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Submitted by
joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | fast and light. made in USA with top grade alloy. | | Weaknesses: | ummmm. | | Similar Products Used: | gt and cannondale | | Bike Setup: | dx/xt | | Bottom Line: | very responsive. never seen another one, makes me feel like a better rider. Can be had for less $ than other more well known, high end frames. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lany
a Cross Country Rider
from Oly, Wa
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | capitol forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Strong, different, nimble, confident, responsive, agile, eager to pleeeze me. | | Weaknesses: | The real weakness is, the lack of warranty if anything should happen- wouldnt expect the frame to break, but you never know. wish i had an extra der hanger. Seems a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary fisher advance, klein attitude, mongoose iboc team carbon (broke), alpine stars, k2 proflex, gt avalanche, and a few more i cant recall | | Bike Setup: | xt sid | | Bottom Line: | 21" measures more like a 18". 21 is a virtual measurement with a slopeing top tube, thats probobly why it handles like it does though. In reality, if you can get over the whole ol school stand over height thing, the only measurement that really matters is the top tube length- at 23.5 its pretty big, so i guess its not a weakness, just feels small when the top tube is just below my knees with horizontal pedals. Good custom bike. Theres a noticeable difference between smaller production frames and mass produced. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TARSEY ANASTOS
a Weekend Warrior
from CHESHIRE CT
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | TEA CREEK IN ROCKYMOUNT W.V. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | SUPER RESPONSIVE FRAME. SHORT CHAINSTAYS SO IT CLIMBS LIKE A CHAMP. SMALL ENOUGH SO YOU CAN THROUGH IT AROUND WHILE DARTING THROUGH TIGHT SINGLE TRACK AND IT LOVES ME. | | Weaknesses: | A LITTLE SKIDDISH ON LONG STEEP DOWNHILLS(SHORT CHAINSTAYS).
THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE. | | Similar Products Used: | SPOOKY'S DARK WOODS KIND OF REMINDS ME OFTHE FEEL. | | Bike Setup: | RACE FACE CRANKS,MAVIC 217 RIMS WITH NUKE PROOF HUB INBACK AND A SPECIALIZED HUB UP FRONT, XT V BRAKES, XT DERAILURES, TITEC RISER BAR, AND A STEAL YOUR FACE STICKER ON THE HEAD TUBE. | | Bottom Line: | A SOLID BIKE THAT TAKES A BEATING. I WISH I HAD ANOTHER FRAME ON STAND BY. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PUT THIS ONE IN THE SHRINE OF BROKEN BIKE PARTS (GASP!). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ramon
a Weekend Warrior
from Newark, NJ
Date Reviewed: September 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Chimney Rock Town | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Super rigid frame which a lot under acceleration, climbing and jumping. Tubes are 7000 series aluminum straight gauge. Biffy welds. Frame is virtually indestructable. Legal enough race as BMX Cruiser Class. | | Weaknesses: |
14 frame is not V-brake friendly. Compatible, yes. A little bit tricky to get the right routing for the rear brakes. A heavy weight, literally, for a cross country frame. Brake/derailleur bosses are on the right hand side. Hit my knee a couple of time while sprinting. | | Similar Products Used: |
My first aluminum frame. Test rode a Jamis Komodo bike. Didn't feel any difference. | | Bike Setup: |
Manitou 98 SXR, Chris King hubs/headset, XTR brakes, Grip Shift, Syncros stem/post, RaceFace cranks ... | | Bottom Line: | Good all around bike. Especially when used as a courier bike, commuter bike, BMX and MTB XC recreation (will add MTB DS on list later on). I like its genral performance and durability. However as the years go by I tend to see more and more minor flaws and and tempeted on up grading to Ti just because of the weight issue. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter A Denny
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Everything!!! The welds are huge and the tubing is strong. Plus the bike is big and that I like. It has so much control yet never feels stiff. | | Weaknesses: |
That they are no more. I want another. I would love to get my hands on a second frame. | | Bike Setup: |
I built it from scratch with a raceface bottom bracket and cranks and xt chain rings, I have xt and xtr components for the rest save for a kore stem and wtb rims. My shock is the manitou mach5 | | Bottom Line: | If you can get one of the al750 or alpro frames, do it. You'll never break it. I prefer the ALPro because of the replaceable dropuot. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave S
a Cross-Country Rider
from Clarkston, MI
Date Reviewed: March 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Highland | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
The bike is strong, light, fast, and forgiving. The welds are huge and teh price I got on the frame was terrific. I picked it up for $200. If you can snatch any frame at 200, do it and if it is a Balance, Definetely do it. Different from the ordinary. Great cockpit and control layout. Singletracks are now faster and a lot more fun. So easy to throw around. | | Weaknesses: |
The sloping top tube makes the seatpost stick far out of the frame for the bike to fit me properly. That's all. It fits fine but teh high seat post is not the most attractive aspect of the bike. | | Similar Products Used: |
Many of my friends bikes. All seem heavier and less responsive. | | Bike Setup: |
I have it decked out with all XT and XTR with A manitou Mach 5 and anything else that fits my riding style. Velocoraptor tires, Ritchey pedals, SDG seat, X-rays, OCLV bar ends, Dia comp v brakes... | | Bottom Line: | Pick one up if possible. The price I got on it was unbelievable and the ride is great also. Feels really balanced (heh heh) one clipped in and off. To bad tehy went out of business but if they didn't, I probably would have never got that price on the frame. | | Overall Rating: |
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