Submitted by
Brian McNamara
a Cross Country Rider
from Clarkston Michigan
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2001
Strengths: VERSATILE, LIGHT FOR WHAT IT IS, STRONG, CHEAP PRICE, CLIMBS VERY GOOD FOR A SINGLE PIVOT.
Weaknesses: NONE YET
Bottom Line:
THIS FRAME IS THE BEST FOR ALL AROUND USE, I WOULDN'T RACE IT XC BUT I USE IT FOR CROSS COUNTRY, FREERIDE, & DH. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SWAP OUT MY SUSPENSION AND WHEELS AND I CAN TAKE THIS BIKE ANY PLACE! FOR DH I USE RISSE JUPITER-5 IN REAR AND RISSE TRIXXY FOR FRONT. I GET 4" OF TRAVEL FOR CC AND 8" OF TRAVEL DH. I KICK THE CRAP OUT OF THIS BIKE AND IT HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE BIKE WAS THE ORIGINAL NOLEIN REAR SHOCK, IT WAS TO BOUNCY EVEN IF YOU HAD THE REBOUND DIALED ALL THE WAY SO I SWAPPED IT WITH A RISSE ASTRO-5 AIR SHOCK WHICH IS LIGHTER AND MAKES THE REAR SUSPENSION FEEL LIKE YOUR RIDING ON AIR. IF YOU EVER NEED NEW SUSPENSION OR AN AWSOME UPGRADE GO TO RISSERACING.COM, THEIR SUSPENSION PRODUCTS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE NORM (ROCK SHOX, MAN. MAR. YOU KNOW THE MASS PRODUCED CHINESE CHEAP CRAP) i'VE USED IT ALL AND BROKE IT ALL!
Similar Products Used: I WORK IN A SHOP THAT SELLS TREK AND SCHWINN, I WOULD NEVER BUY EITHER ONE. I GET CRAP FOR IT ALL THE TIME BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BIKE UNLIKE SOME OTHER BIKES!
Bike Setup: TRUVATIVE CRAINK, EASTON BAR & SEAT POST, LX DRIVE(XT &XTR ARE TOO FRAGILE), SID 100 & RISSE REAR. FOR DH RISSE FRONT & REAR.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Westbrook
a Cross Country Rider
from ossining, ny
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001
Strengths: cheap enough to wreck
Weaknesses: that stupid crosslink fork
Bottom Line:
The first thing I did was slap a Z3 on it. Pretty much destroyed rear & front rims (respectively) in a matter of weeks. Seat & post? Hey Titec, fire the chimp who gave the permission to let these products go public. Once I put the riser bars & shorter stem on, the bike started to wake up. She jumps good, she drops good, she rides technical good. Good.
Bike Setup: stock except for bars, stem, seatpost, rims, seat, and that stupid crosslink fork.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Belgrade,MT
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000
Strengths: great component value, tough as nails, climbs very well, low standover height
Weaknesses: nitrox saddle, might as well just sit on the seatpost
Bottom Line:
Great value, mine was on sale even better,The specialized was real nice but it was 600 dollars more and a pump for the suspension was extra. I thought the suspension was mushy even after I had the dealer put more air in. I felt it might have the edge on the 4000 on singletrack. The 4000rs is a great bike. It is not my first full suspension bike but the best one I have had or ridden. At 27 lbs I suppose you could say it is a little heavy but so am I. The suspension is firm yet compliant. The fork does not twist. The bike is a definite confidence builder, it can fly over everything.
Similar Products Used: trek, kona, cannondale, marin full suspension
Bike Setup: Pace RC36 forks, XT, Magura, Middleburn
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from Redmond, WA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1999
Strengths: Easton Frame, Noleen NR-2 Shocks, price/value/features, color
Weaknesses: Front derallier hard to adjust due to placement, crank arms come low to ground when seated and climbing
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike with awesome features that make it great for cross-country and moderate downhill. It has performed excellently in Moab, Estes Park, and remote places in Washington. The component mix and stiff frame are nice, although I will probably upgrade the rear derallier. The 4000RS is also fairly light (almost 27 pounds) for a bike that has almost 5 inches of travel in the rear. My only complaint is that the crank arms scrape when going up hill. I've had to adjust the NR-2, but it works all right now. Noleen has a pretty good warrenty on their shocks as well. The 4000RS is cool, fast, and fun.
Similar Products Used: Kona: MokoMoko, ManoMano K2: OZk Specialized: Stumpjumper
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Smart
a Cross-Country Rider
from Aberdeen
Date Reviewed: July 15, 1999
Strengths: Light & Stiff, Climbing, Price
Weaknesses: Chain Slap
Bottom Line:
This bike is faster everywhere than my Alu hardtail - climbs very well both in and out of the saddle and corners like its on rails. The stiff Easton frame combined by the beefy thru axle pivot is brilliant. I decided to go for a single pivot as I ride 3 - 4 times a week all year round and was attracted to the low maintenance (there is no way a multi-linkage system can be as laterally stiff once thinks begin to wear). I spent a fair bit of time looking at the various pivot locations and decided the K2 gave the best compromise between climbing (i.e. near the small / middle chain rings e.g. Marin, Scott) and resilience to pedalling forces (i.e. further up the down tube e.g. Orange). The shock isn’t as light as an air shock but I think its probably plusher and should last better (if you look at most manufactures ranges coil-shocks are featured on their ‘free ride’ and down-hill bikes). If you don’t fit into a particular ‘category’ of cyclist and just enjoy getting out there, an hour messing about in the woods or 3 day mountain epics, then I can definetly recommend this bike. It’s a great all-rounder.One thing to remember is that K2 used be called Proflex and have been making full-sus bikes for longer than anyone else and hold a patent on their suspension designs (pivot location etc).
