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Submitted by
Ken Tucker
a Cross Country Rider
from VA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything XC | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Beefy welds, nice geometry like the Ellsworth Truth and Turner. Handles great. Good on the climbs for an FS, even better on the DH. Killer paint job. Smart cable routing. | | Weaknesses: | a ted heavy due to the coil / over and frame. about 1lbs heavier than Ellsworth. only one option on the front D (bottom swing / top pull Shimano) | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Avid, XT, XTR, Bontrager, Cane Creek, Race Face products. | | Bottom Line: | I bought mine from The Pedal Shop in VA. I just couldn't collect the coin to afford an Ellsworth. I'm very happy with what I've got. I have never had to fool with any part of the bike. bushings, pivots, or shock.
I built it for XC and I must say, I've been very happy with it. My only minor complaints, it doesn't climb as well as I would like it too. BUT, it's funny, when I'm out riding with my friends, they'll often pass my on the climbs, only to see me going flying by them on the descends. I'm not sure how you could prove it but, with this frame, I can get over some of the biggest fallen trees (26, 27, 30+ inches are not problem).
Love it... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Macetti
a Racer
from Vail, Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Good weight balance, stiffness, good x-country geometry for a dual suspension bike.For a dual suspension bike it climbs like a hardtail | | Weaknesses: |
I have had countless problems with the rear suspension. I have had to overhaul the bushings twice already. Also I am having a hard time trying to locate a rather disturbing creaking soung coming from the rear end. | | Similar Products Used: |
Rocky mountain | | Bike Setup: |
Mostly xtr, sid front susp, mavic cross links, king headset, dean seatpost, race face cranks, hellbent front bar, IRC backcountry tires, torelli tubes, serfas seat, | | Bottom Line: | Althougt the bike is rather light as far as the frameset, the rear suspension is sketchy at best. I think I would have had better luck if i went with the sid or fox vanilla in the rear. Otherwise this bike rips! Due to the sketchy rear suspension I give this rig a 3chilli rating. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Racer
from Santa Fe NM
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Light, hand built, custom paint, price, geometry, blah..blah..the list goes on. | | Weaknesses: |
It makes my old Ti hard-tail look and feel like a piece of junk. | | Similar Products Used: |
Specialized, Klien, Intense, Turner, Amp, Kona, GT, Fisher, Jamis.... That list goes on as well. | | Bike Setup: |
Manitou 100mm X-Vert, XTR, Cooks Cranks, Sun/Ringle RPM wheel-set, King h-set. | | Bottom Line: | Well Working in bike shops for years and years has made my opinion of FS bikes very poor! Design flaw after design flaw, broken frame after broken frame... I did not want one of the pieces of junk, so I sucked it up and stayed on my Ti hard-tail for years gettin the hell beat out of me on nasty New Mexico single-track. Until now...
The Dean Z-Link is a simple 4-bar linkage that works, and works well. The frame is bomber, yet light. The Dean climbs well and decends like a wet-dream.
The head-tube is pretty long, that is good it raised the handle bars to the point that I could get rid of my stupid riser bars and go back to flat bars.
I recommend this ride to anyone who wants a hand-crafted work of art. If your anything like me and tired of the mass produced junk that fills the showroom floors of bike shops nation wide buy a DEAN! You will be pleased! By the way if you want one of these bikes and live in New Mexico, Santa Fe Mountain Sports is the place to go. They treated me very well, just ask for Dan. | | Overall Rating: |
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