Submitted by
Sebastian
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2003
Strengths: strong frame, SRAM 7.0 Rear Derailleur
Weaknesses: the frame looks bad :-), Suntour Front Shock, Formula Mechanical Disc Brake, most of the other components
Bottom Line:
The frame don't look good.But it works, I have fun riding it. I replaced most of the componets with better ones because the in stock parts doesn't work very well.
Bike Setup: SRAM 7.0, Mrzocchi Z1 Wedge, Ritchey Parts, Race Face Parts, Giant GMT 7 Rear Shock, Magura Julie Disc Brakes, Sun Rims, Shimano SPD DX 636 Pedals, Magura Hubs
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Submitted by
Dave Pugh
a Downhiller
from Mission, B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2003
Strengths: Very Strong Frame!! Great bike if set up right!
Weaknesses: Comes with cheap parts.
Bottom Line:
I've broken almost everything on this bike except the frame. I can't stress how good this bike can be if set up with good components and nice shocks. I shattered my rear shock jumping a set of stairs but have had no problems with my new shock. A great frame but cheap components that should be upgraded!
Similar Products Used: Norco Atomik, Newer models of the Warp
Bike Setup: Triple Crown RST's, Full XT components, Rhino Lite rims, New Rear Shock
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Submitted by
Yogi
a Weekend Warrior
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2001
Strengths: Cheap,nice for the offroad stuff and it is a Giant
Weaknesses: Rear suspension pivot get dry real often and requires a lot of maintenance.
Bottom Line:
This is the best value for your money.Use mine for very rough conditions and it keeps surprizing me.Might look funny but is fun to ride.Mine put mr in the hospital about two times without having any damage itself.This is a nice bike no matter what the other freeks say.
Bike Setup: Normal frame,STX rapidfire shifters,ROck Shocks
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Submitted by
Ralph Saldivar
a Weekend Warrior
from Fresno
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001
Strengths: That haven't found any weaknesses. My DS1 is a 2001 model though. [You guys could use a reveiw on some bikes that are still for sale in the shops, instead of used on EBay.]Great Spec for the $! Marzocchi forks, Hayes mechanical disc Brakes, for under 1K. Sweet bike, lot's of bang for the buck. You will need to change the pedals, and maybe the seat post, and bars. These items are fine, just a little heavy, and the seat wasn't real comfy.
Weaknesses: No motor for the ride up the hills! {Bummer} %)
Bottom Line:
For anyone looking for a NEW-FACTORY bike under one thousand bucks, this is the best deal I could find on the market. I've seen it for less on EBay, but not by much. I'de rather buy from a local shop whenever possible. I'm happy, hope you're happy too, Happy Trails!
An excellent bike for the money. I wouldn't have bought a daulie if I hadn't found this thing at a very low price second hand. I've found that with Quick Shift pods the STX RC rear deraileur easy to deal with, though the Zac rims are pathetic, I'm always having to true them after a ride.
The handling is a real problem, my cornering speed is too low and as a result I have to put in twice as much effort as everybody else to maintain speed. I find that the lack of points for drink holders (yes, I drink heaps of water, so this is a problem) to be a bit of a pain.
Everything else about the bike is pretty plush (though my forks suck).
Bike Setup: Universal Pro crank/chainrings, STX-RC throughout, RST 461-DH front shock.
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Submitted by
joe p
a Downhiller
from victoria, australia
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000
Strengths: people think i am cool when i ride it around the streets because of the madd ass frame. the frame is extremely strong even though i don't ride overly fast
Weaknesses: handling charcteristics at anything over 20km/h Get laughed at, at local and national downhill events. always putting to many useless upgrades on it
Bottom Line:
i love the bike, but i need to ride faster to find out the limits of the bike. i am not getting a new bike till i get into top three at a decent event but i think this bike will take me all the way to world cup. it is more of a recreational bike but the bike i bouth it off said i shouldn't use it offraod because i am mildly overwieght, but i think it will be safe for me now because of all the good extras i have put on it
Similar Products Used: this is my first proper mtb bike
Bike Setup: rock shox judy xlc, fox vanilla r rear shock, cheapo cranks and chain device, xt v brakes, xt derailler
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Submitted by
Jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Oklahoam City
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2000
Strengths: very plush suspension
Weaknesses: STX-RC rear derailleur is a little rough
Bottom Line:
I weigh 240 pounds and this bike absorbs all of the punishment that i can give it. I was experiencing some pain related to the saddle, if you know what I mean, and was blaming the saddle. I talked to someone with a lot more expertise in this area and found out how to adjust the saddle. Now it rides like a Cadillac. I paid $625.00, end of model year clearance, and I don't think you can get anything like it for that price.
