Submitted by
gearhat
a Cross Country Rider
from PA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2009
Strengths: Great for climbing, lightweight, very tight turning
Weaknesses: none for me. previous owner cracked triangle twice.
Bottom Line:
Probably the best bike I've ever owned, granted I've only owned 3 decent bikes. The price up there is what the guy bought it for, i paid $300 for it. basically an insane deal. For any XC rider this bike will work great for you with a few upgraded components and fork. not loving the rear shock but have no money to replace it at the moment.
Strengths: Great Handling bike, extremely comfortable and easy to control, especially for beign 6'5". Love fast trails, great climbing bike, lets you stand and crank up the steep ones.
Weaknesses: From factory, the factory crank blows (ended up changing to an XT), as do the hubs on the race wheels (rebuilt several times, gave up got new wheels and hubs). Weak frame (I cracked it after 2 seasons), warranty was awesome, got a new frame no issues. Like my new Sugar 2+ frame better than the original
Bottom Line:
Good bike, great geometry, but weak frame, crappy hubs and crank. Go for a new Sugar 2+, I have that frame now (2003) after my original frame cracked. Fisher was great with replacement, no questions asked.
Submitted by
Bram
a Weekend Warrior
from Assen, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004
Strengths: See earlier review
Weaknesses: see earlier review
Bottom Line:
So I made a decision; stick to the Sugar frame and spec it with new components. In spite of the disc brakes it is even lighter now. The brakes are adding more stopping power. The saddle I chose because the WTB was to wide for longer rides (inner legs started irritating) The O24U is an amazing fork. I can't believe it's no more famous at your side of the ocean! Over here in Europe Magura is getting more and more famous for there forks. Great stiffness and very low friction, so it eats small and big bumps.
The Sugar performs great. I was planning to get me a new one (Team Issue) I was scared off because of all the mis alignment issues. Sure I experience chain suck every now and then but this is mainly because of the extreme mud conditions I sometimes bike in. The frame was looking still very good. I decided to change the bushings and add disc brakes (bushings and adapter $ 100!)I'll wait and see how the new Sugar Race is doing. The increased frame stiffness and added travel (3.5"instead of 2.5")are plusses! If it proofs itselve I'll consider buying it. However the travel of the 2001 Sugar is enough for Dutch conditions.
I considered many times buying a new bike. However after comparing the specs and adding the increadible Genesis Geometry I still think that the Sugar is the best FS. i expect the new Sugar Race to be the non plus ultra in X country FS bikes. When it proofs to be, I'll have one later on this year!
Bike Setup: GF Sugar 2 2001 L frame Rond Pro Ahead Set Bontrager Race Cranks BBB Chainrings XT cassette SRAM PC69 chain Rond Magura O24U fork with 80mm Magura Martha Disc Brakes Selle Italia Flite Trans Am IRC Mythos XC (2.1 front, 1.95 rear) Acor Bar ends Time ATAC pedals Shiman BB-UN 52 (still going strong!)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bram Bos
a Weekend Warrior
from Assen, The Netherlands
Weaknesses: - Rear Hub - Tires - Pedals - Front Shock - Not enough mud clearance
Bottom Line:
I was worried when I learned on this website that some bikers cracked their 2000 Sugar frames. Since I'm a 210 pounds (not all muscles unfortunately) I was afraid it would happen to me to. Then something else happened. Since I'm using Magura HS33 brakes I also use their standard brake booster. The lbs when mounting these on the bike, didn't take in account that this would limit the rear shock. When driving through a deep ditch the booster made contact with the seat tube... A dent in the tube was the result. The lbs apologized but couldn't do anything for me.... The salesrep from Trek said (and I can agree with him) that I had to settle with my lbs. Anyway 2 months later the frame cracked. I stripped the bike and took the frame to my lbs. This was February 2002. He expected a new frame within 6 (!) weeks. We agreed on me buying a 2001 Sugar 2.
