Submitted by
joe brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Billings Montana
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008
Strengths: WILL NOT BREAK
Weaknesses: saddle, not made any more
Bottom Line:
Best bike that I have ever used buy it even just for the frame. Rides very smoothly. Frame is the best you will ever find. Most similar thing Gary Fisher makes now is ferrous. Great for rough stuff. Does not break even in bad crashes. Very fast light weight for steel.
Bought from a friend who needed the money having always wanted it. size is 12.5" meaning the cross bar slope lines up with the seat stays!! rode hard as semi pro trials bike and unable to even bend it! recently given it a makeover and expect it will last another 10years.taken some serious abuse,ie 10ft drop offs and never had any problems. not light but has out lived countless friends ally and cro-mo trials frames
Favorite Trail: queen elizibeth country park,secret pro dh
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At: friend
Similar Products Used: identiti 666,kona fire mountain,cindercone,minimula,specized rock hopper
Bike Setup: Kona p2 forks,azonic stem,ddg bars,planet x seat, halo sas rear, sun mamoth front,original sugino cranks,dmr v12's,single speed,magura hs33
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Submitted by
michael
a Cross Country Rider
from cincinnati, OH
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004
Strengths: This frame will kick your butt right up into your neck. It's compliant enough for all day, all week riding and at the same time has sucked up some of the gnarliest sections the NC mountains could throw at it. Descends great, climbs better.
Weaknesses: What's not to like about steel? No disc brake tabs, but that will soon be remedied. The seat, wheels and fork gave up the ghost before anything else on the bike. But at 5 years old, original componentry is a non-issue.
Bottom Line:
I'm ~230# and have been abusing this bike for 3+ years. With the exception of a bent derrailleur hanger (stuff happens), the bike shows no signs of wear or fatigue. Bottom line, if you're looking for a steel hardtail that's both cheap and worthy of upgrading for serious riding, this is the frame. I love mine, and as soon as it's prepped for discs it will be a top-drawer unit. Nothing beats a light and nimble hardtail. Especially one that likes 4ft drops.
Bike Setup: The frame is the only piece left from the original purchase. Judy Race, eggbeaters, XT, blah blah blah...
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Submitted by
Mikey T
a Cross Country Rider
from middletown, OH
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003
Strengths: It just plain works. I love how it fits.
Weaknesses: Some stock components are weak
Bottom Line:
Super Bike!!! After 3 years I have changed everything on this bike except the frame and I don't think I'll ever part with it. The stock stuff put up a great fight for years, but the bike has gotten much mcuh better with upgrades. Derrailluer hanger got wrapped up in the cogs one time, but it's bent back and still working like a champ. Absolute best value in XC bikes at $550.
Bike Setup: Judy Race, XT/LX all around, Shimano 535 wheels, Fire XC Pros
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Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Hunterville, NC
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002
Strengths: I purchased the bike in 1999, and I am still glad that I did. It is hard to beat the quality of this frame when you consider the price. The bike is fun to ride, and can soak up abuse. Even though 3 years have passed, I still would not consider paying for another bike (until I go full suspension). And when I do buy another bike, I'll have two of them because I wouldn't sell this one! This bike is STILL worth every penny.
Weaknesses: You guessed it...the shock.
Bottom Line:
This bike is worth holding on to. If you own one and ride it alot (I ride about 3 times a week) you understand why it's a keeper. If you can still find one, buy it!
Bike Setup: Upgrades: '01 Manitou SX-R shock, Shimano SPD clipless pedals, new saddle, current tires are Hutchinson Python Air Lights. the rest is stock and running smooth.
Strengths: The frame is invincible and the brakes work like a charm. The colors rock and the Bontrager rims are tough as nails.
Weaknesses: The fork sucks.
Bottom Line:
I got this bike not to long ago and suprisingly it was in very good condition considering I got it from a pawn shop. It looks brand new. The guy who sold it to the pawn shop had not ridden it on any trails. I saw the same bike selling for $900. I really got a steal. I love this bike man and hopefully it will last for a long time. GARY FISHER ROCKS!
Similar Products Used: fisher Kiatai, trek 8000, fisher hoo koo e koo
Bike Setup: lx components and jett shocks
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Submitted by
Big Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001
Strengths: Very nice frame. Sweet at climing and handles all types of terrain very well.
Weaknesses: Without a doubt the shock. The Jett T2 or whatever is straight up a piece of poo on a stick.
Bottom Line:
I've love the vanadium frame and the genesis geometry. I have had this bike for two years and it is a great beginner bike for a really sweet price. The only thing that really needs to be upgraded is the stock shock. You can ride this thing anywhere and have a blast.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z5 flightlight air and Time atacs mtb's. those are the only big things I have really changed
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Submitted by
Casey Hodges
a Cross Country Rider
from Hurst Tx US
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001
Strengths: Vandium Steel!!!!!! 4 pounds for a medium
Weaknesses: the one I bought had all the paint stripped off. I plan on painting it because it is currently a nasty white.
