Submitted by
Dan Duray
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Paul, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2005
Strengths: Very nimble! Great for technical as well as down hill! My main use has been tight trails with a high technical level. She eats 'em up! I have also tried her on the downhill. ..same results! This is a solid Schwinn product that has served me well.
Weaknesses: THE SEAT HAS TO GO! I've also had the bike in a few times for shifting issues due to stock parts. These are just some minor upgrades that should be planned for.
Bottom Line:
Great riding. Minor upgrades suggested. This was a great bike when I bought her... and she still holds the trails with the the newer bikes of today. I would love to give an overall rating of "5 Flamin' Chilis', but that seat! Common!
Weaknesses: Carbon scratched farely easily, Pivot corrodes over time and is very hard to spot. Cable routing, be extremely careful when putting on rack as cable will eat the carbon
Bottom Line:
Just keep an eye on the pivot, you can see the outside edge of the pivot without and removal of parts, corrosion will start to appear between this edge and the swingarm. If carbon gets scratched just wipe car wax over it and you shouldn't have any problems. Anyway it is a great bike to ride and could certainly be light if spec are upgraded
Similar Products Used: Schwinn Rocket 88 stage 2, Merida and mongoose hardtails
Bike Setup: All stock except amoeba riser bars, spec seemed good as i was 14-15 when riding it, sold it mid 2000
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Submitted by
Thomas Felix
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Orion MI
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Strengths: All around a great bike mine came with all xt componets judy c long travel front shock avid vbrakes so there wasnt much need to upgrade 24lbs stock no joke
Weaknesses: wheel set needs to be upgaded seat needs to be switched also other than that the bike is very solid
Bottom Line:
my bike is a 1999 i bought it brand new in dec 2001 ive rode it every weekend since i bought it and it hasent let me down yet this is a sweet bike for the $950 i spent on it with the list of componets that came on it stock id say it was a hell of a deal at $950 i would recomend this bike to anyone if you can still find a new one 5flamin chilies for value cause mine was upgraded before i bought it ride, fall, get up, do it again
Bike Setup: stock xt componets judy long travel avid vbakes coil over rear shock titec stem and bars just need a new wheel set and a new seat other than that i just fine
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Submitted by
Matthew Morse
a Cross Country Rider
from Chippewa Falls
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2001
Strengths: Full Suspension. Price. Schwinn Quality.
Submitted by
Napoleon
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Arrowhead
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2001
Strengths: Rock-solid, damn-near idiot-proof, takes a beating and comes back for more, definatly a great first bike
Weaknesses: Front fork (a RockShox Indy C) gets a little spongy, the rear shock has not as much travel as I would like, and rarly engages. This may be both a good and bad thing, good for steep power-climbs, and technical descents (where it is used to keep the tail down, something it does exceptionally well), sucks for keeping your butt is reasonable condition. Get a new saddle.
Bottom Line:
A great first bike, Schwinn tough, a trademark of theirs, a little touchy at first, but you learn fast. Also as you outgrow it, you can hook up with new components. 4 Flamin' Chilis only because of the minor weight problem and the picky shocks!!!
Purchased At: used, the bike's actually a 1994 model
Similar Products Used: none, this is my first real bike
Bike Setup: Added toe-clips, barends, and new brakes (Avid One's)
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Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from T-Town (Topeka, Kansas)
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001
Strengths: I love the Sweet Spot, Climbing is a breeze. The frame is beutiful in design and color. mavic rims! oh-yeah baby. I also hear that the bike is easy to assemble, good job Schwinn.
Weaknesses: componets, but for the price its not bad. Carbon Scratches.
Bottom Line:
Well basicly I just love this bike, the sweet spot is so invaluble. I mean who needs lock out when you can just stand up.
Submitted by
david bridegan
a Downhiller
from rockford,il
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2001
Strengths: the frame is definetly one of the strongest parts on the bike, somewhat light weight. handles fairly tight. i personally love this bike.
Weaknesses: components, front shock is a little weak, frame does scratch easily(but thats my fault for hitting trees), tires are soft and wear quickly. needs a better seat.
Bottom Line:
bottom line this is the best bike i could have got for the money, definetly no complaints from me. you do get what you pay for, so i am very pleased.
Bike Setup: standard setup, straight from the box.
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Submitted by
amir
a Cross Country Rider
from kuala lumpur
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001
Strengths: Frame is strong and light
Weaknesses: Stock components were cheap.
Bottom Line:
A great bike once it has been put on a diet. The frame so far has acquitted itself in any sort of riding or trail conditions. The rear suspension does not bob very noticeably on climbs but a rear shock unit with a lock-out can take care of that. The bike comes alive in technical singletracks due to the stiffness of the frame. Five chillies for the frame. Two for the stock components but you get what you pay for. If you must buy this bike budget for component upgrades.
Similar Products Used: Orange Clockwork (hardtail), ridden Santa Cruz superlight, specialized m4, intense tracer, jekyll F3000
Bike Setup: easton ct2 bar and seatpost, thomson stem, ringle h/set, mars elite, cane creek AD-5, spinergy spox wheels, avid mag v brakes, real levers, specialized body geometry saddle (ti rails), XT cranks, fr der, shifters, bottom bracket, XTR rear der, 858 spd
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Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston,MA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2000
Strengths: It looks cool, and the front fork
Weaknesses: where should i start? first of all the carbon scratches rediculusly easy, the rear shock is only active when sittinh down, the components are crap and the bike is on the heavy side for a carbon bike.
