I have ridden this bike hard for 6 years and it still rides great. Love this bike and have no plans on retiring it anytime soon.
Weaknesses: LX cranks wore down fast, seat and seat post bent under normal use. but for the price its was great.
Bottom Line:
This bike was the best bang for the buck at the time. Besides having to change the seat and seat post this bike has been problem free. The frame holds up to all kinds of abuse and i have never missed a shift with the xtr derailuer. too bad you cant buy the moab anymore. If you a moab for sale, buy it. since schwinn decided to stop making decent mtn bikes.
Strengths: Solid frame, good butting, epicenter seatstays give excellent braking. The bike is solidly speced for the price. Matte-Black frame is extremely durrable.
Weaknesses: Schwinn cut corners kitting it out. the seat retails for $5 and rails bend easily. I blew the manitou fork and had to replace it. destroyed both wheels. michilen tires are worthless. aheadset's icbm headset is alright, but cane creek c2 bearings greatly improve performance. stem broke durring a ride.
Bottom Line:
the moab is a hot bike. i have to part with mine because it no longer does what i need it to do. then again, neither does my jamis. the moab isn't as light as some of those real light and fancy xc rigs... but let me put it this way: i got a $3000, 24 lb full suspension and snapped the frame in half within two months, then cracked the arch of a manitou scarab super a couple months later. go heavier, save the heart ache and get stronger. the moab is the only frame i haven't killed and someday i hope to find another bike like it, but for right now, i'm looking into a blur or an intense spider.
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2003
Strengths: Registered with Police
Weaknesses: Stolen on 25 June 2003
Bottom Line:
If you or someone you know has purchased or received a 17 inch black and orange Moab 1 with Mavic D321 black rims, orange Rock Shox, specialized slicks, specialized soft grips, specialized seat, scratched bar ends with red tennis racket tape, XT front and rear derailleurs, avid disk brakes, spd pedals. Then please contact Saville Row Crime Desk on 0207 321 8880 7am – 7pm Mon – Fri 8am – 4pm Sat - Sun Crime reference CD 6409235/03/BG
Bike Setup: 17 inch black and orange Moab 1 with Mavic D321 black rims, orange Rock Shox, specialized slicks, specialized soft grips, specialized seat, scratched bar ends with red tennis racket tape, XT front and rear , avid disk brakes, spd pedals
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Nick Wells
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003
Strengths: Superbly light and nimble, I havnt really taken it out of town yet - that happens in July, but for navigating London its perfect, it will go literaly anywhere.
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike, really trashes most other bikes I come across, buying second hand was a good move as it had been heavily upgraded anyway, Ive spent a bit on repairs but over all its excellent and I cant wait to take it out on the Ridge Way in July.
Bike Setup: 17in frame, XT fd & rd, XT crank, Avid brakes, Mavic D321 Disc wheels, specialized armadilo slicks for London and Hutchinson Jumbo and Michelin ? for the country.
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Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: Smooth and stable. Light enough for the price. Reliable. Hayes discs front and rear.
Weaknesses: The saddle was alright, but weak under pressure--the rails bent quickly. That was with a suspension seatpost.
Bottom Line:
First of all, this is a review of the Schwinn Disc SL, which is a Moab 1 frame that came with Hayes hydros front and rear, and a rockshox suspension seatpost. Most of the time if I race it, it is initially mistaken for a homegrown.
I still love this bike. I have since gotten a dualie, but this Schwinn just does not disappoint. I picked it up a few months before the bankruptcy hit, but I think I'd still do it again. I got the LBS to switch out the stock pedals for Time ATACs. I like the longish cockpit as this bike feels really stable at speeds, but is still nimble enough to get around most tight stuff. The Hayes brakes had me hooked from the start. The suspension seatpost was a really energy sucker, though, but I didn't really clue in on that until about 10 months in. It was nice to take some of the edge off, though. The stock wheels (WTB laserdiscs) were pretty light, but there is a penalty for that: I got a tad sideways in mud and the front wheel just folded under. The bike flipped up over me and bounced down the trail, successfully fubaring the rear wheel as well.
This bike has been reliable with preventive maintenance. Take care of her and she'll take care of you. It loves to be ridden.
Bike Setup: Bike came with XTR RD, LX FD, LX cranks, Hayes hydraulics front and rear, WTB laserdisc wheels, rockshox suspension post, LX shifters, Titec Hellbent XC bar and stem, Manitou SX-R fork. Seatpost was switched out for a Thomson and both wheels got tacoed, so I'm now running XT/Mavic 317s. The FD was bent in a crash, so it is now XT. I replaced the grips and the saddle when they wore out.
Strengths: Great on climbs. Good on decents. Good ergonomics. Light but strong frame. Handles well in tight places. Components are good. Good balance. Very responsive. Brakes on a dime. Pleasure to ride.
