Submitted by
Eibbor
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Strengths: Almost everything. The seat post is great. I don't know if it came stock, but it has a shock in it. It makes bumpy trails a little easier on your ass, but it isn't a burden going up hills.
Weaknesses: The seat mine came with certainly unleashed the fjucking fjury on my poor ass. I suffered for 5 years and just recently decided to get a new one. Some may argue that the RST's aren't nearly good enough. However, one must consider that this bike is an entry to mid range bike. If you expect your bike to handle 12 foot drops and you bought this, you bought the wrong bike.
Other than the fact that some people may not like the fork, I can't really come up with any other weaknesses the bike has. The only reason this thing needed any repairs over the years was because I was a moron. I had to get some new pedals, but the originals probably took quite a bit of abuse.
Bottom Line:
If you consider what this bike is designed to do, it does it great. This thing has among the best v-brakes I've ever used, great derailers, shifts with no problems, great frame... and so on.
Now, I should say I may be getting rid of it soon. BUT, only because it's a 17 inch frame, and I've grown a fair bit since I got it. I need at least 19 inches now.
Bike Setup: 2001 Z1 Bomers (130 travel) clipless downhill risers mavic D521 black hope enduro 4 front
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2000
Strengths: Cheap, strong frame with nice geometry, powertools are good
Weaknesses: weight, rims (on second set), front derailer needs tuning all the time.
Bottom Line:
Good value for money, haven't been able to destroy it yet... Good first bike, reliable. Not worth upgrading unless you're going for a really expense bike....which i am.
Bike Setup: 21 inch frame,crowbar riser bars, suntour sr MG DH shocks, shimano DX pedals. On second set of running gear.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Justin Chambers
a Cross Country Rider
from Gorham, Maine
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000
Bottom Line:
I'm following up on my last review. Since then, I have come accross a few gripes concerning the bike: I still love the frame, but the suspension needs SERIOUS work. It bottoms out, freezes up, and offers little suspension on rough trails or downhills. Its still okay though for the casual rider. The rear derailer and shifters are good, but the front derailer is bad. The brakes stop well but come out of adjustment frequently. I love the bars and stem, as well as the grips. The brake levers also feel great! The frame suffers greatly from chain slap, but get a lizard skin, its a quick fix. Also look at headset seals by lizard skins because the headset sucks! It takes in water, dirt, grime, etc. The rear rim is weak as well, as it bent after ONE ENDO! And ENDO! you'd think it would hurt the front rim, not the rear. The tire pattern is great on the rear, average on the front, and they seem to hold air well. The bike is the perfect size and has good ergos for me, and is fun to toss around and bunny hop and all that stuff, but the little gripes really seperate it from the great bikes out there by Kona. Bottom Line: Shop around very hard. Check out the Trek 6000. For 115 bucks more you can get a lot more bike.
Weaknesses: fork is a little weak, because it is non adjustable. Once i get the money, i'm putting a Manitou fork
Bottom Line:
This bike is a perfect bike to begin building your dream bike. Its got a nice steel frame that rides better than any aluminem, it has middle of the line components all around, and the KHS warrenty to back it up (25 years on the frame). The fork is weak but holds its ground, and unless your riding competion (which i will) it should hold you for you for the years to come. Only reconmondation, put toeclips or clippless on and replace the fork if your riding style needs it.
Well, i bought this bike over a year ago and the only stock parts that are left are the cranks, which i will soon be upgrading. I am taking the Z3 off and turning it into a trials bike, i find that it has perfect geometry for what I am doing. I had a problem with the rear rim, i bent it doing some trials stuff, but that is the only problem i have had.
Bike Setup: Upgrades: Specialized riser bar, Shimano LX rear, Shimano XT front, clipless pedals
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
sam ??
a Weekend Warrior
from Cochrane, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2000
Strengths: Great frame, shocks are pretty bad, good componet mix however the shifters could use BIG upgrades. Power tools brakes worked suprisingly well compared to shimano.
Submitted by
Topi Tepponen
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1999
Strengths: Good frame, strong rims, brakes, good saddle, excellent shifting
Weaknesses: The cranks are not very stiff, sprockets quite heavy. I've had problems with the rear hub as it cannot take serious abuse in the woods.
Bottom Line:
I guess the Crest is decent bike considering the price. However, if you ride hard you will have to do some upgrades sooner or later, I'm referring to the hubs and possibly the cranks. I have had no problems with the shifting, even though the derailliours front and rear are only Alivio and Stx-Rc. I bike worth buying! Definately change to a riser bar!
Bike Setup: Traditional cross-country bar replaced with a riser bar. Change your bars folks, it will really improve your riding position and the handling of the bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Evan
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: August 6, 1999
Strengths: Quality steel frame, riding position
Weaknesses: Heavy wheels
Bottom Line:
Having ridden a road bike for 10 years, this is my first MTB. Looking at the products around and trying them for size in the shops, the Crest struck me as having the best riding position of them all. It is much longer and lower than a standard MTB at this price range. The overall package struck me as a solid, no-nonsense, no-gimmick bike.I am very happy with the Crest so far. The only downside are the heavy wheels - the only upside are that they're very strong. The frame gives an excellent riding position and is very stable, which enables me to ride and corner confidently. I have already done a couple of long day rides and the bike is very capable of doing that in comfort. The steel frame rides much better than the harsh aluminium frames around this price range.Maybe this is not the bike for everyone due to the long frame, but if you find standard MTBs too upright and crammed in, I urge you just to give this bike a look-in.
Coming from a road background this is my first MTB. This bike was destined for pain whilst I learn all the MTB tricks. Prior to purchasing the bike I compared a lot of bikes and was impressed by the feel and product value of the crest. The rims have mavic sup and ub to help braking - which on equivalent road rims would cost more that the bike itself !! Having been priviledge to use a friends Cannondale F700 and a after riding my Cannondale road bike the the bike is a little heavy to lift but somehow the bike weights disappears when you are on the saddle - Conclusion great value for money and would recommend it to any beginner !!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F700 - upgraded to full XTR
Bike Setup: KHS Crest, change of tyres to clicks for commuting and kevlar specialize for
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian Plummer
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: June 2, 1999
Strengths: Brakes, Color, Price, Construction
Weaknesses: Hard Seat, Somewhat difficult Gears, Wieght
Bottom Line:
This has been a great bike for the money. I paid about $389 and have loved this bike. I have a little trouble going from the front very smallest gear to the middle gear. It may just need adjusting. The seat also seems kinda hard. Maybe I'm just not used to it. It does seem a tad heavy when you compare it to the more pricey bikes. I've given this bike a pretty good run for the money and have been very pleased. I like how it handles and this bike seems very solid.
Submitted by
Spanky
a Weekend Warrior
from Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 1999
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I am 12 so this is my first MTB. I think that the weight (28 pounds) is great for the value. I think it would be a good idea to upgrade the forn and pedals to clippless. Overall i give this bike 5 stars
The KHS Crest it's a great value for your money. Weights 28 pounds which could be considered a little heavy (what did you expect for the price) but I've seen aluminum hardtails in the 30's. THe bike it's great, the coponents are good, the geometry is good, the paint job it's great and it is easily upgradeable. You cannot top this bike for this kind of money. THe only weakness it's the fork, but its been ridden hard and it never complains. A pair of clipless pedals and off you go passing right by more expensive hartails...ain't sweet!
