehe
Also, the seat post was WAY too long, so i cut it in half, and grinded off that stupid weld in the seat post. I run my tires at 60 psi. Also, i adjusted the rear derailer tension all the way. Its that other screw near the L and H screws. Much less chain slap. | | Bottom Line: | After riding my 1992 Performance hardtail with an RST elastomer fork for years, it was time to go full suspension. I'm so happy with this bike that it will probably be the last bike i ever own. It's SO plush that my speed and control on trails has jumped significantly. Even if it was being sold at its $1000 price tag, it's still the best deal dollar per rear wheel travel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramstein Germany
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rodolbin (it's listed on MTBR) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Great Frame | | Weaknesses: | Front derailler cable router. | | Similar Products Used: | Iron Horse G-8 | | Bike Setup: | Marzzochi z-2 bam, XTR pods, XTR breaks, Mavic 517 with xt hubs. | | Bottom Line: | I actually bought an x-link. But the x-2 has more hits and I have a tip I think is worth shairing. When you upgrade the cables, take a chunk of the old cable and slide it into the front derailleur router tube. This will save your cable and reduce the cable friction. Other than that this is a great bike. It takes upgraids wonderfully. The fraim could be a little stiffer. But for the price what can you say
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Concord, CA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This bike is a tank. You can go over just about anything in it. The marzochi fork is awesome. | | Weaknesses: | The disk brakes suck. I got a new set of promax disk brakes free from diamondback because the brakes the bike came with rub a lot. The guy at the bike shop said he eventually had to replace the brakes on five different bikes. Diamondback was cool about not charging for the parts but it sucks that the bike came with defective brakes in the first place. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized and Gary Fisher soft-tail bikes. | | Bike Setup: | stock other then replacement brakes | | Bottom Line: | Overall this is an awesome bike. All of my friends are envious. The ride down the hill is so smooth. this bike is tight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MATT
a Cross Country Rider
from BAY MINETTE, AL USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | OAK MTN, BIRMINGHAM, AL | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$629.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO ONLINE | | Strengths: | LOOKS GOOD. MARZOCCHI FORK CANN'T BE BEAT, BRAKES AFTER BREAKIN PERIOD WORK GREAT.REAR SUSPENSION REALLY SOAKS UP THE ROUGH STUFF. ALL COMPONENTS SEEM TO WORK GOOD TOGETHER. LARGE FRAME MEANS JUST THAT. UNLESS OVER 6' GO WITH MED. RIMS BY MAVIC (YOU CANN'T GO WRONG THERE). HOLLOW TECH CRANKS ARM VERY SMOOTH NO FLEXING (I WEIGH ON 175). | | Weaknesses: | FROM THE DEALER, (WHICH SUPPOST TO BUILD BIKE BEFORE SHIPPING), I GOT THE BIKE IN A BOX THAT WAS SEALED FROM FACTORY (NEVER OPENED). I ASSEMBLED IT IN NO TIME BUT NOTICED THE REAR LINKAGE WAS MISSING THE BUSHINGS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WITH SOME PERSISTENCE GOT THEM TO SEND ME THE NEEDED BUSHINGS. I 1ST CALLED DIAMONDBACK FOR THE NEEDED PARTS AND THEY WIIIIIIIILLLLLLL NOT SEND THEM TO AN INDIVIDUAL THEY HAVE TO GO THOUGH DEALER. SH'TY SUPPORT FROM DIAMONDBACK IS ALL I CAN SAY. THEN THE REAR DERAILER WAS NOT SET UP PROPERLY SO I HAULED IT TO LOCAL SHOP AND FOR A LITTLE OVER 20BUCKS GOT EVERYTHING COOKING. WHICH SUPERGO CREDITED BACK TO ME (NICE OF THEM AFTER ALL THEY SHOULD HAVE FOUND ALL THIS CRAP OUT BEFORE SHIPPING) TIRES WEIGH TOOOO MUCH. NEED KEVLAR BEAD DAMN WIRE WOULD NEVER SEAT PROPERLY. WEIGHT | | Similar Products Used: | CANNONDALE SUPER V (GOOD BIKE). DIAMONDBACK RESPONSE (GREAT BIKE) MONGOOSE D70 (GOOD BEGINNER BIKE IF YOU UPGRADE A LITTLE)MONGOOSE A40 (UNLESS WIFE'S BIKE SKIPP IT) | | Bike Setup: | BONE STOCK. TRIED DIFFERENT TIRES BUT THE STOCK ONES WORK PRETTY GOOD AT 35PSI | | Bottom Line: |
I HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER U.S.A. AND RODE ALOT OF RENTAL BIKES OF VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS AND THIS IS THE BEST BIKE FOR THE MONEY AND JUST ABOUT ALL AROUND.
