I bought mine in 2000 on eBAY for about 1/3 of the MSRP. It had a couple of scratches on it when I got it, now it has many more along with some dents.... Best bike I've ever owned or ridden at any price.
Similar Products Used: ProFlex Beast, DiamondBack Axis TR
Bike Setup: mostly like it came except for the tires of course, Mag. clipless pedals, front fender, grips.
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Submitted by
Think
a Downhiller
from San Carlos, Ca
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2001
Strengths: The whole bike is pretty stong. Could use a few new items!
Weaknesses: Front Forks and Rims
Bottom Line:
I rode with the bike for a while a noticed that there was no gusset on the downtube of the bike. So I went to my local Welding Shop and they put one on for me. If you ride really hard---Doing Big Drops/Jumps--you might want to get a gusset put on your. The only thing is it messes up the paint. So I repainted me a Mettalic Blue. Looks Awesome. I think I would use this bike more for DS and maybe a little DH. Great all around bike!
Bike Setup: I put on Marzocchi Z1 Mcr front forks with Hayes Disk Brakes. Single Wide Rims With Shimano Xt Disk Hubs.
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Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Ogden, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2001
Strengths: I like the shock setup... Especially the rear shock... Nice and fun...
Weaknesses: The stock handle bar is WEAK... WAY too much flex... I replaced it with a bont, and have had no problems since... I don't like the break pads that come with it either. They get worn WAY fast if you are doin a lot of DH stuff...
Bottom Line:
Kick ass bike. I have taken 8-9 foot drops with it with no problems. K2 rated it at 5ft max... Heh, yeah right... My friend took his FM off a 12 footer the other day, and it ruled all over the place... (I have that one on film. It is bad as hell...) Good bike, good company, and great ride...
Strengths: Spring on rear shock. (came from Fox Vinalla). Seat is sweet. Tires are great.
Weaknesses: Rims(weak Rino Lites), Pivot Sucks, Fork Blows, Rear shock squeeks like a banshee. Head tube snapped on a 8 footer to uphill. What a peice of Sh*t.
Bottom Line:
Don't Buy this bike. I paid $1900 and I think I got riped off. Buy an Evo.
Strengths: frame!! strong. everything. lx is good. not shimano reject components.
Weaknesses: seat. tires.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. Its strong! I regularly do 15-20 footers, ok maybe 6-8 (but i learn quick). Rear travel can be increased to 7in. with 2.75in. shock! this is good. The two fruitbooting roadies below (scott and matt) dont have this bike. I let them ride mine once or twice. Their just jelous because matt has a P.O.S. norco xcs (that's cross country special, NOT eXtreme currier service. And scott has a poser, wannabee, k2 ripoff, brodie humper! So this bike rocks!! dont listen to matt or scott. If you get a chance to get this bike get it! or better yet buy a 99-01 evo frame, and build it up to a super huckie, droppie, jumpie, bobby, dh machine. good job k2 on this little super8!
Weaknesses: seat fell apart, tires arnt great but good while they last.
Bottom Line:
perfect freeride frame! strong, not too heavy, good geometry. rear shock is perfect when in top condition. fork is good for drops, takes a beating, but isnt great for small bumps. rear travel is 4.75" with 1.9" nr-2. by getting a 2.5" shock you get like 6.5". that matched with a boxxer or s7 makes this a top pro level hucker.
Bike Setup: freeride seat, 2.65rear tire, 2.35 front. hs-33 rear.
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Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Tacoma, WA
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame, large frame, Magura brakes, Rhyno Lites, price
Weaknesses: pedals (golf ball sized pedals on a freeride bike?)
Bottom Line:
I had been looking for a long travel bike for a while. After seeing the components that were on this bike and test riding it, I felt it was an excellent bike for the price. After 6 months of abuse, it is still holding up strong. The size of the bike is also a plus. The "Way Big" size fits to my large body size. It gets a 5 until i have any abnormal problems.
Strengths: Pretty good ride. I Like How You Can Fit A 2.7" Intense Tire On The Chuuby LT Fors. Close Fit But It Works.
Weaknesses: Hubs Arnt That Good. Had To Rebuild Mine Twice In One Year. Mabey I Ride To Hard.
Bottom Line:
Right Now My Project Is Going To Be To Fit A Fox Vanilla RC Rear Shock On It. Then I Am Going To Buy A Bombshell Marylin Front Fork 8" Of Travel. Then Buy Hayes 2001 Disk Brakes. Should Be Getting The Rear Shock Soon. Hehehe. I Cant Wait.
Just Remember You Must Ride Dirt. Dirt Is Your Friend. Ride Hard
Strengths: rides nice till i snapped the down tube rtight where the k2 well right above that brakes saved my a$$ that time
Weaknesses: heavy fork sux components suck seat sux all of this p.o.s. sux
Bottom Line:
horrible warenty for k2 won't fix my fame or anything and say that i was doing things i shoulden't and that why it broke what a load of crap f#(k K2 i'm going to rocky mountain or kona for next Bike if i can get anything for the crap parts that were on my k2 even less then 1 flamin turd for this p.o.s. DON'T BUY K2 BIKES THEY SUCK
You know I thought for $900 this would be a good deal, but it sucks. After 2 months riding the thing I broke the downtube and k2 will not refund it. So now I am bikeless and sit at home all day. on this god damn computer. Missing all my f*cking races.
