The new freeride machine from Ellsworth, The ultimate in pedal efficiency and the benefits of 6 inchs of travel. The ID pedals like a Truth and downhills like a Dare. Standard equipment with a either a Romic shock or Fox shock and a full bearing rearend makes the suspension feel buttery smooth.
Submitted by
hora
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK Date Reviewed: August 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Singletrack
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Follow up on previous posting; Because of the 4-bar linkage you are not going to be sprinting off from a standing start. This became clearly apparent after test riding a Yeti AS-R which does. What this frame does do is provide strength and reassurance
Similar Products Used:
Name it
Bottom Line:
Because of the rear suspension I am inclined to argue the label "aggressive XC machine". This is a fun heavy XC frame, NOT a normal XC frame
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SCUBAPRO
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna Beach Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Aliso Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
"Climbs like a Monkey-Sprints like a Cheetah on flats-Decends like a Bomb." Anodized finish; Razor sharp steering; Perfect geometry for Agressive trail riding, 6" travel, nice welds, great customer service
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR, Intense SLX
Bike Setup:
Small Red ID, Marzocchi '03 Z1, Avid Mech Discs, King hubs w/ Mavic 317s & DT Revolutions, Thomson post/stem, King headset, Answer carbon bar. 28.5lbs
Bottom Line:
I never thought a bike with 6" rear travel could climb as well as the ID. The ICT geometry is such that the bike shoots forward with every pedal stoke which makes it climb with less effort and accelerate quickly. I can climb long uphills on my middle ring now which I could never do before. The Romic shock makes for a very smooth downhill ride and prevents excessive bobing, when set-up correctly. The light weight wheelset also increases climbing efficiency and sprinting quickness.
Like the reviews below, the ID is not an XC race bike nor is it a DH/FR bike but if you want the best all around bike, this is the one for you. It's great on climbs and kicks ass on the downhills.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hora McHora
a Weekend Warrior
from London, Uk Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Twisty, technical singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
1. It looks strong 2. No flex anywhere 3. Subtle styling for the less garish rider? Ok, down to business...
I'm not into jumping on account of the long thin yellow streak down my back (and the fact that I always land wrong) but I love rocks, descents and anything that makes me look 100% to the front with a slight frown. Yesterday I was going way faster than I would have on anyother bike when I suddenly thought best to brake. I've had 125 Fox vanilla forks for over 8months and for the first time the front rattled and jumped whereas the rear was treacle-smooth
Weaknesses:
The spring weight makes the ride on the road sluggish - look I was racking my brain for a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
A bevvy of Rocky mountains
Bike Setup:
Hope M4, Chris King hubs, Chris King Headset, Raceface cranks etc etc
Bottom Line:
Ever laughed very loudly when riding alone and then shout "f**king yes"?! I did yesterday, slammed on then looked around the eerie silence of the woods hoping no one heard or saw.......
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WA
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey, England Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
They just keep getting better
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
Truly amazing suspension system, no bobbing, Romic soaks up hits large and small. Comfy riding position, strong as an ox, fast as hell. The build quality is outstanding.
Weaknesses:
No standover (I'm just over 5'10" and mine's a 17"). High BB can make it uneasy on extremely steep climbs. I though about mentioning cost, but then the ETS-X is £1500 frame only and that's nowhere near as good.
Similar Products Used:
Tested: Orange Patriot, Sub 5, Marin TARA, RM ETS-X, Kona Dawg.
Bike Setup:
Z1 MCRs with ECC, XT kit, X618s on Hope XC. Hope Minis, big bars, 80mm stem and fat grips keep this beast under my control.
Bottom Line:
Bought my ID frame because I was getting into riding more and more aggressively, still mainly XC but with more and more drops, rocks, natural jumps and superfast downhill.
I thought it would be good, as it's not cheap, but I actually wasn't prepared for how good it really is. This frame is OUTSTANDING.
For me, coming from an XC short travel bike, this thing descends like a rocket, and is very well mannered even at very high speeds. The Romic is very adjustable and is super plush throughout the travel, although it is pretty linear so it's not one for the 15ft huck brigade. It's not got the weight of a proper DH rig, so for all day riding it's very comfortable.
When climbing there's no perceivable bob, and although it's not going to win any hillclimb competitions it'll get you up there soon enough - and your legs'll be stronger for it!
The only time it suffers is on the really super-steep climbs (out of bombholes or those short blasts where you have to nail it in one). This is because of a very high BB - about 14.5" from floor to centre - which makes it feel quite unsteady and thanks to the high top tube it can be hard to bail too!
Before anyone kicks off at me, I'm not quoting magazines here, I'd climb almost anything on my Kona Kikapu and on most of the other bikes I tested thoroughly before buying the ID, so I know what I'm talking about. I use 130mm Z1MCR forks and with the ECC locked down and this improves things greatly - although the switch is a bugger to flip sometimes. Longer forks would obviously accentuate this issue, but if you run triples IMO you're probably not a climber anyway!
The plus side to the high BB is you can pedal over more stuff and get on the power earlier out of corners, so you can go faster (just see how much you make up ground on your mates when the pace picks up and you're really leaning it into the corners!).
Get a Thomson post and a salsa clamp too, as anything else seems to slip.
I run a 26.5" riser and a short stem to keep it honest through the technical forest singletrack as it's still a big piece of bike for an ex-XC rider like me (mine's spot on 30lb).
Overall? I've nailed trails and stunts on my ID that would've broken my old bike (and me). It's so fast at times it's actually frightning, and it always seems to be asking for more. Look elsewhere for proper DH or Freeride frames, but for the real life trails that most of us ride day in day out (i.e. no chairlifts, no 15ft cliffs, no monster 6-pack doubles) it's THE frame.
