Submitted by
Natasha
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2005
Strengths: geometry - nicely balanced with unbelievable versatility (technical or fast swoopy downhill, tight corners, jumps - it rides like it was made for them all, and it climbs waaay better than it looks like it should), adjustable wheel base, strength
Weaknesses: having to track down brake adapters and derailleur hanger; paint job looks like it's standard army issue (I love it but can't see it appealing to everyone); chain rubs on my knobbies in granny gears, s/times results in chain suck from the top; fighting w/ the BB adapter (as soon as this BB blows up I'll bust out the adapter and move to a BMX BB and 3-piece cranks... dunno why i didn't think of that in the first place); it's not Canadian!
Bottom Line:
This is my first bike that's really mine and not a hand-me-down from my husband, so I might be a bit biased... but I love my bike! This bike is all about fun - anywhere. The geometry is super responsive (which is good if you're a good rider and hard on you if you're not) and definitely confidence inspiring at speed and on the steeps. Not as fast but more finesse and interaction w/ the trail than your average big squishy on the downs, not as heavy as a 'Shore hardtail' so it can still climb, stronger and more playful than your average all-mountain rig, and jumps with the best. I ride seriously technical all-mountain most of the time with a bit of Shore and downhilling (and even attempts at urban) from time to time and I get to have fun everywhere. The better I get as a rider, the more I discover this bike can do (even XC if you keep the seat and the pace up and are in decent shape).
Bike Setup: All-mountain setup: Fox Vanilla 125 RL, XT rear + deore front derailleurs, single track rim w/ deore hydro 6" front, XTR V-brake rear (soon to be replaced with another deore hydro - great value), bluegroove and fire FR tires, hussefelt cranks, race face risers, stubby axiom stem, rogue lock-ons w/ dangerboy end caps, odyssey cielencki *glow in the dark* pedals
Strengths: FOLLOW UP TO MY LAST REVIEW WHICH WAS LEFT 2 YEARS AGO, FRAME STILL GOING STRONG EVEN THOUGH THE WHITE BROS TRIPLE CLAMPS GOT BENT AND HAD TO GO AFTER A REBUILD, FRAME NOW SET UP WITH MARZOCCHI DIRTJUMPER 1'S AND RIDES AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER AS THEY DAY IT WAS BOUGHT. PAINT JOB STILL EXCELLENT AND CONSIDERING THIS FRAME IS NOW 6 YEARS OLD I HAVE NO REASON TO CHANGE IT, RIDES GREAT FOR EVERYTHING, DIRTJUMPING, XC, STREET.
Weaknesses: THE REAR DROPOUTS SOMETIMES STILL A PAIN TO CHANGE THE WHEEL
Bottom Line:
NOT MANY COMPANYS GET A FRAME DESIGN THIS RIGHT, AN OUT AND OUT CLASSIC.....STILL!!!!!!!
Strengths: handling, stiffness, geometry, build quality (welding especially) and strength
Weaknesses: standard paintjobs not great
Bottom Line:
best bike i've ever riden. handles more like a 24" bike than a 20". light enough for longer rides and stiff enough for jumps and street. very chuckable for spins and tricks (i can 180 off a curb on this) and handles 4x tracks and singletrack brilliantly. if you ride everything or anything above, this is the frame for you!
Similar Products Used: worked at a bike shop rode pretty much everything, but these are the closest. specialized P3, jamis slalom bike, elsworth
Bike Setup: slalom setup, heavy duty everything. profile bmx crankset and chainring. azonic riser bars, thompson seat post, tioga down hill seat. tioga 2.3 tires, azonic triple wall rims. oury grips, hayes hydraulic disk brakes, king headset, junky rockshock judy. xt rear shifter
Strengths: this frame rocks ,its geometry is perfect and the paintwork is somethin specail .big drop outs perfect.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
this frame is sweet so if u got the cash get the flash frame and show up evry one aimed at ppl who want fun and fun basically.perfect (sean mayne above sucks ass hole big time)
Similar Products Used: Azonic DS1, identiti DR jekyll, on-one gimp (my m8 miles goulds bike)
Bike Setup: Black metalhead frame, z1 wedge, 24 seven fat cranks, gusset 7mm thick chainring, big-uns halo sas rims, hope m4s, azonic chubby azonic shorty
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Clarke
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2002
Strengths: Strength Geometry Style/look
Weaknesses: paint,but i got sprayed so who cares
Bottom Line:
Anyone who likes jumping or just riding would love this frame.Feels sweet to ride, to jump and to have fun on.I feel secure with this bike.And again the geometry feels perfect!
Similar Products Used: gt chucker,barracuda guetto,base?,DMR sidekick
Bike Setup: Marzocchi z4,xtr r.mech,f.brake,avid r.brake,mrp copy chain device,tioga bar+stem,sun big mammoth rims on lx hubs,kenda tires,azonic headlock,scott saddle,fsa cranks,8spd,44t chainring,lizard skin
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Stacey
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2002
Strengths: SO strong! Cracking geometry; BMX BB; Horizontal dropouts; Sheer quality of the machining;
Weaknesses: Heavy; Paintwork is crap;
Bottom Line:
Superb bike, if a little heavy (although that's probably down to the cranks). It will climb; provided that you keep it moving it's great over technical XC stuff because of the really short stiff rear end.
Great also for street riding - it loves steps - and for the odd blast at the Skatepark on the hips. It's best though ragging down some sweet tight singletrack or catching some air off dirt jumps, or doing big drops. I suppose it is a great 'Freeride' bike (I hate that term!) - it'll do anything. I love it, five flaming turds!
