|
Airborne
1999 Lucky Strike
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Michael S
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Yes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Direct via Website | | Strengths: | Excellent workmanship and finish. Spot-on geometry. Sweet price.
Great website to assist buyers with sizing and options. | | Weaknesses: | Butt ugly stickers...and lots of them. | | Similar Products Used: | No ti frames. Previous mtbs: GT Zaskar and Specialized M2. Hardtails rule. (yes, i've tried full suspension...) | | Bike Setup: | sram 9.0 shifters and der., chris king, magura loiuse, time pedals, raceface, ird carbon bars and synchros carbon post... | | Bottom Line: | I'm 6', 180lbs and riding an 18". I used Airborne's website to calculate the frame size. I could just as easily be on a 20" and maybe should, but I really like the feel of the 18" frame. Nice, tight geometry, slices like a bad-mammajamma and climbs great, too.
As mentioned by others, their customer service is a pleasure to deal with. My girlfriend actually got me a corsair to begin with (yeah, ain't she sweet...) but I wanted to run discs. They exchanged the frame, no problem. Though I did ask for them to leave the stickers off of the frame they still put 'em on. Oh well, a razor blade and an hour later and that problem was solved.
Great ride for a great price.
Who should buy an airborne: Those wanting a sweet ti ride without having to sacrifice body parts to get it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch Guthrie
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedford, IN
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any flat ones | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Purchased At: | Individual | | Strengths: | Price, quality, customer service, looks. | | Weaknesses: | Chinese titanium, some politically correct people will complain | | Similar Products Used: | Voodoo mountain bikes | | Bike Setup: | XT and XTR groupo mix, Rolf Propel wheels | | Bottom Line: | Very easy to deal with airborne, excellent customer service. I purchased this bike used and had it sent to Airborne to get the bike checked. They tuned it up, checked the frame, transfered the warranty and sent it back to me. I weigh 235 pounds and this bike does NOT flex much at all. I liked this bike so much that I ordered a new one for my wife. This is the best value in a Titanium bike on the market. The purchase by Huffy only seems to have helped them to bring more bikes into the market. Mine is a pre-Huffy and I was worried at first. Not now though. Go check their website at all the cool bikes.
Please ignor Derek's review below. He is just mad over a stripped seatpost clamp because he can't use a wrench. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Foreman
a Cross Country Rider
from SF, CA
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | Airborne.net | | Strengths: | Frame quality, frame geometry, price, customer service. | | Weaknesses: | hmm...cheap stickers, stereotypes from posers.
Not really a weakness, but rather a warning: Due to the excellent climbing geometry of the rear triangle, on decents that same rear triangle takes one-hell-of-a-lot of punishment if your going down bumby, rooty, rocky fire roads. I had to replace my free-hub body in my SPOX rear wheel after about 2 rides at OAT HILL trail in Calistoga, CA. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Zaskar, YETI. | | Bike Setup: | 18" frame size, XT shifters, levers, cranks, BB. Avid Arch Rival, Spinergy Spox (all black spokes-SUPER COOL!), Rock Shox suspension, Syncros (no-hinge) stem, WTB 2.1 tires, icon post, etc... | | Bottom Line: | Frekin' Awsome bike.
Climbs like a champ, decends like a recently released river down the Mississippi floodplain.
I would like to address some of the Nay-Sayers: Huffy did buy out Airborne, yes, that is true...but did you know that the collective card carrying members of the Klu Klux Klan own 50.2 percent of Snapple beverages?
Point is, that we live in a ever increasing world of consolidation. Get over it!
I spent about six months researching what bike i was going to spend my hard-erned money on and i could not find a better bike than the Airborne.
I've learned a few tricks for getting my bike just right. I am 6' 185lbs, and i ride a (smaller than recomended) 18" frame. I place my Selle Italia saddle as far back on my post as possible. This give guys like me (that is most of my height comes from having a long torsoe) an extra little bounce during bumby climbs. Think of it as a See-Saw effect. I also run about 4" of travel on my fork because the geometry of the rear triangle is sooo sharp compared to the long top tube and openess of the front triangle that the bike won't flex vertically even if the fork rebounds from a 3.5" drop. This allows me to clear steep decents without having to streach out and risk the loss of balance. This bike also handles best with a standard no rise bar...not that i have much choice with my stem. If you use a no-binding "old school" Syncros cow-head stem you know what i'm saying.
I think the best feature of this bike is its geometry. It puts the rider right on top of the rear wheel so you can climb (even the tech. stuff) without having to come out of the saddle if you don't want to. Hell, i can even steer around obstacles and switch backs on steep climbs without fear.
PS: You absolutely must run with fat tires. So all you bright orange clad racers throw away your slicks. This is a RIDE HARD bike. It works best if you know how to ride it. That is you have to have some turning skills (like riding my old POWELL PARALTA bmx bike). Trust the bike, that tight, high speed turn you never seem to make at speed...you can make it with this bike.
OH, one more thing...anyone looking to ride in the Bay area, look me up!
Mike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jayur Mehta
a Weekend Warrior
from Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Airborne.net | | Strengths: | Great titanium price at an amazing price. Good welds, great geometry. From the time it takes to order this bike, build it and get it through the mail, is fantastic. 14" frame is great for the smaller rider who wants more control. | | Weaknesses: | Marzocchi fork not set up well upon delivery. The frame flexes as expected. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Deore Lx almost all the way, Avid SD 5 levers and XT shifters. Marzocchi x-2 ZFLY fork and Kore GASS pedal.
