Submitted by
Darcy Peters
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003
Strengths: -Lightweight -Anodized paint is super scratch resistant -Nice XT and XTR components
Weaknesses: -Pricey
Bottom Line:
I had been eyeing this bike all summer at a local store when the owner called me up one day and cut me a deal on it. At 23lbs, it is incredibly light. Fast on the flats and fast on the climbs too, I rarely get beat with this bad boy! I've had her for almost 3 years now and I see no reason to change for another 2-3 years..
Submitted by
John Struhar
a Cross Country Rider
from IL
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2003
Strengths: The bike shifts great, smooth ride, very light, and is a lot of fun to ride.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This is my first hard tail,a lot of fun to ride smooth, light, first out of 2 homegrown limiteds. This bike is recomended for anyone who has a lot of money and needs the best.
Bike Setup: Full xtr, hugi hubs, carbon bars ti- seat post.
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Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2003
Strengths: The anodized finish is both beautiful and tough. This is the best hardtail frame ever made ( except see below). It climbs like crazy, the geometry is perfect for me. The frame is still plenty strong for a bigger boy like me to ride and abuse without complaint or worry.
Weaknesses: The only problem I have come across with the frame is the old style 22mm disc mounts. Even with adapters could not get a Hope Mini onthe rear. And of course that they are no longer available
Bottom Line:
I posted a review on my old Homegrown Pro years ago and then it was stolen. I loved that bike a bunch. The day it was stolen I went to report it to the shop where I had bought it, and he was just pulling the new one out of the box. I took it for one 5 minute ride and was completely over the old one thanks to the insurance money. Through numerous parts it has never weighed more that 24 lbs, and is currently 22.1 with dual discs! The bike is tougher, faster, and just plain better then I am, but have loved every minute of trying to keep up! It has survived my concussion, and getting hit by a car and the bike won! ( $1200 damage to the car, scratched the XTR shifter) If you can find one, buy it.
Bike Setup: Everything replaced from stock 3 years ago. 03 SID World Cup, Easton CT2 seatpost and Monkeylite XC bar, Hope Mini 170 front old style Hayes rear. ISO Chris King front on 317 with revolution spokes. American Classic rear hub on 317 with Hutchinson Python Airlights. Race Face stem and Next LP Cranks with Time Carbon Pedals. Sram XO shifters and rear derailer, XTR front
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Submitted by
Marc Ostryniec
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2001
Strengths: Light, Strong, Size, Frame Anodizing.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
This bike is super light and responsive. I am 6'3" and was looking for a fast ride without the weight. I found it with this bike. Set up with the CrossMax wheelset and XTR, you can't beat the full weight of this bike. It is extremely fast and climbs like a banshee. Also the frame is anodized (black in my case) which is extremely resistent to scratches. IMO, a great light frame upon which to build a race caliber bike without spending 1-2k more for titanium.
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Toccoa, Specialized S-works.
Bike Setup: Full XTR, SID SL, Crossmax UST, Time ATAC, Easton carbon bar/magnesium stem.
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Submitted by
john pemberton
a Cross Country Rider
from oregon, IL
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001
Strengths: very light. smooth ride. the components are very sweet. plush fork. climbs good. descends just as good. excellent price.
Weaknesses: xt cranks, they wont stop making noise....pop-pop-pop-creeaaak. the seat is rather uncomfortable. other than that, none really. oh yeah, the grips are kinda crappy, toss some ourys on it.
Bottom Line:
this bike is very awesome. i really shouldnt complain too much about htis bike. however, i am going to.... my biggest problem with this bike would be those xt cranks. they wont stop that damn noise. but thats not that big compared to the other awesome things this ride has to offer. its a very very nice ride.
This bike is so sweet!! I have another Schwinn which I love but this bike is so light it's like night and day. It takes minamal effort to power up hills and the bike handles like a dream! I like the SID shock it's light weight and has not bottomed out on me yet. I had read some reviews of the SID shocks bottoming out (we'll see). Overall this is a great bike and I would recommend this to anyone, just bring your checkbook!
