Submitted by
buckeyepost
a Weekend Warrior
from C-bus OH
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2010
Strengths: durable, great frame and riding position, badassness
Weaknesses: none that I've experienced
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE! I love my Kai Tai. I'm a big dude and I ride hard. This bike holds up very well. The Genesis geometry frame is great for climbs and feels a lot more agile than other big bikes I have ridden. Gary knows how to build bikes, afterall he started it all...
Bike Setup: pretty much stock, other than some broken parts here and there from wrecking
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Submitted by
reggie151
a Weekend Warrior
from reggie151@verizon.net
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2009
Strengths: great frame handle's well. it is my favorite bike and i own a few. i have a specialized and a giant that are newer but the fisher is the one i grab most often.
Weaknesses: the frame and bars are the only original parts, it has been rebuilt several times. next time i rebuild it ill send it to ultimate powder coating for a fresh new look.
Bike Setup: xtr drive train Yettie bars xt shifters specialized front tire maxis incisor rear avid disk break xt wheels
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Submitted by
Frank
a Weekend Warrior
from Casper, WY, USA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2004
Strengths: Very light, very strong frame. Deore LX shifters work very well. Love the WTB Raptor tires. This bike HAULS BUTT going uphill and downhill. I can reach over 20mph climbing uphill and well over 40mph downhill. I've C-country raced against Treks and high end K2s and still smoke them.
Weaknesses: WTB Raptor tires wear quickly, in about 600 miles.
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike for the value. Long live Gary Fisher!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rock Hopper RU Rock Ridge
Bike Setup: Stock plus Garmin GPS
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Submitted by
J M
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2003
Strengths: I would say the frame and the wheels are the selling factors for the bike. Everything else isn't very good.
Weaknesses: The bike is quite heavy, but reasonable for the price (around 26.5 lbs)The parts don't last long. Ruined cassette and crank after 3 months.
Bottom Line:
This is my spare bike as I recently bought a 2002 Specialized Stumjumper HT. After racing with it, I found out I enjoy the Gary Fisher way better. This is due to the frame geometry, it's great.I think that Gary Fisher bikes are of way better quality tha Specialized if you ask me. I will defenatly be racing with the Fisher next year with all the new parts!
Bike Setup: Bear frame for now, planning to custom build it.
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Submitted by
TD
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham, AL
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2003
Strengths: Great feel, good design, strong frame.
Weaknesses: Shock, seat, tires, stem
Bottom Line:
This bike has kicked booty! I bought it because I destroyed a Trek and they wouldn't honor my warranty. I didn't have cash to buy a more expensive Fisher so I got the Kaitai and I'm glad I didn't spend more. I love the feel, the color and the handling. I'm just now replacing the Alivio crank. I blew the shock out about a year ago. Replaced the handlebar/stem/tires. Stock shifters and brakes (new pads) still work great. Front/rear deraileur both replaced. I'll still stick with this frame and just replace the parts as they get demolished. Three years of great XC riding and still going strong.
Similar Products Used: Specialized, Bridgestone, Miata, Trek, Giant
Bike Setup: Marzocchi shock, gel seat, lx drivetrain, panaracer fire pro tires, azonic riser, kore stem, stock shifters/brakes
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Submitted by
Chris K
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2003
Strengths: - Nice entry-level to intermediate bike - Component spec is not bad for the price - Light and stiff - Tough, tough, tough!
Weaknesses: - Bontrager cracks and chain rings just didn't hold up - A little heavy compared to XC bikes coming out this year
Bottom Line:
Someone said to me once, "A Gary Fisher freeride hardtail? I've never seen one of those before!" That pretty much says it all. My bike has been abused, there is no other word for it. I bought this bike when I first started mountain biking three years ago. It allowed for a quick learning curve and I was able to transition to an intermediate rider without a problem. Then came the drops. I was addicted. 2', 3', 5', this humble hardtail handled everything and didn't blink once. In its element on the tight singletrack and solid on the drops, its only enemy was rocky downhills (I have the scars to prove it). But hey, you can't make an $800 hardtail behave like a downhill bike.
