Brake Compatibility: International Standard disk or Cantilever rim-type
Braze-ons: Removable cantilever bosses, dual water-bottle mounts, Down tube shift cable routing, tube guides for hydraulic hose or solid housing, ICGS Chainguide mount.
Fork Compatibility: Geometry is designed around a 100 or 130mm suspension fork. Using shorter or longer forks will compromise intended ride characteristics, i.e. less BB clearance, faster or slower handling, etc.
Submitted by
korbs
a Cross Country Rider
from philadelphia
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2009
Strengths: This thing bangs. Takes a beating and keeps on greeting the next big drop. Solid design and beast looks. I have every confidence in this steel frame when flying down the rockiest decents.
Weaknesses: heavy and slightly more difficult to climb with but heck, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. No braze-ons for racks.
Bottom Line:
I Feel like i can do anything on this frame. The rear is slightly too bouncy for my likes but i think thats due to my having 1.8s in front and rear. Riding through the city to get to some of the trails is a breeze.
I bought this bike so i could get a taste for XC riding with a geared and suspended ride. Ive been using a SS 29er for a long time and have loved it but wanted to take another step in a different direction. By all means a different ride, i feel like a kid again barreling down hills. So fantastic!
Bike Setup: marzocchi all mountain 3, xt drivetrain, avid bb7, dt onyx to sun mammoth, specialized rival, chris king nothreadset.
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Submitted by
bujiatang
a Downhiller
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2009
Strengths: A solid frame that doesn't squirm bouncing down a mountain. The frame is so crisp, when a friend asked if I would join him on the trail of tears triathlon I thought about putting slicks on this bike and riding it.
Weaknesses: no braze ons for a rear rack
Bottom Line:
This bike has a solid frame that handles excellently on mountains in Montana. I bought this bike at the beginning of the summer for a trip out to see the inlaws near Butte. We camped at 8700 feet and rode to and from 9700. The bike handled better than any other bike I have ever ridden.
I'm saving for a phil wood rear hub, so I can put a disc brake in the back and a drum brake in the front for those long descents by Devils Tower on 85.
I ride this bike everywhere, some one looking for a solid bike that will not flinch need look no further. It handles bouncing down a mountain nimbly and yet can still keep up with friends on their road bikes riding around the city.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Kai tai (front suspension), Schwinn Hurricane (no suspension), Miata 2700 Elevation, Peugeot Uo8
Bike Setup: Instigator straight fork, 2.3 Nokian Gazzalodi core front, 2.3 Specialized rear, rear rack (attached with insulated conduit brackets), Shimano xt deraillures, Phil wood 40 hole front hub (threaded for drum brake), Shimano deore rear hub, avid rim brakes, Brooks B17 saddle.
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Submitted by
surlychad
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009
Strengths: Great geometry. Chromoly!
Weaknesses: None!!!!
Bottom Line:
To start things off I have not ridden on a hardtail in over 7 years. I have been into freeride and downhill riding. That being said, I've taken this bike out and WOW! Amazing! I rode a local trail and it didn't occur to me that I was even on a hard tail most of the time. I hit everything I did on my full suspension frames and felt maybe even more in control. It was a blast. I can say that I have found the reason that I started mountain biking 15 years ago once again. It is a bit heavier than a regular cross country rig but way lighter than my freeride and downhill rigs.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Big Hit Expert, Rocky Mountain RMX, Ellsworth ID
Bike Setup: Marzocchi 55, Saint wheels and brakes, Saint Rear deraileur, xt front deraileur, SLX Crankset, King Headset, Thompson post, Selle Anatomica seat
I'm a Clydesdale + rider, after killing two Gary Fisher Frames, both with identical BB frame breaks I was looking for something with a bit more "beef" to it.
The LBS worked out a deal where I could replace my broken replacement frame for the Instigator + a bit of cash for my troubles.
I think Surly puts it best on there product description.
"If you ride big or are simply a big rider and break just about every thing you throw a leg over you’ll appreciate this level of stoutness."
As for the bike being heavy, oh yea, its a truck. But lets face it, if I want to cut five pounds from my bike, I will step away from the donuts and ride my heavy bike more often.
I primary use it for daily commuting, it takes my weight (substantial), full work clothes, and 17" laptop with out any complaints. Th LBS and I even worked out a rear rack for it, being that is the only brase-ons it does not have.
On the weekends striped down, its a hole new creature. It makes curbs, hops and other urban interference a piece of cake.
My only regret it killing two Fishers before getting to this. If you have never ridden steal before, try it out. There is something to be said about the flex, it just feels solid under you.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher 04 Marlin, Raleigh M80
Bike Setup: XTR or better all around, BB5/BB7
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008
Strengths: Burly, stiff, that beautiful steel feel. Nice handling with the fork set to 120mm.
Weaknesses: A little heavy I guess, I don't really care about that though.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It is very stable and I have to say, quite confidence inspiring. It kind of guilt trips you into trying things that used to be too gnarly for you. It drags a bit up hill, but I think that that has more to do with me than the bike. In all seriousness, the climbing isn't bad as the big tires give you great traction. It is just more a deliberate process than on some other bikes. Coming back down it is super stable and easy to control.
