There’s not a single thing practical about this bike. It’s ridiculously light and incredibly expensive. But if you race, there’s really nothing practical about you either. You rise early, drive far and hurt bad (unfathomably, you PAY for these privileges). If you’re among the hopelessly twisted who compete at the elite or pro level of mountain bike racing, the Homegrown Factory Limited makes perfect sense.
Submitted by
nico2819
a Weekend Warrior
from Lund, Sweden
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2011
Strengths: LIGHT!!! It makes a goat look bad and handles like a dream.
Weaknesses: The rider;)
Bottom Line:
Bought the frame a few years ago on ebay and finally built it out in the spring. Words can't describe the ride but if you get a chance to pick one up. you will not regret it.
This is a followup to my Feb. 2005 review. I have owned 3 Homegrowns, an 1999 Orange Pro and two gold ano 2001 Limiteds. My most recent was bought this year from a wrench in Philly. It was mint for $900 - fully tricked out with XTR, SID, etc.
They are super, super light, but most people don't realize how tough they are. I've dropped off a few 3-4' high places at speed and bounced them off of rocks on numerous occasions with no ill effects. However, I have cracked a dropout on the pro due to a rock and separated the top tube on one Limited due to running into a log while tucked behind a racer during a race. Pretty severe impact on that.
Strengths: Super Light weight, it's gold color that grows on ya. Nice simple front shocks. Fast bike. Great tires for groomed trails and city riding.
Weaknesses: It's gold color?! Kinda expensive. Bike-jack target. Too expensive to treat like crap, must be careful NOT to scratch it! Tires becomes slicks when coated with dirt!
Bottom Line:
This is a revisit from when I first reviewed it back in Feb. of 2002. I still love this bike. I haven't had time to ride that often. I did manage to buy 2 more frames and put it into storage just in case something happens to my original one. I have't seen anything released that's as good and light as these frames.
Similar Products Used: My last bike was a Schwinn Aluminum Pro 1989. Awsome bike! The most beautiful welds you've ever seen.
Bike Setup: XTR drivetrain, shifters, brakes, Titec Carbon Seatpost, Titec Ti Stem, SID Race shock, Titec Ti bar, Tioga rims and Hugi hubs, Shimano 959 pedals, Titec grips. Fizik Dolomiti Ti saddles, and Michelin Wild S tires.
Still wicked light. The frame finally broke during a race... top tube broke clean through 1/2 inch from the seat tube after hitting a 5" diamter log straight on at 20+ mph unawares. Schwinn had one more 19" leftover so now it is god-awful orange instead of the beautiful gold anodized finish. They were good to me. My butt sure does take a beating though and now I am on the hunt for a FS in 2005.
Strengths: super light, none of this crap about the colour:it`s fantastic and cool, fast, fast, fast, or is that just me?
Weaknesses: N/A
Bottom Line:
if you can afford to get hold of one of these babies do so......what are you waiting for then? no time to save up these will be a collecters item soon.
This thing climbs incredibly well. I love it and if it was a female, I'd be on it every day. It has helped lift me from a sport racer to expert and has been a skill improvement catalyst. If you race, find one, used or new, and buy it.
Bike Setup: XTR, RS Race carbon, Tioga XC with Hugi 240's, Titec Carbon Seatpost and Ti bars
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
beer istasty
a Cross Country Rider
from columbia
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2002
Strengths: super snappy handling, light as hell, strong, and of course the gorgeous gold anondized aluminum that grows on you like stink on...
poop.
Weaknesses: nil
Bottom Line:
Once you ride a Homegrown then you will be in love with it. If not, you must be gay or something. Seriously. Never have I ridden a bike that handles this well. If you can find one, I suggest you get it(buy it, don't steal). And so what if Pacific owns Schwinn now? I don't care. This is one of the best hardtails one could ever find. This bike will be a collector's item someday, so if you have one hold on to it.
Bike Setup: zoke atom race, crossrides, arch rivals, xt/xtr, thomson all around, atacs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David Powell
a Cross Country Rider
from Champaign, Illinois, USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002
Strengths: Let me start by saying I have gone from a lead sled rigid to a Trek8000 which I thought was really nice, to this...that is just sweet. The frames strength is in climbing and acceleration. Handling is good to. The frame is strong rigid and does everything I want it too. . Bottom line it climbs and will take you to the next level on your first ride. Literally took minutes of my lap times from what my Trek was posting.
Weaknesses: I am so sad that I wont be able to my a 2002 limited. I ride it now with pride as the last of a great line of bikes.
So what if the gold is ugly. Mr T had lots of gold and he is pretty cool.
Bottom Line:
This is a prime cross country ride. The XTR does add nicely to the package but the geometry of the frame itself is excellent. My own opinion is that this bike is best when pointed up-hill. The climing characteristics are great. Smooth confident and powerfull. I am not the best rider in the world or the most experienced but this bike is great and definitely made me better from the first ride and it is only getting better.
Bike Setup: Rolf propel wheels, arch rival brakes, sid, thud buster, selle italia ti, xtr for the rest.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JCC
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyside, NY
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2002
Strengths: Super Light weight, it's gold color that grows on ya. Nice simple front shocks. Fast bike. Great tires for groomed trails and city riding.
