Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001
Strengths: Great control on downhills. Also strong on steep uphills.
Weaknesses: Front wheel can push (slip) on slippery surfaces if body weight is not distributed just right.
Bottom Line:
The longer forks, shorter goose neck, and frame geometry make this bike a blast on downhills. Keeps me a little more upright and not too far over the front-end. Perhaps not a racey a bike but a lot more fun for goofing aroung and flying really fast on steep hills.
Fisher stopped making the bike. Sales must have been poor, but people are missing out.
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2001
Strengths: Genesis geometry rocks!! Purple hayes hydraulics are very smooth operating and stop on a dime. LX/XTR setup is awesome. The bike weight is perfect due in part to the Bontrager race disks. The Zoke Z3 air has performed well so far, although not as plush as a Zoke oil. Suspension seat post does the job well, as long as you use it for its intended purpose-->just to take the edge off of DH-ing (unlike some reviewers who treat the bike as a 7" travel full, 'cause it has a susp. seatpost, and then get ticked cause they hoop it......ummmm?) Saddle is good, got a Italia Flight coming from ebay, though (sweet!).
Weaknesses: Pedals that came with the bike are too small. Gonna get some shimano platforms. Also, i put bar ends on the Bontrager Crowbar that came with the bike, and now my hands are kinda crammed in there, but i have a longer set of Race Face riser bars coming (also from ebay) that should remedy that problem. Other than that, no glaring weaknesses. (whaddya expect--it's a Fisher!!)
Bottom Line:
This bike is pimped!! Mr. Fisher is on to something with the Genesis geometry. Once you try it, it's very hard to go back to a traditional top tube/chainstay setup. Don't think there's another bike out there that comes as ready to race right off the shelf, as the X. It can and will do it all, and will come out with a s#@!-eating grin begging for more. Would like to upgrade to that luscious Zoke MCR QR-20 fork, but the wife says i hafta toast this one off first. And, knowing Zoke's rep, can't see it happening for a while. Rig is totally nimble, and just gobbles up single track. The regular price of the bike was way out to lunch ($3200 CDN). But, if you can get as sweet a deal as i got ($1900 CDN), you won't regret it. Guarentee it!
Similar Products Used: GT Karakoram, Trek 7000, Schwinn Moab 2
Bike Setup: Purple Hayes hydraulics, full of Bontrager componentry (rims, stem, front and rear hubs, crankset, bars), Zoke Z3 Flylight air, WTB Motoraptors, WTB SST saddle. Upgrades: Selle Italia Flight saddle, Race Face riser bar, Profile bar ends, Odi locks.
Strengths: Genesis geometry, Wheelset, Hayes brakes, Awesome handling ++++++
Weaknesses: Suspension fork
Bottom Line:
This is the nearest you can come to an optimal bike. This is the first really expensive bike I've bought, and I can tell you I haven't regretted my purchase for even one second. This bike gives what it promises. The genesis geometry provides both great increasing and decreasing skills and exceptional handling. The stiff and light wheelset endure a lot! Its racing stability is really amazing! The only weekness discovered yet are the suspension fork. The fork loses its airpressure and the rebound isn't too good. Except from that there's nothing else to criticize. This bike is really amazing. Everyone with the respect for theirselves should buy a Gary Fisher. X-Caliber provides both great XC and Freeride skills. This is a really rock'n'role bike. I've had a lot of fun with this bike. I don't have to be afraid that anything gets destoyed. This bike takes lots of bashing!
Bike Setup: Bontrager Race Disc wheelsystem, WTB MotoRaptor tires, Marzocchi Z.3 Flylight fork, LX/XT/XTR drivetrain, Bontrager Race crack, Shimano M858 pedals (replaced the original RE-1 pedals and everything went soooo much better)
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose Ca
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001
Strengths: Fisher design and detail. He really cares about his product.Climbs well, shifts great with the xt xtr combo. Great modulation on the brakes. LOOKS!
Weaknesses: Stem is pretty much the only thing on here that really needs changing. It's hard to call anything from Marzocchi weak but the flylight does not compare to the coil bomber.The flylight does not adjust either which kind of sucks but it is better than the sid which loses air to easily.
Bottom Line:
The bike rocks. It has a solid feel. The flylight fork is better than the sid fork but still does not have the plush feel of their coil and oil. It climbs well and desends well but could be better with a bomber. Gary fisher has always impressed me with his bikes and this is no exception. It has a cool factor to it also with the orange and yellow mix. Why o why did Gary stop making these. I paid such a ridiculously low price for such a great bike I can't help but smile every time I look at it. I typically spend that much and put the same into a bike after buying but with the way it is set up I will have to buy hardly anything. Since he's not making it anymore I will have to try the Mt Tam Disc later. I recommend this bike to guys who like to have fun but not for the racer.
