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Submitted by
dan
a Cross Country Rider
from new york
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | sprain brook | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria cycles online | | Strengths: | Decent weight, good geometry, little to no pogo, but rear suspension is still active while standing, looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | no disc brake mount in rear, none other so far. | | Similar Products Used: | only hardtails, cannondale f300, trek 6000. | | Bike Setup: | answer manitou axel comp 100mm fork, answer hyperlight bars, SG crank arms, stx shifters, etc, home-made chain tensioner (i have it set up as a 1x7 at the moment, and the chain kept popping off the front ring). most of the other parts are cheapies off my old balance xr-750. wellgo m3 clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | cant beat a new fs frame for $150. rear suspension is good, although i need a stiffe spring i think (i weigh 210). overall i am very happy with the bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JC
a Cross Country Rider
from Salida, Colorado - home of the 14'ers
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$390.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycleguru1 on ebay | | Strengths: | Great ride, low maintenance, built like a tank, very cool paint job - all of this at a price that cannot be beat. | | Weaknesses: | Hmmm... I just can't complain about a brand new frame that comes with spare set of bushings and a the coolest water bottle cage made for under $400... | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC's, Kona Stinkys, Titus Loco & Switchblade | | Bike Setup: | XT drive train & shifters with XTR hubs on 517 wheels, Thomson seatpost & stem, Easton bars, Duke Race fork, Avid arch-rival brakes, WTB MutanoRaptor tires and a WTB Speed V seat. | | Bottom Line: | If you have an opportunity to score one of these frames for under $500, go for it. I have mine set up to use as my XC bike and I'm riding - and enjoying it- more than my chi-chi titanium Kona Hei-Hei. I weigh 215 pounds and really appreciate the super stiff, square tubes that make up the rear triangle. And, with only one pivot to worry about, there is absolutely no lateral sway to be found. All you feel is the suspension reacting to the trail.
Oh yeah, one more thing - I got the maroon colored frame and the paint job is the nicest I have ever seen on a bike frame. It's awesome - and a very unique color that looks totally cool with all of my black components.
Oops - one more thing again - Why doesn't everybody use these waterbottle cages? They hold my "heavier-than-water" NiteRider battery better than any cage I have ever had and you can mount them to be used from any direction. Great design that I wish I would have thought of... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Donnelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Aspen, CO
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Some trail in CB near Taylor Resevoir, can't remember the name | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Direct | | Strengths: | Awesome Weight-Price ratio, Geometry suites my build, Climbs sweet | | Weaknesses: | Lets me go too fast most of the time. | | Similar Products Used: | Some DBR Hardtail, older Cannondales | | Bike Setup: | Fr XT/ Rr XT, Mavic 517 Rims with XTR Hubs, RockShox XC, Monkey Light Carbon Riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | Not nearly as beat up on this ride as with my Aluminum framed bike. This bike took my riding to a whole nother level. I've gone from riding about once a week at best to about 4 times a week.
Climbs great, DHs great, priced right. Haven't used customer service because the bike has been flawless. Although I broke 3 Shimano chains in the past year, but I've switched to Sram and am doing much better now.
Built the bike myself and it went smooth other than the seatpost being an odd size. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan Safarik
a Racer
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Direct from Catamount | | Strengths: | Elegant, durable, and simple suspension design. Exceptional handling characteristics. Awesome climber and descender. | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Ocoee | | Bike Setup: | Cat with Marzocchi Boss shock, White Bros. SC72UL fork, RaceFace cranks and rings; SRAM: Rocket Shorty shifters, 9.0 brakes, rear cassette, and chain; XT front and rear mechs. | | Bottom Line: | The Cat is as quick, agile, and sure-footed as any real feline! In a nutshell, I'm consistently amazed at the overall performance of this bike! While climbing, the rear tire remains firmly planted over even the loosest rocks and slipperiest roots. Want to pass a few people at the top of a climb? Simply shift your weight slightly forward on the saddle and put the power down! The suspension firms just enough to make the Cat practically leap forward.
The Catamount’s low- and high-speed maneuverability is also superb. I can carve turns at far higher speeds – and with more stability - than I was ever able to on my hardtail. Low-speed handling is just as precise and predictable; look where you want to go, and the Cat will take you there without any hesitation!
The Cat’s modified URT suspension design, yielding 2.25" to 4.5" of plush, Marzocchi-sprung travel, is durable simplicity at its finest. As I alluded to above, by simply shifting your weight slightly on the saddle you can effectively and subtly control the feel of the rear end, ranging from super plush on descents, to firm and fast on climbs. Power transfer is excellent under all conditions, with very little energy being lost to suspension activity.
