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Submitted by
Geoff
a Racer
from Emerald Hills, CA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | paved bike path | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | eeeeebaaaaayyyyyyy! | | Strengths: | After 7 years its still a solid and burly frame. FTW would be proud. | | Weaknesses: | They aint made no more. Get your own. | | Similar Products Used: | Chuck Norris | | Bike Setup: | 1x9, lots of anodized blue from "back in the day" | | Bottom Line: | I was an idiot and sold my Pit-Boss sometime back in 2001 or 2002. I thought I would never need a hardtail again. Well, Spooky went out of business and that frame became a lot more valuable to me and I wished I still had it.
Fast forward 4 years, and after thinking I would never find one again, My buddy found a full bike on Ebay for $650. I bought it within 5 minutes of finding it. It came in a sh!tty box with the pedals sticking out and scratched upper tubes on the fork, but what mattered most was that the frame was still tits and it is baby blue, or "Smurf Blue" as Spooky called it. I got a brand new mirrored sticker kit, so at some point I will have the frame repainted and re stickered. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marshall Hance
a
from Asheville
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Thoze Trails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Spooky | | Strengths: | Nice Geometry
Good Lookin | | Weaknesses: | Down tube.
It cracked after three years of hard riding.
Just in time for my EndlessBikeCo. frame to come it. | | Similar Products Used: | Quite a few | | Bike Setup: | Transition from X-Country bike to a big BMX bike over the three years of ownership. | | Bottom Line: | Nice bike.
Aluminum is gunna break, so I wasn't surprised.
I guess theres no more SPooky, though. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Van Rixel
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Calabasis | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Used from Velo Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Strong as F$@k! It has handled 15 stairs. I love the geomety, and easton DH tubing. Its a great bike. Its so light too! | | Weaknesses: | The stickers aren't the best but who cares about stikers. Would You rather have a trek with sweet stickers? NO | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like it. Maybe a DS1 or one of those bomb shells | | Bike Setup: | Psylo xc (with super stiff springs), Mammouth rims laced to lx hubs, Proflie 2.5" rise bars. Avid 7.0 brakes, profile cranks w/ profile bb. and profile impeirlial chain ring, Crupi rounds w/ ti. axels, wtb 2.4 moto raptors, cnc dh stem, tru vativ chain guide, tekro levers, lx rear der. and shifer, C2 headset, azonic lounge seat. | | Bottom Line: | its the best hard tail you can buy ( If you jump urban ride, or free ride). But I wouldn't pay 700 whatever for it like some people I know. Unless you see it for super cheap, just get a DS1 instead. ( It wont be the same though. ) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a
from Louisville,KY,USA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Inlaws Farm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$757.00 | | Purchased At: | JB Mountain Bikes | | Strengths: | FAT ASS TUBING, Full suspension tubing on a hardtail. Hand made. USA Baby. Riding it will make you grow more hair on your nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Try calling Spooky and talking to someone, granted they are moving. | | Similar Products Used: | Spooky Metal Head | | Bike Setup: | XT Drive train, Race Face-Next LP,BB,Head set. KORE-Post,Stem,Riser bar. King on Mavic spinners.Mazzochi Z1 X-Fly 100. Avid Arch Supreme. Green Lizard Skin chain pad (you try getting that color) | | Bottom Line: | Havent rode it along time, but man WHAT FUN! Jump it, Ramp it, Cross it, Downhill it, most of all ride it!!! and by the way my wife hates it. I ride diff from what the locals here ride. I have access to alot of land. It has a lot of steep hills, crazy tech spots that i have made myself, Sky bridges, and good creek beds that have good drops (no water). my buddies ride CC, the nice thing is with this bike i just raise the seat post and bam i got CC action. It climbs like a goat on crack thanks to that good old east coast single track short wheel base. Riding technical is a easier than geting laid with a fist full of $50's. I stepped down a frame size due to the riding i do, if was going to do mainly hard core CC action i would stick to my normal size. The paint is not the best but not that bad(satin black). The stickers suck!! I rode a Metal Head that my LBS owner has it has a euro BB, on the bottom no serial just PROTO (one of the first). The stickers on that were holographic, really neat looking. I like it so far, if your caught between free ride and CC buy it. I bought it from JB Mountain Bikes, Justin was a good guy to talk to and i received it when he said i would. I bought my fork from Kalo and the experience was not as good. Got one story from Fed-Ex and another from Kalo. HMMMMMMM..... Which one shoud i beleive? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CyberJay
a Cross Country Rider
from East Windsor, NJ
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mercer County Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$775.00 | | Purchased At: | Hamilton Bike & Fitness | | Strengths: | Awesome geometry. Really one of the best rides I've ever been on. Absolutely incredible. | | Weaknesses: | The company that made it. heh. I broke the driveside dropout of my Pit Boss about one month ago. Sent it back to Spooky immediately after I broke it. So far I have sent around 12 e-mails and placed 20 or so phone calls(only left 3 or 4 messages). They have actually answered the phone ONCE of the 20 or so times I've called. And the guy that I talked to told me to call back. They have answered ONE of the e-mails I sent and that was just the mailling address for the company(I had asked for the return proceedure). Honestly I can't even begin to comprehend a company treating it's customers like this. I wouldn't go ANYWHERE NEAR Spooky until there is some serious reform in their customer service department.
