Built for the aggressive urban assault freerider. Features full 4130 Chromoly tubing throughout, new IS chain guide mount, extra beefy head tube wall and 1/4 inch thick drop outs and adjustable brake mount to get accurate brake setup, 24"-26" and IS disc brake mount. Replaceable derailleur hanger.
Submitted by
Ted
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: August 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
ll Stub Stewart state park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
craig is my friend a
Strengths:
great frame, its cool loookin and very stong. easy to manuever through trails and jumps. easy wheelies through the streets.
Weaknesses:
none really. i would recommend getting a chain guide though.
Similar Products Used:
my first mountain bike, i used to ride bmx
Bike Setup:
rock shocks dart 2, shimano shifter, t.h.e seat, truvativ "the pig" headset, STOMP pedals, truvativ 3 piece crank
Bottom Line:
If i had to describe this bike with one word it would have to be AMAZING! great bike and i love it. this bike is for the person who does a little bit of everything. light enough for street, yet strong enough for DH or trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gus
a Weekend Warrior
from Talkeetna, Alaska Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anyting from street to freeride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
It holds up well on the FR and DH. I've done skatepark and DJ and does well there also like it's supposed to. Easy to spin, whips around good, good dimensions and geometries
Weaknesses:
a little heavy when lifting it to load into a bike rack or pickup or when hiking up for your next run
Similar Products Used:
kona shred
Bike Setup:
'08 steelhead pro xl white, '07 marzocchi 66 eta rcv, sas halo rims, azonic meat grinder cranks, azonic a-frame pedals, fsa pig headset, hayes mx-4 brakes(8' rotor up front), singlespeed, truvativ gravity 1.5' riser DH bars and stem
Bottom Line:
Awesome, purley awesome. The pro xl is the perfect size for a 14 year old in alaska doing everything from throwing tricks, to downhill, to xc rides. My setup is pretty heavy but its all the result of upgrading after breaking lighter components and now I've ridden for a month without breaking anything. It's a good solid bike with dimensions for anything and I like the horizontal dropouts I hated using a tentioner. I bought it because I cracked an aluminum frame and I'm 170 pounds 5'9'. I'd been looking at it and comparing it to other frames and it seemed like the best choice over Iron Horse, Kona, Specialized, Haro, Blk Mrkt, Leader, Giant, and Santa cruz. It was the only steel frame I found that would comfortably hold a 6' fork. Its a frame you can set up for anything and everything and will keep asking for more. Anyone who freerides or only rides places like my hometown (Talkeetna) where nobody has given even the skateboarders a park should buy a steelhead.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J-Bone
a Weekend Warrior
from MICH Date Reviewed: September 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any, bumps, street
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
the bay
Strengths:
Sick looks, pretty light for a steel frame. horizontal drops, tensioner tabs on the bb
Weaknesses:
none really. A more common seat post clamp size would be nice-but I have the right size now twenty nice.eightmm.
as good as any DJ frame out there. No questions. Very expensive direct from the Azonic site. Very cheap when bought on pricepoint or ebay.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dizzy D
a Weekend Warrior
from Bethlehem, PA, USA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
the list of craigs
Strengths:
indestructible, versatility (set it up for street, xc, dj, freeride, anything!), STEEL
Weaknesses:
a little heavy, but nothing that you notice on the ride, just when picking it up at the end of a ride.
Similar Products Used:
nothing is similar
Bike Setup:
2004 size XL (a bit big, I'm only 5'6", but I'm not doing tricks so its ok), singlespeed 32x18, Fox vanilla up front, avid bb7s, Maxxis Mobster 2.5 front, WTB Velociraptor rear.
Bottom Line:
This thing rocks.
Solid solid solid.
I ride xc with it, and like to drop/huck things if I find them, and I know this frame take it all. This thing does great on the trail. Amazing control, has the flex of steel, and takes a beating. it's gotten pretty scuffed up, mostly from hauling it around during travels and still no rust. It has a relaxed geometry, but I think the fact that i ride the XL keeps me from doing wheelies on the climbs, and the rear tire stays planted.
I like the frame so much I'm looking to get another one to build a commuter! That's the magic of the Steelhead! You can pretty much build it to be anything you want it to be! ...and you won't break the bank!
Affordable, dependable, long-lasting. It's the Honda of bike frames.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
neabailey
a Weekend Warrior
from Montana Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The Street
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$168.00
Purchased At:
The Internet Machine
Strengths:
Revised Geo for 08, Cromo!, Tire clearance, Horizontal Drop outs, short rearend!, Short seat tube = more stand over clearance and room for tricks, less weight than the older models.
Weaknesses:
Where the seatstay's meet the seattube looks like it could be weak. Hasn't caused an issue yet but I'm keeping my eye on it.
