Strengths: Great handling, very predictable and has saved me more than a few times. Very strong frame, great suspension feel, very plush with minimal pedal feedback. Pedals great for a DH machine. Enough seat tube to actually raise the seat and pedal a bit
Weaknesses: Heavy frame. You have to use an 8 inch rotor and the supplied Edco hub since it's a 15mm rear axle.
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing. I've had it since the summer of 2001 and switched parts to keep it up to date over the past 6 years, and it's still going strong. It's lasted me through two broken wrists, two broken full faces, and keeps coming back for more with barely more than a scratch. I only wish they were still being made so I could get another one.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz V10, Specialized Demo 9, Giant Glory DH
Bike Setup: 2007 Boxxer World Cup, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks/bb/stem/bars/boxguide, XT 9 speed shifter/cassette,Ultegra derailluer, thomson seatpost, specialized seat, dx clipless pedals, doublewide rims, maxxis minion DHF 2.7/ High Roller 2.5, Avid Code brakes, King headset.
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2004
Strengths: Ultra smooth. Pedals OK for a 50lb bike. Smothers any bump under 4", can't even feel it. Saved my bacon on a few drops I didn't hit correctly.
Weaknesses: Rear Derailleur mount location, initial rear brake setup (very good now)
Bottom Line:
Great DH bike. I bought the frame on eBay last Spring (2003), along with some spare parts for it, same as someone else has already posted. Aside from building and riding the bike, there have only been a couple quirks. The only early problems I had with the bike was the terrible location of the rear derailleur mount, and the floating caliper mount. The derailleur mount places the upper derailleur pulley very far from the cassette, creating problems with shifting. I milled off the stock hanger, which is part of the rear swingarm, and made my own steel hanger :) (nice to be a toolmaker), and corrected the chainline. I now have flawless shifting up and down. No more missed shifts. I also took the stock plastic polymer bushing out of the floating disc caliper mount, and inserted a bronze flange bushing. I made a fixture to hold it perfectly in the milling machine, and after pressing the bushing in, I bored the axle hole to a perfect slip fit for the axle. My rear brake does NOT rub. It's perfect, square to the disc, and will last a hell of a long time. I also like the fact that I have never seen another one on the mountains. And I get a lot of questions about the frame and the fixes. I was trying to sell it because I only rode it 5 times last year, but I am going to keep it and try and ride more often.
Similar Products Used: Nothing like it. My first DH bike.
Bike Setup: 2001 Straight 8 Frame 2003 Marz Shiver DC 2003 E-13 Bashguard/chainguide Actually, all 2003 components, Shimano 8 speed XTR, Race Face bars, Truvativ Cranks, FSA Headset, Gazzoloddi Tires, DoubleWide Rims (26" F and 24" R), Hayes 8 inch Mag Plus Bakes (perfect no rub)
Strengths: My "Long" (long top tube) frame handles really well. Corners like it's on rails, stable and smooth on drops and rock gardens. Very well balanced with a 40mm stem, absolutely will not endo. Floating brake works really well, I scoffed at the idea until I owned a bike with one--same with the 8" rear rotor. Frame has cartridge ball bearings in every single pivot (there are A LOT of pivots!). Mine came with a spare parts kit that can replace just about everything including the swingarm. Derailleur mount is very burly and tucked under the swingarm. Thick, beefy headtube that is short. Nice welds.
Weaknesses: Hmm. Suspension rate could be a little more progressive so it won't bottom so much on big drops, spring rate is perfect for DH though. 2.7" tire hits seat and or seat tube near limits of travel--very annoying. Chainline SUCKS. Derailleur mount is positioned too far from the axle center, causing lousy downshifting. Seat tube is interrupted so forget climbing anything unless you can stand up and mash for looong periods fo time--not really a fault on a pure DH bike but worth mentioning. Swingarm makes up a huge part of the bike's weight and length.
Bottom Line:
Very sweet frame. For the money ($550!), there was nothing on earth that could come close. If you buy one new from the guy on eBay, expect some hassles, delays and BS from him.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Bullit, Jamis Dakar Pro.
