Submitted by
Earl
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2009
Strengths: Super solid frame can handle the roughest dh trails, but this thing climbs like a xc bike. If you are a hardcore cross country rider that wants a great training bike, this is it. the difference in performance is minumal, but the geometry and weight difference makes for a completely different feel. After i ride my fr then jump on my xc bike, it feels great. Also a great confidence builder for newbies!
Weaknesses: None really. I love this bike!
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike. I would say its worth paying msrp. I find myself riding trails with super steep climbs, just so I can bomb back down. And this bike begs for it!
Strengths: Tough, durable, climbs well, downhills well, stable at speed and over jumps and drops. Cheap.
Weaknesses: Paint fades and scratches, frame creaks, original Romic bushings wore loose and had to be replaced.
Bottom Line:
A great bike for the money. I paid $1500 for the complete bike, brand new, back in 2003. I've ridden plenty since then and upgraded a lot of components as they wore out or broke, but I kept the Romic, the excellent Z1 and the 8" hydraulic Hayes.
To be sure, the bike has its quirks – first, a 70 degree head angle for one, and second, relatively long chainstays. It's hard to complain about the first because the bike climbs so well, even in 6" mode, in part because of this characteristic. With patience, the KHS can get up and over some pretty hard stuff. As to the long chainstays, they do make the front end want to stay down more, but they help make the bike extremely stable and predictable when you're carving, flowing, and generally going full-bore. For me, having never spent much time on a real downhill rig, the steep-ish head angle seems no great detriment, and with some practice it seems happy to pick or bounce its way down just about anything. I'm sure that 68 or 69 degree angle would be an improvement for downhill, to the extent that this might even be a deal-breaker for hardcore freeriders. That said, the 70 degree angle really does help keep the fork under control when you're climbing, even at full travel on the Z1 (the ETA lever broke off on about day 2, and I never bothered to try and fix it). As to the second point (chainstays), the long-ish rear end does make manualing more difficult (and I am no great manualer) but it certainly doesn't prevent you from pulling the front end up to preload and float a section of rocks or roots. Nor does it stop you from popping into the air to extend small drops, or from kicking the back around to get into a chute or set up a steep switchback. On the contrary, the bike seem lively and nimble on those situations. The long wheelbase seems to contribute to the feeling of stability and confidence at speed. So while the geometry is not freeride-ideal, it has its advantages, both for climing and descending. As such I find that the FR2000 falls into an interesting and unique niche; one that suits me well. On the whole, the bike is adept in a variety of conditions, and for me those have included many after-work loops, plenty of long cross country rides, and quite a few all-day downhill outings at Keystone, Moab and Monarch pass. In all those situations my FR2000 has held its own, and had it been in the hands of a truly excellent rider, I daresay it could have done a great deal more.
I have a hard time classifying the kind of riding I like to do. I've ridden cross country for many years but have never raced anything besides chasing rabbits and my friends on the trail. I've seen the light when it comes to beefy, long travel trailbikes, but climbing is not a necessary evil, it's something I really enjoy. I can only afford to keep one bike, and maintain my addiction to upgrading parts. I guess that makes me "all-mountain" but maybe tending towards the stronger/longer side of those bikes, provided they can climb. I'll probably invest more coin on my next frame, but for a new frame and fork it doesn't seem worth it to spend less than $2000. I highly doubt that anything less than that would give me a satisfactory improvement. For now I just can't find any good reason not to keep riding the FR2000, which seems to have plenty more rides left in her, and plenty more to teach me.
Similar Products Used: Spec. FSR Elite, Giant AC1, Dirtbag, a few others.
Bike Setup: Romic, Z1 130mm QR, SRAM x.9 drivetrain, Saint crankset, Hayes brakes 8", Hope Pro2 rear hub with Mavix EX729, XT QR front with Rhyno lite, Thompson post, Shorty stem, Diabolos riser bar, Crank bros Candyass pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brown_Teeth
a Cross Country Rider
from Morro Bay CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2005
Strengths: Stiff front triangle, sweet 4 bar with very little flex if any, takes drops fine yet pedals like a XC rig with the steep headangle with a 5" fork. Have to say its durable since no mechanicals under my 210# weight and over 3000 miles so far riding trails.
Weaknesses: Get the disk tabs faced, mine were a bit hard to shim in the disc calipers. Also its heavy but its billed as a FR frame.
Bottom Line:
Very fun ride, never seems to bottom and durable unless you case your hucks. Have really pushed it and only problem has been the bottom pivot tends to loosen and make the frame creak like a loose seatpost clamp. Used blue loctite and now its quiet. Love the geometry, even though I'm 6'4" running the large size with a 150mm stem and 2 inch risers on an uncut steerer the front triangle is super solid and it plows through rock gardens like a tank. Be interesting putting on a 170mm DC fork for shuttles, but alas only trails here so the fox works great at 130mm. Romic works fine and overall given the price the frame was a steal of a deal!