Other negatives on the frame itself, the stickers and paint suck but that was something I knew before I bought it and I was totally prepared to deal with. Also a metallurgist looked at some extremely high resolution pictures of the break and said it was most likely fatuigue that caused the break. I rode a Giant ATX-890 for three and a half years before it broke. I think I rode the 890 about the same as the Spooky. I really think it should have lasted longer. Spooky should make beefier dropouts for this bike! | | Similar Products Used: | ATX-890 for three and a half years. Didn't ride as nice but it didn't break either.
Santa Cruz Chameleon, just got it, rides about the same, looks like it has a beefier dropout. I've only had it two weeks though so I can't comment. | | Bike Setup: | White Brothers DC-90DS, RaceFace, XT, Syncros, Chris King, Mavic, etc. Heavy duty XC riding with a little jumping/freeride flavor. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy a Spooky until their customer service improves tremendously.
I am currently preparing to have a custom steel frame made with the same geometery and sizing as my Pit Boss. I like the frame that much.
Spooky has this whole tough guy attitude like they're above everything. Fact of the matter is, they're a company and they must take care of their customers. I don't care if I get my frame back in one week or three months, I just need someone to call me or e-mail me and TELL me what is going on and what to expect. I know of at least two other Spooky frames that broke and recieved horrible customer service. They may be going out of business, another good reason to stay away.
I honestly feel bad slamming them like this. I like the ride of my Spooky better than my Chameleon for most of my riding. I think there is a HUGE openning for a company with terrific customer service to come along and make a knock off of the Pit Boss and take over the market. If you do, e-mail me, I'll buy one of your frames! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | -The best long-travel hardtail,EVER!!
-Custom craftmanship(gorgeous welds,smooth finish..)
-Super-beefy Easton DH tubing!!
-Light enough for general use--only 4 lbs!
-Same kickass geometry as the Darkside
-Awesome baby-blue paint!!
-MADE WITH SOUL IN UPSTATE NY BY PEOPLE WHO CARE!!
| | Weaknesses: | -Costly,but worth it
-Spooky's service isn't great..according to rumors anyway
-RARE,even here!!
-Hayes disk mounts(I prefer the universal standard--I don't like Hayes)
-Some hiccups in finish and production consistency(because Spooky handbuilds its frames rather than using robots like the big corporations)
-Not for posers or the faint of heart..(WAIT A MINUTE--that doesn't count)
-I DON'T HAVE ONE! | | Similar Products Used: | I haven't really seen anything similar...probably the closest thing to the Pitboss in concept is the Cove Stiffy..another one might be the Rocky Mountain Reaper | | Bike Setup: | Don't own this..yet...I own a Rockhopper A1 right now | | Bottom Line: | Spooky has a winner here!It combines the 2 following elements:
a)Darkside-XC/trail bike;awesome geometry that loves technical riding,but not tough enough to stand up to the rigors of freeriding
b)Metalhead-Trials/DS/freeride bike;beefy,but its geometry is really suited for jumps and DH riding,and really isn't a hot prospect in the East Coast forests(unless you ride at places like Platekill!)
Take the Darkside's bred-for-the-east-woods geometry,add the Metalhead's heft,and....
PRESTO!You get a bad-ass,ride-over-any-damn-thing-I-don't-care,Cannondale-eating BEAST!!This is the baddest hardtail ever made!!!
No,it's not for gram-weenies...
Yes,Spooky is a indie company...
Yes,it's a little pricey...
But if you are a freerider like me and DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' REAR SUPENSION,this will be your cup of tea!!You could throw on flat bars,barends,vee-brakes,clipless pedals,semi-slicks,and a 3-in travel fork...but then wouldn't be the type who would buy this bike,now would you?Be a REAL man!!Slap on that Marzocchi QR-20,slide in the riser bars,chuck the spuds in the trash and throw on platforms,add Gazzoloddi Jr. knobbies,bomber wheels,and the Hayes disk brakes..THEN HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!!