Bottom Line:
GREAT FRAME!!!! I cant believe I got this for a 100 bucks. the ride is like a dream and the geometry is PERFECT for me. I am 6'1" and it wouldnt take a custom builder to give me a frame I liked better(size large). it climbs great and the only time I lose traction is because of my tires not the frame. if you find these frames anywhere the are a STEAL. it's triple butted and hand welded. I was sold on this frame after I rode my brothers 96 model almost the same tubing. no wonder fisher was so popular, they should still make these. small builder quality steel from a big company
Similar Products Used: Raliegh m-200 aluminum, Giant Cu-92 alloy
Bike Setup: full LX drive with XT rear, LX hubs Mavic 221 rims, LX brakes, tektro levers, Judy T-2, Onza Porcupine classic tires, Wellgo 800 spd pedals, ringle moby post, and Selle Italia flight saddle(ti/kevlar)
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Submitted by
Peter McFeelme
a Weekend Warrior
from Middle Earth, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2001
Strengths: Solid frame, good solid entry level components.
Weaknesses: Color choices.
Bottom Line:
Best bang for the buck around. When I got this bike 2 years ago it was a good deal, and it continues to be. Have put over 1500 miles on it, and it's still running like a dream. I do my own maintenance, so I keep an eye on things. The wheels stay true, the frame is right for me, and the steel will last a real long time. . .
If I could find another one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Submitted by
Sean Ellis
a Cross Country Rider
from Pullman, Washington USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001
Strengths: The Vanadium Steel Frame, Genesis Geometry and Bontrager Wheelset.
Weaknesses: A bit on the heavy side, some lower end componetry but this is to be expected for the price tag.
Bottom Line:
Truth be told, considering the quality of the frame the biked is really underspecd. I'm a bike shop employee and my boss was able to find me one of the last 99 Aquilla's in existence up in Canada for me and I got a killer deal on it. In 1999, Gary Fisher had exclusive rights to use Vanadium Steel in bicycle tubing. It's one of the new heat treated, air hardened steels, very similar to the Reynolds 853 Tubing. True Temper must have made Fisher a great deal on the tubing because the quality of the frame for that price in unbelievable, (especially when you consider what I paid for it!) I'm there are very few availabe to be sold as new anymore, but I recomend to anyone who likes riding steel, that if they can buy one used, they should.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Privateer, which I absolutely Love.
Bike Setup: At the moment, the only change I've made is upgrading to a Bomber Z.3 Fork. However, when the money comes in I plan on spending major bucks upgrading the frame.
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Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Rigby, ID, USA
Great bike for the beginer and price. Once you get a little better it's great for upgrading. Good climbing and control. I realy like the bike. Just test ride one and see for your self.
Bike Setup: LX brakes and levers, LX crank and chain rings, clipless pedals, Bar ends,
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Submitted by
Luciano
a Downhiller
from Mill Valley, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000
Strengths: great frame, wheels, tires, price
Weaknesses: LX parts, RS jett shocks, headset and handlebars
Bottom Line:
this is a GREAT first bike. it comes with Lx parts, a flat bontrager bar and Rs jetts. once you get some experiance under your belt you can upgrade to some risers, nice shocks and XT or XTR. the low end parts were great for learning on. when you upgrade the parts you have a great hardtail. the frame is superb for singletrack. it's very agile and handles well. I've ridden all over North Star and Mount Tam and haven't experianced any problems. a great learner bike and a very good bike once you do some upgrades.
Bike Setup: Z3.5 bombers, bmx pedals, titec risers, XT stuff
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Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Winthrop, MA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000
Strengths: Look,Feel, Componentry for the price, GENESIS!! WTB Seat
Weaknesses: Front deraileur, Brakes
Bottom Line:
I test road over 20 bikes before defaulting to the Aquila. From the opinions I got from the shops I dealt with, this bike has a great frame, and good components where it matters. Don't change a thing, just ride the hell out of it!! I did upgrade to clipless pedals a MUST have. Great entry level mountain bike!! I actually had bought a TREK 6000 for $399..that was the deal maker, but when I went to pick it up, it just didn't ride right...front deraileur problems, just not the same feel. This bike has taken over 200 miles of trail use (mostly at Lynne Woods and if you know this area..you know the abuse it offers) as well as over 150 road miles shared with my Bianchi road bike. I AM setting my sights on a Sugar already but for now, I love my Aquila! The Genesis geo. takes a little getting used to but when you do, I think you'll like it.Very happy with what Gary has done despite all the industry criticism about Genesis..etc..whassup with that?? If it weren't for Gary Fisher, many of us would have no source for inspiration to hit the trails!