ITS WEIGHT SUCKS BUT YOU WILL NOT KNOW IT FLYING DOWN THOSE HILLS. ONLY ON THE STEEPEST OF CLIMBS DID I FEEL ITS WEIGHT, BUT ITS GOT GREAT GEARING TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LITTLE I MEAN LITTLE PROBLEM.
I RIDE AT LEST 100 MILES OF VARIOUS TERRAIN A WEEK NEVER GETTING ON PAVED ROAD SO I CAN SAY IN THE SHORT PERIOD I HAVE OWNED THIS RIDE ITS A GOOD BUY.
P.S. SUPERGO SOLD OUT SO THIS ONLY GOES TO THOSE WHO HAVE THEM.
THANK YOU
DO NOT BUY IF YOU RIDE ON PAVED ROAD(THEY'LL NEVER NEED IT
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Southern California
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$980.00 | | Purchased At: | J & K Sports | | Strengths: | It's smooth and very tough. I like the option of setting the rear travel height. very cool. Although a little on the heavy side, it doesn't feel that way once you're on it. The bike does what you want, when you want it to. | | Weaknesses: | After breaking in the rear shock (RockSox Deluxe)it feels soft and sluggish in the rear. Some slipping off of the cassette but that's to expected when you're jumping off of cliffs. The bike doesn't like to go into the small ring infront when climbing hills. Alomst doesn't do it when you're applying tention to it. | | Similar Products Used: | GT I-Drive 4.0, 3.0 (tested); Haro FS's | | Bike Setup: | the bike I got stock wasn't the one pictured. My bike came completely black with RockShox XC in front, RockShox Deluxe in the rear, Koski stem and handle bar, ProMax Discs with Avid 1.9 levers, and Mavic X-223's | | Bottom Line: | this is an excellent bike for the money. I've recently started racing DH with this bike. I must say, riding this bike has given me the courage to do bigger and tougher drop offs. I'd forgotten how fun going kazoo on a bike could be. Having this bike reminds of why I started riding in the first place. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JEFF S
a Weekend Warrior
from FED. WAY WA USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | CAPITOL FOREST | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | ALKI BIKE . WEST SEATTLE | | Strengths: | OVERALL DESIGN OF BIKE MAKES IT A VERSITAL PERFORMER.
THE FASTER YOU RIDE ON ROUGH TERRAIN THE SMOOTHER THE
TRAIL FEELS.
| | Weaknesses: | HAVE ALSO HAD CONSISTANT CHAIN OVER THROW INTO LOW GEAR.
CHEAP CHAIN AND POOR TIRES.
FEEL LIKE REAR D-RAIL IS NEVER PERFECT
| | Similar Products Used: | NOTHING SIMILAR; JUST A YOUNGER BODY RIDING THE SAME TRAILS WITH A STUMPJUMPER 10-12 YEARS AGO.
10 YEARS | | Bike Setup: | BEING 6'2 AND 195LBS. I PURCHASED THE LARGE FRAME. I PUT A 15 DEGREE 130MM RACEFACE STEM, EATON 70 MONKEYLITE HANDBARS
WITH 2.5 IN. RISE TO INPROVE ROOM FOR UPPER BODY CONTROL. I
RECOMMEND THIS FOR TALLER RIDERS OR DOWNHILL WANTBEES. IT WAS WORTH VERY PENNY. "wholesale that is" REPLACED MIDDLE CHAIN RING WITH RACEFACE, PROBLEM WITH BENDING OR MY SHIFTING STYLE. REPLACED IS GEAR-XXXXX TIRE IN FRONT FOR A MUCH IMPROVED IRC BACKCOUNTY, WHY I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE REAR I DON'T KNOW. STUPID IS WHAT STUPID DOES. I HAVE NOT FOUND TRUE NIRVANA WITH SUSPENION YET BUT PREFERING STIFFER
IN FRONT ALITTLE SOFTER IN REAR. | | Bottom Line: | I REALLY ENJOY THIS BIKE THE BEST DOWN FAST LUMPY SINGLE TRACK.THE BIKE DARES YOU TO NOT USE THE BRAKES BUT IS CAPABLE OF STOPPING VERY FAST FOR SWITCHBACKS OR FOR SLOWER RIDERS WHO FEEL THE NEED TO SLOW DOWN SOONER TO MAKE TURNS.
THOUGH THIS FEELING OF INVINSIBLITY HAS COST ME TWO FRONT RIMS AND A NICE GASH ON MY NOSE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BIKE BECAUSE OF DESIGN YOU CAN ALWAYS UP GRADE YOUR COMPONETS LATER IF YOU BREAK THEM; IF THEY DON'T BREAK YOU PROBABLY AREN'T WORTHY OF THAT $2500.00 BIKE ANYWAY | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pat
a Weekend Warrior
from attleboro,ma,usa
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Strengths: | all around great bike for the price | | Weaknesses: | diatech disc brake history | | Bottom Line: | dear dave,(the guy below)
Im sorry you feel this way.I ride my bike(diamond back x2) once or twice a week,its never let me down,I beat on it pretty
hard,and the price was just right for me.so,in my world it
is a "real bike".as far as not writing a review unless you know what your talking about.....well maybe the fine people at mtbr.com should give you the honer of checking the reviews before they are posted.....im sure that would
get rid of.....ohhhhh....say.....80% of the reviews.
