Strengths: Has held up to racing and thrashing. Several mods since new and the occasional part replacement due to normal wear and tear. Frame is very light and very rigid and still in race-able condition. Good balance of light weight and appropriate strength (when I say durable I mean it - this bike has been taken through the big city, races, and deep woods and seen the least forgiving heavy hits - I weigh 165 lbs). Came stock with all ShimanoXT, XTR, SID, Mavic 222, Time, Titec.
Weaknesses: NONE> Although a nice safety feature the replaceable deraileur hanger and I have a love/hate relationship - However in retrospect I think the rep. hanger is a must have item for a frame this good.
Bottom Line:
I owe many fond memories and successful outings to it and expect it to be a very long time before this bike and I part ways. Excellent frame. At $1200.00(pro rate) new it was a steal. Although I cant vouch for the current Home Grown frame this one is a smart buy for anyone needing a light weight race worthy set up.
Bike Setup: Stock except for: 2003XTR RD, Crank Bros Egg Beater Candy SL Ped., Easton monkeylite carbon bars, glittery blue schwinn grips that are too sexy for their own good,tires. Under 21 lbs.
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Submitted by
ROBERT PROCTER
a Racer
from SOUTHAMPTON,HAMPSHIRE,ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003
Strengths: THE FRAME IS VERY LIGHT, GOOD COOUE,MADE VERY WELL
Weaknesses: THE INTERGRATED HEADSET, MINE DIED IN 2 WEEKS AND IVE HAD 7 SINCE
Bike Setup: FULL XTR HOPE HUBS NEXT LP CRANKS PACE RC38 RACE FORKS AND LOTS OF CARBON
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Submitted by
Whit
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX, US
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Strengths: weight, color, and geometry
Weaknesses: sticker adhesive, and Real Schwinn's no longer exist as of last year
Bottom Line:
This bike was built from the frame up and has proven to be the best bike I've been on. It seems to do it all without weighing anything. I hope there will be something better out there when it comes time to build my next bike, so far it doesn't look promising. May have to keep this one awhile...
Similar Products Used: S95 .3, GT LTS-1, Trek 7000
Bike Setup: XTR/XT driveline/brakes, Rockshox Duke race, KORE stem, Titec Hell bent bars and seatpost, and Michelin comp S light tires(green)
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Submitted by
math
a Cross Country Rider
from Québec Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001
Strengths: Everything on this bike, very very light, super handling, excellent geometry, the fork is ameswone, stiff frame, cane Creek wheels are very good in all conditions, good Time pedals, super drivertrain, very very excellent price and it looks very COOL. The bike climb and downhills like a God!!!
Weaknesses: The stock bike had deore hubs and brakes but I change them for XT and the wheels for Cane Creek WAM MTB, Ichange it before to buy. Except it the bike is too good.
Bottom Line:
The Bike rocks.This is an incredibly quick handling bike. Super light which makes it an incredible climber. After all $1000.00 does not grow on trees.This bike is the lightest, fastest, best bike I've been on!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpejumper M4 PRO
Bike Setup: Stock except, Flat bar, XT brakes and levers, Cane Creek wheels, Python tires.
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Submitted by
Martin Miller
a Weekend Warrior
from Mundelein, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Strengths: Weight, XTR rear derailer, weight, all around a great bike, and with a great color
Weaknesses: decals, they are the worst decals in the world, for some reason they didn't pup a clearcoat over them and the start to peal, also the bars are pretty wide
Bottom Line:
This is one excellent bike the price was especially April 2001 if you can find one. The bike'll do anything. It's super light and super fast and super awesome, a lot of people complain about the seat but I didn't really notice it, I'm yet to ride on a seat that's comfortable anyway and deore hubs and brakes aren't that bad either, to get that on a bike anyway you're paying a lot more, I'm the on;y one that has even deore hubs that I ride with. The only thing that hurts it are the decals but that's not a s important as the fact you'll whoop all your buddies. Also if you live in the Chicago suburbs, Arlington Bicycle Company is the greatest, they have the best prices and service(FREE tune-ups for life)
Strengths: 24 pounds with deora\225 (crap) frame,colour,price,not too many people have the same bike (i have yet to see one),minimal upgrades.
