Submitted by
Jason Mateus
a Weekend Warrior
from montreal
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005
Strengths: This bike is a panzer, gets over everything,gets down any hill,and feels comfortable even on long road rides.It just misses a tank cannon.
Weaknesses: It is a bit noisy,the cable routing is poorly ..uh..routed...and it is a pain to carry for portage if you are riding trails.I'm a littl heavy myself,so I have a 650-900 spring in the back and still I get too much sag,but never bottomed out the rear.
Bottom Line:
The bikes is few years old for sure,but for the price I paid and the actual performance I get from that bike,It's the cheapest bike I ever had and the best bike overall.
Purchased At: used bike dealership,frame only,with all components from a brand new specialized hardrock sport disk
Similar Products Used: vps-3, specialized hardrock sport disk,trek 7000
Bike Setup: rst gilla 100mm (soon to be replaced) tektro mechanical 6inch disk brakes,truvativ x-flow crank,alex dh rims,enduro race tires.
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Submitted by
sterling
a Downhiller
from abbostville B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002
Strengths: Strong Plush Smooth and Good Geometry
Weaknesses: They should have put a longer stroke rear shock on this bike. It goes through its travell too fast and can't handle high frequency bumps. Buchings last long IF taken care of but the rear shock axel bends easily and has too many spacers and other crap that fuses together after long use
Bottom Line:
This bike is a little rough around the edges, with a few upgrades it can be an awsome ride. Its tough on the hills but who cares aobut that, it can tackle the big drops and it can even be raced DH. Sweet ride when fixed up right
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky Delux, Specialized Big Hit, Kona Roast, Brodie Holeshot, VPS 3 and many more
Bike Setup: Stratos S7, Hayes 8inch hydro up front, grimeca system 8 in the rear, wtb lazer disc and 521 wheels, profile DH bar, ODI grips, Michelin wildgripper DH, IRC kujo
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Submitted by
Brody Freestyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002
Strengths: This bike kicks ass. It handles so well. The strengths... well. I can't name them cause there are too many. You have to ride it to believe it.
Weaknesses: The only weakness is the... uh... can't think of any as of now.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a beast. Sure there are better bikes but the bottom line is this bike can kick your bikes ass. Unless of course your bike is worth $2000 more or its a newer better VPS.
Bike Setup: Z1 Drop Off, Fox Vanilla R, Hayes Mechanical and Hope C2 disc brakes, 2.3 front tire, 2.25 back tire.
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Submitted by
Eric Birkholz
a Downhiller
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2001
Strengths: beautiful looking bike, strong as hell frame. parts are good for price
Weaknesses: needs more travel.
Bottom Line:
This is a beautiful bike for the price. I have crashed badly a few times(broke my collar bone really bad) and the bike was fine. Didnt need to even consider taking it to the shop. the frame is made amazingly well. Just it needs more travel. Get a dual crown Marzocchi on her and she ready to go.
I wonder if anyone makes a travel kit for it???
anyways great bike. IF you like urban assault, and dirt jumping buy this bike. It can climb well for what it is designed for, and still go through the city with ease.
Strengths: plush, good on downwill, great price canadisn cash paid,
Weaknesses: noisy, lots of maitnence, cranks died, NOISY, not enough travel, seat broke off couldn't get replacement parts,
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks if it had more travel and didn't need to be mantained as much and was so freakin loud it would be perfect. if u like freeride log bridges drops ect buy this bike. if u like climbing don't
Bike Setup: truvativ isis drive cranks, and lots of others
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Submitted by
sterling
a Downhiller
from abbotsford b.c.
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001
Strengths: this bike is so strong and the suspension cushions anything. I drop alot of big stuff on this bike and it's held fine I mean big stuff like jumping off a 8ft roof onto flat. It also handles good and is the fasted bike i've ever ridden
Weaknesses: The way the cables were routed are a total pain. Also the bushing wear out and make noize but that can be fixed. My last compaint is that the seat post can occaisionaly slide on a bad landing
Bottom Line:
this bike can stand up to just about anything and doesn't complain. it's pretty well priced and it's ridability can improve youre skills as well as get you out of alot of jams
Bike Setup: Z1 qr20's hydro hayes and grimeca race face cranks ryhno lites bash guard baby
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Submitted by
Mike Meakin
a Downhiller
from North Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2001
Strengths: good design, great for the shore, canadian made! smooth like butter! takes lots of hard hits (ridden and crashed HARD on the shore, dirt jumping, urban assultin')
Weaknesses: bushings for rear suspension wears out fast(replaced numerous times), cable routing sucks (zip-ties, electrical tape, and so on...)
Bottom Line:
pretty sweet ride, reasonable travel (5" front and rear), solid, MUST BE MAINTAINED!!! likes to go FAST and is super stable in the air & doing drops, feels at home on stair gaps, and other urban stuff, overall: prefect for the shore but many parts need 2 be repalced and upgraded first.
Strengths: This is a great entry-level 'Shore bike,especially considering the year('99--most bike companies didn't even know what the North Shore was!Dumbass Yanks!)It comes with an impressive 5" on both ends,and has a REALLY stiff monoque(sp.?)frame.Yes it rides a little noisy but who gives a f**k--you never notice it when you are 10' above the ground riding on a 5"-wide log bridge,eh!I have spent 2 years riding the hell out of this bike and customing it to better suit the 'Shore.Norco rules and denizens of the 'Shore know it--I see more Norcos(and Konas)than any other manufacturer's bikes out here!!The angles are nice and slack,and are perfectly suited for the insane riding of the 'Shore,and it holds its own on climbs too.If you want a REAL out-of-the-box Vancouver bike,this is a great place to start..
