Submitted by
Justinbunyon
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2010
Strengths: Simplicity!
absorbs bumps like brawny paper towels
climbs like it just drank a redbull
Made me realize how much money I wasted on my scalpel
Weaknesses: Made me realize how much money I wasted on my scalpel
Bottom Line:
This is my first 29'er and my 2nd single speed. Right away I noticed how much more I could do on trails that I regularly rode on a 26er (both SS and dual suspension). I have officially drunk (drank? drunken?) the 29er koolaid. If you're on the fence about it...BUY IT! I'm glad I did and I'm definitely going to keep it in the rotation. Additional upgrades lighter wheels, stans, and a better crankset. Keeping it rigid because I like the way it makes me pick a better line.
Strengths: japanese sanko tubeset offers quick geometry with a plush, forgiving ride, and reasonable weight for steel.
Weaknesses: stock components are low end and quite heavy, which makes for guilt-free upgrades! lol!
Bottom Line:
this frame is AWESOME. i would have never given it a second look if it wasn't on sale ... i mean come on ... a redline? but i'm glad i did. my last XC bike was quite sophisticated, but i totally sucked at riding it. this redline, being singlespeed & completely rigid, is truly teaching me how to ride XC.
if you are reading this and considering a singlespeed, trust me: try this bike! even with the stock heavy wtb wheelset, this thing climbs like the space shuttle on liftoff. going tubeless shaves a whole friggin' pound (seriously) & makes climbing that much better.
i just had the bar cut down this week. handling is now spot-on.
don't be put off by the rigid fork, either. you don't have to have a suspension fork when running a 29er in XC. do yourself a favor & buy the carbon niner fork and save another whole pound. max flite saddle is pretty much like having rear suspension, btw. worth every penny.
bottom line: my redline monocog flight 29er is smooth, simple, quick & quiet. a great buy!
Bike Setup: stock blue redline monocog flight 29er frame (duh), white raceface deus crank & X type BB, (going on tomorrow!), crank brothers eggbeater c pedals, white niner carbon fork (in the mail ... can't wait!), ritchey wcs stem and seat post in wet white finish, polished alu surly seat post clamp, selle italia max flite gel flow team edition (boo yah), bontrager race x lite carbon 25mm riser 31.8 (chopped), red esi grips, crank bros cobalt sl directset, maxxis ignitors w/ stans no tubes kit. stock wtb rims w/ redline hubs (so far) ... any component not listed is stock, for now ...
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Submitted by
Dr_MurdocChongo
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2010
Strengths: Excellent components, super strong frame, unmatched geometry
Weaknesses: Some say the BB5's but i don't have a problem with them, took a little while to dial them in but hey, more time spent with my bike and less time spent with annoying mother-in-law
Bottom Line:
There must be a reason they nickname it "flight". This thing takes off (in capable hands). Gearing is appropriate for a beginner. The component group is excellent in my opinion, you don't need the most expensive and popular components for it to be a great bike. Never thought I would like a rigid better than a suspension. Not very much I'm going to change at least for a while. In fact, I haven't had the need to upgrade it, IT upgraded my riding skills. If you are thinking about your first SS, truly consider this nice piece.
Bike Setup: 09 Monocog Flight stock, upgrades: bottle cage
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Submitted by
stubecontinued
a Cross Country Rider
from Sactown, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2009
Strengths: Super good deal, Great frame, wheels have held up decently
Weaknesses: Cranks- Al threads stripped easily
Bottom Line:
Great versatile bike! has served well as a fixed gear city bomber w/ 1.25" tires, SS commuter. Super fun rigid bike on the trails too, fast on rolling single track, fun to jump on the trail and roll over logs, light-ish, pretty burly bike.
Similar Products Used: Ironhorse Yakuza, SE OM flyer, Giant Rainer, Specialized P1
Bike Setup: Surly 1x1 fork, WTB shadow V saddle, Oury grips, Tomicog Disc mount Fixed cog, surly cog, cane creek s8 headset, stock brakes, stem, wheels, tires, seatpost
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Submitted by
C Jewell
a Cross Country Rider
from Muskegon, Michigan, USA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2009
Strengths: The bike holds up really good when I am in the trails it is not like my old bike that shakes and clicks
Weaknesses: Nothing wrong with it
Bottom Line:
I love how light it is and how fast because when I go through the tight fits I can go fast through there and any other bike I had I had to slow way down to fit through there.
Submitted by
CJNickell80
a Cross Country Rider
from Sierra Vista, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008
Strengths: Nice and rigid frame, good tires, good wheels.
Weaknesses: Crankset is not very strong.
Bottom Line:
I'm not a very big person, I only way about 130 with my gear, but I was just going and broke two bolts, snapped the chainring in half, and bent the arms the chainring are bolted to and didn't even hit a rock going up a hill halfway through the ride and had to walk the whole way . Now i'm going to get the FSA single speed crankset. But love the bike other than that.
Favorite Trail: 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo Race Track
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At: Sun N' Spokes
Similar Products Used: Kona Unit 2-9
Bike Setup: Reba Race Forks, Shimano clipless pedals, and Sette bar ends, but everything else stock.
