Weaknesses: RS Jett, THE SEAT, cheap no name parts.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike with the intention of upgrading the parts on it later as I got more serious and had more money (I was 15 when I bought it).
All the stuff listed in the setup is what I've changed. I am looking to upgrade the rims and cranks to something beefier.
The frame is the same as bikes higher in the line, except with straight guage tubing. That suits me just fine. I'm a big guy and would prefer stiff and rough to cracked and broken.
I LOVE my bike and have had no problems with it since I bought it.
I am a satisfied customer. Buy Iron Horse. They're great bikes!
P.S. If you read this Iron Horse, a new G-Spot would be great!
Bike Setup: '01 Judy XC, Deore/LX parts w/ Avid Levers, clipless DH pedals, Bonti Riser Bar, Mythos 2.1s, ODI Lock Jaws
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Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Salem, Or, U.S.A
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2001
Strengths: Strong A frame, Stem, handelbar, seatpost, Avilo Shifters, Aheadset. Really good hill climber.
Weaknesses: front derailer, fork is alright, and the seat hurts.
Bottom Line:
I love my bike and i think that it is a great bike now and when it was all stock. i think ironhorse does a great job at making bikes. I will probably get a couple more years out of it to. When stock I think the ideal buyer is someone who is wanting to start mountain biking. when tricked out like mine is, its a full race bike.
Bike Setup: 6061 T-6 al aframe,Lx,XT, 00'Manitou SX-R, Sun Rims CR-18. Irc Tires, wellgo pedals.
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Submitted by
Cosmo Catalano
a Cross Country Rider
from Hanover, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2001
Strengths: Frame, Front Fork
Weaknesses: Seat, Front Derailer, Paint
Bottom Line:
This bike has a nice frame, comparable to all the bikes listed above, but everything else is pretty weak. It climbs hills like mad, dusting everything else in its price range, provided you have the legs to work it. The Rock Shox Jett C it came with is an OK fork, provided you turn the preload all the way down so it will actually respond to the bumps. The semi-slick factory tires it came with were ok, but wore out quickly. Front derailer is crap. The mediocre rims result in a whole ton of flat tires (if you ride it hard, that is) and the paint chips and flecks with every stone and pebble that bounces off it. Pick this bike up for cheap and then pimp out its componentry for a sweet ride.
Similar Products Used: GT Avalanche, Specialized Rockhopper, Trek 4900
Bike Setup: 2001 Manitou SX-R Front Fork, Specialized Mount Baldy Comp tires, Avenir Beryllium bar ends, Selle Italia San Marco Saddle
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Submitted by
brand clark
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake, Utah USA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2000
Strengths: Solid frame, good levers and shifters.
Weaknesses: Iron Horse enema seat, stock calipers, and bald in the middle knobby on the sides tires.
Bottom Line:
I think the positive reviews have been accurate so far. I am an all around rider. I ride this bike to school and on the weekends in the mountains. Therefore I require less than top-end stuff for school, and more than bottom-end stuff for the mountains. This bike is solid except for 3 things. The front derail is weak. Use it 'till it dies (approx 2-3 months), the seat hurts, the brakes broke after I adjusted them.
If you have the calipers with plastic rings I recommend replacing them before you ride the bike so they don't break before you need then (no pun intended).
The only reason I replaced the wheels is because I have super frog legs and I can feel the single walled rims bend when I torque them out in a low gear up a hill. My wheels cost the same as my bike did (or thereabout) I recommend not doing this unless you like the frame enough to so.
I know I sound eccentric, and maybe I am, but I do not think it is eccentric to say that this is a good bike for the money. If I thought I would have progressed as far as I have in the last 2 years I would have purchased a more expensive bike. So far I have no regrets.
Similar Products Used: Trek antelope, Stumpjumper. Univega cromoly, and various Wal-Mart type bikes.
Bike Setup: I upgraded just about everything attached to the frame. Mavic Crossmax wheels, Michelin Hot 5 tires, Deore calipers and both derails to LX. Oh yeah, I finally had an excuse to replace my seat. I left it on while I drove into my garage and it tore the thing off. Hell yeah to replacing the seat, Hell no to replacing my Yakima Steelehead bike mount.
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Submitted by
Tim Wortkoetter
a Weekend Warrior
from Rolla Mo USA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000
Strengths: Everything for the price.
Weaknesses: Seat, paint chips easily, front derailer takes time to get setup properly, poor hand grips
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. I just got done riding 50 miles and it held up like a dream. Nothing loose when I got done. The shock is good for the money. The derailers takes a little time to get set up correctly but give good results. I have had no problems with this bike. Get this bike if you want something that would last for a very long time.