Weaknesses: First off,the person who designed the cable routing should be raped up the ass with a corn cob!!It took about 10 zip-ties to fix it so it wouldn't get caught on things.The front Hayes cable disk(pre-HMX)really sucks,and a disk out back would be nice.In fact these were the first things I swapped out(w/ Hayes Hydro+8" rotors).I chucked the big ring for a Vuelta Rock Ring.I blew out the Z1 Dropoff on a 10-footer--I replaced it with a Jr.T.Of course the seatpost bent(replaced it with a cheap generic one)and the handlebar did too(replaced with a Azonic Doublewall 2").This year,the square-taper Turbine cranks bit the dust in a nasty way,so I replaced them with a new set of ISIS Turbines which are much,much better(STIFFER eh!)The wheelset is now Sun Mammoth on Formula disk hubs.I replaced the SRAM shifters with 9.0 Shorties.The VPS has been playing second fiddle to my Balfa BB7 lately--it's up for sale now($2000 CAN),but is still an impressive light-duty 'Shore bike,eh!
Bottom Line:
An overall good 'Shore bike,but I had to swap out a LOT over the 2 years I rode it because I beat the goddamned sh$t out of it.I rode it down many rough,nasty trails,ranging from Ladies Only to Discombobulater,and from the Woodlot to 4 Lost Souls(my favorite!)and the frame and rear shock have survived.Everything else--well,yah,I broke a lot of stuff.But that's riding on the 'Shore for ya..
I get a kick out of taking this bike on low-flying urban assault missions in downtown Vancouver.It feels at home on stair drops,loading dock jumps,and holding walls.This is truly a fine bike and the mods have only made it better.4 flaming sh#ts,eh.
unreal bikes for drops. 10 footers..not a problem. Sweet in the downhill and very respectable on the uphill. Ridin in vacnouvwer Island was the best experience, but for that, you need a bike that performs well. The VPS 2 is THE bike for this type of riding..Thanks for the ride Canada..I´ll never sell my VPS 2..
Bike Setup: Changed set up to hayes front hydraulic, shimmano XT rear hyraulic disc. Other wise somewhat stock
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Submitted by
Flatbag
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2000
Strengths: Nice box frame, strong linkages (so far) Super forks (most of the bike is non standard of course)
Weaknesses: Noisey frame, might fill it with expanding space filler.
Bottom Line:
I think I got a good deal the rear shock needed an overhaul which the manufacturer is did for free... hows that for support! Ive thrown this thing down a few big stairs and you cant even feel them you could close your eyes and it would get you there in one piece. Heaps good freeride DH allround bike, I will be putting a double chain ring on the front for the hills with a inside/outside guide. The bike will go up hills anytime. FSR huh GET the VPS 2or3 any you will be supprised with a few upgrades later on.
Similar Products Used: FSR ground control 6' kit etc.
Bike Setup: Xvert Carbon 6"+ with microlube, DNM STX-AC8 gives 6" rear, front Sun Dble Wide fluro Green rim-Funn Hub Intense 60 tyre, Sun Mammoth rear-XTR Hub tioga 2.4 tyre, Hayes 8"Front, XTR Rear Brakes,Race face Cranks,Shimano DH Pedals, Sram Grip Shift-SL rear Drailer,Dmr Chain Guide,Azonic Dbl thick DH Bar, Wilderness Seat, Single Chain ring.
Strengths: Price is definitely this bikes strong points.Components are great and this bike loves to be hucked.You can just point at something and have the confidence that it will handle it.It also climbs not bad for a freeride bike. I've read some of the other reviews on this bike and some complaining about its climbing, give me a #$!in break its a freeride bike, as well maybe get a little cardio and you won't whine so much.
Weaknesses: Cable routing could be changed, and you've got to gas the grip shift. The bike is a little loud but I guess that is to be expected with the way the frame is made.
Bottom Line:
Change the cable routing and I think you have one of the best all around freeride bikes(in this price range) that is great going down as well as back up. You also must get rid of the grip shift.
Strengths: rear suspension works well, strong frame
Weaknesses: cable routing
Bottom Line:
I'm actually submitting this to say something to all of you who are complaining about pivot wear and bushing problems. I'm currently riding a 1998 VPS-1, which is now the 1999 VPS-2, and my bike has been going strong since it was bought with no problems in the rear triangle. To all of you who go through bushings like crazy, you NEED to maintain your bike. All it takes is a good sit down every month, or after a ride in a lot of mud/water for 30 minutes to take the rear triangle apart and re-grease the pivots and bushings. It's a small price to pay for suspension that works like the day you bought it. Anyone who expects unsealed pivots to last forever without regular care needs a real lesson in reality
Bike Setup: w/hanebrink lt-8/raceface/SRAM/Gustav brakes
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Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2000
Strengths: Lots of travel good clearance strong great descender Sweet Freeride BIKE!
Weaknesses: noisey bushings don't last cable routing But who cares at this Price!!
Bottom Line:
This bike is a freeriders dream, lots of travel great braking and good parts. I did a huge drop off on this bike and it really held up great!! This bike is well worth the money spent. Even for a long travel full suspension it still is a good climber.