Almost perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from olympia wa Date Reviewed: February 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
fife's ridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2295.00
Purchased At:
universal cycles portland or
Strengths:
climbing descending
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
cannondale super v proflex 856 k2 amp
Bike Setup:
xtr shifters xtr rear derailer xt front derailer hayes/hugi hubs mavic 321 hayes hydro brakes raceface diabolus stem raceface riser bars raceface seatpost z1 bomber survival pros odi lock on grips raceface next lp isis cranks eggbeaters rideon cables fox vanilla rc rearshock raceface signature bottombracket
Bottom Line:
I love this bike it is the perfect trail bike for the northwest.It climbs great and descends even better.I'm 200lbs and this bike has very little flex.I ride every week and the pivots are as tight as they were a year ago.As far as the bottom bracket height I think its perfect for the northwest trails it might be to high for the manicured trails of sunny southern california but in the woods of the northwest I think its an asset.I would recomend this bike to any who wants a long travel efficient trail bike.This bike is not for hucking and dropping off 30 foot cliffs but it is perfect for what it is designed for aggresive trail riding.Buy this bike you wont be disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, CA. Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
many
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At:
used frame with new parts
Strengths:
Nice welds and finish. Superior suspension design. Seat can easily be lowered (unlike some interrupted seat tube frames). Good water bottle location.
Weaknesses:
Greater rear tire clearance would be nice. Braze ons for only one water bottle.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing similar (Merlin HT, Schwinn URT, etc.). Did rent a Specialized BigHit once.
Bike Setup:
Romic, RS Psylo SL, Thompson 130mm stem, Titec carbon post, Monkey Lite DH bar, Hugi hubs, Formula B4 brakes, RF Next cranks, Shimano UN72 (cheap!) 107mm BB, Time pedals, Mavic X317 rims, GripShift, Salsa QR (wheels & seatpost).
Bottom Line:
The bike is great! I may not have my B4's setup perfectly, but I've tried, and I basically don't think they are working well. Plain Deore hydraulics seem to stop better, and the Avid Mechs I originally had on stopped much better. I'd like the flexibility to run a larger rear tire (like 2.4's) but there just isn't the clearance. The Ellsworth seatpost clamp works but it is not QR. The Salsa QR does not hold the post tightly enough. The post will slowly slip and even rotate after some bumps using the Salsa. The Ellsworth booth at the "24 Hr Luguna Seca" made the same observation, and now I use a shim in the clamp. The bike works better than I, and I hope to be able to exploit some of its jumping/freeride capabilities (at a novice level) one of these days. But for the riding I do (steep uphills, steep downhills, narrow singletrack, Sierra rocks, etc.) this bike is excellent!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Pfleider
a Weekend Warrior
from Trabuco Canyon, Ca Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
6" of Plush travel, climbing efficiency, workmanship, lifetime warranty, Romic Shocks, and looks.
Weaknesses:
Nothing
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz
Bike Setup:
Romic rear, Fox Vanilla RL 125, Chris King, Hayes Disc, Full XTR, Race Face, WTB Mutano Raptor 2.4 and Moto Raptor 2.24.
Bottom Line:
This will be a 6 month review on my rig. I am very pleased with the bike's performance! With my Id, I have gained enormous amount of confidence since the last accident with my previous bike. This bike had taken me to another level. I will let the guys below describe all the intricate details about this bike. By the way, if you are thinking of getting this frame, make sure to get the one with a Romic Shocks! Happy freeriding!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA, USA Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes
Strengths:
Ride Quality, Build Quality, Geometry, Finish. It is the perfect trailbike, regardless of what your definition of "trailbike" is.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
None like this
Bike Setup:
Gold Id, Romic, Fox Vanilla 125RLC, Hayes, SUN SUVs, Next LPs, XTR
Bottom Line:
At first I held off reviewing this bike because the owners below have done such a good job describing this thing. But these reviews should aid potential buyers and if you're considering the ID, 30+ positive reviews should sway you. Here's one more.
The bike climbs great. The weight of my SUV wheelset slows me down a bit uphill, but I still get this thing to the top faster than my old Trek Fuel, which has a lockout. Go with the Romic. I've ridden it with the Fox rear, and it's great. The Romic, though, is better. I agree with the review below. The BB height isn't a mistake or some careless afterthought. It is perfect for the rocky rooty terrain here in New England and if no one read the MB article, you wouldn't hear a peep about it.
The angles are not slack like a FR or DH beast, so know what stem size/ handlebar combinations are going to put you in the best riding position for your terrain. With regards to sizing: hopefully, you're lucky enough to fit perfectly on one of Ellsworth's sizes. Let's face it though, unless you're going custom, some compromises will have to be made with any bike. That being said, standover clearance is minimal so this may take some getting used to.
This is an all around mountain bike. It is not a superlight XC machine. It's not a Northshore whatever. If you like to go and hammer good old fashioned mountain bike trails all day, this is your ride. My old bikes seemed to be lacking in one area or another. This bike lacks nothing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gareth
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks, CA Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
123 Bikes
Strengths:
Plush travel combined with climbing ability, light wieght, workmanship, hopefully built to last
Rode an Ellsworth Truth (with fox vanilla coil and z1) for last 5 years, demo-ed and threw a leg over practically every other bike I could find before buying this one
Bike Setup:
Large frame, Romic Shock (with 500# and now 400# spring), Z1 QR20 (excellent), Mavic F521 disk rims, 2.4 motoraptors (which barely fit), Hope Mini's (excellent), 90mm Thompson Stem, 2" Pro Taper bar etc...(about 31-32 lbs?)
Bottom Line:
This bike will put a serious smile on your face and cause you to abandon or ignore your significant other for long periods of time. The ID is a huge upgrade from my older style truth, which took some serious beatings and held up like a champ. Bike technology just keeps getting better and better, and this bike is a great example. This is my first experience with disk brakes and they are awesome, what a difference compared to v-brakes. The Romic and Z1 give the bike a very plush and balanced feel.
Fore those people in the 6' range, frame sizing can be a bit of a dillemma. The 23.5" top tube on the med ID is the perfect length, but it's a 17" bike, so you'll need a lot of seatpost, and a lot of rise in the bars/stem to make it comfortable. I demo'ed a med size ID (Sundance Cyclery in Agoura for $50 a day) and needed a ridiculous amount of seatpost which put me way back over the cranks so I went with a Large. Standover clearance is zero, but the large frame is much more comfortable and puts me in a better pedaling position (no it's not my imagination!).
