Submitted by
Ana
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Strengths: The light weight, geometry, comfort of the saddle, easy to handle.
Weaknesses: Due to the superlight nature of this bike, the aggressive downhill still throws me a bit, but not as bad as my hardtail.
Bottom Line:
The Juliana SL is amazing. I'm in love with this bike. This bike has made me love mountian biking that much more. I rode a hard tail for 2 years and then I had it. My climbing has improved so much that I barely have to stop on the hills, whereas my hardtail was heavy and cumbersome and I usually had to walk up those same hills. The speed on the Juliana is amazing, but the control I have now...well what can I say...it rules. I'm 5'2" and ride a medium and it fits me great. Buy this bike, it's truly worth every penny.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mtn XT (?), Gary Fisher Sugar, Kona Dawg
Bike Setup: Black Manitou Elite Fork, Avid Cable Disk Brakes, XT derailer, Fox Float rear shock...
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Submitted by
Fern
a Weekend Warrior
from Bolton, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Strengths: This is actually for the 2002 Juliana Superlight. Awesome performance. Love the women's geometry fit! Wylder handlebars are best I've used. Carlisto seat is perfect!
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks on! This is not a man's bike cut down to pass for a woman's...this bike is designed for a woman's body reach and proportions. We're not talking black patent shoes and white gloves either...it means serious bike with serious geometry, performance and design. If you are looking to gain more skill, confidence,performance, and fun, this is your bike. I'm a certified sea kayak instructor. I can tell you that Design, Fit and Technique is everything, no matter what the sport. The Juliana provides excellent translation of body movement to the bike which results in outstanding performance.
Bike Setup: Sid Blue frame/Rock Shox Duke, polished swing arm, Chris king upgrade headset, Fox Float rear shock with remote lock-out, upgraded Easton seatpost to Thompson, Shimano M959 clipless, Carlisto seat, XT components, Disc brakes upgrade, Continental tires upgrade, yady yady yady
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Submitted by
Ginny Oyhenart
a Racer
from Fairfax, VA USA!!!
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001
Strengths: Handling, cornering, light weight, femmetry geometry, saddle, bar and grips for girl sized hands. Don't need bar ends anymore with the Wylder riser bar. Pedals like a dream!!
Weaknesses: Slim bar is not for everybody, but it's awesome for me once I got used to it. Seat is a little wide for real fast technical downhill riding and racing, but just swap it for a race seat and save the Wylder seat for your long training rides, it is a real butt saver. If the bar isn't for you, just swap it!
Bottom Line:
I'm 5'5 and ride a large for the longer top tube. This bike is so tight and easy to handle, you point it wear you want to go and it goes with no problem. shifting is a breeze, no matter the conditions of the trail or if you're on a greuling climb with ultimate chain tension. This bike makes you a better rider, my technique has improved 10 fold, the narrower bars have helped my downhill speed and handling increase exponentially. I don't need bar ends anymore with the narrower and slimmer bar, also the head angle slack really helps me climb more efficiently. Bar ends are a thing of the past anyway, how many times have you clipped one on a small tree and given yourself a hot shoulder tattoo? I know I have. Without them, I'm less paranoid flying down narrow single track. The color - Duke blue frame with duke blue fork is too cool for words, just gotta see it and ride it. IF YOU LIVE IN THE DC, MARYLAND, VA AREA: www.Thebikelane.com has a couple to demo and I'm willing to demo mine under supervision (protective mother :)
Similar Products Used: Trek Fuel WSD (Women Specific Design), Gary Fisher Sugar and Joshua.
Bike Setup: Full XTR, Race Face Cranks, Hayes hd Disc's, Mavic crosslinks. Rock Shox Duke fork and Fox Float RL (Rebound and Lockout) rear shock. This bike is totally tricked out and damn worth every penny.
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Submitted by
April
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001
Strengths: Great geometry (for me), excellent handling (love on first ride)! All in all, a well balanced bike, relatively light in its price range.
Weaknesses: 1) Color (white). 2) Silly non-standard sized "slim grip" handlebar: hard to find grips for it, and can't fit barends on it. 3) Hard to carry on many trunk racks.
Bottom Line:
At my size (5"4), I actually fit better on the "regular" Santa Cruz Superlight (S) than on the Juliana (M). But the two frames are VERY similar in geometry and the Juliana is on sale for $500 less!
Both Santa Cruz feels much more balanced than the others I've tested. The Specialized comes in second. But the single pivot SC won me over.
On trail, the Juliana comes alive! Handling is spot on. I point the bike where I want to go, it goes there by itself. No, I only need to LOOK at the line I wish to take, The Juliana will take me there!
In less then extreem x-c trails, it smooths out the little bumps both descending and climbing, allowing me go a lot faster and still less tired. One time I forgot to turn the rear shock lock-out off, I can feel the bumps all over me! That means the shock works.
Like most full suspension bike, it feels a bit disconnected from the trail surface because of the rear shock. But I got used to that feeling and actually come to like it. It means I now can concentrate in riding rather than spend energy using my legs to cushion my butt. And my body don't get beat up as badly as on my old hard tail.
It really got tested on the rough downhill trails of Northstar! It swallow up the big boulder and large drops like peices of cakes. Descending is much easier and a lot faster, as expected of a good full suspension bike should. It's the improvement in climbing that really impresses me. I actually climbs faster on the Juliana than on my hardtail!
Favorite Trail: El Corte Madera (a.k.a. Skegg Point)
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At: Broken Spoke (San Carlo, CA)
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Sugar 1&2, Specialized FSR Pro, TREK Fuel (?), GT I-drive 2.0, SC Superlight (regular)
Bike Setup: Standard SC "super X kit", which is a mix-bag of mostly LX stuff; upgraded rear shock (RC) with lock-out; swapped back to regular size handlebar.
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Submitted by
Susan Bowen
a Cross Country Rider
from Bakersfield, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Strengths: Fairly light, fits.
Weaknesses: Frame has a burr from weld spatter.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike for my purposes. I like to trail ride in the Sierra Nevada. The bike feels great and operates fine so far. There is a burr on the top tube that I didn't see until after I took the bike home. Because of the powder coat I can't just file it down and touch it up. Santa Cruz politely said, "hmmm, that's too bad". Other than that the bike is a good-fitting, good-looking machine. Only four flammin' chilis because the price is obscene like all bikes in this price range and because of the burr.
