Weaknesses: Pain Chips easy and lame decals, who cares though...
Bottom Line:
This frame is excellent. I bought it because I was interested in building myself a customized mountain bike. I'm confident that it's one of the best frames I could get for under 250$.
Bike Setup: Homemade, Deore XT, LX, Manitou Black shocks, 22"
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Walter B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore,MD.
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002
Strengths: Inexpensive Aluminum frame
Weaknesses: Complete lack of support from the manufacturer/vendor. the paint chips if you fart on it !!!
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to an eairlier review. I've had time to finish assembling the bike and to put it through it's paces. Well, the biggest complaint about the frame is trying to get a replacment rear hanger before I broke the original one. As usual,supergo( now refered to as super-blow)CANNOT come through with anything that resembled customer assistance.I think that their idea of customer assistance is when they assist you in taking your money for a sale,after that you are on your own,pal!(just incase anyone is interested, I was never able to obtain a replacment hanger from them,so I machined my own.)Outside of that, I'm fairly satisfied with the frame. It's flexy when hammering up hill,but I'm also a big guy so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.I also noticed that the head tube gusset IS NOT fully welded, so i'm sure that it is mostly cosmetic.All in all,I got what I paid for: an entry level aluminum frame that accepts a 6" rear rotor.I'll just ride the bike until I run across a great deal on a higher level frame.I still have to give a low rating because of super-blows business practices and lack of customer service.
Submitted by
Matt Embry
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002
Strengths: 7005 Aluminum, price, stiffness
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
Great price, no problems. Solid frame, stiff and responsive, has handled everything thrown at it. For this price spend your money on components, you won't regret it. Don't let the price fool you, this frame compares to $300+ frames, and easiloy wins on price!!
Bike Setup: Next LP, Syncros post, Kore stem, Selle Flite, Shimano XT, Rock Shox Judy
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David Rohe
a Cross Country Rider
from Tallahassee, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002
Strengths: Weight - 18inch was 4.1 lbs. Price!
Weaknesses: Odd seatpost size (easily overcome with a shim) Ugly stickers (but I'm riding not posing)
Bottom Line:
Nice hardtail for almost nothing. I dropped 6 lbs on the bike by going to this frame (old bike was a FS beast). It climbs well, and is stiff enough for good handling. Everyone has commented on it being a great deal. Can't argue that. Rides like a dream. If you've got a family and the wife won't give you a big bike budget, buy one.
Bike Setup: 99 jett fork, FSA headset, generic cranks with Time ATACs, Centura 8 speed with XT rear and Alivio front derailuers. Aireon susp. seatpost with Koombi seat. Spent under $250 (thanks in part to various parts I've picked up gratis.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Walter B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Balto. Md. USA
Weaknesses: -UGLY decals that are clear coated in place - not all color/size combo's in store stock - limited to a 6" rotor in the rear.(chain stay clearence issues)
Bottom Line:
I just got this frame a few weeks ago while on a field assignment with my company.I had purchased a few things mail order from super go in the past and was very less- than- satisified with the products and the complete lack of customer service when I tried to get the missing pieces or to return the products,so I was a little hesitent to go into the store.I had seen the ad for the access H/T frame for $99 and I had thought about building up a hydraulic disc brake bike. When I got into the store and started looking at the frames, I was impressed with what I saw in the frames. They also had some good deals on forks and hubs and some other components.The problems started when I wanted answers to techinical questions about the frames and forks. The salespeople didn't know a damn thing about anything they were trying to sell.All they could do was read to me what the sale ad description said.They were also fairly high pressure in their nature. I ended up buying the frame and a fork from them, but can honestly say that I won't ever walk into another one of their stores. The frame is still in my work stand,waiting for me to face the head tube and install the fork. So far every thing has installed very nicely, the rear caliper aligned very well, bottom bracket went in very easy.The paint finish is nice and shiny, although it seems to scratch very easy. So far it seems like a good buy at $99,But i'm going to have to give supergo a poor rating because of the shopping experience.I'll post another rating after I get the bike running and thrash it the woods for a few weeks.
Bike Setup: new Judy S/L XT disc hubs/bontrager asym wheels maguara clara's XT f&r derailluers Race face crank set FSA orbit XL2 headset LX 9sp. pods syncros stem Pedros' grips serfas saddle
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001
Strengths: Price, Size & Color selections. Value-comes with seat tube and QR collar.
Weaknesses: Obnoxious Decals, may have disc rotor clearance issue in smaller frame sizes.