Similar Products Used:
Bmx. And other Aluminum Hardtails.
Bike Setup:
08 Steelhead, Marz forks, sun wheels, Macneil pivotal seat and post, transition Temple lite stem, hayes 9, powered by a 1x9 drivetrain.
Bottom Line:
This Bike is great. I come from a BMX back ground, mainly street and some dirt, When I made the switch to "big wheels", I was not impressed with what I found. Prices are outrageous, and options were slim for a cromo street bike.
But then azonic rolled out their revised Steelhead and I found what I was waiting for, an inexpensive steel frame with good geo. There is no reason a steel frame should cost $500 like the Dobermann's or Mob, ect. $300 is an average price for a top end Bmx Frame, it doesn't cost $200 in additional steel to make a 26". Anyone who works for a living and doesn't want to get caught up in the overpriced world of "novelty" mtb's should consider this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Esquire
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: May 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Forest of Dean
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
chainreactions
Strengths:
Strong construction Cro-Mo tubing. Horizontal Dropouts. Tight rear triangle. Big tyre clearance.
Weaknesses:
Chainstay on drive side looks a little thin at bend.
Bombproof steel frame, great angles. Handles like a dream, it can be thrown about the place despite weighing in a bit more than my old DS-1. Similar angles to my DS-1 but feels much better tighter and unrelenting. If you are heavy enough or just land heavily enought to crack this then you need a full suuser and leave the hardtail fun to those of us with enough skill to land fairly smooth. I'll see if I can break this but I think I'll get through a few rims first, even with my 2.2" DMR street tyres.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a Downhiller
from Spokane WA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Beacon
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
who knows
Strengths:
I've done things to this bike that would utterly destroy any other frame, and I still ride it daily, four years later. Super relaxed geo, short chainstays. Replaceable dropouts. Strong gussets, but still thin and sexy. The price was hard to beat at the time, and if I had to buy one of the 08's, it's still a killer deal. Worth all the green if you abuse your ride like I do.
Weaknesses:
None. I have the 04, so the frame is all narrow tubing, all steel brutality. The only weakness is my skull. The newer frames have various diameter tubing, wich not only looks lame, but adds unnecessary weight. It's overbuilt, and has longer chainstays. So in short, find an old one if you can....
Similar Products Used:
06 steelhead(really horrible btw). Kona Cowan.
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi DJ1 fork, Rhine Lyte wheel set, mix match RF cranks, no name BB. Chopped bars, broken brake lever. Avid Arch Rival rim brakes(who needs disc's to ride street?). Brown Grips. And Kenda K-Rads. Best tires ever.
Bottom Line:
It fell of my bike rack at 85 mph on the freeway and it was fine. I lost a pedal, but thats not what were reviewing. It's been wrecked, thrown, stomped, cursed, dropped, sold and bought. I will never need another frame. Forget the MOB, buy an old steelhead.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Richardson
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: December 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lordswood
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$119.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Strong, Good gusset's, hits hard, whips round bends well.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose, giant etc etc
Bike Setup:
Azonic steelhead, halo, Z1 freeride, fizik, deity, magura louise, specialized / Big Hit factory
Bottom Line:
This frame is a very good all round hardtail frame, good for singlespeed setup's and gears. Will take a good thrashing well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Marietta, PA Date Reviewed: November 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
aebike.com
Strengths:
Cheap, Strong, removable brake tabs that fit both 24/26" wheels.
This thing is pretty much indestructible, but you pay for that weight. If/When rust accumulates in the tubing, it falls down into the BB shell and makes a mess, not a big deal, but annoying when switching BB's. For a steel frame, I wish it had a bit more flex than it does, but a lot of DJ guy like stiffness, so what can you do?
The rear disc brake mount is big frustrating because you have to remove the caliper before removing the wheel, and have horizontal drop outs make aligning everything and getting good brake performance a challenge. Azonic, next time, make the brake tabs forward of the rear axle!
Paying on $150 for mine new (when it first came out), even if I sold the frame for $25 bucks today I wouldn't feel like I was losing a lot of money. Frame does what its supposed to, not break.
4 Overall just because its the cheapest frame of its kind.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CJ Bivona
a Downhiller
from Newburgh, NY Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dirt Jumps/DH
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
My bike shop
Strengths:
Steel frame, horizontal drops, great welds, replaceable hanger...
Weaknesses:
may be more prone to corrosion due to the fact that it's steel...
Similar Products Used:
kona hardtail, bmw 24"
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi Bomber FR150, hayes, azonic 3 pc cromo cranks, single speed 34X16...
