Submitted by
Ed Gomez
a Weekend Warrior
from San Gabriel, California
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008
Strengths: Great bike considering there are newer models. Strong frame and great looks. Great buy considering I got it with all the upgrades I could think of. Even came with Spin 3-spoke composite wheelset.
Weaknesses: So far the only thing I could say would be weight but once you get going its not really that bad.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike and with the upgrades I challenge any other bike to compare. Not a bad bike considering its not the most expensive. I do recomend this bike for anyone who is looking to get into the full suspension line.
Bike Setup: All Shimano parts, Rock Shox Judy C fork, Bontrager handlebars, Spin 3-spoke wheelset, PanaRacer tires, Specialized seat and computer.
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Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Norman, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2007
Strengths: Very Strong Frame, the rear Lockout is awesome and was very low maintenance. Really took a beating and was my daily rider about 2-3 hrs a day I finally had to retire it until i have the funds to fix it.
Weaknesses: Front shock was weak but $15 on new stiffer springs fixed that, the genesis geometry gave it personality but once I got used to it I couldn't imagine a better design for an aggressive rider like myself. I did have to replace the rear derailer, the saddle and the front springs.
Bottom Line:
I taco'd both the rims and a titanium aftermarket saddle in one wreck and its been sitting outside for about 3 and half years, here pretty soon I'm planning on rebuilding. It was a great bike if you do't mind the weight(31 lb.), frankly to me that isn't that bad.
Submitted by
firstcut
a Cross Country Rider
from mi
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006
Strengths: Awesome geometry, durable, cant beat the price for the bike
Weaknesses: Yes as many has said, chainsuck. But only happens on step hills mashing the pedals and switching gears. I jus learned how to shift it the way it wants to be. But i think most bikes do this under these conditions. Some components can be upgraded, but i will do this when and if the break down.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike i bought 2 of them from ebay both for 350$ 1 was completely mint. Its a great xc bike done some light freeriding with it. I wouldnt recomend lots of free riding or dh with this bike with out upgrading some of the compoments. You will love this bike if your new to mountainbiking. Good for beginers-inter. The value cant be beat you wont be sorry buying this bike.
Submitted by
Jim Hooverado
a Weekend Warrior
from Flatland, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2005
Strengths: Just got back from Moab. Highly adaptable. Cast iron frame withstood rocks, sand, and lightning. The weight kept the bike in contact with the ground at all times.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
We rode for four days and my jeans never got caught in the chain once. I did experience a broken link and my friends gave me a "pro-link" from their kit. This earned my affectionate nickname of "fiddy-cent" because of the gold color of the link.
Bike Setup: My reengineering of the gear ratios (I put a 17 on the front chain ring), saddled two 1/2 bushel bags across the back to hold my cans of soup and fourteen 20 ounce bottles of frozen water.
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Submitted by
Karl
a Cross Country Rider
from Centerville, Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2004
Strengths: Overall the bike was a perfect fit. I am Six foot tall and it works. I have seen my friends go through frame after frame after frame. Mine is five years old and still rocking.
Weaknesses: Only weakness was at first on climbs. Front wheel would not stay on the ground for me. Turned the stem over for a negative angle and that went away.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line for me is I can kick most of my friends butts with My heavy bike. At two hundred pounds I have not broken the frame, even when I hit the occasional three foot drops. Down hills no problem. Any one endoing on this bike needs to ride more. This bike is great for any one wanting a durible bike. I would ride it till the parts break before upgrading.
Strengths: simple design, low stand over height, easy to carry frame style, relatively light for age. genesis geometry.
Weaknesses: bottom bracket mounted derailler! tendancy to endo on steep descents. paint on rear triangle.
Bottom Line:
Treated me well this bike. Keeps up with the hard tail lads welll enough on the climbs (especially rough trail) then shows them what's what on the descent. Great single track bike. Not so good with triple clamps in tight steering situations. Nasty over the bars stuff on really steep technical tracks if rider weight is not WELL back.
Submitted by
Rusty
a Cross Country Rider
from New Bern, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2002
Strengths: Cheap, Durable and easy to maintain.
Weaknesses: A little on the heavy side and a little too much bobbing in the rear but the On the fly damping does help.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great for beginers in the XC style of biking. It is cheap yet durable and can take just about anything you can do to it. I recomend this bike to all people who enjoy mountain biking but don't want to pay three thousand bucks.
Submitted by
Will Garrity
a Weekend Warrior
from Havertown PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2002
Strengths: Pretty much everything, damping on the fly really is great for uphills.
Weaknesses: Front shock, not much travel. Brake Levers are crap and the pedals are not grippy enough, i slipped on lots of stuff with the velo tires. Drivetrain needs some upgrades. Heavy
Bottom Line:
Great lookin bike and great price for a good full suspension. i love it, some upgrades are needed if you are doing some serious trail riding like me. not great for XC since it does have bob while pedaling. FISHER Rocks!!
Strengths: great looks, quick shifting, damping on the fly, good fork
Weaknesses: weak ass rims and handle bars.
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks butt on the DH and XC. I've taken my bike off some mad cliffs and the bike took them with a smile. Bobbing is kept to as little as possible on the XC trails. I rarly need the damping and when I do use it, it is only for extended uphill trails. There are lighter bikes out there but they cost 2500 bucks, so I'm not to upset about the weight of the F4. For the price you can't find a better dually
Bike Setup: Big mamma mammoths (rims), new handle bars, new seat.
