Submitted by
Rob Weiss
a
from Clinton Township, USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001
Strengths: Nice component set; Manitou fork, Deore from the crank forward, XT rear. XT rear derailleur shifts well even under heavy crank loads, low speeds. Solid feel. Schwinn hand grips are very nice. Looks great. Confidence-inspiring.
Weaknesses: Panaracer tires are OEM edition, with completely different specs from real Fire XC Pros. Overall they're ok, but sometimes don't shed sand/wet dirt too well. They performed better after I let some air out. The saddle left me a little sore after a four hour ride, but not bad considering the old and nearly cushionless bike shorts I wore.
Bottom Line:
I found a leftover 2000 model on the floor, but didn't look at it initially because it was a 21" frame, and a bit pricey. Too big, I thought. But I'm near 200#, and 6' with a long inseam, and all the 19" frames I tested seemed wimpy, so I checked standover height and found I still had nearly 5 inches of clearance. Maybe not so big after all. And after reading all the favorable reviews here, decided to test it and was impressed how solid it felt compared to the Fisher HKEK. My first real trail outing with this bike left me very impressed. It seems plenty nimble to me, and it handled tough conditions (damp leaves on top of soft sand on seldom-used trails) really well. No lower back pain or arm soreness after four hours out on the trail, so I'm pretty sure the frame is a good fit. My lack of technique is probably more to blame for me not making it up some hills than the bike's. Even as a new rider, I was able to launch over most trail obstructions (branches, roots, etc.) with ease. No matter what was on the bottom of my shoes the Shimano pedals never failed to clip in/out cleanly. Great first MTB bike. The price was fair, and only the OEM-spec tires that weren't called out as such detract one chili.
Similar Products Used: Tested/demo'ed GT XCR4000/5000 (too heavy), Gary Fisher HooKooEKoo (too nervous in the rough stuff), Giant Rainier disc (too clunky)
Bike Setup: I switched out Ritchey pedals for Shimano 515s. Everything else stock. Answer Speeder shoes.
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Submitted by
Doug Vass
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001
Strengths: Solid frame and great Manitou shocks! XT rear derailler a major bonus. I love the Titec handle bars.
Weaknesses: Bad seat.
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks but for the price. I also found out that Schwinn has a lifetime garrauntee on there frame except for on the Homegrown. It can take a lot of beating. I weigh over 200 pounds and this bike is perfect!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Hardrock, GT Richochet, Rocky Mountain, Cannondale
Bike Setup: Added a Rockshox seat post. AWESOME addition! I highly recomend it.
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Submitted by
Al Bennetto
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodstock ON Canada
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2001
Strengths: Good Light frame which handles very well. The bike is fast. The TITEC bar was impressive.
Weaknesses: I did not like the brake pads, or the panaracer back tire. I find sometimes it is too light while doing grunling uphills. The BELAIR seat could me more soft.
Bottom Line:
I love the Schwinn MOAB 2, It is one off the top bikes I have owned. I ride and race, it has even gave me some podium finishs. NOT every bike is going to be perfect for every rider, even a Schwinn. I have riden a lot of bikes and they all have some thing wrong with them, so Schwinn is no diffrent. Bottom line it is a great bike at a great price. Hats off to schwinn.
Bike Setup: I put on KOOL brake pads, and a Michelin tire on the back. Besides that it is stock.
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Submitted by
Jonathan Nagle
a Weekend Warrior
from Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001
Strengths: Light frame, Cool brakes, Excellent Drivetrain, Beautiful Paint Job, Nice Shocks, GREAT price, Handles like you wouldn't believe......ONE OF THE BEST BIKES EVER!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: Hubs are a little shaky for heavier guys, but if you're light like me, no problems. And the Mavic rims really make up for it.
Bottom Line:
This bike is perfect for someone looking for an all around great bike. I ride my Moab 10 miles to work everyday and ride some insane off-road terrain each weekend. The best part about this bike is the way it handles. I ride each weekend with Homegrowns and other $4,000 bikes and have no trouble keeping up. Not to mention, this is the best value in the industry. Schwinn doesn't cut any corners, everything from the bearings to the stem to the chain is high quality. It doesn't get any better than this. The 2001's aren't even close, Schwinn downgraded the drivtrain to Truvativ for 2001 so stick with a 2000 if you can find one. Buy this bike and you'll never buy another bike again. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BIKES EVER MADE.
Similar Products Used: there's nothing like this anywhere
Bike Setup: just replaced the Panaracers with Tioga Factory XC's, everything else is stock
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Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Strengths: Great components! All XT, great frame and pretty decent fork. Very fast and responsive riding
Weaknesses: Crappy shimano rapid-fire brake/shifter combos on stock. Also, the Koski V-Brakes are on my hit list...
Bottom Line:
This is really a great bike for what I paid. Granted, right after I bought it I had to replace the V-brakes and the shifters bringing the total cost up to around $850, but since overall that's still less than the 2001 I'm happy. I really wasn't impressed with the changes from 2000 to 2001 so I decided to buy the 2000 and customize it with the money I saved. It's always nice to build your bike however you want it. Overall, I love this bike and recommend it to anyone (2000 or 2001 depending on if you can find last year's anymore). I'm only knocking one chile for the stupid combo shimano shifters...
Bike Setup: All XT 9spd Components, SRAM Rocket Shorty's, Avid Arch Rival 50's, Manitou SX
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Submitted by
Colin Mitchell
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2001
Strengths: Good value for money,in South Africa the bike cost R5450.00 & for this price had the best specs by far in 2000. Rockshox Jett SL fork worked well. Smooth gear changes front and back. Good brakes. Handles well. Bent seat stays really keep it comfy in the rough.
Weaknesses: Saddle- not the most comfortable Wellgo D2-1 clipless pedals
Bottom Line:
Great Bike - light enough. IRC Mythos 1.95 tires were stock and have worked well in hard, dry conditions & in the mud. So far the Rockshox Jett SL fork has done a great job of smoothing out the trail - have only bottomed it on fairly badly shaped, biggish bumps at high speed ( approx 45 kph ). Bike climbs very well. Brakes are great. Shifting is smooth in all conditions.The Wellgo D2-1 clipless pedals were not so great- springs which support the plate broke but dealer will replace.
Good cross country bike which seems strong enough to last. My stats: age 31 ; weight 85 Kgs ; height 6'1"
Bike Setup: In South africa this model comes with: Rockshox Jett SL fork; Weinmann ZAC19 rims 15G ss spokes and Shimano Deore LX hubs; RD-Shimano Deore LX; FD & crankset-Shimano DEORE; Brakes & shifters-Shimano Deore Vee's & rapid fire ; Schwinn saddle, seatpost & stem; Shimano Deore 9 speed cluster
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Submitted by
Matt Carle
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotia, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2001
Strengths: Plush fork, light race frame, name brand components, paintjob, best deal going.
Weaknesses: No name seatpost, cheap seat, sissy spokes.
Bottom Line:
The 2001 is far lighter, has better components, and looks better then the 2000, all for the same price. Its very simple being a hardtail, and the spring fork is easy to maintain. The bike is normaly $950, but I dropped it down to the price you see above. The frame on this bike is the same used on Schwinns over $3000 race bikes 3 years ago!!!!!! Its very stiff, holds a forward line, and snaps out of turns. Combined with the plush Judy SL fork, this has to be the best bike under a grand.
Bike Setup: This is a 2001 not 2000 model, and there are a few differences. Rock Shox Judy SL, better components, and a far lighter frame are the big ones. Mine has a titanium Titac seatpost, Sella Flite seat, and Titac bar ends.
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Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Medford, Oregon
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2001
Strengths: Price,component selection,frame,look! I really don't think you could find a better value in the $800 - $1000. price range. Schwinn quality.
Weaknesses: Very little to complain about. I "chopped" the bars down a bit, they're too wide in my opinion. Pedals might be upgraded soon.
Bottom Line:
I put this bike to the test right away on a punishing 1st ride. I thought it wouldn't be up for the task, but it really surprised me. I thought for sure I'd want to upgrade a lot of the components, but I see no reason to what so ever. I highly recomend this bike to anyone shopping in this price range. the 2001's look to be even better!!!
Similar Products Used: 2000 Specialized M2 Stumpjumper
Bike Setup: Stock.
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Submitted by
BillBillw
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2001
Strengths: XT Rear DR; Hollowtech crank and Ritchey clipless included; great frame geometry; much better rims (Mavic X221) and tires (Panaracer XC Fire Pro) than most in this price range; only 26 lbs ready to go.
Weaknesses: Manitou SX doesn't offer any rebound or compression adjustment. SX-R would have been a great improvement. Better seat would have been nice also.
Bottom Line:
If you have a Galyans near you, go there immediately and buy this bike! They have remaining 2K models of this bike on clearance for 40% off of there already low price of 799!!! Even at full price this bike is better than everything comparably priced. Great light stiff frame, Good looks, great handling, durable components. The 2k+1 models may have a better (lighter) frame, but they went cheaper on many of the components. That's the trade off. No regrets here! This is a great bike for entry level to intermediate cross country riders who want the best for their money.
Submitted by
louis reynaud
a Cross Country Rider
from alpharetta. ga
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001
Strengths: everything rocks on this bike!!! It's light as hell and runs real smooth. Totally worth the price.
Weaknesses: The seat, LX front derailer.
Bottom Line:
Anyone with the money should buy this bike. If you don't have the money, get it SOON. I tell you I almost bought a Homegrown but I went cheaper and I am glad I did. Its just as good as the homegrown. BUY THIS BIKE TODAY!!!!! If your t hinking of a homegrown comp and you haven't biked a lot before buy this instead and upgrade it later on as you use it.
Similar Products Used: Homegrown, Rebound, trek 8500
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Submitted by
BRYAN ENGLE
a Cross Country Rider
from NEW ALBANY, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2000
Strengths: LIGHT WEIGHT, ONLY WEIGHS 22 LBS.
Weaknesses: IBCM HEADSEAT IS A LITTLE STICKY
Bottom Line:
CHEAP PRODUCTS ON STOCK BIKE, BUT THE GEOMETRY OF THE FRAME IS THE BEST. FRAME ALSO HAS GOOD ATTENTION TO DETAIL. SHOCKS AREN'T THE BEST, BUT THE INTERNAL PARTS CAN BE UPGRADED FROM THE LOCAL BIKE SHOPS.
Bike Setup: XTR FRONT BRAKE, XT REAR BRAKE, XTR REAR DERAILER,LX FRONT DERAILER, BONTRAGER 145G HANDLEBARS, ICON 165G STEM, STING-RAY TITANIUM RAIL SEAT, GREEN MICHLEIN TIRES, SYNCROS CARBON FIBER SEATPOST, MAVIC CROSSRIDE WHEELS, RACE FACE CRANKS AND BOTTOM BRACKET
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Submitted by
Stephen Rabon
a Cross Country Rider
from Castle Rock, CO, US
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2000
Strengths: Oh man, too many to mention! I saw this bike, fell in love with it, and bought it in an instant. It has been nearly perfect. Fork is wonderful and the bike is so light and is extremely responsive. Parts are top end (thank God for no Bontrager) and Panaracer XC Fire Pro tires are best on the market. PRICE!
Weaknesses: Wonderfully light. Hit the harder trails and it tends to knock you around a lot more than a heavy bike, but that is a small sacrifice. Parralax rear hub... hmmmm... When it gets dirt inside, its hell to get out.
Brakes don't work very well when they get too cold (like when riding through snow for an extended period of time)
Bottom Line:
This has got to be the best bike under $1200 dollars. Everything about it seems to work perfectly and compared to the other bikes I've tried, you don't get the parts like you do on this one.
I've taken it through some rough trails, and it has performed better than I did. If you want a bike that will give you awesome climbing power, weight, looks, parts and price. This it. It isn't best overall, but in my opinion it is best for the price.
Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2000
Strengths: Great value. The Manitou SX fork and XT rear derailleur are great. Good frame.
Weaknesses: If I had to pick, the front derailleur and the wide Titec handle bar.
Bottom Line:
This was my first mountain bike and I love it. I was looking for bikes in this price range/component class and nothing was even close. (I only paid 750.) This bike has a good solid frame and a great component mix. My only regret is that I didn't spend more and get a lighter bike/setup. But you get what you pay for and this is a great entry-level bike.
Submitted by
Matthew Raehl
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Tech, Virginia
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2000
Strengths: no second rate components on this bike (cept for maybe the brakes? well they've worked great, just not a big name) frame is awesome
Weaknesses: ive had a little trouble keeping the front derailleur adjusted perfectly, little bit of chainsuck shifting to lowest gear, but unless you pay $81571098359634 for a bike you're not gonna get a perfect drive train.
Bottom Line:
I am a new rider, I lived in South Lake Tahoe over the summer, and some buddies got me into it. I bought the bike when I got home before i went to school, big sale, got a great deal. I can't stay off of this thing, it is ruining my grades. I didn't know what to put for type of rider, what do you call someone who rides up the hills before they dh 'em? Only problems I have had with this bike is the front derailleur can be moody, and on dh the shifters are a little too close to the ends of the handlebars, so I would bang my hands on them, easy to fix though. I love the fork, the saddle fits me perfectly i love it(took getting used to though - its a bit on the hard side) I've heard the rims will bust from too much dh'ing, but they've been rock solid thus far, and i have afforded them no mercy. This bike is AMAZING, it is so much fun to ride, and it is a beautiful bike, cleans up great when I haul her into the dorm showers =) for what I paid, there's no comparison ( 200 < MPSR!??!) I feel this was a perfect first bike for me, and the frame is worthy of any upgrade, only .6 pounds and country of origin separate this frame from the homegrown. The integrated cup & bearing is kinda nifty. I LOVE THIS BIKE IT WILL NOT DISSAPOINT!!!
I'm new to the building scene of these bikes, and my moab II frame took a crap on me. I'm wondering if my components would fit on a 2000 homegrown pro, or factory?
~chad Read More »
