Strengths: This is a follow up review, I am amazed at how well this bike climbs giving that it has a little over 5" in the rear & 5" up front, its technical ability going up is amazing, it's a little slower going up, but thats fine... i am in no hurry, just take my time & go up & over anything. Going down is even better,just an overall awesome bike
Weaknesses: There is no real weakness to this bike
Bottom Line:
This is a awesome bike, with this amount of travel, the bike weighs around 28lbs... not the lightest but i dont race, i ride for the fun of it
Strengths: Everything,build quality- Very stiff traction is amazing the faster you go the better the bike feels. Flawless design
Weaknesses: There are no weeknesses
Bottom Line:
I got this frame,fork, & head set for a very good price. I was very close to getting a Blur but this was less $ than the blur frame. I went for the SB because i kinda new what I was getting [ coming from the FSR design] & NOT knowing about the hype of the blur - which im sure is great, but it is to new & to much money , not to be sure. I was concerned a little about the climbing ability of this bike cause of the amount of travel,, I was wrong, it does everything great. I feel i made a good choice
Weaknesses: Inherent in the design is that in mucky conditions dirt is squirted right on the rear shock as there is not much between it and the wheel. It would be the same on a Tracer or a Specialized. Coming straight from a hard tail I find there are a lot of nooks and corners which makes it an ordeal to clean the bike. However, this could also be said about any full suspension ride.
Bottom Line:
In a semi-academic way we looked at lot of bikes. Had my heart set at an Ellsworth Truth first, but some of the reviews made me sceptical. Also under consideration were Santa Cruz Superlight, Intense Tracer, SWorks FSR, Seven Duo, Maverick, and Ventana. In the end it boilded down to that the Switchblade probably was the best ride for me.
We are not racing but ride trails. The Switchblade is the perfect trail bike. It is made for sustained riding on technical trails. Climbs like a goat. Steers through anything. The suspension makes any gnarly trail smooth and pleasant. The workmanship is almost like if it was piece of art. The first ride it felt like taking a Rolls Royce into muck. The lockout on the Fox shock turns the bike into a firm hardtail in a second. Though, it should be said, I harldy ever use it.
It was kind of scary to buy such costly bikes without seeing them much less trying them. Had a long correspondense with Chris and Beth at Speedgoat, who were very knowledgeable and helpful at every point, discussing measurments, parts etc, back and forth, and when the bikes finally arrived the fit was absolutely perfect.
With regard to parts I find the XT-discbrakes excellent. The Vanilla Float, set to 4.5”, is smooth as silk. The Marathon is excellent, light, plush and stiff, when it works. However, it has been leaking air for quite some time. Marzocchi is presently trying to help me sort it out.
The Switchblade is not a XC-race bike. It is a tad to heavy for that. Neither is it made for jumping off things. In a race it would be frustrating. Jumping it would probably break. There are better bikes for both purposes. But I really doubt there is a better trailbike around. It is at aggressive riding in tight technical singletrack and on epic rides the Switchblade really shines.
Similar Products Used: Have tried Specialized SWorks FSR and Cannondale Jekyll.
Bike Setup: Drivetrain full XTR, brakes XT-disc, seat Sella Flite, seat tube Thomson Elite, bar Easton CT2 flatbar, barends LP, headset and hubs King, rims Mavic 317, tires Panaracer Firewall XC, rear shock Vanilla Float RL, fork Marathon 100 mm.
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Submitted by
Colin
a Cross Country Rider
from Hebron
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
Strengths: Incredible bike. It makes technical hard terrain much easier and it is the same for downhill. Nothing is flimsy or cheap!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
It is an incredible bike as is. With Gore ride ons and the Hope mini there is is little to maintain except clean the chain and relube. The long travel is a must. The lock out mechanism on the Black super air does not work but The travel is great and smooth.
Similar Products Used: 98 KLein Mantra comp, 99 Klein mantra carbon (22.5lbs), Giant NRS, Specialized Enduro, Trek Y3, Jamis Dakkar
Bike Setup: Black super air 125mm, King head set, XO rear derailler, Hope mini, A 3.1 King tubeless Continental Vert pro UST
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Submitted by
Trick Daddy
a Cross Country Rider
from Metro Georgia
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002
Strengths: moving from hardtail to FS on this frame is effortless; welds and general looks are incredible; feels like the back of my hand; standover is awesome; workmanship is secdond to none; strength of rear is over and above; bad to the bone.
Weaknesses: 12 week wait - like fine wine; water botle screw threads came lose
Bottom Line:
Moving from Georgia to Colorado and this is my wife's gift to me. I am a hardtail snbob finally moving to FS. This is the bombest bike ever for a reformed BMX freak / pseudo XC geek like me. Getting older and not caring so much about pulverizing cats, I needed a much cooler rig to see me through my post 30 days. This is it. I can still pound when I want and I can cruise when I want - best of all worlds I'd say. The frame this replcaed is a 1996 Avalanche LE aluminum hardtail - very respectable in its day but not nearly in the same league as the new FS Switchblade. I had a GShok 2.5" suspension seatpost on my GT and it performaed marvelously from day one, but it was nowhere near the performance of the FS Titus. The 4-bar Horst design is the only way to go if you want hartail performance from a medium travel trailbike. This bike is stiff as hell in all the right places.
When I picked it up from the shop, an owner of an Intense Uzzi SLX saw it and said how the rear stays on my Titus are BIGGER than on his SLX. We went out to his truck and confirmed suspicion. Incredible - my trailbike is beefier than his freeride / DH bike in the place that mattters most.
Got a little story for you. Ordered my Titus and got it from Cartecay after 12 weeks. Went to a local trail w/ a buddy for my easy first ride - no big deal. Proceded to complete 3/4 of the first 5-mile loop w/ no problem - loving my new rig more than words can say. Got to the final descent at the end of the looop. Jumped a meduim sized North Shore stunt like I always had, tried to BMX speed jump it going 23 mph like I always had, my new suspension jacked the rear over my front like Ive never known. I landed hard crashing on my head, right side and left side. Walked 3/4 mile out and went straight to the emergency room. I now have a broken 11th rib, a separated RT shoulder, and much roadrash to show for my first Titus ride. I love it!! This is great. Makes me feel youngg again. One of my riding buddies reminded me that my first GT ride ended much the same way over 6 yrs ago so I take this as a positive sign of good things to come. Im psyched as hell about getting back on my Switchblade again in 6 weeks to say the least. Im sure Ill get back just in time to shread it up again.
5 fat chilis for this in all the ways possible. Ive waited for this bike for a long time and Im loving it all the way. If you have the loot, make this deal happen.
Strengths: Everything. I love climbing and this bike climbs like no other-my downhill skills have imporved ten fold. Going over loose rocks is no longer an issue. This bike makes mtn biking soo much easier
Weaknesses: I have not found any.
Bottom Line:
This is a lot of money, but in the long run you will never have to upgrade. Best money i've ever spent.
Similar Products Used: I tested santa cruz, trek fuel, and specialized.
Bike Setup: duke, thomson, monkeylites, raceface, sram.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, Co, USA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002
Strengths: Quality, design, fun factor
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
At the 24 Hrs of Moab after my teamate broke his derailleur and then rode the course with my bike he yelled "That was the best ride of my life, so f#*%$g fun!" even though before the race he was preaching against weight, pedal bob, disc brakes, tubeless, blah, blah, blah... Not anymore!
Same as other reviews... Had it setup a little light in front for climbing then switched the fork down to 105 mm which resulted in correct geometry with 4.5" rear travel. Now it climbs great and descends fast, smooth, and tight on any type of trail. I've ridden it in CO, CA, UT, & NV on jeep road, singletrack, & downhill courses. This bike is by far the best for real, fun suspension travel & handling vs. suspension that feels so stiff until you actually hit a big enough drop to compress it (i.e. Trek Fuel, Giant NRS).
I used to alway crash and get bloody and now I do longer more difficult trails faster without crashing (as much) due to the bike's forgiveness and handling resulting in much more fun.
Bike Setup: XTR/XT, Fox Vanilla, Thomson, Chris King, Avid discs, Easton, Mavic tubeless = 27 lbs.
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Submitted by
John Kemp
a Weekend Warrior
from Marin Ca US
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2002
Strengths: travel adjustablity, stiffness, strong, beefy and not too heavy. every weld is thick and perfect, the level of quality blows me away.
Weaknesses: I could complain about a few things that don't affect how the bike rides, but this section should be removed for titus products.
Bottom Line:
When my Loco Moto was recalled I decided to upgrade to the switchblade(they sent me $50 and a tea-shirt because of the recall). The rear shock from the loco moto is the same as the shock for the long travel kit on the switchblade, after $44 for the linkage I now have the long travel and short travel kits. Titus customer survice is great. Questions are answered by all knowing bike Gods. Hold buttons and voice mail don't exist at titus(thanks michelle).
As of now I have only riden the bike in the 5.7 in. setting, and I may never change it. The switchblade climbs much better than any 5+ inch bike has the right to. This bike weighs 5lbs more, has almost 2in more travel than my last bike, and I don't even notice the difference on the climbs.
