2004 Sea Otter 4-Cross Winner. Discipline: Dual Slalom, Mountain Cross, Urban Assault/Street Riding, and whatever else you can throw at it. Comes in 2 sizes: 14" or 16". Designed for 5" or 6" travel forks without affecting head angle. Oversized headtube and heavily gusseted 7005 aluminum frame. International Standard disc brake mount. International Standard chain guide mount. Dual V-Brake mounts for 24" or 26" wheels. Comes with vertical and horizontal dropouts that can be switched by removing only two bolts. Compatible with top swing front derailleur and triple chain rings.
Submitted by
danielrholmes
a Weekend Warrior
from devon united kingdom
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2009
Strengths: f++king wicked stunner ( t.o ) if you broke yours your a tithead and you dont know didly about bike or how to ride isugest you stick to your feet
Weaknesses: none apart from arses slaging it off
Bottom Line:
nice bike just need to get some new forks it will ride bettwe all together
Bike Setup: xt mech frount and rear lx cranks on doble ring xt hubs onhalo purple haze rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Urbaniste
a Downhiller
from Madison, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2008
Strengths: Just about everything. This is a new review, as I wrote the last one only a month or two into ownership. This frame is stiff and very sturdy. It is extremely versatile, can be set up with 26" or 24" wheels, rim or v-brake (why?), with shorter travel it has incredible snapability thanks to the ultra-steep head angle. I use it for almost everything, even commuting to work once in a while...It's slow, but I session the whole way. It rides awesome as a single speed, as well as with gears...You can even run a triple chainring,eh...if you're into that sort of thing.
Weaknesses: I guess the "AVENT" cutouts are pretty lame, though I don't let them bother me. Some people might be sketched out when riding a bike with a 73 deg head angle on a trail...I suggest an adjustable travel fork, set it up high for trails and freeride...You know, the head angle isn't too big a deal, as even with a long travel setup, it rakes out to probably 70 degrees, so it'll have big travel and precise handling. So...as long as you're not afraid of a slightly nervous ride, it's ideal for all kinds of stuff
Bottom Line:
It's an ill bike. No one recognizes it, and amidst the sea of Evil D.O.C.s, STPs, PhDs, and Chases where I live and ride, it stands out. The paint is extremely durable, and still looks new after many rides. With the adjustable travel Domain, it's comfortable for 95 percent of riding I do, which is trail/ AM, Freeride, Jumps and urban. Haven't taken it downhill yet, but I feel so comfortable with it, I will, once I toss some knobbies on it.
I have no idea how that kid who wrote the scathing, poorly worded, not to mention short review managed to break his...nor do I know where he paid 800 for it, but as he makes no description of how it happened or what happened to the bike, I can only assume he had a lousy setup, is a lousy rider or just wanted to rip the bike a new one for some reason. I encourage people to realize that as tough as any given bike can be, you can break ANYTHING under the right conditions, or trying something stupid, which is how I find a lot of bikes get broken.
Buy one if you love a versatile frame, and snappy handling, as well as a small company racing image. Don't if you feel more comfortable with a slack head angle, which I feel is the only worth noting about the bike to anyone who is considering buying the frame. Also, it has a very short standover, so don't expect to ride it with the seatpost extended and not feel silly...I tried it, and I find it's faster and more efficient just to stand up and sprint with the seatpost at dirt jump/slalom/4X height like a BMX. This is one of those bikes you pick out the size by top tube alone, since they're all low.
Similar Products Used: Mongoose Thunderball, Mongoose Ritual High, um...rode a Soul Cycles Sluggo my friend has once
Bike Setup: Med. Frame (black), Rock Shox Domain 318 U-turn 115-160mm travel adjust, FSA The Pig headset, Iron Horse DH 50mm riser stem with Kore BFD 25mm rise, Tektro Auriga Comp hydro brakes with Alligators (203mm rotor front, 180 rear), Sram X-7 9spd shifter, Mega ExoBB with Gravity Moto X 175mm SS crankset (36T), Sram PG970 chain and cassette, Suntour Duro short cage derailleur Bombshell Fat Daddy wheelset with 2.35 Kenda Small Block 8 front and 2.30 K-Rad rear, some old, black seatpost and a Funn Skinny RL saddle. Azonic Fusion platforms.
Strengths: A good blend of strength and weight. The frame is very stiff and responds very well, sticks landings and fits my body dimensions perfectly, (short legs, normal arms). Good sturdy paint, multiple dropouts, and has rim brake mounts on rear for both 26" and 24" wheels. Good price too.
Weaknesses: None so far. I got the frame new and warranteed from my friend who managed to break the rear dropout bolts, as well as crack the head tube, but he was a 240 pound downhiller riding a 14 inch frame. I weigh 140 so I think I'm okay. And he had replaced the dropout bolts with aluminum when Avent told him they needed to be steel.
Bottom Line:
A do everything freeride hardtail. I even started learning bike trials on it. I love to ride urban though so that's my setup, and the bike is great for it. Fun to jump too, plus I haven't seen any others around town.
Bike Setup: 14"Jibster, Forte Loco wheels with K-Rads 2.3. Marazocchi DJ3, FSA MotoX Crankset single speed. Azonic Strip bar, Tektro Auriga Comp hydro brakes.
Strengths: durable, bombproof, awesome paint, nice and stiff, geometry is perfect, two interchangable dropout styles, original designing, cheap!
Weaknesses: the "AVENT" cutouts really bug me because theyre so rough...looks like someone just flame cut the pieces out and didnt even clean up the corners..(im hoping to blast, rework the cutouts, and repaint it in the fall)....little heavier than im used to also...
Bottom Line:
awesome frame for urban assault and downhill jumps tracks...bad commuting bike unless you want to jack the seat up like 2 feet...takes jumps so naturally.and so cheap....this bike is dank
Strengths: I once nose-cased this thing into the back of a 20ft double! The fork's internals (and crown) were history, but the frame survived. I have now got complete faith in this thing.
Weaknesses: The heat tube angle is seriously steep unless you use longer travel forks.
Bottom Line:
The tolarances that this frame is made to mean that it seems to shrug off impacts that would have had your face on the floor if you were riding an inferior frame.
Strengths: Virtually Un Breakable, I doubt t.o broke his if so Id like toseepics. Very Strong, Very responsive, easy to wheelie, rad design, Looks awesome in red Killer bike!
Weaknesses: The only thing that I dont like about the frame is the CUT OUT that says AVENT is Very Ruff, sharp ruff. but I have never had a problem with it and it looks awesome!
Bottom Line:
Killer Frame, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! WORTH EVERY CENT!
Similar Products Used: Azonic Evolution 2, Orbea, evil Imperial, scott yz series!
Bike Setup: Jibster Frame (RED), Saint Cranks, shiver SC, Single tracks, monkey light dh bars, lock ons (red), Azonic xtension pedals, salsa, z max pro tires 2.35, thompson post, selle italia prolink carbon seat, FSA Pig DH hd set, Azonic Launch stem, Truvativ Box guide, SRAM X9 grip shift rear only, X7 rear derailer! The BEST BIKE THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED, Next I am buying the ARSON will be my next frame, for 4X!
Weaknesses: everything i broke the frame while i was doing some urban jumps
Bottom Line:
this is not the best bike at all i found it handles terribly i do not i repeat DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE not the best in the industry for sure maybe for wal mart type of bikes i wouldnt even take this bike even if it were free nor signed by the biggest names in the industry terible
