Submitted by
J Dawg
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2008
Strengths: Great looking, extremely lightweight, rear disc mount, STS system softens the blows well for a hardtail, great welds. Both stylish and functional.
Weaknesses: Not made anymore!
Bottom Line:
The frame is pretty flexy, yet still feels solid. Climbs like a dream. Without super expensive components, mine comes in around 23lbs. Two types were made, the earlier ones have cables routing on top of the toptube and no rear disc mount, and the later models have cable guides under the toptube and have a disc brake mount. I'd suggest the one with a disc mount (circa 01-02) Long story short, get one of these if you can find one!
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2005
Strengths: Light weight, great components (LX-XTR), cool design
Weaknesses: none that I can think of
Bottom Line:
I've ridden it on hard-pack singletrack, loose/gravely/rocky singletrack, and fire-roads (very loose). With it's light weight it climbs like a champ (I think the 27 speeds also gives it a really LOW 1st gear, which also helps). I haven't had any problems with any of the trails I've been on. I've gotten maybe 1-2' of air, and the Manitou SX-E front fork has landed me safely and softly every time. I'm a novice when it comes to mt. biking (just got into it this summer), but if you can find this bike for <$500 I would say it's a good deal due to it's light weight (haven't weighed mine yet, but I've heard ~25lbs), and excellent components.
Bike Setup: Duster Pro tires, WTB saddle, XTR front der., lx deore rear der., xt v-brakes, Manitou SXE fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bobby
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2004
Strengths: Light weight with a headturning design.
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
I have built this bike up as a single speed and it is lighter than my Lemond Zurich. It is a blast to ride. The light weight does not translate to a fragile feel, it is fun to abuse. I am more confident jumping and riding stairs than I am on my Spider. I really can't tell if it climbs well because it's a single speed but the frame is relatively compliant for aluminum. The curve of the frame design allow for mistakes when trying weird stuff without worries of damaging your twig and berries.
Similar Products Used: My other bike is an Intense Spider.
Bike Setup: Manitou Mars fork, Truativ 180mm cranks. King headset with riser bar. Paul front hub and V-brake. White INdustries ENO eccentric hub and shimano v-brake on rear. Mavic 517's.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Stephan Strebel
a Racer
from Mississauga Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2001
Strengths: Durability. This bike is extremely durable, I put it through hell and back, off 4 foot drops and through Bromont. ive hade this bike for two years. My dad got it for me for my 10th birthday and not a problem from day 1.Its light, its nimble, climbs like a goat, and decends like one too.
Weaknesses: Pricy 4 my age.
Bottom Line:
It looks sharp, nothing compares, simply the best of the best. What can I say?
Bike Setup: Psylo Xc, Pro Stop hydraulic disk brakes, race face crack @ headset,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Clemson, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2001
Strengths: Weight, looks, handling
Weaknesses: Poorly designed cable routings. Could have used a few more stops. Paint scratches easily. Clear coat would have been nice.
Bottom Line:
Aside from the minor gripes about the paint and the cable routings I LOVE THIS BIKE! I am 5'8" and the small size was a perfect fit for me. I usually ride extremely technical singletrack and this bike hammers it. I can't say that I can feel the softail traction system flexing but the ride is fairly supple for an aluminum hardtail. It is a nimble climber and is very responsive at speed (almost a little twitchy). Bottom line, this is a fun bike to ride. If you do occasional cross country racing but spend most of your time trying to clean the most technical singletrack you can find this is the bike for you.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z-1 BAM, Hayes disc, XTR, Azonic riser bars and shorty stem
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn Cameron
a Racer
from Toronto - Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000
Strengths: Light, responsive, very good climber with the right rubber. Unique bike - nice in a see of cookie cutter models
Weaknesses: Cable routing - over time scratches the frame. Be very carelful when reaching for the underside bottle on single track.
Bottom Line:
I like it. Responsive yet forgiving. With the right components this can be a very light bike. Monocoque is noisy - but so is Mountain Biking. Longevity seems good however the inherent properties of aluminum state that it can only flex a certain amount of times before it breaks - hopefully later rather than sooner.