Bike Setup: Stock. All xt except xtr rear. Bontrager Race Disc. Bontrager Crowbar. Moto raptors which so far I like.
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Submitted by
Bike Junkie
a Cross Country Rider
from Southeastern Mass
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2001
Strengths: fit, feel, zoke fork (it's an air shock so you do need a good shock pump), xt/xtr components, hayes disc brakes, great climber, the frame (worth upgrading when things do eventually break)
Weaknesses: handlebars too short, bontrager cranks and gears (too much flex and not compatible with ANY rock ring), seatpost
Bottom Line:
bottom line is i love the bike. it handles pretty good although i can feel it slip a litte in really fast corners. the zoke fork takes everything i can give it. decents under any condition can be controlled with the hayes disc brakes. its a great feeling being confident about stopping. i never tried the stock pedals, but according to the reviews on this site, they were terrible so i upgraded to time atacs aliums. i love em! first set of clipless and not too much of a problem. the bike climbs great, descends like the bat out of hell i am! and rides like a champ! love the orange/yellow color scheme. little too heavy to race but is perfect to serve as the all round trail bike to take you to hell and back! gotta give the x-cal a whopping 5 flamin' chilis for both value and overall rating!!!
Similar Products Used: i shopped around quite a bit before i chose this one
Bike Setup: swapped out re-1 pedals for time atac aliums, xt shifter (instead of lx), just got a U.S.E. XCR Alien seatpost (didn't even put it on yet...but will post about that later), had to get bar ends....otherwise, stock
Weaknesses: seat post is useless, seat post clamp "won't" , moto raptors don't hold on curves
Bottom Line:
My, how bikes have changed over 10 years. The long travel forks MAKE this bike. They soak up my mistakes and make going down a fast thrill. Brakes are superb and trouble free. Not a race bike. Built to handle serious off road travel, like drops, climbs, etc...I was very happy with old Fisher rigid bike but it was worn out. Got freaked out by the price and the technology but quickly forgot that old clunker and fell in love with X. Tossed the riser bar because the bends interfeared with shifter placement. Sell that seat post to a scrap yard. Get tires before speeding through the curves.
Submitted by
David Neff
a Racer
from Boulder, CO USA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2001
Strengths: Sweet Frame, Hayes Disk, XTR rear derl, descent rims, Cool colors. Owned a 1999 X Caliber Liked it so much bought the 2000 Don't understand why they stopped making them!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: Seatpost (BAD horns down), Stem, Cranks (horns down), Bars (not wide enough) Other than that the bike is dialed. Planning On getting Zoke Z-1 will see if I can blow the Z-3 Air.
Bottom Line:
Had a 99 X-Caliber meduim liked it alot needed a large frame so I bought the 2000 the parts upgrade was nice. Using the bike for freeriding and racing Dual Slalom. I like the large Frame alot better (6' 215). The bike handles like a champ. Climbs great Descends awesome for a hardtail. I Ride dirt jump trails and practice at the BMX track the bike jumps great. The bike is awesome I chose it over a Rocky Mountain and NORCO Torrent due to the comfort and I like to stay loyal and buy from US bike companies. I would recommend this bike for someone that is looking for an all around great riding bike with good componentry for the price it is the best ridng bike I have owned yet. You can freeride the streets of downtown ride your favorite cross country trail or set it up for dual slalom. If you are thinking of buying the bike and you have the money I would change the seatpost, Cranks, before leaving the shop. Horns up on the 2000 X. Fisher needs to bring it back for 2002!!
Similar Products Used: 1999 X Caliber, Cannondale, Numerous other Fisher's the Old Joshua when it was cool, Azonic DS-1, Specialized, Giant.
Bike Setup: Changed the seatpost to LP Carbon fiber, Salsa QR seatpost clamp, Truvative Hussefelt DH (Sweet Cranks Big Hit horns up), Bars Easton Monkey 2.5 rise, Azonic Shortly Delux stem, Azonic A-Frame pedals, Oury Grips, Maxis tires, DS Guizzmo chain guide, THE DH front fender carbon look (looks sweet)!!!!
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Submitted by
joe glodich
a Racer
from shelby twp. michigan united states
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000
Strengths: great uphill handling, very stiff frame , responsive, pretty good components, though i swapped the suspension seatpost for a thompson elite.
Weaknesses: not a coil spung fork
Bottom Line:
its a great bike that is easily a perfect bike with an extra 150 bucks to swap some parts, anyone that doesnt feel like going with the rest of the crowd or just feels they like hardtails more, should buy this bike over a F/S besides, its spiffy looking, its an all around awesome handler, very responsive without being twitchy.