Rolf Sattelite wheels and Kore components. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a great second bike for anyone who doesnt care much about the prettyness of their bike (though I think mine is a work of art). The bike rides fantastic and just begs to ridden hard, I feel as if I have more confidence as a rider because of it. The people at Airborne are amazing also. If a part you need isnt in stock, they will not hesitate to upgrade that part for almost no surcharge.
I've take this bike riding trails, urban assault and just cruizing and in every way this bike performs great. The 14" inch frame makes this bike fantastic for more technical riding and jumping. I highly recommend this bike.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Ora Co., Cali
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | joplin | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | LB bike show(frame) | | Strengths: | Durability,quality,graphics,monostay | | Weaknesses: | very slight lateral flex in the nasty stuff | | Similar Products Used: | Sworks,Ibis,litespeed | | Bike Setup: | XTR,King headset,hubs,handbuilt wheelset,Avid mag,White Sl,LP bar,Airborne Ti stem, WTB pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I purchased my Lucky Strike frame from the owner of the company at the bike show. I had my LBS do the build up with instructions to make it fast and light with no concern for cost. I have raced this bike in addition to riding it 3+ times a week for two years. It is a great bike! It climbs fantastic and is a joy on fast and technical singletrack. I have never had a problem of any kind. I ride hard and I am 170pds. I have noticed a slight flex in technical sections that involve drops and turns, However that is not the type of riding the bike was designed to handle. I own a number of highline road and mountain bikes and can afford to build what I want and I still find myself riding the Lucky Strike more often than not. I would recommend this frame to anyone that is looking for a quality ride. You can build it for much less than I spent and still end up with a great rig at a bargain price. The build quality and performance is there, don't believe the boutique, pimp ride polishers that say otherwise. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Wright
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa FL Usa
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | airborne.net | | Strengths: | price | | Weaknesses: | none really | | Similar Products Used: | Owl Hollow, Unicoi, Tellico, Fisher Joshua, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | xtr D21 mavic downhill wheelset, xtr cranks, brakes, shifter etc. Superfly frontshock, thompson al seatpost kore stem, titec 118 handlebar, chris king headset. | | Bottom Line: | I Have cracked every frame I have ever owned, mainly because I am an aggressive 215+ lb rider. And true to form I have also cracked this frame as well. Does this Frame FLex? OH HELL YEA, but what would you expect especially with the abuse the frame was under. But the bike has been great. I really have no compliants, It does everything well.
My only concern now is the hairline cracks that developed on the top tube, going across the welds, onto the seat tube. I am afraid that they will not warranty the frame, blame the cracks to perhaps a too short of a seatpost, which honestly is not the case. I just sent it off and will post another result depending on the outcome. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CHARLES
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC,
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | AIRBORNE.NET | | Strengths: | TI, PRICE, | | Weaknesses: | FLEX, CUSTOMER TREATMENT,COMPANY POLICY, UNABILITY TO RIDE FIRST | | Similar Products Used: | SCHWINN, LITESPEED | | Bike Setup: | ALL LX/XT ATAC,SELLE SAN MARCO,MICHELIN, OURY,EASTON BARS | | Bottom Line: | I ORIGINALLY POSTED A EXCELLENT REVIEW HERE MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS. WHAT I DID'NT KNOW WAS THAT 6 MONTHS LATER, AIRBORNE KEPT MY CREDIT CARD # AND BILLED ME MORE $ FOR A REPLACEMENT BAR AND STEM AFTER THE ORIGINAL WAS NOT A GOOD FIT. WHEN THE 2ND BAR AND STEM CAME, I IMMEDEATELY GOT A CHARGE ON MY CREDIT CARD AND THOUGHT I PURCHASED THE 2ND SET-UP. I DID NOT READ THE FINE PRINT AND DID NOT KNOW I STILL HAD TO SHIP THE 1ST SET-UP BACK, SINCE I WAS BILLED. NOW, 6 MONTHS LATER, I AM BILLED AN ADDITIONAL $66 FOR NOT RETURNING THE IST SET-UP.I FEEL THIS IS BAD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS'NT ABLE TO RIDE THE BIKE FIRST. ALL THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO DO WAS NOTIFY ME WITH A SIMPLE E-MAIL OR CALL, AND INFORM ME I OWED THEM THE 1ST SET-UP. NOT JUST BILL AN EXISTING ACCT, SO BE VERY CAREFUL DEALING WITH THEM | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shane Swanson
a Racer
from Minneapolis, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The numerous trails in Duluth, MN | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | Airborne in Madison, WI | | Strengths: | The frame is indestructable. It climbs and acelerates very well. I want to consistantly go faster whenever I ride it. The seat stay design reduces frame flex as experienced in other titanium frames when applying the rear brake. | | Weaknesses: | Too much lateral flex. Do not try to go MTB trail touring with it as which might be true with any titanium frame. The manufacturer has removed the rear rack mounting holes from angles where the seat and chain stays meet. It will also flex laterally if out of the saddle and sprinting, especially at my weight of 180 pounds. The weight is 3.76 lb for an 18 inch frame, which is heavier for a titanium frame, but the bike is still quite light with the components (~23 lbs) and for the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Schwinn | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Mavic Crossmax, Manitou Mars 1 | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a good alternative to more expensive titanium bikes. I have had mine since April of '99 and have raced 28 XC mountain bike races with it. I have around 2100 miles on it and have had only componentry problems such as broken chain, pulled spokes, pinch and thorn flats. If you weigh more than 180 pounds and ride a 19.5 inch frame this bike may have too much lateral flex for you. The best way to find out if you like is to ask a friend who has one to let you test ride it or go to Airborne in Madison, WI like I did and test ride one for a couple of days. Their service is great and you will not need to use the lifetime warranty for the frame. Good luck finding your ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gustavo
a Weekend Warrior
from Guadalajara,Jal,Mexico
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Strengths: | - Ti bike at a great price. That means a great frame to ride in terms of life weight and softness, in my opinion is one of the best bikes price performance. | | Weaknesses: | Airborne Saddle it hard, get a different one | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized StumpJumper M2
Cannondale F700 | | Bike Setup: | LX Components
RockShock Suspension | | Bottom Line: | I had a Specialized Stumpjumper 90 M2. I was happy actually it is a great bike, but I decided it was time to get a new bike. I went and look at different bikes, my budget was around 1000 USD, I ride twice a week, I have been riding for 7 years. I wanted a light hard tail bike, I will not go into the details of why I discared full suspension bikes.