The ID came with a 500# spring, which was a tad bit too stiff (I weigh 200 lbs). I swapped it for a 400# spring and this really livened up the rear. The bike is now much more plush and compliant, and seems to track a little better. The Romic has great adjustability, a few turns in of the easily accessible compression knob will stiffen up the rear end considerably for any long sustained climbs. And this bike climbs very well, hey isn't that why people buy this thing, it's supposed to be the best of both worlds. The bike also handles very well, however I would prefer a slacker head angle for a little more stability down the nasty stuff. And to address all the hoopla about the bottom bracket height (mtn bike magazine review), nobody seemed to comment on it until the mag review, then everyone started blabbing on about it. I say make your own decisions, I don't notice it.
Overall this bike just makes me want to ride more and more. I just don't feel tired or beat up like I would on my old bike. Super comfortable and plush, pedals smoothly and effiently, and it looks so good I feel bad punishing it on the downhill. I can't stop riding it. For me this is the ultimate setup, plenty of travel for the nasty stuff with a design that is light and pedals really well. It's not a x-country race bike and it's not a heavy FR bike, it's something in between which is exactly what I wanted.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila, Philippines Date Reviewed: April 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Ricky's Tagaytay Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Adventure Bikes
Strengths:
Stiff, Front Steering, Great Finish, Extremely Plush Rear end.
Weaknesses:
High bottom bracket takes a little getting used to.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Bullit
Bike Setup:
Z.1 Freeride, Chris King ISO hubs, Avid discs, Azonic shorty stem, XTR, Easton 70 bars
Bottom Line:
I freeride this stallion of a bike twice a week, 2 runs per and this bike has just grown on me. Shifting from a bullit which steers from behind ( sketchy rear end ) I needed a few runs to get used to the very precise front steering of the ID. Once the bike was dialed-in it just felt extremely great on very technical downhill trails that we ride on.
This ID climbs like no other F/S bike I know. I've been able to climb farther, higher and faster than when I was on my Bullit and when you get to the top the ride down is sweet. My buddies have noticed how plush and active my swingarm is when I go through this rocky step garden in one of our trails.
The Ellsworth name is definitely worth investing in, you know when you buy an ellsworth its going to serve you for years to come.
If you're looking for one F/S bike to do it all and need something that won't compromise you and you recognise value when you see it, GET AN ID!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony
a
from San Diego Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Mission Trails/Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
travel, climbing ability, looks, takes all the abuse you throw at it, relatively light. some say the high bottom bracket is a weakness, but for me it is a strength. this bikes clears anyting that is thrown in its way.
Definitely the best bike I have been on. Save and you will not be disappointed. All the stuff you haven't been able to conquer will seem like childs play after you hop on this bike and take it for a ride. The high bottom bracket is a plus. With other bikes some obstacles didn't always clear as easy as this does. The ICT works great. Don't know how, but it works. No wasted energy due to constant bobbing on the big uphills. So you can keep up with the liteweights going up and fly past on the way down. That alone is worth the price paid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a Downhiller
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Webcyclery
Strengths:
this frame is built sturdy... takes a lot of abuse corners/steers well... pretty fast for its relaxed geometry
Weaknesses:
price
Similar Products Used:
intense uzzi slx turner rfx santa cruz bullit
Bike Setup:
medium black frame romic shock marzocchi jr t hayes hydraulic atomic aircorp rims hayes superlight hubs (elites suck) chris king headset atomic aircorp 50mm stem monkeylite bars race face nsdh cranks maxxis ST 2.35 rear 2.5 front tires atomic pedals about 38 pounds
Bottom Line:
I wasnt surprised that i could kick the crap out of my freeride friends goin uphill on this bike, but amazed at how easily i could fly with them goin down... seriously if ur a light rider like me (165 5ft 10')its a great bike to huck around on... ridden it for 5 months now... im far more confident on all drops (from little loading docks to an almost 12 footer(yes on this bike)) than i was on my norco freeride hardtail. build it for freeride if ur a light rider with some talent... it wont let u down...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eli
a Weekend Warrior
from Wyoming Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Moab Rim so far
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Ellsworth direct
Strengths:
7 lbs with the Romic for my medium gold ano frame. Pedals great--it doesn't feel like 5.75 inches of travel untill you need it. It looks great. My total bike weighs 28.5lbs for coil sprung front and rear with 2.4 inch tires. That's awesome.
Weaknesses:
Price, yes it is expensive. The standover is WAY taller than what they claim. My meduim is just small enough for comfort and I'm 5'10".(I have about 1 inch standover clearance) The b tension tab on the dropout seems a little small. I know all frames have small tabs but to adjust the correct b trension on this frame custom work is needed. You have been warned so don't let the screw slip off or it'll be damaged, possibly needing replacement. I discovered the extent of this probem on Porcupine Rim, which wasn't the most oportune moment. I'm not sure I get a full 5.75 inches of travel. When I measured the travel it came to about 4.75 when it hit the bumper. I can push on the suspension while riding and hit the bumper and it doesn't seem to squash the bumper thus limiting travel. When you're not trying to test the suspension it never bottoms(for trail riding over rough terrain and up to 4ft drops.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro Pro, SC Bullit
Bike Setup:
Gold Med. w/ Romic, Z1 Freeride, King headset and ISO disc hubs laced to WTB rims via DT supercomps, RF Next LP cranks and signature Isis bb, Avid Mechanical discs(best I've tried) with Ultimate levers, WTB Mutano Raptor Race 2.4" tires(I run these tubeless with Stans rim strip and sealant, zero flats. I even hit the rim and the tire didn't rip, amazing), Thomson 90 by 15 stem and seatpost, Protaper carbon bars, XTR der. f and r, XT shifters and cassette, Time pedals, and Avid Flak Jacket housing.
