Submitted by
insanewayne
a Weekend Warrior
from broadmoor mental hospital. uk
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004
Strengths: very strong bike. ive snapped all my other bikes but i cant break this one. so far ive killed a 99 kona stab and 3 heavy tools 20 inch trials bikes. and broken 2 sets of forks, hanebrink LT8 and marzocchi QR20. im never gonna sell this bike and i dont think i can break it..... hope i never do.
Weaknesses: cant think of any!!!!
Bottom Line:
dammm shame they dont make them any more.
oh yeah did a 8 ft huck on to flat and tore ligament in my ankle and the bloody think still didn't break.
Bike Setup: marzocchi drop off forks. XT rear brake. 26" halo combat wheels. profile 3pc cranks. DMR single speed rear hub. hope front hub. 24/7 bar and stem
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Submitted by
Jordan
a Downhiller
from Adelaide, South Australia
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2004
Strengths: The bike is seriously strong and stiff! Wicked head angle, tracks like a dream! Feels way better than any dually I've every been on. Straightens out switchbacks like they weren't there! Powder coat finish is tough!
Weaknesses: Wide bottom bracket (BMX size) and weighs a tonne! Other than that, nothing!
Bottom Line:
A fat bike that was probably the best buy I ever made! I built it for bugger all and have had it valued at heaps! There's no doubt about it, totally worth every cent and more! Pitty they don't make em anymore! *****Rock on Frank the Welder******
Similar Products Used: Nothing in hard tail before. I'm a track and road racer and I spent big bucks on those bikes and they're real stiff... the spooky is just as comfy!
Bike Setup: 5" Psylos Maguras I picked up 2nd hand XT/Deore Tripple chain ring (used to commute on it) Mammoth rims (they were cheap)
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Submitted by
aug savage
a Downhiller
from melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2002
Strengths: It's an absolute beast. It's bloody strong, reasonably light, and looks awesome.
Weaknesses: none. except the stickers suck.
Bottom Line:
If you want a hardtail for downhill, dual, jump or street, that's better than anyone elses, choose the Bandwagon. It's a million times better than any DMR.
Strengths: Beautiful frame, such lovly handling. Overall the frame just screams STRENGTH...
Weaknesses: Would be nice with a standard disc mount, also more tire clearence would be killer.
Bottom Line:
This Frame has made me such a better rider. Do to the huge confidence it gives by just sitting down on it.
Im able to pull so much more stuff than i could before.
The nicest thing is that i have 2 (yes two) frames, so if i should ever manage to brake one, ill have one more and just continue riding for all that im worth..
Bike Setup: URBAN/TRIALS BABY! BLACK elite fork (100mm), D521 Ceramics, EASTON, full XTR, Race Face North Shore XS cranks (DMR wondercups wich is a hella good thing) with granny bashplate and System DH. Sweet Michelin DH rear tire, ODI Ruffians, Fizik seat etc
Strengths: You want strenths??? well this frmaes made of em.... 1) BMX BB, larger bearings. I ant belive soo many people are using DMR Wonder Cups, there pants, i had to hack the bolts out of mine when i went from usin (crap) Azonic 454s after the 4th set of bearings!! 2) Those dropouts are so fat you dont need a replacable dropout. If u do break it, well then even more reason to run it single speed 3) The Paint is sooo tough. 4) My mates think theres a bottle opener hidden on it somewhere, but i dont facy taking it out with me just to open bottles on.
Weaknesses: There is two 1) Spooky are now bust and i dont know where i go if it breaks (asif thatll hapen) 2) The disc mount, its imposible to get the adapter for it anywhere in the uk, if anyone has one laying around then help us out.
Bottom Line:
Buy the new ones, if ur a wimp MTB BB, Disc mounts?? wots goin on???
