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Submitted by
Kevin Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Viginia Beach, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Goodwin State Park, Brooklyn CT | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay | | Strengths: | Beautiful welds, light weight and stiff. Risse shock on back won't brake like original Noleen. Handles like a hardtail on the technical stuff and climbs. Barrels down hills with confidence. | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips easily. Pivots squeak if poorly maintained. Rear V-Brake noodle rubs heel unless housing is zip-tied to shifter housing behind BB. | | Similar Products Used: | Nishiki Saga, Univega Alpina Trail, GT Tequesta, GT I-Drive, Cannondale Raven, Specialized S-Works, Litespeed Tsali. | | Bike Setup: | Full custom parts group chosen after years of riding and racing (since the mid 80s). Judy XC up front tuned with Wings kit for my 230lb clydesdale weight. Risse Racing shock in back with 250psi for the same reason. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks!!! Despite its long chainstay (17"), it handles the tight technical rocky singletrack like a quality hardtail. It climbes like a mountain goat. It decends like a dream. Headtube/seattube angles when SEATED with proper sag are 71/73...SWEET!!! The Judy XC and Risse work perfectly together and don't leak or break like the Noleens. If you are looking for the prefect light weight XC rig (25.2 lbs as I set her up) then this is the bike for you!!! If you are looking for a downhill rig, this is NOT the bike for you. She's too light for serious down-hilling and only has 3" of travel. By the way, as per one negative review, how DOES one get chainsuck from an elevated chainstay that is nowhere near the front chainrings?...Just wondering. Keep riding!!! And respect the trails and other users! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Clark
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kings Cliff, North Petherton | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Off a mate | | Strengths: | Has a good stylish look that has/will keep up with more modern steeds. Relatively light frame that will support most upgrade requirments. | | Weaknesses: | Too much flex in the rear! | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS1000, Giant MCM, Raven 2000 | | Bike Setup: | Hanebrink XCR's, Noleen rear, Middleburn RS7's, Hope wheels and discs. | | Bottom Line: | Good I love this bike. My first full bouncey rig, that I keep going back to again and again and agian!
Best ride I've ever had....well, not quite the best if you know what I mean. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kareem James
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Zero-maintenance shocks, under 28lbs, SMOOTH ride, incredible climber, & Style. Ahead of its time. | | Weaknesses: | They don't make them anymore, though K2 rep assured me they will readily honor the warranty on the frame. The wheelset is a bit light considering the frame is equipped for some big hits. | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth ID, Giant XTC NRS 1, GT Avelanche, iDrive | | Bike Setup: | XT V's & drivetrain, Noleen NR-4 rear shock, NR-2 front shock in Girvin Crosslink elite, Mavic 220s with Real hub in front. | | Bottom Line: | This is the most incredible bike I've ever owned, blew away the competition when it came out, still keeps up.
Soaks up all the bumps except during 30+MPH descents, and I'm 210 lbs.
Climbs like a goat in or out of the saddle.
Keeps up with new & way pricier rides.
Naked Easton carbon swingarm and EVO styling turns heads.
If you can find one in great shape with the way better NR-4 shock, get it you'll be happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Armstrong
a Downhiller
from Wakefield
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the stacks, altofts somewhere | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | A1 cycles | | Strengths: | (saracen Havoc DH 2000) a good looking bike with some excellent components. for instance the stem and riser bars are very good, made by kore. good brakes and very good rigida wheels. | | Weaknesses: | its weight, the gears could be better (the front deraileur is naf!!) | | Bike Setup: | upgraded to front and rear grimeca discs, (came with front), also fitted fox vanilla rear coil suspension | | Bottom Line: | a very attractive looking bike with a good long travel fork and bouncy springy rear shock. excellent brakes. a bike which is very attractive to teenagers because it looks so good. i am very pleased with my bike and would deffinitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good quality, long travel downhill bike for a low price (as prices go). not the kind of bike for someone who is looking for a bike that they can use for nipping around town or to the shop quickly, as with its suspension slows you down a bit, a hardtail would be better for that. this bike is for offroaders who like to test their skills on the hills. i am would be very reluctant to sell mine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Downhiller
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: October 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Logger's Way Keystone CO | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
First real mountain bike so it was and still is awsome | | Weaknesses: |
rear flex, o well | | Similar Products Used: |
most other K2 and Pro-Flex models | | Bike Setup: |
manitou XVert R and XT kit | | Bottom Line: | sweet bike but i am beating it to death downhilling but i will probably end up getting something like a new Santa Cruz Bullit and just transfer the 857 to XC. i broke the shock's main cylinder rod but under inspection we found out it was bad from the factory floor. got it replaced and overhighted to me for free. thanks Mr. Girvin | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott V
a Downhiller
from Forres, Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cliff DH's | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Cheapish, Very light weight (4lbs) inc Shock | | Weaknesses: |
Carbon Fibre rear end - very flexy, constant shock problems (NR2) | | Similar Products Used: |
Giant ATX 990 & Saracen Havoc DH | | Bike Setup: |
Customized Judy XL's mavics on LX, Group LX/XT, Magura Racelines | | Bottom Line: | Nice frame for XC whippets if your wanting to take big and small hits if you can stand the constant shock faults, not a frame to be taken down a hill at warp speeds. | Overall Rating: |
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