Submitted by
Phil Nankivell
a Racer
from Toronto, Ont, Canada Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
The Don is On!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
The Cyclepath - Yonge & Eglinton
Strengths:
Very light at 22.3lbs. Stiff which makes it extrodinarily fast.
Weaknesses:
None yet, and I've raced on it for 5 months.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Sugar 1, KHS Alite 4000, Marin Team Issue
Bike Setup:
Full XTR with Avid 2.0 levers, USE XCR Susp Post, Shimano Flight Deck, Syncros Stem, Syncros Ti Bar, King Headset, Time ATAC carbons with Ti
Bottom Line:
Amazingly light and fast. Crazy fast climber, stable decender. A pure X-crountry racers delight, aspecially the way I had it set up. Super tight and responsive through the singletrack, tracks like a fein through the berms. RIDE THE BERMS!!!! Manitous are fine so far. The lockouts nice on long gradual climbs, just take care of them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steffen Root
a Racer
from Gt Barrington Ma Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:
broken thumb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light, CrossMax, Stiff,
Weaknesses:
The Manatou sx carbon felt like it had mud for internals. Lockout never worked out of the box. Time attac pedals suck.
Similar Products Used:
everything: shop owner I've tried just about everything thats out there.
Bike Setup:
I changed the seatpost to Eastons ct2 carbon, which greatly improved the ride. easton ct2 monky lites and sdg ti saddle.
Bottom Line:
The bike rides really nice now that I swapped the post out. It handles real quick and is real responsive. The fork is less than desirable. I recomend swapping it with a SID, they are the niceist forks going. I want to set the record streight about time pedals: They suck. They are great to get in and out of and are great in the mud but they have one huge flaw. There is nothing holding your foot in latteraly. So when you are bombing down a desent your feet roll outward giving the sensation your feet are going to fall off the pedals. This rolling out motion destroys your feet so after a hour and a half ride or race my feet are burning. I recomend this bike to any aspiring racer that wants a pro level bike wthout paying pro level price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bernard Leo
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Date Reviewed: October 14, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Mountain ridges.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light weight! Very quiet on the move and steers quickly.SRAM 9.0 rd very smooth,quick and precise.
Weaknesses:
Have to deflate rear tyre to remove wheel. Rear end too harsh. XT fd slower than rd.
Similar Products Used:
GT Ricochet.
Bike Setup:
Original except for Coda Suspension seat post and Tioga bar ends.
Bottom Line:
No complaint, reliable (so far), light and straight forward hard tail. Rear end was too harsh ( after 2 years on a Klein Mantra Pro ). The Coda seat post is a welcome relief but I wonder if it'll last.I was considering other hard tails but the Spinergy Spox ( red ) clinched the deal.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Helgeson
a Weekend Warrior
from Wrangell AK Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
n/a
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Everything, very light and handles flawlessly
Weaknesses:
Avid brakes are a little sloppy. I upgraded to XTR
Similar Products Used:
98' trek 8500
Bike Setup:
Diamondback DBR team issue. Manitou SX carbon with MDR lock out
Bottom Line:
A little to high priced and extreme for a casual rider but it is like driving a Porsche.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
T-Hump
a Cross-Country Rider
from Taos, NM Date Reviewed: May 28, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Easy to see why so many worlds have been won on this thing. Very stiff yet somewhat forgiving.
Weaknesses:
Tight clearance on chainstays limit tire size.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Priveteer, KHS, Yeti, Marin
Bike Setup:
Comes with Mostly XT components and XTR derailers
Bottom Line:
Probably more bike than anyone but a hardcore racer could need. Great bike and much more affordable than many of the other big names. Scarey light, but so far durable.
Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 2300.00
Overall Rating:
