Strengths: Everything. There is too much to say to fill this spot. It does everything that a great bike should do. It climbs like a mountin goat and decends better than any XC bike should. It is everything a XC or All mountian rider would want all rolled into one. They don't call it a "Sweet spot" for nothing.
Weaknesses: None. If you like to be fully suspended all the time, than this bike isn't for you.
Bottom Line:
The absolute Best Value, and Riding. It is one of the Lightest for the time. It is a colectors item as they are very hard to find. The All Mountian version is even harder to find. Finding an owner that will part with one is next to imposable. If you have one, Keep it. If you can buy one, get it! You will never be disapointed. You just have to ride one to see how great it is. The only bike better than this is the Ibis Bow Ti. There is two designs that come close like Catamount and Ibis Sanoma but aren't as light or cool.
Strengths: Dual suspension is a dream for both city riding and downhills. Doesnt bounce around much and doesnt sap your compression very much. Very solid stock components, design, handling.. this bike really is sex on wheels.
Weaknesses: Stock seat is an ass compacter - not very comfortable, but ive gotten used to it. Shifters can get abit flaky at times, but nothing a tune every now and then wont fix.
Bottom Line:
A truely amazing bike - its become an extension of myself and i love every second i ride it. Truely sex on wheels-
Submitted by
Brandon
a Cross Country Rider
from CT
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2002
Strengths: This bike is great I have no problem on up-hills and then I still kick's on downhill this bike is amazing its sex on wheels!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: No weaknesses
Bottom Line:
Look if u dont have one of these bikes and ure thinking about getting one buy it becasue this bike will kick an cannondale bike......This bike is hott and u better catch one soon.It doesnt matter if schwinn went chapter 11,10 years ago..... Im only 14 and ive been ridding for 5 years and this bike is my life.
Similar Products Used: Trek vrx and cannondale super v
Bike Setup: Pyslo fork,rockshox back,all xt,mavic 221 rims,sella italia saddle,titec stem,this bike is numba 1 !!!!!!!!!
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2001
Strengths: Relatively light for dual suspension, carbon fiber frame, Titec components, nice clinber, looks badass, uses the sweet spot suspension design from John Castellano.
Weaknesses: LX shifters (too late, somtimes misses), cheap hub and rim, stock saddles sucks, Judy XC's too heavy, inadequate rear brakes, flexy rear end on rockey terrain (could be my light weight).
Bottom Line:
For 800 bucks, you get a lot of bike for the money, especially when compared to other offerings from Trek or Giant. Carbon Fiber is always there if you want to go all out on super lightness, I'm pretty sure you can get it around 24, maybe 23lbs. The Judy XC's are pretty heavy, you'll probably want to upgrade to the Race if you like the Judy's, or in my case, go with the Marzocchi Z80 Atom. That'll take off almost one pound. The bike climbs suprising well. Don't believe the bullsh*t about how URT bob up and down when you stand up and pedal, maybe they do if you buy a Trek Y series, but not these. The shock is directly underneath the seatpost, so it essentially locks out when you stand up, very nice for cross country and technical riding. Titec bars and stems are nice. The rims could be better, more beefier and stiffer, perhaps Sun Rims and Chris King hubs? Anyways, I ride downhill, I climb a lot, and the bike is a sweet ride.
Bike Setup: Stock, except for Flite Titanium Gel Saddle, and rockwerks pedals (ritchey clones, 15 bucks, how can I not pass up?), Avid Arch Supreme brakes.
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Submitted by
Steven Glanzer
a Weekend Warrior
from Lawton, Oklahoma
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001
Strengths: good fork, and suspension design, also brakes work well
Weaknesses: wheel aren't very strong for a 200lbs plus rider, also fork needs better adjustment, saddle very uncomfortable, poor cable routing
Bottom Line:
The bike is very capable and works well. I haven't logged to many miles on it yet but that will change soon. also I have a little bit of creeking from head tube area but hopefully it is nothing. Other than that it is an awesome bike
Strengths: looks great, climbs great, descends great, carbon and its cheap!
Weaknesses: stock seat, tires, and brakes.
Bottom Line:
this bike does the trick just fine, I can ride it stoned and not have to worry about anything but the trail, I ride it in one speed for the whole ride because it climbs so well.
Bike Setup: LX brakes, bontrager saddle, michelin wild grippers and a white bros. riser.
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Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Petoskey Mi.
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2001
Strengths: I love the suspention lockout when stading it eliminates the need for a lock out shock. Disc brake mounts are great. I love the look and feel of carbon.