Bottom Line:
The bike rides very predictably. The suspension is active when needed but doesn't rob power at any point, even when standing(this may be slightly in part to the 400lb spring for me at 145lbs, but they don't have 350s.) It is the best trail bike I've riden. Blast through the rough stuff with little problems (you still feel the bumps though. Others seem to claim this thing is like a DH bike and it is NOT. I have a DH bike and it feel nothing like it) If you want a long travel XC bike for rough terrain you have found the perfect bike. I have no regrets about purchasing mine. Although it is expensive, I still give it 5 flaming things for value because the quality of the frame isn't often seen unless you pay for it. The machining and welds are perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a
from Ogden, UT Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Blowhard in Brianhead
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shoppe
Strengths:
This is the best long travel trail bike on the planet. Just so the manufacturers know, there are many people who don't want a freeride bike but they do want a long travel efficient trailbike that can take more abuse than some flimsy cross country bike but still make it up the hill. Way to go Ellsworth, you did it!
Weaknesses:
All the magazines and a lot of the people who review this bike say it has a high bottom bracket. It does, and I wished it was about a half inch lower at first but now I love it and I am clearing tricky pedaling sections much easier now thanks to the extra clearance. So overall, I think that there is no weakness. You will get used to the bb height in one ride.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Truth, Santa Cruz Bullit, Santa Cruz Superlight, all owned, and I have ridden almost anything worth looking at.
Bike Setup:
Fox Float R fork, king headset, hugi hubs, hope mini brakes, thomson stem and seatpost, Easton Monkeylite bar, Race Face Turbine crank, XT drivetrain, Continental Vertical Protection tires. About 29 lbs
Bottom Line:
This is a fun bike! Some of my racer friends said I was stupid to get rid of my Truth (which I really did like) because the ID wasn't going to be fast enough. Well, it is, I don't feel that it is significantly less efficient but the extra travel just lets me go faster in the rough stuff and everwhere else. Some of my freeride downhill friends said that it was never going to be strong enough or enough travel to really ride hard. Well, how many of us really do 8 foot drops and ride chair lifts all day? Not I! This bike is a perfect compromise, I feel like I can climb anything that I was able to climb before and more and when it gets pointed downhill its more fun than you can handle. I wouldn't recommend it to racers or to downhill/hardcore freeriders but if you ride a lot and you ride hard just buck up, spend the cash and buy it. Yes it expensive but nobody puts as much into a bike as Ellsworth. It has enough travel to soak up anything that gets in my way and its fun climbing on it too. I know I have rambled on and what I have said probably doesn't make much sense but I love this bike, I have stuggled to find the perfect bike for me for the past year and a half and I have finally found it. By the way, GET THE ROMIC! It makes the bike. I had to wait a while to get it with the romic but I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cycl_Junkie
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA Date Reviewed: February 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Juan Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Looks, 4 bar linkage, weight, beautiful welds, relaxed geometry (not too relaxed), Ellsworth customer service, Ellsworth name/reputation...
Weaknesses:
Price if you pay full retail, funky cable routing, won't take 74mm Hayes Int'l Std. adapter (without some modifying)...
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro Pro
Bike Setup:
Medium (gold anodized) Id frame w/Romic rear shock, Thomson stem and post, Titec Hell Bent XC bar, King headset, Fox Vanilla 125R fork, XT drive train, Speedplay Frog pedals, Hayes brakes, Mavic 317 rims w/Formula hubs (gotta replace these hubs, Yuck!!!)
Bottom Line:
I'm still getting the suspension dialed on this rig, but lemme tell you... SWEEEEET!!! The Romic rear shock is super adjustable! I love the ICT rear end! This is my first time riding this design and I can honestly say that I was able to ride up (and over) more gnarlier terrain than before. I am cleaning more technical sections (and doing it faster too). The BB height felt a tad bit high at first, but after one ride "I like"... I bought this bike for trail riding (super technical trail riding). I don't know if this is the best free ride bike out there, but it TOTALLY ROCKS for any type of trail riding. It'll handle steep technical climbs, rock gardens, ruts, jumps and any other trail undulations you can think of. Right out of the gate I felt instant confidence to simply 'power' over any section of trail where I might have flinched with my old ride... It's a tad bit heavier than a regular XC bike, but this ain't no regular XC bike! I didn't really feel the weight so much as I was able to motor up a climb at a relatively fast rate. I did have to mess around with the seatpost height to compensate for the higher BB. If you like a tall saddle, you might have to adjust to a slightly lower stance since the overall cockpit area is a bit higher anyway (not a show stopper though!). If you have the coin to build one up, DO IT! You won't regret it. This is an awesome ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff The Super hero
a Cross Country Rider
from Conn,usa Date Reviewed: February 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
all of em
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2275.00
Purchased At:
JBmountainbikes.com
Strengths:
Lots of travel/relatively light weight.Climbs good without robbing power.Good for going over logs etc.
Jr T fork XT/XTR shifting, King wheels and headset, Hope enduro brakes,Race face xy post thomson stem, Monkey lite bar,Conti vert pro tires weighs about 32 pounds
Bottom Line:
This is the best trail bike ever made. Its quick as hell, looks good and makes me like riding that much more.It'll most likely last forever. The think pedals better than my 3 inch travel fsr. The best bike I ever owned. I would't use it to race on but for overall fun this bike is the best. The quality is obvious and impeccable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Javier Villalobos
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico, City, Mexico Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Ajusco
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2399.00
Purchased At:
Wrench Science
Strengths:
Plush, is like riding a downhill Cadillac, sucks-up bumps, ruts,etc. with easy. Gives confidence on regular drops. Romic shock is very effective
Weaknesses:
Cable routing, rear brake routing, high bottom bracket.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn rocket 88
Bike Setup:
XT, Magura Julie disks, free brand hobs, ritchey rims, nokian gazzaloddi duals, Rock shox Psylo SL, Thompsom 120mm stem and seat post.
Bottom Line:
This bike has a great handling, specially on single tracks despite the fact that has a high bottom bracket. I am really pleased with how this bike feels on bumpy terrain and rock gardens. It is really amazing how suck ups bumps.
