Submitted by
Rick Hutchison
a Weekend Warrior
from North Van, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2004
Strengths: Unbelievably strong and resilent frame.
Weaknesses: Rear travel (3") not current by todays standards.
Bottom Line:
This is an update to my original review from 2000.This year I replaced the 4 sealed bearings with new better American (bottom) and Italian (top) versions. Also had the rear shock rebuilt by Risse. The bike handles and acts as new. I liked this Santa Cruz so much I bought a 2004 Heckler. Great bikes to say the least.
Strengths: Stiff, Strong, Fast, Light. No power loss while pedaling. Will take a serious beating free riding, well over 15' drops no problem. Kills on single track and flys downhill.
Weaknesses: Reisse shock has blown 4 times.
Bottom Line:
This Bike is the best thing I've ever bought. I've had it since 97 and have seriously beat the s**t out of it and it keeps on rolling. It rides awsome on the trails and handles like a dream. It's recently become my freeride bike and is still going strong. I've blown several forks and rears and the frame is still straight as arrow. It's almost maintence free and lacks the common clanking of a full suspension bike. When i first purchased it it had crap components on it and wieghed a ton, I repalced everything and got it down to 24lbs. I am going to be a santa cruz rider for life. If the oppertunity ever presents itself to you to own a tazmon your a fool for not jumping on it.
Similar Products Used: Klein Mantra, Gary Fisher Sugar and Jousha, Trek Y-bikes & VRX, GT LTS series, specilaized FSR, Kona Ku-Hu, Titus Darkar.
Bike Setup: Full XTR drivetrain and brakes, mavic Cross Max, Conti double fighters , Titec bars and seat post, WTB SST98 seat, Time ATAC Carbon pedals, SID XC, King Headset, KORE stem.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbia, SC
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2001
Strengths: bombproof construction superb welding excellent feel rear shock
Weaknesses: NONE YET! (weight??)
Bottom Line:
Just outfitted this slightly used frame, got everything dialed in, and it HAMMERS. I was worried with the weight (27.8 lbs) since I was a die-hard hardtailer (24 lbs), but man does the Tazmon just ROCK. You barely notice the weight because you're not taking a beating on the downhills, and it still climbs great!I've read nothing but good comments on this bike frame, and have no negatives. Frame is sharp looking, appears bombproof, and is just a blast to ride. We'll see how it goes from here, but I think I'm in LOVE....If you can, get a hold of this frame while it's still out there on the used market!!!!
Submitted by
Kent
a Cross-Country Rider
from singletrack
Date Reviewed: June 7, 1999
Strengths: strong, and maintance free (almost)
Weaknesses: tad on heavy side
Bottom Line:
I love it. came real close to buying a new fsr xc pro. glad I built-up my tazmon, my friends with fsr's are starting to conplain about loose,noisy and wore out pivot linkage already.
Submitted by
Rob
a cross-country rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1999
Bottom Line:
Tazmon Rules!!!! I have had my Tazmon for just over a year and it is absolutely perfect for XC as well as great for downhill, though I have not raced a downhill yet. Best frame I have ridden!!!!!!!!!!!
I have nothing but good things to say about this bike. It is a perfect balance between cross country and downhill. I demo'd alot of full suspension bikes before deciding on this one and chose it because it does everything well. Climbs excellent and turns quicker than anything I've ever ridden. I have won both cross country and downhill races on it. Ride one.
18 Tazmon black w/ polished swing arm for sale. Anwser Kamikaze fork, Risse Racing air shock, XT deraillers, bottom bracket, LX shifters, crank, brakes, Mavic / Exage wheels, Specialize seat post, Generic riser stem / bar, Solid parts to get you rolling on a great frame, upgrade as your budget allows. Full bike or frame only. Mail for info If this ad is inapropriate for this forum, please accept my apologies and delete if possible. Thanks .
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DONB
a weekend warrior
from SALINAS, CA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997
Bottom Line:
THE TAZMON IS THE STURDIEST SUSPENSION BIKE AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET. IT RIDES QUICK AND IS A SINGLE TRACK PERFORMER. I HAVE RIDDEN OTHER FULL SUSPENSION BIKES LIKE THE IBIS ZASBO, PROFLEX 853, SCHWINN HOMEGROWN, AND SPECIALIZED FSR. THESE BIKES DO NOT OFFER ANY DURABILITY LIKE THE SANTA CRUZ AND I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP. IT IS SECOND TO NONE.
I've had my Tazmon for a year & a half now and it is so fine! I bought it as a freameset and put XTR on it except for BB, cranks and front hub. It tracks so perfectly and turns heads (which is a nice attribute, eh?) even when it is standing still. I upgraded the rear shock to a Reisse Terminator 6-way compression & rebound. My only complaint is that it came with a Juday SL, which I recently replaced with a Bomber Z2. Now, it is balanced front and rear. I'd give this bike five stars with no hesitation if it had a replacable rear derailkeur hanger. ( I had a problem and now have a helicoil back there.)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Haynes
a cross-country rider
from San Jose, Ca
Date Reviewed: March 21, 1997
Bottom Line:
I think it's one of the cadillac's of the MTB Industry, I'm 6'1 200 Lbs and demand alot from my bike, it's lite, durable and seems to be the one bike everyone wants to ride. never had a frame or serious mechanical problem, it's well worth the money.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuck Stein
a cross-country rider
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: January 26, 1997
Bottom Line:
This bike is excellent in ways I am still discovering! It feels more precise and stiffer laterally than my Kona Ku hardtail. Active is the way to go - it climbs and stays stuck to the ground over just about everything - it is frozen here now, and I'm just rolling over stuff that is giving my hardtail riding buds fits! It weighs about 25 lbs. with a Judy SL and mostly Big S components, the finish and welds are top rate, and Santa Cruz is a great company to deal with. I'm riding faster because of this bike - at the present cold temps, this is no barcolounger, but the rear suspension is paying off in ways that I didn't forsee. Santa Cruz has nailed the geometry on this puppy! P.S. This bike was ordered from Phat Tire - Top notch build job and assistance - way better than any LBS around here.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Harper
a weekend warrior
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1996
Bottom Line:
Great frame for a heavy person. Sprints like a hardtail, but the supension allows me to feel noticable fresher at the end of the day than I did on my Klein hardtail. Noticablly stiffer than the GT LTS or Santa Cruz Heckler. Suspension design is effective and simple. It appears to be a very durable design, but I have only had the bike for a few months so I can not make a definate ruling. Due to my 230 lb weight, I have no problem activating my suspension.The only complaint that I have is that my center of gavity is higher on this bike than it was on my hardtail, but I think that that is true of all full suspension designs.For your reference, I am 6'5, 230 lbs, which plays heavilly in my taste in bike parts.
