Submitted by
james p
a Downhiller
from simi valley, ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2006
Strengths: solid bike, feels nice and tight. good build.
Weaknesses: not enough travel (for my type of riding) rear suspension feels non progressive. it feels like the stiffness is set by the preload ring. rear end bounces around a lot
Bottom Line:
overall a very solid bike for your money, but if you plan on going big or riding technical fast stuff get something else
Submitted by
gordo wood
a Downhiller
from logan, utah, usa
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2005
Strengths: bike is pimped out with saint and the 1.5 sherman breakout plus is balls to the walls. has a sweet rear shock spv is the coolest ever if take time to set it up. all welds are good and clean.
Weaknesses: price, if you pay retail for it.
Bottom Line:
bike is sweet i use it for downhill at deer valley in utah and have no problems with the single crown fork. (i.5 is genious) easily takes the ten foot hucks with the best of them. bike is so versatile take it out to the dirt track and it shralps through the burms and floats through the air like a butterfly. if you ever get the chance to get one do it!!
Similar Products Used: rocky rm7 '03, '05 switchs, big hit, iron horse
Bike Setup: stock lock on grips
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jarad kleinberg
a Downhiller
from scarsdale, ny,USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Strengths: the bike is equiped with the best components. i have the 04 so i am loaded with saint. it is a nice ride and can tackel any huck.
Weaknesses: the rear end gives me problems when i am going about 20mph. it shankes and it kinda sounds like the rear is falling off. the rear pivot points need o be greeced aften
Bottom Line:
the bike is awsem for any type of freeride. once he fork is set it is awsem for big tables or dirtjumps and can rip downhill just like any downhill bike. i recomend this bike to any one who wants to ride street with eas and beable to fly in the air.
Similar Products Used: kona stinky, banchee screem,
Bike Setup: avid juicy 7, xt shifters and front derailer, race face stem and handlebars, crane creek headset, marzocchi 66rc demax rimms,high roller 2.5 manutoe 4way 6 inch, saint rear derailer
Strengths: Bike is designed well. I guess the best strength is the Rocky Mountain warranty. I originally bought an '03 Switch (avoid) and had no end of troubles with shocks blowing up. The problem seems to be that Rocky builds their bikes with a high leverage ratio, ie long travel bikes with short stroke shocks. Anyway the '04 with the Manitou Swinger 4 way has been a dream so far.
Weaknesses: Paint chipped a bit near the rear wheel. Another thing this bike really picks up mud or snow. If you're riding in the wet you'll get dirty - moreso than on other bikes. Right now I'm running a 2.65" tire on the rear. It fits but it's too wide for this frame.
Bottom Line:
The '04 Switch pedals extremely well and it can handle a 10' drop without difficulty. It is not a pure downhill bike. It is a bike you can pedal to the top of the trailhead and then bomb down. I spent a week in Whistler with this bike and it did well. It is perfect for me right now. The Manitou shock is great, I would recomend it on any bike. I'll give this bike a 5 for value because I got my frame for free. I'll give it a 4 overall because of a couple small complaints and the fact that it dosen't descend like a DH bike. But hey it isn't a DH bike it's an awesome pedalling 6 and 6 freeride bike.
Strengths: Perfect "agressive" freeride bike! Sweet parts package, great craftmanship, and excellent geometry. The stock bike pretty much eats up anything in it's way... road gaps, wallrides or whatever. Steep angels, SPV and a single crown fork make for tight handeling (good for big jumps too!) and manitou has it down. Let it be known that 1.5 steerers and long travel SPV is the wave of the future!
Weaknesses: Done buy it if you want a trail bike... mabey the SL version, but not the saint one.It's built too heavy for flat trails. Saint/ Alex wheels are huge, tires and bars are way wide and she is slowww. It's weight issues could be mended by swaping wheels/ tires, but with the initial cost, that would be un-acceptable. If ya pay that much, the bike should be done and ready to ride!
Bottom Line:
If Ritchie Schley would let them put his name on it, then it had better be good. Granted, there may be a better downhill bike, or lighter trail bikes out there, but there is none that is as versitile as the Switch line. My Switch will take me anywhere, and many bikes will, but this thing will out last (frame and linkage) and out preform (Smokin parts... and way beef) any other. The FSR style linkage is better than most linkages when it comes to pedaling and braking (good choice RM) and it may not be as supple as uncle RM7, but it works great. Also, as I said before, I am a believer in the whole 1.5 thing, manitou has got it made (another good choice RM [Note: only the pro model has a 1.5 headtube])! Well thats it... thanks and goodnight.
Similar Products Used: Big-Hit (good linkage design-ok), KHS, Kona and Giant 4-bars (No good! Sorry if ya own one, but you just don't know), Giant DH (Cool, but No. Too complicated) and Santa Cruz Bullit (Ding Ding Ding... tell him what he's won! THIS BIKE ROCKS... just read the reviews.
Bike Setup: Ringle SUV wheels with single ply maxxis tires XTR derailures, XT brakes and Saint cranks (I put most of the saint stuff on my bullit... sorry) and it's stock from there. Lighter weight and still way tight!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Smithson
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga, ON Canada
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2004
Strengths: The strength of this bike is it's strength! Although it is a really heavy tank (42 lbs), it pedals really really well. I just took this bike up the "Grunt Climb" at Kelso and made it all the way to the top. To compare this, I used to ride a Specialized FSR (29 lbs)and could never make it to the top.
So far, nothing can stop me on this bike...rocks, roots, drops, jumps this bike takes them all on and spits them out the giant 2.7" tires.
Weaknesses: Weight (42 lbs) is excessive for a cross country/freeride bike, but having just cracked the FSR in 4 places, my confidence that this bike will hold my fat a$$ up is great. Going back to the FSR is really akward and just doesn't feel right anymore.
I LOVE THIS BIKE...FULL SAINT!
Bottom Line:
If you can afford this bike, go for it. I would even say that you should sell a kidney or blood to be able to ride such a fine bike!