Anyway, I tried to find a Specialized Stumpjumper M2 and I could not find a decent price on that bike and could not find my size to try the bike. So my second option was Cannondale, I got a good price on a F700 with XT components and I was happy with their suspension. Nevertheless when I started to ride it, I had some problems: Too stiff, center of gravity was too high, which meant that going downhill I did not feel comfortable. So I decided to switch again, after 3 months with my Cannondale. When I bought the Cannondale I did not purchased the Airborne because I could not ride it. But later a friend of mine bought one and I was able to test the bike.
That is when I fell in love with the bike. It was soft as my stumpjumper, but lighter, great bike going uphill and even better going down hill. The frame will last forever, will never scratch. The geometry is very well balance in terms of the size ratios.
Get this bike, do not get scared because you can not test the bike, you will like it.
Price performance I do not think anybody can beat this bike. When I looked at other Ti bikes they were at least 1000 USD more expensive.
Company: Look guys, I am located in Mexico, I exchanged my seat and post, my credit card did not work the first time. Regardless of all the problems they had with me as a customer, they were GREAT, customer service was great. Everything I did was using email, and it worked great.
Maybe you read this and think this is too good to be true. Well is true. There is something bad I have to said their saddle is terrible, get another one, not the airborne saddle. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean O'Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula MT USA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | secret creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Airborne Direct | | Strengths: | the whole package | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | numerous Al and CrMo hardtails at varying prices ($500-1500) | | Bike Setup: | Marz Z2 BAM, XT crank, front der & bb, SRAM 9.0 SL rear der & shifters, Avid AR 50 brakes and SD 2.0 levers, Salsa Moto Ace stem, RaceFace LowRiser bar, King headset, Ritchey Logic Pro pedals, Icon seatpost, Bontrager FS+10 Race Lite Ti saddle, Colo Cyc wheelset (Mavic 217, DT 14 ga, XT hubs), Panaracer Fire XC pro tires | | Bottom Line: | 5 flaming chilies. Please ignore the Jeff (wait for me) Pagan comment below. It is a ridiculous flame-post, and I suspect that Derek Mattice posted it. For some reason, some people need to slag Airborne -- I guess they find it funny. I don't. I have ridden lots of bikes and owned several hardtails, and I have never ridden any hardtail that handles, climbs, descends, corners, and just plain rides as well as this bike. Anyone who has a problem with this bike either probably hasn't been fit correctly, or just doesn't like the Ti ride. As to fit, Airborne's customer service is unparalleled and they will do everything they can to fit you to the right setup. As to the Ti ride, if you don't like it, Airborne also makes a CrMo frame. The bottom line -- there are NO flaws in this bike. If you buy one, you will NOT be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Croteau
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood, Mahlon Dick.,Tourne | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1954.00 | | Purchased At: | Airborne.net | | Strengths: | Quality, Value, ability to custom spec. EVERY component and see the price and weight online, customer service, looks, Ti ride. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing, being able to try before you buy. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized hardtail, Klein hardtail, C-Dale hardtail, | | Bike Setup: | XT drivetrain, Avid mag brakes, White Bros.SC72UL fork, Airborne Ti saddle, Ti Barends, Panaracer Fire XC tires, Bontrager Race wheelset, Raceface handlebar, total weight 23.2 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome, light, responsive and strong.
Buying the bike was the best part.
They have a great website that simplifies the whole process. I found the fork (a demo at 1/2 off retail price) on their classified ads page and went from there.They don't make the Lucky Strike without Disc tabs any more so I asked them if they had any more of the old frames. The president of the company e-mailed me back saying that he had one left with a blemish on the decal and gave me a good discount. I asked him who I could call to spec. the rest of the bike and he gave me his direct number. Spent about 45 minutes going over each component after asking me some basic questions about my height, weight and riding style. A week later, the bike was at my house. After spending an hour carefully unpacking the bike, attaching the handlebar, my pedals, front wheel, and seatpost, I was on the trails.
It climbs like a goat and is fast and stable. After a week or so, I decided to get a longer stem so I called them up and they sent me a new one for free.
Now it's perfect.
I highly recommend the company and their bikes to anyone who wants a quality Ti bike at a budget price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from CA (soon to be from TN!)
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | many many | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Frame, weight, bike handling, individualized component selection, customer service, value for the dollar. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing: the cable guides/braze-ons are located on the bottom of the top tube. This makes carrying the bike difficult. Also, with Airborne, you cannot test ride the bike before buying. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, GT, Cannondale. | | Bike Setup: | - 19.5 Lucky Strike Frame
- XT Drive Train and Brakes
- XTR Cassette
- Bontrager Valiant Asym Rims w/XTR Hubs
- Manitou SX Ti fork
- LP Composites Carbon Fiber Seat Post (I got rid of the Rock Shox suspension post)
- WTB SST.X saddle
- Bontrager RE-1 Clipless Pedals
- $2,100; 23.5 lbs total | | Bottom Line: | I have now owned my Lucky Strike for 13 months and have probably put 2,000 miles on it on dirt, rock, and desert sand (I ride almost exclusively off-road). The bottom line is that this is a great bike, especially when you consider the price. I daresay that it rides as well as Ti bikes twice the price.
There's not much I can say that hasn't been said below on the positive aspects of this bike and how it handles. Just some thoughts:
- I have crashed this bike multiple times -- hard. There have been no structural effects to the frame from these wrecks, and the worst thing that happened was a bent brake lever (that my LBS was able to fix).
- I "upgraded" from the Rock Shox suspension seat post to a rigid carbon fiber post -- I didn't like the feel of the sus. post under my rear. The combination of the Ti frame and the sus. post actually provided too much vertical flex. Now, with the rigid post, the feel is perfect.
- The frame is rigid in all the right places (laterally), and flexy where it is supposed to be (vertically).
- The $1,300 price listed at the top of this page for this bike is a bit of a red herring. That price would be with the bottom end components only. I had to spend $2,100 to get an XT Lucky Strike that weighs 23.5 lbs. My guess is that the guy below whose bike weighs 20.5 lbs. (!) must have spent close to 3K. Yes, there is an inverse relationship between the amount you spend and the weight of the overall bike. This relationship is easy to see when you are spec-ing out your bike on Airborne's cool web page.
- I found that individually picking my own components was one of the best things about this bike. You get a ride that is personalized for YOU.
- Customer service: 1) I got a free upgrade on my wheelset (almost a $150 value) simply because they were out of stock of the set I ordered. 2) I have changed my stem free of charge four times under the fit guarantee (yes, I'm a perfectionist and am trying to "detail" the fit). With each request, Airborne has sent me a new stem free of charge.
This is a great bike at a greater price. The only danger is that the consumer will listen to those like Derek who for various reasons are threatened by the Airborne Corporation, instead of purchasing one of these wonderful mountain bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Tedesco
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol CT
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Nepaug Resevoir | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong construction, bike has stood up to some abuse on trails. I weigh in at 190 pounds and am an avid twice a week rider in trails alone. The bike is responsive in tight technical areas and is a great climber. The fit of the bike is comfortable as well as efficient. Also the bike does not make creaking noises as aluminum bikes do and absorbs more of vibration than aluminum frames.
I purchased my Airborne on the internet and found the whole experience outstanding. There staff was informative and to the point. All options I had selected with the bike came in 100% correct. And the bike was reveived a day ahead of their promise date. A nice follow up card and call was also done to check out satisfaction as well as how the minor assembly went together, nice touch. | | Weaknesses: | Only one - the headset froze up on me. Airborne sent me a new one overnight. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Owl Hollow
Balance AL-750 | | Bike Setup: | XT V Brakes, Sram gripshift, Sram rear and XT front, Judy Race shock, I.R.C. Mythos tires, W.T.B. headset and XT front and rear hubs with Asym wheels. | | Bottom Line: | This bike was a great purchase from the start. I purchased the bike on the internet which initially I had felt akward about. But dealing with their staff was a pleasure. Every component I had selected was all there 100 percent. And the bike was even received a day ahead of schedule.
This bike is not a cheap entry to Titamium. I am a 190 pound rider who rides twice a week religiously and not on gravel roads. This bike handles extemely well and is a great climber. I would definetely recommend this bike to anyone interested. See you on the trails, I will be the one who just passed you out with an smile from ear to ear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TommyD
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford, MS
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Sardis | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Wow.. it's wicked fast, first of all. The brakes are excellent, as is the drivetrain. I loved picking-out the parts myself, and it's also a good-looking bike. It's good going both uphill and downhill - nice and light. And you can't beat the price. | | Weaknesses: | Well, if you're a label snob, you'll either have to get over the name or buy something else. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 830, Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | standard LX set-up, with a few parts tweaked here & there | | Bottom Line: | The service department at Airborne was top-notch. The bike gets me around town during the week, and on the weekends, it takes me everywhere else.
Airborne sent the bike partially assembled. If you're not comfortable installing the seat, handlebars, and pedals, you can bring it to a bike shop for assembly and Airborne will rebate the cost up to $25. Excellent.
Also, be careful with the parts picker - you can end-up shooting yourself in the foot if you're not careful. And get over companies, people. Ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave O
a Racer
from S of Durango,CO
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Alien Trail,NM/Colorado trail,CO | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Tough,durable and has a good geometry
for tight corners and technical areas.
Much smoother ride than my old M2 Stumpy. | | Weaknesses: | I have an occasional creak but i
think it's the XT chainrings wearing
out.I go thorough those frequently
from lots of climbing... | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized M2 Stumpjumper,
Trek 7000,Lightspeed Obed(tested) | | Bike Setup: | XT-XTR components,Manitou SX-Ti,
Mavic Crossmax,USE seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I've had the pleasure of riding the Lucky Strike
for 2 years and still have great performance from
this well built bike.I race,ride many miles in
training and it still never fails.I have ridden
the Obed and i liked it also,but it didn't feel
any better than the Airborne.The fit acually felt
less efficient since it was slightly larger.
There is a posted review from Derek Mattice that
has been revealed on another bicycle site to be
untrue.He doesn't even own an Airborne,admitted
he just wanted to stir controversy.It is a case
of pure jealousy that Airborne owners can get such
a good deal and others gotta burn their wallets to get
a Ti bike.
My father (expert welder) inspected the welds and
told me that they are natural and not ground.No
pinholes or flaws that would affect the integrety
of the frame.The finish is not bead-blasted like
a Moots or LS but is is semi polished and brushed.