Weaknesses: deora brakes blow!!!!and the hubs are even worse.so i now have some arch rival 50, and next week i'm getting some 2001 spinergy's to help shave of some more weight.
Bottom Line:
this bike rules!!! aside frome the deora stuff it's almost perfect out of the box.and it has the best color around.
Bike Setup: stock but... avid brakes,spinergy tubeless wheels (soon), xtr shifters,time carbon,easton monkey carbon bar.
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Submitted by
chase marshall
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Worth
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001
Strengths: everything light climbs like no other
Weaknesses: not much the deore was gay but thats gone now
Bottom Line:
ive had it for almost a year now and i still love it now that the crappy brakes are gone i like it a little bit more . YALL ALL NEED ONE OF THESE BIKES. it holds up well and i ride this thing veery hard i will still smoke my dad once he gets his fs bike
I would give it more fire things if it would let me
Bike Setup: cut the bar down an inch on each side so i could get throught the trees,cane creek T style bar ends(awsome),softer seat,xt brakes,took off the spds i put on and went with the stoch times witch are much better. I plan on geting a cane creak thudbuster seat poast and mavic crossmax ust wheels
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Submitted by
Mike Brislin
a Cross Country Rider
from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001
Strengths: Light, Light, Light. Mostly good components - SID XC, XT/XTR, Mavic Rims, Fizik saddle. Schwinn backup service has been outstanding. I had fast, no hassle replacement response to a complaint of a stiffening steerer. This while in another country too.
Weaknesses: Decals dont stick too well - who needs decals anyway!. Chainstay guard even worse, it was glued on and stayed on 30 mins into 1st ride. Deore Hubs & Brakes dont fit a high spec bike like this. Paintwork scratches deep & easily.
Bottom Line:
This is a beautiful bike. I have been through the softtail phase for 2 years. I know it's horses for courses but all round this bike is a beauty. Investment is in the frame, components will come & go. The geometry suits me to, so I will find it hard to part with this frame - ever!
Strengths: The bike is light and fast and it handles beautifully. It is such an awesome bike because it handles very well in all kinds of weather. I rode the bike in the snow the other day and it just cut right through it.
Weaknesses: The bike is so well designed that it just a shame for Schwinn to put Shimano Deore brakes on it.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It took me a a long time to find this bike and it's worth the wait. Schwinn created a very classy bike. It handles great and it flies down the hill. It is unbelievable up the hills and it takes corners extremely well. I don't think that there is a better bike out there. Schwinn will always have my business. I can't wait until they come up with something better than this one(Pro). I doubted, not for a while because I really want to enjoy this bike.
Weaknesses: I have had the bike for almost a year now and have put some serious miles on it. It seems that the bottom bracket area is lacking in rigidity. It seems to flex when im really pushing it, and my friend who has a homegrown factory has noticed the same thing. It needs to be stiffened up. I think schwinn could stiffin it up while still keeping it under 3 lbs.
Bottom Line:
The bike is fast fast fast. It fits me well at 6'4" and seems to be holding up. It is about as light as i can get a bike at this size while allowing me to ride in comfort and on a budget. What is nice is that the frame is no where near as harsh as a klein cannondale or stumpjumper.
Strengths: The geometry rocks - I am used to road race bikes and I prefer a flat, stretched position. The Homegrown give the exactly this - a long top tube, and still aggressive handling. I went with a very small frame size (16.5', I am 5' 10') and it fits perfect. The frame is reasonably stiff.
Weaknesses: Parts - I replaced saddle, handle, pedals, brakes. But at that price I won't whine .... Other weaknesses: I am experiencing problems with the head set now (after only 3 months!), the sticker quality is poor, the bike was handed over to me from the dealer in a ludicrously poor setting - some screws fell out immediately, one brake cable was too short, the fork was low on air. The rear wheel is a bit flimsy.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, it is fast, light, and aggressive.
Bike Setup: I made the following changes/additions: Flite seat, straight RaceFace handle, SPD pedals, Avid SD7 brakes, Schwinn end bars.