This bike is freeriding perfection!!Forget the corporate knock-offs--the Pitboss is the ONE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
narlus
a Weekend Warrior
from mass
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | dutch creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | direct from spooky | | Strengths: | excellent geometry - head angle is steep enough to take a 5" travel fork and still climbs well. tracking on tech stuff is a breeze.
spooky name - dedication, excellence, perserverance.
light for a frame built to withstand punishment (4 lb)
fairly inexpensive too (not sure where the $1200 MSRP came from, but i got my frame for $750 when myself and 2 friends bought frames direct from spooky).
badass factor. let's face it, would you rather ride a trek, a specialized, a kona, or a spooky? case closed. | | Weaknesses: | truth be told, my bike failed @ the chainstay. broke in front of the disk mounting pad. it is currently being warrantied. hopefully this is not a design flaw but instead an overzealous weld.
other than that, the bike itself really has no flaws. maybe they could have run hydro-specific cable mounts instead of having to ziptie the lines down. also, the non-die cut decals are pretty cheesy. avoid the stickers at all costs if you can.
customer service (post-sale) from spooky was a little weak too. took too long (imo) for the frame to get delivered. does 3 months sound long to you (esp after we were promised 2-3 weeks when we were down @ NY)? in fairness, i brought a fork w/ me to get painted to match the bike, and they contract out the painting, but phone calls and emails were routinely ignored when i wanted an update.
however, spooky has been very good so far in terms of warranting the broken frame.
after i get my warranty frame and put a few months on that, i'll give another update. | | Similar Products Used: | kona hot, cannondale M800 | | Bike Setup: | z1, hope discs/bulb hubs, 317 fr/rhyno lite rear, race face cranks/bb/hs, beserker saddle, geax 2.25" blades, salsa offset post, answer pro taper bar, race face grips, syncros stem, ESP drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | this bike is a lot of fun to ride. after getting it, my fullie (ted wojcik) languished in the basement, unused. it's easy to wheelie hop and wheelie drop stuff. my bike as built is no svelte ride, but it's not unbearable to pedal uphill. i do miss the extra climbing help that a fully offers, and your margin of error for drops is less when you're on a hardtail, but there is no maintenance for springs, shocks or pivots either.
if you are looking for a beefy hardtail, and something a little different, i'd recommend looking @ spooky. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marshall Hance
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hill, NC
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Thoze Trails, chapel hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Sooo stiff: Tracks like a champ, no stay sway when stomping
Divine Geometry: Experiance the east coast ledgend, SPookY!
Impectable Craftsmanship: All the love that went into this frame shows through on every ride | | Weaknesses: | When used as an indestructable east coast trails bike...none | | Similar Products Used: | No mountain bikes, closest thing is my S&M bmx bike | | Bike Setup: | Z-2, 2.25" tires, primo platform pedals.
Reliably strong, all purpose implement of destruction | | Bottom Line: | If you ride hard, get a serious kick out of tech trails and huge doubles, and you don't mind eating spam and beans for the next six months as you pay it off: Buy this frame! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Rhode Island
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Foxboro State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Most comfortable hardtail I've ever ridden. Last 2 bikes have been dual suspension bikes. This bike can handle any thing you throw at it, from downhill-hardcore city fun-dirt jumping. Second Spooky I've owned and hopefully not my last, but as strong as this frame is I might never need another. Beautifully handcrafted frame. Not the lightest hardtail but most definitly one of the strongest and most durable. Not for the weight conscious xc racer. XC racer for those who are hard on equip.... | | Weaknesses: | Pricey but but aren't you worth it!!!!
NONE!!!!! Smurf Blue color. Custom paint job coming soon. | | Similar Products Used: | Haro A-1, Jamis Dakota AL, GT Xiang | | Bike Setup: | Z-1 drop-off. ESP 9.0 sl 9spd. LX brakes w/Avid levers. LX cranks w/ Syncros Bottom Bracket. White Industries Rear Hub Built on Mavic 517. Disc's on the way...... | | Bottom Line: | Nothing Comes Close To This Great Hardtail. It's As Much Fun As My Kona Stinky DLX. Love this frame. Love this frame. Love this frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geoff hanz
a
from south bay, ca
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | cyclocross/mile | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | easton dual suspension tubing(on a hardtail mind you), clean welds, thick drop outs, smurf blue powdercoat, ability to put an 8" travel fork on it no problem, its made by real punk rockers who manufacture everything for the bike(except tubing) its a SPOOKY dammit! | | Weaknesses: | comes with hayes disc mount(on chain stay) so if youve got a A-mount on the seat stay, you need an adapter that spooky makes. hot chicks do not appear when you ride down the street. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing comes close, other than bmx bikes | | Bike Setup: | 17", dho 20mm w/ single crown, 1x8 speed, slalom/jumping style | | Bottom Line: | this will be the best and the flippin coolest bike ive ever gotten. i have no regrets from getting this frame. the guys at spooky are the dope sh*t. smurf blue? who could ask for anythign more? if you want a frame that you dont have to worry about when you huck yourself off of an 8 foot verticle drop, get a spooky. if you dont ride seriously, or you dont take chances, stick with a specialized or a trek. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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