Bike Setup: Hayes Disc brake front, xtr rear, xtr derailer, xt hubs, mavic 317 disc front rim, mavic 618x rear, Irc Mythos tires, Xt shifters, Kore elite stem, Bontrager Crowbar, Syncros Headset and seatpost, xt crank, rock shox sid xc shock.
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Submitted by
russell hanna
a Racer
from houston texas
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001
Strengths: Very light, the bike seems to lunge forward with every stroke, very smooth for a hardtail.
Weaknesses: Edco rear hub, steel grip ring came loose.
Bottom Line:
Great ride, I use it on the trails in west Houston. very smooth and responsive in the quick turns and fast hills. Wonderful shifting. I have a GT 1.0 full for the downhills, still finding the limits on the homegrown for the down hill speeds. I am pushing 50, and it makes me feel 35 again.
Submitted by
Billy Sanborn
a Racer
from Saratoga,CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2001
Strengths: everything on this bike is sick, the wheels are super light, the frame almost rides like steel, and the parts kit was killer.
Weaknesses: nothing yet
Bottom Line:
i would recogmend this bike to anyone with the money, i work at a shop, and i can get any frame i want, but i love this one, i wont give it up for anything. i havent had any problems with the headset yet, and i ride my bikes hard.just dont ride in the pouring rain, or mud. you shouldnt do that anyway, thats how our trails get messed up. so if anyone wants a superlite bike, that is a rather good price, get this bike
Similar Products Used: s-works hardtail, santa cruz chamelion, s-works fsr-xc
Bike Setup: sid sl, hugi/517 wheels, red raceface stam, ct-2 bar, titec post, serfas monaco saddle, paul levers and brakes, xt hollowtech bb and cranks, sram 9.0 8 speed, xtr 8 speed ti cassete, xt front der. ti frogs, maxxis larsen mimo tires. all weighing in at 19.4 pounds in the 19 inch size
All around great light bike.. Would like to point out to the below posters that a bike when shipped from schwinn is basically "thrown" together.. many times a bike will come from schwinn/trek etc that needs quite a few mods to work squeak and problem free... IE Tighten the bottom brack, cranks, true wheels, etc etc etc... GASP i even hear one must adjust the shifting and brakes let alone cut the housing..
If you can get past the assembly (heh) its a phat ride, better than my old 6061 98 Homegrown Xt, Ibis Szazbo (full suspension), Litespeed Ocee, or Dean Colonel... The Homegrowns will be my only rigid bikes from now on..
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern Michigan
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2000
Strengths: Ride quality. Responsiveness,described by owners of bikes with sluggish handling as "Twitchy"! Looks (stealthy black w/red)! Very nicely speced. I have not upgraded anything.
Weaknesses: The slack adjusters on the XT brake levers do not stay put. Not a big deal. Twice, I have had to remove freehub assembly to clean prawls to quiet rear hub, in the last sixteen hundred miles of off road.
Bottom Line:
I really love this bike. It is the nicest thing I have ever owned. The frame is a work of art, the wheelset is light, but has held up well to my 190 pounds. The SID SL really keeps the front wheel on the ground. The component mix is well thought out. The Hollowtech XT cranks, SD25 Mags, Titec, XT/XTR all work together to make this bike a joy to ride.This bike may be a little pricey, but it is the best money I have ever spent. I see that the 2001 model has changed a little from the 2000, but if it is anything at all like the 2000 model, I would highly suggest this bike. Mine was set up by my local bike shop, thank goodness.
The Headset on this bike totally SUCKS! I'm on my fourth headset and second frame from Schwinn, two different headset designs and finnally the tight spot problem is fixed. Schwinn changed the design of the top pieces to the headset so everyone out there who has tight spots - you need the updated pieces. Also this headset is not sealed. Oh yeah they say they are sealed cartridge bearings but after about 2 months the bearings are toast - ya know after a wet ride or a bike wash, after the bike sits overnight the bars are locked - you have to kind of break it lose and work the crunchy bearings in again. I dont know if you can relube them - when I take them out the are all rusted up. I dont wet weather ride alot and I'm easy on the bike wash! BAD DESIGN! I wish I could put another headset on! Good thing I have bearing stock from 4 headsets!