Similar Products Used: Azonic DS1, DDG Sting (dead), Heavy Tools Dual, Planet X
Bike Setup: Bomber Z1s (running at 3"), Azonic Hammer Stem and Double Wall Bars, Hope Enduro4 front brake, Deore Rear, hope Big Uns 521(rear) 121 (front), XTR shifter + mech , Profiles (no stupid wondercups here), Long Kore seatpost
Strengths: Good construction, gussets and machined seat and chain stay yolks. square chain stays. Black powder coat! Most bad ass frame for the money! Spooky is the original hard core hard tail!
Weaknesses: Not a big fan of the Alcoa! The old Metal heads were better because of the easton Al. I have had some trouble keeping the Crupi BB adapter cups in the frame. No replaceable rear mech hanger!
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a bad ass HARDCORE NS-able hard tail! If you are in to trials, Dual Slalom, Freeriding, Downhilling, then look no further! Spooky has been kickin' out the Metalhead for almost seven years, and everyone has jumped on the bandwagon! And tried to make their half ass version of the Metalhead, (santacruz, Planet-X exc..) YOu gotta go with the original -SPOOKY- made in the USA NYC HARDCORE FRAME! but if your a poor ass art student (like me) and you dont have the cash, shoot for a BANDWAGON! its as good as the 2000 metalheads minus a few percs. But it kicks the livin hell outta any other frame out there that claims to be a Hardcore hardtail. SPOOKY RULES!
Similar Products Used: Cheeta Dualy, Ellsworth Specialist, Brooklyn 24/26, I hate to say it but Santacruz Cameleon. DNM. Planet X. Funtech. exc...
Bike Setup: Spooky Bandwagon (black) Marzocchi Z1 cr 5" (silver) Kenesis Maxlite rigid for trials (silver) Race face LP (black) Race Face XY (black) Race Face DH 90mm (black) Azonic double wall riser 2" (silver) Ouray grips(black) Salsa flip offs (black) Salsa seat QR (silver) Selle Flite seat (black) Shimano XTR v-brakes,rear mech shifter/brake lever combo. XT front mech, 9 speed cassete, un-72 BB.- Curve brake booster rear (purple ano) Chris king head set (purple ano) Crupi round flats (silver) Robyn Coop's bash guard (silver) Vuelta 36/24 steel rings. - Ringle' DH hubs f/r (black) Black DT comp spokes, purple nips, Sun Mamoth DH rims, Kujo 2.35
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Submitted by
Ando Ando
a Downhiller
from Northwich
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Strengths: This bike is just sooo strong, you can huck it off of anything.It has very twitchy handling but I love this, it goes where you point it, no messing. The whole frame just oozes quality, I have the 6061 T-6 frame but I think that you can only buy them made from 7005 tubing now, so be sur of which one you are getting as the 7005 is £299 and the other is £399.
Weaknesses: Pardon ???!!
Bottom Line:
A total quality product that works really well. You can set it up to do or be almost anything, from jump and slalom to street riding. This machine is just pure fun.
Similar Products Used: Orange Missile, o2, Azonic DS 1,DMR Trailstar.
Bike Setup: Cheap!!,521 Mavics on 98 Shimano LX, Azonic 454-3pc steel crankset (excellent product),kore stem,worldforce bar, Avid brakes.I run it as single-speed using a device called a singulator that screws in where the derrailieur should go, watch out these will be popular!!
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Submitted by
Ollie Randles
a Weekend Warrior
from Dorset, UK
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2000
Strengths: Very strong and stiff, long top tube, stealth looks, thick paint and lots of standover height.
Weaknesses: Relatively small tyre clearance, no bottle cage bosses, errrr, thats it!
Bottom Line:
This frame is amazing, it's really stiff and feels fast and chuckable. I haven't managed to chip the paint yet, my padlock was smashing against the headtube for hours one day and its just made little marks in the paint.
With a long and strong seatpost it is excellent for allday XC rides aswell, aslong as you have a camelback etc because there are no bottle cage bosses. I recommend that you buy some DMR wondercups so that you can fit an MTB BB and triple chainrings if you do XC.
Similar Products Used: Barracuda Subway, Azonic DS-1.