Do you get the point? if not,why doesnt that surprise me.
dave...please.....get yor head out of the ground and just
ride ..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a
from minot, maine
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | i haven't really tried the bike but i gotta say its cool that people give the bike a review, but some of you dont know what you are talking about. like the kid who switched from a walmart bike to a diamondback doesn't have a clue what a real bike is, diamondback makes ok bikes but they used to be better. lets put it this way dont put in reviews if you dont know how to give reviews, make sure you know what you know what you are talking about before you put one in. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Myles Swift
a Cross Country Rider
from Creswell,OR
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | BLM roads and fire trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Hutch's in Eugene | | Strengths: | Brakes/tires actually give good control in the steep and wet. Removes the terror from downhill loose gravel sweepers. | | Weaknesses: | Chain falls off shifting to inner ring. Generally happens on a hill too steep to recover from. Shifting is difficult with load on the drivetrain. NOISY brakes. They are ok when it is dry but after 20 minutes in the wet, squeak, squeak, squeak. This happens even if I clean the rotors with brake clean before each ride. | | Similar Products Used: | The leading candidate was the SC Heckler, but for $500 difference I could get the X-2 now instead of dreaming about the Heckler. One big problem is trying to evaluate any bike like this on paving in the area of the LBS. Looked at Specialized in the same price range and decided to go for the discs. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Will be changing the stem to raise the bars. I kept the stock Sedona Geax tires and I am happy that I did. | | Bottom Line: | I live in the woods and I weigh about 210. This is my first suspension bike. I have had a rigid CrMo mountain bike (Muddy Fox) for about 15 years. Since I got the X-2 the Fox has only seen paving.
I bought this as an end-of-year special. I ride almost every day at least 1/2 hour. This bike has definitely increased the fun factor. Although quite a bit heavier than the Fox I end up covering more distance in less time. The Fox did not have enough traction to climb steep gravel roads. The X-2 is lower geared. I wish the top end gearing were higher for running on the level.
I am getting older and my hands were getting numb beating downhill riding the Fox. I talked to friends that had recently returned to biking and found that most of them did so because they could ride a full suspension and not tear up some body part. I ride the X-2 about 3 times as much as I did the Fox in the last few years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Dude
a
from USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$660.00 | | Purchased At: | At a bike store, the one i work at | | Strengths: | Hmmmm. let me see. Oh it came with a good rear shock. Wait no it didn't. The bike had good welds, oh yeah they look like they were done by a kid in junior high metal shop. The parts spec was kinda thrifty, but the fork was so so. The tires weren't that bad. | | Weaknesses: | Let me first start off by saying avoid this bike like the plauge. The pivots wore out in four months. the back end has excessive play. Sure i could replace them, if Diamond scrap had any to send me. You would think it would be easy to get the parts because i work in a bike shop. Nope the sales rep is a pinhead and the inside sales rep doesn't have the part numbers on file! very good customer service. A year ago this was the best company to deal with. now they make GT look like good. that's the Derby cycle difference. let's see that was the pivots. Then there's the whole brake fiasco. Dia tech makes these really crappy disc brakes. They have been recalled... what is it twice now? I am my third set. wait make that forth if you are counting the Avids I am running now. If you own the X-2; buy the avid disc brakes. Then theres the finish of the bike. It looks like someone took some krylon and sprayed the bike down in one big runny coat. The back end doesn't match the bomber forks, which just makes the bike look cheesy. Don't be confused by the fact that there is a serial number on the bottom bracket and the down tube. The frame was probably made in Taiwan, where the bottom braket was stamped. then it was shipped to the Raleigh factory in seatle where it was finished and assembled. By a bunch of crack heads they found on the streets of seatle. Did i mention how bad the brakes work? | | Similar Products Used: | Well how about the 1999 X-2 which had better parts, a better finish, cleaner welds and V-brakes that actually stop the bike better than the Dia tech discs.