Easy to fix when scratched on rocks.I don't see why
Airborne is criticized for it's unfinished look
when a heavy duty downhill bike like Brooklyn Cycles
specializes in unfinished,rough Heavy Metal parts
that can be only described as jewelery for death
metal groups.
I have tested this bike in some of the most rugged
conditions of the US,my own backyard.From easy short
trips,challenging singletrack to steep technical
terrain,this bike can deliver my skills effectively.
I can climb 1000s of feet in altitude with ease and
bomb down Haflin Canyon,a very steep and technical
area near Durango that no average riding tourist
should ever try.And if you do,better buy a $1 CO
outdoor rescue card or you'll get charged the full
amount for rescue if ya get hurt,which is entirely
possible there.(hundreds to $1000s of $$$$).
I don't believe those kind of riding conditions exist
in the state of Michigan,Derek.We have REAL MTS,REAL
ALTITUDE ASCENTS/DESCENTS,REAL MTN BIKING for MTN BIKERS!
Take my advice Mr Mattice; stop riding pavement to
the 7-11,take a trip to some genuine mountain country
with mts over 12,000ft and live up to your claims
of what a superior bike is.Maybe it's not the bike,
could be the rider....
Anyway,The Airborne is a proven bike that can handle
terrrain superbly with durability.Only the rider will
set the limitations what it can do on the singletrack.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean O'Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | sneaky pete/meow mix | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Price. Handling. Weight. Geometry. Frame design. | | Weaknesses: | Not "chi-chi" enough for poseurs like Derek Mattice, but that's not the bike's weakness -- the poseurs are to blame | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Paragon. Trek 6000 and 930. Kona Explosif. Kona MuniMula. Various Cannondales. | | Bike Setup: | SRAM 9.0SL rear der & shifters; Avid Arch Rival 50s and SD 2.0 levers; XT front der, BB, crank; Mavic 217/XT/DT wheels; Icon post; Bonti Race Lite FS+10 seat; RaceFace LowRise bar; Salsa Moto Ace stem; Marzocchi Z2 BAM fork; Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 tires; Bonti dual density grips; Chris King headset. | | Bottom Line: | Best bike around for $1500-2000, without doubt. If you need to own a Yuppie brand name, then go ahead and get a Moots, Litespeed, Seven, Merlin, Titus, etc. You will get a frame that has fire-road geometry and pretty welds, if that is your cup of tea. With the Lucky Strike, you get sweet-handling East Coast geometry (short chainstays, long top tube, fast handling), the cushy ride of Ti, welds that are good enough for anyone who doesn't find his/her identity in a bike frame, and an all-around wicked singletrack beast. This bike climbs, steers, handles, and descends better than any other hardtail I've ever ridden. It's ridden the rocky, rooty, rutty hell of Northern NJ, the sweet baked clay singletrack of Avalon/Patapsco MD, the dry, rocky and sandy trips of Fruita CO, and the varied rocky and rooty forest singletrack of the Northern Rockies. You can't touch the quality of this bike at this price, unless you work in a bike shop and get Pro Deals or other shop discounts. Ignore Derek Mattice's obviously unreasonably biased opinion, and take it for what it's worth -- sour grapes and crocodile tears. This is the real deal. Ignore it at your peril. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill W
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything I can find | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Price, quality, ride, setup, customer service | | Weaknesses: | Headbadge started to peel off. No prob cause it was a little ugly anyway. Wasn't initially thrilled about buying a mailorder bike | | Similar Products Used: | I tested nearly everything I could get my hands on. Trek, Specialized, Cdale, G Fisher, Kona, etc. | | Bike Setup: | XT, Manitou SX Ti, 517 + C King wheels, King headset, Carbon bars, gripshifts, Selle Max Flite Trans Am saddle, Geax or Ritchey semi slicks depending on conditions, 545 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike and have put a couple of thousand miles on it. The setup is perfect for me. The guys at Airborne really helped me translate somewhat subjective requests about the feel I was looking for to subtle changes to the configuration. On many of the bikes I tested I felt too far forward and felt like I could endo easily. So airborne, specifically Jamie Radin, recommended using a couple of spacers, short stem with a slight rise, shorter cranks, etc. None of the guys at the shops I went to were as helpful. They typically suggested only to try another bike. What's so hard about swapping a stem?
I think my frame's perfect. It and everything else was mint coming out of the box. The weight and quality are amazing. Everyone who's ridden it loves it and the price came in around 2 grand. I think the look of the tubes is great including the rear.
I wasn't too happy with the Sun Ringle wheels I originally selected and later upgraded to 517 + King which I bought used on this website. They made a huge difference.