Bottom Line:
I needed a bike in a hurry while waiting for warranty on my full suspension frame. My last 2 bikes were FS, so I didn't want to invest heavily in a hardtail. My brother has 2 Access HT bought, ridden, and abused over the past 5 years, and they've stood up well. So, I ordered the Access and some extra parts, and 2 days later had a bike to build. It went together very easily (my first build from scratch), and it rides very well (for a hardtail). It's pretty light, and I have no unnecessary flex problems with my 6'3" 205lbs weight. The geometry was a bit off with a 2001 Xfly 100, so I put on an 80mm Z2 Xfly, and it's much more rideable. So far it's survived multiple thrashings at Lynn Woods and Great Brook. If you're interested in running discs on the rear with medium or smaller frames, you'll want to ask a tech at Supergo if you'll have clearance problems with the rotor. I run Hayes 6" in the rear and have < 3mm clearance at steady state. I ordered with 2 extra derailleur hangers just in case. They're pretty beefy as far as hangers go. Here's a great value-if you're looking for a backup bike, or don't see the need to spend big bucks on a hardtail, pick up 1 or 2! Heck, why not collect all 5??
Weaknesses: -Clearcoat over downtube decals so they can't be removed
Bottom Line:
I built up a complete bike for under $400 dollars with a rock shox Psylo fork, If I were to go to a bike shop and ask for a high quality freeride hartail for that price they would laugh at me.
Similar Products Used: my first hardtail in seven years, so nothing, especially for $120
Bike Setup: freeride hartail, psylo SL, rhyno lite rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Penfold .
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2000
Strengths: Light and tough, cheap, pretty good welds for the price. Mine was surprisingly true out of the box.
Weaknesses: The decals. Questionable drop-out strength.
Bottom Line:
Built out of the spares I had partly as a joke. Used as a road bike for commuting and terrorising the local roadies. Very light, very fast, also looks a little unusual.
I have taken it trailing a couple of times (Yes I changed the wheels first) it is a little slow to turn, but that is good as it adds stability, great on the downhill.
Mine is/was a Black 1999 model, I removed the decals, and in doing so, most of the original paint, a virtual full respray was required before I even built it.
I have not had any problems with the frame in around 1000 miles of riding, everything bolted together easily.
The Geometry is a little conservative compared to my Fisher, but it is forgiving, and easy to ride, probably the ideal first time builders bike.
Great value, but those decals are inexcusable, so the overal rating has to come down I am afraid.
Oh yes, one thing, buy a couple of spare dropouts when you buy the frame, I trashed one, and it took three weeks to get a new one. Luckily mine was only bent, and I was able o ride whilst waiting for the new ones. I now have two spares...
The small frame would make a great D/S intro bike, especially if you added a couple of webs to the frame....
Now if you could order it sans decal's I would give it 5 flamers, but as it is.....
Bike Setup: Full XT with mega-9, Easton carbon seatpost, Ti rail saddle, Rigid Fork found at the back of my garage, unknown origins - probably not the best in the world, Chris King Headset, 145mm 0 rise Titec stem, Flat carbon bars, 1" Slicks, Wellgo 800 pedals. Avid arch rivals, Sun subIV's on XT wheels - re-built with d/b aero spokes, and sprayed matt black.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2000
Strengths: -low price -good and stiff -good colours -removable decals
Weaknesses: -SuperGo's poor customer service
Bottom Line:
This review is to balance out my 1 chilly review from this past summer. I had just busted off the dropout. I was upset when a SuperGo customer service rep told me there were to be no more rear dropouts aval. for my frame.
A few days after my posting, a customer service rep from SuperGo saw it and told me they were aval. and the customer rep I talked to was just wrong. So overall rating (5+1)/2 = 3. Three out of five is about right consider the whole affair. Value is good at 4 of 5.
Similar Products Used: -'95 Wheeler 2800 -'91 Specilized Rock HopperCroMo -'94 Bridgestone MB3
Bike Setup: LX/XT mix with a Manitou SX
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Swank
a Weekend Warrior
from Davenport Iowa
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1999
Strengths: The cost of the frame is unbeatable for the product you get
Weaknesses: The paint chips easy, The decals are ugly, the rear derailler hanger is cheap and easy to bend, replacement availability is questionable.
Bottom Line:
I got this frame over 2 years ago and have ridden it hard the entire time I've had it. The bike is light and unbeatable for the price. One weakness==the rear derailler hanger. I have bent 3 hangers. Then Supergo sent me the wrong replacements twice. My advice, buy this frame, but buy at least 4 or 5 hangers with it so you don't have to worry about replacement availability.
Bike Setup: All XT equipment, Mavic 236 rims, Manitou SX-LE fork
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
blitzcat
a Cross-Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1999
Strengths: -Low cost, excellent value -Replaceable derailer hanger -Stiff (hence aluminum), I like stiff. I spin a 60 tooth ring on the road, so i can bend a noodle frame. This met the stiff test. -Good geometry. I finally decided to order mine as my old parkpre was making me sterile due to where i landed on the stem...
Weaknesses: -The decals do leave a lot to be desired. I was gonna pull mine off. But they get noticed every ride by riders asking about the frame. -Lack of chainguard on chainstay -Odd seatpost size (I don't believe in shimming, so no suspension seatposts for me) -Needs disk brake mount -Monsterous down tube that wont fit in any upright roof rack holder -No serial numbers on BB
Bottom Line:
The best low cost deal in town. I was very happy with it. You might not be when you call though. This might have been the last in this production run. Black was the only color left and 20 was the only size left. I had to wait a week to see if they even had any in the warehouse. Get the front derailer when you order it or your gonna be staring at it for another week while one that will fit gets shipped to you. I'd do it again without thinking twice. It arrived well packed with nothing missing. I got the BB from Supergo and they installed it free. Supergo wasn't too bad to deal with. But they aren't my favorite... I stick to Universal Cycles when I can. Also plan on getting a new suspension fork...its got a long head tube.
