In the world of pro freerider Kurt Sorge, there’s no room for second guessing. That’s why Kurt rides Faith, the most advanced freeride bike ever built. With its lightweight, unyielding FluidForm ALUXX SL aluminum frame and 7 inches of plush Maestro Suspension travel-plus the ingenious adjustable geometry, with its convertible dropout system-Faith comes through when you need it most.
Submitted by
ANC-Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Anchorage, AK
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2011
Strengths: Solid build delivers good performance right out of the box. Having the option to slack-out the bike with interchangable drop outs is nice for the bike park.
Weaknesses: Giant handlebar and brakes needed a bleed right away to chase out air.
Bottom Line:
Nice build for the money, works really well with no need for upgrades.
Bike Setup: 2010 giant faith 1 2010 avid code brakes 203 front and rear, reverb seatpost
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Submitted by
Bird26
a Downhiller
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2010
Strengths: - This bike is a monster.
- Really good value.
- Even though classified as a Freeride bike, I find it works just fine downhill.
- Does this frame break? I weight 96kg and I like the taste of air, so far this bike is holding up.
Weaknesses: None really, if anything it is a bit heavy for a freeride class, but I use it for more of DH, so it doesn't bother me.
Similar Products Used: GT Force 1.0 2010, Giant NRS Air 2005, Giant XTC AC1 2001, Giant MCM D 2007, Giant XTC HB3 2009.
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Submitted by
GabrielGF
a Downhiller
from Sao_Sebastian
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2009
Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: Nome that i found.
Bottom Line:
This bike rides well on every track that i rode does all, pedal, corner, jump, brakes much better than hype and expensives other DH rigs. Good bike indeed.
Similar Products Used: V-10, stab, sunday, glory, transition etc
Bike Setup: stock Faith 1 with juicy 7.
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Submitted by
Giftofthenile89
a Downhiller
from Scottsdale,AZ
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2009
Strengths: Very Strong Frame! i have managed to endo this bike on a 25ft double, Nothing happened to the bike, i wasn't so lucky.
No pedal bob,
8" of travel, (feels like a pillow).
MAESTRO suspension! (Brilliant)
Looks Real Good Going Of A Cliff!
Weaknesses: UMMMMM.....
Bottom Line:
Get this bike 5 out of 5 hands down......
You won't be disappointed
Built for big drops, Huge air, And all out crazy!
Bike Setup: Juicy 7 are a must 8" rotors,
SRAM x9 Derailleur
And some meaty Tires 2.5, don't know if 3 fits.
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Submitted by
BigAirGar1
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington,Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2009
Strengths: Reliability, pedaling efficiency, beautiful-sexy, great spec, always draws a crowd. Totally conficence inspiring.
Weaknesses: Little heavy but once you get her going it does not impact speed or performance. KILLER !!!
Bottom Line:
You can not be dissapointed. If are a heavier aggressive rider this is a homerun. Keep up with your XC buddies and rock th GNARL and HITS when they present themselves.
Similar Products Used: V10, Demo 9, Super V, Nomad, Foes, Titus Motolite.
Bike Setup: Upgraded throuthout. Hadley, XO, E-thirteen, Raceface!
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Submitted by
bigairgar
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington,Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2009
Strengths: Rock solid, stable, pedals incredibly well. Fantastics OEM spec, price, overall best do everything bike I have owned.
Weaknesses: Weight 42lbs as spec'd.
Bottom Line:
My 42lbs do everthing bike. When my friends bail the Faith steps up and gets her done. Smooth, precise, comfortable (i ride our 50 km Epic on this front of the pack)
Frame geometry and design flawless. Does way more then this bike should with grace. Truly a confidence insipring bike you will not be dissapointted owning at a phenomenal value.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Super V, Giant Ac1, Nomad, Titus Motolite, Demo 8, Foes, V10.
Bike Setup: Many upgrades to most items. 66rc, Fox DH4, XO troughout, Raceface controls, Hadley rear hub (best upgrade) Mavic 729' Complete XO controls. Maxxis, Hayes.
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Submitted by
cootamundo
a Downhiller
from cumbria england
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009
Strengths: awesome bike never let me down just takes evrything i can throw it off. and is even nice to pedal considering its a downhill rig.
Weaknesses: a bit heavy but i can keep up with a lot of cross contry lads on much lighter bikes than my giant.
Bottom Line:
i saw the frame in a catalogue loved it baught it and graduly built it up over about 6 months and i havent seen or rode another bike that is as good of an allrounder i love it get 1 you wont regret it!!
Similar Products Used: glory dh, norco a line and kona stinky.