Finally, I was looking for another bike when I purchased the Id. An intense Uzzi SLX or a Santacruz Bullit. The guys from Wrench Science really help me to make up my decision. They really explain how this bike behaves. Unfortunatelly, I live in Mexico and could only buy the frame and fork.I give the 4 chiles as I beleive the price is high
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Mathis
a
from Springfield, VA Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Wakefield-Accotink
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$295.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Weight, apx. 7.5-lbs for a large frame that gets 6" of travel is astounding! Suspension- hard to appreciate you are riding a 6" travel bike! Laser Etching...at least looks like, I got my moneys worth...
Weaknesses:
A hint of flex in the rear during hard turns- granted, I weigh 230-lbs! Cable routing on the seatstay linkage- incredible pain to set up! I also don't like the cable routing for the front and rear deraileur...
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Super V, Uzzi SL, Tracer, RM6, and Uzzi SLX
Bike Setup:
Romic Shock, Fox Vanilla RLC @ 100mm, Avid Discs, etc...
Bottom Line:
Per many of the previous statements, this is really turning out to be the perfect trail bike for a big guy! Previously, the Uzzi SL was the trail bike for me, but it weighs in at apx 9.5-lbs, compared to the ID's 7.5-lbs! I was shocked by this major difference. Furthermore, the ID accelerates and outclimbs the SL, which only has 4.5" of travel...this bike is really turning out to be a solid investment. Granted, I don't know if it is a truly freeride bike, per the accepted definition...the weight makes me skeptical, so I'll just be throwing the bike as I would a buff trail bike and avoid the 30 to 80-ft drops I routinely do on my SLX...ha, ha!
I'm running the front at 100-m and it makes for a great handling and climbing trail bike...I've rotated through many bikes over the years, but I have a funny feeling that I'll be keeping this one.
Big Guys looking for the ultimate trail bike or really aggressive lighter dudes, this is just a sweet bike!
Er, the Orange bike is sweet!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
craig ( tainted beef) mayer
a Weekend Warrior
from plantation,fla,usa Date Reviewed: February 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
roof of the rockies
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
the bike is awsome. just broke a 2001 truth racing.Got the ID and cant believe how killer it is.Climbs like a goat!!
Weaknesses:
NONE!!!!
Similar Products Used:
ellsworth truth
Bike Setup:
XTR/XTR 5 bolt cranks,romic rear,fox vanilla RLC,king discoteks sunrhino lites, hayes 6 in . atac pedals
Bottom Line:
If you weigh over 220 and can afford to purchase the best, this is it. George at Ellsworth was a great help with taking back my broken truth and getting me into a ID. ELLSWORTH RULES!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Faxholm
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Mammoth Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn
Strengths:
Looks superb with intricate machining and flawless welding. The quality of the suspension action is fantastic as well with little bob on climbs and sprints, and super plush and stable at speed. I like!
Weaknesses:
Agree with other reviewers about the high standover height. Cost - everyone should have the opportunity to own one.
Z1s, Hope hubs, Chris King headset, Race Face post, Thomson stem, Easton Carbon bars, full XT and Hayes hydraulic brakes
Bottom Line:
I purchased this bike after deciding I needed a frame that could handle the kind of riding that I do. I do mostly long cross country rides taking in a variety of terrain, but also like to do downhilling and urban stuff. The design of the frame means that it really is a versatile beast - its got long travel, yet climbs well.. Its strong as hell, yet light enough to race..
The Romic shock is great as well, a really wide range of adjustment that further increases the versatility of the bike.
Overall very pleased with it, I'm riding faster and in more control and look forward to posting a review when I have put it to some serious testing! Roll on summer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Johnny Thunder
a Racer
from Rocklin, CA Date Reviewed: January 28, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Chicken Point-Sedona Arizona
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5750.00
Purchased At:
Dream Ride
Strengths:
Absolutely no creaks or noise while bombing downhill or jamming up a climb.
Weaknesses:
High Standover height
Similar Products Used:
Mountain Cycle Moho CXS, Titus Loco Moto, Cannondale Jeckel
Bike Setup:
Medium frame, Romic shock, Full XTR, Hayes disc brakes, Marzocchi Z1 freeride, Hayes Hubs laced to Sun DS-1 rims, Moto Raptor 2.4 tires, Easton Monkey Lite riser bar, Easton MG80 stem, Thompson Post, Speedplay frogs
Bottom Line:
The guys at Dreamride really steered me in the right direction with the ID. The Z1 with the Romic is the perfect balance. This bike is capable of some amazing things. It allows you to ride unthinkable lines and begs to be throgged through the most technical trails. It rewards you with a new found confidence and a permanent grin on your face.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Y
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
FB HK
Strengths:
Good Climber & Decent Descender Relatively Lightweight compared to its DH performance Top notch welding workmanship Nice Anodized Finishing & Lazse Etched Logo
Weaknesses:
Not Found fr the product itself expect the retail price
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
Z1 MCR, Raceface Next LP Crank, Easton MKLTS HB & CT2 SP, Full XTR shifting components, Mavic C'mas UST with Wildgripper XLS 2.1
Bottom Line:
ID will give you more confident to overcome more nasty stuffs without the need of psuhing it uphill!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Xander
a Weekend Warrior
from BC, Canada Date Reviewed: January 23, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Webcyclery.com
Strengths:
everything -- drops stairsets, 8+ roofs, takes big hits like a full on freeride bike w/o the weight an w/ the climbing ability
Weaknesses:
price maybe but worth every single penny
Similar Products Used:
nothing quite compares
Bike Setup:
2001 marzocchi junior T, XT disc hubs with rhynolites and hayes 6 inch, race face northshore cranks, easton monkeylite, xtr shiftin, ROMIC COIL, Panaracer FIRE DH pros
Bottom Line:
Set this bike up as a xc machine--- it'll climb like a beast. Set it up as a freeride machine (as i did)-- itll drop 10 footers and corner the downhills like no other. Its your choice-- all u have to do is go out and buy this frame -- NOW!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jerry Thompson
a Weekend Warrior
from Temecula calif. Date Reviewed: January 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Jaun
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
I.E. Bikes
Strengths:
The bike handels like no other,its light but strong you and the bike are as one.The way it climbs is secound to none,I have read alot about this bike and every thing is true and i mean every thing!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
G.T avalanch. klein montra comp ,
Bike Setup:
Xtr all the way,monkey lites,chris king,marezocchi Z.1,Thomson stem @ post,White Ind,hub ect.....