The headset problem is the only long term problem I have had with this bike. If it wasnt for the headset the bike would be perfect!
Schwinn - Do some work on the headset - It needs it!!
Strengths: Stiff, but compliant frame. I like the S-bend stays and the Ram Air gusseting really makes the rear end responsive. The weight is phenomenal too! Can't beat 2.9 pounds for the frame.
Weaknesses: The only thing I've run into is that the new ICBM headset sticks. But I plan to talk to Schwinn and get that fixed.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike! Except for the problems with the headset I haven't had any problems. I worked at the shop I got it at, so I got it all for a good price. It's definitely not the lightest bike in the world (around 24 or 24.5 lbs.) but I set it up like I wanted it, not to be psycho light. I know this bike could easily get sub-22. I don't race, but if I ever decide to I've got the rig to do it. I had to give 4 chilis for the overall just because the headset problem shouldn't be an issue on a bike of this caliber. I wish they'd left it open for any headset, I'd love a Chris King on it. This is a pimp bike, and I've got it all black for stealth!
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z.2 Atom 80 (too heavy for XC but I love the feel), Race Face BB, Air Allow Low Riser bar, System, Turbine LP cranks with Race Rings, Chris Kings on Mavic 517 CDs 32 hole 3X with DT Champion spokes and black brass nipples, Shimano M545 pedals, XTR everything else.
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Submitted by
Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Amarillo, Texas
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000
Strengths: n/a
Weaknesses: n/a
Bottom Line:
Also responding to needy speedy....I work in a shop here in Amarillo. We do "final assembly" on bikes from four major builders, and wouldn't think of selling a bike without performing the basic checks that can sour a customer relationship if not done. All bike should be checked for soundness, including truing wheels, listening for unusual noises and test-riding to make sure it just works right. This is what makes the bike shop better than chain stores. If needy's shop doesn't perform final quality checks, he should consider looking for a better shop! I'm rating this review at 5 chilis, cause I don't want to arbitrarily lower the rating on this bikes review. I have a Factory and it runs great!!!
Submitted by
Joshua Smith
a Racer
from Harrisburg, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2000
Strengths: n/a
Weaknesses: n/a
Bottom Line:
This is to relpy to Needy Speedy. As a certified bicycle mechanic and a 3-year employee at a bike shop in central Pennsylvania, I can say that Dave Cheese was right. The problems that you experienced are always fixed in the shop before the bike sees the showroom floor. On top of that, the problems that you described are not at all uncommon. The bike shop where I work sells Schwinn, Kona, and Fuji, and I can honestly say that in the entire time I have worked there, I have NEVER seen a problem-free bike come into the shop. Whether it is improperly cut housing, crank arms bottomed out on (greased) press-fit spindles, improper derailuer limits, stripped spokes, or damaged bearings, they should NOT be counted as a negative against the manufacturer of the bicycle, since reparing these problems is a procedure that every good bike shop regularly does before selling a bike.
Strengths: Excellent Frame SID SL can be tuned to your liking The wheelset, doesn't get much better than 517's and Hugi 240's
Weaknesses: Frame sizing Michelin Tires
Bottom Line:
First off, NeedySpeedy's review needs some clarification. He got the bike on a "pro-deal" and had to build the bike up himself (the shop usually does this). When the shop builds a bike they ALWAYS have to trim the cable housing, true the wheels (including getting loose nipples out of rims) and grease, lube, and double check everything before putting it on the floor. If you get a bike on a "pro-deal" you should know enough about bikes to know how to build one up and the fact that he complained about these very problems indicates that he should have had a shop build it. Therefore, all his problems with the bike should be ignored since ALL shops will fix these problems before it enters the customers hands. Back to the review, the Homegrown Factory is one heck of bike. It is by far the lightest stock bike I have ever bought and has a great "solid" feel to the ride. It was difficult for me to find the right size due to the sloping downtube and the way that Schwinn measures their frames (to the top of the seat collar) so I had to go one size up. The only real gripe I have with this bike is the Michelin tires. The rear seems to loose grip more easily than all the other tires I have owned over roots and muddy conditions. I would suggest upgrading to a better set of rubber but other than that, this bike is perfect. Well done Schwinn.
