Submitted by
Slush head
a
from The ring around, Uranus
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Bottom Line:
Is anyone still reading about this bike? Anyhow, I'll try to post this one more time... Finally have this bike up and running again. No, I couldn't get the hanger from Pacific (I spit on them, patooey!) I stopped at a local shop to see if they had anything close. Picked up a hanger from Diamondback, spent 15 minutes with a dremmel tool, drank a bunch of espresso, and wa-la! a working hanger. 2 chilis just cause the wheels on the bus go round again, 5 cause i still love this bike, may it rot in h*ll.
This is a follow up to my previous blathering. Yes, I still love the bike. But, why you ask, are there tears in my eyes? Because I caught a little sticky-poo in the spokes, and now my killer mean rig (see set up notes and other breakage a few reviews down) is sitting in the garage. Why? I tore the derailler hanger. And with Schwing in bankruptcy, YOU CAN'T GET A NEW ONE. Look at the date I submitted this...I've called Pacific. THEY DON'T HAVE THEM YET. This multi-thousand $$ rig is sitting like a lump of useless poop because of a three dollar part. Shoot me now! I'd STILL love this bike, if I could ride the friggin' thing. One chili for the flamers at Pacific and the Irony Gods in general.
Submitted by
Mr Dirtbag
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Canda
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2002
Strengths: -feels like natural extension of my body!!! -love, love, love, love, love, love this bike
Weaknesses: -fakin Rock Shox up front -gadamn ghost shift up/down; ì've changed cables, chain, rear cog set & re-adjusted derailleur 1763 times, yet the chain still "skips" a cog when in granny, it actually goes down 1 cog ring for 1 cog then returns to upper ring when torquing (drives me nuuuuuuuuuuuts!) -chain sukarolla! I've sucked up the chain several times so bad I thought I'd have to tear the front rings off to undo it
Bottom Line:
Follow up: -Been ridin it for 2 years now, and lovin it -Troubles with tha gadamn rock shox (thing sux sh1t) -many ghost shift troubles -2 much chain sucking -this bike has always felt sooooo comfy, it likes to be thrown into burns, likes to jump (would land better with a real fork though) -Overal, frame design & angles are awesome, love the rear suspension action, this is an awesome rider -would give it 5 if it didn`t chain suck so much & chain skip
Submitted by
sean
a Cross Country Rider
from danbury,c t
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up on my previous review. Forgot to mention that I put on an Easton EA70 post because the titect wouldn't set up like I wanted it. Heard bad things about the Easton, but carefully set it up and it works fine. Slush head, you must have beat the crap out of yours, because mine's been fine - a pain in the booty to set up, but great on single track. Granted, I could easily crack the seat stay and waste the components, but I'm careful - this isn't a "north shore" rig. This is a freerider in terms of riding, but not in terms of frame durability (at least regarding the carbon seat stays and chain stays). I really like the sid up front, but had to change out a valve (took one out of a tube - big deal). 65 up top, 75 return. Fun ride, but I don't try to hang with the Cannondale boys in tights. Don't want to, either.
Submitted by
Slush head
a Downhiller
from Somewhere, PA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001
Strengths: Awesome design. Best rear suspension if plush is your reason for living.
Weaknesses: Durability
Bottom Line:
Let me start out by saying I loved this bike right out of the box, and I love it more every day I ride it. That said, here is a list of stuff that has failed (and been warrantied by Schwinn/Hutch's)
1. Rockshox coupe delux shock (puked after about 4 rides) 2. Titec seatpost (stripped in the same amount of time) 3. Stock seat (rails came loose -- yikes!) 4. Original frame (cracked seattube) 5. Original carbonfiber swingarm (loose bearing mounts -- squeaks that would wake the dead) 6. Original aluminum lower swingarm (broken at pinch bolts) 7. Rear wheel (spokes were popping like popcorn) 8. 3 pistons and a caliper housing -- unlucky batch from Hayes? 9. Schrader valve in the SID XL fork. WTF? 10. Stock skewers. (The front one stripped DURING a ride)
Is it just me? Seriously, the guys at the shop and Schwinn have taken care of me, but for a bike that cost more than my first car, you'd think it wouldn't be in the shop every Monday morning. I only weigh 180, and only occassionly race DH on it, and I don't live in Vancouver. AS I said in the beginning, this is still the best full suspension design I've been on, and with the travel upgrade (WAY big props to Scott at Go-Ride.com and Randolph at Stratos), this thing rocks up, across, and down any hill I've run into from coast to coast. Buy one today. Get to know your shop guys. STILL love the damn thing.