The bike feels the same as the 2000 Sugar 3. The components are a bit better. I like the fact that I can dial in the rear shock. I now use less pressure and more compression damping. I didn't find the 100% setup yet. Sometimes the bike literally kicks ass, and since it's mine I dont't like it! The Magura/Rond is great. I've used Rock Shox (Judy), Manitou (SX and MARS) but like the Magura the best. It's very plush and super stiff.
I'm reading a lot of the complaints on the Bontrager stuff. I myself only have problems (so far of course) with the rear hub. It feels good when you feel it, it doesn't sound that way. On my hard tail Merida Matts Comp (1999 model all Deore LX) were Deore LX hubs, never had any problems. The handle bars, the stem and the seatpost are ok. They look good and survived my weight. The rims are good also! Haven’t had to true them till now. The front hub looks ok too. The crank set I'm not sure about. In a 50 kilometers tour through very wet and muddy conditions I experienced chain suck twice. Of course the chain stays got damaged. When I'm shifting from the large to the middle chain ring it's always smooth. Vice versa also. The little one you almost don't need under typical Dutch conditions so I've almost no experience with it either functioning or malfunctioning.
Since 2000 a lot of manufacturers are offering advanced 'no-bob' fullies. Next year I probably will trade in my Sugar 2 for a new one. I'm not sure if it will be a Sugar again. I'm impressed by the Fuels, NRS's, EPICS , Scalpels, Elements, ETSX's and lots of others (Merida LRS, Gazelle SkyStar FS, the 'old' but still very famous FSR) So I'll see. But this I think is a problem for any manufacturer; lots of MTB'ers like to try new stuff. For the design and the performance GF earns 4 chili’s. For selling these expensive (in Europe anyway) bikes with some 'suspicious' components only 3.
Similar Products Used: GF Sugar 3 (2000, Merida Matts Comp (1999 HT, all Deore LX, Ritchey Rims)
Bike Setup: Standard except: - Front Shock: Magura/Rond Quake C85 (great coil fork) - Time ATAC pedals - IRC Mythos XC 2.1 - Magura HS33 - XTR shifters
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Basalt, CO
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2002
Strengths: fit, climbing, components
Weaknesses: occasional chainsuck
Bottom Line:
This is a very good bike for a larger rider. I am 6'5" and the effective top tube length is comfortable and efficient. The bike climbs well and tracks exceptionally well in single-track descents. I obtained the bike after a 4 month rental season and have had no problems except a chain failure which ripped my rear derailleur and its hanger off. This problem I attribute to rental abuse and lack of chain lubricant service while in the rental fleet.
Strengths: Genesis geometry, XTR & XT components, Crane Creek AD-12 rear shock, light weight Manitou front shock with lockout.
Weaknesses: Bontrager pedals (garbage), all other Bontrager parts are somewhat of a compromise, but not significant.
Bottom Line:
My biggest concern with this bike was its ability to climb, well after a few rides, I'm amazed. This bike climbs like a dream, as good as or better than my hardtails! While the Bontrager components are a compromise to the ego, they are nonetheless on par with more generally accepted components regarding performance.
I have to laugh at people who bash cranks……com’on cranks either break off or are fine. If the crank bolts loosen, then your bike shop needs to learn how to use a wrench! Same thing with seatposts, if it loosens, it probably wasn’t tight to begin with. If you have a bunch of issues, then you should have bought it from a more component bike shop. Take it to a shop where people have a clue. Even if the best bike in the world is set up crappy, the bike will be crappy.
I’m about 200 so not light weight user by any means. I did switch out the spring in the Manitou Mars shock to the “Firm” spring, as it should be for my weight. For a light weight shock, it is very stiff and responsive. I have literally tortured the front shock, and I have no complains. Most complaints regarding this fork are obviously due to incorrect set-up and user error, people need to take the time and set it up properly for your weight and preference.