Bike Setup: xtr/xt componenture, a slew of bontrager parts
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Submitted by
Nathan Espinosa
a Weekend Warrior
from Arvada, CO USA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2000
Strengths: This bike is so sweet. It takes the downhill runs smoothly and climbs right back up 'em. Everything on it is pretty much bombproof, and heck, it does everything I try on it just fine. I love it.
Weaknesses: I have'nt found any thig wrong with it yet.
Bottom Line:
For the type of bike, and the money, you can't get much better than this. If your looking for a fast crosscountry racer, this may not be it, but it'll do almost anything you wat it to.
Bike Setup: All stock, except for a new rigid seatpost
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Submitted by
Francisco
a Cross Country Rider
from Chappaqua, New York, US
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2000
Strengths: Powerful disk brakes. good components nice frame good wheelset
Weaknesses: leaky brakes that are high maintence Bent the seat post in half (and I only weight 130) unconfortable brake levers
Bottom Line:
This is an awsome bike if you want to just go, ride and have fun. I STRONGLY recomend getting anything other than the Tamer seat post. The shock is pretty good but a higher end coil and oil shock would'nt have hurt. I really like ridding this bike, but my friend dosent he has a bike that we call "the couch".
Similar Products Used: trek 8000 gt backwoods K2 4000 etc.
Bike Setup: stock, except for a new thompson post and pedals
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Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000
Strengths: Smooth, light, long travel zoke Hayes brakes Nice spec on the drivetrain Light frame/Genesis Geometry Wheels have been a huge plus so far
Weaknesses: Front wheel has trouble tracking on the really steep climbs Tamer seat post is complete crap Not sure how I feel about all of the rise in the handlebars Rear QR clip crapped out on me Tires aren't the most confidence inspiring (though they really do shine in the mud) Terrible QR clasp on the seatpost
Bottom Line:
I got this back in February -- I'd been planning to get a real, bona fide free-rider this spring, but a warm snap way early in the season convinced me to speed up my schedule a bit. I love riding this bike so much that since getting it, I'm a 3 times a week rider, usually doing 14 miles or so per outing, inc. ~3 miles of screaming downhill. This bike has been quite receptive to all styles, all conditions, both on the regular rides and the longer, more epic stuff. It's not *exactly* a light bike, but it feels nimble -- there's a quality about it that makes it feel like it just wants to go.
As I listed under the weaknesses section, it hasn't been entirely without problems. The front wheel's tracking on the really steep climbs isn't so good, but then I am tall (6'5"), there might be some technique to it that I don't have down pat yet, and hell, it's a 100mm shock, what did I expect? Every single other issue is pretty superficial, considering that the stuff that really matters -- the brakes, the wheels, the frame, the drivetrain (sure, the front dr is LX, but who frickin' cares? I don't need to spend an extra $50 to save .2 oz on *this* bike, fer chrissakes! The LX works just great, and there's XTR in the rear, where it really makes a difference.), and the fork (ah! the zokes! those lovely zokes!) -- have all been solid as a rock, and in fact pretty frickin' high-performance when you get right down to it.
The bottom line: If you want a really capable free-ride hardtail to ride everything from winding singletrack to downhills that you have to climb without the benefit of a ski lift, buy this bike. Make the LBS swop out the crummy Tamer post for a real suspension post before you even take the bike home (even if you have to spend an extra $50 to do it). Make 'em swop out the pedals for your preference (I personally dig Times). Be ready for stoopid stuff like the crappy Bontrager QR clips to fail. Ride assured that the important stuff will never let you down. In about 3 months, this bike will be totally dialed in for you, all of the crappy minor stuff will have been culled, and you'll never need to worry about it again.
Bike Setup: Stock, except Coda seatpost and Time ATAC pedals
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Submitted by
Matt Rosenbloom
a Cross Country Rider
from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000
Strengths: -the frame is great for XC -Hayes hydrulic disks are A1 -XTR derailer is great -the Z.3 Flylight 100mm shocks are good but not Z.1
Weaknesses: -wheels are light, but are not strong. I had to replace the front wheel because it bent so far that the tire would rub the shock. -the crank is only of LX quality which is a disapointment -the seat post is not quite strong enough for me a rider that weighs 215 pounds, I have bent it once and am switching to a USE post -the free wheel has broken on me 3 times now -crowbar is not strong enough -DH riding is disgusting because of frame and wheels -the frame geometry is also not good for jumping or trials (not a well balenced bike)
Bottom Line:
The bike is a cross country bike. Not good for DH or trials and jumping. Other than the free wheel and the front wheel I have been satisfied. I bought the bike for XC and its wounderful at that. My bike ran in at 26 ponds 11oz. half decent for a bike with Hayes, a DH tire and 100mm shock. This bike is for a free rider or a jumper.