I love this bike. My concept for it was to build the sort of bike that made me love bikes as a kid - uncomplicated and easy to ride, with the versatility to do urban stuff or take to a ski resort. If you want to go have fun in the woods on a nice steel bike that you can batter, this is it. If you get more of a rush climbing than descending, it isn't perhaps quite the right tool.
Bike Setup: Bomber AM SL1, DT rims and hubs, King NoThreadset, Thomson post and stem, Race Face Diabolus bar, 203mm Juicy 7's, LX elswwhere, Chunder Control 2.2 tires.
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Submitted by
HELLBELLY
a Weekend Warrior
from Norfolk, Virginia US of A
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007
Strengths: Same as I said in my review at the one year mark (see below). I have had this bike now for over four years and it still rocks. It is no longer my main rig, but I rebuilt it as a spare bike for friends to ride. However, it is just so much fun I may not let them ride it! It is still a trail destroyer in that its handling is just so spot-on. Steel is real and this beast is super smooth and feels like a full suspension bike going over the rough stuff. It has taken some serious beatings always coming back without so much as a squeak. I said previously that it does not look like anything else out there, but now there are few 29'ers whose frame shape is similar. That said, you could likely run a big front wheel on the 'gator w/o too many geometry issues if yr into that kinda stuff. I will stick with it's bomber 26" wheel manners.
Weaknesses: I never liked the hydraulic line guides, but was able to modify them to behave like zip guides now. Mine is an '03 and the later models went to this design. Otherwise, no complaints.
Bottom Line:
All of my earlier statements hold true. Although I now primarily ride an SC Heckler, I cannot deny just how killer a bike the Surly has been and continues to be. I took it for a big ride yesterday and just had a blast! The ballet-dancing pit-bull rocks on. Great value and a great ride!!!
Strengths: Geo is great for a 6 inch singlecrown fork
Weaknesses: None. It's perfect
Bottom Line:
It's been years since I've been on a hardtail. I had no idea what I'd been missing until riding this thing. It rockets up hills when you slam the fork down to 3 inches. Then it, flies down hill when you bump it back up to 6. It's so lively under power. Just a great design. Don't buy what the surly site says about the fork length. This thing was made for a 6inch fork if you freeride. Trust me, it rocks. http://www.bustedspoke.com/Photos/bs8788.jpg
Bike Setup: Burlylight with z150, saints, thomson, raceface, e13, Hadleys, Hayes carbon, nuff
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Submitted by
CallMeClyde
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006
Strengths: It's burly, black, and surly.
Weaknesses: Haven't found any yet
Bottom Line:
I wanted to build a bike for a little bit of everything from trails to banging around the city to hitting the beach for coffee on the weekend. With some decent components and big fat tires, this thing looks brutal and rides super smooth. It ain't winning any races but it gets there every time and gets positive comments wherever I go. I'm a big guy and have broken a lot of stuff over the years. If I break anything on this bike, it certainly isn't going to be the frame. I could have bought a lighter frame, but I doubt I could have found a sturdier frame for the money. If you don't have big bucks but want to put together a sturdy hard-tail with a bit of attitude, this thing rocks. If you're a spandex-clad cross-country racing weight weenie, keep looking.
Similar Products Used: '00 Kona Blast, '02 K2 Launch, various old school rigid mtbs
Bike Setup: Currently has '05 Minute 3 fork, FSA Pig DH Pro headset, Thomson post, Ritchie Pro stem, LX cranks and ders, XT/DT/Rhyno Lite wheels, Avid mech disks.
Strengths: This is the first bike that i have had a problem with not being able to break. Huck anything with the confidance of steel under you. The frame design is super strong and cheap. You can put 3 inch tires on the back. Plus, it looks mean as hell in black. If you plan on riding xc i would put a long stem on it but if not go super short for the ultimate urban experiance. Over all it is the best bike i have ever ridden. light wieght cross countryers may beat me up hills but look out behind on the downhill. It can do just as much as a full suspension downhill bike but can be pedaled uphill with out having a stroke.
Weaknesses: huh?
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome. Why have a 45 pound urban assualt machine when you can have an instigator? riddle me that. If you want a great bike that can do anything and are on budget get an instigator. If you want a great bike that can do anything and aren't on a budget get two.
Similar Products Used: Kona stinky D, Santa cruz bullit, speacialized P3
Bike Setup: Mar. drop off Z1 , chris king headset, michelin DH comp tires, sram x9, e-thirteen bashguard in place of big chain ring. Sun rhino lite rims, shimano xt hubs and hayes hydraulic discs.
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Submitted by
brandon fults NOT
a Cross Country Rider
from bend oregon USA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2004
Strengths: super burly. best hardtail for the price. light for a steel frame. junk protector bar. Looks rad.
Weaknesses: Absolutly none!
Bottom Line:
STEEL IS REAL!!!!!!!!!!! it is different then the konas that everyone has. I have not had a single problem with it. get a surly If you are an urban rider and you are not bill gates. URBAN MACHINE....