I would highly recommend this bike for anyone looking for an excellent spec’d bike. No matter what bike I buy, I’m probably going to swap out the stem, saddle and pedals, that’s a fact of life for a picky rider. The components that need to there (like XTR and XT drive train and brakes, Cane Creek AD12) are not compromised, while other components that make no difference but can save huge amounts of money are swapped (cranks, seat post, bars, etc.). If your ego needs full XTR groupo and you don’t care what the cost is, look at the Sugar1 or another bike. However, there are no discernable differences between these bikes on the trail. That’s the beauty of the Sugar2, save some cash, and keep the ride quality.
Similar Products Used: Trek Fuel 98, Fisher HKII, Specialized FSR....
Bike Setup: Thomson Stem (needed longer and the Thomson is the sweetest stem around!), Eggbeater Pedals, Flite Trans Am saddle, replaced the Mars shock spring to accomdate my weight, the rest is stock because there is no advantage to changing anything else.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax, NS, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Strengths: Comfortable fit, lockout fork, light weight for the money
My experience started when I noticed an o-ring on the outside of the rear shock. I assumed that it was supposed to be inside not outside so I took the shock apart. I could not see anything missing so I wrote Cane Creek. They got back to me the next day saying that Fisher had requested the extra o-ring be placed on the outside so that they could check the operation in the factory. Good idea, AS LONG AS YOU TELL SOMEONE!!!
On my first ride, my left crank arm came loose. Not off, but it required 4-6 rotations to get it back tight. My second ride was uneventful. On my third ride I had my first experience with chain suck (in over 30 years of riding), and bent my small chain ring going up a moderate hill on pavement. Fisher says could "VERY easily be set up". With over 50 kms on the bike and countless shifts, why is it suddenly "set-up". Did I mention that I have been riding and fixing bikes for over 30 years? The Bontrager wheels were out of true at the bike shop but I have built wheels, so was not concerned. Let's hope they hold up. The Bontrager seat post seems to slip. This might be the clamp but others I have owned in the past didn't slip. The seat post seems way too long for a medium size bike. People spend so much money lightening their bikes, then they go and put this long thing in there. Bikes come in different sizes, why don't seat posts? The forks work well but they do seem a bit flexible from side to side. The seat seems like a compromise between putting a real cheap seat that people will replace immediately and one that people will change after a month. The pedals would not have been my first choice either, but so far no problems. The Shimano derailleurs are great. The brakes howl but I'll take care of that.
I bought the bike because it was a steal at 33% off, rode well, and it fit well. I guess I'd like this bike more if Fisher's "customer support" had not so quickly blamed "set-up" for the chain suck problem with the Bontrager Race cranks, when so many others have complained. I read the bad reviews and just thought that someone had it out for the Bontrager gear. I guess I was just too trusting. I'll probably sell the thing this winter and try for a better bike with better components in the spring from a company that supports their product rather than tell the customer that they don't know how to set up their bike. I suppose it would help if the owner's manual had some useful information in it rather than one manual for every bike they make.
Finally, the customer support at Tommy & Lefebrve in Kanata is excellent. They switched out the Bontrager cranks for free, no questions asked once they saw the damage the chain suck had caused. They were very friendly and not bike snobs like many shops are.
Similar Products Used: Devinci, Specialized, Cannondale
Bike Setup: Stock except replacing Bontrager components as they break
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
shawn Malloy
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Strengths: The geometry, the weight, ascending and descending capabilities, tight technical handling... basically everything
Weaknesses: Manituo mars, bontrager
Bottom Line:
This bike has made me a better rider by giving me the confidence that it will not fail under any conditions (short of full-on downhill). It practically begs to go faster and faster. I ride technical northeast boulder strewn trails all day and this bike hops up, climbs up and over, jumps off, and noses down everything. The Genesis geometry has you in the perfect position for everything. It will take a few rides to dial in the suspension. The front end changes helped this bike alot(risers and sid race) I got my bike as a demo from the LBS so the upgrades were affordable. I would recommend buying a Sugar 2 since the frame is the same on the sugar 1 and 2 but the components are different. The money saved is better spent on upgrades and to get rid of bontrager and Manitou. BE SURE TO BUY THE NEXT SIZE DOWN FROM WHAT YOU NORMALLY RIDE. Genesis geometry has a long top tube and the smaller size give great bike control.
