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Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from kenosha
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | used bike | | Strengths: | 853....need I say more. I have went thought bikes like crazy. This one I am going to keep. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN BREAK THIS BIKE! short chainstays make it a great climber. very light. | | Weaknesses: | paint is as fragile as a woman going though pms. | | Similar Products Used: | old baracuda with ovalized tubes 95ish
specalized stump jumper
schwinn homegrown
independent fabrication (think about where the most stress is on a frame)
gunner rockhound | | Bike Setup: | all xtr, cane creek crono wheelset, cane creek c2 headset (junk)(will be machining my head tube for a king shortly) manitou mars super fork, panaracer fire xc rear and bontager revolt x front(great tire combo, even mud) | | Bottom Line: | if your looking for a bike that you are going to keep forever this is it, or a gunner rockhound. It 853...I am a light rider at 170lbs but I always ride hard. Accept no substitute. When you see a broken frame any 853 just silently says I told you so and smiles. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Rainbow
a Racer
from Mpls, Mn
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pollack Bench, Fruita! | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
supple steel
clearence
agile
tough | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Bianchi
1x1
Cannondale
Nishiki | | Bike Setup: |
SINGLE
hell bent ti bar
rigid GT cro-mo fork
salsa stem | | Bottom Line: | a real champ of a climber
point and shoot accuracy
this bike has TONS of fun | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Micah Kohles
a Cross-Country Rider
from Lincoln, Nebraska
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Indian Caves State Park | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Steel frame.
Awesome Paint detail.
Superb handling. | | Weaknesses: |
Paint tends to chip easily. | | Bike Setup: |
All XT.
RS Judy. | | Bottom Line: | I use to ride a Cannondale killer V 2000 before I got my croll and the difference across the board was huge. The Croll is the best handling, best looking and easiest bike to ride I have ever had. The guys who make these bikes do it becuase they love it not to make a buck and it clearly shows in the product. If and when I have to stop riding my Croll the frame is going to hang in my house as a token of absolute sweetness. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Chase
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
very light for steel frames
absolutely beautiful paint
excellent welds
no chainstay bridge | | Weaknesses: |
paint can chip easily | | Bike Setup: |
Manitou Sx Ti, XTR | | Bottom Line: | I had a standard 21 frame for 2 years that was incredible. This October I got another one and had Frank adjust a few things - now it's even better!. I had the seat collar turned around to avoid muck in the seat tube. Also, this bike lacks a chainstay bridge. Any overly-stiff qualities of the other frame are now removed. 853, in my opinion, rides a little stiffer than other steels I've ridden. Without the chainstay bridge, the ride feels like a good steel bike should feel. Don't worry about the paint chipping, though - You can get about any paint you want.
This frame is the type that you have to tell it exactly what to do, but once told, it will execute flawlessly. The angles are fairly steep, with 16.5 stays, so I wouldn't exactly recommend it to someone without some bike handling experience. Climbs like a mad mountain goat and flies on tight singletrack.
I live and ride in CO, but I'm from the midwest, so I still prefer a bike that's more at home on singletrack and tight woods than a fire road bike. Easily the best, friendliest bike I've ever ridden. | | Overall Rating: |
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