Favorite Trail: Local skatepark, Cannock Chase, Coed-y-Brenin
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: Pashley, Stratford-upon-Avon
Similar Products Used: Pashley 24mhz, DMR Trailstar, Azonic DS1, and all manner of dodgy wannbe knock-off frames!
Bike Setup: D521 SUP's on Hope Bulbs, Z1 MCR QR20+, Profile 3pce cranks, 24/7 Bars and Stem and 38t Chainwheel, DMR V8 pedals, X-lite saddle, LX V's but with Deore levers, STX 8sp (out of choice - long live 8sp!), IRC Kujo 2.25's
Strengths: A classic, great looks, nice responsive angles, strong, good tire clearance, bmx bottom bracket, horizontal dropouts.Maybe it's because I have an older model but I have had no complaints about the paintwork, still looking good after 3 years abuse!!!!
Weaknesses: Dropouts are a little fiddly until you get the knack of it,not a problem after all this time though, aluminium ( one day I'll have to say goodbye!!) Maybe a Brooklyn, Curtis or a Pashley beckons .FEEL THE STEEL!!!!
Bottom Line:
This frame is a classic, I've broken forks on this frame and expected to rip the head tube off but it's still there and going strong, the angles on this frame are perfect for urban, dirt jumping, and even ( dare I say XC )with the post up to the max.I have run 80mm single crowns but I still prefer the feel of the triples and the reasurance that the headtube can take it. Pity it's not steel cos I reckon this would still be going strong when I'm not!!! Just love the look of this bike that just begs to be ridden hard.
Strengths: verry very strong i managed to snap a set of triple clamps of the front and it was still ok
Weaknesses: the only thing that i can find is that the drop outs are a bit fiddly and you calnt get a mrp on it
Bottom Line:
although this bike is expensive it is like every one who has ever had one well worth it. if you want to do mainly down hill stuff this is probabaly not the bie for you because the aluminium is a bit skitish over roots it will serve you well whatever you do.
this is preety much a follow up to my intitial review. well, i like the frame as much if not more than when i got it. got it repainted so it looks new and it works as well as ever. after months of riding id say it would be ideal if the top tube was a half inch shorter, 22.5" and the headtube should be reinforced (FTW's is and it looks amazing). thumbs up for the ride and thumbs down for the frame material but whatever it is still strong although i am anticipated frame failure anyday now. the original eastcoast hardcore frame !
Strengths: ~tire clearance(2.6 gazz) ~adjustable wheelbase(16.5-17.5) ~universal bb ~geometry is spot on ~very strong,solid and stiff yet... ~...not exceptionally heavy(a little over 4 pounds)
Weaknesses: ~you WILL have to ream/file down the headtube,bb, and rear dropouts due to thick paint ~relatively expensive for a frame meant to be thrashed.
Bottom Line:
bottom line?not much can be said by me that has'nt been said by others.there is a reason this frame is legendary and areason why every company now has a "hucking" bike in there line up(using the same geom the metal did for years).its versatile-i've used it with a 100mm fork, 65mm, and rigid and it works amzing with each.going downhilling and your dually has a blown shock?throw on a 2.6 and lenghten the wheelbase and your good to go.its looks great rides great and every one who has em loves em.the truth is its not a dual slaom bike or dirt jumping bike or a stock bike-its a FUN bike; and since bike riding should be fun, this is the bike you'll probably want to ride. However, keep in mind it is aluminum,and aluminum like all good things eventually come to an end.Then what?well i'll buy another:its that good..its better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.ill be calling frank soon....:)
Favorite Trail: unfortunately,we don't have many trails
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: spooky cycles
Similar Products Used: 16" trek 990(by first real bike 2 seasons ago) cove stiffee(i bought it too big,19". Doh!!) brooklyn park bik(awesome bike but i prefer 26" in the rear on a hardtail) a friends ds-1(he now has my park bike.hah!)
Bike Setup: forever changing...i do love my butcher rims though!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
scott earnest
a Racer
from somewhere, in, New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001
Strengths: kickass super strong frame. looks fast, rides fast and confident.
Weaknesses: none, ive heard alot of complaints about spooky's paint, but mines custom painted. Ive had no problems
Bottom Line:
bike is sweet. Its fast on the trails, and its a great ride for urban assualt and sessions in the back yard.
Weaknesses: paint quality doesn't say dream machine (if you've seen an ellsworth you know what i mean) - 4 chilis for value because the paint should be better
Bottom Line:
i can ride this down plattekill and its fun! - now how many hardtails can you say that about? i can jump more stuff ride more stuff generally have more fun in more places on my metalhead if you like moto then the slack angles and tough build of this bike are just what you are looking for... very occasionally, i think about replacing it with a full suspension - slalom bikes from intense, foes or ventana - or maybe a motorhead... but the spooky is such good clean fun, why bother?
the metalhead is the definitive dirt bike... it carries on the downhill hardtail tradition from the repack clunkers, through the yeti steel bikes, to the modern dual/dirtjumping hardtails. buy one, have fun, and cherish it - its a classic
Similar Products Used: yeti (old school steel) brooklyn tmx gt i-drives
Bike Setup: rockshox dho mrp avid arch rivals xt gears mavic wheels tiogo cube stem and 2.1DH meats under 27lb, not bad for a bike with downhill tires!
Strengths: ...that's just it...it's freakin' strong.
Weaknesses: none dammit
Bottom Line:
every damn thing I can drop on my Bullit I can drop on the Metalhead. It's freakin' solid. The horizontal drops are a pain but just too damn cool for my shoes. I have the small which is perfect for the BMX track but a little stubby for trail-riding. But it isn't for trail riding...It's for urban diturbin and hucking off cliffs. A perfect compliment to any sicko's quiver of bike.
My headtube sticker is finally coming off. Once it comes off, I'll have a completely bare frame, with no emblems or decals.
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