I've pushed this very bike hard on some of Utah's best single track, and it's never let me down. The bottom line is that the Cat makes riding and racing more fun...as well as faster! Price comes in at somewhere between “incredible bargain” and “a steal”. :) Don't buy into the magazine propaganda saying that the URT design is dead. The Cat is based on a longstanding, ride-proven, reliable design that, quite simply, delivers more performance per dollar than any other frame out there. Period.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Magic Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Catamount | | Strengths: | Durable, simple design. Suspension works well. Custom color. LOW PRICE! | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy. Suspension not always active. | | Bike Setup: | Stratos Helix Pro rear shock, Marzocchi Z1-Dropoff, XT/LX drivetrain, Suntour XC-Pro thumbshifters, Avid Arch Rival brakes, XT/Mustang wheelset, WTB Motoraptors, WTB Momentum headset, Crowbars. | | Bottom Line: | Probably the best deal on a full-suspension frame out there. With a 5" travel fork and Stratos rear shock, the bike rides like a dream. I love technical downhills and the Catamount is superb on them, smoothing out the rough spots and remaining tight and manageable through the turns. An added benefit is the single pivot, meaning less maintenance. A great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Racer
from Duluth, MN
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lutsen Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | single pivot stays tight, unique, efficient ride, customer service from Larry at Catamount, reasonable price(check his website for monthly specials) | | Weaknesses: | odd seatpost size(26.4),needs to be sent back for pivot replacement every 2 years which really isn't so bad given the lack of maintenance needed in between, water bottle placement | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Mantra demo | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX, Cane Creek AD-10, mostly Shimano XT,
Bontrager tires | | Bottom Line: | This bike is an excellent trail bike and a decent racer. I had a '96 vintage that was sent back for pivot replacement and a new upper for better fit. I use it mainly for training but have raced it on occasion when my hardtail is laid up or the course is severely rough. It bobs slightly but that's due to my sloppy pedaling. I wish it was lighter but better parts would help. It is an enjoyable ride that I would buy again if it was stolen. If I could only have one bike, this would be it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Johnson City
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great Climber.
| | Weaknesses: | Seat/Pedal distance variance. Odd seatpost size. Uneven bottom bracket face. Poor shipping by manufacturer. | | Similar Products Used: | KHS hardtail,Dean softtail, Specialized FSR. | | Bike Setup: | MFS Superlight, RS SID rear shock,Z2 Bam, XT
| | Bottom Line: | The performance of this frame was very good. The climbing was great. My overall opinion of the frame was not entirely positive for a number of reasons. The attention to detail in manufacture and service that you expect from a small company is lacking. When my frame arrived it was carelessly packed in a second hand, oversized box with inadequate packing. It was wrapped in a single layer of thin foam. Catamount charged $40 for shipping/handling. The bottom bracket face is an uneven painted surface. Until I spend the money to have it faced I cannot use my ActionTec bb. I put in a UN72 cartridge bb instead. The manufacturers choice of 26.6 mm seattube greatly limits the choices for posts. I have the 20 inch size frame and the manufacturer requires a minimum of 5 inches of seatpost insertion or the warranty will not cover resulting damage to the frame. The seatube is 6 inches from top to the shock eyelet. Choosing a seatpost requires much care. The constant variance in seat to pedal distance is more of a problem for me than I expected. On a positive note, the action of the suspension while standing on downhill sections dampens the ride quite nicely over the small stuff. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dale Martelli
a Weekend Warrior
from Port Moody, B.C.
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
SFU trails | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Balanced, tracks well, & responsive without being twitchy | | Weaknesses: |
nothing jumps out... | | Similar Products Used: |
Marin & Klein hardtails | | Bike Setup: |
Catamount w Judy Sl | | Bottom Line: | I am very pleased with my bike. It has been extremely dependable & fun on the trails. Its a very forgiving ride. On hills, I thought the weight would be factor compared to my previous Klein Fervour but the bike sits the trail really well and climbs with ease. I do wish I could take advantage of the repainting and pivot replacement Larry offers but the cost, shipping, + exchange is prohibitive. There several quite decent places to take your bike for repainting...I understand Brodie will even take the work...I am the bike's second owner so I presume the warranty is void...even though Larry had not suggested this is so.
I'll live with the worn paint and scratches and hope the pivots doesn't develop any play in the near future. But I would like to know if anyone has replaced the pivot from someone other than Catamount...Larry has warned how the pivot is machnined for the particular frame... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rasta
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mission Trails Lap | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Ah schucks, the list is too long.
#1 Very firm tracking
#2 Although F/S, there is no fade on hard turns
3# Very plush ride sitting once properly set up. | | Weaknesses: |
Can't fit it in my back pocket | | Bike Setup: |
Riding with Cane Creek AD-10 rear shock, Marzocchi Z-2 Atom Bomb in front, all XTR componets, Azonic 2.5 riser, 180 MM cranks, Control Tech seatpost.