Similar Products Used: This is my first real mountain bike
Bike Setup: completely stock
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Submitted by
Daniel Lu
a Cross Country Rider
from Taipei
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2000
Strengths: low-price but high-performance frame
Weaknesses: Finish is not as good and beautiful as Cannondale, of course
Bottom Line:
When everyone focus on the ground-breaking FSR XC, and it s following-up competitors (Sugar, STP, Rocket88, NRS...), in 2000 there comes one more surprise worthy more attention: Giant's new Warp series. Unlike its former URT version, '00 Warp is a single swingarm design, almost an exact copy of Cannondale's SuperV (I don't want to insult Cannodale here, as a.m. that the finish on these two bikes are "quite different"). But for Warp is an entry-level bike with "average" spec, few people care about its performance, even Giant itself. However, if you spec it right, Warp could be upgraded to a "poor man's Cannodale" very easily!! Never met an entry-level (cheap) frame could be so light, solid, and responsive. Seldom met a Y-bike at this price could perform like this, even big C. With air shock front and rear (most thanks to DNM's new dual-air shock), the under-26-lbs Warp performs so amazingly!! You could just enjoy the double performance than you really pay for. Wow... Uphill, downhill, everywhere!! I am sorry, Cannondale... If you are a budget rider, maybe try this. The frame is absolutely worthy your future upgrade. Even an experience could enjoy such low-price-high-performance bike more freely and easily. Of course, you have to spec it right first. If necessary, remove the Giant sticker and place some name you want. High-performance is not necessarily costly.
BTW, the new SRAM 9.0 rocks!! All doubts were swept out when you got on dirt.
Submitted by
murf the surf
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver,wa.98682
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2000
Strengths: bullet proof frame
Weaknesses: have not found one yet!
Bottom Line:
I got the frame for 125.00 and installed good parts,for what i've got into it,it is a tuff bullet proof bike that can handle anything i throw at it from North shore style trails to whatever.For what ever the price is $900.00 or below you got to remember you get what you pay for.lets see cannondale put out a full suspender for that price.for your money you can't beat it,also check out the 2000 warps,four and a half inches front & rear plus disc brakes for $850. or w/o for $650.how can you compare the warps to anything?
Similar Products Used: Old Bike was Trek 930 with RST mozo's and RST seat post.
Bike Setup: RST 381dh shocks on front, upgraded the derailer otherwise standard.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RYAN
a Weekend Warrior
from WINSTON SALEM, NC
Date Reviewed: November 19, 1999
Strengths: SOLID FRAME, MUSTARD COLOURED, GOOD STOCK COMPONENTS, PRICE
Weaknesses: A BIT HEAVY, NEEDS BETTER BRAKE PADS
Bottom Line:
THE BIKE IS A TANK, $700 ON CLOSE OUT, I HAVN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT OTHER THAN WITH THE BRAKE PADS BEING SQUEEKEY, ITS NOT A $2000 BIKE PERFORMS GREAT, AND I RIDE IT PRETTY HARD. GREAT DEAL. AND WHO ELSE MAKES A MUSTARD COLOURED BIKE?
Strengths: I own a Warp DS1. The main frame is yellow in colour and the rear is black; very beautiful bike. Overall: sturdy bike, confidential v-brakes, grippy tires.
Weaknesses: Grip shift gears sux, need to adjust the cables often. Rear shox has very little travel.
Bottom Line:
The colour of the bike, black and yellow really outstands it from the rest. Pretty comfortable landing when speeding and springing the bike off a curb. V-brakes are very basic, however they work fine: flipped one time on the road when trying to avoid a turning car...awch
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross-Country Rider
from Petaluma, Ca.
Date Reviewed: September 16, 1999
Strengths: I bought one of the first Warp DS1s for $600.00. So Cost is one strength. I have logged over 6500 miles on my DS1 and it is still going strong. So durablility is another strength.
Weaknesses: I eventually switched from Grip Shifts, to Rapid Fire shifters. The Grip Shifts needed more adjusting.
Bottom Line:
For the price, you can't go wrong. Many of the criticisms of the DS1 are generated by riders who do not want to spend $2,000 for a mountain bike, but try to squeeze the same result out of a sub $1,000 bike. I have put over 6500 miles on my DS1, which includes Norba races, weekend trails and occasional Centuries with great satisfaction.
Bike Setup: Avocet 30 Gel seat Rox Shocks VP33 Wide Clipless Pedals
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Submitted by
Bill James
a Weekend Warrior
from Moundsville, WV
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999
Strengths: The frame is very strong. great for the money.
Weaknesses: Components, could be better. If they had a full XT or XTR version I would have bought that instead.
Bottom Line:
I really bought this bike because I was just etting into MTBing and the the frame is the best of the ones I tested. I figured I could update the components If I really got into it. This bike has taken a beating. I weight 260lbs. and I have had no trouble with this bike. I wish Giant would of had a full XT/XTR version of this bike. For the money you could not go wrong. Like I said the frame is awsome. The other brands I tested where a lot more money and the frame was cheaper. For example the $1200 Trek I tested had a few better components but the the A-arm was Chromoly not Aluminum.