Bike Setup: Xtr rear derailer, sun xl rims, all the good stuff
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Submitted by
Joe D.
a Cross Country Rider
from West Virginia
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000
Strengths: Aluminum, strong, solid, tough. Simple proven rear suspension design. GREAT bike for the price.....Rides like a dream. Still two water bottle mounts. I'm in love....
Weaknesses: damn few. LX/Weinemann wheelset would not be my choice. Avid 1.0 brakes low end but OK for the price. Watch the spring weight on the rear shock
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This is a sweet sweet FSR for technical XC riding. I compared it to carefully to Trek VXR, Specialized Enduro, and GT XCR lines. I prefer it to all three because of the dead-simple Proflex rear suspension design (proven 5 years). It works >. Formerly brutal hardtail rides are now pleasure cruises. My ride times have gone down 10% even though it is 2-3 pounds heavier than my Cannondale CADD3. Simpler and lighter than the GT. No annoying bob at all, provided you get the right rear spring (the NR-1 came 2 sizes too light for me -- check the Noleen manual and decrease their recommended weights by 10 pounds). Frame is disc ready, I will upgrade as it becomes important. Bought from bikesale.com as there are no K2 dealers within 100 miles. Bothell has been absolutely great. Buying an eBike is not for everyone, but I like to take care of my own gear and don't need a bikeshop to help (except shock, got that locally). If you are set to care for your own bike, you won't do wrong by Bothell.
The K2 is a > bike and economically priced. Some heavier components (bars, seatpost) but built to last
Bike Setup: This is a K1000 frame with components swapped -- comparable to a Flying Monkey. Marzocchi Z3 Flylight 100 mm travel. Swapped LX shifters for 99 Grip Shift 9.0, standard grip. Coil rear shock, Noleen NR-1. Components LX except for Rear Derailleur and Avid 1.0 brakes.
Weaknesses: Broke handlebars at stem, generic post,bars, stem.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. It wins more races than anything I have ridden. Good travel for a freeride and not too much so You cant climb! You would have to put doubble the money into it to make it much better. If your a freerider or light downhiller this is the machine for you. And dont worry about not having disks, if it is not met and muddy these magura hydros work better than any v-brake. But do 1 thing buy the bike and ditch the tires behind Goodwill.
Strengths: -best frame I've ever had -5+" of travel front and rear -magura hydro's -rhinolite rims
Weaknesses: -tires are not quite enough for the bike -smallish seat
Bottom Line:
No matter what I trow at this bike it handles it like it were othing at all. I can do downhill and XC on this bike no problems. The triple crown makes it a little less nimble for tight trails but it will go wherever you point it. Dropoffs, ruts, ladder bridges, nothing it too hard for this bike to take. I have had bikes that cost twice as much that did not perform as well as this bike.It may not be the best downhill bike or the best XC bike but for someong who enjoys doing both often this is the bike to buy.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky Specialized FSR XC Klein Mantra Comp
Bike Setup: Stock except for Mythos XC tires and front shock speed spring set
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Submitted by
steve power
a Weekend Warrior
from cornerbrook, nf, canada
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2000
Strengths: -the abosolute definition of freeride -magura hydro rim breaks -rhyno lite rims -bombproof frame -good fork and rear shock(get dirtworks otis for chubby LT) -great geometry -great value -5in. travel
Weaknesses: -seat is skinny and rips easily -tires suck -fork could be better with dirtworks otis -bar and stem arn't spectacular -little heavy(30lbs.)
Bottom Line:
great freeride bike. Im gonna get dirtworks otis for chubby or get a z1 bomber.
Strengths: Awesome brakes, 5 freakin inches of travel, great rims, awesome components on this bike
Weaknesses: Maintenance can be hard on the hyrdo brakes if you are new to them (like me).
Bottom Line:
This is a pimp daddy bike. It is the first "nice" bike I've gotten, and I am ecstatic about it. I replaced my rigid bike, and at first I was afraid I'd bought too much bike (the 5 inches of travel, etc). Then I got back out to school in OK, and there is this huge mountain like 3 miles from school, and now I am totally love the bike. It just eats up rocks and is stable like a freaking tank. I am amazed at what I can go over with it, it is just so stable. It is not the most nimble thing for zipping through trails, but it does that well, and when you get going bombing down a hill, this bike totally rocks. Rocks, ruts, drop-offs, it loves them all. I can't believe what a great deal I got on this at bikesale.com, I am so happy with the bike. I would recommened it if you want to get into downhill and rugged action, if you are goign to be doing mostly XC get something a little lighter and with less shocks. I do a fair amount of XC and like it, but for downhill, this bike rules!