WTB Velocirator Tires | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike for the XC purest. I would change the front fork to Marzocchi over the present SID setup if you are a larger rider that take lots of big hits. May hurt the poor dude!! Having 3 years (got it May '96) on it, I can say whoa!! Nothiong has broken except a very big sweat fromn me. Sure I have gone through tires, chains and cables....only Becasue I love to ride. The '96 Shimano XTR that came on the bike is VERY tuff stuff!! Finally changes the drive train after 2.5 years, est 3000 HARD miles. This is one hot bike!!! Since I bought mine, 7 others have too and they all love 'em up!! Ride!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Risk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kula, Maui, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mamane Trail | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Efficient climbing
Seated pedaling over rough sections | | Weaknesses: |
None - it takes some time to set up the rear SID shock. | | Bike Setup: |
Judy XC shock (needs more travel)
XTR/XT drive train | | Bottom Line: | Follow-up to first review. I finally got to ride my local trail (Mamane Trail) on the Cat. What a nice bike. I was able to do the singletrack downhill faster than my other bike.The rear SID shock is plush once you get it set up properly. I also noticed that to balance out the ride, I'll need to increase the travel of my Judy XC to about 75 to 80mm. Once that's done, it should ride sweet.The Cat turns rough washboard into smoooth. Sitting and hammering the Cat over rough terrain is unbelievable.I hope to post a long-term review later.P.S. Larry provides excellent customer service and answers any and all questions you may have. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Germantown
Date Reviewed: May 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
plush,good handling, reliable. | | Weaknesses: |
have to work so can't ride all the time. ha ha | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale hardtail w/Moxey. Schwinn suspension. | | Bike Setup: |
Zoke z2 ect. | | Bottom Line: | Have had the bike for a while and is great. The thing that is the best is the customer service(larry) First company I've dealt with that really responds and takes an interest in the bike. Shows that there is alot of attention to detail and that is a good thing in my book. If more company's went back to this personal one on one basis rather than that pump um out and make a buck attitude the bike biz would be alot better off. My hats off to Larry and Catamount- a very classy operation that makes a sweet bike. Todd aka earplug AT 94 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edward
a Cross-Country Rider
from Peabody, MA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Clean lines, quality construction, made in USA, ONE pivot, nothing much to break or go wrong, light. Excellent e-mail response pre and post sale from the manufacturer. Incredible price considering it's domestic and custom built. | | Weaknesses: |
Paint is OK, nothing great, decals are cheesy, just cosmetics. Seatpost comes in contact with SID rear shock rebound adjuster knob, post has to be cut down a bit. Top tube diameter is kind of thin, mine is a leftover aluminum front triangle version, hopefully the current version made with OX gold Tru-Temper cromo is fatter. | | Similar Products Used: |
FS bikes: Santa Cruz Tazmon and Heckler, GT RTS & LTS, Trek Y, etc... | | Bike Setup: |
Basic XT/Atom Bomb setup, nothing exotic, RaceFace cranks and WTB wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | I like the URT design, especially the Catamount. It is as good or better than the Ibis Szasbo, at about half the price, plus you can buy directly from Larry Pastor, the manufacturer/dealer. I e-mailed Catamount/Larry over 20 times and have recieved as many responses, incredible attention to customer product info requests. There are monthly sales on the Catamount website, that are truly great values, when compared to the boring production stuff made overseas, that can be found at your local dealer for the same price. The bike rides great, it comes equipped with the adjustable SID rear shock, which I have set up totally different from Larry's recommendations; you need to find your own personal settings. The bike flies, up and down hills, it is extremely light, and handles well in all situations. I can't see the reason to own a multi-pivot bike, based on my experience with this frame. The only weak link might be the shock in the long run, if it blows a seal, I will just replace it, but it works fine for now. There is no noticeable lateral flex in the bike, it is built with oversize aluminum tubing all around. Standing, hammering on the pedals, rear breaking, in my opinion do not affect the rear suspension capabilities of this design to any noticeable degree. It just works, that's the final word. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ED209
a Cross-Country Rider
from Cleveland, OH
Date Reviewed: April 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vulture's Knob | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the frame about a month ago and have only ridden a couple times, so while my initial impression of the bike is very favorable, I can't give a full-blown review of it's strengths and weaknesses, but if a major problem arises, I'll be sure to append this review. I'm responding instead to the number of rediculous complaints made about this frame and Larry Pastor, the owner. To begin with, I purchased an older frame that was sitting around Larry's shop. It's a test frame and unique from the current Catamount frame in a couple ways, so I picked it up for approx. half price. Immediately, I noticed how helpful and responsive he was to my questions. Once I received the frame, I found a couple small problems. The chain suck plate was a tad too close to the bottom bracket, the b tension screw notch on the derailleur hanger was a little shallow, and the hanger itself had gotten bent a little in shipping. None of the problems was major, and was easily solved with a Dremel and a little ingenuity. In each case, I spoke to Larry and he was helpful and apologized, explaining that these issues wheren't a problem on the current frames. I accept this because my frame was a prototype, and for the price I got it for, I didn't mind doing a little modifying. Which brings me to my first point: helpless people have no business riding mountain bikes! When you're on the trail and something breaks (as all things will) are you going to just sit there and cry that it shouldn't have happened? Learn to fix things and improvise if needed!! If you're going to buy a frame and build the bike up yourself, don't complain if someone doesn't explain to you how many links you need to remove from a new chain?
