Submitted by
Sunless
a Cross Country Rider
from Nottinghamshire
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2011
Strengths: Excellent handling and durability, outstanding hill climber, upgraded the forks to Rock Shox dart 3, and brakes to Formula Oro, Beast of a bike
Weaknesses: bottom bracket seems weak and noisy,poor standard forks fitted.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike,best dual suspension bike i have owned
Submitted by
Keenan Leary
a Cross Country Rider
from Plymouth, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2006
Strengths: Suspension: Even after having this bike since 1999, and its now 2006, the suspension has yet to blow a gasket. I've never lost pressure from it aswell, which leaves me to think I got lucky, as most products die at about 3 years.
Extremely Light: Sometimes I would end up on trails that even professionals would be daunted by, so I learned how to carry that bike at a sprint with it on my shoulder. Not even my old Chromoally GT Santa Anna BMX was that light.
Durable: this bike took a pounding.. Ive done everything from fallen about 10'(dont ask) to going through a landslide with it..that hurt.. alot. So far Ive yet to find any damage to it.
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket: I ran into some issues with this. I had resorted to using this bike for grocery hauling while I was in college in Arizona. I loved the location because I was in the mountains located JUST inside Phoenix City lines. Only downside was the intolerable heat. But the issue that surfaced was I was carrying 90lbs worth of groceries on my back, and I was about 180lbs at the time. 270lbs is alot, but for the fact that I TORQUED the crank RIGHT OFF THE BIKE.. ugh.. that sucked..
Right Lower Swingarm: The chain spends most of its time clacking away at the lower swingarm, a friend of mine wore through his eventually and it snapped on him mid ride. My suggestion is simply taking some weather insulation used for copper pipes in New England, and wrapping it up in some hockey tape.. removes the sound and the damage.
Tires: As mentioned before, the tires are rather thin. However after 2 flats, I got tired of it, and sliced up my now worthless tubes, and used them as a double liner for my current tubes. That plus no-flat tubing, I was able to ride in/over/through large cactus that claimed a number of riders tires.
Chain Stays: I broke mine within 3 months of getting it. I think I laid my bike out to prevent hitting something in the air, and when I landed, that sucker snapped in half.. the newer Deore model I have took more abuse and is still kicking. The old broken Chainstay didnt suffer enough damage however to ruin its performance, I have that as a spare for trailside fixxes.
Water Bottle: Terrible place! Ohwell I use a camelpak anyhow!
Seat: Peeling
Bottom Line:
This bike has alot of problems but its all in the character. I rode it, and rode it hard, and its STILL around after 7 years.. g'dam! The bike itself is wonderful to customize with what you need, and I've been wanting some triple clamps for it for the longest time. Last time I looked I was interested in some White Bros. clamps, but I've since gotten outta sync with the bike community.
I recommend the descendants of this bike, for I am sure its Phenominal!
Purchased At: Serious Cycles (Pine Hills, Plymouth)
Similar Products Used: Trek, Santa Cruz, GT
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Adrian Moss
a Cross Country Rider
from Leek UK
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
Strengths: Generally a strong reliable piece of kit,I love my bike. And $50 what can i say but ching ching$$$$$$$$$
Weaknesses: Slight noise from crank but once you realise its not life threatening you forget it.
Bottom Line:
I love my bike ( is this legal ) i took a gamble with my $50 but it paid off!! I have spent money on it since but thats what you do with your loved ones.Very good bike, but i like the new specialised enduro very nice. Anyone could use this bike.
Similar Products Used: Kona rigid setup. My first full suspension bike. Mind you $50 i couldn't say no.
Bike Setup: Origional frame, new deore xt rear hub, Rock shox 03 duke u turn forks, magura tomac rim brakes mavic xc rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Campbell
a Downhiller
from Banff, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2001
Strengths: Fairly light weight. Good enough travel on the shocks and frame construction is strong. Nice handle bars and good shifters.
Weaknesses: The Shocks definitaly. On the front the seals for the hydra coil leak like a sive. Does not handle water to well, get into everywhere.
Bottom Line:
Great Ride, but does not always stand up to my abbusive ridding as the techs tell me at my local bike shops. Tricks and high speed downhill do a number on the bike, but it holds up well compared to my friends bikes.
Bike Setup: Full suspention, upgraded drive train and new larger tires, beefy new rear hub and wheel with stronger spokes. Phat downhill peadles replacing the SBDs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Jones
a Downhiller
from Brandon Florida
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001
Strengths: Great Suspension feel! Great on descents! Good brakes. Coners nicely even at high speeds. 12mm qr front end.