Weaknesses: It's gold color?! Kinda expensive. Bike-jack target. Too expensive to treat like crap, must be careful NOT to scratch it! Tires becomes slicks when coated with dirt!
Bottom Line:
This is got to be one of the lightest mountain bikes out there. The geometry affords fast rides up, down, or going flat on trails. Feels like your just riding on air. I haven't experienced any bottoming out on the SIDs. They seem to work well with my body weight (130 lbs). Although I would prefer a wider handlebar, perhaps even a riser. Anyway I can't complain considering I got the thing at 45% off retail. All in all a very solid ride. Michael Johnson look out! You're not the only person with a fastand light gold thing strapped to your foot!
Similar Products Used: My last bike was a Schwinn Aluminum Pro 1989. Awsome bike! The most beautiful welds you've ever seen.
Bike Setup: XTR drivetrain, shifters, brakes, Titec Carbon Seatpost, Titec Ti Stem, SID Race shock, Titec Ti bar, Tioga rims and Hugi hubs, Shimano 959 pedals, Titec grips. Fizik Dolomiti Ti saddles, and Michelin Wild S tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Encinitas California
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2002
Strengths: unique metallic gold finish, super strong, feathery weight, trick looking welds and frame architecture beyond any other mountain bikes currently produced
Weaknesses: stickers
Bottom Line:
Riding full suspension I became tired of being out ridden by so-so mountain bikers with cheap junky hardtails so I bought the best hardtail frame on the market. The Limited Homegrown is a very fast mountain bike and accelerates at both climbing and decending. The slightly ovalized tubing makes the bike just the right stiffness for making long difficult climbs less tiresome because you get so much more power out of each pedal stroke. It may be because I use the highest quality front fork on the market,or it might be the integrated headset, but the handling and balance of the Limited Homegrown is superb and the climbing ability is like nothing I have ever ridden. I was a little skeptical about the gold color at first, but after riding it for a while now, I realize Schwinn has the best racing mountain bike on the market. If you want to catch and destroy other riders on long difficult climbs or easy climbs, get one of these frames.
Similar Products Used: Schwinn S-10, Jamis Dakar, Specialized Hardtails
Bike Setup: Z 2 Atom Race, Race Face Cranks, Mavic Crossmax,
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Submitted by
Cindy
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002
Strengths: Light, fast, great handling. Comfortable and responsive ride and low rolling resistance tires.
Weaknesses: Semi slick tires are a bit of a compromise on gravel.
Bottom Line:
A superior climbing bike with acceleration and enthusiasm to spare. This bike inspires confidence on the downhills and absolutely flies up hills. Got this bike at the 1/2 price Schwinn clearance sale. This bike can't be beat at this or any price.
Similar Products Used: Jamis Dragon, Cannondale F2000 SL, GT Zaskar, My old Cannondale F2000 from 1988, and a Specialized FSR (my bike previous to this Homegrown)
Bike Setup: Factory setup. Full XTR, Titec bars and stem, Hugi hubs, Michelin Jet S tires, etc...
Wow. What can you say about the last great schwinn? Ignaz would be proud.
I thought I'd hate the color, but you know what? I grows on you.
I've kind of set up mine for light duty free-riding or heavy duty XC- and it is a great mix. Sure, it makes a great XC race bike, but I'm no racer. I just love to ride.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z2 Atom Race 80, Thomson post/stem, Monkey Lite's, XT cranks/BB/R.Der/F.Der, XTR pods/cassette, Hayes Hydrolic discs, Mavic UST wheelset, Hutchison Python's.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rod
a Weekend Warrior
from Redondo Beach
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2001
Strengths: Light, light, light (21.5lbs). Climbs, climbs, climbs. Great value for the money. Wheelset is really holding true (seems well-laced, machine or not). GREAT frame geometry compared to other mountain bikes that I have ridden.
Weaknesses: Nothing except for the foam grips.
Bottom Line:
AWESOME BIKE. By the way, thank you Schwinn for declaring bankruptcy and getting acquired by a company who is liquidating inventory. I figure that you saved me $1,800. It's just very hard to find a hand-made in US frame w/ XTR for under $1,700. (This thing even rides better than my old Varsity from elementary school).
I just bought the Frameset at super go, I had enought parts laying around the garage to slap it together, I couldn't believe the scale when I finished, Next year I will have a Sid Race fork on and drop 1/2lbs. You can not find a Faster Climbing HT, I rode some of the best HT I have yet to ride one that matchs the speed up hill. Ride is good, decends real good you can change your direction fast, tight in the trees is good also. I know schwinn is have money problems but be assured they will never go away. Buy now there going cheap!!!
Similar Products Used: Trek 9.8, SuperCaliber, Moots YBB, Yeti Arc
Bike Setup: my 19 is in at 21.3lbs, I have XTR FR.DR, Daves speed dream wheels, XT Rear, Lx shifters Xtr Crank Thompson stem and seatpost, Hyper light handle bars, Sid SL
I am building up a 2001 homegrown limited and I bought some oro puros for it. I am having a hard time making the routing of the line clean. I bought some clamps [url]http://www.un Read More »
