Fully butted A1 Premium Aluminum frame with Hydroform top tube, adjustable 140mm-160mm rear travel, Fox Vanilla-R coil-over shock, disc brake exclusive, 24" rear wheel for shorter chainstays and better handling, Marzocchik Z-3 QR 20+ fork, Hayes Hydraulic disc brakes, Sun Rhyno Lite rims.
Submitted by
beaupre716
a Downhiller
from Reno, Nevada
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2009
Strengths: Handles well on all sorts of downhill terrain, a capable jumper, seems to climb pretty well for a bike of its size and travel too.
Weaknesses: I think a 26" rear wheel might be a little faster in some situations, and yes: in a pinch, it's harder to find stuff for the 24" rear wheel.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike used after riding my friend's full-suspension bike, and I couldn't be happier with it. Its handling reminds me of the motocross bikes I've ridden for years, and it allows me to self-shuttle lots of fun downhill runs without too much strain on the uphills. I run a single-ring in the front, but if you really want to make it easy you could throw a granny on it too.
If you're considering buying one, go for it and don't worry about it being a little old--it's geometry and components are still ready to go. And if you find one with the 8-inch rear link upgrade--it's a big silver linkage piece as opposed to the smaller stock black part--then all the better. I mated mine to the 7" Domain single-crown fork and everything has seemed to match up well.
Similar Products Used: First full-suspension bike.
Bike Setup: Big Link rear linkage upgrade with Fox Vanilla RC shock (bumps rear travel to 8.1"), Rock Shox Domain 318 fork (7" travel,) Chris King headset, Pro Taper bars, Sun Double Track front wheel with Marzocchi 20mm hub, single-ring front sprocket set-up with MRP chain guide and E-13 36t sprocket.
Strengths: It goes over anything and everything. The FSR rear doesn't rob you of your energy and it takes all the hits you can give it.
Weaknesses: I can't think of any for the price.
Bottom Line:
For $1100 you'd have a hard time beating it, it can run with the $3000 bikes. Like someone else said, the thing is like a moon buggy... it just swallows up the rocky terrain here in the mountains of Phoenix.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz, Ellsworth, Turner
Bike Setup: All stock: Dirt JumperII, Manitou Swinger, Hayes 9s, Singletrack wheelset, XT Rear, Truvitiv Hozzfukr...
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Submitted by
Chris Gray
a Racer
from Toronto Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Strengths: this bike was crap yo! i had it for 6 years and so much went wrong with it, nothing, this bike is crap
Weaknesses: everything, one time like 7 months after i bought it i was riding real hardcore around the patio in the back yard and the damn wheel came off and the fork snapped into like 6 peices, the chain exploded and severed my leg, now i cant bike...
Bottom Line:
i dont like this bike, highly volitile and can cause extreme danger yo, the chain and crank and seat are all very lethal and explosive... i dont like bad biclykels
Strengths: The bike's frame is solid and comes with good parts for the money. The bike is no longer stock since i have broken every single part aside from my rear hayes brake, seat and post, but all parts lasted a reasonnable amount of time for the beating it was given.
Weaknesses: I have broken the seatstay right at the derailleur hanger (in between the hanger bolts)
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the price, nice tight linkage. Bike needs (imo) 8in travel kit for rear susp. For some people and types of riding, the 24" rear wheel is a set back, but try breaking a 24" mag 30 with 8 inches of travel. Love the bike, plain and simple.
Similar Products Used: Iron Horse SGS series, Norco VPS series (other 4 bar linkage syst.)
Bike Setup: Dan Stapleton Linkage w/8.75 Fox Rc, sram x.7 shift& derail, XT/Hayes brakes, 03 rs boxxer race, sun mag 30 wheels, radical stem and handlebar, yeti grips, cane creek headset, truvativ hussefelt crank, wellego alien pedals, kenda kollasal tires.
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Submitted by
Jim Woshabo
a Downhiller
from Paris, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Strengths: Absolutely Nothing, the grips were ok.