Weaknesses: Uncomfortable saddle. sluggish on climbs. Rear shock a bit heavy, better to use an air shock instead of the Rockshox delux
Bottom Line:
Used the bike for 2 years so mfar and no technical problems except a bad cartridge Barring Great all around bike easy riding and great control on descents and ascents. Great cornering.
This is a great bike, but you have to get the spring settings right. I have a very stiff bike now as I am 240 lbs. The standard spring settings resulted in very little control when riding uphills due to pogoing, was being left behind by $200 10 year old bikes(very depressing). But going down hill was a different story, blast away I say, this thing is way better than I, it will handle anything. Would recommend it to anyone. Only had one breakage and that was the smallest front cog, which cracked and fell off, still dont know the reason, but it was replaced by my local shop Supreme Cycles, 2 years after they put the bike together without a question at no cost.
Bike Setup: Long travel heavy spring kit. 950 lb rear spring. Welgo pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Springfield, Il USA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Strengths: Suspension and rapid fire shifters work really well. As do the Avid 25 brakes. The Judy XC long travel front fork eats anything in its path. I changed the coil on the Rock Shox Deluxe from 700 to 850 and am somewhat happier. It still bobs a little more than I would like on the flat stuff. Downhill, chatter type hits, and some of the bigger hits this thing rocks! I have never been able to go downhill this fast! Once you get it rolling on technical flat sections and don't have to hammer the cranks anymore it screams like a skunk with it's arse on fire!
I've had to adapt my riding style to the bike (spinning instead of pumping), but it has actually made me a better and more confident rider.
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket is making some noises at less than three months that I am seriously not happy about. Pedaling is fine, but when your butt is out of the saddle with the cranks horizontal it sounds and feels as if there is some metal movement there. I do not notice it as much when ripping a trail. But that could be the jet wash passing my ears. Pedals and cranks seem a bit cheap too. Only time will tell with them. I have already switched to the Shimano M636's. I am also seriously thinking of switching the rear shock to a Fox Float w/ lockout.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, especially the more I ride it. It is the first full-suspension bike I have owned. I think it bobs a little more than it should (especially compared to the I-Drive, that bike had no bob whatsoever, and that was stock). That may be fixed however. This bike has done and somewhat exceeded anything I have wanted to do. Would I buy it again? Perhaps. Definitely if GT was still up for sale. Nothing else I've tested or owned comes close the FSR. Especially for the price. For $50 more than the 01 FSR XC I was looking at I got probably $200 - $300 worth of better components. It was a no brainer.
I think this bike, especially for the first time full suspension buyer, is perfect. I don't think I have owned a bike yet that I didn't want to customize to my own riding style. The bottom bracket is a concern though.
Purchased At: Illinois Cycle & Fitness, Peoria, Il
Similar Products Used: I test road the GT I-Drive 2.0, was going to buy the 4.0 till GT and Schwinn went belly up (Major Bummer!), tested the Trek Fuel 90 (too stiff). Looked at a Klein Mantra, Giant something-or-other, and Gary Fisher Sugar(what's up with the bent top tube?). I own a Cannondale F900, and a Cannondale F400 prior to that.
Bike Setup: Judy XC long travel front fork Rock Shox Deluxe (800 coil) rear Mavic 221 rims Ritchey stem and seatpost Avid brakes XT rear derailleur LX front derailleur Specialized tires, seat, and riserbar Lizard Skins chainstay guard
Bike Setup: judy xc 100mm ,azonic riser,xt/lx,mavics,panaracers... etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Don W
a Racer
from Arlington, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001
Strengths: Excels at cross country. Specifically this bike does well on flat or moderate slopes with rocky or rooty terrain. Good on downhills and technical work.
Weaknesses: Bike is a bit heavy for climbing in races or for sprinting on the flats. Tends to flex when you put the hammer down. Also the frame is difficult to carry in cyclocross races like 24hrs of Snowshoe. Pivits on the 1999 model wear quickly and need to be changed out every 1000-1500 miles. Chainstay is known to crack requiring replacement. Ive cracked one and my buddy has cracked three. Flex in rear causes the bike to be "loose" in fast downhillsand in cornering at speed. Comfortable light Specialized seat but the vinyl cover peeled up within 2 months (I still ride it but it looks like hell). Expect to spend 10-15 minutes on cleaning and lubing per ride outing to preserve delecate pivots.
Bottom Line:
I have a love/hate relationship with the bike. When dialed in it is a fantastic ride. The bike makes up for its short comings with excellent traction and crosscountry performance. I hate the fact that I have to spend so much time on maintenance and I wish the bike were a bit lighter and had less lateral flex. Models after this production year addressed the flex and pivot issues by adding sealed bearing pivots.