Bike Setup: Risse 6" Trixxxy, Stratos Helix Pro (real close to 6 in the rear), Mavic D531 rims w/ Kujo DH 2.35s, Easton carbon bar and post, Race Face cranks, titanium bottom bracket, sick grin on face
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Sean McMahon
a Cross Country Rider
from Danbury, CT 06810
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001
Strengths: Very good components, unique ride.
Weaknesses: Weight, suck.
Bottom Line:
So damn fun to ride. I love it. Ridden since early April. Great on technical heavy defacation. Got front at 45 psi, 850 spring on back (wish I'd have gotten 800). Stiffer back spring is major supple, but you still lose some energy in the ride. Takes on heavy singletrack technically, slowly, smoothly. Unless you dig downhill-type rides, the only way to ride this bike is to settle in and enjoy the ride. Climbs like a pig. Wears you out. fun. My favorite bike. Every damn bit worth it.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale..not the Raven, the other one. Trek..not the fuel 90, the other one. Specialized..not the FSR XC, the other one. Etc.
Bike Setup: DX 9 sp. w/XTR der. Triple crown SID up front Hayes LX Bottom Bracket Inc./crank
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Omar
a Downhiller
from Milwaukee, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001
Strengths: Good all around bike. Handles the halfpipe surprisingly well. Hayes Brakes Rock!
Weaknesses: Damned original rocker arm cracked after two months. Took it back to Ben's to get a tune up and the techie spotted it, called Schwinn, Schwinn immediately sent a replacement rocker arm, Ben's received the part, fixed the damage, and tuned up the bike for NOTHING. I love these guys. I wish they had a franchise in New Orleans (where i'm movin' to). BZ to the guys at Ben's and Schwinn. Replace the saddle right away. It'll turn your butt into hamburger quick.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I'm already planning on replacing the front and rear shocks. Been eyeballing a Monster T for the front and a Stratos Helix Pro for the back. I figure with those upgrades this bike will be able to hang with the best.
Similar Products Used: This is my first full suspension. I'll never go back to hardtails.
Bike Setup: Stock factory set up: SID XL, Hayes Discs, XTR componentry. Handles well for a 205 lb'r like myself.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Chas
a Weekend Warrior
from West Hollywood
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001
Strengths: Good components, semi-freeride geometry but still xc-able. Rear end feels like more than 3.8 inches of travel (most of the time) Haven't had to adjust the hayes in 6 months.
Weaknesses: Crappy wheels...broke spokes on the rear wheel three different times, the front wheel out of true after 3 rides.
Bottom Line:
Could use more travel in the back, thinking about getting a stratos rear shock that will give me up to 5.5 inches of travel and also locks out. Pslyo up front works pretty damn good...much much better than the Sid XL, actually it works really really good. It's a heavy bike but it's a crap load of fun to ride. Been using the bike now for over 6 months with no problems from the frame. I did however have to rig up some plasitc, zip-tied to the frame so the cables from the brakes would stop eating into the frame.
Bike Setup: Mavic D-321 rim on the back, IRC Kujo 2.35 up front, Fire DH pro 2.3 behind me, Psylo SL set at 125 mm.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rocky Reyes
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame, killer disc brakes (Hayes Rule!), smooth rear travel, new 2000 swingarm retrofit at factory, bright orange paint! I love it!!!
Weaknesses: Zero degree stem feels too low, stock seat is a brick, a little bit of bob when climbing, and this thing is 7 pounds heavier than my previous bike. I love it!!!
Bottom Line:
This bike ROCKS!!! It is more FR/DH than it is XC, and I like it that way. It is a very rugged machine, and feels like it is ready to take plenty of abuse. The frame is definitely a keeper and will see some upgrades in the near future. And that Lawill swingarm looks baaaaaddd! I love it!!! (But I love Veronica more...)
Similar Products Used: Trek ST 120 (aluminum Y bike)
Bike Setup: Panaracer Fire Pro DH tires, Specialized Body Geometry Comp seat, Shimano DX pedals, front fender, so far the rest is stock. I love it!!!