Weaknesses: Everything! The bars snapped, front rim broke as well as some spokes, i bottomed the front and rear once on a big drop and they both snapped, leaving me in a comma for a year. Then another day, i jumped off a curb and both the wheels fell off, frame snapped, leaving me in a comma for another year or two.
Bottom Line:
If you are going to spend $100 or less on this bike, then get it, but if you dont want to risk your life for $100 then go eat some pizza. Or pasta.
Submitted by
MikE
a Downhiller
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003
Strengths: Strong and durable, just about all components are top notch!
Weaknesses: Worst thing that REALLY kept pissing me off was the seat quick release.
Bottom Line:
This thing was great! My friend and I took it out to our local trails for a day. You can get used to this bike VERY quickly. I was burning over doubles and drops in no time and the suspension was taking it all. The brakes performed great the whole time except for the slight squeeling when some dust got on the pad. All in all we had a blast, and I would recommend this bike to anyone who's looking for a freeride bike or for some not to serious DH. The Bighit DH has more travel.
Submitted by
jeff cornia
a Cross Country Rider
from rock springs, wy usa
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003
Strengths: ultra low gearing because of 24" rear wheel combined with fatty 2.5 tires allows this bike to climb (not fast) anything, it's like a monster truck, floats over anything (sand, snow, mud), extremely reliable, I've ridden it 2100 miles in 9 months and the only mechanical problem was a flat front tire because I hit a broken beer bottle in the dark(patched it, still original tubes),
Weaknesses: too heavy for x-country racing, soft tires wear fast but I'm still riding them as slicks and I ride yr round in wyoming (snow packed trails, roads are common), seat quick release is junk, but I tightened it with vise grips and it's still in place
Bottom Line:
This Bike Rules, I plan on riding it in stock form for as long as possible before I update it, then I'll go with tires, seat/post, bars, stem, xtr shifters (I broke the stock deore shifter window off but I sealed it with electrical tape and it still works fine so why replace it), it'll be like a new bike all over again
Similar Products Used: in 92 I bought an original camo-gray fsr, rode it for 5yrs, sold it to a buddy who still rides it to the bar (this is my 9th mountain bike since I bought my Miyata Ridge Runner in 1983 when I was 15)
Weaknesses: none. OK weight, but people who ride this type of sled don't give a sh%t about that.
Bottom Line:
I can't break this thing,I've even tried to indo to bust this thing, because I get off doing that sort of thing, I can't bust it. I've broke every bike I ever owned,so I put on a Monster T thinking that would make the head tube give, NOPE! I'm 250lbs and taking up to 8 ft.drops to flat,mostly man made, and it doesn't even creak yet. Now all buddies tell me Specialized is sh%t but that just doesn't make sense.
Similar Products Used: GT LTS, Intense M1 & Uzzi DH,Santa Cruz super 8
Bike Setup: monster T, Kooka bash guard,ringle risers,primo pedals,stock
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Submitted by
Marvin Farmer
a Downhiller
from Nishijin, Japan
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2002
Strengths: The weight is great downhill. The bike usually gets to the bottom before me. My old crosscountry bike usually arrived about a second behind me, so this is a big improvement. My friends love this bike, because of its strength. I'm lying there bleeding and injured, and the bike's all ready to go for another shot. Squishy front shocks do a fine job of relaunching me when I forget to look where I'm going.
Weaknesses: Fairly tall, I keep bashing my head on branches and stuff. Brakes catch me out a lot, don't fade in a progressive manner like my old rim brakes. Not as spectacular as the old Mongoose, but not as painful either, I guess.
Bottom Line:
I wish all my friends had one of these. Apart from the brakes throwing me over the bars, it goes downhills real fast, even without me. Looks good sitting outside Starbucks, just need some slicks to turn it into a great street bike as well. I highly recommend it to freeriders doing smaller drops and jumps, and anyone not afraid to bounce down a set of stairs beneath 40 pounds of bike.
Similar Products Used: Sorass Special, Mongoose 50
Bike Setup: Ditched those pedals for clipless, am thinking of swapping the forks with my mate to save a bit of weight. One of the guys I ride with has spaced his rear shock out with a PVC spacer. Saves a few grams, so I might give that a try.
