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Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)
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User Reviews
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Submitted by
Steve
a
from Sunnyvale, CADate Reviewed: September 19, 2001
Strengths: Light, light, light, light, light. 3 honest pounds for a 19". Good welds. Extremely cheap for a 3lb frame. Stickers came separately so I can have a completely stealth bike. Did I mention light? Nice paint. Hasn't broken yet. No one else has one.
Weaknesses: Shaky details...the stock seatpost shim is useless and will crack your frame (it's too short). The huge downtube makes even a high clamp front derailleur not quite fit: mine works but I should really get one that attaches to the braze-on post. The rear triangle is really flexy and demands a brake booster if you want to stop. Some of the cable stays won't fit a cable in them and needed to be filed. The bottle cage braze-ons on the seat tube are too low. Extremely heavy Hammerin' Hank types might find it too flexy in the bottom bracket.
Bottom Line: Paying under $500 for an honest 3 pound frame kicks ass, but you have to fiddle and adjust to get everything working right (see Weaknesses and Setup). 5+ flaming poos for amazing value; minus two poos for all the little things you have to fix. But I hope they're still around if I ever break mine.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: Trek 1000, other random hardtails.
Bike Setup: Make sure to pull the stock seatpost shim and either get a bigger seatpost or use a longer shim -- or your frame will crack. You may need someone with a reamer to do this: it's stuck in pretty hard. Also you need a brake booster in the rear because the rear triangle is so flexy. Oh yeah, I run a Judy Race and XT driveline.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rusty
a Cross Country Rider
from Western North CarolinaDate Reviewed: May 20, 2001
Strengths: VERY light, climbs great, not as electric as 7005, more like a carbon frame!Weaknesses: The shim provided is to short (sucks)! I got a seat post that fit corectly, no problemBottom Line: This is the bike frame I will keep till I break or it does. Except for disc brake capabilities I cant find a single reason to ever ride anything else. It transmits energy like the easton frame without beating me on the desents, it takes up the little crap (gravel ect.) like a carbon frame and it is extereamly light. I am very sorry that this frame company has not come to the fore front with a vengance. At a third the cost of a Ti bike, Ti is the only thing even close and that is like saying a VW is close to a Ferrari.
Favorite Trail: Western North Carolina
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At: Otis Cucles in Arden NC
Similar Products Used: crabon Trek, easton Haro, Ti litespeed
Bike Setup: White bros sc70xc, XTR drive train, Nuke proof wheels
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from SingaporeDate Reviewed: June 21, 1999
Strengths:
Very light, great in climbs.Weaknesses:
Not as responsive as some other bikes I've owned and/or ridden (but the difference is very marginal)Bottom Line: For the price this frame costs, its incredibly light weight, I give it top marks. One suggestion for the 2 other contributors below - perhaps you can dispense with the shim and get a seatpost that fits the seat-tube exactly - I have a Thomson seatpost - no shims - no problems after 3 months of hard riding.
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
No other Mag frames
Bike Setup:
Rockshox SID, XTR gruppo, Race Face, X_Max
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve
a Racer
from ChandlerDate Reviewed: June 8, 1999
Strengths:
Good Climbing, Great descending, lightweight, looks coolWeaknesses:
Cracked at top-tube/seat-tube weld just like Jeff's below after 6 ridesBottom Line: Got my frame replaced promptly and have not had the same problem. I am also now using the Use Seatpost and Use shim, so maybe this helps solve the cracking problem. With the first frame I used a regular 29.8 post while waiting for my Use shim to arrive. I'm a little dissapointed because I thought my frame cracking was a fluke but maybe it is a design flaw in light of another person with the same problem? It is a great frame otherwise.
Favorite Trail:
dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
Balance, Caad3
Bike Setup:
Manitou SXR, XT, Use Seatpost
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Racer
from EdgemontDate Reviewed: June 3, 1999
Strengths:
Very light, stiff in the climbs, very compliant on the downhillsWeaknesses:
Frame is prone to cracking at seatpost. This is remedied by cutting down the collar. The lenghth of the seatpost shim is crutial!! Throw out stock shim and get a USE shim (longer) and to the correct diameterBottom Line: Cheaper than titanium, stronger & lighter than aluminum or butted steel. Raced 80 miles and trained 300, Very strong frame with the proper prep (see above)
Favorite Trail:
any non-norba
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bike Setup:
It is set up with Manitou Ti fork and Cane Creek wheels and hubs. A USE seatpost hooks it up! XTR stuff & triggershift. 23.9 lbs race ready!
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Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)
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