Bottom Line:
The best of the best,If you can part with the cash you will not be dissapointed it rides it climbs like no other great job Tony you nailed this one, from the bottom up !!!!!!!1,0000 Flamin chilis
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Toth
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA Date Reviewed: January 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Red Box
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Co. (orange county)
Strengths:
The main strength of the Id is the travel without the weight or a decrease in climbing ability. It really is like having a DH and cross country bike in one (I will not use that marketing term that way apply here).
Weaknesses:
I have taken this bike on all types of trails, and do not have any gripes
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale super V
Bike Setup:
Id large frame with: Romic rear (most excelent), Psylo Uturn with a through axle, Race Face next, 519 rims with Hope hubs, Hayes front and rear, WTB saddle, Thomson stem and post, Monkey bars, XTR rear, XT front, and WTB Mutanoraptors 2.25 rear, 2.4 front. The best tires I've ever ridden
Bottom Line:
I have been mountain biking for 12 years and this is my 6th bike. This is without a doubt the biggest jump in performance that I've seen. If you are a good climber you will be a better one. If you are fast on the downhills you will be faster. The confidence you have when riding a bike like this is astounding. The guys at The Bike Co. know their stuff. That is why I drove all the way from L.A. to have it built. If you are a good all mountain rider, and have the means I suggest you purchase one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Pfleider
a Weekend Warrior
from RSM, CA Date Reviewed: January 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
This is only my 15 mile review. I never felt compelled to write a review of a bike. This bike is awesome! For you to enjoy downhilling/freeriding, you must first climb up to get a better altitude-this bike will take you up there and "limo" you back down with style! Where can you find a 6" of travel but yet so effective in climbing? My friends tell me-now you ran out of excuse! That's the only drawback, I can't blame the bike. By the way, the people at Beyondbikes.com took care of me. These guys take pride in what they do! You want to know what going an extra mile means in customer service-give 'em a call!
Weaknesses:
No more excuse to use.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz
Bike Setup:
Hayes, Thomson, XTR, Hayes elite, Raceface, Conti Vertical and explorer pro.
Bottom Line:
Ellsworth Id forever!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john wimmer
a Cross Country Rider
from pleasant hill ca Date Reviewed: January 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:
devils elbow
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
vision cyclery S.F.
Strengths:
This bike is anything but weak.A strong rider will ride excellent bike anywhere they want.No holds bared
Weaknesses:
Ellsworth ha no weakness
Similar Products Used:
Before this bike I rode a GT STS XCR 1000. Highest end GT FS they out. After about 4000 miles I cracked the frame in 2 spota
GT STS XCR 1000 most expensive FS bike GT made
Bike Setup:
straight up XTR all the way,race face,thomson,chris king, ryno lites,2.4WTBmotoraptors,Marszocchi Z.1
Bottom Line:
This bike is for serious rider that feels like their present bike isn't enough.With this bike it only wants more.As for as I'm concerned I ride there for I am. This bike is the bomb and that is the bottom line.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Truluck
a Weekend Warrior
from Valrico,Florida Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any that are "Tight & Rough"
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Superbikes
Strengths:
See original: review#1 This is an update
Weaknesses:
What Weaknesses?
Similar Products Used:
Just about all the high end ones
Bike Setup:
see original review
Bottom Line:
This is a 400 mile review.
I like it even better now! As I had commented in my orginal review, seems like I'm going faster. Several of my usual riding partners swear I'm going a couple mph faster than I was on my Truth. ( seems like they are just going slower)
Nothing has broken, nothing has made any noise. I did change a couple things, so it now weighs less then 28 lbs.
Bottom line: If you want the best trailbike available, "BUY THE Id"
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Kerby
a Weekend Warrior
from Castro Valley, CA, USA Date Reviewed: December 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
China Camp
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2295.00
Purchased At:
Movin On Cyclery Hayward, CA
Strengths:
Where does one begin with a bike like this ? Quality of workmanship, ease of pedaling, smoothness of travel, stiffness, etc., etc.
Weaknesses:
None so far..
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Truth, Proflex Beast, Mongoose...
Bike Setup:
Fox Vanilla Shock, Manitou Black Super Air forks, PhilWood BB, RaceFace cranks and chainrings, all XTR drivetrain, ChrisKing headset, Easton stem and bars, Rolf Dolomite Wheelset, Hayes Discs, Mich. Wildgripper HotS tires...
Bottom Line:
This thing rocks. And I thought the Truth rode well. For having gobs of travel this bike climbs like a hard tail (only smoother) Handle the big hits with ease. I'll be racing it both XC and DH this spring. Thats how all-around kick ass this thing is. (of course that's just my opinion. Watch for me at Sea Otter.) Worth every penny!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott credeur
a Weekend Warrior
from houston tx Date Reviewed: December 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
beyond bikes
Strengths:
built with integerty, no ride like it.climbs like a goat for a dual shocker.
after riding the id,others feel cheap and flexy.i am a bodybuilder(250lbs)and freerider and this bike can take it.big hits are no problem. call romic for shock setup.buy one if you can.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
"bloody"
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, WA Date Reviewed: December 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bridal, Mt Hood
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Strengths:
Climbs as well as my hardtail on most conditions, better on loose or rocky terrain, descends better than most downhill machines that my friends have. Carves around the switchbacks with ease, flies over the rocky chutes effortlessly and smoothly, no brake dive, pedal feedback, or other adverse effects under hard braking. Frame is bomber (unless you're a true north-shore rider, then you need to look elsewhere).