After one short trail ride on the bike, I noticed oil around the top of the rear SID. I cleaned it off, then discovered more later. As I turned the damping adjustor knob, oil flowed out from the base. I called Rock Shox, and was told that due to an ongoing inventory, they couldn't replace my shock for at least two weeks. I called Larry to see if he could help. He made a couple calls to the reps at Rock Shoxs, then told me to overnight the shock to them in San Jose. Rock Shox repaired it and had it back to me before the next weekend. Larry really impressed me with how he went to bat for me. Which brings me to my second point: Larry only build the frames!! If a shock blows out, it's not his fault. Every shock and most other products come with an owners manual. In it is a customer service number. Use it! I'm not really happy with Rock Shox quality control and customer service, but I requested their products to be installed on my frame. Larry went above and beyond the call of duty in helping me get the shock repaired quickly. Give the guy a chance, and I'm sure he will do what he can to help.
And finally, these complaints that the design is old school are just stupid. If the unified rear triangle design is so bad, why is it being used on the Schwinn Homegrowns, Treks, Gary Fishers, Klein Mantras, and the Ibis Bow Tis? Sure it has it's drawbacks, but so do the 4 bar linkage bikes. Most of the current crop of new full suspension bikes (DBR X bikes, Intense, Titus, Specialized, Cannondale, etc) are based on the AMP bike designed my Horst Leitner in 1993. With the exception of the GT I-Drive (which has it's own problems) there are no new full suspension designs, just modifications of older ones. Also, URT's are not prone to chain suck problems as implied below. From the bottom bracket to the drop-outs, the bike is built like a hard tail. I'd like someone to explain why a UNIFIED rear triangle has any chain or drive train issues.
I believe that Larry Pastor makes a great frame, and puts a lot of pride into it. Given the opportunity, he will look out for his customers and answer any questions. The reviews on MTBR are useful, but have to be taken with a grain of salt. Any doofus who can't adjust V-brakes, but can operate a keyboard has the ability to vent without truly understanding what he's saying. I'm no rocket scientist, and I don't work in a bike shop, but I do know that the majority of the complaints aimed at Catamount are unfounded. If you're unsure about buying one, give Larry a call and ask him about his frames. I'm sure after a few minutes, you'll be as impressed as I was. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clydesdale
a cross-country rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Potential Catamount Buyer....
After riding the Catamount for about 2 months it developed a sloppy pivot. I called Catamount and spoke to Larry, one of the owners. We discussed the situation and decided it would be best if I sent the frame to him for repairs. While getting the frame ready for shipping I noticed a small gash in the chain stay. This had been caused by chainsuck, although I can specifically only remember 1 or 2 rides this may have happened on.
On inspection of the frame Larry found 2 things:
1)He agreed the pivot did need to be tightened and that no bushings would need to be replaced. This would be covered by the warranty.
2)The gash in the chainstay according to him was actually a crack completely through the chainstay. Therefore the entire rear triangle would need to be replaced...at a cost of $500, this repair would not be covered by the warranty.
The following are my thoughts after several discussions with Larry:
1)I decided I would not put one more cent into a frame that could be damaged so easily by minor chainsuck. Although I tend to ride hard, I consider my type of riding normal for the area I live in. (The mountains of western North Carolina)
2)Larry's theory on the chainsuck problem was due to the inability of my local bike shop to set up the front derailleur properly and to get the correct chain length. My reasons for disagreeing with this are beyond reproach. My local bike shop owners have stood by me for the past 5 years warranty or not. In addition I was told about the necessity for the accuracy of the set up of the front derailleur on this frame and an exact number of links to be removed from the chain, after the fact. KEEP IN MIND THAT IF CATAMOUNT COMPLETELY BUILDS YOUR BIKE UP THIS PROBLEM STILL IS NOT WARRANTED.