Weaknesses: The Manitou SX fork on it has to go if you are going to race it. This fork will kill your hands. Throw the Schwinn sadle away, it is horrible. Paint job but will get scratched up cause of no clear coat, but its a mountain bike don't worry about it. Squeaking in the handlebar/stem area as well as the cranks that I cant get rid of. Could be more stable at high speeds.
Bottom Line:
One of the nicest bikes in this price range. A very race worthy bike, but also great for a beginner. A few component upgrades can have you on the fast track to the winners circle. Handles like a dream in the technical sections which is my favorite type of riding. This bike raises your confidence level and will make you a faster, smarter rider. Too bad this was the last year that the Moab 1 was made. Cudos to Schwinn (pre-sellout Schwinn). If at all possible buy a MARZOCCHI fork for it. They are the best. And your bike will appreciate it. Go out and do it in the woods.
Similar Products Used: Giant Iquana and Rincon, Trek 6000, 4900, 4500, 930 and 850, Schwinn Moab 2, and K2 Zed Team.
Bike Setup: Kore stem & handlebar, Schwinn headset, Avid SD 5 brakes & levers, Shimano LX front derailleur & shifters & crank & hubs, Shimano XTR rear derailleur, Sun Mach 4 rims, Michelin Wildgripper rear tire, Bontrager Jones front tire, Topo Team saddle, and best of all MARZOCCHI X-FLY 80 fork.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Mike Finnegan
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island, NY USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Strengths: Very nice specs for a bike this price. Though the only reason it was this price was because of the schwinn/GT bankruptcy and sale to pacific bikes. Manitou sx-r fork is incredibly underated and not to be confused with the simple sx. though now discontinued because of the Black forks. very light and quick.
Weaknesses: Rims must be trued often. Having some shifting problems now that may be attributed to the cassette. Also developing a slight grind feel in the rear hub and bottom bracket.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money. too bad schwinn will no longer be making high end bikes under the pacific company. Just when they began making them right.
Bike Setup: lx/xtr, avid single digit 7 brakes and levers, 515 pedals.
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Submitted by
Gary
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002
Bottom Line:
Follow up review. Bike is still kicking out well and i'm beggining to become quite attached to the judy forks even though dukes are coming in the next month or two (sid's just seem too much fuss to look after!). Since owning the bike my riding ability has come on leaps and bounds and ive even become one of the best riders in my uni club. First race (only fun so not expecting results) is in a few weeks. SAMS ashton XC event and i'll see how the bike copes.
I've been abusing the bike lately and have been using it as a part time free ride rig. Something had to go sooner or later but thankfully it was only the rear wheel (buckled but repairable - Tioga factory wheels are light but cant withstand everything!!!
I hear schwinn are coming back to the UK which is always nice to know. The UK head quaters is only two minutes from my uni so i'm planning to pop in and ask some questions.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW, JUST TELL ME AND I'LL ASK EM!!!
Purchased At: Dave Bater, Uk Bristol for £800 sterling
Bike Setup: Just added a nice new super smooth SRAM pc-90 (or is it 99?). £25 seemed a lot for a chain but it is sooo worth it!!!
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2002
Strengths: Light frame, disc brakes, strength of components, ease of setup, all round performance
Weaknesses: Ooooh, that saddle can make you a little sore!
Bottom Line:
Having read reviews of a number of reviews of various bikes, and then had a look "in the flesh" at them and tried out some, this was the one which felt most natural in both ride position and handling. If you are a new rider looking for a bike which will do whatever you ask of it and not complain, then this is the one. If you are an experienced rider, it would still be a good choice although you may want to upgrade things like the forks and front transmission. The brakes will NOT need any upgrade. These things are better than any V Brakes Ive ever used. Even my fiancee is talking about upgrading hers to Avids now! I did initially have a few teething problems when I got it back from the shop in so much as the second time I went out the front forks kept clicking, but this turned out to be because the shop had turned the suspension up to its hardest and I was doing my utmost to try them out! A quick re-adjustment of the forks as per the instruction manual and away I went with no noises. A few people have mentioned the saddle, and whilst I can agree that initially it can be a little on the firm side, after a few decent hard rides, it seems to settle in (or maybe I'm just numb and don't feel it any more?!). Others have mentioned that the brakes squeak. I havent had this yet, although (as with the forks) I did find they weren't quite set up properly and needed a couple of readjustments to stop the grinding sound when the brakes were being slowly applied. Overall, what a bike. I thought I had owned mountain bikes before, but this is the first bike that I can say really would stand up to a mountain.
Similar Products Used: Demo'ed Gary Fisher Paragon, various Kona's, GT's, Sunn's and Marin's
Bike Setup: UK Spec (Schwinn Moab 1 disc, Avid CPS mechanical disc brakes, Tioga rims with Mytho tyres, deore front transmission and XT rear derrailleur, Avid AD3 brake levers, Ride Tuned headset and seatpost, Tranz X bar ends, Rock Shox Judy C forks, Deore Hubs)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
john
a Weekend Warrior
from Guatemala
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002
Strengths: Light, strong frame, shimano lx/xtr drive train, avid brakes, great geometry, tires. Very responsive and controllable. Makes me a much better rider.