Weaknesses: The rear disc mount should be international standard. I bent the seat post the first week. I would have liked to see disc ready hubs on it. I broke the LX crank in a race.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I have raced it and have done moderatly well. I will continue to upgrade and race it.Most carbon bike that I saw were way out of my leage. But this was a real deal on carbon.If you like full suspention XC bikes this is the one to get if you can find one. I have gotten lots of complements on this bike.
Similar Products Used: GT iDrive (too heavy),Cannondale SuperV(too heavy)
Bike Setup: I just put new bebops on.I upgraded the brakes to XT.
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Submitted by
Jon Miles
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2000
Strengths: Good Drivetrain,nice low maintence frame
Weaknesses: Front Shock, Rear shock, seat, tires, and seatpost
Bottom Line:
For the price of $799.00 this was a great deal. that if you can still find one,buy it.If you are a heavier rider, like myself, it may be better to bypass changing the spring weights on the front and rear shocks, and step up to air shocks. I first had to locate the springs and then wait a few weeks to get them, and after changing them out still did not like the way the bike rode with them. I switched to the Sid XC and it felt like a different bike, and they are on discount at alot of shops right now. The rear shock sucked even with the heavier spring on it. The only company that makes a replacement air shock for the Schwinn is Cane Creek. it will be the only one you need!! I picked it up at SpeedGoat for a little over $200 and it kicks ass.the factory XC tires are garbage for desert landscape, front tire slid all over the place, switch to the IRC tires mentioned above. Added front disk brake for better stoping power works great. With all the additions that I have added it is close to the original price of the bike, and it is a great trail bike now.
Similar Products Used: first dual suspension bike, last bike univega carbonfiber hartdail
Bike Setup: Rock Shox SID XC, cane creek AD10 rear shock Front Hayes disk brake, IRC Backcountry(Front)and IRC EL Gato (Rear),old nuke proof bombshell hub from previous bike, riser bar.
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Submitted by
Brian Heifner
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000
Strengths: good handleing, very smooth ride, provides good traction with the rear suspension, PRICE, $850.00 with tax
Weaknesses: a tad bit heavy, paint cracks
Bottom Line:
when i first started riding this bike i couldn't believe how much better it climbed than my old bike. however i switched bikes one day with my friend who rides a yeti hardtail and i noticed just how much power i was losing. my two riding buddies always crush me on the up hill, but i keep right up with them on the flats, especially when it gets rough. then we get to the downhills and i eat them up. i have thought about switching back to a hardtail to gain some power back, but after the ride that i get from my bike over the bumps, i don't think i can go back. the dual suspension has saved my butt more than once when going downhill. i wouldn't recomend this bike if you are looking for a bike to race on. but if you are a serious biker who doesn't mind working a little harder on the up hill and enjoys fast downhills and a smooth controled level ride. and you want a bike that can take abuse(i have tended to always be hard on things and this bike has been doing fine so far) then this is the bike for you. the paint has cracked at the major stress points, but that is due to the fact that they didn't put enough of a flex agent in the paint, nothing too serious. minus a chili for the weight factor.
Favorite Trail: Holzinger in Winona, MN(where i am going to school)
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: old mongoose
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Submitted by
Jakob
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2000
Strengths: Great looks/paint job, no bobbing, CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP
Weaknesses: stock rear travel is only 1.5" with the RS shock, pivot should be stiffer. LX Shifter broke, wouldnt rachet properly
Bottom Line:
Good for the price, great with fox shock (5-6" travel, no bobing but head angle screwed up a little), I get a load of great comments/looks whenever I ride it. Super plush, climbs and descends great. Shifter broke after 1000miles, replaced by warranty. Love the seat, feels great. The rear pivot should be stiffer, theres quite a bit of lateral flex. Overall a great value.
Submitted by
Nick Seavello
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1999
Strengths: climbs great carbon frame price looks fast
Weaknesses: You're running out of time to buy one.
Bottom Line:
Good, solid bike for the money. I've only had it out twice on the dirt (Due to a broken wrist) but those two rides were outstanding. Not the lightest bike out there but still it feels faster then my hardtail. I found myself jumping out of the saddle (hey, no pogo!) much more often and going much faster out on the trail. So far, no problems the LX/XT drivetrain. I you can find one, buy it! Hope to enjoy this bike for many years.
Weaknesses: LX COMPONETS ARE NOT GOOD! CHAINis not good! (literaly) I have broken 4 chains in 4 months and busted the LX crank twice... Seat is nice looking but painful after long rides.
Bottom Line:
This is a GREAT bike. Other than a few components having problems (chain, crank) it has worked beautifully! Climbs good for FS and desends great. This truly is a do-it-all bike...
