Submitted by
Iwan
a Weekend Warrior
from Cape Town Date Reviewed: February 17, 2010
Favorite Trail:
Tokai, Eden
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Factory Store
Strengths:
* Bike can handle a lot more than I am able to throw at it
* Absolutely zero flex
* From time to time I ride with DH/FR guys and on the DH stuff I am able to keep up (other times a 12yr old drops me!)
* Super strong build gives inspires confidence on drops, jumps and everything in between
* Even with a fixed 160mm fork I am still able to climb technical climbs
* Bike pedals well for its weight, intended purpose and amount of travel (its not DW-good yet though!)
* maxle rear is stiff and tough
* 1.5 steerer gives me PLENTY of fork options
* Tracks and steers accurately
* Mud doesn't clog anywhere on the bike
* Lots of tire clearance
Weaknesses:
* On the heavy side (complete bike weighs in at 15.2k's but the strong build gives confidence so its a worthwhile trade)
* HA can maybe be 1 degree slacker
* Not as scares anymore (but I'm glad for the South African boys)
* Could do with cable guide for height adjustable seatpost
* DHX is a ***** to set-up
Similar Products Used:
Titus El Guappo, 575, Reign & Reign X, plenty others
Bike Setup:
36 Float RC2 (Being replaced by Lyric DH Solo Air)
I9 Enduro Wheelset (Flow rims)
SRAM X0 with SLX 22T-36T cranks
Formula K24 180 F&R (Being replaced with RX)
Spank Cockpit
KS Cobra i900 Seatpost with Chromag Lynx Saddle
Kenda Nevegal 2.35 UST (busy experimenting with alternatives)
CB 5050XX (Being Replaced by Superstar Mag Flats)
Bottom Line:
It's a beast. Perfect TRUE AM bike. Heavy, but light enough to pedal to the top then bomb it down.
Close to year on the bike and I still enjoy every second of it. Broke my wrist a while ago so have been off the bike for a couple of months and can't WAIT for the fork and other bits to arrive so I can get back on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ezgo
a Weekend Warrior
from Israel Date Reviewed: November 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
The Romanian, Ben Shemen
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
acbike.co.il
Strengths:
Very accurate and responsive bike. Great frame angles allowing for very quick downhills as well as climbing even without using the talas 36 down to 130mm. Very stiff rear triangle and simple yet effective single pivot suspension.
The bike is so forgiving it allows you to try more extreme riding with tons of confidense. watch out! (in the best sense)
Weaknesses:
At first I thought the total weight of 16 kg would be an issue but it is not
stan flow wheels, ck hubs, 36 talas rc2, dhx 4, magura luise bat, xt/xtr, e13 duel ring chain guide.
Bottom Line:
For the first time in many years and bikes that every single leg muscle hurts. This is only because I can not get off the bike. I now ride 4 to 5 times a week and keep trying faster trails, dropps, jumps, rock gardens etc.
There's a big smile on my face.
My wife will now enjoy the Ibis Mojo...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ebnash
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: September 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
WIlder or Demo areas
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1850.00
Purchased At:
Morewood North Ameri
Strengths:
Built like a brick sh#*house and looks the part. Very nimble, decent geometry, very confidence inspiring on the descent.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, doesn't climb nearly as well as everyone raves about, and the wheelbase is a little on the short side.
Similar Products Used:
Latest generation Heckler with DHX Coil and Talas Front End.
Bike Setup:
2009 Medium with DHX Coil, 36 Talas RC2, Chris King/Mavic wheelset, all XT Drivetrain converted to a double front, XT brakes, XTR pedals, Easton Monkey Lite Carbon DH bars, Transition stem, 2.35 Nevegal Front, 2.35 SB8 rear, Chris King headset and bottom bracket, Thomson setback post, Specialized Rival saddle.
Bottom Line:
First off, Morewood markets the Mbuzi as All Mountain since it is a 6" bike, but I think MTBR got it right classifying it in the Freeride section.
It is built very heavy duty and it destroys anything you throw at it. It is not a climbing steed and I don't know why everyone talks up this point. I purchased this to be my only bike and am sure that I made a mistake for myself.
I am not talking it down as you see I gave it a high rating, but don't be suckered into believing this bike is all purpose.
It rails the fast single track and sucks it all up on the drops. I love this thing, but it sucks as an all day rider unless you are on the lifts or shuttling.
I will definitely keep it and ride the hell out of it, but I will need another 4"-6" bike to ride with my all mountain buddies on 15+ mile days.
Quite a few have claimed to get this thing built in the 30lb range with "smart" parts selection, but I am not buying it for a second. You would have to go almost full XTR, light tires, and light shock to compensate for the weight of the frame and a 36MM fork. I say this because if you look at my parts selection, I went pretty high end and mine weight 34.5 lbs. 4.5 lbs is lot to shave when you already have a light wheelset and the full XT group.
Bottom line: Get it and mosh it, but have another bike if you want to climb for your gravity runs...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SLO_biker
a Downhiller
from San Luis Obispo, California, USA Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Morning Glory
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1740.00
Purchased At:
Frame and shock only
Strengths:
It's fast.
