Submitted by
steven wardlaw
a Weekend Warrior
from greenville s.c.
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004
Strengths: great all around bike.light and fast!!! well made.great bike for the hills.takes the bumps out but still climbs well.
Weaknesses: not as plush as some long travel bikes,but it climbs alot better.
Bottom Line:
after riding a hardtail bike i knew i wanted a fast good climbing full suspension bike.i found it.this bike might just be the best of both worlds.it weighed in at 26.3 pounds, lighter than most hard tails.it climbs so well i don't even think the hardtail was this good. if you want a great xc bike,this is it.thanks k2!!!! i'm giving this bike high marks for value even though i only spent 700 dollars,bike would be a bargain at any price.
Bike Setup: rolf wheels,race face crank,nollen link type fork (i love this fork),spd pedals9 speed gears with rapid fire
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Submitted by
Per Hasvold
a Cross Country Rider
from Norway
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2003
Strengths: Stiff, reliable, efficient
Weaknesses: None, so far
Bottom Line:
Very good frame. Absolutely no problems. Climbs well. XC racing suspension = not super comfortable, but efficient and will provide control and safety on any cruel ride. Freeriders might want more rear travel, but for marathon races this is a very good frame!
Bike Setup: K2 Razorback Team Frame, RockShox SID XC forks, RaceFace LP cranks and chain wheels & SL headset & SYSstem & handlebars, FSA BB, Avid SD1.0 Brake levers, Tune Barends & seatpost, Salsa FlipOff skewers & QR seatcollar, K2 pedals, Shimano XT gear levers and derailurs, XT hubs, Deore V-brakes, DT Rev spokes, Sun rims, Flite seat, Sigma Mairage lights, Polar 720 HR computer, Hutchinson Python or Bontrager ST front/SS rear or Nokian 296 extreme (with studs for winter use) tires
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Submitted by
Paul Kleist
a Cross Country Rider
from Tahoe south shore
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002
Strengths: great tahoe trail bike
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
This bike rides great I work in a bike shop and had our mechanic build this bike for me the tunability of the suspenion air rear shoch along with the lockout on the rear make this bike a climbers dream. bumping the noleen out to 4" 100mm of travel made the shock moe plush for those taho descents the only thing I would like to have would be a front lock out thats why next year either fox vanilla rlc 125 or manitou black super ai 120 with lock out A great cross country / trail riders bike the way it is built reccomend for intermediate to advanced who wants a bike with a fully tunable suspension
Similar Products Used: Proflex 957 good bike Rocky element (crap)
Bike Setup: Racelite wheels Avid brakes Kooka levers RF seatpost Chris King headset RF crank Gripshift 8sp. White bros.90mm fork XTR der. Easton bar 23.5lbs large
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Submitted by
Chet
a Cross Country Rider
from Vista, Calif
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Strengths: Light and stiff. Great for cross country riding. Tuning is easy.
Weaknesses: None found yet.
Bottom Line:
This is a great frame. K2 has done it's job. Climbs like a hardtail. No issues so far. If you like your hardtail and have been thinking about full suspension, this frame is for you. No bobbing or squishy feel. Provides the comfort on the rocky trail and the lockout for the ride home. I give it 5 flamers.
Similar Products Used: Nothing as good as this. Had a ProFlex in the past but hated it. Ran from full suspension but the Razorback changed it all.
Bike Setup: Psylo SL, Thompson post, XT, Grip Shift, Truvativ, Rolph Dolomite(great value, light, very strong, still true), FSA.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Webster, Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2001
Strengths: Light (25 lbs), fork 80 OR 100mm travel, component spec, tuneabilty of the fork and shock, overall feel
Weaknesses: WTB rims hard to get tires off, EA 70 seatpost creaks and has been replaced, stock chain is a joke (HG-72) replacing with a SRAM PC-99.
Bottom Line:
I weigh 210 lbs, am 5'11" and own the Large size Razorback Team. The short rear shock travel (2.7 inches) took a few rides to get used to. I have since adjusted the air pressure in the rear Noleen pull shock to 165 psi and the Noleen Mega Air (awesome!) fork to 75 psi (both legs) and the ride is great. Very plush fork (Set at 100 mm travel). Be wary of the size of the bike. The large fits me perfect, but I think anyone taller should test ride the Way Big size before purchasing. The chain broke twice (including last night, nice 2 mile jog home. Didn't want to screw with the chain tool, pitch dark with mosquitos and horse flies!). Its a Shimano HG-72 which is just pitiful in these reviews. So I purchased an SRAM PC-99 to replace. I have also had the toughest time adjusting my XTR rear deralieur. Maybe the chain was the culprit after removing two links.
