Submitted by
fastboy143
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver WA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Scappoose
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Craigslist
Strengths:
Lightweight, no bobbing (in back), build kit's worth more than I paid for the whole bike, it's kinda rare/off the wall (I like that)
Weaknesses:
tricky to dial in the suspension. Old SID's have a wonky recessed valve, hard to find parts, short travel compared to newer technology.
Similar Products Used:
My first full sus. rig.
Bike Setup:
XT: shifters, levers, v-brakes, hubs, crank, chain, ft. der. XTR chain and rear D. Carbon bar, 1999 Front and Rear RS SID dual air shocks, Conty vertical pros (blech!), ceramic rims. 27 lbs
Bottom Line:
For what I paid, the kit I got and the fun I'm having leaning to ride a full sus, this was the deal of a lifetime. I love that mine is the only one I've ever seen, ever. Gets long, careful looks from those in the know.
I'm still trying to get the pressures dialed in for my weight and style, but by keeping notes and only making small changes, I think I'll get it right soon. I also need to learn the subtle differences in how a full susp. bike handles vs. a hardtail. i.e. bunny hopping a curb... rear wheel kicks down and BANG! You've bent an expensive ceramic coated rim.
As far as make/model: I love an oddball type thing that only a few people will know about. (Similarly, the best car I ever owned was a 1965 Pontiac 2+2)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
King McFook
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston Date Reviewed: September 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Is the ball for all-around woods/technical riding, light, no slop single pivot dealie. Plus sparkley orange paint job.
Weaknesses:
Poor Schwinn.
Similar Products Used:
All kinds.
Bike Setup:
Fancy. 100mm out back, 80mm up front, big tires, etc.
Bottom Line:
Have had this sled since '98, still see no reason to replace it. Works great for Northeast technical woods/singletrack stuff.
You can still get pivots and dropouts for these frames (from Pacific) which are going cheap on Ebay. Get one.
Sweet ride for anyone who rides around in the woods alot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Morgan
a Weekend Warrior
from Sioux Falls, SD, USA Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Dalton Lake, Black Hills, SD
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1399.00
Purchased At:
Scheels
Strengths:
One word describes this ride - PLUSH No bobbing like on other FS bikes. The ingenious rear triangle really gives it a hard tail feel. The SID's give you a sweet ride. It's lighter than I ever expected it to be. Disc brake mounts, front and rear. My friend took it for a little ride; he returned with a big smile on his face and simply said, "NICE RIDE!!! WOW!!!"
Weaknesses:
The SID's are a little tough to adjust because of wierd valves, but that's a very minor and picky point.
Similar Products Used:
Ridden too many bikes to list.
Bike Setup:
Stock XT/XTR, SID front and rear
Bottom Line:
Bottom line - they should have never gone to thye new style of rear triangle. This is the "under $3000" FS bike to have - PERIOD. Don't even waist you time riding something else. This thing delivers!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from San Clemente Date Reviewed: May 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Too many to list. . .
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Good suspension when you need it. When bombing out of the saddle it can handle quite a bit. When seated it takes the edge off of everything. Climbs well and does'nt pogo. Strong and well made.
Weaknesses:
My bike came with metal bushings. Slop developed after about a year and I replaced them with the composite. So far so good.
Similar Products Used:
I-drive, Y-bike, Weasel
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi bomber up front, stock coupe de lux in rear, XT everything else.
Bottom Line:
I've been riding this for a while and recently considered changing to a Santa Cruz Heckler. However, this bike does everything I ask it to and has never come up short. I like long climbs and fast decents on single track and fireroads. Why change. . .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brien McKinney
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashland, OR, USA Date Reviewed: February 26, 2000
Favorite Trail:
No Candies
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Looks damn cool. Excellent cross-country/Sunday epic distance bike, maybe the best. Light frame weight. The "Homegrown" Logo and tomato suit the toker in me.
Weaknesses:
Insufferable cable routing. Exposed pivot tends to get thrashed from the decomposed granite where I live. Weak back brake.
Similar Products Used:
Amp. Proflex. Various suspension designs owned by friends and those in the industry. We swap bikes often on our rides to get a feel for various designs.
Bike Setup:
XTR drivetrain, Chris King headset and wheels, White Bros. Air front fork, Cane creek Rear shock (which is the goods!) Gore-tex sealed cables (a necessity) and a Cane Creek rear brake (another necessity!)
