Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Orangevale, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002
Strengths: Light, sturdy and smooth.
Weaknesses: No weakness for the money, since I bought with the idea of upgrading. I think I'll upgrade in this order: Add some decent suspension front forks, then a better rear shifter, then a better seat post. The rest when it wears out or breaks.
Bottom Line:
Fits a big guy comfortably. I bought the low end model (basic Expidition) without suspension front fork, etc. with the idea of upgrading it as I figure out what I wanted. The bike lists for $330, but most bike shops sell it for $309 or $299. I found mine on a "One day only deal at $249". Fair deal at that price. Only thing I have changed so far is the seat, but mainly because I had an old favorite. I bought it three weeks ago and have about 300 miles on it. I'm 51 years old and daydream of riding when I'm not. It's addictive.
Similar Products Used: I liked the TREK Navigator 200 too, for about the same price, but the fella at the TREK dealer said he would not fix a broken part before selling it to me. I thought he was joking, but he said "It's not our fault if they send them to us broken. Why should we need to fix it" I doubt this is TREK's policy, but it was enough for me to move on. The dealer's in an old winery, so maybe he found some old stuff to sample.
Bike Setup: Basic Spealized Expidition with a Serfas Old Man seat.
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Submitted by
Joe H.
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckley, Wa usa
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002
Strengths: Just an update. The bike is holding up great on my commutes to work and is now trail worthy too. Added some upgrades so I can use it trail and road with confidence. The bike can go both ways and does, readily now.
Weaknesses: I think the cranks were ok for "cruising" on the road. I was starting to test the limits of them(chain rings) commuting daily. Things don't last when pushed harder than designed for. Pedals, the weinmen rims are doing fine for the road work-not trail worthy at my weight and riding without finesse'. Susp-Seatpost developed side to side play quickly. The rear derailer was slow but worked. No big deal. Forks fine for the road-not trails I ride on.
Bottom Line:
I'm heavy(200+) and stong. This means some needed changes. Some changes were personal preferences ie- handle bars,N-Gear jump stop, bar ends,saddle. I have the Weinman rims with original cassette covered with semi-slicks for my road work. When I want to hit the trail or have a friend that wants to come along(have 2 bikes) I put the Velocity DV's with trail tires on. The front Alivio derailer works and the shifters shift. I put on a susp seatpost that I can adjust side to side play when it develops. The Bracer post has been great. I like this one over my Rock Shox post and its cheaper to boot! I put some investment in this bike cause I like it and I really enjoy riding. So far its been a great experience.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Enduro Ht Expert
Bike Setup: Monkeylite 70 2 inch rise handles, profile stubs placed on the inside of the grips, computer, Rock Shox Duke sl 02, LX Hollow tech cranks, Velocity Deep V rims with a sram 5.0 cassette and XT rear derailer. Post Moderne "Bracer" susp seatpost. N-GEAR jump stop.
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Submitted by
Dave LaFontaine
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft Benning, GA USA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002
Strengths: Quality components and materials. I wanted a bike I could ride on trails, across fields, or on the street with equal ease. I've used every gear and apreciate the trigger shifters. I feel comfortable shopping for quality accessories (rack, lights, etc.) knowing that the bike is worth the expense.
Weaknesses: Pedals have no grip. I bought the medium size frame and had to adjust the seat post to the upper limit for proper leg extension. I'm only 5'11". My fault, not the bike's.
Bottom Line:
Great all around, go anywhere bike. Not too tiring on the road, not a total wimp off it.
Similar Products Used: My first real non-toy bicycle.
Bike Setup: Stock with Topeak Beam Rack. I plan to add high-end headlights since I ride in early morning hours.
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Submitted by
Joe H.
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckley, WA. usa
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001
Strengths: Bike is fast. Good balance slow and fast. Shifts good, tires work well on pavement, Handgrips are great.I'm a solid 6ft 200 pounder and can put the "Flex" on things and this bike keeps itself fine for what I use it for. Had to tighten quick releases on front and back wheels due to movement and rubbing break pads. Tightening took care of it.
Weaknesses: Suspension seatpost developed side to side play. Don't care cause I got another one plus I have a Rock Shox on my Enduro HT I can use. Don't care for the pedals.
Bottom Line:
Great commuting bike. I will probably take it on the trail sooner or later. I have the Enduro for that though. I really like the way this bike feels in my hands. Everything has worked great with the usual adjustments as a bike breaks in. No failures. I am thinking about making it more trail worthy just because it handles so well. I'm not talking changing much either. When things break I'll upgrade. I like it. I'm gonna ride its frigg'n wheels off!
Bike Setup: I changed the handle bars, seat, and seatpost. The rest is stock. I've tried it with a susp seatpost and a stiff post. I prefer the susp post with a slimmer seat. Frees up leg power and peddle stroke with a slimmer seat....I think!
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Submitted by
al painter
a Cross Country Rider
from mountain view, ca, USA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001
Strengths: This bike has been solid on all of my rides. The front suspension has made all the trail rides (single track included) a lot easier to do. The suspension seat post takes a lot of heat off the backside, making for a much more comfortable ride. Shift on the fly is great, and makes changing gears a lot easier than the throttle shift bikes I road. The Crossroads tires, BG seat and grips make this bike one of the best birthday presents I've ever had. A great bike for people like me getting back into MTB'ing, or coming back to the sport after smoe time off.
Weaknesses: Pedals are a little slick.
Bottom Line:
Great bike at a great price ($479 retail, $379 sale price). Treats you well on the pavement for the work commute, and performs even better off road. Very versatile bike which includes tire and handlebar changes.