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002
Strengths: Awsome bike im only 14 so im on a tight buget i got this as a demo bike for the store in the warehouse (clearing out 01 for 02) so i got a wicked deal and just for the record im only 14 but iv had 6 years on the trails i know how to bike
Weaknesses: they should make more surface area on the frame for stickers like on the m1 LOL jk
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE ROCKS IF I COULD ID GIVE IT 17 STARS IN VALUE AND OVERALL awsome price great bike name brand coments how can u afoard not to buy this bike? sorry if spelling sucks who should buy this bike? anyone who has $2500
Similar Products Used: norco saspuatcher, lots of Dh bike
Bike Setup: the guy who demoed it worked at the store so he upgraded a few things (not sure what eactly but things like seat, handel bars, stem)
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Submitted by
Chris Horner
a Weekend Warrior
from Fukuoka city, Japan
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2002
Strengths: The suspension is great. Hayes disc brakes are excellent and don't take too long to breake in. Despite the weight, you can rock up the hills with no problems. The best part about riding this bike is that when you point it down a mountain side, it really comes into it's own.
Weaknesses: The stock pedals are a bit gash. I'm not a big fan of the fender. These are both minor gripes
Bottom Line:
I got a really good deal on this bike from the guys over at Shinohara cycles.Basically, as a result of buying this bike, I think my riding skills have improved. It inspires me to try things that I would never consider before. Basically it rocks in pretty much all areas. It climbs well considering the weight. On the downhill section, just point and go. Wicked.
Strengths: The Marzocchi z3 may not have alot of adjustability but it can absorb a lot of punishment. Changed to 10W extra heavy springs.
Weaknesses: Update on last report, Found that the bottom bracket height is an issue. Replace the outer ring from the get-go. Get a bash guard the BB is low even when you change the head tube angle to 69 degrees. I hit every thing with it, you can see that with the link /rear shock swap and a big fork this bikes becomes a downhiller.
Bottom Line:
Takes a pounding without complaint. Hayes brakes rock!
Weaknesses: Tires,suspension could be spec'ed better but even stock it isn't weak.
Bottom Line:
For us big fat guys who like to go out and drop, then down a six pack our choices are limited,until now! Every once in awhile a great machine is produced that changes the game. The WW2 jeep changed the U.S. Army in it's day, the computer & internet changed communication,& business. Now Specialized changes the whole Freeride scene. A low cost,bombproof frame,pimp-looking bike. It can make you a better rider by providing confidence that it'll be there when you land, with half a foot of cushion that doesn't feel harsh. Get a multi clamp fork with over 6" travel and this bike is the next knarliest bike behind the M1 and at less then half the cost. Specialized may not have been the Freeriders bike of choice in the past but that's probably going to change. Yeah Santa-Cruz,Norco,Rocky,Kona,Giant,all produce great stuff,but so does Specialized now!
Strengths: 8 inch rear wheel travel Shivers MRP chainguide Hayes MAG discs
Weaknesses: none really except the fact you can only run 24inch rear wheel, this is great for freeriding but it would be nice to have the option of running a 26inch wheel
Bottom Line:
This is one super sweet bike, I've owned and ridden a few top brand bikes and i have to say the specialized is on par with many of these bikes, it even runs better than the S works team DH ?
anyway i just got this as part of my sponsorship package three weeks ago and i just cant stop riding it.
it's strong, tight and stiff, especcially the rear end, after last years effort.
any way i got better thing s to do than sit at my computer all day,
SO
if your after a really nice, reasonably priced (compared to other bikes at this level)DH rig then seriously think about testriding the bighit DH you will be surprised.
And it ain't nothing like the 2001 bighit pro's (pieces of junk)
only gave it 4 for overall cause no bike is gonna be perfect, but we'll have to wait and see,
email if you wanna see the bike totally specced and i'll send u some pics.........