Bike Setup: boxxer team forks, fox dhx4 rear shock, diabolus cranks, stem & seatpost, hope bulbs, ex 729 rims, hope bottom bracket, spank royala 50 stick bars, xt shadow rear mech, xt front mech, xt shifters, hope mono 6ti front break, mono m4 rear break all with breaded hoses, e thirteen chain device, sram pg990 cassete, sdg tiger seat and dmr v12s
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Submitted by
mtbrider549
a Downhiller
from gorham me
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2008
Strengths: holy iv'e only had this bike for 3 weeks and it handles extremely well i got it used the guy who had it before me only used it for 1 season ridden 8 times
Weaknesses: The weight is the only somewhat downside to this bike but that doesn't matter when ur going DH
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best it can handle anything as a free ride bike its the best iv'e ridden in a while anyone who needs a good free ride bike with good suspension this is it
Strengths: It manouvers and corners brilliantly, there is a trick where you flip the shock plates which lowers the bb and slackening the headangle therefore making it more stable at higher speeds and better in the corners email me if you want instructions. Rear shock is very responsive and is very easy to set up so you can fiddle with the settings and find your perfect set up with ease! After two years the barings are still fine so no problems there, although when you do replace them there are quite a few to replace.
Weaknesses: I've been riding this for almost two years and the only problem i can think of is the weight but that isn't exactly a huge problem it still manouvers and handles just as well if not better than some top of the range dh bikes
Bottom Line:
For the price i don't think there is a better dh bike It's reliable, strong and fun to ride!
Similar Products Used: Muddy Fox team descent2, i've ridden a lot of my mates bikes (solid mission 9, orange 222/223 and more)and im not sure if its just that im used to my setup but i prefer the good old faith.
Bike Setup: I purchased the frame only and built it up from there. Boxxer race 07,Fox dhx4, Saint cranks, xt shifter/rear mech, hayes strokers, ex721 rims on pro2s, funn stem/deiti bars, NS pedals
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Submitted by
racer109
a Weekend Warrior
from Temecula, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2008
Strengths: Solid frame, well-balanced, plush suspension all around
Weaknesses: Weight for those that want to pedal back up (45 lbs.)
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks! It certainly inspires confidence and can get you through sections you wouldn't think are possible. Giant's suspension design is incredably stable at any speed. The only thing that will hold back this bike is the rider's ability. I highly recommend it if you have chairlift or shuttle access.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky, Pro-flex, SC Bullit, XC bikes and motocross
Bike Setup: Mostly stock w/Marzocchi Rocco replacing Fox shock, mrp chainguide, Bonz levers, Azonic seat
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Submitted by
Viper X
a Downhiller
from Durham, England
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2008
Strengths: Frame is STRONG! Bought it as a frame and have built it up hence amazing price...BUY THIS BIKE!! Maestro is awesome 2..absorbs everything like my grans home made cake.
Weaknesses: Slightly heavy, but which self respecting downhiller actually cares?!
Bottom Line:
OMG BUY THIS BIKE!!!!!! The maestro really is as good as giant say...i was testing a glory but am so glad i got the faith, it looks so much sicker than any other bike and personally the faith kicks the arses off both the vp free and the glory. Why giant stopped the faith god knows, it rox my sox. When i had the vp free, i thought i had the god of bikes but then i got the faith and it is AWESOME!! It takes the biggest hucks with ease, and many a time i have been chased for riding where i shouldnt and every time the faith is too fast!! just dont use it on climbs too much if u like your heart, but then again why would any good rider wanna climb? Downhillers but it!!
Bike Setup: faith 1, 888, deemax wheels, diety bars, raceface bb and cranks, sram x-0
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Submitted by
aachamp
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2008
Strengths: Beautiful geometry and the maestro linkage is genius. Bike handles well and corners very easily at high and low speeds. Nice touch with the raceface components. Great value. Feels small and nimble for an 8 inch "downhill" bike. The 66 is a nice fit. Comes off drops smooth and takes jumps nicely and feel real solid and flickable in the air. Excellent pedaler and feels in control on skinnies. Looks slick.
Weaknesses: Wheels could have been nicer and the Hayes nines are a joke.
Bottom Line:
Excellent all around bike. It jumps, descends, drops, rips and shreds.
For sale: My Bike packing sheep as a complete build.
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Anyone have or had ridden these beast??
What are your experiences on the 2012 Faith in terms of the way it rides down and more importantly uphill?? Read More »
I have the 2012 Giant Reign X1 and it's a great bike if you keep the wheels on the ground. With my 200+lbs, the rear suspension blows through quite a bit of travel easily. With the Read More »
Can anyone tell me what the shock stroke is for the Faith's Vivid Coil RC2?
I'm researching to determine the coil I'd need to run with it. Thanks for your help. Read More »
Just curious if anyone has a newer model Giant Faith that they've made a 2x. If so, what crankset, derailleur, and shifters did you go with? What were the results (pedal-efficiency Read More »