Some of the people that diss this bike - well just read their comments. I'd be pissed too if I spend a grand more and didn't get my money's worth. When they sound like morons their reviews speak for themselves. If you have any questions feel free to email me. I could go on and on about this bike!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek Mattice
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Makes a great anchor for my neighbor's boat | | Weaknesses: | Ugly, hideous seat stays. Weld quality is average. Bottom bracket flex, etc. | | Similar Products Used: | Many hardtails and full suspension, current rig is a Litespeed Unicoi. | | Bike Setup: | It had XTR, Manitou SX Ti, etc. Right now the frame resides at the bottom of a lake making sure my neighbor's boat stays in one place. It's that heavy. | | Bottom Line: | The seat stays are hideous. The welds are average at best. The bottom bracket WILL flex if you use a high quality, stiff crankset. This bike's performance did not impress me at all, and for all of the naysayers that claim this bike works as well as a Litespeed, why does Lance ride one disguised as a carbon fiber Trek? It's impossible to tell the difference between a Litespeed, Moots, etc. unless you have ridden one (which judging from the reviews most view as a work of art only?) It's a bike-you pay for what you get. I can tell you that my Litespeed is far stiffer in the bottom bracket and it's geometry works alot better for me. The fit, finish, and weld quality are also far superior on the Litespeed. And I don't have to make excuses for those ugly, heavy, seat stays. I paid $500 more for my Litespeed than Airborne is charging for their softail. Which was promised by Jamie Raddin six months ago. I guess the boat from China got lost. Was it worth it? I think so. Speaking of Raddin and his employees, I stripped my seatpost collar (a common complaint) and it took three phone calls, an e-mail, several lies, my threatening to return the frame, and three weeks to get me a seatpost collar. Some customer service. If you've got to have Ti then go ahead and take this leap of faith. Some people here seem happy with their bike, but I wasn't. And don't e-mail me telling me that you can spank me at any trail, anytime. I'm sure there are people on Airborne's that can smoke me, but it's my money, and my opinion. I would liken their frame to the other budget offerings from Huffy, if you shop for your clothes at K-mart's too then have at it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jiho Park
a Weekend Warrior
from Lagarange Park
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rockford State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very comfortable ride and looks really sharp. | | Weaknesses: | Too much flex and a little heavy for a ti bike. Cheap Head badge. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 950 (HEAVY!!!!) | | Bike Setup: | Judy xc, full 9sp Xt, 517 mavic rims. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is bomb proof. I have flip the damn bike a few times and NOTHING! I on the other hand have tons of marks.
It's a great climber but a little slow on switch backs, riser bar should help for this. It's also really fast on down hills. I would recomend this bike at a heart beat, it's a bargin for the price and it's Titanium. May not be an Ibis or a Merlin but it sure beats a Trek or a canondale.
One more thing, The company was bought out by Huffy over the winter. I don't know if this is a good thing because they have alot more money now or a bad thing because it's HUFFY. I got mine way before the deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Grants Pass, OR
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ain't tellin' | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | perfect frame geometry; lightweight; relatively inexpensive; sloping top tube gives great sideover height and easy dismounts; that great Ti feel; the rear triangle is stiff but not too stiff; beautiful, tapered rear- and chainstays; in general, this is a great-looking bike that rides like a dream | | Weaknesses: | super-stupid braze-on placement (underneath top tube), too-narrow top tube, monostay looks very weird | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Gary Fisher, Schwinn | | Bike Setup: | LX/XT, Manitou SX carbon, Mavic 517's | | Bottom Line: | I would say that anyone who hasn't ridden for a few years and hasn't owned at least one other mountain bike should not buy an Airborne — you really need to learn about equipment (what you need and what you like) and what kind of riding you like to do before spending $1300+ on a bike you've never seen until purchase. You won't get this kind of information on Airborne's website; better to go to a bike shop, get some individual attention and advice, look at various bikes, do a few test rides, and then decide based on firsthand experience.
However, if you're already experienced, Airborne is a great way to go. This is a sweet frame. The geometry is dead-on perfect — the long, sloping top tube is just the right length, and that, combined with the position and length of the rear triangle, puts your weight exactly where it should be. Consequently, this bike descends brilliantly and climbs even better. I've never felt so comfortable and in such control on any other mountain bike I've owned.
On the negative side, who the hell decided to put the braze-ons on the underside of the top tube? Not only does this make the bike difficult (and dangerous) to carry, but if you put your bike on a trunk rack, the weight of the bike will throw all the cables out of alignment — I have to re-adjust mine after nearly every ride. Guees I'll have to buy a roof rack.
As for Airborne's customer service, be careful. They are very willing to do what they can to help you, but some of their technical people are idiots. I got some truly bizarre responses from one guy there — but then considering some things salespeople in bike shops have told me, I guess it wasn't that bad.
One caveat for those who do buy a complete bike from Airborne: If a particular item you want for your bike is out of stock, Airborne will offer you something better at a reduced price. However, I found out that many people threaten not to order unless they are given the better item for no additional charge, and Airborne usually will do this if you demand it. I paid $85 more for my bike simply because they didn't have the wheelset I wanted; kind of pissed that I could have gotten the upgrade for free had I just asked.
Overall, this is the best bike Huffy ever made — an excellent-looking, lightweight, well-handling bike. I doubt the $1,500 I spent on my Airborne could have purchased a better bike from some other company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Erie
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Solid all around frame. Welds look pretty good to me but i really don't stare at them while thrashing the trails.
