Submitted by
Ballard Ballard
a Downhiller
from Nelson BC Canada
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Strengths: I still have the original cassette...
Weaknesses: Everything else except the cassette... I have broken at least one of everything except the cassette(even the frame).
Bottom Line:
Rocky Mountain Fusion All the way! HELL YA! if you are seriously into hucking big don't waste your money on a downhill bike that just cost more when you can get twice the bike for a fraction the cost.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab, Santa Cruz Bullit, Karpiel Apocolypse, Balfa 2step DH, Brodie 8 Ball, Norco team DH, Banshee Scream, Specialized Bighit... Personally I find the fusion better for my hard core down hilling.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from St John's
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Strengths: Frame Is great. Rides like a bullet
Weaknesses: Brakes arn't to bad but could be improved.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money. I would recomend this bike for anybody who is gettin into biking for their first time to give this bike very hard consideration. You will not be disapointed.
Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Newport, Ky USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001
Strengths: FRAME, FRAME, FRAME!!! Terrific geometry that's instantly comfortable and confident. Equally fun to ride to the store or storm down rocky singletrack. Very upgradable. Just as comfortable going up as going down. Like the component selection...even the RM brand stuff. Wheels are awesome. And, though I've read bad things about the RS Jett forks, I actually kind of like the XC version once they've broken in...for my style of riding I'll probably switch for something more plush, but not bad. Awesome paint job...spent 3 hours blazing through rocks and trees yesterday and not a ding in sight. Great value!
Weaknesses: Brakes suck...not nearly enough stopping power for even mildly aggressive riding and rear brake squeaked from get go. Pedals are obviously cheap but Rocky probably assumes most riders will immediately upgrade to clipless...so why waste the money?
Bottom Line:
An outstanding value!!! And at the price, this is the perfect bike if you (like me) are stuck street riding 75% of the time but also want something that you can get muddy on or get some air on without breaking any bones. I used to ride alot and pretty aggressively on my beefed up 1990 GT Timberline rigid. I was buying this bike to get back into things after a 2-3 year hiatus...perfect choice.
The frame geometry makes this a rider's bike, not just a pretender with cool cranks and a comfy saddle (Hard Rock). I'd never considered Rocky Mountain...didn't even realize I could get one in the Cincinnati area. And I was seconds away from plunking down the money for a Tassajara when the woman at Cycle Sport encouraged me to take the Fusion for a spin. I instantly felt more confident and immediately began riding wheelies and bunny-hopping off of curbs, whereas I'd been kind of tentative on everything else I'd tried. Tip: if you like the Genesis hardtail geometry, you'll like Rocky's hardtails too...give 'em a spin, you'll be hooked.
Bottom line...if you used to be a pretty good rider, Rocky's Fusion will help you pick up where you left off and quickly become an even better rider - without draining your bank account. I'm looking forward to lots and lots of rides on this bike.
Similar Products Used: Fisher Tassajara, Fisher Marlin, Fisher KaiTai, Specialized HardRock A1FS Comp, Specialized Rock Hopper, Marin Palisades Trail
Bike Setup: Pretty much stock. I'm getting ready to switch to clipless and upgrade the brakes. Will probably also switch to tires that are a little beefier than the Maxxis Mofo 1.95's...just personal preference.
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Submitted by
Simon
a Weekend Warrior
from Duncan, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2001
Strengths: Great frame. 17.5, cause I'm short(5'8). I love the orange colour, matches my lid. Shocks are pretty good.
Weaknesses: the brakes and not too nice, they need tuning all the time! arrggh! I already tacoed the front rim, but I think that was mostly my fault.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price. Has gone through a LOT of punishment. It's seen it all: rain, mud, roots, rocks, jumps, drops, centuries, races and plenty 'o crashes! I recommend it to any beginner, this is a bike that will give you a great start and keep you goin' for a long time.
Strengths: The frame is great, the rims, sram 7.0, and the headset.
Weaknesses: The forks are crap but they get the job done. The brakes and levers were changed to shimano LX.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike for the money. You cant find a better frame at this price. The frame is very strong. If your new to the sport and you can get this bike do so you will be pleased. I rode my bike hard and it didnt break in half or bust when I went over 5 foot drops on it. I just bought a rocky mountian edge and Im ready to ride the piss out of it. You cant beat a rocky mountian bike.