Bottom Line:
Don't buy it, it really sucks, if i wanted a bike that the rear sus. was only active when sitting i would have bought a sus. seat post. The crank and front derailer on a full sus. bike in this price range should be atleast lx or higher, instead of that cr*p they call alivo! it flexes and never shift properly. not only that i have bent my rim many times because of the suspension not taking any of the hit because i was standing up!
if your going to buy a full suspension bike go with a gt idrive or a vrx modle or something, you will be much happier!!!!!
Submitted by
John Montgomery
a Cross Country Rider
from Indiana, PA USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000
Strengths: I really like this bike a lot. It handles real nice in the rough areas and does great cclimbing hills. As of now my rims are holding up well which i was sorta surprised. the sweet spot suspension really does a nice job. This bike can take jsut about anything. The price is right to. You can get them for under 1000.
Weaknesses: The componets it comes with are not to good. But you can always upgrade them thats what i did. They could put a better seat the one thats on it isn't very comfortable. There aren't to many weaknesses to this bike.
Bottom Line:
This bike is all around and excellent bike it will hold up to anything you put it though and you don't ahve to spend a fortune to get it. You may hve to make a few changes on it to get it so its just perfect.
Favorite Trail: trails that i find and make and local ski resorts in the summer
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Super V 400, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC
Bike Setup: I changed a lot of things on this bike to pretty much suit my needs. The whole drivetrain is LX, I put Coda bar ends on it. And it now does jsut fine.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Leann Hoelscher
a Cross Country Rider
from Williams, IA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000
Strengths: Versatile bike! Rides smooth
Weaknesses: Some of the parts are a bit heavy-but that's what upgrades are for. The seat must go!
Bottom Line:
Great Full-Suspension! Sweet Spot really reduces bobbing. Nice smooth bike for the price ($650)! If you do not like the components buy the S-10 or S-20. Otherwise the frames are all the same-pick a color and decide on what options you want. The bike handles real well. Try it, it is worth it!
Submitted by
GREG HUNGERFORD
a Weekend Warrior
from LAIE, HAWAII
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1999
Strengths: PRICE AND LOOKS
Weaknesses: LITTLE HEAVY, BAD SEAT, CARBON CAN BE SCRATCHED EASILY.
Bottom Line:
Somebody wrote that this bike pogo's badly- it feels perfect to me. With what I consider to be a fully suspended rear section, it is way better than any chain bender and this one feels great going uphill in and out of the saddle. It seems to me, on any bike where the crank isn't suspended with the rear swing-arm and wheel, the thing needs a motor-period! Who wants to be strapped to their saddle in the midst of an uphill mid-gully root jump because the bike just doesn't work while standing on the pedals. For $799 at Supergo, I get middle of pack components for 1/3 less than anybody's equivalent, and excellent looks. Scwinn could have charged me much more and forced me to eat the five flaming jalepenos that this bike deserves and I still would have bought it.
Good bike for the price. I got it for $700 at Emery's. Parts are a little heavy, but awesome frame. Replace the crank and some others and get a perfect bike. Worth 5.
Weaknesses: heavy with stock components, Alivio crank has got to go
Bottom Line:
Well, as you can see, I,ve replaced everything but the frame. The stock rig rode well but was heavy (approx 31lbs.) You can call me a gram but I just like ( and can afford ) light bikes,components. I have to keep up with road bikes often and now I can with FS. I have a bad back so this is the only way I can ride for prolonged period. This bike is great looking (tons of compliments) and rides awesome (nimble, responsive)!! I think it is the best deal in a FS bike. The URT bobs very little while seated and none while standing. If you set it up with Total air and an AD-10, you can almost make it feel like a non-suspension bike ( if you're into that). By the way, my bike weighs in at 23.4 lbs. now, so it shows that this Schwinn's frame is light. At 180lbs. it also feels strong and stiff.If you don't want to upgrade, buy the S-10. If you like 60's Schwinn Stingray bright candy green, upgrade the hell out of it.
Bike Setup: S-30, full XTR w/Ti kits,Judy XC w/total air, Cane creek AD-10,Ti-WAM fnrt whl, King Rr. w/Valiant rim/DT revo spokes, Race Face Ti-BB, LP Cranks/racerings, Team SL hdst.,Altek brk. levers,Kore Elite stem, Easton Carbon Bars, post, Selle Italia Max flite Trans AM, Titec Carbon Bar ends,Salsa Ti Skewers,All Ti bolts,WTB Pads (Dual Cmpnd)
The floating drive train on this bike amounts to making it a high price seat post suspension system. The bottom bracket and pedals attach to the swing arm, and the distance between your feet and butt change as you ride. I can get a good susp seat post for $150, why bother with this horrible design? I think the only advantages might be when you climb out of the saddle to go up very steep hills. But you shouldn't have to do that much if you are a good rider and know how to slide on the seat to keep pressure on the rear.The homegrown dual susp (w/o floating swing) is better than any of the S-works. Don't be conned folks. Two chilies for carbon and front shock
