Submitted by
Andrew Castle
a
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2005
Strengths: Strengh the frame is indestructable, cranks, looks awsome, Azonic Bars, Xt rear mech, Alex rims (tough as)
Weaknesses: On the heavy side, crap seat and pedals, chainguide, no rear disk brake mount, rear tire clearence
Bottom Line:
This Bike is on the heavy side, but do you expect when its got tough as wheels an frame. I love this bike and am really glad that i didnt by the stp. this bike is good because you can do so much on it from jumping to downhill to park. this bike inspires confidence. this bike is defiantly for begginers to the toughest of riders.
Bike Setup: Xt rear mech,azonic bars, ruffian lock-ons, ISIS hozfeller crankset and BB, michelen front tire
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Submitted by
Lance
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004
Strengths: Bombproof. Frame, fork, wheels perfect for the abusive riing this bike begs for. Balanced and ready to be jumped.
Weaknesses: Well, it is heavy. Chainguide takes a while to set up right. Stock seat is terrible and bars have uncomfortable bend.
Bottom Line:
This bike will take anything short of bender style drops and come back begging for more. You can jump it, urban, trails, trials, downhill, drops, stunts. Basically this bike can do anything and excels at most of it wih the right rider, afetr all it doesn't have tons of suspension to save your butt. If you need a tough, agile bike and are prepared for massive amounts of fun, which this bike is all about, then buyt it.
Strengths: Strong, agile, manual machine, lots of fun riding it, great angles.
Weaknesses: it didn't come with a front derailer cable guide (I run 2 rings with a bashgaurd) but for 7 bucks canadian you can buy a tektro guide for it. also it has crappy rear tire clearance.
Bottom Line:
Rad bike. I bought it as the frame only for $350 can. I haven't had any major troubles with it. Awsome bike if your into freeride, dirt jumping, ds, dh,jibing, but still being able to pedal to the top. I run this rig with two rings and a bashgaurd and love it. the rear tire clerance isn't a big deal either. get the P.3 and ride on!
Bike Setup: manitou's up fron't, shimano drive train, rhyno lite's, tioga tires, axiom seat.
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Submitted by
David Crunov
a Downhiller
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2002
Strengths: Uhmmm yeah it looks pretty sweet but hey... looks aren't everything.. I like it for jumping - but for going downhill of ds is a different story
Weaknesses: Well i bought it second hand but i'm not sure if it was always like this - everything sucks. the wheels weren't great, the seat was a joke, and the frame was flexy - i'm not heavy rider i'm 60kg. This bike is loud and really not made for downhills
Bottom Line:
Yeah good bike - but if i could go back i wouldn't make the same mistake... go trek, very reliable - my mate has a trek bruiser and damn its just a beast.. well, i'm happy with what i got for the price
Similar Products Used: Trek Bruiser 2 - Get a trek, i regret not getting it - it comes with disk brakes and its just an awesome bike
Bike Setup: Ra ra ra replaced broken pedals with Funn, replaced screwed headset with FSA orbit DL - yeah and i'm hopefully geting new forks in an attempt to make me happier with the bike
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Submitted by
buss berry
a Weekend Warrior
from west linn oregon
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002
Strengths: This bike is the strongest hardtail bike you will ever see or here about. If this bike was in the world trade center it would of survived with no scratches,bruses or dents. Its as strong as my mom!!!
Weaknesses: Like I said their is no weaknesses exept for the seat because its ass hard and the chainguid.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the bomb of them all I would not take benders bike over the p.3. this bike has to be the lightest freeride\ dirt jumping bike on earth. I recomend it for all riders!!!
Bike Setup: psylo sl and all stock and an avid front disc
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Submitted by
Frogman
a Weekend Warrior
from Townsville
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2002
Strengths: Strong good looking frame, nice forks , good deraileur and cranks are ok for alloys.Awesome rims too
Weaknesses: for some reason mine came with a tapered bottom brackett which annoyed me. The wheels are hard to retrue when u buckle em
Bottom Line:
If u jump this is the best commercial bike available. It has good control for dual slalom as well. Buy it if u ride hard and break normal bike , cause this thing ain't normal.
Submitted by
Corey Shannon
a Downhiller
from London, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002
Strengths: Thsi bike has the strongest and stiffest swing arm i have ever riden. Good brakes (could be way better) and very strong rims
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Thsi is a pro bike for riders who wanna ride hard wit no fears wt so ever!! I recomend it for downhill, downhill salamn and freeride or urban ridin....IT IS THE SICKEST BIKE!!!!
Submitted by
Corey Shannon
a Downhiller
from London, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002
Strengths: Thsi bike has the strongest and stiffest swing arm i have ever riden. Good brakes (could be way better) and very strong rims
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Thsi is a pro bike for riders who wanna ride hard wit no fears wt so ever!! I recomend it for downhill, downhill salamn and freeride or urban ridin....IT IS THE SICKEST BIKE!!!!
Submitted by
spencer
a Weekend Warrior
from natick, mass.
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002
Strengths: strongest alumiin frame i have ever ridden. Is suprisiling light for what it is. Very very versitle,can handle anything you throw at it go out of your way to find huge drop offs with this puppy. Extremely cheap for what you get out of it.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
great overall bike, a great choice if you like dirt jumping or hucking off big drops.
Similar Products Used: cove stiffie fr.,azonic evolution, ellsworth specialist, surly instegator, and haro werks DSR
Bike Setup: thomson seat post, avid mechanical disc brakes, sun rhyno lite rims, XT disc hubs, XTR cranks, atomlab trail king pedals, FSA pif headset, azonis single wall bar, very solid
Strengths: frame is beefy way beefy. the rims are awsome they never come out of true. umm the xt derailleur is nice
Weaknesses: ummm chainguide, brakes, bars, cranks, seat, tire clearance. look. its strong but ugly
Bottom Line:
this bike was great wen i first got it, but as my skills prgressed i started being more harsh on my bike and shtuff started to break. i replaced all the necessary but i think specialized did a decent job with the group kit. the frame isnt that great looking but o well it looks like i wont break it for a while.
Bike Setup: planet x knifen fork, on-one reetard cranks, azonic double wall riser bars, oddysee seat, mr dirt guide, xt v-brakes, arrow 2.6 tires, odi lock ons, bmw pedals. pretty pimp setup
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Submitted by
eddie
a Weekend Warrior
from brooklyn
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002
Strengths: this is my second review of this bike. i swapped out the bomber for a white bros ud150 dual crown with 6" travel, a kore strictly d and azonic shorty and hayes mech disc upfront, and i have to say, this set-up ROCKS! the fork adds a next level of plushness (makes you realize how average the marzocchi is) and the combination of that dope ride plus the kicked-up angles make downhilling, stair-riding, gapping etc feel like a breeze. very very nice set-up for this bike. i recommend getting the extra couple inches to everyone who likes to freeride one of these babies, and the ud150 is not really any heavier than the z3
Weaknesses: same sh*t as before: no rear disc mount, crappy hussefelt chain guide (which i'm swapping for a blackspire). stock tires aren't that serious either.
Bottom Line:
this bike is the absolute bomb, and absolutely bomb-proof. i can't stress it enough, the extra travel and rebound damping up front TRANSFORMS THE RIDE. you will not want to get off your bike. and if anyone wants to see pics of how bad-ass it looks you can email me at eddie@thefader.com, cause you know we like our rides to turn heads. i LOVE my p.3. if you're considering a purchase then stop considering right now. just buy it and done.
Alright, I just got a 2000 medium p.3. How does this compare to other p.3's and other bikes out there? I cant wait to hit up some jumps and gaps. And does anyone have info on an Read More »