Bottom Line:
I've had this bike for two years now, and I think I finally got it dialed. The picture supplied for the bike is incorrect, but hey, hopefully you've seen it and you know what it looks like. Castellano sweet-spot all the way. I have had to make some changes to the bike to get it riding well: Gore-tex or other sealed cables are a must as the routing gunks your housings within a few rides. A cane creek rear brake otherwise the noodle from a side-pull sticks out and hits your heel as you pedal, the cane creek works excellently with this bike and pulls the cable into the center of the frame. A brake beefer for the rear--the routing makes the back brake a little squishy no matter what you do, but the beefer and the Cane Creek can get it pretty tight. Note that the rear shock is right next to the rear wheel and completely exposed to all of the mud, rock, and crap the flys off--I wrapped my shock in a piece of innertube and zip-tied the ends. It's bulletproof for about six months. If you don't take measures to protect the rear shock somehow it will get toasted fast. Once you get all these things figured out (which took me a looong time!) the bike rides great. It is NOT a great high-speed descender as the suspension locks out for the most part when your ass is off of the saddle. It's strength is in long, cross-country, distance epic rides--which is almost all I do. With this frame on a long and rolly-polly ride you will dominate. Just sit and spin forever. Some say it's a glorified suspension seatpost but differ strongly on that assumption--the travel is plush, smooth, and effective (once you put on a good shock!) I love this bike, and it loves me. I like the fact that it locks out automatically when you slam up a hill or stand up for a sprint to the finish line. I've got the biggest frame they make and with some high-zoot parts I've got it down to less than 25 pounds. This bike is a cross-country monster, and I would recommend it to anyone who pedals TO the trails, and rides them long and hard. NOT for those who drive to the trailhead, bomb down, and get a ride back up. I give it 3 chilis value because I had to replace so many parts to get the thing rolling right, and 5 for performance 'cuz it's the ultimate crosscountry shredder.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Racer
from Attleboro Date Reviewed: September 28, 1999
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
solid frame, very efficient xc racer and one of the best chip resistant paint job I have ever seen.
Weaknesses:
what weaknesses?
Similar Products Used:
Klein, Cannondale, KHS ST
Bike Setup:
Rock Shox 80mm Judy SL in front, SID in back, XT deraulluars, Mavic X517 wheels.
Bottom Line:
After racing, riding and teaching mountain bike classes on this machine I am amazed more an more at how well it fallows the terrain like a cat; it even climbs like a cat and very rarely does it loose traction. As with all new bikes, I had to set up the suspension to my riding style (read; so my back and butt felt cushy). Also the front head tube angle (71.5) is set up for an 80mm-travel fork; the 60mm Judy that I first had on this Sweet Spot did not compliment the bikes’ excellent handling. Over all this bike leaves me feeling fresh at the end of a ride or race. In my book this schwinn is a 10.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
crusher
a Cross-Country Rider
from TX Date Reviewed: September 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
STAIR JUMPS
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Fast and stiff when standing, cushy landings from staircase jumps. I ride trails too but staircase jumps are the trial zone for crushability.
Weaknesses:
I expect the radially laced front wheel to succomb to the punishment.
Similar Products Used:
I tried a long list of high end MTB dually suspended bikes. This bike is absolutely the top of it's class .
Bike Setup:
Factory set-up is great! Everything on the bike is top of the line! All XT with XTR rear der. SID shock front and rear. Killer TITEC stuff, even a FIZIK saddle and WTB raptor tires. KILLER.
Bottom Line:
Light and fast and strong. Beautiful frame and parts to match. I will try to break it and will probably be unsuccessful.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MARK W
a Cross-Country Rider
from MD Date Reviewed: September 17, 1999
Favorite Trail:
ANY/ALL
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
SINGLE PIVOT/DECENT WEIGHT/LOOKS/SUSP STIFFENS WHEN STANDING
Weaknesses:
SUSPENSION NOT AS ACTIVE WHILE STANDING
Similar Products Used:
GT/TREK/PRO-FLEX
Bike Setup:
FACTORY SET-UP/SID FRONT&REAR
Bottom Line:
PREDICTABLE HANDLING/UNLIMITED SUSP ADJUSTABILITY/OWNED 97-SOLD TO BUY 99/GOOD CROSS COUNTRY RACE BIKE/BUY IT/RACE IT/LIKE IT!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Spfld, IL Date Reviewed: August 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
private JW
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Frame, geometry, sweet spot, weight..
