Submitted by
flht3
a Weekend Warrior
from little meadows
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2009
Strengths: great "do everything" bike
Weaknesses: swingarm cracked and cannondale said they no longer stock them...so..... a great bike, is now junk !!
Bottom Line:
great bike until it broke...cannondale should have frames and swingarms available for a 3000.00 bike..even if its 6 yrs old !!!!...they sold gemini until 2007!!! so the bike has only been out of the line up for 16 months.....ridiculous !!
Submitted by
drstepi
a Weekend Warrior
from Kielce,Swietokrzyskie, Poland
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009
Strengths: I'll judge according to my riding style which is go up just to pin it down - I'd say I ride agrresiv all mountain, sometimes light DH or Fr but no big hucks ( up to 8 feet).
So the frame suits my riding style - got enough travel, 1,5 headtube, throu axle, and single pivot simplicity.
The frame is light enough to take it uphill and durable for pinnin down , the geometry is relaxed to go down really fast, and though it's not the DH , it's stable at speed, yet nimble and light to flick it in the corner or throw in the air.
By no means it's a crackn'dale! - the swingarm crack was an issue on 2003 models, and now it's gone.
Sure - every frame on this planet is brakeable, not only Kona's!Depends on rider, style and quality.
Weaknesses: The rear wheel axle bolts are the only pain so far - have to bend the rear der in order to loosen one of the hex bolts, and have to tighten them carefully, otherwise the threads may get stripped doue to high stress and heavy loads, and the threads are in the frame, so would be a shame to brake it!
Since it's single pivot you have to go with a good platform shock, not crappy manitou metel R!
Bottom Line:
If you are on a budget go for it, you won't regret it.
You can build the bike with some trple crown forks and heavy wheels for park, and get some lighter parts and build an ultimate all mountain bike to take you anywhere.
As long as you wont abuse it in Zion Park or some other massive hucking course the frame will last.
Strengths: Where to start the bike Rocks!!! The geometry is great for my DH/XC style riding 7" travel 130-170mm you choose. I'm 6"0 ride a Large. Strong never breaks rock gardens, small drop offs, water, dirt, Santa Monica MTNs, Big Bear,Mammoth No prob!
Weaknesses: If it were a little lighter? someone mentioned it being 31.5lbs pretty cool for 7" on 2.35 Minion Tires and stock parts.
Bottom Line:
The bike came w/ 2 front chain rings added a 3rd big gear a few adjustment and WaLa..Climbs good always seated corners good and DH really good. Remember its a Free Ride Bike!! its a cross between DH/XC. Super Strong as stock bike. I am so impressed its unbelievable. The bikes makes me a stronger rider just push ones self. Climbs are most challenging I have been thinking to try to lighten this up a bit but may cost to much 1k$, but as I review other bikes to buy another to loose 3lbs to cost me 2k-3k. Highly Reccomend if you could find one!!!!
Similar Products Used: Ready for this a "BUELL PARAMOUNT FULL SUSPENSION" The Grand Dad to all mountain bikes!!
Bike Setup: Shermin Manitou 7"130-170mm ,Fox Vanilla 130-170mm,321 Mavic stock(never bent),XT Rear Derailer,LX frnt,Hayes Nine 8", Riser Bars w/3 spacers.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darrick Subrata
a Weekend Warrior
from Jakarta, Indonesia
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Strengths: Spot on geometry, light weight, rigidity, a bike that is very capable going downhill as well as uphill
Weaknesses: Hayes brakes are not so good. Manitou Sherman Breakout can fel a bit too flexy. Finding a fork with 1.5 headtube can be a problem.
Bottom Line:
A good bike that you can trust when the going gets tough and it sure is a head turner. I've been using it for more than 2 years and most of the components are still working properly, very happy with it.
Strengths: light for what it is, 7 inches of travle, thru axels
Weaknesses: front fork is a little tough on the small stuff
Bottom Line:
First off, Im 5'11, and debated on getting a medium or large. If you are similiar sized, go medium. Buy this bike if you dont mind climbing a bit, but prefer to be shuttled and if you ride fast enough to justify 7 inches. Otherwise there are cheaper 5 inch bikes. I heard alot about it not climbing well, but with the swinger 4way set up I think it climbs as well as my xc bike, and is a hell of a lot more fun on the way down. I dont know much of the technical crap, but I ride almost every day on some pretty rough trails, and this is the best bike I have ever ridden. Tracks like a champ, gets you out of bad choices, brakes are amazing. I may switch out the fork to the marz 66 in a couple years, but the sherman is great on everything but the chatter. I will keep this frame until it dies.
Strengths: It is a good bike for Ontario type of downhill. A lot of pedalling and it is light. It is also good probaly better for freeriding
Weaknesses: only 170mm of rear travel would have prefered 200mm, but it is still good.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for freeriding. Pretty good for downhill, but I think it is better for freeriding. It is a light bike and can probaly be used for cross country. but I am not a cross country rider so I don't know!