Amazing climber | | Weaknesses: | None really unless your one of those peeps who are offended buy budget ti. | | Similar Products Used: | Concorde\steel, Specialized\M2 Diamond Back\steel, SpecializedFSRxc\M4 and so on and so on | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, RAce face stem, Easton Carbon Bar, Max wheels | | Bottom Line: | This bike is super sweet. I've heard the weld are not the prettiest but I don't sit there and stare at them and the bike has not busted on me yet. It has been very stiff on the climbs and compliant on the ruff stuff. It's a great all around hard tail. I don't know why some riders who ride the expensive ti bikes are so threatened by this bike. They all talk about the quality of the Ti and welds. They still can't beat me up a climb, and that's all that really counts. And if the frame should break, well liftime warrenty will replace it. Sweet Ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Sun Valley, Idaho
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fisher creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Affordable ti ride. All anyone could ask for
in a cross country machine at ANY price. Climbing
characteristics are outstanding. | | Weaknesses: | welds are a bit sloppy but who cares ( as opposed
to those on a moots or ibis ).. Local shop guys will
have a polarized reaction: either good or bad.. on the
negative: they wonder why you didnt shell out four grand
for an xtr equipped moots. | | Similar Products Used: | trek, schwinn etc.. | | Bike Setup: | full xt, judy sl, 19.5 frame etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. Should suit the needs of most
riders fine. Perfomance is outstanding. If you want a bike to look at then get a moots ( most of us would have to sell off everything we own to be able to afford one of these "boutique" bikes ) because its unclear that an
american ti bike will outperform an airborne... and to the bike shop NAYSAYERS: if all of us worked in a bike shop then we could afford to get boutique frames on shop deal then maybe we wouldnt have purchased Airbornes .. glad
you have the opportunity to ride everything when cost
seems to be no consideration..also consider the source:
airborne is a threat to snobby local bike shops ( not all
are like this mind you: many admire airborne for what
they are doing: and if they cop an attitude then
you can take your bike somewhere else to be worked on )
Think about the cost involved in owning a SEVEN for
instance: even if you had the money do you really
want to shell out this kind of cash for a BICYCLE??.. think
about it..
and to address the HUFFY issue that keeps coming
up: Who the hell cares whether or not HUFFY owns Airborne?.. its a seperate division for crying out loud.. geez.. get some wine to go with your cheese.
Another quick note: airbornes customer service is outstanding. If you are hesitant about being left
out in the cold by buying direct forget about it. These
guys absolutely stand behind what they sell ( as much
as any local bike dealer ) They really want happy customers
and will work with you to make you happy.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B.R. Field
a Weekend Warrior
from Arvada, Colorado
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cresent Park/Walker Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great price & value. Welding(Yes!), ordering and getting exactly what you want on the bike frame from the bottom bracket to the seat post. Weight and prices shown when specing your bike out. All problems resolved quickly and in a professional manner by Airborne staff. | | Weaknesses: | Not able to see and inspect frame prior to buying on line. Negative, unjustified criticism by competitors or people who think Ti frames can only be built by US frame builders. I have a 2000 model and no MTBR location for it!!
| | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn, Trek, Bridgestone | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR, Hugi 240 hubs, SID XC, Mavic 517, Icon misc. | | Bottom Line: | I read all the reviews, checked the geometry, material and specs of the available Hard Tail Ti bikes and this was the best value on paper. I was a little concerned about weld quality, when reading reviews like the two negative ones below (I call them negative because they use words like "poor" and "crappy" without any supporting facts)and some magazines. When it arrived, I inspected everything very closely and I was extremely happy and impressed with the frame, its alignment and the welds. The welds are of excellent quality, done in one pass with good penetration at all contact points (I'm a structural engineer and a certified welder in steel and aluminum). The Ti tubes are formed and shaped well, with no detectable creases or other deformities in them during the manufacturing process. Finish is excellent if you plan on racing or riding this bike. If you want artwork to stare at, buy something else to hang on the wall. This is a bike you can ride hard, for long periods, thats quick climbimg, light and durable and reasonably soft over small bumps. I think the frame will last a long time with minimal maintenance. The other components installed by the Airborne staff were all done well exactly as I asked ( I like my front brake on right hand like on a motorcycle), they also made suggestions on components that upgraded the item without cost to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Turk
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | price, ti-feel | | Weaknesses: | graphics eventually scrape off (big waaah). monostay extensions unaligned | | Similar Products Used: | moots, ibis, litespeed | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR, Zokes Z3light, | | Bottom Line: | Aesthetically: the rear seatstay (Dekerf style) is certainly not as elegant as an Moots or Ibis, no doubt, but it's no more hideous than any aluminum hardtail. The chainstays, however, are Dekerf cool. The frame's finish is not as pretty as a Moots, Litespeed, etc., but it is still quite striking and easy to maintain with a scotch brite pad. The stickers will eventually fall off, but big friggin' deal. I like the sticker-free look, but I just might get some "Huffy" stickers just to amuse myself.
Performance: I reported the slightly unaligned monostay extensions awhile back (see old Lucky Strike reviews): no performance problems at all. The bottom bracket gives you the kind of flex you would be looking for in a ti-bike, especially w/a stiff crankset (right now i'm using the XT 8speed). With the ti flex, you'll probably need brake boosters if you ride any altitude.
I'm sure "Litespeed has reams of data concerning Airborne's Ti tubing (Chinese) and how it stacks up compared to Ancotech or Sandvik tubing," but I have yet to see how it makes any bit of difference in the PERFORMANCE of the bike where it mnatters for the average hardcore rider...ya know, how fast and responsive it is, and how durable. I've replaced every single part on the frame, except the seat collar (and by the way, my seatpost collar was not stripped, and front fork (and my old WTB saddle that's more duct-tape than anything else, but duct tape goes nicely with the frame), and it still builds-up very nicely.
I commute to work on this bike *every day* (it feels great on the road), hit the trails every weekend, and race it very often. After 1.5 years it's got about 6000 road miles, and 1500 off-road miles on it. I continue to appreciate it's climbing ability and handling on the rooty rocky Georgia singletrack. And it's fast...let's just say that I'm enjoying passing the Sport Class posers on their $3,000 American-made ti-bikes...which isn't to say I'm not drooling over that oh-so-beautiful Moots.