Weaknesses: Manitou 80mm SX shocks will be the first thing I replace. Already bent back rim, although only 160lbs. of pure fury. Stock tubes and grips suck, but are easily replaced.
Bottom Line:
After getting used to the clip in pedals, this thing just keeps making my nipples harder every time I use it. At the price that I found it, it is a SUPER buy. Great climbing bike, bounces down almost anything, and handles well on all sorts of surfaces- loose rocks, mud, big rocks, dirt, sand, etc. Geometry is also very well done. Schwinn also does not go chincy on major components and it can be ridden right out of the store on all kinds of trails. GET ONE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!
Favorite Trail: Anything involving volvanoes or coffee farms
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$820.00
Purchased At: Supergo
Similar Products Used: Seriously upgraded from Giant Rincon. Tried out GT Backwoods.
Bike Setup: xtr/lx drive train, Manitou SX shocks, Avid 5 brakes, shimano clip-in pedals, Kore Tioga rims, Michelin wildgripper tires,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Lake
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2002
Strengths: Avid Discs!!! My mate nearly went over the bars within 20 seconds of riding the thing!!! XT rear mech, Avid levers, and the cool silver jagwire cabling with rubber protector bits which have got my whole riding group in fits of jealousy. Decals are great, it seems that schwinn have taken great care in adding all the little touches that matter to the average rider - How cool are the metal badges!! Frame is a great platform to upgrade on (like you'd actually need to!!!)
Weaknesses: Judy C's have the most enormous brace which can't be doing anything for the weight! Considering Rock Shox SIDs as first upgrade! International spec means i don't get LX/XTR, its got deore throughout but i do get a very sweet XT rear mech! Tyres are a bit thin, only 1.9's so some 2.1 continentals are on the way!
Bottom Line:
A bargain seeing as the shop knocked £100 off! RRP was £900. Unfortunatly GT/Schwinn UK is no more but this has had a positive effect on my level of street cred! As owning a schwinn in the UK is now extremely rare! I've never seen another moab out on my travels!! This bike is fast, my brother rides an orange P7 which is fast but this comes at the expense of comfort unlike the moab. The frame is so flexible in its potential disiplins. Cross country, freeride, Dual slalom and a member of the Halfords/Bikehut team uk has even one set up for jumps! This bike is suitable for anyone - whether you want function or just style. To all you in the states... Buy it, buy it, buy it!!! As for you in the UK ha ha ha i have one and you cant get one anymore!!
Favorite Trail: Cheddar Gorge, Yes its where the cheese comes from!!!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Dave Bater Cycles
Similar Products Used: Owned Kona Fire Mountin, Cinder Cone Ltd (sweet!), Orange Clockwork Ltd (Home built using limited run of special edition clockwork frames the year before it became C-16). Considered Kona Caldera and GT Avalanch before purchasing the schwinn
Bike Setup: Stock apart from RaceFace Riser bar, DMR V8 pedals. To Come: SIDS, RaceFace seat post/chainset
Strengths: This bike rocks. All around solid components, solid frame, everything is solid.
Weaknesses: Only weakness I've found are the tire tubes, but that's an easy 6.00 fix.
Bottom Line:
There weren't any reviews of the Moab Disk so I posted here. Sam's club messed up BIG TIME and I was rewarded for it. They sold me the Disk at the A2 price and never new the difference. For the price I paid, it would be impossible to find a bike with the components and set up this bike has. Check your local Sam's befor they are all gone, maybe you'll get lucky too. Best bike I've ever had for the price. Bummer about Schwinn though, but you still get a year warrenty through Sam's.
Submitted by
aTm
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Strengths: rear derrailleur, Frame composition and geometry, brakes and levers, front fork, paint, overall component selection
Weaknesses: Tioga wheel set is light, but a little on the weak side for larger riders/
Bottom Line:
The Moab 1 is one of the best bikes on the market for the money. If you are wanting the most bike for your buck, look no further. With a very light and well designed frame, and excellent components... you just can't go wrong. I ride pretty hard and have beat this bike up good, but have had no troubles with it at all. This bike deserves the rating I have given it.
Strengths: avid mechs all the way around, manitou shock, kore stem and bar, paint, geometry
Weaknesses: havent found one yet
Bottom Line:
I do not know what the Italians are thinkin when they say they have the most beautiful bikes. This bike is THE bomb. Since I could not find a thread on my actual bike, Moab Disc, I am posting here. I got this bike at a great price, we need to put some more support into this great American company. This thing is a damn tank. I have hit this bike just as hard as my fullsuspension and it just smiles and says , please sir more. Guess that is what you get from a company who has built bikes for over 100 years.