3)When I asked for the frame to be shipped back to me as I shipped it he said he would. I was told later on the phone that my frame was in the mail and completely disassembled due to safety reasons. When I did get the disassembled frame he had even removed my bottom bracket and rear brake mounts, plus forgot to send my rear shock. When I finally got my rear shock I put the frame together myself (by the way, the pivot is very simple to put together and adjust) I have ridden it on 20 or more hard rides thus far and will ride it until it breaks or I can get a different brand frame. There are absolutely no visible signs of a crack, just a tiny gash in the chainstay.
Also my seat tube length was 1-1/4 shorter than it was claimed which almost gave me the problem of not having enough seat post( I have a 425mm post!!!) I had waited so long for a custom frame that I lived with it and didn't complain.
I would highly recomend another frame builder if you are interested in this design of frame. My experience with customer service at Catamount (several which are not even listed here) has been poor. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or thoughts on this company. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a weekend warrior
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: January 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I put my bike together in the spring of '98 and I have to say I've enjoyed riding it a lot. The weight came out about 27.5 lbs, but I could have saved a pound or so going with a fork other than the Z2 bomber. It sure works good though. I wasn't sure the rear suspension was doing much until I rode on a badly wahboarded road. I couldn't feel a thing through the saddle! Very plush without being spongy. Minuses:(1)The seat post has limited adjustability. Not a big problem unless someone shorter wants to try out you bike. (2)The water bottle location on the bottom of the down tube is such that the bottle collects whatever the front wheel throws back. It's kind of a pain to wipe mud off the nozzle every time you want a drink. A camelback solves the problem. Overall I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a stiff, plush, low maintenance full suspension bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I finally finished building my Catamount today and went for a ride. It turned into a five hour grin ride. Man, this bike is really nice. It handles predictably, is very plush and instills alot of confidence. I don't see myself ever wanting another bike. Didn't know riding could get funner but it did...... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a weekend warrior
from Ann Arbor MI
Date Reviewed: October 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I do not own a Catamount but would like to straighten out a mis-quote by my brother who submitted a review on September 19, 1998. The actual quoted should be ...it can be ridden downhill with impunity. I would also like to add that my brother has more money than he has sense. All seriousness aside, the cat is a nice bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a cross-country rider
from Troy, MI
Date Reviewed: September 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought my Catamount in 1997 and did not get to ride it too much last year. I have ridden it quite a bit in 1998 and can honestly say it was well worth the price. I have the Stratos rear shock and set it for a very plush ride. Even in the softest setting, I have yet to bottom the shock - the progressive compression damping and 4 inches of travel smooth out all but the worst terrain. The bike is light, at about 26lbs, and with the XTR cogset and XT chainring, it really climbs hills well. I find that I can pick a cleaner line up hill because I don't have to worry about the rear tire losing traction as much as with a hardtail - the suspension keeps the tire weighted and in contact with the ground at all times. It is a very neutral handling bike: it does not get hard to handle on downhills, yet is still good in tight, technical single track. I liked the build quality (mostly the welds) very much. I looked at other high-end bikes and the craftsmanship did not come up the the quality of the Catamount. I bought an FS bike so I could enjoy long rides more. This bike handles the trail and lets me enjoy the ride - I am much more refreshed after riding my bike than my old hardtail (my brother likes my bike too, he says it can be ridden anywhere with impunity!). I have to agree: short, rough, rutted descents are a breeze - just point the bike and let it do the work. Tight single tracks are fun again because the bike soaks up the nastiness of the trail.Catamount now has an even lower priced bike. For a high quality, light, great handling, and excellent riding bike, check out the Catamount. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a cross-country rider
from Manchester, New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Have had my frame since 4/98 and am thoroughly pleased. Have been riding cross country for 6 years now and this is my first FS. I rode a carbon fiber hard tail previously and was concerned about bio-pacing, etc. What I have found is that there is very little bio-pacing and can be virtually eliminated by adjusting the pre-load on the rear Rock Shox. It's up to you how you like the ride. As far as downhill all I can say is OH BOY!!! For cross-country, again OH BOY!! My bike weighs just under 25 lbs. and could be lighter if I wanted to spend the $$$$. I have three friends who own Cats, 2 of which I ride with all the time. They love the bike and highly recommended it. What more can I say. BUY THE BIKE!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a racer
from San Ramon, CA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, well. It is funny to see some of these reviews. I have I believe the 10th or llth Catamount sold. The first in California. That makes my bike about 2.5 years old. Problems... have yet to come across one yet. My pivot is in perfect condition. Absolutely no slop. Period. I guess the only problem I have had was my rear shock failing after two years. Not a Catamount issue, a Fox issue. I recently repainted the bike and it looks great. In terms of weight, my bike is honestly under 25 lbs. The only Ti on my bike are the spokes. I consider that pretty darn light for full suspension. Only about a pound and one-half heavier than my M2 hardtail.Chainsuck - this is a problem for three reasons - cheap chainrings which flex horribly, lack of maintaining your drivetrain, and poor riding technique. Unfortunately, most riders today didn't have to deal with friction shifting. Most probably don't even know what non-index shifting is. Try shifting under load with those bad boys. You actually had to learn how and when to shift.Consider changing your chain, rings, and cassette occasionally. These things don't last forever. Spend some money on quality components for your drivetrain. This is your most important component. And most neglected. Regular cleaning and inspection of your drivetrain helps too. I haven't had a problem with chain suck on this bike. Remember,nothing on a MTB lasts forever like on a road bike.I am very pleased with my Catamount. I believe in the product and I believe it is a perfect bike for cross country applications. If you're looking for a downhill Cadillac, well this isn't it. But if you're looking for an efficient, responsive bike, look at the Catamount.I'd be more than willing to go on a ride and let you test ride my bike. I live in the Bay Area (California). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Seib
a cross-country rider
from Melrose, Ma
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I wrote a scathing review which I asked to have removed after I read it later. This is a re-post with just the facts (less attitude). My Catamount is 1 1/2 years old. The pivot has developed significant sticion and is limiting the smoothness of the rear travel. Larry (one of the owners) at Catmount wants $100 to repair the problem and I have to pay to ship the bike back to Colorado. My beef it that the pivot is advertised to maintenance free. If so it shouldn't fail in a 1 1/2 years. Larry somehow knows exactly how much it costs to fix the problem ($100), but states it's not covered by warranty. I've raced mostly on the road the past two seasons and have been riding the Catamont once or twice a week since I've owned the bike. I didn't ride it all for 5 months last winter because I was hit by a car and had some big time wrist/hand surgery. So for all practical purposes the bike has been used about 50 to 75 times. To make matters worse Larry tells me that if I take apart the pivot to inspect the problem he will void my warranty. I do all my own maintenance, including wheels, hubs, BB and headset. Full suspension pivots should be user serviceable especially if they will fail with this amount of use. The bottom line is that this is a warranty issue regardless of how the bike was used (Larry stated that if I was riding the bike hard the pivot would fail sooner). No question I ride the bike hard. New England has very rocky technical terrain which pushes bike frames harder than other areas of the country. I plan to take the pivot apart myself at the end of the season, so you can void my warranty, for whatever its worth. In my previous rant I discussed a friend who has had his Cat for 3 years. I won't go into details but he is equally dis-satisfied with the customer service he has received from Catamount (Larry). Basically he has had the entire bike replaced due to chain suck, a failed top tube and blown shock, all at full retail cost. He does ride hard, but this is the first manufacturer I've dealt with that does not have a crash replacement policy. Something to think about if your considering a Catamount. More on the chain suck problem. Almost all full suspension designs are more prone to chain suck. A clean drivetrain in good condition will for the most part solve the problem. However the Catmount seems more prone for some reason. I've been through 4 of the chain suck devices which come standard on the bike. The last couple months I've come to the conclusion that the devices are more trouble than there worth. In addition Larry charged me full retail ($15) for every one. For a piece of metal which costs probably all of $1 to manufacture you'd think they'd cut you some slack. All in all the Catamount is a good bike when its functioning, but the customer service at Catamount is downright poor. If your in the market for this bike, I recommend looking at a Breezer Twister first. It is almost identical to the Catamount except with 5 inches of rear travel and a reynolds 853 rear end. Because the rear end is 853 (steel) it should last much longer than the Catamount. In addition the pivot is user serviceable. When my drive side chain stay fails on the Catamount (from chain suck) I will go with the Breezer. If you don't ride hard then the Catamount might be the bike for you.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chip Broadbooks
a cross-country rider
from Tallahassee, Florida
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Performance wise, this bike is sweet. It is just as tight in the singletrack as my hardtail. Only problems I've had is with the rear shock and that's not Catamount's fault. Larry did get sick of me calling and asking about my frame.
However, he was always courteous and understanding about my excitement. I had a four week wait that was blamed on waiting on the rear shock. Now that its me dealing with the rear shock people, I believe that story. The paint does chip easily which I guess is true for all Aluminum frames. I wrapped the bottom chainstay but didn't wrap the top part of the triangle. Mistake, wrap them both. Also, I would suggest getting a 2 piece of PVC tubing (sch. 10), cut out a 1 slice so that you can flex it around the top tube, where it and the handlebars meet.It does pain me to see the review below. I don't want to think that I'll ever have to give up my frame for expensive warranty (pivot) repair. (I'm spending alot of time off the bike due to the rear shock problems soon to be fixed). It sounds to me that the cost is to cover shipping for which Catamount should be responsible. It should be our responsibility to get it to them, theirs to get it back to us. The other guy with the bent top tube and down tube....well that's his own damn fault. Catamount supplies the bike, not the technical skills. That's a crash, with a possible landing on the bike.