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Submitted by
Jim Kreft
a Racer
from Traverse City, MI
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2000
Strengths: Everything!!!! I love this bike- I moved up from a 30+ pound Raleigh and everything about it is perfect!! I Had to tighten the bottom bracket on the Hollowtech crank a couple times, but that would happen on any bike. the ride is SO smooth, and the SID saves my arms- I shattered my wrist earlier so my left arm is very sensitive to such things- do NOT hit your front brake too hard.. oh well, three months of the bike was misery, but I made it. Oh- by the way I am 6'2", and ride my bikes HARD and it has held up incredibally well- If you love flying up the hills and ripping up the single track, get this bike!
Weaknesses: The only thing is the adhesive holding some of the things on, such as the chain-slap baurd was almost non-esistant, but some heavy-duty double sided foam tape took care of that.
Bottom Line:
A great bike at a great price- buy it if you can, but they probably are now all gone- I had to wait five months for mine. If you live anywhere in the vincity of Traverse City, go to the CIty Bike Shop on Union Street- Steve will give you a great deal!
Similar Products Used: Tried some Stumpjumpers and a K2- none were as nice, but all were as expensive.
Bike Setup: All Stock excepr for deraillers- these are SRAM 9.0 ESP- I am partial to Grip Shift
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Submitted by
duckpantboy
a Cross Country Rider
from bothelll, wa, usa
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2000
Strengths: Everything, I could go on and on.
Weaknesses: cheesy hubs and brakes that come with it. but i'm not complaining.. kept the price down and let me upgrade to what i wanted.
Bottom Line:
This bike RULES! I'm in freakin love with it.. i could go on for hours about how awesome it is. just got done making two laps down Preston RR and the thing is freaking amazing. The dude below that said i climbs like a mt goat, or something like that, and decends like a freeride is right! My HG 4-banger is going into storage if I'm not riding lifts. I'd give it 100 flaming turds if i could!
Bike Setup: stock except for the following: monkey light riser bar, easter riser neck, selle flight saddle, mavic crossrides with panaracer fires (for dirt), stock wheels with michelin wildgripper city slicks for street riding. arch rival brakes
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Submitted by
chase marshall
a Weekend Warrior
from ft wort, texas
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Strengths: every thing. i love this bike. Its light, responsive but not twitchey and it will do every thing like a champ
Weaknesses: deore hubs arnt too bad and the deore brakes work but not as well as others i would replace them but theres that money thing. also the seat SUCKS BIG TIM. i like my under carage and so i swiched it after one ride
Bottom Line:
well i finaly got the means and i got it and i love it great bike for all hours of fun and joy will shurely emerge from this bike for all who mount it GET ONE trust me good for the money
Similar Products Used: trek 7000 , trek 8900 and alot of crapy bikes
Bike Setup: stock exsept seat and i added bar ends and a computer mabe a light i the future
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Submitted by
aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Bloomfield Hills
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2000
Strengths: This bike is scary light. I got it for well under 1700 and have not seen it priced over 1600 anywhere. The frame is awesome. It feels amazingly soft for an aluminum bike. Schiwim did something magical with this new tubing. I plan on doing more racing with this bike. It flies up hills and feels great on steep down hills. If you want a light bike that is very responsive and really cool looking than this is the bike for you.
Weaknesses: Umm what the hell was schwinn thinking putting deore on this bike. I never expect to see that crap on a bike that costs this much. I also disliked how wide the handlebar was. It just felt to wide for me, so i cut them down. Just a personal pref.
Bottom Line:
This Bike rocks. Its light, responsive, and relatively cheap. If you can find another bike that is this light and this cheap let me know. I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants to go fast.If you want to do trials i would try a little heavier duty bike. My cranks didnt like it when i climbed stairs or did tail hops. Im giving full chilis for the value and docking one on the overall cause of that deore crap. Do yourself a favor and replace it before you take it home from the shop.
Bike Setup: stock except for the wheels. I upgraded to some bontrager races. Man am i glad i did that. I will probably change the brakes to avid 2.0 or xt in the future. I also got rid of that rock hard fizik saddle. It killed the twins.
I wanted a Schwinn homegrown for along time a frame made in USA well found a brand new one and ordered it can't wait to start building it up here is a pic.
[IMG]http://i3.photobuc Read More »
