Submitted by
James Teer
a Weekend Warrior
from Mackenzie, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003
Strengths: Strong frame with decent components, Canadian made, light.
Weaknesses: Most parts have been replaced(used for jumping,freeriding ment for xc), Z5 had too little travel and isn't very responsive
Bottom Line:
The frame is tough! It's a xc frame that has taken alot of bulls**t from my riding and besides the fact that some parts have been replaced with beefier ones is nothing considering I did not use this bike for its intended purpose(and the parts lasted longer than expected).
Weaknesses: headset richy was very weak broke on me in first week and the forks could be better (judy xc) grip shift not rapid fire!!!! nothing else sucks
Bottom Line:
good bike no waitr great bike i luve it so much i ride it everyday doing drops mostly and ripping up the trails forks shold be better but im going to upgrade soon anywayz so every one else said aboot the spelling of vapour i dont care aboot spelling as long as it hammers the trials. i find this bike has a good position for climing hills which i luve cause once your at the top you get to come down. this bike takes a beating well and i recomend getting it for the price. especialy since you can xc downhill and freeride with it well im off to bike ~!!!!!!!!!!!!~
Similar Products Used: mongoosepro garyfisher norco kona schwinn jamis k2 brodie oh ya and arashi
Bike Setup: mine came with easton handbuilt frame with rockshox judy xc (gonna replace soon) lx front derailer sram 9.0 rear derailer. sram 7.0 brakes richey clipples pedals
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Submitted by
Troy
a Weekend Warrior
from Westminster, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2002
Strengths: Frame Design and Geometry. Great Hand Built Fram for little money.
Weaknesses: Tires. Cranks (upgraded to Specialized Strongarms on the shop floor and then recently upgraded to Race Face). Cheap saddle. Seals on the Z5 need to be replaced every year.
Bottom Line:
The best investment I have made thus far! This bike handles and rides awesome. The frame is why I bought it and every little upgrade has made this bike better and better. I will never buy another hardtail!!!!
Bike Setup: XT Derailleurs & Shifters. SRAM 7.0 Brakes. STX-RC Hubs. Sun CR-18 Rims. Race Face Rings and Turbine Cranks. Race Face ISIS BB. Race Face Seatpost.
Strengths: Great frame, nice brakes, alright beginer shocks, Tires, derailers, almost everything.
Weaknesses: stock pedals, cr18 rear rim(fine in front), shocks are for beginers
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. Its been through hard hits but other than the stock rear rim everything has held up since I bought it in '99. The Z5 Bombers gave out on me but the new shocks are the best I have ever ridden with. I've tried my friends bikes but they all force you to sit to far ahead in the saddle so I think I'll keep my bike for awhile to come. Although it was made for XC racing, the 1999 Vapor is great for people who like to freeride but don't want/0r are able to buy a full suspension. Just a word of advice if you are going to use it for any serious freeriding, get longer shocks.
Bike Setup: Upgraded to 2001 Marzochi Bomber Z1 Dropoffs(Nice Shocks!!!), Changed Stock pedals to Wellgo clipless when purchased, new Shimano XT rear derailer, Sun Rim Rhynolite in the rear(CR18 couldn't take it), THE DH front fender
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Submitted by
Sean Peet
a Cross Country Rider
from Fruitvale - Canada
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2001
Strengths: The frame - the compents - stem - handle bars - brakes
Weaknesses: The shocks are good for begginers, but....... I upgraded to Z1s!!!!! The tires.
Bottom Line:
I use this baby in races placeing in to 3, i ride it like a RM9 and it takes it well, it never gives out on me, other that flats, This is my freeride-road-XC bike, Its great!!!1
Similar Products Used: Norcos - Rockymt spice - others.......
Bike Setup: upgraded seat - Marrzocchi 1998 Z1 Bam - New deraler
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Submitted by
bRETT
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2000
Strengths: Kick-ass frame, Shock
Weaknesses: lame cranks (but who's complaining for that price)
Bottom Line:
This is my second review for the bike. After over 3000Kms both on and off BC trails, I have to upgrade my perception of this bike from good to great.
It's been with me on endless commutes and through some of the more technical trails in the Vancouver area all I have is praise.
This was my first real mountain bike and it grew with me a lot longer than I expected. I still ride it for XC and ocasionally on some technical descents. I love this bike!
After 3000Kms all I've had to replace are worn out parts(tires, seat, etc.)
This bike has exceeded my expectations and continues to do so with every ride.