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Chas
a Weekend Warrior
from West Hollywood
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2000
Strengths: Super Plush front and rear suspension, XTR / XT components. Comfortable seat and the Hayes...it's all about the Hayes !
Weaknesses: Tires Suck, weak rims and it's a tank. I bent the front wheel ever so slighty the first time out. Squeak from rear end...dunno what it is. (???)I only hear it while climbing.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for freeriding. Super plush rear suspension...a little to plush sometimes, like when climbing and hard accelerations. It's a heavy bike, my friends GT XCR is way lighter but the 4 banger is way more forgiving on rough stuff. I just got the bike about 3 weeks ago so I haven't really tested it's limits yet. I can tell you this much though, it's a point and shoot kinda ride. The bike is too good for me. So far no major complaints...no problems...I've only put a few miles on the bike so far...I'll put in another review in 6 months. 4 chilis on the overall because of the tires and wheels.
Similar Products Used: GT XCR 2000, Specialized FSR Comp.
Bike Setup: OEM except for a 8 year old Pshyco front tire...took it off my old bike thats been laying around. Still grips like a champ but it has cracks in the sidewall from aging.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kid Viagra
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis, MN 55416
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000
Strengths: the rear suspension design is fantastic. ingenious adjustibility with the trunnion mount. vertical travel in rear will make you question single pivot bikes. how can they be as good?
Weaknesses: the air sid. it's held up fine thus far, but when an air shock blows...it's done and you'll have a crappy ride or walk home. rear rock shox has blown it's oil, but there still must be a little inside as it's still trickling out. stock wheels are bad. not the rims, but the build of the wheels. crappy spokes. they will detension. don't have them re-trued. replace the spokes and nips with something better.
Bottom Line:
a sweet bike. front and rear suspension balances well. i'm running a 24" rear wheel with 2.35 Kujo on the back end now and it fits easy. that just gives you another way to tweak the bike. it might weigh 30+ but who cares...you can ride uphills. we did a 40 mile porc rim loop from our campsite this spring, and yeah, it wasn't easy...but it sure was fun.
like i said...a sweet bike.
4 chilis because nobody will make a truly 5 chili dualie.
Purchased At: thanks to The Bike Shop-Marshall, MN
Similar Products Used: i've barely tried other dualies. trek vrx, super8, intense uzzi dh
Bike Setup: swapped stems for a profile stiffy that was a touch shorter and had a little rise. took off the big ring and put on a tooth fairy chainring guard. added a bunch of lizard skins guards to keep the carbon from being worked over.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Dyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000
Strengths: Really great suspension. Adjustability. A Straight-8 without the weight.
Weaknesses: Cracked the frame in 3 places (Seat tube, frame's chain stays clamp, and chain stay clamp. Schwinn replaced it for free. The rating are for my new redesigned 2000 4-Banger
Bottom Line:
Great bike while it lasted. Another Bike Shop in Santa Cruz set me up perfectly. During their free service they noticed the cracks in the frame and chainstays and contacted Schwinn who replaced it for free. New frame is great. 1.5 pounds lighter and all the problem areas are fixed. Schwinn was using clamp fittings and the clamps were breaking at the bolts. The new version uses pressed-in sealed-bearing fittings so the problem should eliminated. I don't know why the 2000 4-Banger isn't getting much press. It's really a great bike at a great price. The folks at Another Bike Shop get all my future business for their great service. A great example of quality service from a local bike shop.
Strengths: SOLID frame. gets you up the hills, and down them twice as good. great bike for the money (got mine for $1,500) lets you go riding before the snow melts, and then works twice as good on the chairlift
Weaknesses: comes with rockshox front & rear (die rockshox DIE!) a little noisy, but what bike isnt when your flyin down the rocks?
Bottom Line:
this bike is the best. handels like a tank and will take you through anything without being squirrely. the Jr T fork boosted dh performance by a good 50% for me. the best bike out there for the money! had no problems with the linkage, but had to reroute some of my cables(rear brake cable was getting torn by the guiding, and the front derailer cable was getting worn through by the tire. cables also can wear the paint off the frame. took me 5 min to fix and otherwise its flawless!
Similar Products Used: have riden lots of rental bikes and they all suck compared to this monster!
Bike Setup: Jr T fork. getting stratos shock(they make one with right setup) cause i blew out my rear and dont want to wait 6 weeks. 2.3 tires, tioga DH seat, bmx pedals, new seat post.
