Strengths: The best welding i have ever seen alone with great machine work all of which makes the stiffest and smoothest full sus frame on the market.
Weaknesses: need too be over 5'9 to ride it as dwarfs cant mount the bike poor sods
Bottom Line:
The best i have ever riden, If you buy a frame you are buying what i believe too be one if not the best downhill frame you can get......If you dont get one you must be stupid or a Twat.
Similar Products Used: Orange 222 (Bit smaller), Giant dh1
Bike Setup: Super t 7", 24/seven bars,stem,crankset,Hope hubs and enduro disc brakes(Best brake in the world. roox seat post etc
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Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Jones
a Downhiller
from San Luis Obispo, Ca.
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002
Strengths: Infinite build-up possibilities, Dh, FR, and even XC to a point. Adjustability, Subframes, dropouts, and travel
Weaknesses: The 6 inch travel setting is very stiff, although that may be nice when I decide to ride uphill someday. The brushed swing arm is maked rather easily.
Bottom Line:
The Shockwave is a great buy, I got mine during their moving sale and got the Frame, 2 subframes, chainguide and bashguard, both sets of dropouts and a jersey for $1400 with tax. The build-up started out with a 5" Z1 and V brakes from my foes weasel, after riding a few times however I decided a full rebuild was in order. Since then it has turned into its current state which is awsome. When riding it home from the bike shop i had a huge grin on my face, a long travel fork is a must in order to get the full performance of the bike. It is very confidence inspiring, I get jumps and other trail I would have never brfore hit. I am running the dh dropout right now as i am 6'-2" and 200 lbs. and it feels great. I may try the standard dropouts later but i am having too much fun as it is. When in the big ring there is little of any bob in the rear, uphill sprints are no problem. The build-up of a full bike is very expensive so go to a college(Cal Poly SLO) and the team will be your best friend, insane deals from Marizocchi, Shimano, Chris King, and the local bike shops are all part of the advantages.
Similar Products Used: Foes weasel, DHi, Giant AC-2,
Bike Setup: Super T, raceface cranks, rhyno lite XL's, Fox Vanilla RC, Hayes Disc 8" front, 6" rear, Kujo DH's, XT shifters, XT rear hub, XT front and rear derailers, Odi lock on grips, Azonic Dh bars 2" rise, King Headset, rebound set slow
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Submitted by
Albert Rondeau
a Downhiller
from Sherbrooke, Que, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001
Strengths: I love this frame. The ride is very stiff, and almost bottomless. The Fox RC works well, once you find the right spring rate. Impeccable machining, and details make this frame the most well thoughtout frame I've ever seen. Integrated bashguard has saved my chainrings bacon on many occasions. Replaceable dropouts are solid, and easy to change. Can't wait to get the Razor Rock floating rear brake kit in the spring. Seat tower changes make this beast into a whole other animal, in about two minutes time!
Weaknesses: I'm still worried about the solidity of the seat tower, but it hasn't let me down yet!
Bottom Line:
Support small builders, their service is thousands of times better than the big guys!
This frame really pedals well, despite the weight of the fork.
Bike Setup: '01 shockwave, '02 Shiver, 8" hayes, 24" rear wheel, etc.
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Submitted by
Franky Time
a Downhiller
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001
Strengths: It does everything well.
BEST suspension out there truly deserving of the term "progressive". Can feel linkage at work manipulating the shock. No BS, a real rising rate suspension that works at keeping that wheel hugging the ground.
HANDLING....best handling bike I have ridden yet - downhill or anywhere. Nimble AND forgiving.
All the little things....best cable routing of any mountain bike in existence, MOST adjustablity (where it counts) of any mountain bike out there, machining and welds of the highest order, powdercoat finish takes a beating and keeps on shining, - I've just never had a frame yet which has so much going for it with no "negatives".
Weaknesses: None that are even worthy to comment on.
(**Note....The bike is slightly loud when shifting for instance (Gear crunch is amplified by the planar surfaces of the mono frame).....bike does NOT creak anywhere. That's a myth. (At least on my 2001))
Bottom Line:
Worth every penny.
If you are a motocrosser or come from a motorcycle perspective you will be best served by this frame. It loves to be leaned through corners like a dirt bike. Handling (and how the bike reacts in general) is so similar. Flies (jumps) like a good motocrosser, rigid like a CR250, and lands smoothly like one too. In fact the excellent ergos and instant "likeability" of the handling is SO reminiscent of a Honda CR (Most riders can get on it the first time and really smoke). More fun to ride than ANY Intense I have slung a leg over.
I'm done "experimenting" - this is what I want to ride.