Weaknesses:
I broke my first swingarm, but the replacement is here (free of charge) and looks great. They had a problem with the first few of these out of the production line... they basically built the rocker arm like they built the rocker for the Truth... worked great on a shorter stroke shock that was designed with less force in mind, but the forces exerted on this machine by any type of riding with a long-stroke shock will tweak their original design virtually instantly. In fact, I heard about guys that took their bikes for a ride around the parking lot and broke their rockers right there... I got just about 100 miles on my bike before that little disappointment. Anyway, that's not really a weakness now that it's all fixed up and rearin' to rip and roar up and down!
Similar Products Used:
A bunch of different AEON, Specialized, Marin, Cannondale, Trek, Haro, Kona and other types of bikes... we all switch off where I'm from so we can all check things out...
Bike Setup:
Gun metal gray front triangle, red swingarm (custom-anodized)... looks sweet! All of my other parts are black with silver highlights and XTR-grey cables with red-ano'd caps. Full XT Grouppo, XT Hydraulic discs (these things kick!!!), Marzocchi Z-1 MCR w/extension control cartridge (this fork is the way to go with this bike - excellent balance and perfect feel front to back - climbs like a mountain goat with the lock-in enabled... low center-of-gravity for the climbs, flip the switch, and descend...), Hugi hubs w/WTB Lazerdisc rims, Nokian Boazbeana F&R Cross-country tires (2.1), WTB Momentum Headset, Oury grips, Salsa skewers and seat clamp, SDG comp ti kevlar seat, Race Face riser bars, Thomson Elite stem and Seatpost, Shimano M646 pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is the mother of all cross-country machines and if you have the means, definately pick one up! This is my dream machine, and now that I'm spoiled, it'd be impossible for me to go back to normalcy. Now, all I have to do is get my body in shape to be able to live up to people's expectations for someone who rides a bike like this.
As a side note, I'd like to comment on the Nokian tires for the guy who's looking for a good set of tires. These things are a bit pricey, but you can save a bit of $$$ by getting the wire bead and they're essentially the same otherwise... They roll fast, grip good, corner confidently, overall an excellent tire - would be a good race tire because of the low rolling resistance, but shed mud and roll on the hardpack very well.
A friend of mine who rode my bike a bit (this guy's "the man" when it comes to mountain biking... he rode a 8" travel gravity machine UP ski-bowl on mount hood instead of taking the chairlift like everyone else and then went down and almost beat the rest of us) who's raced a lot of bikes and has about 10 of his own said this bike handled great and accelerated like a bmx bike.
Four chilis for value because the bike is great, but a bit overpriced since you can pick up a Joker with TWO shocks (one 4" and one 6" and swap at the top of the climb) and have $1000 left over...
Overall rating of 5 of 5 because there's nothing else like it and you know you want one...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Downhiller
from Pearland, Tx USA Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Wk. for Bike Shop!!
Strengths:
The Id is the BOMB!!! If you want quality and satisfaction in a Mt. Bike, Ells is the comapany to go to!! The over all finish is maticulous! The choices of shocks are nice as well! The Romic is the Bomb!! You couldnt find a finer bike! The people at Ells are super cool!! If you wk at Ells, then you know who you are!! (Hey Ms."J") :)
Weaknesses:
NONE!!!!!!!!! HANDS DOWN KICKS ALL OTHER BIKES IN THE A$$!!
Similar Products Used:
GT Zaskar,GT. RTS-1 Team Issue,GT STS-1000 DS Carbon frame.
Bike Setup:
My Id.. Im riding the Med, Id in ano red, SUN SUV Disc Wheelset, 02 Magura Louise Hydros, 02 Raceface North Shore DH Isis cranks (ano red-Perfect match for red Id color) chain rings,Tioga Platforms,Ritchey Ti spds, shim.PD-545s, 02 R.Face seatpost,SDG and 02 New Berzerkr "El Norte"seat, 02R.Face risers,R.Face DH stem 90mm 15'deg. Dura Ace chain, XTR R.d., XTR Frnt der.Chris King custom aheadset, Yeti Lock on grips, 02 Marzocchi Z1 Freeride w/ ECC control Gun Metal(AWSOME FORK) Romic rear shock with #500 spring. Tires..??? Still looking.. Any Ideas??
Bottom Line:
This frame rules!! If you want all Mountain supremeacy, this is the frame for you!!! You cannot go wrong with this frame!! Its an awsome Freerider, XC, and DHr!! No matter where you are riding this thing rocks on!! Buy This Frame!! Support this company!! We need more companies like this, that actually take careof the peole who ride their products! Im a Ells supporter forever! Thanks (Ms. J)I give this frame 100, flaming Turds, for evrything so far!!! The rear is super plush, bearings are awsome too!! Climbs awsome as well!! Buy this!! i cant wait to ride Co, Nevada, Ca. Wa. state and Whistler Blackcomb in 02!! Let me know if you live in any f these places! Thanks All!! Enjoy the the ALL MT. Supemeacy of the ID!!!! I tried to get an Intense, but they were rude, as was Hayes!! I will neve deal with these 2 companies and wish them the worst in years to come! Thanks ELLSWORTH!!!!! Keep Up the awsome wk!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tony kennedy
a Cross Country Rider
from falls church va Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
catoctin blue
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
Quality looks and craftsmanship. all around good performance high bottom bracket, smooth travel and lots of it.
Weaknesses:
Can be a difficult frame to fit, Myn large frame has very little standover but requires a set-back post.
Similar Products Used:
Klein Mantra.
Bike Setup:
romic rear shock, manitou black elite front fork, king hubs with mavic 519 rims, hope mini discs, xtr rd, xt fd, xt casette, race face bb and cranks, rings. king headset, kore stem, race face post, race face aluminum riser bars, xtr pods
Bottom Line:
I am a 48 year old rider with about 6 years on mountain bikes. The Id is be the best all around bike to ride that I have been on. The bike is stiff and secure going into technical areas and glides over obstacles at speed with almost no negative feedback from the handlebars. You can actually climb out of the saddle with this bike and the romic shock keeps the rear wheel planted to the ground like no other. The bike is comfortable, capable, and a real attention getter. I find myself riding faster and longer with less fatigue than in the past.I decided at this point in my riding career to buy the ultimate bike without cost cutting and it was money better spent than my past purchases. I currently can think of no other bike that I would rather have at any price. great looks and great performance from a great bike. Buy this bike if you don't want to compromise and you love to ride, and if you can spend the $$$$$$$$$. Don't buy this bike if you are an xc racer or a weight freak.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
michael
a Weekend Warrior
from corvallis, or Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001
Favorite Trail:
south side slip
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
webcyclery
Strengths:
Quality details and finish. Plush. Feels more planted the faster it goes. Especially good going up-it tracks very well and is efficient...-no need for any lockout. Another strength is the high bottom bracket for going over logs. It's just the best all around trail bike I've riddden.
Weaknesses:
Product weakness-none.
Similar Products Used:
Demo'd Specialized Enduro, Big Hit, C.Dale, G.Fisher Sugar, Owned'01 Santa Cruz Superlight, '01 Santa Cruz Bullit. Liked the Bullit and got hooked on long travel-just wanted to try a 4 barlink setup. Id=Bingo!
Bike Setup:
Size large, Thompson post, Laser V saddle, Z-1 mcr, Romic shock, Easton money bars, American Classic hubs with Mavic 519 rims, Hope mini discs, Conti Vertical Pro or WTB motoraptor depending on mood. Weight around 30# depending on tires.
Bottom Line:
I'm 51 Just started Mt. biking 11 mo, 3 bikes, and over 1500 miles ago. I can do hours of hard uphill and tough decents in a day on this bike and am still fresh. The bike feels right, is very efficient going up. Confidence inspiring going down. If I'm on a mt. bike and it's a dangerous trail, the last thing I want to worry about is limitations with the equipment. On this bike it's possible to keep up with [or pass] many riders that are far younger. Ok, training is 80% of it but...a great bike doesn't hurt. I now have two families. One is the Id and a Harley FXDX, the other is a wife and two small kids. Just as it should be!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Little John
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney NSW Australia Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001
Favorite Trail:
St Helenas
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2250.00
Purchased At:
Thornleigh CycleSports
Strengths:
Craftsmanship Light for the amount of travel ICT works really well feels very stiff and solid
Weaknesses:
none so far
Bike Setup:
Med Id, XTR Der, shifters, crankset. Thompson stem, post. Monkey lite bar. King Hubs. Mav x 317 w/ DT comp. XT Discs. Z1 MCR
Bottom Line:
At first I was going to buy a Truth, then was told about the Id by Cathy and it seemed like what I was after. I'm glad I waited as the Id feels like the perfect ride. I've built it up to 27lbs and even though it's 2lbs heavier than my C'Dale Raven, I definitely ride faster under all scenarios except for paved roads. If you mash the pedals, it bounces like a pogo stick, but no where near as bad as the C'Dale. A little technique goes a long way with the Id, especially when you have to get out of the saddle - loose steep rocky climbs. Otherwise sit and spin and there is zero bob. If you really want to mash, then you can turn up the compression dampening on the Fox Vanilla RC and it feels locked out. I'm not sure whether it's just me, but for the type of bike it's meant to be, it handles tight single track very well. As for coming down hills,it leaves the Dale for dead. Also the ICT rear end is so much better over undulating slick rock, I can't recall ever feeling any type of pedal feed back. On another note, the Z1 MCR works really well with this frame cos' the ECC makes a whole lotta difference when climbing technical sections. It is a little expensive, there seems to be a lot of man hours put into this frame. The finish is of much higher quality than the C'Dale or the Schwinn
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
The ones that are tight & rough!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Superbikes
Strengths:
Plush, light for 5.75" of travel,Anodized finish,Romic Shock...Ellsworth service and Warranty. (it's been good for me and my Truth, even when it broke!)Flawless finish and welds!
Weaknesses:
They were out of that Funky Gold color. (got the Red) No instructions in the box about shock adjustment( Call Romic, they are very helpful) Cost? Nah... you get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:
Only thing close, my 2000 model Truth.
Bike Setup:
XTR 8 speed Cranks,Shifters,Derailers,Brakes,Monkey Lite Bars, Profile Stem,Thompson post,WTB saddle,XTR hubs,517rims,Fire XC tires,Z1 MCR fork and Time pedals. It weighs right at 28.75 lbs I'm 6 ft tall, 235 lbs. Romic has the 500 lb spring( 400 is standard)
Bottom Line:
Having ridden the Truth for almost two years, I've had experience with Ellsworth's product issues,warranty and service. It has always been good for me, so selling the 2000 model Truth and buying another Ellsworth was never a concern for me.
I finally figured out that I'm not gonna be a racer anymore. ( I had 15 years racing motocycles) I love pounding through and over rough tight trails as fast as possible, while not minding that I may not be the fastest guy up the hill ( or Mountain for those out of state adventures) as long as I can go down or through the rough stuff as fast as I want without having to worry about the bike, I'm happy.
The Id, while not really being a "Freeride" or "Downhill" bike seems to fit me and what I do perfectly.I SEEM to be faster on the Id (Everywhere) than on the Truth, even if it turns out that I'm not, I'm loving the ride! ( This thing has more travel than the first two motorcycles I raced back in the late 70's and the brakes are better too!)
Weight: Weighed on a digital scale, with the Romic shock the frame weighs 7.2 lb. Suspension: Z1 MCR @ 5.1" of travel, works considerably better than my 99 Z1 did. ( Also did a few rides with the Z1 100 mm, fork mounted, yup! It turned real good, but for the best balance go for a 5" fork.) Romic shock: With both compression and rebound adjustments, it's easy to find the kind ride action you want. Pedaling: The ICT works, the Id hooks up better then my 2000 Truth did. Stand up pedaling? I dunno, with 5.75" of plush controlled travel, I don't stand and pedal much, you don't need to. Downhills: Big Fun!
Heads up: The front derailer must be a Top pull/Bottom swing.(differnt than the Truth requirement) The center cable holders under the top tube are not cable stops, they are oversized for disc brake cables.
For the right rider, the Id could be the perfect Bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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