Submitted by
sarah rasmussen
a Weekend Warrior
from perth - wa -australia
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003
Strengths: fram , shokies
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
its real good for its price ive done a bit off road with it and i reckomend it for most bigginers. oulthough i dont want to say to much beacose it feels like the best bike in the world coz my old bike was a cheapo huffy. p.s. im only 11 years old
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaumont, TX
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002
Strengths: Frame and Equipment
Weaknesses: Shocks
Bottom Line:
I posted a review when I bought the bike last June. I had it almost a year now and fell a little more qualified to review it now. I loved it then and still love it now. I finaly got to do some real off roading this weekend. Up until now, I was always on the streets. I put the bike through its paces through a residential contruction site. I did learn that if you are riding on truck tracks through dried mud and the tracks are DEEP, don't go in the tracks! You can't pedal. Other than that, the bike performed like a dream. Very easy to manuver and pedal. It shifted great! This was the first time I had to do that much shifting riding and manuvering at the same time. The shocks performed well but are squeeky. I don't know if that is normal or a sign of anything yet. All in all I had a blast on the rough dirt tracks the shell road and the mogul like tracks I found through the brambles (what a shin scratcher though). I still say this is a great starter bike with the best componets you are going to find for the money. Sure you can get better stuff for a lot more money. But you can also get A LOT WORSE stuff for just a little less money. I love my bike and I can't wait to go riding again!
Submitted by
Owen
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001
Strengths: shocks are ok, the gears are great!
Weaknesses: I haven't found one, yet
Bottom Line:
Love the gears, in fact, love the whole setup. I didn't really like bike riding,but my husband convinced me to do it to try and get a bit fitter. This bike isSO easy to ride, the second day we had them (we got one each) we rode for 30km without realising it. For me, that is amazing. I now love riding.
Also, I had a lot of problems with my old bike trying to change gears, this one is a dream - just click up or down!
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Redondo Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2001
Strengths: For the price, you get an alluminum frame instead of steel, it's got pretty good components, looks cool, and is definitely more reliable than the bikes you would buy from wholesale retail stores.
Weaknesses: The shocks are on the cheap side and I had big time problems with the rims. They bent up within 2 months of me riding. Thankfully, I bought the bike from Performance Bikes and they true the wheels for free.
Bottom Line:
I think this is a great bike to begin mountain biking. I'm just getting into it and I'm so happy that I got a good quality bike so that I don't have to worry about getting hurt or having problems while on the trails.
Submitted by
William
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2001
Strengths: good reputation, pretty light, parts are pretty good for a budget hardtail, paint job
Weaknesses: front and rear der, front fork too mushy but then its only 300.00 bucks! Cant be too picky
Bottom Line:
For the money you cant beat this bike. Yea you can be cheap and go to COSTCO and get one of those "Mongooses" for a few dollars less but its not worth it. If you are starting into the sport get yourself a real bike dont cut too many corners. I've ridden this baby for one year and I havent had any problems(knock on wood). True its not the best bike by far but it will give you fun. Some of the things I'm not crazy about are the fr/rr ders. When you shift under some load they dont grab too well and you have to fumble w/the shifter. Better ders. will fix this I imagine. Front shock is also kind of cheap. I am surprised its lasted this long! The chainrings are a little puny 24-34-42, I like riding flat trails as well.
In the end, there are not too many bikes that will beat this bike in price and quality!!!!
Bike Setup: pretty much stock except for titec enduro 141 handlebar and selle italia saddle. shocks will be the next thing.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sharon
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001
Strengths: Good value, great look, easy to change gears, smooth to ride
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
Love the gears, in fact, love the whole setup. I didn't really like bike riding, but my husband convinced me to do it to try and get a bit fitter. This bike is SO easy to ride, the second day we had them (we got one each) we rode for 30km without realising it. For me, that is amazing. I now love riding.
Also, I had a lot of problems with my old bike trying to change gears, this one is a dream - just click up or down!
Similar Products Used: This is my first 'real' mountain bike. My previous bike was a cheapie and basically fell apart.
Bike Setup: Standard - will probably get another seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sharon
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001
Strengths: Good value, great look, easy to change gears, smooth to ride
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
Love the gears, in fact, love the whole setup. I didn't really like bike riding, but my husband convinced me to do it to try and get a bit fitter. This bike is SO easy to ride, the second day we had them (we got one each) we rode for 30km without realising it. For me, that is amazing. I now love riding.