| | Bike Setup: | Avid disc brakes and levers, a fox vanilla shock, michelin tires. I won't sink another nickel into this piece of ____ | | Bottom Line: | I used to like Diamond Back. Now I don't. But don't worry my shop finally dropped them. Derby cycle took what was a very quality oriented company and turned it into mongoose. I ordered this bike because i loved the 1999 model. This one was supposed to be better. So I ordered it. I sold the bike to about 6 people. These 6 people are very angry. I feel guilty. Dia Tech is a company who I hope will someday get it's act together. I know two people that sustained some injuries because of the brakes. Even when set up according to the instructions the calipers would still stick to the rotors. The bike seems like it was just rushed together. All you people who gave the bike such rave reviews are only doing so because you own the bike. for many of you it is your first suspension bike. I own 5. trust me, this thing is junk. I am just calling a spade a spade. The bike seemed fine for a of couple weeks. I didn't beat on the bike anymore than I do any other that I own. Derby should be ashamed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Boatwright
a Downhiller
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Santa Terresia, and Saratoga Gap | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | TRAIL HEAD!! | | Strengths: | Nice shox, sturdy frame. Great for downhillin'. Great breaking power. Put some Kujo's on there, and you're set. | | Weaknesses: | The rear shock link pin bent on me, and the old cable discs suck, but once they replace them, they're great. Other than that, nothing | | Similar Products Used: | FSR | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this is a great bike. It's my first full suspension, and I love it to death. I love the way it handles down the tough hills, and how it will do it a million times before it will break on me. Great job Diamondback! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Brigan
a Weekend Warrior
from Leesburg, FL
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$917.00 | | Purchased At: | www.samsclub.com | | Strengths: | This is my first "real" mountain bike. Before this I had a Walmart Mongoose hardtail. So with just the experience of those 2 bikes... the thing that stands out the most would have to be the "value", you get a lot for what you pay for. | | Weaknesses: | The "attention to detail", or lack of, in the design and the construction. | | Similar Products Used: | The closest thing would have to be my 'ol Suzuki PE175 :-) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Team Control Sport front tire. Tomac barends. | | Bottom Line: | The "bottom line": this is a GREAT bike for the money. The only gripes I have with this bike are the tires, and the above mentioned attention to detail. Where I ride, it tends to be sandy, and those shallow knobbies(if that's what ya'd call them) washout in the corners. I rode the bike once, and bought a new Specialized Team Control to replace the front tire. BIG improvement. I also added barends... hey, why don't mountain bikes come WITH barends?? Now, the attention to detail: the rear swingarm and the front forks are both green -- but VERY different shades of green!! What's up with that!! This is a sharp looking bike -- if the front and rear of the bike both were the same shade of green... it would REALLY be a kick as* bike. The cable routing SUCKS!! The rear brake cable sometimes bends over far enough so that it rubs on the rear tire knobbies -- if they had reversed the orientation of 2 cable guides, it would have avoided this problem. Anyway... a cable tie fixes it. Other little things like, the big Diamondback sticker on the frame had become worn through, in shipping. I bought the bike unassembled in it's box. The front tire wore through the sticker and the paint below it. I could get it fixed under warranty at a dealer, but the replacement sticker probably wouldn't stick as well as the original, so I left it. These are things that hopefully the manufacturer will find out about, and remedy, but it doesn't make me regret buying this bike.
A couple other reviewers mentioned the bikes weight... I really have no complaints about that. Weighs about 30 pounds, I'd say... no problem. Says in the "Review Guidelines" to recommend "who should" and "who shouldn't" buy this bike. If ya ride in the dirt, buy it. If ya ride on pavement... well, that's your freakin' problem. :-)
I'm having a freakin' BLAST with this bike... I just wish I had time to ride it everyday! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tech. X-country, downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedway Bikes | | Strengths: | Nicest thing I looked at for the money. Handles incredible, looks awesome. Sucks up whatever you throw at it. I hit rocks and logs as hard as possible and can destroy a bike in no time. This bike keeps coming back for more. Disk brakes are great once you get them dialed in right...have patience. | | Weaknesses: | Chain slap every root you see. Chain falls off little ring and gets stuck, big pain in the arse. Rear shock (Rock Shock DeLuxe kinda sucks. Marzocchi is an awesome shock but tech support is kinda lacking. Oh ... and whats up with the cheapo chain? and for the price, I would have liked XT, not that the LX is a problem... | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher X3, Mongoose, GT | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock except for a couple little things. | | Bottom Line: | Overall, this bike is all its cracked up to be. Its an incredible value for the money and depite its immense weight, it climbs ok and does everything else great. I changed out the pedals for Frogs and got rid of the crap chain, which believe it or not, made a noticeable improvement in shifting, added some bar ends,grips and will change out the rear shock after Christmas to a Fox Vanilla. AS stuff goes, I will upgrade to XT or XTR, but the LX is ok for now. The Geax tires are pretty much sand tires, ok but not really the greatest cross country or downhill. They will get replaced with some raptors or specialized soon.