Strengths: Amazing! Pedal platform is very nice, with the rocker arm and a adjustable shock, this frame has very little pedal bob. Tough frame. The wight is very good for a freeride frame that can also be used for trail ridng.
Weaknesses: Replacement derailiur hangers is too weak, or not designed the right way. I bent my new one the first ride out. Ovalized the headtube, so I'll be looking for a 1.5 inch next time (probably the Iron Horse 7.7)
Bottom Line:
I have only purchased the frameset, not the whole bike and have had it for 9 months. This set is amazing for the price, with six inches of travel with the stable platform romic shock, 750lb/in. It's not perfect for downhilling, but really good for freeriding, since the shock is so strong, yet at the same time is very plush with the discrepency of the adjustable compression and rebound. With this shock, you can set yourself up for urban riding, downhilling, or trail riding with the c-and-r adjust with no pedal bob on a shock woth less than 5 inches, and slight bob under high torque loads with above 5 inches. I've tested it with a 4 inch fork, and now my 7 inch fork. Under braking, the suspension does not lock up, and same goes for while accelerating. The only thing you hear is the nitrogen gas moving though valves through each compression and decompression, which is actually pretty cool. It's very strong, given that it has the cross bar in the front triangle. So far, There has been no lateral flex difference from the first day I rode it. Nothing has worn out except the paint from the cables. The only thing I do not like is the bend in the top tube, which with my 7 inch fork makes me wish I had gotten a smaller frame (it's too tall!). It survived half of one winter's worth of riding, so expect it to be good for at least the next three years. Bottom line, if you are looking for an inexpensive freeride bike for beginers into freeriding or intermediates, then it is an excelent buy, because not only does it have the capability of a 15 foot stair double, an 8 foot drop to flat, and a smooth ride in Snowshoe's bike park, but it also has the versitility to ride cross country trails (of course not raving). I am ready to move on though, because this bike has taught me alot of the necesities.
Similar Products Used: I work at Performance Bike Shop
Bike Setup: Have had this set up for 4 months: KHS FR2000 frameset, Marzocchi 66 RC fork 170mm, Chris King Headset, Saint Hubs 20mm front and 10mm rear, DT Swiss Champion Steel spokes w/ brass nipples, WTB Laser Disc DH rims, WTB Wierwold Race 2.5 tires, Saint 203 mm Discs w/ levers, Sram X.0 read derailiur med cage, Shimano XT front deraliur, Sram X.9 Triggers, Race Face Evolve DH triple crankset, Race Face FR bottom Braket, Race Face Diablous 31.8 Handlebar and Stem, Ritchey seatpost, WTB Laser V DH saddle.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
david dobson
a Downhiller
from charlotte, NC USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005
Strengths: front triangle nice and stiff, adjustable travel, fork travel options.
Weaknesses: the frame and shock sat on the store for a while so the romic's adjuster screw bled romic took care of it
Bottom Line:
im 160 lbs so the stock spring was too stiff, bottm line is its a great buy if you outfit the frame PROPERLY i usualy brake frames in the first six months so this one gets 2 thumbs up for med freeriding and all day xc. shut up and ride!!!!
Similar Products Used: giant ds 1, older foes weasel
Bike Setup: easton flats, truative huss. bar and stem, mavic dee max ust. bontranger jones w/stans no tubes stuff, marzzochi all mnt 3 130mm, giant disc brks soon to be upgraded, gripshift with simno derailers and cranks
Strengths: overall feeling of driving it, frame, nice parts
Weaknesses: to much of a XC geometry, poor dropouts, maybe a little too long on the rear end.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, but not what we call extreme freeride. It is a little to long in the rear end which makes it almost impossible for manual tricks. Nevertheless... good bike for a beginner.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky, Kona Coiler, Da Bomb Cherry
Bike Setup: marzzochi Z1FR3, mrp system 2 chain device, hayes hfx9,maxxis minion and high roller.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jude Mayne
a Downhiller
from Reno, Nevada
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2005
Strengths: The frame is beefy and delicious! It looks so beautiful that sometimes when I walk by it in my garage I stop to stare at it. It rides like a dream and can flow with all kinds of trail conditions. The bike handles everything from from big jumps landing on flats to high speed decents over burly rocks. I love the overall handling on smooth twisty single-track as well. Flows beautifully I have had a ton of fun on this bike and always break it out for those 10-20 mile long X-country rides or the all day shuttle assisted downhills. I mounted a 8"-2.25" Romic Shock and it increased the travel a bit. I also mounted a Marzocchi Z-1 freeride fork and I'm happy I did. This bike really bridges the gap between X-country riding and Freeriding. Nimble enough to handle technical ascents and absolutly rocks the decents while looking mean and nasty.
Weaknesses: The four bar linkage tends to creak from time to time. Fortunately this can cured with some TLC on the bike stand.