Bottom Line:
badass, brutally strong, awsome in the air geometry
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dam siddley
a Downhiller
from shubendville Date Reviewed: July 10, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$0.50
Strengths:
sweet duder
Weaknesses:
like a rock, tee hee, i peed on it, and then it smelled bad, nothing else though
Similar Products Used:
bikes
Bike Setup:
wheels, fork frame pedals
Bottom Line:
coolie manoolie
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Casper
a Downhiller
from Amsterdam Date Reviewed: May 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Strengths:
The frame itself! It has Survived several downhill tracks (bad wildbad, morzine, winterberg etc) Very nice to goof around on, in the city.
Weaknesses:
None.
Bike Setup:
DJ3 Fork, 24 pedals, Race face seatpost, Sun-Ringle Double Track.
Bottom Line:
This Frame is amazing. I have rode it for three years downhill and it's still in one peace. Finaly I'm gonne buy a fully. But this bike I will keep!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Numa
a Weekend Warrior
from Hafnarfjörður Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
GBR Dirt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Some guy in Iceland.
Strengths:
Well it´s a really strong frame and I love how the size just right for me. And it takes no time to get used to. I was doing bigger jumps and drops the first day compared to the ones on my BMX. And it can handle Downhill rides pretty well i gotta say.
Weaknesses:
It´s a little heavy but it takes no time to get used to.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky(Tested Only) , TwentyFourSeven V24 Slacker(Tested Only)
It´s a great bike and I strongly recommend it to anyone Beginners or Pros. It works perfectly with the Dj3 and the Halo 26" 2,2 tires. It´s a little bit heavier than i expected but I love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erin Krueger
a Racer
from Pueblo, CO Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the mountains
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
some kid from canada
Strengths:
Great until i put a 7 inch fork on it (my frame is a 2000 model) solid as hell, it is hella light if you put on light wheels. mine weights in at 35lbs, but it easy to move for trials. great in the park, and is a great frame for single speed riders.
Weaknesses:
dont use too big of a fork, outcome bad
Similar Products Used:
K2 Brass Monkey, Specialized P2 and P3
Bike Setup:
Steelhead with noleen mega air fork, truvativ hollzfeller cranks, truvativ box guide, sram x9 shifter, sram x7 derailler, hope m4 8" sun double wide 26" with maxxis monster front, avid bb5 6" funn 24" with kenda rear
Bottom Line:
great frame, first one i owned and it might be my next. it does have a little bit of flex, but thats really nice as you throw it in and out of corners. it would be a great frame for people who are the park scene, and for dirt jumping.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john broderick
a Weekend Warrior
from glendale, arozona ,usa Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the city
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
rage cycles
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
every thing , you can ride that hard or youll crack the frame
Similar Products Used:
nuthin it sucks
Bike Setup:
the street machine
Bottom Line:
dont ever get this frame , it will crack and die , DO NOT GET THIS FRAME , IT SUCKS !!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Downhill Biker
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO, USA Date Reviewed: March 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Keystone
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Everything!,this is the best hardtail there is. The frame is the best looking hardtail frame out there. It was inexpensive and it delivers you more than you expected. It is made of steel so if you are doing a 7 foot drop the chainstays won't break like they did on a KHS I had. By the way never get a KHS whatever it is. The horizontal dropouts make converting to single speed easy. This frame is so versatile that you can use it for downhilling, trail biking, street, North Shore, or even just traveling long distance. Some people say this frame is heavy, but it is not at all.
Weaknesses:
!None At All!
Similar Products Used:
KHS <- they don't weld very well at all
Bike Setup:
Easton EA50 handlebars, ZUZU pedals, Manitou Sherman(amazing with a sherman), Truvativ Hussefelt cranks, Maxxis Holyroller, Maxxis BlingBling, singlespeed(works well with a Sram X9), pig headset
Bottom Line:
I can't say enough good things about this bike. There absolutely no problems with this bike. It will do anything you like. You should absolutely get this frame, it won't let you down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dawid
a Weekend Warrior
from chicago, illinois Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
city...kettle moraine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
jenson
Strengths:
i could never break it. non-descript aesthetic and color (2005 version with no stickers). versatility - it does well off-road and in the city. i had it set-up signle speed, 1x9 and now with internal gearing.
has mounts for a chainguard if you want to run it with a derailleur and still keep your chain on.
beefy! some places, like the dropouts and disk brake mouts, the chromoly is thicker than on similar aluminum frames. tire clearance is ridiculous as well, especially when you keep the rear axle in the middle of the horizontal dropout. i've ran Maxxis Mobster 2.7, IRC Trailbear 2.5, Maxxis Hookworm 2.5 on a very wide rim, which makes the tire significantly larger, with no problems. i like the cable routing (whether mechanical or hydraulic) under the top tube. Horizontal dropouts in addition to a very beefy replacable derailleur hanger make this frame very versatile. you can run almost any fork on it too!
very reasonably priced when new. now it's downright cheap!
