Submitted by
fastboy143
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver WA
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2011
Strengths: Lightweight (28 stock) for a Full Sus, pivot design by John Castellano makes it act like a HT when you stand. Very efficient climber. Rock solid build kit. Does the old Shimano XTR stuff ever die?
Weaknesses: short travel, heavy for a carbon frame, but look at what I paid!
Bottom Line:
Flies. Simply flies. After a few weekends on the 32 lb reign, this bike feels like it's going to scoot out from under me. It does not descend or navigate a rock garden like a 6" bike, but that is not it's purpose. at 5'11, 195lbs and 40yo, I've made the decision to start racing XC on this bike. Put modern suspension and brakes on yours and the benefits of the elevated pivot URT stand out. There are bikes (ellsworth, turner, etc)that climb as well and descend well, too, but they are $4k+. That's why 4 chilis for overall.
Similar Products Used: 1999 Homegrown Factory Suspension, 2006 Giant Reign
Bike Setup: 2010 RS Reba SL 100mm w/LO, Risse Genesis Shock, 2009 Crossmax SL wheels, carbon bar, older LX/XTR drivetrain, Avid BB7 brakes F/R (custom welded mount for rear) 24.5 lbs!
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Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2008
Strengths: Everything, This bike climbs like a Mountain goat on steroids and decends like a bat out of hell. I have never ridden any bike better.
Weaknesses: None. This bike is mostly sutied to people who ride alot and know what they want.
Bottom Line:
I bought this as a replacement for my stolen S20 Carbon. (The Gold version.) Bottom line, I love it! This bike is perfict. If you can put hydrolic disc on it please do as you will notice a big diference. Go Hayes. When I bought it on line, I bought it from an old guy who never rode it and it was in almost stock form. If you can get one please do you will not be disapointed. These are getting almost imposable to find now a days. I have raced the gold S20 I had in Northern Mich and had great results. This bike is better than all of its rivals (both now and then) because of the monoque carbon front end and because of the sweet spot pivot placement. There werent that many URT's made (Ibis Sasbo, Rocky Mountain Pipeline, Trek Y11, Y22, Y33) but this has everything a cross country racer could want. Having one pivot keeps things simple and the URT design seperates the drivetrain from the suspension so there is no interference between the two like there is on most other full suspension bikes. It turns heads and garnishes complaments where ever I go. I read a review that said the bike bobed, but that is only because the rider didn't adjust his seatpost properly.
Strengths: I absolutely love the design of the bike, I have only riden it a few times since purchase and will update further eventualy.
Weaknesses: I am aprehensive of the fact that from my understanding the URT design limits the full capability of the rear suspension. Also ROCK SHOX components......they are not fairing to well on my appreciation scale.....
Bottom Line:
I purchased the bike from a fellow rider who bought for his wife and she rode it only 5x. It has been sitting in their garage for a few years and they let it go for 2 c-notes. I absolutely love the size of the bike and the layout of it. I am 5'11 and raced BMX so a smaller MTB frame is better suited to my comfort zone through fast descents. Schwinn over the years has gone down on the scale for MTB and I think this will be the product that even through it maintains their level of performaNCE HIGH. SIMILAR TO A one HIT wonder
Similar Products Used: GT full suspension LTS Specialized custom alloy hard tail
Bike Setup: MAVIC, full XT components, Rock Shox Judy, and Niterider lighting (the next best thing since bikinis)
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Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007
Strengths: Everything! Its Perfection Personified!! This is the ultamate Mountain bike! It Climbs like a mountain goat on steroids, and Decendes like a bat out of hell!
Weaknesses: The Parts you just can't get anymore. Schwinn quit making the best Mounatin bike they ever made!! Please Schwinn Make Replacement parts!
Bottom Line:
I had a S20 Carbon I bought at my local bike shop In Michigan New in 1999. I put a review of it on mtbr. I rode it for many years and am VERY PASSIONATE about it! I have been preching the values of URT design to anyone who will listen. I raced it in local races. It was stolen this past summer in Ohio. I searched all over ebay looking for the same bike. I found an S10 so I'm trying to build it up the way I had it. I still need the pair (2)seatpost clamps that came stock. If you have them and are willing to sell them plese let me know. But ultimatly I would still like to have my original Gold S20 back If I could. Thanks.
Similar Products Used: GT RTS3, Trek Y11, Cannondale Super V, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Bike Setup: Mavic Cross Ride Disc, Hayes HMX9, Sele Itlia sadle,
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Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007
Strengths: It Climbs like a mountin Goat. Just like a hard tail. Decends great too. The Carbon fiber adds to all the sexyness and will not shatter under normal riding conditions no matter what anyone tells you. Gets lots of looks and complments everywhere you go. The longer you ride it the more you will fall in love with it. It has neutral and predictable handeling. With URT you don't have any brake Jacking, or pogoing, or bio-paceing to worry about.
Weaknesses: it only accepts Hayes 22mm Hydrolic Disc brakes in the rear. Its a little heavy for a carbon frame but it can be made much lighter with the right parts. Rear Coil Shock should be upgraded to a Cane Creek Air shock for an XC set up bike. The Rock Shok Deluxe Coil shock has lots of Recoil. Don't sit untill after you've landed a jump. They are getting much harder and harder to find as time goes by.