Explaination:
Upright the frame is a truss, seeing only axial forces. Laying on its side with a 175# person landing on top of it, it becomes a beam with bending moment with a LARGE impact factor. Take responsibility and admit its your fault when you do something like this. I've never seen tubes get bent by not crashing.
BACK TO THE REVIEW:
The frame is resonably light. Mine is tricked out w/ XT Shifters/derailuers, Race Face Crank, Hugi/Mavic Wheels and its at 26.5#.
Keep the rubber side down | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dale
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Plain and simple... poor choice. The frame isn't all that light... the suspension concept is old and worn out and I figure the reason only good reviews are found here is because people that spent so much money on a frame have to aat least pretend they are happy. After trying many other full suspension rides, the Catamount comes out low. Why lug the slug around... if you want light, but a hard tail... that's what this bike is anyway. If you want F.S., then buy F.S., don't sit on the damn fence. Here in wet sloppy Vancouver, the pivots have developed excessive play, travel while descending is limited to less than an inch (all of this is by deflection, not true suspension travel), and side to side rocking does exist under intense load. I am not happy with the product. I run a bike store and this has been a product I have used and will not recommend. There is sooooooo much better on the market. If you're looking for cross country, go for a moderate travel, fully-active, proven design like the New '97 Giant ATX stuff or the similar Rocky Mountain Element (suspension that is always working is the reason to spend the big bucks). If you want downhill, why the hell did you consider a URT anyways? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adrian van Vliet
a cross-country rider
from Victoria,BC,Canada
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have learned that when a bike is well designed it will not let you down and also it will be able to contribute to to the sport you love. My previous bke was a Fisher Cr 7 (Made in Japan) and it took it all in stride now I have a full suspension bike that takes me that further in the enjoyment of this sport and it has earned my respect. No I am not a young man anymore but I am still an enthuasiast and the sport has given me many thrills on great bikes this bike understands this tradition of the sport to go anywhere and stake your life on it.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Chan
a weekend warrior
from Melville, NY
Date Reviewed: June 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I love this frame. Its probably the one of the sweetest FS rides around. I tried my friends DEAN BAM BAM. There is no comparison. Also the makers of the frame are really helpful with questions and support. I would recommend anybody looking for a full suspension to give this a try before you buy some other brand. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a cross-country rider
from Slippery Rock, PA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought a '96 demo bike this year. It totally kicks a**! XTR ft. and rear der. and rear brake, Race Face cranks, xt hubs, fox alps 4 rear shock, manitou up front...I rode every bike in the shop(Pro/Flex, Rocky Mountain) the only bike that came close to the cat is the Rocky Mountain Speed(same URT design). The cat was better equipped and cheaper(slightly used). AWESOME RIDE!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jed
a cross-country rider
from Durango,CO
Date Reviewed: February 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Like their ad says, this is one sweet bike. Construction is first rate, and the
the ride is like nothing else! I tried an Ibis before I bought my Cat, and
found it to be a slug. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Bowman
a cross-country rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Twas the day before Christmas and the box had arrived. I was as giddy as prom date. My Catamount was inside. I purchased a complete bike from an October special direct from Larry at Catamount. The bike is nicely equipped with 97 judy, mavic/xtr hubs, xt crank, r.der, f. der., avid SD brakes and levers.
The latest version of this frame comes with the Stratos Pro rear shock attached to the mid-frame URT design. I chose the cosmic red color and I have to say this ain't no red. I like the color but it is closer to being grunge rock burnt orange.
Previously I rode a Specialized S-Works M2 frame That was Titanium ehanced and weighed 'round 22 lbs. I was afraid of the full suspesion weight but the Cat is still under 25 lbs. I aslo was skeptical of the URT design but for cross country riding this is the best choice. First and foremost this design is simple, low maintenance, and extremely efficient.
What I came to realize over miles of rocky coal mining and deer paths hard with January permafrost, is that full suspension means more control. Even tricky technical sections are easier due to the ability to ride at higher speeds and having the confidence of a rear wheel always locked into terra firma. The debate over the URT design and it being inactive in the standing position are molarchy. The stratos shock has an adjustable dampening and rebound which allow you soften the initial part of the shock travel which helps this design work when standing. If you are out of the saddle and you hit a root or bump the rear end absorbs the hit just fine.
The other benifit of this frame is the uncanny ability to keep the rear end locked in during steep climbs and stutter bumps. So much blather spewed about regarding the efficiency of full suspension. It only takes a few rides in real world local trails to settle the issue. Full suspension has great benifits if it applied correctly as in this frame design. The only draw back of this design is that the seat to bottom bracket distance is constantly changing. When your in the single track this is no big deal but when your looking for that special comfort spot during a long two track climb you notice this distance.
