Submitted by
Joshua Olson
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntsville, Texas
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004
Strengths: Solid frame, great fork, nice components(especially for 4 bones), brakes are actually really sweet, great climber and awesome descender. Disc brakes work really well after you dial them in. Takes hard riding with no problem.
Weaknesses: None compared to the price I paid except the crappy seatpost.
Bottom Line:
Great Cross-Country bike. If you can find one, get it and turn it into a sweet ride that all the guys at the trail will be interested in by making a couple of upgrades like saddle and seatpost for starters. I am so glad that I found it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rockhopper and and Stumpjumper. But I would choose the Raliegh over Specialized now.
Bike Setup: Stock except Easton Ea50 seatpost and Sette Italia SLR saddle. Soon, I am going to get a new Easton stem and a Monkey Lite riser bar.
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Submitted by
Ishmeal
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002
Strengths: Fast, good components, This bike is good for XC, but I wouldn't take it on any trails which are rough. The rims won't hold up. You get decent components for this price range. Quick. Nice brakes.
Weaknesses: Weight, Weak Rims, Terrible seatpost, distasteful green color,
Bottom Line:
This bike is good for pure XC riding. Don't use it for anything else, or you'll find yourself eating dirt or digging pebbles outta your knees.
The components are good, but you need to swap out a few items such as the seatpost.
I've ridden over a year and logged many hours on this bike. The tires are on the skinny side, so watch out for loose surfaces or you'll get up eatin dirt.
The front end doesn't pull up well. The bike never gave me enough confidence to tackle the harder stuff.
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Everett, WA, US
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001
Strengths: All components are mid to high end name brand components. The Rock Shox Psylo XC shocks eat up the bumps and the Magura Julie hydraulic disc brakes work in the worst of mud(I live in Washington state...it rains 8 months out of the year). I thought the seat shock would be wierd but after a 2.5 hour ride my butt was hardly sore compared to my last bike.
Weaknesses: I may switch out the Wellgo clipless peddles, they seem to be hard to get in.
Bottom Line:
This bike is for the avid rider who loves technical trails and downhill bombin'. I shopped for a couple of weeks and nothing compared to the bang for my buck!! I paid $799.00 with no regrets(They say it retails at about $1100.00). I've only owned it for 4 weeks and ridden it 8 times(usually in seriously muddy conditions). So shop around, take one for test ride and try to haggle the price down.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mtn., Mongoose, anything in the market
Bike Setup: Magura Louise Disc, Thompson post, Tioga DH 2.1s, Tioga DH Rims, other then that stock.
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Submitted by
Sean Farrell
a Racer
from Marietta, GA 30068
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001
Strengths: (THIS IS FOR A RAEIGH M800 2001) This si the best bike i have ever owned, it has a huge fork on it that gives the best control while going down a technical hill. The components on it are great, LX and XT. It comes with a setpost shock which i love. It has saved my life many times, if you know what i mean. Unbelievable pirce
Weaknesses: It is extremy light for a freeride, towards the heavy for cross-country.
Submitted by
John Flynn
a Cross Country Rider
from Yardley, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001
Strengths: The greatest strength of the 2001 M800 is the price. You get decent components and a good frame for a great price. The Psylo XC is a damn good shock, providing the rider with plenty of adjustments in travel. Majura Julies have stopped me from breaking my neck a number of times. LX-front, XT-rear, no complaints. Koski stem and bars will do fine for now, but will be replaced. WTB wheels will also do fine for now, but will be replaced. The bottom line on the Raleigh M800 is price. You get a great riding hardtail at a damn good price.
Weaknesses: WTB Motoraptors...not sure if you've used these, but I had zero luck with them. Made in Taiwan Suspension Seatpost.....absolute junk. WTB saddle....not the top of the line, my ass complains.
Bottom Line:
**Please note this review is for the 2001 M800** I read someone else's review for the 2001, they seemed to think they're no longer in production....I bought mine in April and had to order it from Raleigh....so, I'm not sure, but I think you can still get one....this bike is great as I've said previously.....great value....really nice hardtail for the cash....most important, the bike is made in the USA...an important factor....the person to buy this bike is someone who doesn't want to spend over a grand on a hardtail, but wants a superior bike.....save the grand plus for when you finally go full suspension.....personally, my back might make me buy a FS sooner than I thought..hope this review helps someone....ride hard.
Favorite Trail: Chimney Rock, Round Valley, Wissahickon
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At: Bustleton Bikes
Similar Products Used: '00 Specialized Hard Rock A1 Comp FS - stock set up
Bike Setup: stock, except.... Motoraptors changed to Michelin Hot S Suspension Seatpost changed to Easton Carbon Fiber
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Submitted by
Archille
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame with minimal flex. Strong overall handling. RS Judy Race. Very good mechanical disc brake.
Weaknesses: Weight, it's on the porky side/
Bottom Line:
Very good hardtail for the money. The V-brake riders in my group joked about the disc brake until they saw how much value-added it is to my riding our technical DH section. Precision handling and stop on a dime braking. The rear can be steer with confident. It is a tough little buggy. Seems to inspire more DH handling confident than my Klein Pinnacle, eventhough the Pinnacle is a much lighter due to the current setup. I threw it down our local DH section more than once and it came away in a better shape than I.
