Heavy, difficult to flick bike in switch tight switch backs due to weight
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Straight 8, Yeti DH-9
Bike Setup:
Medium frame, rear Ti spring, Avid Code 5 brakes, Michelin tires, Mavic rims, Ringle hubs, Profile Racing cranks, E-Thirteen chain guide. SRAM shifter / derailleur / cassette, 05 Boxxer World Cup forks, Sic Stem & Bars.
Bottom Line:
This is a true downhill bike. The head angle is slack for high speed runs, suspension travels progressively so you cannot feel it bottom out at all, wide bottom bracket (100mm) creates good chain-line with rear cassette, floating brakes makes the bike stick to the ground in all types of terrain, and MotoLink suspension feels so much like the Schwinn Straight 8 and Yeti DH-9! The frame is built tough and the rear end has zero flex. It's quite heavy though at almost 13lb just for the frame. For the longest time I thought the Schwinn Straight 8 was the best with its Lawwill suspension, now I feel the astrix MotoLink is at the same level but definitely more ridgid. I rode this bike at Mammoth Mountain on all the Double Diamond trails and I felt like the trails were too easy for how the bike plowed through. No one caught up to me, but I sure caught up and passed many people. That's how well it performed and how confident I felt even in the loosest of conditions. Keep in mind this bike is heavy, so powerful 4 piston brakes are recommended to control it's weight on steep descends.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
crazyhavoc
a Downhiller
from UT Date Reviewed: December 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dark Hollow
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Friend
Strengths:
Totally bombproof
Weaknesses:
None thus far other than it takes $$ to shed the weight but what bike doesn't?
Can you imagine a military hummer performing like a Corvette?
The first time ride was as exciting as the last ride. The suspension is so smooth it goes unoticed. It climbs surprisingly well due to rear frame geometry. It can take anything you're willing to put yourself into...Bottom Line.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin s
a Downhiller
from portland oregon usa Date Reviewed: April 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
falls city- ALL THE TRAILS
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Private Party...... and a SCORE!!
Strengths:
EVERYTHING. To quote my man up top there, this thing BULLDOZES through anything...... This bike has redefined my riding. It rides like its on rails down the gnarliest of conditions.... flows like water over BIG stuff..... yet I can huck it like a hardtail..... cornering??? SHHFFF, forget it...... it RAILS the tightest!
This bike is FAST, FAST, FAST and STABLE,STABLE,STABLE! Not too metion the sexiness of it..... I mean true craftsman designed and built this hog.... Have you seen the dropouts?????
Oh, debating the upgraded floating brake kit? DON'T. Spend the cash, its worth it. A+++ across the boards in my book.
Weaknesses:
One and one only. The stays for the rear brake & rear derailer are mounted at the exact point of contact for dual crown forks to smash them...... not too bright there!
Similar Products Used:
Brodie Diablo w/Shiver DC (not even close to the astrix ratings) Kona Coiler DeeLux (apples and oranges)(not to mention 20 pounds!)
fox 40, saint crank, hayes nine, xt der., double wides, nokian gazzi 2.6. 47 1/2 lbs.
Bottom Line:
this is the fastest bike i have ever been on it floats over everything in its path, if your a real rider it can be pedaled up, cornering is easy the bike just goes where your looking. If you want to go fast its for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
built4comfort
a Racer
from australia Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3599.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
stiffness. suspension performance. handling
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
dh team. BB7, sunday elite
Bike Setup:
boxxer air, saint cranks, juicy7
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike, if you are no willing to follow the crowd and get an iron horse i suggest one of these. fantastic value and build quality is right up there too. best handling bike i have ever ridden
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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