Bottom Line:
ASLOne of the gratest values in mountinbiking history. It is not the type of bike for you if you want to be fully suspened out of the saddle. If you want a bike that is both hard tail and full suspension than this is it. The pivot is in a much better place than any of its big competetors. This is the type of bike for people who don't want new just because its new and don't bye into all the hype. It may be dated now but it works very well and is very beautiful in its simplisity. You don't need some expensive multi-pivot bike to take on the best trails. Just remember to wrap the rear coil shock in a lizird skin so mudd and dirt doesn't get into it.
Bike Setup: Hayes Hydrolic Disc brakes, XT Front Derailer, XTR Rear Derailer, 175 XT Octagalink Crank, 73mm XT BB, Time ATTAC pedals, 1 1/8" ChrisKing Thredless Headset, Michelin Tires, Mavic wheels.
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Submitted by
Kirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2002
Strengths: Efficient design, very reliable, comfrortable, looks
Weaknesses: A bit weighty, newer designs have arrived.
Bottom Line:
Bought the frame at Supergo, and built up the bike with XT parts. Overall, I think that this design is highly underrated. I agree with many of the posts that it does many things pretty well. I ride mostly XC, and haven't reached it's limits yet. The Cane Creek Ad-10 shock was an amazing improvement in ride quality. I'm not sure if there are any more new ones to buy, but used could be a real sleeper deal
Bike Setup: S-Carbon frame 19", Z4 Flylight Air, Cane Creek Ad-10, XT grupo, Mavic 571/GT hubs.
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Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Girdwood, AK
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002
Strengths: Lighter than most hardtails, great components (xtr), good rims, crank, etc., VERY HOT LOOKING!
Weaknesses: Judy blew up in first ten minutes, guess thats a rock shox deal, dull feeling that gets taking used to.
Bottom Line:
A great bike, great frame, if you can still get one. I pound this thing and it really doens't effect it. Great climber since it is so light. The dull feeling is becaus ethe bike is carbon. The first ride will feel like your riding a plastic snowboard or something. But once you leanr ot handle it, it feels like a ferrari. LOVE THIS BIKE!
Bike Setup: Stock except replaced fork with Marz Z5 until I can afford a bigger one, also added a cheap riser bar.
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Submitted by
Sareth N.
a Weekend Warrior
from Greenwich, CT
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2000
Strengths: good looks, no biopacing
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
great looking bike. can't wait to take it on trail. will update later. Bought '15 frame for only 200 of the shelf. bought all parts seperately and only spent 1200 total not bad for a full XT system.
Purchased At: frame at Bike Express, parts everywhere
Similar Products Used: Had owned GT XI Xang titanium and Cannondale M2000
Bike Setup: full XT drivetrain, Rock Shox Judy TT fork. strongarm II crank. CODA Expert wheels. built to my spec.
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Submitted by
Randy McQuade
a Cross Country Rider
from Baden Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2000
Strengths: Solid frame Climbs well Handles excellent
Weaknesses: Cable routing Stock Mavic 221 rims Cheap Headset Chainsuck(Use the screw holes and put on the anti chainsuck device)
Bottom Line:
This has been a great ride ! If you want to liven up the suspension on this bike consider a 4" travel fork. I noticed this a soon as I put the X-vert on. When you raise the front of the bike you change the sweet spot and increase the angle on the rear suspension. If you are pure XC and don't like going fast downhill you may not want to do this but for me this has been the best change to this rig. Don't have to be in the saddle for the rear suspension to work with the taller fork on the front.Still climbs great! Also for the bushing Englund slick Honey works great
Bike Setup: Magura HS-11 with Altec Levers Manitou X-vert,RS Coupe Deluxe,Bontrager Race seatpost, Saddle, Stem, Mustang rims
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Submitted by
Graham Erickson
a Cross Country Rider
from San Luis Obispo, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2000
Strengths: Great Looks, Effective Design, STRONG!!!!
Weaknesses: Cable Routing, Bushing for Pivot
Bottom Line:
This bike is one worth a serious look. The suspension is designed to stiffen up when you stand (read: climbs well), and it really has almost no learning curve. It looks great, rides great, and chicks dig it. Don't freak out, I didn't get it for free by any means, but I'm not allowed to say how much I paid (employee purchase). No real complaints other than the pivot. It can be a bit sticky, and requires more maintenence than a sealed bearing design, but this also can be a benefit (no pogo). If you can snag the '99 (the last year of the S-Carbons) by all means get it. If you like mushy, long travel bikes, look elsewhere. This is a very efficient design.
Similar Products Used: '96 Specialized Ground Control, Klein Mantra Race
Bike Setup: Giro Fizik saddle, Kore lite 2 post & Elite skewers, Real Levers, Easton CT2 Monkey Lite Bar.
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Submitted by
Arnold Nagy
a Weekend Warrior
from Solon, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000
Strengths: Looks, Acceleration, weight front shock, parts for the price
Weaknesses: Squicking sound at the sweet spot do to the hollow carbon frame (unfixable), the ugly and unconfortable seat, the Cable (break)routing is placed where all the mud cloges it up.