Weaknesses:
Pivot point wears down
Similar Products Used:
Trek y-carbons, Canondale super v's
Bike Setup:
Judy xc front, RS coupe delux rear, xtr-lx drive train
Bottom Line:
I really have the polished 97 frame but with the composit pivot, running spinergy's with wide gripper rear and ritchy alpha bite front, 99 9 spd xtr-lx drive train. So I figure with the 99 parts i could review it as a 99 bike. Over all one of the best designs. I hear schwinn is dropping the sweet spot for the 4banger but I will hold on to this one for a long time. Used to ride the s-30 but it was too heavy. The frame is perfect and a dream. The parts are up to how you want to set things up, but you can never go wrong wth this frame.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D
a Cross-Country Rider
from BURLINGAME ,CA Date Reviewed: June 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
SGAGS PT.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
STIFF AND RIDES GREAT ONCE YOU TUNE THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION TO YOUR LIKING. HANDLES GREAT ON SINGLE TRACK AND FIRE ROADS VERY SWEAT. ALSO THE WELDING AND MILLING OF THE REAR END IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SEE IN PERSON.
Weaknesses:
THE REAR SEAT STAY AS A LITTLE FLEX IN IT WHEN BRAKING USING V-BRAKES ALTHOUGH NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A BIG DEAL. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM YOU CAN RUN DISC BRAKES.
Similar Products Used:
KLIEN MANTRA RACE,SPECIALIZED FSR
Bike Setup:
SID LONG TRAVEL XC (FRONT) SID (REAR)
Bottom Line:
I LOVE THIS FRAME, I BUILT IT UP AND IT WEIGHS IN UNDER 24 LB. IT HAS RACE FACE CRANKS AND TI BB, BEEBOP PEDDLES, ESP 9.0 SHIFTERS AND REAR DERAILLEURS, XT FRONT DERAILLEUR, SPINERGY SPOX WHEEL SET, RINGLE SET POST, CHRIS KING HEADSET.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from East PA Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Wissahickon, Ralp Stover And Fort Ebey in Washington State
Sid Fork and rear shock are difficult to maintain and the cheesey valve adapters make it hard to service with air.
Similar Products Used:
Caloi Alumin hardtail, Trek Cromoly hardtail
Bottom Line:
Tried a friends and loved it so I bought one. I think I like the coupe delux fork and spring combo more so than the rear Sid shock. It felt more plush. The pivot is what makes it feel almost like a hard tail. No bobbing! As long as you are in the saddle in the downhills it is plush. I agree it is kind of like an expensive seat post but at less than 26 pounds it is da bomb. The floor price is about $2,600.00 but I got it for dealer cost at $1,299.00 because I was promised a 98 close out for $1,199.00 that never happened. Bill at Guy's Bicycles in Feasterville took good care of me. Go see him. I love it but will only give it 4 burning chillies/horses/doodies etc. because the rear brakes occassionaly strike my calves, the maintenance is more than I expected with the 99 edition (Sid shocks front/rear). Buy it!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Cross-Country Rider
from Honesdale PA Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
one pivot, precise and smoothe steering. Nicely balanced
Weaknesses:
the rear end feels a bit sluggish out of the saddle and on long seated climbs. Boxed style swingarm collects mud like a dredge.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Diable, Fisher F-2 amd F-4.
Bike Setup:
Sid front and rear. Rear once dialed in is excellent. Sid XC 80MM blew in first month, the stanchions actually disconnected from the bottom boots...scary!Compo
Bottom Line:
Great ride, stable at speed. With tuned suspension can eliminate feedback almost completely. I would highly recomend it to anyone looking for a race calibur FS
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Myers
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ohio Date Reviewed: May 2, 1999
Favorite Trail:
All trails at Slaty Fork
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
This bike is light weight (.5 lbs less than hardtail) What a plush ride, with very little bobbing. The Sid can be tuned in so many ways! The color and paint are outstanding. Stiff frame.
Weaknesses:
The Sid is difficult to tune (yet can be done so in any way imaginable). The Sid could use more travel.
Similar Products Used:
You name the cross country FS and I have tried it. Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, Jamis, etc. None of them compair (hence the reason I bought the Schwinn).
Bike Setup:
I use a Sid rear with an X-Vert fork. I built the bike with full XT, Syncros Stem, Easton CT2 bar, Thompson post, and Mavic 517 CD rims.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike. So often you hear owners praising thier bikes, but I test rode so many different frames! This is it!
Overall Rating:
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