Submitted by
Mike Cutts
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2008
Strengths: Strong, plush, chuckable.
Weaknesses: Maybe a little heav compared to newer bikes - but then you have to pay lots more for them.
Bottom Line:
Ran this bike as my only bike for a bout a year. Was awesome once the propedal shock was put on it. Really too much of a DH bike for me - went up hills better than it should have but was pretty hard work still. Handled anything I could throw at it on a DH - 2 weeks at Morzine was heaven. Much plusher than a Bullit - good for the handy cam. Only got rid of it coz I got an awesome deal on a VP3 with 888s - not as good a Morzine bike but about 5lbs lighter and has more travel - higher BB restricts it a bit. Just bought a Blur LT to replace the VP (maybe - getting old....). So maybe I'll buy another S8 for my yearly pilgrimage.
Similar Products Used: V10, Super 8 original (not good!), VP3, Bighit, Demo8, Stinkys, Enduro SX, RM7
Bike Setup: Marz Monster T, Hope Ti6s, Mavic D321s on Hope Bigun front / Hadley rear, Fox vailla RC Propedal
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Submitted by
zorro weatherburger
a Weekend Warrior
from australia, victoria, melbourne
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2005
Strengths: rock shocks front shocks are exelent aswell as the fox, good rims but i have changed mine since i got the bike
Weaknesses: big ,heavy, chunky thing
Bottom Line:
the best bike eva, allthough dated it can still jump over a house and take the the rough langings you give it, also the shocks are the softest things ever, its like you dont even feel the landing.
Similar Products Used: none, its a one of a kind bike
Bike Setup: santa cruz super8 frame, hayes hydrolic disc brakes,intense mag 30 dh rims, rock shocks front shocks, azonic pedals, intense lock on odi grips
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Submitted by
Massive Dik
a Downhiller
from New England, USA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001
Strengths: beefy, stiff rear end. good geometry adjustability. fairly cheap for pro level DH rig.
Weaknesses: FOX shock! the bike BLOWS thru its travel way too easily! 2 footer or 6 footer, bottoms out the same it seems. oh! fox already re valved it, added spring, same result!
Bottom Line:
If you can, avoid FOX crap...... I think they are getting a little too big for their breaches! shock are thrown together poorly, I've seen too many busted or mal-functioning fox shocks! for now we have to deal with them but thats about to change thanks to Avalanche, Stratos, Romic and Progressive! Cant wait! work good on some bikes I guess, 3 terd piles for the days when no one else would try but fox. Getting lazy though, Q.C. / Q.A. wake up!
Weaknesses: The boxxer is love/hate but i'm 13 riding one of these i can't really complain!
Bottom Line:
i realize now that the people who said this bike flexed and brakejacked are way overweight and finnessish in thier riding. if you ride this bike right it rides as sweet as anything i've ridin
Strengths: PLUSH!!!!!! Strong as hell. You can't bust this thing.
Weaknesses: 47lbs but who cares it eats every thing it should be a little over-weight
Bottom Line:
Damn fine bike for a damn fine price. If you are interested in Going REALLLLYY fast and doing it smoothly get one. I promise you will never wish you have a better bike.EVER!
Submitted by
Darrren Leary
a Downhiller
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001
Strengths: Stiff stiff stiff, great geometry, nice workmanship, good for big hits, plush, stiff, nice colors, stiff.
Weaknesses: Rob a Downhiller from Nevada
Bottom Line:
Finally. After wasting time with a Marin I broke down and got a good bike. This think is awsome for big hits and DH/freeride type riding. Very comfortable in the trails as well. Of course its heavy, and no thats not a weakness. Handles like a dream.
Submitted by
Brad Jackson
a Downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001
Strengths: Stiff, Strong, plush, takes big hits well, corners well, just rides like a bike should, great geometry with a 24 inch wheel and a 7+ inch fork.... rides lighter than it actually is....rear through axil makes for a super stiff swingarm...
Weaknesses: none relly, i use my s8 for x-country, DH, urban, dirt jumps ect every week!
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks, if you are sick of you bike breaking buy one of these, very versitle, and a great bike for the price! If you read the rest of the riviews you will notice the one below mine is the only bad one!!!! In my opinion it should be disregarded, dont take my word just go ride one.....This bike is best suited for dh or freeride, though as i say above if you are strong enough it is no problem to do a few x-country/dh rides a week!
Weaknesses: This bike is sluggish. The fork absolutely sucks and the suspension feels crappy. I've had the bike tinkered with and revalved and resprung etc. It doesn't ride nearly as nice as an Intense and it cost more than a used intense. The 24" wheel is lame and doesn't provide any advantage aside from being closer to the rocks I keep hitting due to decresed ground clearance. The shoddy machinework and inconsistient welds show a lack of workmanship.
