This frame has finally moved me off of my xc hardtail racer. It climbs like a goat and loves tight single track yet has this plush ride. Its just flickable, fast and fun. The geometry keeps the front end low in comparison many xc suspension frames. This bike is so stable that you find yourself off of the brakes and hammering on the cranks even in tight circumstances.

I have had trouble preventing the cable housing from rubbing the top tube of the frame when the suspension comes into play. I have tried different housing lengths but may just need to place some protective tape on the frame. This is a small frame. Also I could not fit a water bottle inside the frame and had to use the below the downtube mount. This mount works fine and keeps the center of gravity lower on the bike.

I have 13 years of XC race experience and have compared this bike to my hardtails on our local race course. This bike just makes me faster with less effort. I could equal single lap times with my hardtail but can not maintain the pace over a 4 or 5 lap race. This bike makes you more efficient over a race and can equal razer sharp handling of a race bike while making climbing less technical due to great traction. You simple pedal hard on steep and the supsension prevents any wheel spin over small bumps.

Similar Products Used:

Specialized Epic, Santa Cruz Blurr XC,

Light. Tough. Feels like more than 90mm.

??

Tomac seems to have found the sweet spot with a modified single pivot design. This bike rewards in the saddle pedaling with no bob, yet delivers a surprisingly plush feel when hitting things. Turn the pro-pedal on and stand up...no problem. Was worried about carbon durability, as I've destroyed many a bike. Yet after 700 or so miles and a dozen races this frame is "bomber" by my standards...extremely durable. Quick release seatpost clamp is the first one I've ever used that actually works...nice design. Steering is as crisp as I've ever ridden...I can thread unlike any other bike I've been on.

Similar Products Used:

Scalpel, Blur, FSR,

This has to be the most well balanced XC race bike I've ever ridden. Light, stiff, very precise steering.

None at this time.

This is the most exciting bike I have ever purchased! The sharp steering and solid frame set will carve anything thrown at it! I opted for an XTR package head to toe for added bullet proof perfomance. This bike is best sooted for the rder who wants top race performance and it will deliver. Tomac Bikes and Joel Smith are great to deal with!

Similar Products Used:

Giant NRS Carbon

Lightweight, stiff, mechanical design, appearance, ride quality

Absolutly none whatsoever

I purchased the bike from Big Ring Cicles in Golden CO back in July 2009. Per their reputation, it is difficult to walk out of there with anything but the best, which I did, and was not disappointed. I probably have close to 1000 miles on this bike and my impression of it just keeps getting better and better. I can't imagine that there is any other bike on the market today that addresses the needs of a fast XC bike. It is amazingly smooth and responsive, flys both up and down the hills, torsionally very stiff, and zero 'bob' on the uphills. The bike weighs ~ 24 lbs. I was never a big fan of full-suspension bikes--I tried them all and it was not until I demoed the XC version of this bike that I knew someone had finally developed a bike that met all of my criteria. The only thing that took a while to get dialed in was the brakes--the XTR metallic pads were a squeaky noisy mess. As soon as I switched to the resin pads all of my problems disappeared. I also recently switched from the XTR clipless pedals to DMR platform pedals for 'winter' riding conditions. This change took a little getting used to, but I seriously think I will got this route year round. As a final note, I was so impressed with this bike that I bought a 'carbon' copy for my wife!

Similar Products Used:

Prior to purchase I demoed the top of the line IBIS, Stumpjumper, and Cannondale

Very light and very stiff frame (2kg including shock), in beautiful black stylish carbon. Nice geometry: 17,5 inch medium frame fits me very well (1,69m, 69kg). Climbs fast, descends fast, very agile playful bike. The Carbide XC was a group testwinner in a German Bike Magazine. Then my Epic was stolen and I found out that there was an even lighter new Carbide SL frame: I was interested immediately.

So far: none. I'm still playing with pressure and rebound to get the DT Swiss XR Carbon shock perfect. (Any suggestions concerning the settings maybe? Switch to RP23? But RP 23 has no lock out and is it really better?).

I told Hamid Nurani from 'The Bikecustomiser' about my wishes and the price I had in mind to replace my Epic: he listened well and made my wishes all come true! What a service, pre- and aftersale! I have my 'race bike' that can take some extra bashings on a rough downhill. I don't do races, so I invested in a somehow 'sturdier' bike, but it's still only 10,2 kg with 2.25 Rocket Ron's!! For real racers it's easy to go much lower. I took my brand new bike to the Alps: climbing a top of a mountain makes you smile, and I kept smiling descending it. Actually... I'm still smiling...

Similar Products Used:

Specialized Epic, previous model (stolen). I liked the Epic's Brain fade shock al lot. But a new medium sized Epic Expert Carbon is as expensive (Europe). And it's bigger, longer, 1,4 kg heavier, and less well equiped than this quite unique Tomac SL. Even the more expensive Epic Marathon is still 1kg heavier and less well equiped than this Tomac! The Tomac rides more agressive, is faster and is much more playful. But the Epic was on rough downhills a delight, very easy to control. On the Carbide one has to steer a bit more alert (that's the more agressive and playful character).

solid frame,nice comfort,easy setup for the dt swiis carbon shock,excelent geometry,the best full suspension bike that i ride.

the gloss color

Nice Nice bike with great potencial.

Similar Products Used:

trek and gary fisher