Submitted by
MIKE SACOSKY
a Cross Country Rider
from TROUTMAN NC
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004
Strengths: PRICE,PLAIN LOOKS,LBS.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
BEEN OWNER SINCE 99 IM NOT REALLY READY TO CHANGE. LIGHT, SIMPLE, AND FAST SO FAR. HOW LONG DO THEY LAST 5 YEARS AND GOING STRONG. FIND ONE FOR YOUR COLLECTION THE KIDS WILL LOVE IT WHEN YOU GIVE IT UP.THIS IS A TOUGH CLASSIC I WILL ALWAYS OWN, BUY IT YOU WILL LIKE IT! NOT FOR NAME BRAND PEOPLE THAT NEED THE EGO BOOST. RIDE FAST, RIDE LONG...
Submitted by
Eric Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from Modesto
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2003
Strengths: Light weight, beautiful silver color, forgiving ride, great for trail riding
Weaknesses: Flexy frame (especially at the bottom bracket area), frame flexed when I applied the rear brake, no rear disc brake mount
Bottom Line:
I bought this 1999 frame from everyone's rave below and wasn't as impressed. Maybe the newer frames are better though. Keep in mind, I'm reviewing a '99 frame.
The frame is light, but racing uphills was compromised from the flexy bottom bracket, losing efficiency. I raced my friend up a short hill and he was right on my rear and actually told me to get out of his way. When I got my '03 Trek 8500 ZR9000 frame, he had no chance because the frame was so stiff.
It was the best looking bike I've ever owned (silver/black) and was the best trail bike I've had since it didn't beat me up so much (pro of being flexy). It had the perfect geometry (17"), light, but what keeps me from giving it a full 5 is the frame flex.
If you want a nice comfortable trail bike that can also haul, get this bike. However, I would not recommend it for racing.
Similar Products Used: '02 Trek 4500, '03 Trek 8500, '03 Trek 8000, other Trek FS
Bike Setup: '03 Trek 8500 Full XT/XTR 22lb Trail Tamer
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Olivier
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003
Strengths: Cheap, looks nice, light, agile.
Weaknesses: A little hard on the bum like any ultra stiff alu frame.
Bottom Line:
Awesome frame for the money. I built this lightweight, rock-solid hard-tail for the cost of a super-mediocre FS bike. It climbs and descends under my 215 pounds like no other hardtail I've ridden. No squeaks no fuss. No problems with BB height using the X-Vert and replacing the big ring with a bash guard (I rarely used it anyway and now there's so much less chain slop).
Bike Setup: KHS Alite 4000, full XTR, XT crank, Bomber Z3 (soon:Skareb Super), Mavic X 517, Ritchey WCS, Kore, Flite TT, PD-M959,...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2002
Strengths: Inexpensive, Very lightweight, Sharp yet not flashy paint job, Nice craftmanship for price. Agressive Geometry (02). 17" 2002 Frame = ~1430g.
Weaknesses: Low BB -- it is a CC frame.
Bottom Line:
Excellent Frameset for those on a budget looking for a fast CC ride. I gave a 4 Overall since a product in this price range isn't really competitive with the likes of litespeed and other high end frames.
Strengths: light rear end, the frame has snap, nice non-descript paint job, price, frame material, tubing etc, lightweight, super comfortable ride.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
i bought this at universal as the xero flux, but you don't have to look to closely at the frame to see what it really is. after a year, i can say that this frame saves you the bother, weight, expense and complexity of a full suspension frame. it's got just enough give in back to give you control and comfort. a great frame at any price. appropriate for even elite racers.
Similar Products Used: various mtb, road, cyclocross and bmx bikes made out of steel and aluminum.
Bike Setup: lesse, marzocchi bomber, asian made stem, seatpost and handle bar, odi lockjaws, sachs 8 speed drivetrain with gore rideon cables, xt crank, cassette and front derailleur, first generation LX v-brakes, lx rear derailleur, performance XT/mavic 517's, selle italia flite saddle, time atac pedals, sram chain, michelin comp s lights and torelli tubes.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Brad Riley
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Joseph, MO
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002
Strengths: Light, Light, Light. Isn't that enough!
Weaknesses: Very low bottom bracket (My only complaint)
Bottom Line:
For the price I stole this bike, and now its the bomb with the help of some top notch components. Its everything a person needs in a bike with out showing who has more money to spend. This bike is a must for all levels of riders. Everyone should buy one, Thanks KHS!
Similar Products Used: GT timberline and rebound, Mongoose XR-350.
Bike Setup: Manitou Mars, Full XT with XTR derailleurs, Hayes Disc on shimano XT hubs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
AndyMan
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Valley NJ USA
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002
Strengths: Crazy light, sexy paint job, low BB shell for low center of gravity, CHEAP!!