Bike Setup: Black Sherman Slider, Hussefelt cranks, Dura Ace r. der (fixes the dropout-too-far-from-the-axle problem) Hayes brakes, syncros post. Everything on thebike except the r. derr. is black. Looks pretty cool.
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Submitted by
cajun cowboy
a Downhiller
from corvallis
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003
Strengths: this bike is great for racing. it haulls and hugs the ground like nothing. you ride cleaner and feel safer with 50 pounds ang 8 inches betwen your legs.
Weaknesses: finding parts for it suck. try finding some yetty ones as well. the floating caliper is the worst. does anyone have one? mine rubs constantly now.
Bottom Line:
if you got a spare go for it. other wise keep looking. this was the sweetist bike ever but schwinn messed up buy making hard to find non-universal parts. theres no 8 inch bike that is as responsive as this one!
Submitted by
SANDMAN
a Downhiller
from MID- MICHIGAN
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003
Strengths: SUPER STRONG. ITS DESIGNED BY LAWWILL WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Weaknesses: PARTS. IT SUCKS TO TRY AND FIND THEM SINCE PACIFIC BOUGHT THEM.
Bottom Line:
SUPER SICK BIKE. STILL HOLDS ITS OWN AROUND THE OTHER GREATS - FOES, YETI, SANTA CRUZ. THE ONLY OTHER BIKE I WOULD HAVE BESIDES THIS FOR DOWNHILL IS A KARPIEL OR ANOTHE STRAIGHT 8!
Similar Products Used: YETI 8. ALMOST THE SAME FRAME. ASLO DESIGNED BY LAWWILL.
Bike Setup: HANEBRINK LT-9 FORKS, ALL AZONIC(BECAUSE ITS THE BEST) - LOVE SEAT, POST, RIMS,BATS, STEM, 454 CRANK, PEDALS. MRP SYSTEM 2 CHAIN GUIDE. SHIMANO AIR SHIFTERS ( NOW HOW SICK IS THAT) SERFAS 3.0 TIRES AND HAYES HFX 9 BRAKES.
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Submitted by
Matt BigBlack
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002
Strengths: This bike is the REAL DEAL! Super stiff, suspension feels endless(at 9inches, it should), super BEEFY, shaped alloy tubing, 15mm thru axle in rear, 8 inch rear brake, good clearance for larger rear tire or mud, can get in any color you want as long as it is BLACK!
Weaknesses: Not many support parts left out there if you crash or any part of frame fails.
Bottom Line:
The BADDEST BIG BLACK bike on the mountain! This is the real deal and shortly after Schwinn did their last production, they went bankrupt:( This bike can deal with anything! I have done drops, rocks, stairs, DH races, Freeride in Moab, had a few good pile ups and she still RIPS! I highly suggest one if you can find it. They are pretty cheap since the bankruptcy and are almost bombproof. I have heard very, very little about these frames breaking so it is a safe bet!
Similar Products Used: Riden/borrowed DH on Intense M1, Schwinn 6banger. Owned/DHed on 1998 straight 8, 2000 straight 8, and a GT Lobo
Bike Setup: BigBlack: 2001 Straight 8 frame with exotic bikini model on top tube, fox Vanilla RC, 2001 Shiver, 8inch Hayes, Hayes front Edco rear hubs, 521 ceramic rims, XTR MRP Azonic etc
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Submitted by
Markus Hartsmar
a Weekend Warrior
from Malmo, Sweden
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002
Strengths: This is actually a review for the 2000 frame. I must say this is one fat MF. With approx 7-8" of rear and front travel, there is nothing this bike can't handle. It pedals easy while climbing and all in all, this is just a kick-ass bike.
Weaknesses: Uuh.. None. Not that I've found yet anyway.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line... That is the line you aim for while flying down the hills, stairs, mountains or whatever on this absolutely awesome ride. This is by far the best bike I have ever had/tried. This far, no other bike comes even close to the performance on this one. If you're not totally into hardcore downhill or freeriding, I guess you should go for something cheaper, otherwise this is the bike to get. It is perfect for either worldcup downhill or just plain lovely freeriding.