Weaknesses:
I don't have an Ndiza and a Makulu too.
Similar Products Used:
a couple cross country bikes that are not similar to this bike in descents.
Bike Setup:
Fox TALAS 36 fork, Fox DHX 5.0 coil rear shock, Azonic Outlaw wheels, Formula Oro k24 brakse with 180mm rotors front and rear, Gravity Light cranks with a 36t single ring and an e.13 SRS chain guide. Size L frame (i'm 6'5") with a 70mm Thomson stem and a Thompson seatpost (with no layback).
Bottom Line:
I've had cross country bikes in the past but just started riding regularly with a couple collegiate downhillers. I soon saw the limits of my XC bike and started trying to figure out what I could ride fast down steep hills. I couldn't afford a DH race rig and I wanted to be able to take my bike on all day trail rides anyway. I narrowed my search to the Santa Cruz Heckler, the Trek Remedy, the Norco Six, and the Morewood Mbuzi. All these bikes sport around 6" of rear wheel travel and slacked out downhill style geometry. I picked the Morewood because it has a full seatube (the Norco Six doesn't) and it's got a more downhill geometry than the pedalability-oriented Trek Remedy. The Heckler didn't really lose by much, but the Morewood's way more rare :)
I'm really glad I got the Mbuzi, it's fricken fast and made by real mountainbikers in South Africa. I can pedal up any climb just 'cause the goat wants to get there and when I point it down blazing fast straightaways it sags stably and comfortably into it's 6.2" of linear-feeling coil sprung travel. I'm getting faster through corners with it too, it's pretty fun.
As I rode the bike I turned up the rebound dampening two clicks from what I initially guessed my setting at, and slower felt better. I don't run any compression damping (minimum pressure in the pony reservoir), just bottom
out resistance (which is sweet and bottomless on the DHX 5.0).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
NetterFlo4u
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany, Munich Date Reviewed: September 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bike & Hike in the Alps
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
importeur
Strengths:
Lightweight and very stable, practical design (seatpost goes all the way down)
Weaknesses:
Max tire clearance in the back only 2.4" Schwalbe muddy mary 2,5" contacts seatpost...
Similar Products Used:
Scott Nitrous SL11 (pain in the ass), Ghost Bikes (nowhere near as good as this)
Bike Setup:
Complete 31 Pounds, with sturdy Tires (Michelin DH 32 AT Front/Schwalbe Big Betty Rear), Hope Pro/Mavic 823 Wheelset, Fox 36 VAN RC2, SRAM X0 and XTR.
Bottom Line:
This Bike takes it all.
Climbs well (with Syntace VRO all the way down) with Pro Pedal. Its light - very good because my favorite way of biking requires to carry the bike on my back uphill for hours.. A dream in technical, steep downhills. Short wheelbase, back is easylie lifted in tight corners. Bunnyhops are easy, too. bottom bracket is very low, so no 24" wheel is required in the rear - even not possible. The 160mm in the back feel very plush - and easy to adjust, too.
If you got the money - i advise you to spend it on this frame!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
greg
a Cross Country Rider
from frederick md, usa Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
frederick water shed
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
direct from morewood.
Strengths:
Can do just about anything well if you set it up right. Kinda rare still, so you wont see one coming the other way. Nice quality and attention to detail. Customer service is second to none. Simple and straight forward. Paint seems to be tough.
Weaknesses:
After three months of good riding i cant really think of one. I do recomend going with a flush mount headset if you live in a place that has lots of climbing... to keep the front end down. see below.
Similar Products Used:
This is my second morewood, I have also had a Shova LT. Trek fuel.
Bike Setup:
Magura Wotan 160.mm fork. Magura Gustav brakes, XO and X7 drivetrain. King hubs with fun bolts in back. Easton vice hardware.Fox dhx air 5.0 shock.
Bottom Line:
More fun than anything..You could easily get this thing to right under 30.lbs. with some smart part picks. Mine weighs 33ish with some pretty stout parts on it. It does everything well. It rails corners and stays tucked underneath you nice and neat on fast downhills. Flip the pro pedal on the shock, and it climbs way better than a bike with this much travel should. If you run a 160mm fork i would recomend running a e13 headet reducer with flushmount bearings to drop the front a bit. It will climb better. If you run a slightly shorter fork then no worries. Unlike alot of long travel bikes this has good trail manners and is at home on tight rocky trails. Its not cheap, but then good stuff never is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
NIALL HUNT
a Weekend Warrior
from Dublin Date Reviewed: April 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Djouce
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Bike rack
Strengths:
A seriously fast all mountain bike , climbs really well , can be easily built close to the 30 pound mark and it can go downhill just as fast as my full dh rig , make sure you use a top fork ,fox talas 36 is ideal
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
too many to list!
Bike Setup:
really easy with the simple 2 position pro pedal adjustment ,
Bottom Line:
Get a tes ride on a well set up mbusi and you will love it!
$
Overall Rating:
