Submitted by
Howard
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler, AZ
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004
Strengths: bulletproof frame and fork - hammered for 3 yrs - no problems! Light weight. Good components (but I think many of them were added by previous owner/racer.
Weaknesses: Noleen pull-shock requires constant attention to prevent leaking.
Bottom Line:
I've put about 7,500 miles of hard XC on this bike. Besides chains, sprockets, brake pads and rubber, it's still original gear. I've gotten way more than I paid out of it in fun. The Noleen pullshock needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it leak free. It will start leaking after a couple weeks of riding. But pulling off the can and cleaning and lubing the seals is a 15 minute job. The handling is OK...not quick...and tire changes have made a big difference in handling. (Fire XC's are the best set-up) It's a little harsh in the rough stuff (not plush) but it tracks straight and gets you thru. It's a great all around XC machine
Similar Products Used: Ironhorse Hollowpoint Team (wow)
Bike Setup: Manitou sr-x (80mm), XT brakes, crankset and freewheel, XTR fr & rear der's, 0 Lite wheels, Thompson post, Easton bars and stem, FireXC Pro's.
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Submitted by
MD
a Cross Country Rider
from Chattanooga, TN
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001
Strengths: Light weight, good handling, looks, rear suspension quality, no squeaks, solid bike
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame and built it up to my specs. Have had no complaints with this bike at all. This bike is my favorite of the ones that I have previously mentioned. It is, to me, the perfect mix between long and short travel, but at the same time the ride is so smooth that you would think that you have a long travel ride. I have never even had the rear shock lock out hooked up, if it does bob while pedaling it is hardly noticeable. I have nothing but praise for this bike so far. Hopefully the rear shock will hold up for the long haul. A note about the rear shock. I was and still am pleasantly surprised at how well the rear shock holds air. It honestly has never leaked any noticeable air at all, very impressed. I used this bike in some of the toughest race conditions I have ever faced at the 2001 24 hours of Snowshoe and it came through with a smile. I think you would be happy with this purchase should you chose to get one. All of this is from my perspective of course, 5'7", 140 lbs.
Similar Products Used: Proflex 555, Proflex 857, Amp Research B3, Amp Research B4
Bike Setup: Marizocchi Atom 80, Spinergy Spox, XTR brake levers, Easton Monkey Lite bar, Panaracer Fire XC Pro, XTR front der. XT rear Der., Grip shift left shifter and rapidfire right shifter, Race Face Turbine cranks, Selle Italia Seat
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Submitted by
harm bunte
a Downhiller
from apeldoorn,netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001
Strengths: climbs very well!downhills also very good,SUPERRRR!!
Similar Products Used: cannondale raven,trek y33,santa cruz heckler,razorback team
Bike Setup: xtr,xtr,xtr,electr.noleen susp.front
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Submitted by
Curt
a Weekend Warrior
from Meridian, MS
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001
Strengths: Damn. There is SO much good to say about this bike. It climbs like chimp on a crack jones, it is light as anything in its class (some elite company, btw), it eats tight, technical singletrack without so much as a burp or a twitch, it is spec'd awesome, it handles sharp, and it looks even better. What more can you ask of a fully suspended XC race bike?
Weaknesses: Not much.
Bottom Line:
Forget about going to market, much less wee-wee all the way home-- this little piggie RIPS! The suspension is "just enough," as they say, and really is a "perfect compromise" between a long travel dualie and a hardtail. If you enjoy a great handling, fast, badass looking ride, especially if you are in the market for a racer, this is all you need, baby. 100 chilis aren't enough.
Bike Setup: XTR shifters and front and rear Derailleurs, Race Face Next cranks, Rolf Dolomite rims, Synchros carbon fiber post, Sterling stem, Monkey Lite bars, Python Air Lites (AWESOME tires, btw), that great Noleen suspension, and other sweet stuff.
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Submitted by
bryan hopkins
a Cross Country Rider
from columbia missouri
Weaknesses: crappy headset on stock bike, lx cassette..should have been xt at this price range
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing...I had a gt zaskar...stiffest hard tail on earth..climbs like a feather, i had a k2 animal free ride..6inch travel front and rear...can run over small cars.....I got sick of how specific each bike was...hard tail climbs awsome...but jumps all over on rocky speed desents...and the animal free ride was a pig on the hills...so i made a bold leap and sold both and boought the k2 razorback...i was nervous from two standpoints...would she climb well...and would 3 inches of travel in the rear be enough...two seemingly opposing goals. Well you have to ride this bike to see what i mean (and not just around the bike store parking lot)...this bike is plush when you need it (awsome at rocky down hills)...and climbs like a high end hard tail (you can lock out the rear shock...but i only do this on gravel roads...because the traction of FS adds to most climbs and this bike never seems to bob from pedal input). the bike is amazing...it is light (25 lbs) plush, and climbs...it is a magical combinaiton..i love it.
the pivots are replacable needle bearings and so should last forever, and the pull shock keeps the back end as tight as if a hard tail (no "side to side" tail shake like on other strut bikes)....on top of all this ...K2 offers very, very, good costumer service...you cant go wrong.
this bike has been rated one of the best all time XC bikes by lots of different sources and bottom line... it is...this bike rules!!!!
can you do big G-outs on this bike (maybee!!!??)..no!
are you faster on technical XC rides....oh yeah baby...way faster and as a bonus it is more comfortable (you are less beat up after the ride)...buy one.