If you can afford an American made ti-frame, please let me live vicariously through your purchase of your dream bike. On the other hand, if you want an extremely durable, nicely designed hardtail that will win races (and don't care if the parent company is Huffy), it's worth your time to find one to ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Sloan
a Racer
from Fresno, CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | San Joaquin River Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Fantastic bike, especially for the money; very light - 20.9 pounds; saves money bike picking the components you want from the get go, rather than having to replace stuff; understated good looking bike. | | Weaknesses: | Everyone will want one - there goes any advantage | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Ground Control; Bianchi road bikes | | Bike Setup: | The lightest of everything from Airborne's selections; 18" Ti frame; SID SL fork; XTR/Gripshift SL; Bontrager Racelight wheelset; Avid Mag brakes; carbon handlebar | | Bottom Line: | People can't believe how light this is, and for not much more money than some other companies' Ti frames alone! Airborne's website showed it would weigh 20.6 pounds; my scale and a bike shop's scale both had it at 20.9 pounds (the bike shop said they had never seen a mountain bike that light).
The bike came ready to ride after 10 minutes of unpacking and installing the stem, pedals, seatpost, and front wheel; I mean, "ready to ride!" No adjustments whatsoever needed. Man, is it light - can't quit picking it up; receieved it on Friday, rode it on Saturday, and raced it on Sunday; everything worked perfectly, even in the race that was 90% mud. The bike is so light you can hop it over many things you might otherwise have to ride around or through; on my first ride up a steep single track I have ridden a thousand times on my full suspension 29 pound bike, the same gear ratio I usually use, ordinarilly pushing it to the max, was incredibly easy on the Airborne. The thing handles like my 16 pound road bike, too; you think it, it goes there; the Ti frame absorbs most bumps and chatter - don't miss the full supsension at all (selling the latter now).
Ordered the bike late on Friday, received it the next Friday, although should have been here on Thursday but for a shipper problem. Good communication with Airborne; they were very helpful and informative. I do feel guilty not supporting local bike shops, but they can't do this - put a bike together with exactly the parts you want, and show you the weights of everything, and for this kind of price. I was hesitant to buy this way (internet), but I have been buying computers from Dell this way for years. No messing around - just spec what you want and you get it. All costs and specs known as you go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Ride quality, appearence, and cost | | Weaknesses: | The cost is so good, the competition can't stand it | | Similar Products Used: | GT Lightning, GT Karakoram, Diamondback Ascent | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Rock Shox, Sub Sub IV, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I've had this bike for almost two years and it has held up and still rides beautifully. When I bought it, I was taking a risk because the company was almost brand new and no one had review the bike. I was surprised both in how good it looks and rides from the very beginning. My bike weighs a little over 22lbs. is comfortable and always gets good comments from the various shop mechanics that have looked at it when I take it in for an adjustment. The finish quality compares very favorably with a Litespeed. This is an excellent frame for someone who wants the advantages that titanium offers without paying a platinum price. The bike has a lifetime warranty and not one has been warranteed for failure. (I just checked with Airborne before I wrote this.)
To get a true impression of this frame, check the "other categories" section of the reviews, then look under "frames" in the Hall of Fame area where the Lucky Strike had 55 reviews with enough positive to make the Hall of Fame it's first year for sale. Compare their statements to that of the little guy below.
(By the way, within the first 1.5 hours of Derek's post at another forum about his stripped seat post collar, I posted an offer to send him mine as a replacement, just as a courtesy since I knew how easy it was to get a 31.8mm collar. Unfortunately,he didn't want a replacement, he just wanted to make complaints, so he never accepted my offer.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chewie
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Whistle Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Excellent climber/sprinter. Inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | See the review. | | Similar Products Used: | Many | | Bike Setup: | Full XT w/ Mavic 517, Flite Saddle, Z-2 BAM | | Bottom Line: | I posted an Airborne Lucky Strike review before the MTBR site was redone. The complete review can be found at http://home.earthlink.net/~wantapeanut/airborne.html. Here is an excerted summary:
"This bike is a rocket, it loves to gain altitude. When I think of the climbing capabilities of this bike I think of analogies like mountain goat, scared squirrel, scalded rabbit or space shuttle. I was so used to consciously weighting the rear wheel on my previous bike that when climbing on the LS I pulled the bike up over my head and landed on my back on the first steep hill I encountered. After that I gave barely a thought to the rear wheel. Climbing quickly developed a natural feel to it. I have been cleaning formerly unclimbed sections of trail. I cannot say enough good things about the LS's ability to climb. I have always loved uphills and ascending is this bike's forte." | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doc Jay
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bad Kreuznach, Germany
Date Reviewed: October 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Kuhberg | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
good ride quality
drivetrain well adjusted right out of the box
relatively inexpensive for Ti | | Weaknesses: |
Component failures(supplier problems?)
customer service could be better | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale Super V800
this is my first hardtail | | Bike Setup: |
Lucky Strike (16)
Z2 Bam
Airborne Ti seatpost
Selle Italia Flite Gel saddle
XT/Mustang wheelset
SRAM 9.0SL drivetrain
SRAM 9.0 brakes and levers
XT everything else
Chris King headset
yadda yadda yadda | | Bottom Line: | Didn't have it more than 3 weeks when I had a spoke pull through the rim. Took forever to get replaced. Then we figured out that the SID XC that was on it was blown. Took a few weeks for that. The SID blew once more before I replaced it. Overall I like the ride it gives. Still kinda miss the C'dale once in a while. Does really well in the races and never lets me down when I ask a lot of it. The frame hasn't given me trouble yet but the BB was overtightened. Big downside to this bike is that you can't just walk into their shop and have them help you on the spot. It's a real pain in the butt doing everything with such a distance. Tend to be slow on answering e-mail sometimes. Sadly enough, the CEO (Jamie Raddin) is a big culprit of this. Not everything can be put on their shoulders as far as problems. At least it handles well as a bike. And the ride is great with the Ti seatpost. | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 1300.00