The fit and finish is very nice on this bike and the welds are clean and reinforced where needed. Although my older Klein road bike has a higher leve
of craftsmanship. The simple pivot point uses Grafloc polymer bushings and I am sure it will be trouble free.
As a complete package the Catamount is bike that you could put full confidence ( better known as $ 2500 ) into. Each time I ride I look forward to getting lost and accidentally spending too much time in the saddle. The bike is a comfortable joy to ride and has increased my speed in the woods. I strongly reccomend this frame if you want to try full suspension but dont want to stuck with a squeaky Rube Goldberg design that keeps you in the maintenace shack and not on the trail.
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Submitted by
Jason Eagan
a cross-country rider
from Peterborough, ON - Canada
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been working in the bike industry for several years, and I've updated
or bought a new bike every year. Every year I buy something new and
different. Every year until this year that is! This year I got a custom
Catamount and it totally changed my mind on the full suspension concept.
I've been holding out for years for the right design to come along and
this is the one. They offer lots of travel when you're sitting, enough
travel when your standing and they're laterally stiff as a board.
I've found it to be the perfect bike for cross-country riding, and sport
level racing. You can get one custom sized for a nominal extra charge, and
that's not something that you can get from a Y bike!
I still might get a new bike next year, but, it will be a new Catamount! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mountain Jam
a cross-country rider
from New York State
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is, like the others have reported, awesome! The URT suspension works great on the rough stuff and the bike climbs like you wouldn't believe, whether sitting or standing. I rode a super stiff Klein Pinnacle prior to this, and the Catamount climbs every bit as well. The frame is really well made and certainly worth the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Campbell
a racer
from Oshawa, Ontario, Can.
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Ohhh my lordy, this bike is so hot I couldn't believe it when I sat on it for the first time. The second time I sat on it it was my own, and everyone was jealous. My team and I won the under 100 catagory in the Ontario 24 hour, and my back didn't hurt at all. We won it by a lap and a bit. Whoever made my frame I would like to marry. I love Catamount!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas DeMeo
a cross-country rider
from California
Date Reviewed: July 4, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Catamount MFS is a full suspension frame set with the following features:
Unified rear triangle (URT)
single high piviot point
Fox ALPS 4 shock
Handbuilt in Fort Collins, CO. U.S.A.
Aluminum construction
The bike climbs like a goat, better then my hard tail Cannondale.no bobbing,biopacing. Thre bottom bracket is ultra stiff.
Check out the August issue of Mountain Bike (Tinker is on the cover with the American Flag) and read Zap`s comments. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Seib
a cross-country rider
from Melrose, Ma US
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Catamount MFS (mid frame suspension)is a Unified Rear Triangle (URT)
design which is similar to other Sweet Spot designs but the pivot is slightly
higher. The design is much cleaner due to the higher pivot which allows the
frame to built around two triangles (very strong). The story about URT's
suspension not being active out of the saddle is not true. The Catamount
suspension works when out of the saddle just not to the extent when you
are seated. From past experience with a LTS I have learned to stay seated
except for very steep or technical descents. Even so, I have bombed down nasty
singletrack with reckless abandon and gotten better than 2 travel when
out of the saddle. The welds on the bike are beefy and show serious
craftsmanship.
The Catamount does not have a standard dropout. This rear wheel
axel inserts from the back of the bike. This sucks at first, but with pratice
you can change wheels quickly. The good side is there is nothing to break off.
The aluminum slot for the axel looks to be about 1/4 thick and unless
you threw the bike off a 50 story building you won't bend it. The bikes rear
end is very stiff. I have not felt any sway after two months of serious riding
and racing.
In addition, I'm not a finese type rider, I thrash hard and race
harder. The bike has shown no wear at the pivot and the frame only bears
surface scratches at this point. The Fox shock is easily adjustable and
balances out well with a Manitou Mach 5 SX or Judy. I've ridden with both
because the Mach 5 was recalled and I used my Judy off my Xixang for a while.
It does take some experience to learn to tune the shocks to match rebound,
preload etc... If you don't match the preload and rebound front and back
you won't get as nice a ride.
I bought the Catamount because a friend
of mine (who is also a thrasher) bought one two years ago and still hasn't
broken it. Overall this frame gets a big two thumbs up. I find it really
difficult to get back on my hardtail after riding this bike for two months.
My ass and lower back feel great even after 4-5 hours of killer singletrack.
This probably sound like an advertisement, but I still haven't found anything
to bitch about. Catamount sells mostly direct from the factory and sent me mine
in just under 4 weeks.
E-mail me if you want any more info.
| | Overall Rating: |
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