Bottom Line:
I have to mention if i am here that i have broken two of my bones with this bike. First the right Colar bone, really bad scars on my hips, and elbows, and then later on this year, the left side Colar bone. It was the worst pain ever, but i mannaged to not go to the doctors, not be the average WUSSY that can't even handle a little pain. I previously broke my nose because of biking but that was long time ago. Anyhow, as i said, this bike is cool looking but it has its ups and downs, overall i would say to buy it cause its cheap for the parts they offer.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Tassahara (1998)
Bike Setup: read the papers
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Submitted by
ken appia
a Cross Country Rider
from center harbor
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2000
Strengths: rigid construction. simple design
Weaknesses: pivot is little sticky. cable rooting.
Bottom Line:
ok, lets get one thing straight. this bike is not a glorified seat post suspension bike. the reason for this is that the pivot location is in between the frame and the rear triangle,preventing trail shock to be transmmitted to the frame. On the other hand,a seat post suspension absorbes vibration that are coming from the frame. big difference. I have a trek hardtail equiped with a moab suspension seatpost.It offeres good level of comfort but no where near the level of control I get from the shwinn.
Bike Setup: cane creek rear. total air cartridge front.
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Submitted by
FRANK RIVERA
a Weekend Warrior
from CHULA VISTA,CA., U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2000
Strengths: THE COMPONENTS FOR THE PRICE. I PAID $999.99 OUT THE DOOR AT BIKEUSA IN SAN DIEGO. CAN'T BEAT THAT DEAL.
Weaknesses: CABLE ROUTING ALONG SIDE HEAD TUBE, THE SEAT (HOW COME A BLACK/RED BIKE HAS TO COME WITH AN ORANGE/WHITE SEAT?).
Bottom Line:
THE BIKE IS REALLY FUN TO RIDE AND I GET MANY COMPLIMENTS ON IT. I LOOKED AND LOOKED FOR A GOOD VALUE AND GREAT COMPONENTS AND COULD NOT FIND A BETTER VALUE. I HAVE RIDDEN SCHWINNS FOREVER AND THIS ONE IS AN EXCELLENT BIKE. THE SEAT COULD HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BETTER. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE ARE BETTER SEATS OFFERED ON OTHER SCHWINN PRODUCTS.
Similar Products Used: MONGOOSE, GARY FISCHER, SPECIALIZED
Bike Setup: STOCK WITH SUPERGO WIRELESS COMPUTER AND EXTRA WATER BOTTLE CLAMP ON SEAT POST FOR BIKE PUMP, BLACK SCHWINN SEAT SIMILAR TO STOCK (OUCH!).
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Submitted by
Sho Time
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington DC
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000
Strengths: Price, Frame Quality, Handling, attention to detail of frame, everything was aligned perfectly, chased, faced, etc... Oh... and Looks...
Weaknesses: Cable routing???
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is: This is a great all-around bike. This bike handles singletrack like it's on rails. Definitely point-and-shoot. It climbs really well due to the rear suspension. Rocky, rutted, uphill filled with roots; no problem. The rear suspension sucks it all up. Downhill it tracks very well, and takes the edge of big hits. It is by no means is a "Downhill only" bike. When you're on the pedals, the rear end stiffens up considerably. But it still takes the edge off. One advantage on the downhills is that you can stay seated and mash the pedals and let the suspension work. The only time I can see this bike being out of it's element is on REALLY nasty downhills. Who should buy this bike: Anyone looking for a bike that can do it all. Who shouldn't buy this bike: Those who only go downhill.
Bike Setup: X-Vert fork, XT drivetrain, EA-50 riser bar, Kore stem, Kooka brake levers, Ritchey peds, Mavic/Bontrager rims, Flite ti saddle, Panaracer fire XC, Control tech seatpost, etc...
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Submitted by
Warren Soohoo
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000
Strengths: Great looks Pretty light frame for a Full-suspension Great design
Weaknesses: Rockshox Delux Rear shock Not too cushy off the saddle Watch the seatpost length as there isn't much room to lower the saddle as it will touch the rear shock if lower too far.
Bottom Line:
I couldn't pass up the price on Supergo for this frame and transferred my parts over from my MB-1. This is one great Cross Country bike. It's no downhill bike by anymeans, but will decend better than a Unicoil, but not better than a FSR or Cannondale. But for a good all around bike, it's perfect for me.
On singletrack descents in the saddle or flat out over rough terrain, it's smooth, absorbs everything, and a blast.
For purely steep and narly descents off the saddle, it rides more like a hardtail, but better than a Unicoil.
Overall, it's a perfect Cross Country bike. It is by no means a Downhill bike. I'd like to try racing CC on it as soon as I get in shape. It climbs well enough, keeping the rear wheel in contact with the ground and when you get off the saddle honking, it reacts like a hardtail. Buy one if you can still get a hold of one.
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Unicoil-Nice but not full-suspension Specialized FSR-Nice ride but with all those pivots, it appears high maintainance. Cannondale Jekyll-Too expensive GT I-Drive-Too heavy