Bike Setup: Stock except for 5th element rear shox.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tettabeta
a Weekend Warrior
from Somewhere in north Italy
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2006
Strengths: Unstoppable,unless you want it, and those Louise FR are very good at it. Zero trouble, 100% pleasure. Raw finish is awesome. Built like a tank yet light enough to pedal it. A classic. Maybe the Porsche 911 of freeride rigs.
Weaknesses: Sherman a little too hard on small bumps. Resolved stripping out the SPV gizmo. Makes you spend (or willing to) alot of time away from family (may not be a weakness for many :-D )
Bottom Line:
Not many bushing as some latest designs, but who cares ?
Submitted by
liron rabber
a Weekend Warrior
from tel aviv
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006
Strengths: it is good for everything from freeriding /DH/urban to trail riding xc stile
Weaknesses: It is hard to find for the one point five stems or handlebars to match for trail riding like a 80 mm stem there are only like 3 brands and they all make about the same products but it is not such a big deal...
Bottom Line:
this is a grat bike like i have said it is grat for freeriding and dh but that is expected from tham what really make tham shine is that they are a very good climber as well and that is hard to find maybe now with the new santa cruz nomad you can have the same abilities at the same weight but still the gemmini is more intended for DH and FR than the santa cruz so i think it is still a winner that can be compared only to elsworth joker wich is quit the same but the angles are mor for the DH side there so all in all i think it is a great choice if you want that one bike that can do it all more an the DH/FR side of the scale! i have done 30 mile rides on them with no problems but it you want regret and if you want to make it cheper buy the 900 and put on the manitou swinger it will give you all the benefits without the higher price...
Submitted by
Evan Chismark
a Cross Country Rider
from Bedford, NH USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2005
Strengths: Lots of different bikes rolled into one but overall a mean freeride rig. Easy to set up suspension and surprisingly light for this much travel. Performs best on hucks and drops and whatnot.
Weaknesses: Only a few--stock coil spring is meant for someone that weighs about 300 lbs. And the stock stem is chincey. Otherwise not too many.
Bottom Line:
This bike rips for just about any application. I had to put on a new coil-spring, and got a DH stem/bars set up cuz the stock set up is pretty beat. I also had some problems with the Truvativ crankset. BUT, Truvativ came through and hooked me up on short notice with some upgrade parts. This bike is best for freeriding but can definitely be ridden in DH settings. I actually rode this rig on a lot of x-c rides and kept up just fine.
Bike Setup: really good with streamers, clickers, bells and a handle bar basket
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
haydo dasman
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney nsw australia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005
Strengths: light weight with great handling on ond off the ground very good balance perfect example of a freeride bike.the spv on bothends gives good pedal platform,lets you dial in your riding style with ease,be it xc or freeride
Weaknesses: the rims are a bit weak for a freeride bike,hubs are not the greatest.
Bottom Line:
great bike inspires you to go hard as you want,the bike that can let you do anything from xc to dh finally freedom.
Strengths: Manitou Breakout Plus Fork, Manitou Swinger 4 Way Rear Shock, WTB Laser V Pro Saddle, SRAM X7 Thumb Shifters and X9 Rear Derailleur, Hayes Mag Disc Brakes and Levers
Weaknesses: Nothing on this bike is poor quality.
Bottom Line:
This bike is incredible. It climbs great and flys on the downhill. It's super plush and very light. I have only had this bike for a short while and I am in awe of its capabilities. Its taken some strenuous abuse and will no doubt take all that I can throw at it.
Strengths: OnePointFive Headtube, Manitou Sherman Breakout Plus, Hayes Disk Brakes, Pedals
Weaknesses: None For Me
Bottom Line:
This is a really sweet bike for guys that want to rally, yet you can still add air to the shocks to stiffen them up for cross country biking. I have a medium size frame and it weighs only 37 pounds. It is a pretty light freeride bike,capable of anything you can throw at it.
an appendix to my previous review. Don't take this bike dirt jumping, or urban riding, the suspension takes all the challenge out of landing stuff. I've noticed its made pretty much any drop under 6 feet feel pretty tame. I think this bike will only be used for hardcore freeriding (8 foot plus drops) and north shore stuff. Get a chase 2 if you wanna do anything urban or or go DJ-ing. Also, replace the rear rim right away. The other day after only 3 weeks of 6 foot drops to flat concrete (very smooth thought), nearly a third of the spokes on the rear rim were almost completley loose. EEK! Get an intense mag 30 for the rear.
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I want some advice on purchasing this bike its a 2003 Cannondale Gemini 2000.What do you think would be a reasonable price to pay for it.
The components list consists of Mavic Dee Read More »