Overall, I have coveted this bike for over a year and finally scraped together the cash to purchase. I will try to lose some weight to try and put less strain on the frame and get a better feel. I think my weight is just about the limit for a sort travel FS/XC bike. Great job K2! (But don't skimp on the chains next year!)
Strengths: -light FS Frame with right setup -stable front end -tracks well in tight single track -OTF rear lock out
Weaknesses: -rear shock housing in fist generation bike were cracking. K2 has fixed problem.
Bottom Line:
To me this is an excellent bike. I love it. Climbs like a goat, love that I can lock out the rear shock w\out taking my hands off the bars. When decending I feel confident and in control, as much as one can when pushing. I've heard negative reviews about the bike, have not read any, but to me frame and bike selection is all about personal preference and for me this bike is works great. I've tryed 5 frame this season and this one is the one that works for me. I'm not saying you have to have one, I'm saying this bike works for me and if you are looking for a great FS race, XC bike then you need to check it out.
Weaknesses: -Sticky Rear Shock (compared to FOX) dont get me wrong it still works great -Noleen Front fork...I am convinced the early 01's are fine, however their late production ones have big quality control Problems
Bottom Line:
Great Bike...if you can get one that works. If it breaks, it will be broken out of the box, so most of you consumers out there dont have to worry, it's the shop guys that have to deal with K2 and let me tell you, they suck. They do work with you but their lazy as could be. It took them 4 tries to get me a fork that works, and my best friend is still without a mtnbike. I am not a Noleen fan but unfortunatly you have to choice on the rear...Fox no longer makes that style shock. The Noleen fork is actually a glimmer of the future, ( it is stiff and light) unfortunatly I couldnt get one that worked so they sent me a SID SL, at a price. I must say though that the Noleen is pretty sticky and its dampening is a step behind, the idea of a stiff light fork has been executed much better by Manitou in their new Black fork. Anyway, the bike is great, regardless of what the magazines say it is just as quick as any 73 71 bike I've ever ridden. The rear does what all XC race rigs should, it keeps momentum, doesnt rob pedal stroke, helps traction a lot *I climb better now*, and I can ride for a lot longer than on a hardtail.. don't get me wrong, its NOT plush. All and all a sweet bike, mine wieghs in well under 25 lbs, and with a lighter wheelset could easily come in the upper 23's. I like the sizing, it works well for racing, I dont have to downsize. All this being said I will probably sell my frame next year to give a superlight a try, but their are sacrafices for working at a shop...hehehehehehe :)
Bike Setup: Stock, except SID SL, (steerer was too short...long story...had to take out all risers so...I put a riser bar on to compensate) Easton Monkeylight CT2, Hutchinson Python Airlight
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Submitted by
HJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Lansing
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2001
Strengths: quickness, stability, well designed shock system (front and rear). The Mega Air system is excellent. The '01 fork is awesome.
Weaknesses: sizing is off. They run one size smaller than typical.
Bottom Line:
Wanted to give this bike some time before reviewing. Initially I figured this bike was going to be real fragile. I do a good bit of lower end shore style riding including some drops and jumps and so far the Razorback is holding up magnificently. It's an outstanding jumper, bunnyhops at speed are very confident.
I don't understand why this bike is not one of the highest recommended XC bikes out there. It flat out kills both the Truth and the El Saltemontes I rode last year. It must just be the kneejerk anti-K2 mindset that pervades MTBR.
I had been looking for a bike worthy of replacing my beloved ProFlex 957 - an excellent and very quick XC bike. Which led me to trying a number of bikes.
The best way I can describe this bike is to compare it to the other two bikes I listed.
VS the Truth: The Razorback is far quicker in the singletrack, it turns so much better. It is not even close. Because of that turning confidence, the Razorback descends much better too - there is no fear that you can't lay the bike over to rail a corner. I'd say that the two are equal climbers. With the nod to the Razorback due to the rear lockout option (standard equipment on the Razorback, option upgrade on the Truth). The Truth's rear suspension is outstanding. Unmatched. The Razorback at only 3" is excellent too. Use of the air shock keeps it from bottoming. The Razorback feels far more plush than you would imagine. It feels like there's more than just 3" back there. Rebound control is very good. More than adequate for XC riding.
VS the El Saltemontes: Well right off I have to say that the El Salte is probably the worst bike I've ever ridden. It's way too tall. It's absurdly tall. The tallness affects how you steer it and how much you feel like you can lean it over, which is to say - not much. Suspension bob is horrible unless you overpressure the rear shock - and what's the point of running full suspension if you have to do that? The El Salte turns better than the Truth but...re-read my statement about the tallness. It is a crappy climber period. The El Salte is burly bike though and doesn't look like it'll break anytime in the near future. Lots of nice gussetts and bracing. The Razorback is a bit thin in the bracing area, much like the Truth. Anyway, against the El Salte - the Razorback blows it away in every aspect except possibly strength (naturally there's a weight penalty for the extra gussetting on the El Salte).