Weaknesses: The sticker on my chainstay keeps peeling off, it sucks cuz it looks really cool.
Bottom Line:
This bike rips!!! Buy one if you can get your hands on it!! I recommend it for anyone who wants a light, responsive, and beautiful bike. I'm gonna start racing it soon and I can't wait to tear it up. Later KHS fans!
Similar Products Used: GT tequesta, specialized s-works metal matrix something.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi x-fly 100(sick fork), XT everywhere, mavic 517's.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from middletown, ct. usa
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2002
Strengths: value, looks, weight savings, value. 2001 model white frame with red graphics
Weaknesses: none as of yet
Bottom Line:
had specialized rockhopper ritchey ed nitanium frame loved the bike, but wanted to shed some wgt. saw frame on sale, checked reviews on mtbr, shelled out the $312. i now have a 23.5# sweatheart. bike is everything i was hoping for. i feel like i just got a new girlfreind, i just jump on it and ride everychance i can. i would recommend as a upgrade to anyone. wgt and climbing ability inspire!
Similar Products Used: trek 7000, airborne corsair
Bike Setup: xt, rocket shortys, xtr/mavic517, duke xc, rockshok seat post
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Daldog Rayong
a Cross Country Rider
from Rayong , Thailand
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2001
Strengths: Low Price with Good Material Spec ( Ultralight - Easton )
Weaknesses: Not / Someone say Not from USA. but , In my opinion all well known brand are made from Taiwan and sticker in USA.
Bottom Line:
Good Quality Frame in acceptale price , You can find in Bottom Bracket thread machining also finishing color , Suitable for Beginner to Racer , But Comment to MFG. Ultralight Spec. Should be specified what grade of Aluminiun 6xxx or 7xxx for buyer decision
Bike Setup: XT , XTR , Mavic Rim 517, Judy Race 2000
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Lane
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2001
Strengths: Stiff, very light (3.0 lbs), excellent geometry, Easton tubing.
Weaknesses: Can't think of any.
Bottom Line:
An incredible value. In overall satisfaction, it ranks with frames costing many times more. A great frame for someone who does primarily cross country and enjoys high-performance climbing.
Bike Setup: rockshox judy long travel, deore XT components, sun lite O degree rims
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, VA, US
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001
Strengths: One of the best kept secrets in MTB. This a great frame, at a great price. Very light weight (my bike is a few pounds heavy-Judy XC). On trail the bike is very responsive and climbs like a champ, but them rips on the downhill. I also ride in the city (D.C.) a lot, bike is awesome for dipping in traffic, hopping curbs, riding stairs, and escaping the bumper of cabs. Also great know that you are not going to see 20 bikes just like yours on a ride.
Bike Setup: XT Mega Nine, Judy-XC, Easton handle bar and seat post, Selle Italia Flite Saddle, Mavic CrossLink(f) CrossRide(r) rims and hubs, Michelin WildGrippers
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from alexandria, va, us
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2001
Strengths: light weight, stiff, good paint, responsive handling, the mountian goat of frames.
Weaknesses: it doesn't like fast rocky desent but what does.
Bottom Line:
this frame is able to be ridden with the best of the frames. so fare it hasn't broke(i weight 210 lb). i'm able to ride up almost any hill on it.
Similar Products Used: this is my first good hard tail.
Bike Setup: xt lx group, ct-2 handle bar, Psylo race fork(very nice).
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Steen Wallin
a Weekend Warrior
from Kalmar, Sweden
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
Strengths: Low price, acc. like a F-1 car, stiff, turns quickly, a great climber, cool colors (my wife likes it)
Weaknesses: If you don´t like the stiffness in the frame, get a susp. seatpost.
Bottom Line:
A great bike to handle in hard terrain. I don´t think you can find more bike for this price. I like the color - gold and black, cool looki´n! It´s not so difficult to get a lightweightbike with this frame, my bike weight is 11.2 kg. Not bad for a "amateurequipped" bike. This bike works great for a "warrior" like me, but I think it would work well even for a serious xc-biker with raceambitions. I can´t say that I miss my old bike, an Univega 550 Alpina..., and that was a "goodie". The four flames - because my "economy" bike set up.
OK OK I will admit it. I have got the what bike to buy blues. Do I buy an SS specific or convert a standard hardtail frame?? I thought I wanted to buy a Surly (see my earlier sizin Read More »
hi.
i do downhill in the winter, and now started to do XC/AM in the summer. i was offered a really good price on KHS ALITE TEAM(also known as 4000), 2008, and was wondering if th Read More »