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Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from los banos, ca, usof a
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Strengths: the frame!!! rigid and lite w/ enough flex to dampen the ouchies
Weaknesses: the crank set is just ok, bb is just ok, headset is garbage, but what was i expecting from a $700 dollar bike
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike for the money and totally upgradable. If you didnt want to have to upgrade this bike then you should have just bought the frame and components seperately but then youd end up spending a fortune counting grams. In summary, it gets you on the road with a pretty good bike at a pretty great price. After investing a little money time and tlc you will have an awesome performer with a light and comfortable frame!
Strengths: Loosk Nice. Rides Nice. It is nice. The fit is awesome, the fork is a dream and I love the BB7 brakes.
Weaknesses: Weight of frame. It is no Easton Ultralite, but it is steel, and it's a super-deal.
Bottom Line:
The guys at Revolutions Cyles here in Seattle were the best to work with. I looked at A LOT of stock SS bikes. The Redline was certainly the best deal. I started with the idea of the stock bike with a Reba fork. I am not ready for a SS rigid, maybe someday. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to upgrade parts for racing. When all was said I done I have a fast rolling, good looking, one-of-a-kind bike. The stock bike w or w/o suspension would be an awesome weekend warrior bike.
** With just two rides, and one of them a race, I'm hooked-on-phonics for SS MTBs. Fix it and foget it.
Strengths: A lot of bike for the money, light frame, nice geometry, decent component selection, cool paint job
Weaknesses: Headset could be better, cranks are flexy
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great way to get into the single speed market. I considered the regular steel Monocog but the Flight was speced closer to what I would have upgraded to anyway. The bike is light and responsive. The part spec is a great starting point since things like saddles, tires, etc tend to be personal choices. The only parts I will upgrade soon because I am truly not happy with them are the headset and the cranks. The price truly can't be beat, sure its not a botique bike or a flashy name but you can pour your saving into dialing the bike in.
Similar Products Used: Nishiki Cascade, Giant Anthem
Bike Setup: Stock except for Shimano 647 pedals, WTB Weirwolf 2.5 or Mutanoraptor 2.4 up front depending on my mood, WTB grips, Rocket Race saddle, Avid 7 V brakes
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Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Carlsbad, CA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2006
Strengths: Light, stiff, handles great and is fun to ride...also builds a serious set of legs when it's your only mtn. bike
Weaknesses: Wheels only lasted 4 rides.
Bottom Line:
Sweet bike, It's the only mtn I bike have and the only one I need right now. After you learn how to ride it, it's fun to pass geared suspension bikes up and downhill sometimes. Or if you have a geared suspension bike you should at least try a SS once..
Bike Setup: Easton EA70 Stem, Easton Carbon DH bars, King head set, Avid BB7's, King hubs on Mavic 819's, XT cranks, Race Face rock ring....I'm running out of parts to change...maybe a fork next.
Strengths: Light! Stiff! Rigid! sealed parts and ritchey extras.... disc ready to boot
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
This bike is a breath of fresh air after hauling around a 38 pound all mountain prophet. It is way rigid and took some getting used too but soo much fun! Take twice a day and watch your legs grow!
Bike Setup: Stock plus Avid BB7 mech. disc brakes, Surly tuggnut chain tensioner/bottle opener, salsa grips, mallet c pedals
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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Coleville CA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006
Strengths: Lightweight, simple, rugged.
Weaknesses: Paint scheme.
Bottom Line:
Love it. I'm new to SS but what a way to get into it. The dimensions are just right for the varied terrain in the eastern Sierra's and I hardly miss any suspension even with the alum frame. It's more agile and as aggressive as my Scalpel and goes anywhere. Had some issues with the rear cog being crossthreaded, but since the repair it's juuust right. Can't rate the stock parts, but outstanding with the stuff that came with it. Overall great deal and such a good ride and feel, I'm just upgrading/personalizing some parts and keeping the rest of the beast for racing! Lot's of flaming turds. Semper Fi.
Strengths: Strong frame, great wheels and tires, brakes offer more than enough stopping power.
Weaknesses: The rider
Bottom Line:
This bike is one of the funnest bikes I've ever ridden. It goes where you point it, it's fast and has very little noticable frame flex. Be careful if you decide to put a suspension fork on it. 100mm looks like it's going to be the max before you wind up with a wandering front end on the climbs. All in all it's well worth the money for anyone considering buying one.
Similar Products Used: Salsa Juan Solo, Gary Fisher Rig
Bike Setup: '04 Minute 2:00 (100mm), Chris King headset
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from RWC, CA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2005
Strengths: Super light and well made, good XC geometry and gearing 32x16, simple quality V-brakes
Weaknesses: Non-quick release seat clamp and it would be nice if you could remove the decals but they are clear coated.
Bottom Line:
I'd spun a freinds single speed and liked it enough to buy one but didn't want to spend a lot of coin. What a blast this bike has been! Super light and fast! The 17 with a short cockpit fits me perfect(I'm 5'7"). Climbs really well and I've been suprisingly impressed with the V-brakes which do the job just fine.
