Submitted by
OMNICELLL
a Weekend Warrior
from Wally World
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2009
Strengths: Solid.. .. and lasted a long time... worked as intended...
Great design for a solid no-nonsense frame for AM rider...
Weaknesses: The Seat tube design on the 2002 model that I had was not a good idea.. it finally broke recently while I was meandering with the bike on the sidewalk in-front of the local library.. I believe that design has changed though..
Bottom Line:
Will see how Giant Handles the warranty on broken frame...
ALl and all.. One of the best price/performance bikes there is , in my opinion... I believe the SETTE FLITE is very similar to the AC... it is sold at Price Point.. for $400 bucks.. and with a strait seat tube.. again.. A great value all around...
( I did replace the Rock shox /rearshox with a ROmic...
Similar Products Used: raleigh bikes , Loved that bike.... That was a long long time ago....
Bike Setup: AC/lx/xt/romic/panaracer/hope bulb/Mag 30's/azonic/.. and other brands..
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Submitted by
#1downhill
a Downhiller
from Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2009
Strengths: Everything!!!!
Weaknesses: Climbing, it bobs a ton
Bottom Line:
Today I did a 9 foot drop to flat and it felt like I went off of a curb this thing is soooooo smooth!!! I love this thing I have it set up 7 in front and 6.3 rear and is so awesome! If you ride bikes, buy this it is bad to climb, but it is so awesome to go downhill
Bike Setup: 2004 AC team with boXXer ride and Manitou swinger 4-way Deore and XT components, Hayes nine 8" rotor hydrolic brake set
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Submitted by
darkrider
a Cross Country Rider
from united kingdom
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2009
Strengths: good frame design,good looks
Weaknesses: none for the price
Bottom Line:
from first purchase as parts worn out I always upgraded,,both bikes are far superior to when i first got them, so i guess what i mean to say is"what a gresat frame from giant
Bike Setup: I have an ac 1 built up light,phsylos, hope hubs,mono minis, mavic cd 317s rims easton carbon stem & bars,
I also have the ac team with boxers, sunline bars & stem
hope pro 2 hubs mavic rims
Strengths: (2005 model) Cheap entry into dual susp/freeride bikes, proven frame design, level of service from dealer. Manitou Stance forks can be internally upgraded if desired. Black paint looks cool.
Weaknesses: Absolute rubbish Hayes Sole brakes, seatpost fouls the shock when lowered too much, cheap suspension.
Bottom Line:
This bike has given me 2.5 years of trouble free fun, and done everything from XC to Thredbo's Cannonball Run DH course (carefully). Nothing has gone wrong with this bike.
I am not a particularly hard rider - no big air or drops, and wouldn't expect too much from this Freeride-Lite bike. If you want something for 6' drops or lack finess, perhaps look elsewhere.
As an entry level into all mountain riding, it's great. You still have enough cash left over to upgrade components if desired, and spares are easy to obtain.
Bike Setup: Mostly stock except Hayes 9 HD with an 8" rotor up front (installed before it left the dealer), Maxxis High Rollers, Atomlab aircorp pedals
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Submitted by
Rex
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007
Strengths: lightweight, cheap, looks cool in matt black, can be used for lots of different riding types and trails from trailriding to DH to jumps
Weaknesses: the stock compontents all have to be upgraded in due course-wheels, brakes, shock and fork, which is expensive
Bottom Line:
Once you have the bike upgraded with decent parts it is an awesome bike, With a good fork/shock combination it can be ridin up DH hills where everyone else has to walk or shuttle, I have had no problems with frame, its the do it all bike
Strengths: Lightweight, good for fast jump trails. Can be pedaled up hill no problem.
Weaknesses: Stock components suck.
Bottom Line:
Makes a good free ride/all mountain frame. Can handle 8+ foot drops no problem. Excellent on fast jump trails. Saint derailer holds up to the hardest hits.
Bike Setup: 05 frame set w/ Jr T fork, fox vanilla r shock, holzfeller cracks, mtx rims on sun abbah hubs, 12mm rear, saint derailer. HFX and Mag brakes.
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Submitted by
Jason Kettles
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2007
Strengths: I havent managed to brake a thing on it yet & i've given it a hard time.
Weaknesses: Feels flexy in the bottom bracket but thats probably due to the susspention linkage & bearings,
Bottom Line:
Sweet bike not the best to go up on but certainly is a dream while screaming down on, It's a bike that'll build confidence each ride & pull you out of trouble with a "How the hell did I pull that off" look. for something with 7"f & 6.6"r susspention it is an awsome bike to flog the trails on, it's 1 very versatile frame
Similar Products Used: Specialized Big Hit - Norco VPS
Bike Setup: Sherman Tripples - Swinger - Hays 9"
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Submitted by
Viktor
a Weekend Warrior
from Bratislava, Slovakia
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2007
Strengths: This bike does it all, truly and amazingly. Simple, light and full of life.
Weaknesses: Linkage bearings keep breaking every season.
Bottom Line:
This is THE bike for those who want to have a single bike for all their desires. The Boxxer Ride compliments this purpose like no other fork except the Totem or Domain. Get prepared to change the bearings in the end of your linkage plates once a year, maybe even more often. Luckily the warranty covers it, but still a pity having to hassle with them over and over.
Strengths: This bike is really good at soaking up bumpy light and technical trails. It does really well with fast trails as well.
Weaknesses: There is not enough travel to let you go really fast on really technical trails. It is, however, meant to be an all mountain bike so I can't blame it not being prime for downhill.
Bottom Line:
This is a really good bike for most things that you will ever throw at it. It is probably one of the best bikes for beginners and I would highly recomed getting one.
Strengths: Super strong frame - excellent linkage system, adjustable set up from agressive xc to downhill - good pedal platform (with manitou 4way) looks fantastic
Weaknesses: If you use a long seat post do not lower it yo far as it will contact the rear shock - a easily solved problem through adjustment and cutting
Bottom Line:
I have got mine set up as an agreesive XC moderate freeride rig. I know its a little heavy for the up hills but hey - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I have used it quite happily on 40k xc trails. Downhill, single track and technical this bike eats it up and provides smiles, laughs and cheers on route - solid and secure with responsive handling.
Ac 1 frames are going pretty cheap at the moment - sub £200 for a good second hand one. If you want a versatile solid freeride rig - buy one
Bike Setup: 04 Jr.T fork, Fox Vanilla R W/ pro Pedal shock, Sun Intense Mag Rims, Sun Abba hubs, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks, Truvativ BB, E13 Bashguard, Hayes HFX brakes, Crankbrothers candy c pedals, Sram attack shifters, LX rear derailer, crane creek headset.
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Submitted by
Ross Martin
a Downhiller
from Pleasanton Ca Usa
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2006
Strengths: Good suspension and travel very lightweight
Weaknesses: not an uphill bike
Bottom Line:
Kick ass bike. not for uphill i have to walk most the way but once you get going down its the ride of your life
Bike Setup: Stock except tires and pedals. Switched to platform petals and non tubeless fater tires.
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Submitted by
j c
a Weekend Warrior
from california US
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
Strengths: 2005 ac: frame tires rims btakes
Weaknesses: 2005 ac: rear shock needs to go asap.. seat is uncomfortable
Bottom Line:
2005 ac: its a solid bike, if u change the rear shock it makes it alot better and it can do big jumps easy. the fork is not very plush but seems like its impossible to bottom out.it rides really smooth and is pretty good for dh.i would reccomed it to anyone who is starting to do bigger stuff especilialy for the price.
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