Submitted by
Marshall Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2004
Strengths: a solid performer that is silently smooth and it feels like the frame was made for me.Very little rider input is needed to drive.....point and shoot.....you lift..it follows. THIS FRAME RIPS SINGLETRACK APART and sets a new bar.
Weaknesses: My Bergwerk Faunus and Specialized seem heavy and clumbsy after riding my superlight for a while and i have to remember not to endo or reverse endo after getting back on the superlight as it needs less rider force to manuver. THE ONLY WEAKNESS IS THE UNREPLACABLE DERAILER HANGER.
Bottom Line:
after putting up with 3 GT I-Drives[they all broke and were alot of work]i woner what took me so long to switch to maitnance free riding.The bike is if anything............. .....too quiet.
Similar Products Used: intense tracer,fxr,fuels,fishbaits.....they all suck except elzworth TRUTH.the rest act like heavy duallies.
Bike Setup: xtr dual control shifters mated to xt derailers and avid discs.Raceface cranks,easton carbon bars,thompson laid back post,deuce stem,STAN'S converted bontrager race discs on continental survivor pros,3lb mars elite disc only fork and shimano 969's. Total weight=24.25lbs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from Charleston, WV
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Strengths: Weight, looks, climbing, descending. Just about everything on this bike is perfect.
Weaknesses: Had a problem with creaking that finally went away. Not real sure what it was but drove me crazy for a while. Only other weakness is that I can not remove my rear wheel with a 2.0 tire without letting air out. I believe this is only an issue if you use Avid Ti brakes though.
Bottom Line:
This bike is simply amazing. I could not ask for a better performing bike. I use this bike for xc riding and racing. It climbs awesome with very little bob. The handling is amazing, it descends like nothing i have ever been on before. This bike feels like it was built for me.
Before this bike I rode fisher's. I thought they were great until my first ride on my superlight. I could never go back to a fisher. The difference is undescribable, it out climbs, out descends, just plain and simply outrides anything else I have ever been on.
If you are considering getting this bike for xc you won't be sorry. I know I'm not and I am one of the pickiest SOB's when it comes to bikes that you could ever meet.
Bike Setup: Anodized 03 frame, White Bros XC 1.0 fork, FSA carbon pro cranks, xt drivetrain, Avid SD Ti brakes, Bontrager RaceLite rims, Thomson post
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Longchamp
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003
Strengths: Strong, light, stiff frame, excellent climbing and downhilling, easy to handle. Can't ask for more out of a XC [all around] bike. Although my LocoMoto rode just as good I prefer my Superlight.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike, most worthy of being the best XC [all around] bike on the market. I would recommend this bike to anyone who rides hard on tough terrain like the Canadian Rockies, I've ridden this bike hard on flats, uphills, downhills and almost any terrain out there [ie. wet,snow,dry,rocky...] and it's up for the challenge. Buy one if you looking for this type of bike, you won't regret it.
One of the best bikes I've ever ridden regardless of price. suspension is silky smooth and can be locked out on smooth climbs. Carves singletrack better than anything else out there.... Anyone who doesn't think full suspension is worth the cost, weight, etc etc has never actually been on a bike like this. The perfect cross country trail bike, great racer, and perfect for epic rides...
Similar Products Used: Titus locomoto, Rocky Mountain Element
Bike Setup: float rl in back fox float rlc 100 in front, monkey lite low riser bar, easton carbon seat post, time pedals, xtr drivetrain, titec stem,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kyoshi
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach, NY. USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2002
Strengths: Insanely light and bullet proof! Handles the single track and climbing as good as an Ibis hardtail, but on the downhill...by by Alibi!! Simple design which means less to fail.
Weaknesses: Ahhhhhhh...NONE
Bottom Line:
This frame rocks. I would strongly recommend it to any serious XC rider who thrives on beating the snot out of his buddies on the trail! I have heard all the noise about how single pivot is outdated and how we ALL should be riding Horst link...Sounds like Horst sh*t to me. This bike is lighter, stronger and performs better than anything else I have ever ridden on all terrain. Also, for the price, there is nothing else in its peer group worth looking at.
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Urbana, Illinois
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Strengths: Excellent ride, great welds and paint job, stiff frame.
Weaknesses: I had to pay for it.
Bottom Line:
I just built this bike up yesterday and neihborhood tested it. It total rocks!! I have a back problem and had to go full suspension from a softail. I was one of those, "full suspension hold outs, it has too many moving parts people". I was a fool. Anyway I can't beleive the tracking and stiffness of the frame. It inspires great confidence. I will post again after some trial testing. I can tell from my intial test, it will be positive.
Similar Products Used: Dean Jester. This is my first full suspension bike
Bike Setup: Black Santa Cruz frame. Marzocchi Atom 80 fork, Xtr rear derailluer,XtR ti cassette and XTR chain. Avid Ultimate arch brakes and levers. Sram Rocket shifters, Monkeylite low rise carbon bars and a Kore Elite stem, Thompson post and a Selle Flite gel saddle, XT fron derailuer and a Raceface crank with Time carbon pedals. The wheel are XTR hubs with double butted spokes laced with alloy nipples too Mavic 517 rins and IRC Mythos 2.1 tires. Weight 23lbs
Strengths: Light,fast, strong, fun,durrable, many color options, comfortable, great customer service, great value, the best bike that I have ever ridden or owned.
Weaknesses: absolutely none.
Bottom Line:
The Santa Cruz Superlight is absolutely the best bike that I have ever ridden or owned. It is fast enough for racing but it is comfortable enough for all day epic rides. Everything about the bike is perfect, from it's great price, durrability, quality paint job (and color options) and it absolutely dialed in geometry and ride. After owning manoy other quality bikes this is absolutely the best.
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