It climbs like a goat, and it goes down even faster. Tight, fast singletrack turns are handled with ease; the switchblades stearing is quick and persise. Rocky, rutted, steep and loose stuff is where this bike really shines; it is stiff enough to let you take it fast, and is plush enough to inspire confidence over any terrain.
Drops, jumping, XC epics and DH fat tire desire; Buy this bike and the only people who will be sorry are your friends, rubbing the dust from their eyes and wondering how the hell you got so fast over night.
Similar Products Used: schwinn rocket 88 stage 1, titus loco moto.
Bike Setup: Fox vanilla RLC. 5.7 rear travel kit:Fox RC, avid disk front & avid Ti V's rear. tompson post, easton carbon 1 in. riser, titec 120mm zero rise stem, king head set. hugi wheels on bontrager racelite rims. XT&XTR mix with next LP cranks & RF steel taperlock BB. Platform peddles
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Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002
Strengths: Well built, climbs great and descends even better, beautiful gold anodyzed finish
Weaknesses: Stickers flaking (I was planning to take them off anyway
Bottom Line:
Within 10 minutes of my first ride I made a climb I had walked everytime before. A little later a cleaned a technical descent which I never made before. With the Switchblade, I am traveling significantly faster and feel more in control than I ever felt on my old bike. I am cleaning sections of the trail that before I could only walk and watch with envy as friends cleared it. I definitely made the right choice.
I have the bike set up with 4.5" rear and 100mm front suspension. I figured I would try it out then reset the rear to 3.75" and the front to 80mm, but so far I have seen no reason to. It climbs so well as is and as my friends say, it descends like a Barco Lounger on wheels. The disc brakes are excellent--I never feel as if I cannot stop and the upgrade to Stan's pads and rotors are well worth the price.
For value I have to give the bike 5 chilis. It priced out to within a couple hundred dollars less to even with the other highend bikes I was looking at and it is setup exactly as I wanted it; whereas, there were compromises with all the other bikes either with component specs, lateral rear stiffness or travel. Of course it gets 5 chilis overall rating.
If you are looking for a light, even with disc brakes it weighs under 26 lbs, do anything bike and you have the cash on hand, you cannot go wrong with the Switchblade. It is worth every penny. My friends tell me I am still grinning ear to ear on our rides and there is a good reason for it.
Similar Products Used: replaces GT LTS1; tested Klein Adept Pro, Trek Fuel 100, Specialized S-works FSR XC, Giant NRS1, Intense Tracer; Gary Fisher Sugar 1
Bike Setup: XT drive train with XTR rear derailleur, Magura Marta Disc brakes with Stan's Notubes pads and aluminum rotors, Thomson stem and seatpost, Egg Beater pedals, American Classic hubs with Mavic X.1 tubeless rims, Easton Monkey Lite 26" bar; Fox Forx Float RLC front and Fox Float RL rear
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Submitted by
wg
a Weekend Warrior
from SF Bay Area
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Strengths: Where to start? Climbs well, decends great. Adjustable, quality workmanship.
Weaknesses: Price maybe? But its in the same range as similar products. I don't want to stop riding. Just keep on going.
Bottom Line:
This bike took a little getting used to coming off a hard tail. Main oddity (could be my riding style) is how the rear tracks actively in the corners. Once I got used to the feel, no prob. This bike weighs in a few more pounds than the M2 but I feel it climbs better. It hooks up and goes. I've cleared things I couldn't before. Now I have to blame myself if I can't do a climb (damn, no easy out!). I like the ability to lock out the rear shock. Only used the front lock out when doing long sustained fire road climb like Mitchell Canyon on Mt Diablo. Other than that, set it and forget it. Went up Tam on Saturday, from Blithedale Ridge to Elridge. Nice rocky section near the last 1/4 of the climb. This bike flew up and over everything. The decent had me grinning for the rest of the day. The bike can go faster than I can pilot it. I've ridden that trail many times on the old HT bike. The SB felt solid over all the obstacles. Never felt unstable until I pinch flatted. Didn't even feel that impact, suddenly the rear end felt squirrelly and saw the flat. Ruined my rhythm. Not a problem of the bike's. Other details, I'm 6'4" and weigh 220lbs so wanted a bike that could take some abuse. So far not a problem. 4 flaming what'sits for the price but 5 large flamers for the bike. Check 'em out if you can handle the wait for one from Titus. Sweet bike.