Over the years I broke everything on this bike, breaks, drivetrain, wheelset, etc. But I was really surprised and delighted that it survived as well as it did. Genesis geometry be damned, this is just a solid bike for anyone who wants to learn to love mountain biking.
Submitted by
Dave S
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002
Strengths: Strong bike, good components, strong wheelsets, rides smooth, good fork, great price.
Weaknesses: Some components could've been better, the tires are useless in muddy or rocky conditions, the pedals were useless unless used with the pedal cage, and unfortunately they don't make this bike any more.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. The first thing you need to do is replace the semi-slick tires, switch out the pedals with some beefy platform or clipless pedals (unless you prefer the pedal cages). After that, you should be good to go. Like I said, some of the components were a little weak, but I wouldn't replace any of them until you need to. If you are a beginner, this bike is a more than perfect starter. If you have been riding for a while, this bike is awesome. If you are a heavy rider, 230+, this bike is still awesome. If you are wanting to get into racing, this bike is right for you. If you can still find one and need a new bike, go buy it now. If you can't find it, go for the Hoo Koo E Koo.
Strengths: Frame, bontrager superstock wheelset, judy xc shocks are great.
Weaknesses: Pedals are weak, seat is uncomfortable, brakes and levers aren't the greatest, and Deore front derailleur provides weak shirting.
Bottom Line:
For the money the best bike around, genis geometry is great. has shown no serious weaknesses even when ridden hard at Mt. Snow. I race on this bike and its great, very efficient. A great bike to buy, but too bad they stopped making them in 2000, maybe some stores still have them lying around or even a used one is good.
Bike Setup: ALl stock except terry liberator, sure foot 4 pedals, velociraptors, and avid arch rivals whith speed dial 7 levers.
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Submitted by
CurlyBob
a Racer
from Boulder CO, orig Wales UK
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001
Bottom Line:
I submitted a review a while back and now have changed my bike, found a used Klein Attitude comp for 650 and upgraded to a sweet bike!, I miss the genesis geometry, but that was all, the Klein is so much more responsive its scary, I since sold the Kaitai and love to fly by people riding them out on the trails, go buy a Klein!
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001
Strengths: Genesis geometry is SOOO nice. I love this bike. Judy XC fork is smooth, gives me no trouble, and I haven't been able to hurt the rims at all, even with my aggressive riding habits.
Weaknesses: Crankset sucks. Bent it one week after I got the bike, so now it's XT. Seat hurts bad. Got a Terry Liberator. Flat bar was too low for me, and the pedals are a joke.
Bottom Line:
Overall, this bike rocks. I bought it because it was (relatively) cheap, and I liked the Genesis geometry. I didn't have the cash to buy a better equipped bike, but I wanted to start riding soon, and figured I could always upgrade later. That plan has worked out really well, and I love this bike. They quit the name this year, and the Marlin is the same bike now.
Strengths: Very light. Good bike for advanced young rider. Super tough frame. Aluminum frame. Shimano front and rear deraileurs.
Weaknesses: Water bottle mount not very easy to place bottle in. Components arent the greatest. Small travel on forks. Only 63mm.
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike I love it. I toook it down an expert downhill and the bike did excellent. The frame is very tough. I would reccomend this bike to anyone who is a young rider and is into big stuff. The best bike!!
Submitted by
Nathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001
Strengths: Outstanding Entry Level CC Bike Good Wheels Decent Brakes Good Gear Set Comfortable Seat
Weaknesses: The stock straight handlebar made my hands go numb and ache after 20 or so miles of riding. Replaced now with an Easton Monkey Lite Riser Bar
Bike Setup: Stock Bike set up; Time Atac Pedals, Easton Monkey Lite Riser Bar (ultra sweet)
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Submitted by
Justin Wood
a Weekend Warrior
from windham
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001
Strengths: Very light bike. Easy to lift over large logs and thngs. Very good shocks, i never have been able to bottom them out. Good shifting but if you are going slow and you try to shift up it sometimes is hard.
Weaknesses: Seat is very uncomfortable if you are riding siting down.First gear is to easy to pedal in I never really go below third gear.
Bottom Line:
If anyone wanted a good bike that is capable of taking some good abuse i would recommend this bike. It is not the best bike for racing but it wil do the job.