Submitted by
timmie
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, UK
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Strengths: Fantastic bike for the money. Climbs well, I can keep up with the rest of the pack who ponied up for the more expensive biikes (for now). REALLY QUIET... stealth bike, even that comforting "tick tick" is mouse-fart quiet
Weaknesses: The Front Sunrace Derailleur is a steaming pile of crap. The Saddle leaves you begging for something more comfortable (like a barbed wire fence) Replace those, you're set
Bottom Line:
Love this bike, perfect for those who are getting back into cycling, or for those who just want a high quality bike without mortgaging the house. Purchased for £200UK and I couldn't be happier, then again, let me try a few of those trails on Oahu in a few months and I may have something else to say.
Similar Products Used: Not been on a bike for over 15 years, last one was..... red... I think
Bike Setup: Standard issue Iron Horse parts, except changed the crap derailleur for a Shimano Deore Changed the erm... "saddle" (read: the Hemorrhoid maker) for a cushy girly one
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Submitted by
Adan Felix
a Weekend Warrior
from Pampa, TX
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000
Strengths: For the price everything!
Weaknesses: Componets and the Jett shock!
Bottom Line:
This bike kept up with what the trail gave it. For a entry level to mountain biking, it was an excellent bike to learn how to ride with. This frame is solid and excellent. I have sold the bike to get a entry level race bike. But if I would have kept the Iron Horse I would have upgraded every thing on the bike.. I give it Five Flamin' Turds. This bike is better than the bikes at Walmart or any other department store. I will miss my first love that gave me the joy of being out on the trail.. Bye Bye
Bike Setup: Stock, changed the real derialuer to a Deore.
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Submitted by
Ano
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterbury (where?), VT, USA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2000
Strengths: Strong, (reasonably) light aluminum frame, V-brakes, Rockshox, rapid-fire shifters. fast, fun, can take the dirt (and stumps, rocks, raccoons).Good frame to build on
Weaknesses: Tires a bit lame, the alivio components don't like to shift real smoothly uphill (but that could be me..), Rockshox Indy SL is a stiffy! The headstock needs to be tightened frequently, already stripped out the clamp inside the Indy once. The seat hurts your seat. But I bought it second hand...
Bottom Line:
I can't complain for the price ($250 second hand), fun, fast bike, upgradable (Deore, Marzoochi ??). Frame is hefty hefty, but the headstock is whimpy whimpy. I would recommend it, overall, since the price is right. I fear my chilis are a little high in an absolute sense, but they get a boost from the affordability factor in an age of $2,000 bicycles hangin' from SUVs.
Strengths: Rox shock, aluminum a-frame; shimano alivio rear derailer and rapid fire shifter; headset and v-brakes; 24 speed
Weaknesses: front derailer and crank
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great leap above the department stores bikes! Boy oh boy, can it climb some steep hills! I know the shock is the bottom of Rox shocks, I found it very adequate. It has yet to bottom out on me! I have done some fairly rough trails. Great value bike for someone starting to get into the sport! Five flaming chilis!!!
Favorite Trail: Dirt and paved park and mountain trails
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Similar Products Used: wal-mart and sears top line bikes, front and full suspensions
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Submitted by
Francis
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2000
Strengths: aluminum frame, great price for the components, light weight, precise and quick alivio rear derailer, rapidfire shifters, good gear ratio handling some pretty steep slopes with ease.
Weaknesses: paint chips, front derailer(sunrace instead of shimano), seat is a bit harsh(my seat hurts in my first extended ride, and not over rough terrain!),tires could be better
Bottom Line:
Love this bike, great value for the money and tremendous fun for a novice mountain biker!It handles rocks, steep drops amd rises, bumps,tree trunks and curbs with ease. Very nimble! Recommended for anyone who is on a budget in greens but not on fun!!!
Excellent for the money. If you're looking at a starter aluminum hardtail with a name brand fork and alivio components, this is the ticket. Competitors in the same league are either about $100-$150 more or sacrifice something in componentry.(usually it is the difference of a rockshox fork to an RST or SunTour) Don't buy it if you're looking to get into racing right away. If you look to upgrade however, this is an excellent platform.
Submitted by
matthew magill
a Weekend Warrior
from Ashland, Oregon
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999
Strengths: gets chicks with dicks
Weaknesses: frame, shock, derailluers, tires, wheels, etc.
Bottom Line:
whoops I broke the bike and someone ran me over. I wish somebody could be critical in this world. Every rating on this site is above 4.0 if the bike has more than three reveiws so I thought I should change it to keep everyone honest and sales of good bikes down so we can afford them.. :)
Weaknesses: Obviously the components aren't XTR for this price but deffinately a solid bike for the money
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike when I first started to ride MTBs because I looked for a strong frame to build on if I enjoyed it. Obviously I have and I have had no problems. The frame really does rock and there is really no difference in the frame from the other bikes in the ARS series. Overall great bike for the money and awsome for upgrading.