Bottom Line:
Great bike if you just want to have fun and you have the legs. A bit on the heavy side for most riders but your muscles will grow into it if you love to ride as much as I do. A note improving performance: It is my belief that a riders performance on the trail is 80% rider and 20% bike. I can't say enough about getting yourself self in good shape and building up your legs. I ride with dudes who just don't take care of their bodies and then try to say that if they had a better bike or components that they could keep up with with the faster riders. That just isn't true. Strong legs will definetly translate into more exhilerating, intense, powerful decents.
Strengths: The Five inch travel setting is ok. Its better than a hardtail.
Weaknesses: Head tube ovalizes. Six inch travel setting sucks, it bottoms way to easy. fame looks kinda dumb with that extra bar.
Bottom Line:
This frame is a good deal for the money but I would not buy another. The head tube had ovalized to the point that the headset moves. And I am using a great strong headset (Primo Gorilla Lower Cup). In the six inch travel setting the shock bottoms way to fast but it works fine in the five inch setting. I think I am going to buy a 850lb spring and try the six inch setting again (I weigh 230lb and run a 750lb spring). I would not suggest this frame unless its all you can aford. I am saving up for a transition dirtbag or maybe a banshee scream you should too.
Similar Products Used: Kona roast, Norco a-line and dh.
Bike Setup: Better than yours.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ruben
a Weekend Warrior
from Hillsboro, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2005
Strengths: Bomb-proof frame and suspension for Clysedayles of all heights. I dropped this bike off of three to four feet (I'm just beginning) this weekend and the FR 2000 had no complaints or creaking. Also, it pedals better than my previous bike, which had way less travel. SPV Rules! The best part of it was the deal I got from Bob's. I got the frame with a mini-kit and it cost me way less than buying something else outright (about $600) and was better because I got to spec most of it on my own, other than the parts included in the mini kit. In my opinion, the best deal out there if you want six adjustable inches of travel.
Weaknesses: I really can't think of any other than the fact that the front derailleur cable comes too close to the swingarm unless you use a ziptie. Easy fix though.
Bottom Line:
If you're looking to step up the travel and you're working with a budget like me, this is the way to go.
Bike Setup: Psylo, Avid mechanicals (they're the best), Race Face Prodigy DH, Truvativ Hussefelt oversized bar and stem, Alex TD 17 rims, Shimano LX/XT
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterloo, Ontario CANADA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004
Strengths: The overall build kit. Flick's are really amazing as is the Swinger 3-way. Other components are top notch as well.
Weaknesses: Frame doesn't fit a standard bike carrier, needed to upgrade to a roof rack model.
Bottom Line:
Man, this bike is sweet. You really have to get on this bike and demo it on a trail next to a Coiler, Gemini, et al to really appreciate how it holds it's own. This is my first Fully and I've been riding "Northshore" style stunts on an old school Mongoose from '98 so you can imagine how good this bike feels. You cannot get a better spec'd bike for this price anywhere. Trust me, you really gotta try this one.
Strengths: Tough, looks cool, suspention feels endless, ajustable rear suspention, lots of ajustment in the shock, soooo cheap.
Weaknesses: A bit heavy but no big deal, Head angle is way to steep, swing arm hits shock in 6inch travel setting, The head tube may ovalize.
Bottom Line:
So far I have had this frame for seven months and have loved it. The travel ajustment is awsome. The romic shock is very tunable. And it feels very strong. But I have had a few little problems the first was the 70degree head angle wich I fixed with a 24" back wheel. The shock arm hit the shock in the 6" travel setting but after a few hits it gouges out the arm and works fine. Biggest problem seems to be the head tube which might be ovalizing. Im not sure if it has yet but after a bad crash my lower headset cup (primo bmx cromo sealed) had twisted in the headtub about 60 degrees. So it may be ovalizing. I will have to wait and see if it breaks.
Strengths: There are many great qualities to this bad boy! Steep head tube/ seat tube, sweet pre-load, through seat tube, it has plenty of room to upgrade the rear shock and it looks so cool...
Weaknesses: Has been known to creak after some abuse ( But even the best 4-bars do that), and next to no stand-over room for the shorter riders. Needs thicker tubing for next year (2004)!!! I Broke It! (just below the gusset on the bottom of downtube)
Bottom Line:
I had a very shory relationship with my FR, but it is better to love and lost than to have never loved at all. My point is... once you get on this bike, and once you feel how agile she is, it will give ya a taste of how trail riding should be. Smooth, easy, and FAST! Ive ridden plenty of downhill/ freeride rigs and although there may be more stable hucking bikes, there are not many bikes more nimble. More than once I could hardly hold on to this bike coming out of a fast carve. Thats the kinda bike that I like, turns tight, jumps high (like alot of 4 bars; fast rebound= pre-loaaaaddd!), and carves ( laterally stiff; not like single pivots). P.S. Please don't bag on me like the other guy that broke his bike...Even if he is full of s***. Refer to 2003 reviews
Similar Products Used: AC1, Big-Hit, Bullit, Stinky dee-lux.
Bike Setup: I built it up from the ground up...Super T (Warning: I do not suggest running any triple clamp!), and an array of nice freeride parts. Sun/ Ringle, Hays, FSA, Race Face
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