Like a previous reviewer said, if its too heavy youre too weak. I love this bike, Im being critical cause its a CRITIQUE duh. I would buy the same bike if I had it to do over, it's really an awesome bike and handles incredible abuse and performs amazingly in most situations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pat
a Cross Country Rider
from attleboro
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | bike works | | Strengths: | the ride,talk about plush. Nice compliment of parts, cost | | Weaknesses: | well some might say the weight,my scale says 30 lbs,considering my old department store bike was 37 lbs,
this bike is like going from rosanne barr to britny spears,
to me at least....... | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the money,sweet ride.rear suspension squeaks
alittle until its broken in. read the reviews for the diatech disc brakes, take your time to bed them in.all components work well(some nightmare reviews about the kmc
chain,might switch it out to a sram pc-59)rear shock does an
excellent job at holding the rearend stiff when climbing,and i weigh 230 lbs.this bike would best suit freeriders,its alittle overkill for x-country(5 inch rear travel, 30 lb.weight)and it doesnt quite measure up to the standard downhill rig......cant see upgrading anything untill it breaks......
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodey Downs
a Cross Country Rider
from Springville , Utah USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with some good downs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Taylors bike shop (Orem Utah) | | Strengths: | see below | | Weaknesses: | I need to add something to my review below.
There is one other problem i have with the X2.
SEE BOTTOM LINE | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock | | Bottom Line: | I dont care for the design as far as seat post to back shock. When I do alot of XC I like to have my seat at max height but on the days Im doing alot of downhill I want to lower the seat quite a bit.
The problem with the X2 is that you cant lower the seat enough for serious downhill. There is a small weld inside the seat tube that can be filed off to allow for more seat adjustment but if you lower it very far past where the weld was the linkage smacks into the bottom of the seat post.
I now have 2 seat posts. 1 for XC and 1 for downhill only. It is a bit annoying. None of the bikes that my friends ride have this problem. I really love this bike but I doubt if I would have bought it if Ihad known about these 2 problems. (see my other review below)
Like everyone else says though . you wont find a bike this nice for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney Downs
a Cross Country Rider
from Springville , Utah USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | So many trails...So little time | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Taylors ike shop (Orem Utah) | | Strengths: | Great ride. Like the Disk brakes. Looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | Serious Chain Slap. My only complaint.
| | Similar Products Used: | HEHE, Does a $100.00 huffy count?..........Didn't think so. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, with a riser for the handlebars and a nicer seat. And a new seat post for the one I bent. Ive also added a few custom scratches here and there. | | Bottom Line: | This is my 1st real bike. Been riding most mornings XC for 1-2 hours and 1/2 day on weekends. Headed up to Dear valley Ski resort here in Utah last weekend to ride the lift up and Downhill all day! Awesome fun.
This bike hanldes great! My only complaint on this bike is that my chain keeps bouncing off of the front sprocket and getting wedged between the frame and small sprocket. Happened 6 times last weekend in about 9 trips down the mountain, mostly on high speed washboard surfaces. Very anouying. no one else in the group had their chain come off even once. They were going a bit slower though.
############################################################ I am in desperate need of a good chain tensioner.Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!###########################################################
Other than that I love this bike. Looks great, rides great!
*****The brake calipers ARE A RECALL ITEM. The good people at Taylor's bike shop upgraded mine before they would let me take it out the door.*****
***If you are into serious downhilling and have a few thousand to spend check out www.cpcracing.com The PATRIOT has a snow mobile rear shock. 9 inch travel!*** | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney Downs
a Cross Country Rider
from Springville , Utah USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | So many trails...So little time | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Taylors ike shop (Orem Utah) | | Strengths: | Great ride. Like the Disk brakes. Looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | Serious Chain Slap. My only complaint.
| | Similar Products Used: | HEHE, Does a $100.00 huffy count?..........Didn't think so. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, with a riser for the handlebars and a nicer seat. And a new seat post for the one I bent. Ive also added a few custom scratches here and there. | | Bottom Line: | This is my 1st real bike. Been riding most mornings XC for 1-2 hours and 1/2 day on weekends. Headed up to Dear valley Ski resort here in Utah last weekend to ride the lift up and Downhill all day! Awesome fun.
This bike hanldes great! My only complaint on this bike is that my chain keeps bouncing off of the front sprocket and getting wedged between the frame and small sprocket. Happened 6 times last weekend in about 9 trips down the mountain, mostly on high speed washboard surfaces. Very anouying. no one else in the group had their chain come off even once. They were going a bit slower though.
############################################################ I am in desperate need of a good chain tensioner.Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!###########################################################
Other than that I love this bike. Looks great, rides great!
*****The brake calipers ARE A RECALL ITEM. The good people at Taylor's bike shop upgraded mine before they would let me take it out the door.*****
***If you are into serious downhilling and have a few thousand to spend check out www.cpcracing.com The PATRIOT has a snow mobile rear shock. 9 inch travel!*** | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joie Barret
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere but uphill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Solid, rigid, upgradeable and overly clearcoated frame | | Weaknesses: | heavy weight, cheap pedals, KMZ chain, poor cable routing | | Similar Products Used: | GTXCR3000, KONA MANOMANO | | Bike Setup: | Magura Louise, AC downhill stem, M545 pedals | | Bottom Line: | Inspite of static weight problem, did not feel heavy when
ridden, never nervous down the nasty descents and very
predictable at high speeds, smooth and balanced as a freeride bike, rear suspension squeaking noise disappeared
after initial break in, worst part is chain causing crude and noisy shifting ( and wrapup at times under uphill loads ) even after several adjustment, tires are cheap and heavy but rails well on downhill bends, will definitely
upgrade to Fox Float when cashflow permits, recommended as an all around xc trail bike, maybe even entry level DH
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Howard Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Valdosta, GA USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | swamp run | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The price, spent three months in cost comparison and this bike took first place. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, but not much of a weakness unless your weak. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized, Intense, GT | | Bike Setup: | The nice part about this bike, small minor tweaks for my style, but major components are stock. | | Bottom Line: | I use the bike for everything, my road bike is only collecting dust now that I have the X-2. I road ride, swamp, back woods, and light long distance. It is a major plus if you can tune your own bike, the factory adjustments sucked, but after working, and break in all smiles!!
The Mags chew on the disc breaks, but I don't race and ride the 3k bikes and love the discs, in the wet and swamp it's the only way to go.
If your looking for a bike that has the most to offer for $ amount don't buy a name, ride more and spend less. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | APEX...CUZ IT'S OUTSIDE MY DOOR | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Neat paint scheme, heavy duty frame, plenty of travel front and back. So far drive train has held up good (i like to ride hard!) Beefy tires take you over some bumpy stuff. | | Weaknesses: | Disk brakes have given me the most problems. I understand these brakes are not the best but i've had all my problems with the rears (fronts have been 100%) i'm on my third rear disk assembly. Bike shop/DB warranty have stood behind bike and brakes. FYI----there is a product recall on these brakes. I guess they were having a lot of people complain about them...so call the place where you bought bike and they should be able to hook you up! | | Similar Products Used: | Had a DB zteca2.1 before...this | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the $1000 range. A little heavy but it's fun as sh** to ride. Once you get brakes dialed in your set! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | solid frame, great front fork, looks killer | | Weaknesses: | the disc breaks are noisy, the rear shock should be swapped for a fox, its also a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Joshua f-4, Cannondale full suspension line, specialized rock hoppers | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | I rode everything else that I could and I just kept going back to this bike. It is a great overall value. everyone who I asked about these mountain bikes said to stick to this bike because of the overall value. If the price is too high for you take a look at the diomondback X-link. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flacke
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis, Missouri
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Berryman,Chub,Castlewood,Rockwood backcountry | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Rock solid, upgradable frame. Bomber Fork. Overall feel of the bike in corners and on Downhills. | | Weaknesses: | Rear Shock. Brake Levers. (Just flip the rear linkage over for more travel and stick a Fox Foat on) | | Similar Products Used: | Just test road all others in it's price range dozens of times before laying down the bread. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, so far. V-raptor Back Tire. | | Bottom Line: | Great Bike. Rips up the whole trail. Best FS single-tracker I've riden. Rocks Downhill and technical terrain. A little heavy for XC at 33lbs but it feels lighter than that. Besides it's a Freeride/Downhiller. Awesome value.
I gave it overall a 5 because everything wrong is totally fixable.
PS.the Diatech Discs are great discs, really. You have to be patient, buy Diatech brake levers and tool with them. It helps to follow the manufactures brake-in and matinance advice as well:)
Buy this bike if you want:a do it all FS bike, or an entery level DH/DS for under $1200.