Weaknesses: stock wheelset, michelin front tire, many scratches in carbon(prevented with tennis raquet tape) inside swingarm
Bottom Line:
I have the straight 6. Very happy with everything. Great mini DH bike feel, especially over brake bumps. climbs well as seat angle is great, cockpit length is very adjustable. Rear suspension very plush, get stock wheels rebuilt while there is something left to rebuild(new nipples\spoke prep and mine have been great) Feel like my psylo came with a firm spring (18" frame) Very bummed about the bankruptcy/warranty thing. Local shop extended 1 year frame warranty to me if necessary for a new Giant Frame. Very cool! Wish fox shock came with lockout.
Weaknesses: seatpost is a piece, brakes at the clamp, seat is a bit flimsy, but these are minor weaknesses
Bottom Line:
this review is for the 2001 schwinn straight 6. I just got it and have been riding it for the past week straight, and I must say I'm very impressed. the suspension is very active and plush, it has 6 inches in the back and 5 in the front. The lawwil design is amazing....fully active, efficient pedaling, stiff, and amazing control. I used to ride a santa cruz heckler and I like this frame design a lot more. The cruz was stiffer and less active on the downhills. I feel I have a lot more control and cornering ability on this bike. It also climbs real well for a bike with 6 inches of travel. I have a feeling this bike is not made for extreme downhill use. its tough and durable, but the active vertical frame design makes the suspension bottom out real quickly on big stuff. If you are looking for a big to jump off cliffs with, this isn't it get a bullit,. But if you want a mini DH bike that handles like none other and can still make it up hills, this is the best bike out there
Similar Products Used: specialized fsr, santa cruz heckler, cannondale superv/raven
Bike Setup: xtr/xt/lx, hayes discs, psylo sl
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Submitted by
Manuel Garcini
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico City
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Strengths: Weight, pedalung, travel, design ( look and Felt )
Weaknesses: Rear changer ( XTR or wahtever) brakes, I think is a frame design issue, I never brake a rear changer in my Kona, in this frame I have been brake 3 of them!
Bottom Line:
Excelent frame, the only issus is the rear hanger changer brakes.
Strengths: It´s a really nice ride.. I do a bit more freeride then downhill, and have had no problems with it. With a 40T in in the front, it´s really easy to peddel....
Weaknesses: None so far... The only thing could be the warranty thing,,,. Anyway, there´s only one year on this frame..so..
I eped this bike from Schwinn after waiting forever. I dont have a 8, its the Straight Six. The bike rides great, but after 3 weeks, a crack is forming in the lower rear shock mount and there looks to be a crack in the crabon swingarm next to the main pivot. I havent done anything to cause this on the bike! I rode my Haro MX3 and OCLV Y bikes way harder than this bike so far. The rear shock rate ramps up pretty quickly and it took some time to get the preload set up just right. The Hayes brakes are best discs I have tried, but they dont have the grip of a V when messing around trials style. You cant do much rear wheel hoping on the bike due to the rear suspension design. As soon as you shift back, the rear shock compresses big time. Now I have to take out my hardtail to do this stuff. Oh well.
If you want a hard hitting mini DH bike that can ride XC trails, you have it right here. I took it to one of the local XC trails and it climbs like a 35 lb XC bike. The rear is VERY stiff and it doesnt bob at all. With my Psylo Race I can also lock the fork out, so it feels great.
Part complaints-the disc rims are garbage. Maybe its because they are factory built, but when I build a wheel it lasts. Both this bike and my Jekyll have had toasted rear wheels in less than 100 miles. The rear wheel only had about half the tension it should have had from the factory. Disc rims seem pretty week. They dont take much lateral loading. Maybe the ones I have ridden were bad-Coda and WTB. Maybe a Mavic would be better.
Strengths: light frame, super plush rear end, no brake jacking
Weaknesses: the wait
Bottom Line:
great bike, just buy a rear hub from hadley or razorrock, or you might never ride your straight 8. great ride, no complaints except for schwinns poor attemt to get this bike out on time