Bike Setup: 2003 surly instigater, race face cranks, avid brakes....Urban machine
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Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Mokena, IL
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2004
Strengths: Price, obviously, though this bike has a solid reliable feel to it that I'm yet to find on another.
Weaknesses: Bottom Bracket shell was paint gunked and the stickers come off rather easily. Vanity stuff, really.
Bottom Line:
Updating my previous review, I've upgraded to the soon-to-be-deceased Psylo. Riding it as completely rigid was beastly at times, but the bike went exactly where you wanted on drops and steep turns. The suspension fork lets me do some more things. I can't really describe the feel on this bike (I have plenty of them, too), but this is by far my fave. It's not light (I built it up at 33.5 lbs), but I can still climb on it easily. And the Surly folk are accessible, which always helps. My ratings may be high, but I reach for this bike every time.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F400 (not really that similar, but...)
Bike Setup: RockShox Psylo Race Fork, Deore cranks/brakes/levers/shifters, etc. Rhynolite/Deore wheels, Michelin DH Comp 24.1 26x2.5 tires, Kalloy post/SI Flite saddle (for those who care), Cane Creek S-2 Headset, Salsa stem, Surly/Nitto 1x1 Handlebars, Crank Brothers Candy SL Pedals.
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Submitted by
Tom L
a Cross Country Rider
from Guisborough, UK
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Strengths: Do it all bike that encourages you to be a hooligan. Strength. The first bike to really fit me properly for quite a few years.
Weaknesses: Price in the UK. Seat tube required reaming. Rear hanger out of alignment. Weight if that sort of thing worries you.
Bottom Line:
The best bike I have ever ridden or owned. It climbs everything, albeit a bit sluggish at times due to the weight but gets there if you plug away. Flys downhill and motors over ever bump, tree root or rock. Predicatable in the air, jumping or dropping. Stable on steep chutes. I'd mark it down for the minor delivery faults noted above but I'm not going to as I love it so much. I may even buy the smaller version in the new yellow sometime as a jump/street bike or to just hang on the wall.
Strengths: THis frame is sick. The gussets and rear dropouts make this bike a beast. It replaced my Bianchi which weighed pretty much the same, so the weight is not an issue. Great tire clearance, and fits me Perfect
Weaknesses: A little overspray, but thats the price I pay for this affordable frame
Bottom Line:
I have this bike setup as a single, and it performs great. I could have gotten a single specific frame, but I found this frame for real cheap and needed a frame that would fit me better than my last one. I've only been riding it for a little bit but this bike is by far my most favorite off road ride. If you cant find or afford anything else definitlely pick this up
Bike Setup: 16" frame, 1x1 (old) rearhub sun CR-18 3x,Paul Melvin, STX-RC crank, Psylo fork (soon to buy rigid instigator for winter), bontrager stem, ritchey lite bars, old LX front hub Sun CR-18 2x, with other bits here and there...
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Submitted by
HELLBELLY
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, Georgia US of A
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004
Strengths: There are tons of strengths possessed by the Instigator. Its geometry is spot-on making it a very nimble bike for its girth. It has plenty'o'standover for yr naughty bits. It has held up to all the silliness I have thrown at it. What else? Great tire clearance, smooth steel ride, wheelies like no tomorrow, it is black, and does not look like anything else out there. Scares small children. Plus, the Surly guys are are great and hilarious too.
Weaknesses: I did not really dig the cable routing, especially the closed tube rear brake mounts. Supposedly Surly dumped these on the newer models in favor of zip-tie guides. Its heavy, but to me that means stability since I am heavy too.
Bottom Line:
I know that this will sound cliched, but after putting this bike together I stopped riding my other ones. I had a monster truck of a Bullit which I recently sold. I came to realize that I could do pretty much anything I did on the Bullit, but I could also do more aerobic XC-oriented rides without coughing up a lung. Keep in mind that my Bullit was built up w/ a Monster T and weighed in close to 46 lbs! Riding the Instigator has helped rebuild my fitness. However, the best thing about it is that its a blast to ride. Whether taking phat hucks or cruisin to the java hut, it is just big fun. Ironically, it is the least expensive frame I have purchased in years and I like it better than any of the others. No bling needed. If you are looking for a do-it-all basher of a bike that handles like a pit-bull with ballet lessons look no further.
Similar Products Used: Bullit, Azonic DS1, Spot, Kona Chute, Heckler, Joker
Bike Setup: '03 Z1 FR QR20+, XT/XTR drivetrain, Raceface NS cranks, Signature bb, post, & Air alloy bars, Hayes hydros 8/6", D321's /36h /Atomlab hubs/ Tioga meats, AC stem, Rogue Lock-on grips, Titec El Norte seat, 646 pedals, King headset.
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Submitted by
Gordon McGriff
a Weekend Warrior
from Boone, NC
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004
Strengths: Hnadles beautifully.
Weaknesses: None that I can find...it's supposed to be heavy
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike. Mine comes in at about 35 pounds and it is bomber! It doesn't pedal like a 35 pound bike though and is incredible going down hill and in the air. This is my first non-XC bike and I love it. I do everything with it and plan to race it in a local down hill this fall.
