Bike Setup: z3 light qr20 --->soon to be a 100 mm fork, dee max front wheel, front hayes 6 inch hyd. disc, profile cranks, mrp chain guide and bash ring, hayes front brake lever, xt rear brake lever, xtr rear v brake, xtr rear derailuer, stx-rc shifer, ritchey post, azonic stem, fsa headset, answer riser, maxxis 2.4 holy rollers, azonic pedals, avenier seat, rear xtr hub (i know light xc stuff) with sun rim
Strengths: Construction quality. Customer service.
Weaknesses: Haven't found one.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my last review. The bike is absolutely sick. Incredibly stiff. I can't imagine breaking it the sissy way I ride. I love the geometry. I'm pretty short, and its small toptube makes manuals and wheelies and bunnyhops sooo easy. But my taller friends (5'8-6'0) who have ridden it like it just as much. Thank you Cortina for the pride of my quiver.
Strengths: Let's just say when I had the bb chased, the mechanic was *wowed* but the quality of the machining. And he works on Litespeeds and Titus all the time. He knows quality. He said, "it looks like they really hooked you up!" On top of that, the welds are slag-free, the gussets are burly, but conservative in appearance. Very steel, very classy looking frame in the flesh. At 400 bucks, it's a very good deal for the quality. Not to mention the outstanding customer service.
Weaknesses: When it's built up got some milage I'll tell you if I find any weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
I haven't built my 4130 Slalom frame up yet due to the fact I can't afford to buy an ISCG boomerang for my MRP yet, but I wanted to write up a review about Cortina's superb customer service. In their website they say, "At Cortina Cycles, we're small enough to treat every customer the way we want to be treated - one on one." This is absolutely true. I ordered the frame thru an LBS, and I found a pretty big ol' scratch on it with lots of metal showing. Since the bike is steel, I wasn't too happy about it, but it wasn't clear how the damage happened, and the bike shop did not take responsibility. The LBS was not an authorized dealer, and had not previously dealt with Cortina. So the shop left me to contact Cortina myself, and I talked to Raul, who was not thrilled about the costly prospect of refinishing a frame when he was sure he didn't cause the damage. Nevertheless, Raul had me send the frame back for rifinishing, at his cost. And he was a good man about it. On top of that, they actually sent me back a beautiful brand new frame! In retrospect, I wish I had bought the frame directly from Cortina. They stand behind their product, and it's way easier for them to do that directly or thru an authorized dealer. 5 value chilis for a great quality frame for the money. 5 overall chilis for the service and craftsmanship.
Similar Products Used: Demo'd Planet X hardtail (forget the model), Owned a Storm Corner Worker Slalom for a few years, demo'd an Intense Tazer. All those bikes were aluminum. This bike may be more like my True Temper OX Standard BMX (awesome bike)
Bike Setup: After I get the ISCG boomerang, it'll have a Tioga Cube bar/DH stem, King headset, RockShox Psylo SL, AC LoPro cranks 38T, MRP sys 2, Hayes discs, XT mech, and my crappy Easton Cully pedals. Even if you get a bro deal, those Eastons SUCK!
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Submitted by
sam j
a Downhiller
from perth, wa, australia
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003
Strengths: very nice handling, good jumper, rides well! great accelaration and feels like a smooth ride.
Weaknesses: it snapped through the gusset on the head tube and just in front of the seat tube.
Bottom Line:
really good frame, good geometry, size etc but it snapped. im not sure if its a metal fault but will contact cortina as soon as i found out who imported it into uk.
Bike Setup: phylo's on front, dmr chieftains, m4's, hope bulbs on alex rims and 24 7 bars, stem, pedals and c/ring.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paddy Kunka
a
from Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2002
Strengths: Small and quick off the start, looks awesome, its very rare, very stiff back end (12mm axle), head tube gusset, handbuilt (great welding), hydro hose guides, adjustable wheel base, fits 3" tires on the back on a 24" wheel, .....dang i could go on forever
Weaknesses: the logo stickers weren't applied very well and they tear easily, the powder coat finish can peel off too if it gets knocked, hard to get spares for the dropouts in the UK. no canti mounts
Bottom Line:
Id been wanting to get one of these beauties ever since i saw one back in 99. I picked this one up for £350 just as 24seven were cutting cortina off back in april 2001.
The bolt through rear axle and adjustable wheel base is a really cool feature and makes the back end very stiff, although i cant really tell with 3" tires on.
The huge tire clearence is a nice feature but i wouldn't advide sticking huge fat tires on the back as it just slows it down a heluva lot. The disk mount is int. standard. The frame works really well with medium to long travel forks, and works equally well with rigid forks for trials.