Similar Products Used: A Murray (tacoed frame & wheels), a Parkpre, Trek ALU and Carbon frames
Bike Setup: 20 Black with Mango Answer SX-R w/alloy steerer, Heavy XT mix. All parts are black aside from cranks and seatpost. Black butted spokes. Mavic 220/517 Rims.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Walpole, Ma
Date Reviewed: July 7, 1999
Strengths: Light, stiff, cool colors.
Weaknesses: Lame decals.
Bottom Line:
I was looking for a new frame to replace my bolinas ridge. After reading the reviews, I decided on the Access frame. I got the frame for my birthday, and by the weekend, I was on the trails. This frame really rocked. I was at first surprised at how light and squirrly it was. Once I was used to the new light weight, my riding and climbing improved greatly. I was thrashing and trashing my riding buddies regularly on this bike.If you are considering buying this frame, stop hemming and hawing and pick up the phone and call Supergo. For $199 you can't get a better frame, period. Five flaming red hot chillies for this one.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Big Sur, Mongoose IBOC, Marin Bolinas Ridge.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z3 Light, LX/XT components.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross-Country Rider
from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1999
Strengths: -low price -good and stiff -good colours -removable decals
Weaknesses: -SuperGo does not have replacement dropouts as they claim to -SuperGo's poor customer service
Bottom Line:
I have had the frame for about a year. I bought it from SuperGo for a sweet price with the fork, headset, stem, bar, brakes and seatpost. I had no complaints regarding the frame until just last week. I broke the rear dro out off this weekend. I called SuperGo about to order a replacement and THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. So basically now my frame is now worthless. I've got to go buy a new frame and fork and start all over again. I cannot fathom how SuperGo can sell this frame, and still are selling it today, and not keep replacement dropouts. Obviously SuperGo does not really stand behind their products.
Similar Products Used: Wheeler 2800 CroMo frame Specilized Rock HopperCroMo frame
Bike Setup: LX/XT mix with a Manitou SX
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john cloyd
a cross-country rider
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: February 11, 1999
Bottom Line:
My wonderful wife got me an Access frame with fork for Christmas, which I built up with ESP 9.0 shifters, rear der.,& brake levers, XT cassette & frt.der. I ridden some snow with it, and a lot of road (hey it's ice here!) and am thrilled with the bike. The finish out of the box was beautiful when I removed the decals, but my lil' one knocked it over and the bar ends took a nice chunk out of the top tube paint. I've chipped it some riding too, seems pretty easy to do, but wtf ? The problems with BB, brake posts, etc. were not a problem for me - this thing went right together. The only budget part I used at all were some LX take off wheels from Irving Bike Source ($69), I figure that leaves me something to upgrade later. Used and FSA Conix too, worked real well. I'm in it for under $700, which for the low weight & high quality components seems to be a damned nice price.jc
Submitted by
Tom Kestas
a cross-country rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 1999
Bottom Line:
I recently purchased a 20 ALU from Supergo after reading these reviews to replace my 21 KHS Comp FZ. I'm fortunate to live within driving distance of Supergo in Fountain Valley (Love that new Laguna Hills Tollway!!!). The staff in the retail shop had little knowledge of the frame, but pulled out a measuring tape for me to check the geometry, and were actually pleasantly helpful, despite the reputation that preceded them. I noticed some of the defects posted here on a couple of the frames hangin' in the shop...brake studs out of alignment and bottle cage bolts misaligned. They wouldn't cut me a deal on the one with with the bad cage bolts, so I took my 2nd color choice to get one that passed my scrutiny. I'm 6'3 200+, but decided to go with the smaller 20 frame for singletrack. Also bought a 98 Manitou SX TPC for $155 and a better headset (advise you to do the same). I wouldn't buy the package deal they have with the Pro LT fork, as it is a pogo stick. $30 xtra = TPC = PLUSH! It assembled perfectly, even took my 68mm BB from the KHS. It looks mighty after the stickers are peeled! I owned a Klein Pinnacle a few years ago, and this is...for all practical purposes...just as good (but GOD I miss that Klein! I sold it to go to Europe a few years ago). My only female-dog-in-heat is that the seatpost is an oddball 30.4...hard to find a 400 mm in that diameter. The finish looks awesome; I know it won't last, but it's a canidate for buffing-out raw when the paint's gone. So far so good...light, stiff, responsive, impressive, inexpensive, 2 year warranty...I'll post again after I hammer it a couple months. 5 roastin' rats for the one I picked out.
I can't remember who has one, but I remember someone on this board does. I am looking for the BB size and the seatpost size on these frames. Anyone have this info?
TIA-
Bob Read More »