Bottom Line:
I won't ever buy one of these again. Nor will I let any of my friends ride them either. I will stick with bikes that are made in house by the people that put their name on them. I thought I was buying a custom bike but instead i was buying a mass produced 7005 non-heat treated frame that is contracted out to some cookie-cutter frame producer. I won't buy a santa cruz again.
Similar Products Used: Intense M1 (nothing even comes close), GT LTS-DH, LOBO, Tomac 204 Magnum, new and old design, Old style super8 of friends until taht snapped off at the headtube
Bike Setup: Super-8, stock DH kit
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Submitted by
Collin
a Downhiller
from abbotsford, bc, canada
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001
Strengths: Super Bomber, super plush, gobs of travel, very adjustable,super trick.
Weaknesses: A little heavy, but who cares i'm still beating my buddies up the hill on their sub 40 pound Intense Uzzi DH's.
Bottom Line:
This bike rules. It stomps everything in its path with relative ease---> dropped a HUGE air the other day, the compression was so hard I busted my seatpost clean off and touched my faceguard to my top tube, but the bike kept rolling with no problems. If you want a bike that does almost everything and still go large and land hard all the time get the Super 8.
Bike Setup: 7 in DH2, front derailleur, 26" F, 24"R, raceface hs, cranks, bb, Hayes 8" f/r, XT shifting
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Submitted by
chavez
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver bc
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2001
Strengths: with 7.5 for travel and a frame that is solid this is one really strong ride. not sure if ill get used to the one chain ring up front and might still modify. this is one heavy machine to pedal on any flat.
Weaknesses: well unfourtunately i kept the shiver fork figured i'd be a guinnea pig. like every other marzocchi product the springs way to soft im only 175lbs. cant ride 26 wheel with 3.0 tire ... fork travel hits tire and cant modify it to fit must have 34 for 3.o. other than that so far so good.
Bottom Line:
well as much as i really like the whole package they still asking too much money for a bike.. even though i paid it it's gettin expensive here in the matrix. I liked last years vps 2 and i have no regrets about getting this years team dh. other than the fork issues. there's a lot of fun to have on your spare time and having the right equipment just absolutely makes it.. worth every penny. turns heads anywhere you ride. 8" rotors do make a difference. dont take home the factory clipless they garbage. The seat is incredible no chaffing. I f you don't have a bike rack i feel sorry for you cuz i hate taking off the wheels is a hassle.. totally worth it though. Just waiting to see how they handle lifetime warranty that they offering. really good bike so far.
Weaknesses: going up hill is a killer (who cares? its a DH bike)
Bottom Line:
I moved out to BC like a year ago, a freeriders dream this bike was ment for everything out their
I have no problems with anything the frame is in good shape when I bought it but I bought really good components for this ride To all of you DH rookies out their This Bike is for you!!!
Strengths: The bike handles very well and gives a lot of confidnce in doing almost anything from big drops, stairgaps to just DH trail riding. Room for 3' tire. Adjustable chainstay length. Seat position is very low toward bottom bracket.
Weaknesses: A lot of guys I know, including me, have laid back seatposts and when suspension compresses, back wheel touches the seat. Head angle is not slack enough, unless you put a huge length fork. Rebound adjuster on the shock is very hard to reach.
Bottom Line:
According to sociological questioning i made between the owners of Super8, the conclusion is: They all love it. They like the handling, anyone from 5.7 to 6.1 tall uses a medium size frame. The bike is closest to perfect.
Bike Setup: Monster T, 8'Hayes front and rear, 24' doublewides, 3' tires, custom MRP.
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Submitted by
Jay
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001
Strengths: Super plush, most reliable dh bike around, helpful bike ajustments, you can ride the shore during the week, and race DH on the weekend, no prob.
Weaknesses: rear shock eyelets wear kinda fast.
Bottom Line:
One of the best DH bikes around, i'd recommend this bike to anyone who wants to race DH, or wants a big hit bike.
Similar Products Used: old super 8, KHS Dominatrax, Giant ATX-1
Bike Setup: White bros DH3, Magura gustav's
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Submitted by
Rick Killner
a Downhiller
from Chessington, Surrey, UK
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
Strengths: Very confidence inspiring.Soaks up everything & behaves impeccably.
Weaknesses: Some swingarms have cracked(warranty)and the rear cable/hose fittings haven't been thought through properly.
Bottom Line:
An awesome downhill bike for anyone looking to go faster.You can rail corners with ease, attack drop-offs with confidence & grin all the way down the hill while your mates are left to eat your dirt. It pedals well for a 47ibs bike but the big world cup courses are where it really rips! There is room for 3"tyres and with the 8"forks it almost feels like you are cheating! You will not be dissapointed.
oh my god you're kidding good by four bar mono stay all the way it recovers faster its plusher it's tits. Buy it only if you dont mind walking to the top of the hill. If you have any questions about it or other stuff. I work at encina bikes and we have a large santa cruz bullit blue r shox psylo shimno xt disc come down check it out we also have supperlights the're all fat bikes. hardcore all the f@#$%&@ way. {encina bikes}