I need to be carefull that i dont tear the stickers coz i probably have a hardtime finding new ones in the UK.
I would advide this frame to anyone looking for an all round slalom/urban/dirt jumper, i even take it on the odd xc ride. Support cortina and go and get one.
If your in the UK, you can now get cortinas from www.mark-anthony.co.uk
Similar Products Used: Kona chute, cannondale martyn ashton, trek alu.
Bike Setup: Z1 QR20s (130mm travel), sun dblwide 24" rims, hope hubs, 3" IRC kujos, hope enduro4s,
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Submitted by
James Flynn
a Weekend Warrior
from Coventry, UK
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Strengths: Very stiff and strong, looks great, very rare, feels so good if you use the Brisa Bar and stem.
Weaknesses: Tyre clearance (2.1" max.), The paint work, it seems to peel off on mine, but only on the dropout so far.
Bottom Line:
Even though it is designed as a duel bike, when it gets set up for trials, it rides so well, very stable on the back wheel and brilliant manoeverability. If you want a practically bomb proof frame for just about any type of riding, this is the ticket... Well done Cortina
Similar Products Used: Afew other frames... I forget their names...
Bike Setup: Brisa Bar and stem, Orange Trials forks, Truvativ husselfelt trials cranks (well... Soon!), Chris King rear hub, XT blah blah yadda yadda yadda...
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Submitted by
Kieran
a Downhiller
from London, England
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001
Strengths: rock hard, no way ya gonna snap this beauty
Weaknesses: paint work is not upto much on mine - but it was an early sample!
Bottom Line:
Bought the whole bike 2nd hand for £800 - sounds alot but the bits on it are worth a hell of a lot more! Rides real sweet, street, jumps, downhill and trails. I also have a full suspension bike but have hardly used that since i got the Cortina! If your into jumping and want a solid frame to build your dream bike on - get one!
Submitted by
kenny williams
a Downhiller
from santa barbara CA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2001
Strengths: quick acceleration from the start and out of turns, steady and confident in the air, strong rear triangle can take abuse even if you case it
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
being 6'2" and 185 lbs i was sceptical about such a small frame. but this frame wasnt made to be ridden for any distance, i woudnt even ride it few miles if i didnt have to, its made for acceleration, turning, and jumping. If you are going to race d/s or just dirt jumping it doesnt matter how big you are this is a superstrong frame, i cant wait to use it at the seaotter this year. another plus for me is that im glad i got a killer frame for under $600 from a local company here in santa barbara instead of spending $1000+ on a foes or an intense and having to ship my frame to them if something were to go wrong. if you buy this frame you will not be dissapionted it inspires confedence.
Bike Setup: x-verts,kooka bonnie with slalom MRP,kore stem,azonic bar and saddle, mavic d521's on ringle hubs, thompson seatpost, and XT shifter and rear derailleur
Strengths: Bomb proof,awesome handling through forest single track, and not a bad climber for a d/s bike......FUN!
Weaknesses: your kidding right!
Bottom Line:
awesome bike all the way around,set it up for trail riding and ride it everywhere, I did have to tell cortina to weld a front deraillur hanger on so I could trail ride it. everyone checks this rig out!
Similar Products Used: santa cruz chameleon, spooky metal head, cove,
Bike Setup: Z-1 bomber,magura louise disks,pro tapers,rhyno lites,magura hubs,XT, race face,chris king, (3) chain rings.
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Submitted by
Peeet
a Weekend Warrior
from Emerald, Victoria......Australia.
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2000
Strengths: It's light, rigid, its heaps of fun to jump, excellent on the street and its fast. It hasn't broken yet, so I'm damn confident in it's strength. I realy like the low cross bar. Very "flickable", looks very slick, and I fink its owrt.
Weaknesses: I couldn't get V brakes to work well on the back. But thats OK, just run discs. I paid too much for the frame aswell.
Bottom Line:
Like I mentioned above, its tight on the street, its stacks of fun to jump, its light enough and its strong. I definatly recomend this bike for duel, dirt jumping, street and just having flat out fun. You can jump it a mile, and still be in total control. Don't expect to be riding this bike long distances though.
Weaknesses: possibly a bit unforgiving on rocky downhill sections
Bottom Line:
This bike rules, Perfect for rythum and dual/duel shorter than most but this only aides its handleabilty (I'm 6ft and get on okay with it)-very steep head angle, dont even consider forks less than 4inchs (i did have Z2s and it was way twitchy). This bike rules.
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