Weaknesses: Wieght of the WTB speeddiscs is a magior draw back and the cones are always coming loose, i plan to upgrade theses soon, LX FD never worked right very long after a tuning, suspenions seat post
Bottom Line:
This is a review for the 2001 M800. Awsome value from a USA based company, well that is until this year. The frame is nothing like i ever seen from Raliegh before, a intigrated headset and huge machined dropouts, where do they get away with that??? the psylo is a little heavy and has a lot of travel for XC riding, but is great for big drops and the North Shore stuff. If you can find this bike buy it its the best value at the price point and with the money u save you can upgrade the WTB wheels and have a great all around bike. I thin they may have stopped production of the bike because of finacial probs Because i have never seen any other 01 M800 other then mine.
Similar Products Used: Raliegh M80, and many others
Bike Setup: stock w/ alum seat post, rock ring
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Submitted by
Travis
a Weekend Warrior
from Boone, NC
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
Strengths: Value...Value...Value...if you are looking for the best hardtail value on the market --look no further. The brakes are great once they are worn in and set up properly. The parts are super--ready to abuse right out of the box. Bulletbroof wheels and drive system. This bike is worth a $1000 just for these parts alone.
Weaknesses: None other than weight...yet the weight does not seem apparent when riding because the bike behaves and climbs so perfectly.
Bottom Line:
Wow..a great bike for the price..Cant beat it. The absulute best value I have ever seen for a hardtail in this price range. I give it ***** stars for value and **** for preformance(weight) (although you could easily shave this weight with the money you saved). A great bike, great parts ..rides like a dream.
Bike Setup: stock + a race face low rise bar and continetial tires.
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Submitted by
Jerry M
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland.,Or USA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000
Strengths: Price, good component mix, wheel set, color, and did I mention price!?!
Weaknesses: Weight, but who cares if your running disc brakes.
Bottom Line:
Here's the real deal, lokking for a hardtail with disc brakes at this price was too good to pass up. Living in Oregon where you get 3 months of dry weather and the rest wet, made this a perfect fit. I own a '99 FSR Sport, and having a low mainteance hardtail with disc brakes are great!I bought this after the factory recall of the disc brake, and they work great. The judy shocks are a perfect fit with this bike. A lot of full suspension bikes have disc brakes, but I wanted a hardtail with disc brakes, good components and the Raleigh 800 is perfect with someone on a bike budget(like most of us!, hey I had to twist my wife's arm, I already have another bike) If you want to ride in wet muddy conditions, this bike is perfect, it looks great, get past the weight, and this performs with bikes twice the price. If your a person concerned about weight this bike is not for you, but if you can find a light weight disc brake hardtail under $1000 please let us all know!I rated this higher than my FSR, this bike rocks!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpjumper comp, Trek pro9.8(my wife would kill me if I came home with that!)
Bike Setup: So far stock with Easton Monkeylite bars and Stem, Panaracer Fire Pro XC tires, and Body Geomerty saddle
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Submitted by
Dave Bennett
a Racer
from South Hadley, MA USA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000
Strengths: Just an update from my last review. I changed out the bars to a 7 degree ICON riser bar, this is the set up that works for me. Much more "user friendly". Also El Marko at DiaTec sent me some new calipers to replace the older versions. They are "GREAT". Bike stops now like it has hydraulic brakes. Thanks El Marko, I'm glad to see a company stand behind it's stuff. These brakes are top notch now. I've been pounding this bike for 4 months now, racing and X-country riding and not one problem. Buy this bike if you just want to ride without having to screw around with stuff. It still needs the regular PM stuff, but this bike "ROCKS". Raleigh hit the mark with this one.
Weaknesses: Still a little heavy, frame is stout and you pay for the extra weight somewhere. Aw what the heck, I need to lose some extra weight too.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a keeper. I'm sure I'll be riding mine till I die. Next bike for me will be a FS model. I still think this is the best bike for the cash. RockShox Judy race fork, Shimano LX, Mavic Rims, assorted WTB stuff. Great bike, now all I need is for Raleigh to sponser me X-Country racing. We can all dream HUH! Five Flamers
Similar Products Used: I tried several bikes before I bought the M800. In this price range all of them are good bikes. I just liked the 800 the best.
Bike Setup: Icon 7 degree riser bars, rest is stock out of box.
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Submitted by
Dave Bennett
a Cross Country Rider
from South Hadley, MA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2000
Strengths: Great bike for the cash. Great parts and an excellent frame. I've been thrashing it for months x-country riding and a few races and no problems what so ever. Bullet proof! It shifts great, front brake stops you fast enough to lift the back end off the ground, and it climbs hills better that anything I've ever rode.
Weaknesses: The rear brake kinda sucks and it's a little heavy for a x-country bike.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money, about $900 bucks. I would recommend it to someone who likes to ride a bike that's a little heavy but takes a beating and comes right back for more. Can't beat it for the money. Great parts.
Similar Products Used: I own a Specilized Hard Rock FS too.
Bike Setup: Right out of the box.
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Submitted by
brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas,TX
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000
Strengths: Great components for $900. The disc brakes work great after breaking them in.
Weaknesses: Only one color to choose from liquid-green/black. They should include El Marko's guide for the disc brakes.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike for the $$$. Most other bike I looked at were in the $1000 to $1400 range with basically the same components minus the disc brakes. The bike seems to perform well. Brakes a little tricky to get tuned e-mail el marko and get the disck brake guide from him. Well worth it and will save you the headaches besides that I've had zero problems but it only 3 months old.