This is my dream bike...I love it. I really cant think of anything I would change except for the bontrager parts. It shifts beautifully, I have plenty of standover but am stretched out enough. I used to own a Trek WSD medium, which I found was very comfortable lenghtwise but I wanted more standover. The mens sugar small and trek medium WSD have the same top tube length, but there is more standover on the sugar (15.5" frame vs 18" frame). The mens small fuel was too short (top-tube). Fisher geometry is right on, bike climbs like a dream. I love Gary Fisher bikes, they are the best...
Similar Products Used: Trek Fuel WSD, cannondale jeckyl
Bike Setup: Stock, will be upgrading cranks to 175mm XT's and XT bottom bracket, perhaps adding riser bars, longer stem
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2002
Strengths: Its a great bike. it climbs confidently and actually decends unlike some race hardtails.
Weaknesses: As if it hasn't beeen said a million times in these reviews the tires, they suck! And how are you supposed to get them of the rim, with some DH tire levers? And the chain broke on me, because it blows.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. Ive used it in the muck of the east coast and the fast hardpack of California, and this bike has been comfortalble, easy to control, and alot of fun. if you can sitll find this model year I say buy it, but if not look into the new sugars they are all great bikes you will enjoy them.
Strengths: Tracks well on all surfaces and climb well for an FS. The rear suspension eats up a lot of the chop that usually gets to me on my hard tail.
Weaknesses: The tires are not that great and were replaced after my first wipe out on slightly loose ground. I also replaced the flexy crank and cassette with XT. I then swaped my XTR rear hub / 517 CM wheel with the weak Bont race. This solved that rear creak when cranking hard
Bottom Line:
Great bike, can't wait to see how it helps me place better at the next 24 race.
Submitted by
AZ XCRDR
a Cross Country Rider
from AZ USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002
Strengths: The Geometry, the ride, perfect for XC use !
Weaknesses: Bontrager spec'd parts...
Bottom Line:
Okay, I cheated, I had my LBS swap out the Bontrager _rap for an XT crank, cassette, and bottom bracket, and I also upgraded the wheelset to a crossmax UST wheelset. I rode that for six months and never really felt comfortable or happy w/the flexy Manitou OEM fork so a couple of months ago I sold the Manitou on ebay and put on a Marz. Marathon S 80mm. The bike now just rides AWESOME and has whole new personality w/the Marz. on the front. I will say that I weigh ~ 195 pds so for you heavier guys out there getting a stiffer fork would probably be worth your time... Overall w/the upgrades this bike is a SOLID five chiles colorados !
Submitted by
Hans Raven
a Cross Country Rider
from Harderwijk, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2002
Strengths: Geometry, climbing, fassst, weight for full suspension, No Pumping, both good for racing as marathons, just ride-rock-and-feel-good. saddle is comfortable. Did I mention fast?
Weaknesses: Bike set-up: wheels bontrager race are not durable (walls) and weak, also trouble with body. Mars is weak and no rebound option. breaks are cheap, but they work.