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Morrison, CO 80465
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2001
Strengths: A very light bike, especially for the 1999 product release in which the full suspension bikes were just coming into their own. It is very efficient on the climbs and is also very solid on the descents.
Weaknesses: Very few. The only thing I can thing of is the frame design forces some modifications to carry this bike on alot of racks. Also, placing the water bottle on the bottom of the down tube is a
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for those wishing to switch to a full-suspension bike but not looking to pay $3000 for a decent bike. It performs admirably on the climbs and descends well on some of the toughest trails in the Colorado front-range. Overall it is a very well made bike with terrific value for the money.
Similar Products Used: GT XCR 4000 I-Drive (3 years). Test rode Gary Fisher Sugar 1 and Sugar 2 for both 2001 and 2002.
Bike Setup: Relatively stock configuration with the rear derailleur replaced with a Deore XT. Also, the rear wheel was replaced.
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Submitted by
Shaazia
a Downhiller
from Morrison, CO USA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001
Strengths: This was my first mountain bike. I loved it. It has taken alot of beating from me and has held up great. I didn't replace any of the stock parts, except for the pedals and seats. It has been taken on some of the rough trails in CO and UT.
Weaknesses: The rear suspension dampening is a little iffy. It was pretty hard to carry this bike on my shoulders when I needed to do some really technical climbs on the trail. I think it's just because of the frame shape. Also, if you like to use a water bottle and not a camel back, be prepared to suck down some dirt. The only location suitable for a bottle cage is at the very bottom of the bike. It gets caked with dirt.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike for the entry level mountain biker who likes to ride on some rough terrain. The bike climbs well and is pretty light weight. Downhill it maintains control and can take some pretty brutal drops. I would definitely suggest this bike to anyone just starting out off-road. Probably wouldn't get another one just because I would like to move to something more suitable for racing.
Similar Products Used: Compared to my husband's I-drive... this bike rules!
Bike Setup: All stock except new Shimano pedals. Night Rider lighting system.
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Submitted by
Wit-Dog
a Weekend Warrior
from Portsmouth, Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2001
Strengths: Rear "Lock-Out" is definitely a plus, brakes are good, rear suspension, and just having a FISHER rox!!
Weaknesses: "Lock-Out" cable does not want to stay in the housing assembly. ONLY PROBLEM!! Oh, grips, seat post and handlebars that came with it kinda suck
Bottom Line:
Have only tested this bike a few times. Although I just put 242 miles on it in 2 days with slicks on it, and locked out!! The good thing about this bike is it can be converted from road to mountain bike very easily. You must replace the seat, handlebars and grips right away. But overall, you can't beat the quality for what you pay. I will start putting some off-road miles on it soon, and I will get back with another review then. The only problems with this bike is the lockout system, the cable gets stuck in the housing, and the tube holding it in strips out. Gary should replace it though with no problems, heard his warranty service is outstanding (we'll see) AWESOME bike, and a definite head turner!! Highly recommend to anyone, beginner to pro!!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale - Police basic model
Bike Setup: New crowbar 9 degree race handlebars, Selle Royal gel seat, Velociraptor tires(Trails) and Slickasaurus(road) tires, black and red graphics
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Submitted by
Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Summerhill Pa
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2001
Strengths: The bike is a strong bike from what i discovered. It has good parts on it. Comfortable also. Looks nice. Also I think it was reasonably priced.
Weaknesses: When I rode it around the dealer's yard, it was really bouncy, due to the fact that it is a ful suspension. When you pedal,you bounce. But the bike does have a lock for te rear suspension which will make it a hard tail. So it isn't a bad bike due to the bouncing.
Bottom Line:
The F4 is a good bike. I thik it is alot btter than the Giant Warp DS2, which I almost bought... On Ebay, brand new from a dealer. But from the reviews I read, the bike has an awful frame. I hear it breaks. So if it ever comes down to am F4 or a DS2, get the F4. The F4 I demo'd was a left over from '99, which is equal to the '00 F3. In the end,(like I said up in Bike setup,) I bought a Hoo koo e koo, by fisher. No regrets. Good bike. You can read my review on i also. It is a 2000 model.
Similar Products Used: 94 Schwinn frontier- First mountain bike. good for a beginner looking for a $200.00 bike who isn't really into the sport. 99 Gary Fisher Pure Bender Spin, this was my baby until i sold it. I still see it once in a while when myfriend, who bought it from me rides down to Summerhill. It is a Freestyle bike. Good bike to start out on and to set up better upgrades on.
Bike Setup: Instead of buying the F4, i bought a '00 Gary Fisher HOO KOO E KOO. I love the bike. No regrets buying it.But sometimes I wish I had the F4.
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Submitted by
Brad McDonnell
a Downhiller
from Adelaide, South Australia,Australia
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001
Strengths: I love this bike, it holds up to everything that i have thrown at it.
Weaknesses: There are no real weaknesses it might be a bit heavy but i dont care that can only make me better.
Bottom Line:
A great bike for doing jumps and DH. I find it easy to manuver through trees and is also good on the local BMX jumps. This bike gets better as you upgrade components so upgrade and dont wait for things to break.