Bike Setup: stock except for the brakes and levers.
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Submitted by
Philip Minors
a Weekend Warrior
from Okotoks,Alberta,Canada
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000
Strengths: Excellent Frame and Paint, stem,headset,seatpost,SRAM 7.0. Handles the Technical Stuff like a 2000 dollar bike. So so strong!!!And the Crank arms are nice but not great.
Weaknesses: The rims and hubs, and pedals, and Grips. And the cheap Shimano front derallieur. The Michelin wildgripers are to thin, but i still use the front one because it tracks real good in mud.
Bottom Line:
God damn good bike for the money, and i love the paint job. ITs handles well, although i ride my bike to hard and really need a dual slalom bike it has still held up, i have to sell it now though. BUt i would recomend this bike for and beginner/intermediate rider. Just buy new pedal ASAP.
Bike Setup: Stock apart from from new shimano PLatform pedal, and a new rear wheel, SUN RYNO LITE and Tioga Factory XC tires. ANd a lizard Skinz chainstay gaurd.
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Submitted by
FLIGHT
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000
Strengths: Good front shocks, nice gear setup, really comfortable frame, nice stem+ritchey headset
Weaknesses: those damn toe-clips, I've got to get me some clipless my shifters are really worked in and stiff but maybe thats just me. The seat quick release sticks out.
Bottom Line:
A really great bike, all the little things wrong with out pale in comparison to the best part. It's a real sweet ride. Definitely worth the rather low price tag. My only regret is not waiting a few months and getting the 2000 with the raceface setup. Good for a casual to serious rider without thousands to burn
Submitted by
Chris Carter
a Cross Country Rider
from Lumby, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2000
Strengths: Great frame, my friends and I have found no flex in it. The geometry is perfect for the really technical trails I ride. If you are riding technical stuff look into a Fusion.
Weaknesses: The TekTros brakes, damn they suck. I had them on for about a week and they got smashed, so I plopped on my LX and all was good. The Michelline er, however you spell it, ya, the Wildgrippers were way too thin.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line, hmm, well this bike is great, I mean for my first hardtail that is, I learned on a rigid, which was a nice comming from an old Nishiki Bushwacker to this fast, light, nimbler little creature. I love this bike, I am investing in some more serious riser bars as soon as I can, maybe Bontrager CroBar, because I am finding if I have more rise I will beable to drop in way more gracefully. I was actually looking into getting a 99' Cardiac (rigid). Until I saw the Fusion, which had front suspension and was not much more and packed way more of a punch. I love this bike and I seriously do not think I will ever get rid of it but I probably will, just not in the near future that's for damn sure!
Similar Products Used: None, my first real mountain bike.
Bike Setup: Stock forks with dual soft springs, replaced the medium spring cause I'm a light kid and they feel great, nice and plush. I got rid of those Wildgrippers as soon as I could, they would get stuck in little ruts and some of the gaps on the log bridges and what nots, so I bought a pair of Bontrager Jones, a 2.2 on the front and 2.1 on the rear. I recommend these tires to anyone, too thin for serious downhill riding, but great for technical and the occasional rip down a big mountain.
Nice bike for the price. The pedals however suck crap. Just over 1 month after i got the bike, the toe clips broke (i was in a parking lot riding home!!). I'm planning to replace it with Shimano 434 or Ritchey Mnt Pros. Other than that, good value.
Bike Setup: got rid of those cheap rims put on some better ones, put on some marzocchi z.4 flylight air
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Submitted by
Dawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Can.
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2000
Strengths: Great frame, not bad weight, Sram 7.0 shifting is sweet, fork is OK, brakes may be cheap, but they work great, bike feels very nice, very fun to ride, only problem I've had is the large chainring got slightly bent, easy to fix though, another good thing, everthing is allan wrenches so no need to carry box wrenches
Submitted by
Josh
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson,B.C
Date Reviewed: September 5, 1999
Strengths: The fork rocks! The frame is built great and light Feels fast The shifters are wicked
Weaknesses: Those cheesy made in Japan breaks! They should put on some platform or clipless pedals!
Bottom Line:
The bike is great and you can't blame Rocky Mountain for puting toe clips on but you can blame them for not puting on good brakes but the bike still work better than any other bike I have tried!