Submitted by
Duncan
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2000
Strengths: The frame is a work of art, and at the price i paid for it you simply cant get better, the parts are cheap so you can break them and replace them to your hearts/wallets content
Weaknesses: The forks are a bit crap, and I'd change the brake levers, and the pedals (obviously)
Bottom Line:
I've taken this frame off 6 feet drops, and down the walls of quarrys and its still in one piece thats how good it is.
Bike Setup: Marzzochi Jr T's, magura rimmys, fat tyres, DMR V 12's, a short stem, apart from that its all original.
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000
Strengths: EASTON handbuilt in BC frame Marzocchi Z5 decent components
Weaknesses: CR18 rims Sad michelins
Bottom Line:
A first class machine for about a grand CDN. It is the cheapest handbuilt frame in the Rocky lineup and it appears the parts is where they saved the coin. The fork is spot on and with good adjustability using the standard Schrader valves to adjust the air in each fork leg. I didn't like the riser "freeride-type" setup that came stock as I use this bike to commute and hit the trails so the XC setup suits me better. That being said the frame is light and the parts are nothing to scoff at. The XT rear der is overkill here and the money should have been better spent specing better components elswhere on the bike. The CR18 rims that came stock both had bad seams and were sent back under warranty. Waited FOREVER and so I took the wheels off my other bike and got the shop to build up a set of Rhyno Lites. I digress. I did a lot of research before I bought this bike and I just couldn't find a handbuilt Easton frame with a better parts spec for the money. Rocky should know better than to spell Vapour incorrectly but the finish is sweet and I was fortunate enough to get the blue paint with red decals instead of the silver version they had speced originally. All that is missing is a set of red RaceFace powdercoat cranks and the package will be perfect. Very happy and the bike comes highly recommended.
Similar Products Used: RM Element Race Giant Rincon KONA Manomano
Bike Setup: The bike came upgraded with SRAM 7.0 (vice no-name) brakes and an XT (vice LX) rear derailleur. XC setup with a flat bar and stem. SRAM 7.0 levers Ritchey post, 130 mm stem and pedals Conti Traction Pros
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Submitted by
Mike Beam
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1999
Strengths: Good looking, well built frame, Marzocchi Shocks, Something Different from everyone else, Good starter set of components
Weaknesses: None come to mind
Bottom Line:
Damn fine bike. The components aren't the best, but i prefer that since i have room to customize to my liking. Put Ritchey Mt. Pro clipless pedals on, and a race face crankset. Can take a beating and be fine with the good handbuilt Al frame. i also like the compliments i get for it.
Bike Setup: Had a trek 850 as my first MTB. Got stolen 2 weeks after I upgraded to a Marzocchi z2 Bomber.
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Submitted by
bRETT
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 29, 1999
Strengths: A fantastic starter bike. Perfect for commuing during the week, but more than capable of handling anything you take it into on the weekends.hand built aluminum frame
Weaknesses: I don't really like the aesthetic look of the bike, but I love that my biggest complaint is something so superficial. I actually get a lot of compliments about how 'nice looking' it is, so I guess I'm in the minority.The spelling of Vapour is also wrong, using the dumbed-down American spelling instead of the International and correct version. Bad form for a Canadian company.
Bottom Line:
This is the Bike that you can't beat for the price. Rocky Mountain has been very responsive in my dealings with them (except in their reluctance to use the letter U) and after about 500km on the VapoUr, both on and off road, I have yet to find ant memorable shortcomings.
Similar Products Used: similar bikes from Rocky Mountain, Kona, and GT.
Bike Setup: stock setup and : XT rear Shimano Downhill SPDs a few stickers
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Submitted by
Teradactyl
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedrock, Texas
Date Reviewed: August 12, 1999
Strengths: Great frame Good shocks Canadian Frame/Company Reasonable price Rides great Good bike to work up with upgrades to components
Weaknesses: I can't ride it often enough.
Bottom Line:
What a great bike. It can perform well beyond my capabilities and can handle anything I've put it up to. It comes set up nicely but since you're working with a great frame, good shocks and mediocre components it leaves you a lot of room for adding fancy stuff. Plus the initial price is reasonable. I had to go out of my way to find a dealer in Texas. It was worth it. Phat Tire in Dallas is a great shop. They'll work with you and get you set up. www.phattire.com
Well enginnered frame.Thats this bikes greatest quality. If you buy a bike because it looks cool, then avoid this bike altogether, but if you care about getting a good deal on a hand made Canadian frame then this bike is a steal. The components are a little weak, but I got mine for $650 US. The front shock is a piece of flaming poop. I will be upgrading soon. The B5 air shock tends to leak about 5 minutes into a ride. Its almost dangerous.