Bike Setup: The original gear wore very well and lasted the better part of two years. Ive put Mavic CrossRide wheels on it - big improvement. The XT components have worn very well. The stock Avid brakes took a beating for an admirable 2.5 seasons as did the headset and brake levers all now upgraded.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001
Strengths: nice stiff rear, incredibly strong. I ran the stock rearshock after I trimmed the bumper to get more trave--rode great--then got the mrp kit mated with a zr1 and now it is a freeride dream. 5 and 6 inches of travel respectfully, and built up under 29 lbs. I have owned a lot of bikes but have loved only this one. It's not perfect but theres not much that I would change.
Weaknesses: I bought the bike almost complete but only wanted the frame. I have read that some of the components that came with this bike were mediocre, I still run the riser bar and like it. But everything else is new.
Bottom Line:
It rides sweet and never complains. stiff and light for the beef. love it!
Similar Products Used: Jamis Team Dakar, DBR Axis TT,K2 5000, Spec. Rockhopper, Scott
Bike Setup: ZR-1cr marzocchi, MRP 6.2 kit w/stratos shock, sram 9.0sl shifters & der's, truvative stylo team cranks (slpined),xt disks brakes(I swaped the seat stay for a '00 so I could run disks), 36 spoke rhyno lites w/xt disk hubs and tioga factory dh tires.
Strengths: this bike has alot of strengths, its strong throughout and will take a hell of alot to cause some damage. Mines got RST delta tl triples and they kick ass as they bob but never bottom. The bike is light weight and easy to ride!
Weaknesses: Nufin!!!!!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks ass and u have gotta get it if u want to do serious downhill. Don't scratch the baby!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: full suspension bikes that don't compare!!!
Bike Setup: Downhill total man!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Spruce Grove, alberta. canada
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001
Strengths: Its a great trail bike, goes up hill really nicly compaird to some full suspention bikes iv rode or tryed.
Weaknesses: The Factory tires are crap so i had to replace them, the break pads that came with it were crap so i replaced them. and those little pins holding the break pads on are really freaking annoying. the water bottle area is not all that great if u keep the bottle down there ur drinking mud water. thats about it.
Bottom Line:
I love it!!!! It looks cool, it rides really nice. easy to maintain only upgrades iv done so far are new pedals and tires. i want to get a new shok but i dont know what kind yet any suggestions? But if your in the market for a good bike that isnt to expensive (unless u buy it new like i did) then get this bike! hey i might even sell u mine if u can pay a million for it.
Favorite Trail: all of them! i really like the ones with the sign "hikers only".
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At: Revolution Cycle
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Suger 3, Kona, CCM Falcum (my peace of poo bike i ride off docks)
Bike Setup: great!!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Spruce Grove, alberta. canada
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001
Strengths: Its a great trail bike, goes up hill really nicly compaird to some full suspention bikes iv rode or tryed.
Weaknesses: The Factory tires are crap so i had to replace them, the break pads that came with it were crap so i replaced them. and those little pins holding the break pads on are really freaking annoying. the water bottle area is not all that great if u keep the bottle down there ur drinking mud water. thats about it.
Bottom Line:
I love it!!!! It looks cool, it rides really nice. easy to maintain only upgrades iv done so far are new pedals and tires. i want to get a new shok but i dont know what kind yet any suggestions? But if your in the market for a good bike that isnt to expensive (unless u buy it new like i did) then get this bike! hey i might even sell u mine if u can pay a million for it.
Favorite Trail: all of them! i really like the ones with the sign "hikers only".
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At: Revolution Cycle
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Suger 3, Kona, CCM Falcum (my peace of poo bike i ride off docks)
Bike Setup: great!!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Spruce Grove, alberta. canada
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001
Strengths: Its a great trail bike, goes up hill really nicly compaird to some full suspention bikes iv rode or tryed.
Weaknesses: The Factory tires are crap so i had to replace them, the break pads that came with it were crap so i replaced them. and those little pins holding the break pads on are really freaking annoying. the water bottle area is not all that great if u keep the bottle down there ur drinking mud water. thats about it.
Bottom Line:
I love it!!!! It looks cool, it rides really nice. easy to maintain only upgrades iv done so far are new pedals and tires. i want to get a new shok but i dont know what kind yet any suggestions? But if your in the market for a good bike that isnt to expensive (unless u buy it new like i did) then get this bike! hey i might even sell u mine if u can pay a million for it.
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