The final major bonus the Razorback has over the other bikes - cost. You can get the whole bike for the same or lower cost than just the frame alone for either the Truth or the El Salte, or even a Superlight or Racer X. How can you go wrong?
Similar Products Used: Trek 9700, Proflex 957, Ellsworth Truth '00, Ventana El Saltemontes
Bike Setup: Grassroots team frame mega air rear mega air front Raceface LP 180 cranks with 2 rings. 8 speed Ritchy WCS Ti pedals Avid 2.5 brakes Gripshift left Rapidfire right XT derailleurs Sram chain Thomson/SDG post/saddle Easton Monkeylite with Bontrager stem XTR/Valiant wheels Fire XC Pro 1.8 tires
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Submitted by
STP
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001
Strengths: Unbelievable handling. K2 designed a beautiful machine, that is eagerly responsive, without being nervous. This bike does exactly what you want it to do, no more or no less. Fast and confident descender, loses nothing to my former bikes, a Schwinn Homegrown and a Specialized Stumpjumper. Climbs very well over rough terrain, with no power loss that I can percieve. The rear suspension feels tight and dialed in, no odd feel at all. Braking is really good on this bike with the stock Avid SD-7's. No jacking whatsoever. Full on, sweet XC machine, like I've never ridden before. The Noleen air fork feels as good as my Marzocchi Z-2 oil and coil and is stiff and way lighter. I absolutely love this bike! K2 rocks!
Weaknesses: Not a weakness, but be aware, frames seem to be sized on the small side (large is 18.5 inch seat tube), similiar to old Specialized FSR design. Short top tube = cramped cockpit. If you are six foot, and have long legs, go with the 'Way-Big' frame size. You will be much more comfortable. I demo'd a large Razorback on my favorite 10 mile trail, and this is how I learned of this.
Bike Setup: XT/XT, XTR Cassette, Sun O deg XC tied to Nukeproof hubs, Thomson Stem and Seatpost, Ritchey WCS Bar, Avid SD7's and an SDG seat
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Submitted by
Pirate
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2001
Strengths: Very light, and laterally stiff. The Noleen fork and rear shock are very smooth. The stock components are great with no necessary upgrades. Climbs like an angry goat.
Weaknesses: The paint seems to be a bit on the thin side. I have some chips on the chain stay due to chainslap, but that's not a big issue.
Bottom Line:
I noticed an improvement in my climbing the first day out on this bike. The suspension is extremely effective in keeping the wheels hooked up with the ground and it eats roots, stumps, logs, rocks, etc, alive. Getting to the top of the trail or coming back down it, the bike has a very solid, precisely smooth feel and is a blast to ride. Buy it if: You're looking for a high quality bike for XC trail riding, or racing Don't buy it if: You intend to jump off of cliffs (remember, it's a short-travel XC bike) If I had to shop around for bikes all over again, I would still pick the Razorback.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F-1000 hardtail; test rode several other FS rides
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Brian Backman
a Racer
from Las Vegas, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001
Strengths: Super light weight, climbs like a mtn goat, plush rear suspension, lack of flex in rear end
Weaknesses: Getting ahold of someone at K2 is next to impossible and they hardly ever call back. Lack of options for a rear shock if you ever wanted to replace the Noleen
Bottom Line:
Haven't had the bike very long but it is super SWEET. I can climb sections of trail that I couldn't on my Ellsworth. The lockout is a nice option for those fireroad climbs. Noleen fork is buttery smooth once the original shock grease is removed and Slick Honey is added. Even for heavier riders (I am 220lbs) the rear end is incredibly stiff laterally. If you got the money and are looking for a sweet XC ride, Consider this bike, you won't be disappointed.
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR Expert, Ellsworth Truth
Bike Setup: XT/XTR Noleen fork and rear shock, King headset, Easton Monkey Lite carbon bars
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Vail, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Strengths: Climbs as well as a hardtail. Descents are so much faster.
Bottom Line:
I could not be happier with this bike. It climbs as well as my hardtail but I can go so much faster on the downhill. The stock parts on the bike are great although I did remove the Noleen Mega Air and replace it with a Manitou Ti-Lite (The Noleen is probably a good fork but I got a good deal on the Manitou and I know more about Manitou than I do Noleen). The Noleen rear shock is easy to tune and keeps the rear tire on the ground. I do notice some creak in the pivot but it is very minor and I think it is mostly because I need to spin better. The WTB tires were the one thing I did not like and got rid of them ASAP