Weaknesses:
yeah, it's heavy, which can be good. i think a slightly lighter frame would suit me better personally, but let's face it, this thing is built for anything you can throw at it. little holes left as a by-product of the welding process, i think. should be sealed, in my opinion to keep water and stuff out.
Similar Products Used:
khs dj100, various, MTB hardtails
Bike Setup:
manitou nixon elite with 20mm axle. hayes hfx 9, bombshell fatboy front, rohloff mated to snowcat rim 45mm wide. Truvativ/King cockpit. Fsa crank, kenda Block Eights 2.35 with Stans NoTubes. cane creek seatpost, terry saddle.
Bottom Line:
bike rides great. handles awesome with fork @ 145mm and even better @ 115, scary when rigid. I'm 176lbs and don't drop anything higher than 5 feet, so there's no way I could brake this frame. Very stiff frame. When I had it set up with a rigid fork, accelaration was much better and handling seriously responsive. Cross country (strictly at 115) is a blast, both going downhill and climbing - wish I had a fork with an on-the-fly travel adjustment. soon. mine is a scary 39 lbs, but while my sub-30lbs-hardtail friends pick very specific lines on their downhills, i just blast through rocks, roots, holes, drops. acceleration downhill is also much better, which is when i rest more. works out great in Midwestern moraine topography of constant, but short ups and downs. even though i carry more weight uphill, a 3 inch footprint in the rear really diggs and heavier front stays down as well.
although slower than urban fixed gears, the steelhead is very fun in the city (with the right tires) and can take you places other bike riders can't go...
and you can get a 2005 steelhead online for about $150 right now. (nov 06)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mack
a Downhiller
from Sacramento. CA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Great handling, stupid strong, inexpensive, and made out of good 'ol CroMo...can you ask for anything more?
Weaknesses:
Nothing...unless you're worried about weight. Strong, light, or cheap...pick two.
Similar Products Used:
Name it
Bike Setup:
'06 azonic steelhead with marzocchi Z1 freeride, truvativ stuff, race face stuff, king headset, blah, blah...
Bottom Line:
This is a review for the redesigned '06 steelhead. I rode the '04 frame for a year before changing up to the new one. Both frames are a blast to ride but the '06 has some nice upgrades like an externally reinforced headtube(looks sick but the old one was plenty strong), boxed down tube, ISCG tabs, and(most importantly)an adjustable disc mount. This is bar none the best handling sreet/dirtjump/hardtail freeride frame I've ever ridden. I admit I am partial to steel so the weight does'nt bother me much and the head angle is a touch slack so don't expect it to be the best park bike you've ever tried, but aside from those things you can't go wrong. Don't let the low price of this frame scare you into thinking its a cheap/crappy frame. It's steel, its made in taiwan, its got flat black paint...Azonic put their money into the design and welding of this bike, not gimmicky colors or materials. I've ridden this frame as a single speed (15.9 inch chainstays thankyou very much), geared, with dh tires on shuttle runs, and with steet tires for mobbin' round town(I've even ridden XC on this thing!). Its hard to find a hardtail that versatile anymore that won't break the bank. I always like to have a hardtail in my line up of bikes(keeps you sharp) but this bike could easily be my only bike. Get it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a
from Portland, Or Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sea Otter
Strengths:
Strength is it. No worries about breaking this frame.
Weaknesses:
Heavy?...
Similar Products Used:
B1.
Bike Setup:
Z1 FR. Butcher rims on Velocity hubs. Truvative/XT drivetrain.
Bottom Line:
All i need to let this one rip is a set of tensioners to keep the rear wheel put. No problems so far, but want to be sure. The bike inspires confidence on all the stair gaps, loading dock drops, and assorted other stupid things I do. It even doubles as an XC rig sometimes, though it is a bit heavy and getting full seatpost extention looks (and feels) dangerous. Best thrasher rig for the money!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterloo, Ontario Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At:
Internet mailorder
Strengths:
strong frame, slight flex (enough to give some forgiveness), able to handle 4 to 7 inch forks (thus, different head angles 71-67º), can run multiple or single speeds, can handle cross-country to free-ride applications, well made for the price (value for your dollar), can handle up to 2.7 inch tire (if you run the wheel further back in the drop outs)
Weaknesses:
-prone to corrosion, not a great dealer network in Canada
Similar Products Used:
Azonic Evolution, Azonic DS-1
Bike Setup:
-Steelhead frame, Manitou Stance 6 inch fork, single speed (34 by 20 T), Sun rims, Specialized hubs and seat, Axiom seatpost and stem, Specialized Roller 2.6 inch tires,
Bottom Line:
-great frame for the money, just wish there was a greater "Azonic" presence in Canada
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