Similar Products Used: SB replaced my stolen Stumpjumper M2 HT Test rode: Scalpel 3000; SC Superlight; GT I-Drive Race; Giant NRS1; Trek Fuel 100
Bike Setup: XT components, Thompson Seatpost, Ritcher Stem, CK headset, XT Disc brakes, IRC Mythos tires, Fox Forx Float RLC, Fox RL Rear
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Submitted by
Eddie
a Cross Country Rider
from Hollister, CA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2002
Strengths: Climbs like a goat, handles great, do all bike.
Weaknesses: I have the polished frame, tends to scratch easy, decals, rear tire cannot exceed 2.1.
Bottom Line:
This is my ultmate dream bike, I have been riding it since Oct and can't wait to get back on it as soon as I get off of it. I was riding a hard tail for 6 years and it took me awhile to get used to it, but as I did let me tell you, the bike can handle anything I give it. Now I just need to improve my skills even more. This old man is having fun again enjoying the sport that I'd grown to love all over again. This bike rocks!!!
Bike Setup: Psylo Race at 100mm, Chris King Hubs with Mavics 317s, Hope minis, Race Face Cranks, XTR shifters, derail, Easton seatpost, Thomson stem, LP bars.
Submitted by
jake
a Weekend Warrior
from gaithersburg, MD
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002
Strengths: Beautiful bike, Awesome ride, and great construction.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
WELL i FINALLY HAVE MY DREAM BIKE AFTER SAVING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. FOR THE MONEY THIS IS A GREAT BIKE. I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND 2000$ ON A ELLSWORTH TRUTH OR TURNER XCE. I HAD A CHANCE TO RIDE A TRUTH AND IT IS BY ALL MEANS A LOVELY MACHINE THAT RIDES AWESOME. I THINK THE TITUS IS AN EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL MACHINE AND RIDES JUST AS WELL FOR 300$ LESS. SO I THOUGH THE TITUS WAS A GREAT DEAL. THIS BIKE RIDES LIKE A DREAM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY ABOUT IT EXCEPT IF YOU WANT A UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL, AND JUST A GREAT ALL A ROUND BIKE THAT IS NOT TO HEAVY AND RIDES SUPERB. GET A TITUS SWITCHBLADE. ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!1
Favorite Trail: schaeffer farms and San Juan trail in SoCal
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At: Beyond Bikes
Similar Products Used: Truth, I-drive, Trek VRX.
Bike Setup: PSYLO SL, HAYES BRAKES, XT COMPONETS, BONTRAGER AND MAVIC RIMS, THOMSON POST, SALSA STEM.
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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from SF, CA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002
Strengths: Everything. Climbs great - suspension is very quiet, but provides incredible traction on rough, steep stuff. Very stiff and solid, handles and corners great on anything. I have the long travel option (5.7"), so the downhills are fast and smooth, it sucks up drops, and suspension is active even under hard braking.
Weaknesses: Horst link design causes rear derailleur to bang against the frame on rough downhills when on smallest gears. Can pad it and listen to it bang, or shift out of it, but then you can't go as fast. Surprised nobody's mentioned this, though it's really a minor issue.
Bottom Line:
Best combination of top notch XC capabilities (unless you're racing), and super plush travel and handling. Mine's about 28#, so while that's not too heavy, you do put on some weight with the added beef and travel over something like a superlight, but the ride is 10x smoother, and you give up only about 2% on the climbs. Unless you are racing, get this bike. Oh yeah, and get it at Speedgoat. They will save you big money, help you dial it in, and no sales tax unless you're in PA.... Thanks Beth.
Bike Setup: Marzoccchi Z1 FR, King, Avid mechanicals, XT derailleurs, Truvative BB and cranks, thomson post/stem, monkey lite, etc.
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Submitted by
Yanou
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2002
Strengths: Welding - Overall quality - Climbing - Downhill ~ Freeride ALL of it -
Weaknesses: None - maybe takes time to set up - I guess that what custom are about -
Bottom Line:
Afte two broken GT frames (oustanding suspension system) - I decided to go with QUALITY made frame - Hesistant between Quasi and Switchblade... the long travel kit on the Sw made me chose the latter.
It took me a while to have the Psylo and the rear suspension work together (the back was always too smooth)- Spoke wiht Alan at Titus ... really good customer service - I have 280psi in the back / the Psylo 150psi for the NeGative and 160psi Positive chamber- I am 200lbs and really happy with the quality of this bike - since i keep destroying my bikes....parts and frames. This bike has past 6 months with success - Good Job Titus -
I blew up the rear shock - under warranty - Fox fixed that under 10days.
I just changed the rear Low Swing arm that fits large rear tires - a little expensive but I can now easily run FAT tires up to 2.7 in