Similar Products Used: Giant ATX 1DH, Santa Cruz Super 8, Avanti ADX D8, Mongoose NX DH, and also the specialized S works DH(sweet)
Bike Setup: ok, first of all 2002 bighit dh frame 8 inch rear travel,Romic rear shock,Shivers,easton mg600 dh stem,easton Scandium bars, FSA Pig DH headset, Hayes Mag's 8 inch F&R, race face Northshore DH cranks,MRP chainguide, shimano 646 pedals, race face XY post, SDG Bigboy saddle, Atomic trailpimp rims, Hadley hubs, DT Alpine spokes,XTR rear mech and shifter pod, race face chromoly bottom bracket, race face good and evil grips super sweet
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Submitted by
Jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001
Strengths: Great price,alot of bike for the buck, the frame is bullet proof, the four link suspension is beautiful, (much appreciated while climbing!), the Hayes hydraulic disc brakes are A#1.Also,6" adjustable rear travel, and a soon to be available kit to give 8" of total rear travel! Love the 24" rear wheel, wouldn't mind the front one 24" as well. This bike is an all around, high quality machine that can do it all! Hats off to Specialized for this one!
Weaknesses: Small, crappy pedals,(easy to slip off of, and they're plastic),crappy tires (wear out easily, and have bad traction),crappy front fender. Why not give the rear wheel an 8" rotor too?
Bottom Line:
If you buy this bike: 1 Lose the front fender immediately upon purchase,and discard it into the nearest plastic recycling bin, and buy a "THE" brand fender if you need one,2 Replace those horrible pedals with real ones,(preferably flat pedals on this type of bike,) and 3 replace tires soon (note: check first in the Marzocchi web site for the Bomber Z3 fork,for max. tire size !)4 If you have some cash left over after all of this, a nice dual crown fork(like a Marzocchi Jr.T) and a chain ring bash protector would be the icing on the cake! This bike is awesome , it can do it all, it is tough as nails, and most of all, it is a complete pisser to ride! I ride on terrain and do things I would never have dreamed of doing on my "XC" bike. Thats what makes it so fun to ride, its like the moon buggy, or the Hum Vee of mountain bikes! It really shines on the downhills,you can run right over technical stuff, and also, it can climb as well. The four link suspension seems to tighten up as you climb,so you're not bobbing and bouncing all over the place. If you're worried about climbing, don't worry at all. It can do the job, and if you're in reasonable shape, its not a problem.You won't fly up the hills, but you'll get up them, and the best part of any trail is going down them any way, which this bike loves to do! To me,this bike is a "real world" bike. It is so plush and comfortable to ride, it has an upright riding position,much like a motocross bike. It brings you back to what mountain biking should be -fun! Ditch the Lycra and the heart rate monitor, and the cleats, break out the baggies or sweats, a tee shirt, and hiking boots, and pack the cooler with some cold ones! Also, if you're like most guys 200 lbs or more and are not of the "cyclist" type,ie:( 100 lbs soaking wet,) then this is the type of bike you want , not some lightweight, uncomfortable XC bike. The bike is even OK riding tame trails, but it really shows its true colors when you really push it on the technical stuff!(drop offs, dirt jumps, rocks and roots, etc) Basically, an all around tough,no bullsh*t bike that can do anything,and come back for more whether youre 100lbs or 300 lbs, and most of all,its FUN to ride!Some might say 2 grand is alot of money for a bicycle no matter what,period, but it is well worth it for this quality and type of bike, you can't go wrong! And if you want to get into downhill racing, you can start with this bike. PS The 2002's are going up in price of about 400 bucks, so try and get a 2001 leftover,the bike is identical to the 2002 except for minor component changes not even noticable, the only thing really different is the paint job,2001 is blue, and the 2002 is white...a suspension kit will be available from Specialized to give you 8" of travel, it is coming out soon from what I hear,it was supposedly coming out "soon" for awhile now, but they had to work out the "bugs " in it before its on the market..This is one kickass machine as is and can be even better with some upgrades!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: None. Graduated from XC type bike.
Bike Setup: Stock except for big ring. (Trashed big ring first time out with bike) You really don't need a big ring on this type of bike anyway!Replaced big ring with MRP "Long Range Patrol" ring protector/chain roller. Will replace tires and pedals very soon, (and maybe fork in the future.....)