Bike Setup: stock team sl..except put better headset on and new xt cluster
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Submitted by
Matthew McCabe
a Racer
from San Marcos, Texas
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Strengths: Fast, Makes trail feel like your floating over it, looks good, turns on a dime.
Weaknesses: Where do you put the water bottle? Don't even try using the Kenda Kosmik lites it comes with.
Bottom Line:
I was coming off a Hard tail gary fisher with Genesis geometry. That Genesis may be good for pro triders on more open trails but once you get in the woods you can't make sharp turns with it. The Razorback was on close out so I spent what little money I had and got it. It was hanging on a scale that read 23 pounds. The bike flys, I am now riding at the front instead of in the middle of my class. It handles so well, you feel like you are part of the bike. The rear lock out is also very nice when you are smooth surfaces and need to hammer. I do races that are 2 hours long and I used to be soar but now my body feels fresh after I'm done. The Noleen suspension is also nice. The fork is much stiffer than the SID and feels really nice. I have more confidence now and I just cruise right along all the time, just try and hold my wheel in the technical stuff.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F700, Gary Fisher Paragon
Bike Setup: Stock (which means carbon fiber post, handlebars, it comes with so much great stuff), except I upgraded to XTR crankset, Selle Italia Gel Saddle, Hutchison Python Air Light Tires
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Submitted by
Wayne Brogdon
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa Ok.
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001
Strengths: Light,handling,simplicity
Weaknesses: broken frame after 1 year
Bottom Line:
An exellent bike for cross country.I weigh 195 and ride in rocky terrain.The only flaw is the frame broke after 1 year I got instant free replacement.The seat tube only grips the post for 2.8 inches!The new frame has more welding in this area but retains the same distance on the post.This is an exxellent bike for cross country types.I reccomend it and after my frame broke I had a new one after 4 days!New paint job for free!!
Bike Setup: Nuke proof hubs on 517 xtr&xt raceface hubs and cranks 98 sx ti fork
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Submitted by
Dennis Kugizaki
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2000
Strengths: About the lightest FS I have found. Fast steering, nimble. Rear end really hooks up on steep climbs. Noleen fork feels like a SID. Love the lockout feature of the rear shock. Tight and quick!
Weaknesses: Had to replace cheapo Noleen rear lockout lever with a Shimano unit. It would not stay locked. Paint could be more durable and the BB could be 3/4" higher. Only other weakness is that they did not make enough bikes to meet demand. Use a side entry water bottle cage on the medium frame.
Bottom Line:
Actually like the way this bike rides over the other full suspension rigs I have ridden. It's as good or better than any of the boutique bikes out there, even though it is a production model. If you can get one...GET ONE! Some reviewers said that this is a perfect transition from hardtail to full suspension. I agree, as well as the other direction...from super plush full suspension to the best of both worlds.
Similar Products Used: Nothing exactly like it but I have owned an Intense Uzzi, Amp B4 and an Outland
Bike Setup: Raceface Next crank, XTR brakes, levers/shifters, Raceface SyStem, Easton carbon Monkey Lite riser bar, Mavic Crossmax Tubeless wheels w/Hutchinson Phython tubeless tires, Frog pedals.
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Submitted by
Kirk Hilton
a Racer
from Martinsville, Indiana
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000
Strengths: Light weight, simple, cost per value.
Weaknesses: Paint. Waiting time to get frame. Pivot bushing hard to remove. Hard to tighten BB jam nut because of swing arm location. These a minor weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
Light bike, haven't weighted it. Ordered frame by itself. Had to wait a long time, but it was worth it. Set bike as above, still setting shock and shifters to liking. But so far it has been throw leg over bike and go. This is a point and shoot bike as they mention in the April issue of Mountain Bike Action. To bad K2 does not have a big bike buget like GT, TREK, SPECIALIZED. This bike rips
Strengths: Reasonably light weight. Plenty stiff. No creaks or slop. Great suspension for someone coming off a hardtail. Lockout is nice feature
Weaknesses: Water bottle bosses on top of down tube are worthless because the shock hits the bottle (medium size frame).
Bottom Line:
This bike is really the epitome of short-travel, cross country racing, suspension bikes. It's not going to please hardcore DH junkies with its firm suspension, but it's perfect for those of us who prefer efficiency over super-plush travel. It doesn't bob excessively, even out of the saddle. Set up as I've listed it here, it weighs an honest 22.75 pounds. K2 really hit a home run with this one...problem is finding one now. If you want a frame only, forget it as they have sold out for the rest of the year it sounds like. Buy one now if you can!!!!!