Strengths: Light weight nice frame good price nice colours
Weaknesses: Wheels, derailleurs need trueing/tuning frequently Front shock seems a bit soft (I haven't used other shocks though, so I wouldn't know the difference)
Bottom Line:
For the money I spent ($560CDN) I think this is a good bike. The light weight frame is great! The only big problem is that I keep bashing the wheels out of true and have to take the bike to the shop for tuning every 2 weeks at least. The shifters work ok (see the Shimano Altus/Acera reviews) but need tuning often, plus they don't take shifting under load very well at all. To accomodate my regular offroading I'll probably have to upgrade the rims, shocks and derailleurs. For my first bike it is nice. It works great for city and trails, but it wouldn't be good for any real offroading. It seems like it will pass the test of time, but only if you avoid regular offroad jaunts.
excels on the fast and furious tracks. the smooth set up and soft shocks give you a very comfortable ride. This bike also is good on technical tracks because of the responsive nature on it but it's much better going fast.
this bike is recomended to people who like to bush bash and people who want a good bike while still learning. overall a good bike.
Submitted by
Gabe Alba
a Weekend Warrior
from Cranford, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001
Strengths: The frame. Price. Lightness. Smoothness of drivetrain. Fit and finish. Good brakes, even in the rain.
Weaknesses: None so far; I'll let you know in a few months if any.
Bottom Line:
For $300 I think it's a very fine bike. It's my second real mountain bike; with the Aluxx 6061 frame I can upgrade components in a few years if need be. I think it's a superior value.
Similar Products Used: Murray crap, Ross mediocrity, Raleigh mountain bike (stolen; I forget model number)
Bike Setup: Stock, with PostModerne schock seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Strengths: Good starting bike for someone who has no intention of taking it on anything that a hybrid couldn't handle. Good brakes for awhile, decent shifting, nice colors
Weaknesses: Doesn't keep it's strength long, tires don't last, brakes wear down quick, bike doesn't stand up to moderately hard use. Front shock wayyyyy too soft
Bottom Line:
I gave this bike a rave review under the 2000 edition (prior to the 2001's being available for rating) but some time has passed since then and I feel way more qualified to talk about this bike. If you have ANY intention WHATSOEVER of getting serious about mountain biking, hold off on this bike and go up to the next price range (600-1000 dollars). I've put about 500 miles on this bike in the 4 months that I've had her and she's just barely holding together. The brakes are getting less effective with every day, the rear wheel has come out of true and is wobbling, the bottom bracket is about trashed out and she's needed some new tires for quite some time. If you want a bike that you can take on the paved trails with some jaunts here and there to nice flat hardpacked fireroads, this is the bike for you. Don't take it on anything that begins to resemble singletrack though or your problems will start. I got hooked on riding the first day I started and less than 6 months later I'm already eyeing the "real" bikes because this one won't hold its own on the stuff I like to ride.
Buy it if you ride simple stuff, it's got a great ride to it....if you ride real singletrack or think that you will in the future hold off for a better bike though.
4 flamin' dookies for value....Giant never skimps on components....3 dookies overall. I think that a "mountain" bike should hold up better than this.
Similar Products Used: First "real" moutain bike....tested a few other models prior to purchase.
Bike Setup: Stock plus barends and a computer
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaumont, TX
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001
Strengths: The frame and the components
Weaknesses: None yet. (The rear innertube got a hole in it within a week but the bike shop replace it with a new one.)
Bottom Line:
I started out looking for a bike I could ride with my 3 year old around the block. I didn't want to spend much and the bike shop I went to didn't have anything under 500 except the Specialized road bikes. I also was looking for a bike I could ride off road a little on trails or in the Texas hill country. I was about to buy the cheap mongoose when I decided to go to one more bike store. That is where I fell in love with Giant bikes. (especialy this one) The price cant be beat and niether can the equipment for the money. The shifters blew me away compared to the so called "shimano equiped" mongoose. The shifters and shocks might get replaced if I keep riding and as much fun as I'm having on this bike that is a distinct possibility! I tried the Trek out in the same store and liked it also. I just didn't think it fit me as well. This has to be the best bike for someone like me looking to start riding a little. If you quit you didn't loose much and If you keep going what a great starting point.
Similar Products Used: Trek, Specialized, Mongoose and Huffy
Bike Setup: Factory Setup (might change seat or get a spring post)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jeff rector
a Weekend Warrior
from longwood fla usa
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001
Strengths: the nice aluminum frame and price point for a beginning biker.worthy of later upgrades.
Weaknesses: as of now i haven't discovered any weaknesses but i'm not a over aggressive rider.
Bottom Line:
this is a great buy for someone wanting to experiment with mountain biking and have a quality bike underneath them. at this point i have put around 100 miles on this bike on road and off and it hasn't hiccuped once.I'm looking forward to upgrading later on as my experience builds up. I have found this bike to be real nice in singletrack.i have a little longer reach and this bike is real comfortable. Any one looking to downhill ride or free ride should not look at this bike.