Strengths: very stiff which translates to great climbing and sprinting
Weaknesses: no room for waterbottles and sloppy cable routing
Bottom Line:
great bike for singletrack, make sure you get right size. i AM 5'8' AND WENT A MED AT FIRST BUT IT WAS TOO BIG SO I GOT SMALL. OVERALL VERY FAST AND EFFICIENT
Submitted by
Risk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kula, Maui, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1999
Strengths: lightweight stiff ride (climbs and sprints well)
Weaknesses: cable routing bottle cage locations I can't really feel the travel on the rear of the bike
Bottom Line:
Nice light bike. Stiff torsionally. Climbs and sprints well.Steep geometry makes it ride like a crit bike.I guess since it's monocoque, it does transmit quite a bit of trail noise.This bike is good for technical singletrack riding because of the geometry, standover height and lightweight.
Submitted by
Valentijn
a Weekend Warrior
from The Hague in The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1999
Strengths: Great Look. Very nice paintjob. Nice cool weldings and very stiff frameset (no flex in horizontal way.) Perfect responsiveness.
Weaknesses: holders for your watercans isn't very logical. Cable
Bottom Line:
Great bike, I've own it now for almost a year and I haven't got any problems with it. The bike does excactly what I tell him to do when I'm cycling. There's just one thing left to tell. DON'T ride it in the rain because it took me about two weeks to get all the water out of the frame. Furthermore the bike is everthing I expected it to be. Cool, stiff and lightweight. If you still are in doubt, go and testride one at your dealer.
Bike Setup: Front suspension is a Marzocchi XC500 (Yes an oldie but it works perfectly)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross-Country Rider
from Rochester, NY
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1999
Strengths: Light weight, great weld and paint quality
Weaknesses: cable runs not very well designed
Bottom Line:
I decided to put the old Trek to rest and build my dream bike this winter. Frame is size large, and the bike weighs 22.5 lbs. This bike rips and is a total blast to ride anywhere. The only thing I would like to see different is the way you have to route the cables on this frame, it could have been done better. Overall my dream bike turned out even better than I expected. It's good to see a small company putting out a product that kicks the big boy's asses.
I have been on a Moho for quite a few years now, and really like the geometry and feel of the bike. It's light, quick and was very comfortable to ride. However, at the end of last summer the frame broke (where the top tube and seat tube intersect). The Mountain Cycle warranty is only one year, so I was out of luck. I am fairly certain that the frame failed because the bike was built with an slightly oversize seat tube, and that eventually led to the failure, but who really knows.... MC certainly was not ready to accept any responsibility. In any case, I did get a replacement from MC at a reduced cost, but i have yet to build it up. If I had the choice, I wouldn't buy one again, as I feel that this frame does have a limited life. If not for the fragile nature of the frame, 5 chilis as it is a really nice ride. However, given the 1yr warranty and likelyhood that the frame will fail eventually, I would have to give it 2 chilis.
Submitted by
J Masse
a cross-country rider
from Chicopee Ma
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1997
Bottom Line:
I bought my Moho in March of 96 & I now have over a 1000 miles on it. It is a really nice riding hardtail. They call it a softail because Mtn Cycle claims it has 1/2 of flex in the chainstays. For an aluminum frame I would have to say it's pretty forgiving on rough terrian, even though I really can't say I feel the flexing. The frame has held up great considering I am a rider who loves to catch air on every ride. The only way to fit a water bottle inside the triangle is to use a innovations in cycling X cage. This is a great water bottle cage but theres not enough room to use a large bottle. Don't even say it - I HATE CAMELBACKS!! My entire bike weighs 23 lb incl. a pump, spare tube & seat bag. So you can have a light bike with the right lightweight parts. Give it a 5 on the chilli bar
Im new to the MC scene, just bought a slightly used 03 Moho STS mtb frame. I'm trying to figure out exactly how to mount the cables. The frame came with the guides, I'm just wonde Read More »
I know this is a long shot, but I fiqured what the heck, weirder things have happened.
I have Mountain Cycle Moho STS that I really like a lot. I want to put a disc brake on the Read More »
Looking for a MOHO STS hardtail frame or complete bike. Monocoque version. Prefer one that has the disc brake mount or adapter. Want it as a daily commuter.
Anyone who wants to se Read More »
I know ozbmx has dibs, but I can't find cheap enough shipping to Australia and, well, it's been a few months.
Anyway,
I'm looking to trade my disc-tabbed Moho STS frame for a Read More »