Bottom Line:
Do you like to rock single tracks, climb fast, drive comfortable without energy-loss? This is your first choice bike. Take some rides to adjust the suspenions as you wish, and you'll gonna like biking like never before. With the Mars CL Fork I had some trouble, and during the fixing-time I got a SX-R fork as a replacement. I found out this fork was much stiffer, and I dindn't need the lock out with this one. After getting back the Mars CL, the bike didn't feel as good as it did with the much stiffer SX-R, model '00. So after a few diappointing rides, I decided to buy the Black Elite Air. This fork is Awesome: stiff, stiff, only 200 gramms more weight as the Mars (which you won't feel), plush. All this makes the bike steer and descend much better, it also responds better to bumps. The wheelset of Bontrager sucked: though it's light, I had to replace the body after only six months, it sounds like a coffee-machine, the rims are not durable and they are far from stiff. So I gave myself (as a christmas gift) the Crossmax Wheelset, and they are superb!! The bike rolls much better including excellent acceleration, it feels stiffer en steers even better than before! And they look cool, but are expensive. Last, and only disadvantage of the bike: when you use wide tires (2.0) in very wet and muddy conditions, like Michelin Wildgripper Sprint, mud will settle between the frame on the place where the rear brakes are and the tire, causing your back wheel to stop rolling. Smaller mud tires (panaracer trail blaster 1.8), and problem is solved. 2002 model has other bridge with more space between bridge and tire. Conclusion: after more than a year of hard an intensive riding, in all conditions (single tracks, fast tracks, hills, mountains, road, races and marathons) I can say that this bike made me love mountainbiking even more! 5 bullets for both. The replacements I did are worth it, but I liked the bike also when it came out of the box.
Similar Products Used: Giant xtc NRS, Trek Fuel (this one is more adjusted to marathon riding in stead of hard core racing/single track use in which the sugar is more suitable). The Giant suspension works good, but I didn't like the way the bike steers and feels on the track.
Bike Setup: XTR Breaks, Crossmax wheelset, Manitou Black Elite Air.
Strengths: Hard-tail feel with the edge taken off in the ruff or cranking down your favorite trail. Light race ready machine. Shimano XT/XTR drivetrain, mars, wide bar!, reliable bontrager parts.
Weaknesses: The lack of a firm spring, manitou took care of this nicely at Nationals. Light and styling but flexly and short cranks. Grips need to be beefier. LX cassette makes a nice training cog, races need the XT 11-34. Nice wheels but they are not the race-lites/hugi240.
Bottom Line:
Sweet bike for racing at nationals to railing with the bros up at the local dropfest.
Similar Products Used: Supercaliber, hairy-gary hard-tail, ooh so sweet!
Bike Setup: Ahh who cares. Everyone whines about their bike and I don't think the problem is in the bike or its weight. Instead of buying $500.00 worth of new swag to get better, look cool, or lose weight, just go out and ride. hell I race and get my ass kicked by the best of them and it has nothing to do with what i ride. It's about the knowledge that everyone out there has the same twisted, rooty, knawrl decent and same sweet course as the next guy so just enjoy it all.
Weaknesses: Bontranger parts(?) too pretty to ride
Bottom Line:
This is for the Sugar 2+ until they get it posted. I was riding a Mongoose hardtail, which I named "sluggo" cause it was beating me senseless. What a change /w the Sugar+! It's like riding a lounge chair! I had hit South Mountain yesterday, and rode all over the place, including some serious down hill trail. The statement on the bike design keeping your weight balanced on the back wheel is so true. Nice tight steering, cockpit tight but comfy.I have had problems at first /w shifting under load, the front seemed like it couldn't decide which ring to stay in. A visit to Supergo, a quick adjustment, now it works great. (I have noticed the rear dr buzzing a bit still on climbs though) The Bontranger Race crank is the new n improved for 2002. We shall see. I will keep this updated as time goes. 4 value for the Bontranger parts, 4 overall
Anyone have any experience with upgrading a 2001 Sugar 2. I love my frame, but I need to replace the fork and probably the wheelset. The biggie is I'd like to go to disc brakes, Read More »
Hi guys, my father-in-law is looking for a new shock to replace his blown Cane Creek. He says it has a 7.25 eye to eye length but I don't know what stroke on the shock should be.: Read More »
My beloved sugar 2 was stolen last weekend. my insurance company has asked me to find a comparable replacement bike, but being that things have progressed so much since that bike Read More »