Don't buy this bike if you want:an ultra-light XC bike, a hard-tail or a POS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken Santiago
a Weekend Warrior
from Albany
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Holy Land | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Mechanical Disc Brakes | | Similar Products Used: | 99 Model | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I also own the 99 model and must admit, the 99 model is a far superior ride (the Marzocchi Bomber Z3 LT 4inch fork is the best!) I think they lost money on the 99 and that is why they decided to give it an inferior suspension set up. The wheels and the seat are the only parts that are better this year. A disappointment... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Boneta
a
from Parma Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Vulture's Knob | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Overall value, plush front shock,better tires than the 99 model and durable frame. I got mine at cost, but even at $1200 the bike is a steal. My shop sells it for $999, as does alot of others. | | Weaknesses: | Rear shock sucks, as does most things Rock Shox, the 99's Fox was better. The zoke's are great, but coil springs are better suited to freeride bikes. DiamondBack speced the wrong brake levers. If you have Avid levers (they are good levers just not compatible) complain to your local Diamond Back dealer. It's the only way this kind of thing does not happen again. | | Similar Products Used: | Just about everything in this price range. I'm a Bike Shop manager fercrissakes! | | Bike Setup: | Replaced the Avid levers with Diatech's levers. Avids aren't very good with these brakes. The Diatech levers work 100 times better. Folow Diatech's tech guru El Marko's set up tips for best results. Forget about the SID shock and get a Fox vanilla Float. Or obtain a Fox coil shock when they go aftermarket this fall. For more front end plushness, switch to a heavier oil and run 20-35 pounds of air pressure. Save yourself some headach and buy marzzochi's air pump, it's prrety cheap. The pivots come loose evey once anda while so check them everyday. | | Bottom Line: | I bought the 99 model last year and liked it so much I bought the 2000. The disc brakes work great once you get the correct levers. This is the ultimate budget freeride bike and I can't wait to add the 2001 model to my collection. Buy this bike if you want to freeride dirt cheap! Don't buy this bike if your a North Shore trail rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Spangler
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm riding, Front Range/GJ/Fruita/Rocky Mts. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Rides great, great value, easily upgradable to 1st class Long Travel bike, beefy frame, looks like a untamed downhilling beast | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than some bikes, but I can take a few more pounds off my frame before the bike's. Rear feels a little soft for me at 6'/195 pounds but haven't had bottoming out or bobbing problems. I ride the Medium frame. Upgrade to a nice SID, Stratos, or Cane shock when your ready. | | Similar Products Used: | Looked at the FSR, Giant, and K2 bikes in similar price range. Tough call, but liked the X2 upgradability, particularly not having to buy a new wheel set for discs. Except the cranks and rear shock, most of the other components are relatively cheap to upgrade to the XT level. | | Bike Setup: | Standard, if it breaks, time to upgrade. Shocks at 50psi for smooth trails, 35-40psi for the rough stuff. Mr. Tuffies to thwart the nasty desert cacti. | | Bottom Line: | I've really enjoyed this bike. I've been putting about 40-60 miles a week on it since I got it, tame trails around the house on weekdays to get in shape, then up to the good stuff on weekends. Almost can't wait for the snow to melt at the resorts and take it downhilling, it's true calling. Some reviews bag on the disc brakes, but once broken in, they stop great and predictably. The components are decent for a full suspension in this price range. Everyone loves Marzocchis, nary a bad review in MTBR, and so do I. The Sedonna 225 tire are very fat, and there's tight clearance with the frame, not sure what effect that might have in the mud. Two thumbs up, happy riding! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Hester
a Downhiller
from Waterford, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pontiac Lake Recreation | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | As they say the best of all possible worlds come together to make this full suspension bike a great buy. Front and rear disc brakes along with the bomber front fork add to the list endless pleasures. | | Weaknesses: | Although the luxury of disc brakes is nice, the X2's seemed to give me trouble after a little mud riding. Also it would be a fair gamble to upgrade to the XR1 and get the SID shock from rock if you are a serious downhiller. Its air compression system allows for maximum ride. | | Similar Products Used: | D.B. XR1, X-Link Iron Horse Hillbilly, Haro extreme EXO, GT and K2 Zed | | Bike Setup: | With the great front bomber fork the X2 also comes with great shimano components. The saddle is a little small for my tastes however the price makes it all worth it. Plus the oversized tires make for great mud riding. | | Bottom Line: | After shopping around for a while, and comparing prices and brands. I work at a sports store so i got the X2 on sale and with my discount for 800$ It was a great buy for someone who loves any sort of offroad trail riding. The full disc brakes are an added bonus along with the sturdy full suspension frame. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys trail riding as much as I do. For under $1000 its almost the best deal out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodside, CA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Long and plush travel, disc brakes, amazing value, great suspension design (at a right good price too), all-day rideable. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, Rapidfire Shifters, the Geax tires don't work everywhere. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose VRS 3.0 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for the Redline platforms. | | Bottom Line: | This, my friends, is the sweetest deal around. For $1200 (less if you hunt for a better price)you get: Marzocchi Z-5, Deore/LX parts, Koski Stem and Bar, Disc Brakes, and a quality, solidly designed frame. Could you ask for anything more? The bike rides lighter than its 30/1 lbs, and the suspension, while plush, doesn't suck energy out of every pedal stroke. Climbs like a banshee when you want it to, too. Sweet deal. An excellent freeride rig for anyone. Later. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred
a Weekend Warrior
from Prinvelle, Oregon
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Mega plush travel, Disk brakes, great price/performance | | Weaknesses: | The bike is heavy. If your hard core x-country by a light hardtail. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried them all, Raleigh, Haro, Giant, all FS around $1200. The Giant was nice for the price and it was a tough choice. | | Bike Setup: | Added top of the line Rock Shox SID rear shock. It has great adjustablity for fat boys like me. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is made for pounding. It's heavy but rides lighter than it weighs. The Zoks front forks works great. You just can't beat air adjustablity. Adding the SID to the rear was the best decision made. The added price of the rear shock took it to the same range as the Giant DS/2 (but the X2 has an inch more travel front and rear). The Zoks sold me though because I have them on my other bike and love them(DH3s). It took a while to break in the disk brakes but now they rock. One finger stopping. This bike excels at downhill but you can still get up the hill on it. Just take your time in your granny and eventually you will get to the top...then the real fun begins! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Potomac Falls, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | everything! i love this bike!!! | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | many others. | | Bike Setup: | stock. | | Bottom Line: | great bike, great price and lots of fun. i am not a pro rider, but i do have a good time abusing my bike. this bike has taken everything i have given it without ANY problems. a must buy for people on a budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent Haeseker
a
from Florida
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great value. | | Weaknesses: | Squeeky brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I love this thing. This is my first full suspension bike and it's shown me what I always knew biking could be. It's incredibly addictive. I have a big smile everytime in hovers over a big log or cuts through rough terrian. There's alot of massive sugar sand in Florida and although I still sometimes get stuck, it does 10 times better than my old Schwinn hard tail. Very good for the money - I didn't think I would ever be able to afford a pro-quality full suspension bike til I found this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from La Plata, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | St. Mary's Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | versatilty and adjustability | | Weaknesses: | fork, decals, and rear triangle are all different colors of green | | Similar Products Used: | V-link 3.0, Super Raven, Jekyll | | Bike Setup: | stock with back scratcher and crud catcher | | Bottom Line: | I was worried that I wouldn't like this bike (got such a good deal from D-back that I couldn't pass it up). I thought the long travel and cable actuated discs would not be suitable for Maryland riding. I had read that the brakes were exceptionally noisey and the air fork was quirky. I weigh 220 and ride pretty hard through swampy singletrack. I have had no problems with the bike, in fact, I am more comfortable on it than my old V-link 3.0. The brakes make less noise than any of my riding partner's V-brakes and only howl after being submerged. They stop screatching a few minutes after their dunking. The deore shifters, crank, and front derailer work almost as well as my old XT 8 speed stuff. When they break, I'll change them but can't see doing that soon.
Bottom line is that this is a great bike especially for the money. It may be heavier than a Jekyll or Raven but doesn't feel like an anchor. D-back's service was somewhat lacking in the past but since Derby Cycle has taken over, I think we'll see huge improvements. I know I have.
If you're looking for a great all-round bike that will take whatever you give it, this bike's for you. If you are looking for a light XC racer, look for something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ANTHONY NOIA
a Weekend Warrior
from ANTIOCH CALIFORNIA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | BLACK DIAMOND MINES | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | FRAME IS VERY STIFF EXCELLENT PRICE,HANDLES DOWNHILLS VERY WELL,PLENTY OF TRAVEL,DISC BRAKES,EASILY UPGRADEABLE,Z-5 ARE GREAT FOR HEAVY RIDERS SINCE YOU CAN REGULATE AIR PRESSURE. VERY COMFORTABLE GEOMETRY. | | Weaknesses: | BRAKES TAKE A WHILE TO BREAK IN,BUT ONCE THEY ARE THEY WORK GREAT IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEORE HOLLOWTECH CRANKS FLEX ALOT FOR 200+ RIDERS. | | Similar Products Used: | MONGOOSE VRS 1.0,MARIN PALISADE TRAIL,CANNODALE SM500 | | Bike Setup: | CHRIS KING HEADSET,RACEFACE STEM,XTR 8 SPEED RAPIDRISE REAR DERAILER,XT FRONT DERAILER,RACEFACE 1.5" RISER BARS,TITEC SEATPOST,2000 SHIMANO XT DISC BRAKES,IRC 2.35 KUJO TIRES, KORE CHAIN TENSIONER,TIOGA DH SEAT, CATEYE ENDURO COMPUTER,T.H.E. FRONT & REAR FENDERS, PRIMO PLATFORM PEDALS | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE IS THE BEST PRICED L.T. FULL SUSPENSION DISC BRAKE EQUIPED BIKE ON THE MARKET. ALL THESE UPGRADES I PUT ON MY BIKE WEREN'T NECCESARY, THE BIKE WORKS PERFECT RIGHT FROM THE SHOP ONCE YOU GET THE BRAKES BROKE IN. MY FRIEND HAS PURCHASED THE DIAMONDBACK X-LINK FULL SUSPENSION THAT IS ONE STEP DOWN FROM THE X-2 AND IT IS ONE THAT I WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH ALSO. DIAMONDBACK MAKES TOPNOTCH BIKES YOU NEED ONE OF THESE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chase
a Downhiller
from Friday Harbor, WA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | excelent frame, outstanding entry level fork Mazocchi's are simply the best, dual disc's best price ever | | Weaknesses: | cable disc's are not as good as hydrulic's but compramise is unaviodable at the price, and Rockshox rear shock is not as good as Fox shocks | | Similar Products Used: | many full suspension bike | | Bottom Line: | The X-2 is best entry level longtravel freeride funbike ever
it is cheap and good. I would recomend that you test or demo a dimond back before you buy an FS bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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