Bike Setup: LX groupset, Hope C2 disks, Marzocchi Z1 Dropoffs, DMR wondercups, Mavic D321 rims, Tioga 2.1 DH tyres. Weighs in at under 30lb's!
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Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Winchester, Hampshire, England
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2000
Strengths: Build quality is good, paint is an awesome thickness, looks are fantastic. The bottom bracket is well strong. The best bit, however, is the long top tube: another reviewer mentioned using this as a cross country frame, which it can do no problems with that length of top tube. I've got mine set up with a single 32 tooth ring, big tyres, a quick release seat clamp and a long seat post...set up like that, all you need to do XC is raise the post. If you want to do jumps, just lower the post. As for the weight, who cares? Every time I've had light weight components, something breaks: Heavy bikes don't break and the weight gives you calves like a mutha...and they're more stable at speed.
Weaknesses: It could do with more mud clearance and the drop outs needed filing down so that the axle could actually fit in - but thats because of the thick paint job, I think.
Bottom Line:
This is such a fun bike to ride - I can do XC even on my set up, which is near 35 pounds and with a very short stem. But XC isn't what this bike's about, it's about speed and jumping and staying strong, which is what this bike does so well. The best fun I've had in years.
Similar Products Used: None that compares to this beast.
Bike Setup: DMR wonder cups for the BB, LX transmission with a single 32 tooth ring, Roox and DMR chaindevices, Amoeba DH bars, Funn 50mm stem, old 1997 Pace RC-36 forks (due for replacement), Roox long seat post, X-lite seat, old 2.2" tyres with older tyres inside to stop flats, old 1997 Hope Sport Closed 2, still going strong.
Strengths: Killer looks, Cheap, Different, Aggresive, Fat, Hard as Nails.
Weaknesses: Needs replacable drop-outs
Bottom Line:
After reading a number of reviews which emphasied the slalom/jump abilities of the Bandwagon it might be a surpise to inform you of its cross-country qualities. Most weekends I combine lots of singletrack with minor epic cross-country rides without any problems. OK so I am not saying that its the ultimate light weight bike, that you are going to win the Tour de France on. But lets face it, you cannot jump 10 feet in the air, stack at a ridiculous speeds with no damage and impress the guys and girls on a skinny bike, now can you. So all you out there who are frightened by a fat bike, not being able to ride up hills because it weighs 35lbs, then think again. The Bandwagon allows you to ride fast singletrack, jump, slalom, ride street, as well as providing you with a surpisingly efficient cross-country ride, just add a large seat-post. Overall an excellent free-riding frame.
Weaknesses: none really, maybe some more colour choices other than black could be used
Bottom Line:
for jumping, trials and general looning about this frame is superb for the price, the metalhead is often seen as the definitive hardnut and the only difference between that and the bandwagon is the lack of CNC on the bandwagon, oh and about £250!!! for the money i dont think there is a better, or stronger frame out there. some people may be put off by its size but while it is small it doesnt have to be cramped, i ordered the longer wheelbase version and it is just right for me (im 6ft 2), lots of standover height and decent cockpit length. it is soooooo stiff, with the bmx bottom bracket and cranks there is zero flex which inspires confidence when jumping, and makes some trials moves much more precise. 5 chilis for one superb product
i'm having thoughts of joining the 29er bandwagon... i want to try it out first... what are the good entry level 29er bikes? i'm thinking of 500-800 budget... Read More »
Well just built some 650's and all I can say... They are awesome!
Dropped 2.28 lbs with these new wheels
More build specs when i get my new bars on Friday...
[IMG]http://photos-f.a Read More »
..but not really. I guess money talks, but not enough to actually make it quickly. :D
[URL="http://bicycling.com/blogs/thestraightdirt/2011/03/21/one-minute-with-yeti-presi Read More »
I was riding in the OC last week and noticed a lot of 29er's. I am from LA and
yes there are a few here , but in the OC, the 29ers have taken over like a plague.
I was riding w Read More »