Bike Setup: The bike is almost completly stock except for a DH front tire and USE seat post.
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Submitted by
brent
a Racer
from anchorage alaska usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000
Strengths: the bombers, the breaks, and the paint
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
I'm 14 and only weigh about 120 I love how the shox are soo adjustable, the breaks are great they just stop on a dime and the frame looks great. I love this bike but it is not a racing bike because the fork and the breaks make it a little heavy. I race with a kona caldera it is much lighter but it is not as comforatable, for a ride with friends I would MUCH rather ride the x-caliber but it is not built for hardcore racers. the bottom line is I love this bike!!!
Bike Setup: flat bontrager superstock 620 bars, and I changed the seat post to a rock shock post.
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Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Dayton, Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Strengths: Genesis frame, Hayes disks, Marzocchi fork
Weaknesses: No issues to date.
Bottom Line:
My goal was to purchase a bike that could take the stresses induced by a big rider. At 6-3, 225 pounds, I have never, before now, owned a bike that hasn't started creaking or clicking after the first 10 miles. So far, after over 30 tough miles, the X-cal has taken every lick without a wimper. The Genesis riding position and Marzocchi 100mm stroke fork allows faster decents, without a doubt. It's nice to know that you can stop on a dime too!
My only issues are with the seat/post. The post will not stay at the set height, with the force provided by the quick release clamp which comes stock on the X-cal. I'm about ready to scrap the quick release and go to a simple cap screw type. The other potential annoyance, for those of you considering this bike, are the urethane inserts in the seat tube as deliverd from the factory. It appears that they are the hardest available, because I have the preload backed all the way off and only make the minimum deflection per Tamer's set-up instructions. If you weigh less than 225, you better get softer inserts when you pick up the bike or you won't get any travel out of the post at all. A minor detail, but it might save you a trip back to the dealer. All in all I am very satisfied with my decision to by this bike. It isn't built for speed, but if you want a plush indestructable ride, and stopping power that your buddies envy, I highly recommend this machine.
Submitted by
Brett Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, SC
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000
Strengths: Great value. Genesis geometry, Z.3 Flylight fork, Hayes hydro disc, good wheels, cool paint scheme.
Weaknesses: Crankset, BB, Tamer seatpost.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike, all things considered. Mine weighed in at a little over 27 pounds, not bad, with a 100mm fork and disk brakes. The seatpost is great when it works, but it started locking up after about 5 hours in the saddle (in muddy conditions). And right now, it's in the shop, awaiting a replacement part for the clamping system on which the threads were stripped after a fairly mild bunny hop. The part is about a week and a half overdue now. I'm thinking about changing to a Rock Shox, despite the assurances from my LBS that this won't happen again. Also, the Bontrager chainrings, about LX quality, don't shift much better than low-end Shimanos. The bottom bracket is a little flexy too, but it's only noticed when I'm in the big ring, and the chain rubs against the front deraileur on the downstroke of the right crankarm. Other than the seatpost and the crankset/BB problem, which can probably be fixed with a new BB with a shorter axle, the bike has exceeded all of my expectations. The Hayes brakes are the best I've ever used, and you'd be hard-pressed to make me go back to V's on any other bike I purchase in the future. The geometry is the most noteworthy aspect of the X-Caliber. Anyone who has ridden a fisher before knows what I mean. "Climb more efficiently; Descend with confidence; Navigate with precision," is not an overstatement. What also surprised me was how well it accelarates, even when I'm in the seat. The fork is airsprung, with rebound damping. I think the damping is adjustable, but I'm yet to find the adjuster. The Z.3 Flylight isn't as light as a SID 100, but it's bombproof, and can take a lot of abuse. If it happens to deflate for some reason, stop riding immediatly, because the oil will squirt out through the air valves, if you compress it. If you're racing, or planning on racing, but want to do some freeriding on the side, this is the perfect bike for you, mainly because just adjusting the air pressure in the fork can drmatically change the way the bike climbs and descends. Also a good bike if your old bike is getting worn out, or you want a hardtail to balance out your stable of FS bikes. If you're a hardcore race geek, and regularly ride in the expert class, this is not the bike for you. 100mm is too much travel, and you probably don't want the extra weight of disc brakes. If you're a hardcore freerider, this shouldn't be your first choice either, mainly because of the fork. Airsprung suspension comes with a lot of friction, which isn't what freeriders want. Plan on spending another $400 to $500 for a new fork, if your part of the anti-air movement. Also, I would not recommend this bike to someone who is new to the sport, even if they have a lot of money to spend. They would be better off with a sub-$1000 hardtail or FS rig to introduce them to the fine art of moutain biking. This is my second "real" mountain bike.
