Submitted by
iluvdrt
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO USA
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2011
Strengths: Great frame, incredible stregnth
Weaknesses: OEM compents were great for their time, but have become obsolete
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike since it was new in 1996. It was my first Mtn. bike and I still love it to this day. The frame is light and has a great feel. This bike literally has thousands of miles on it. I have taken it all over the country to ride, and even Iraq and Kuwait. I am a little saddened it is older and doesnt get the awe of the newer models, but I keep upgrading its parts as they wear out and I am able to keep up with the best of them. Great bike!!
Bike Setup: Giant ATX 870 frame, original cranks, rims and front derailer. Rear derailer is a SRAM 5.0, brakes are Avid V brakes, grip shift all around, MOZO front fork. All about to be upgraded again.
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Submitted by
Matt Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Port Macquarie AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008
Strengths: Lightweight Strong Durable Smoothe
Bottom Line:
Very lucky to get the Giant ATX for 220$, was in the right place at the right time and I cant stop riding it I love it, its so smoothe to ride and so lightweight and I can manoeuvre the bike with ease and the speed of the bike is amazing on the tar I can speak hightly enough of it, you just have to buy to enjoy the brilliant ride it offers, It puts the fun back into bike riding.
Submitted by
Jim Fulmer
a Cross Country Rider
from Silver Spring MD
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007
Strengths: I bought it for the frame. It was just what I was looking for in 1995. That's right 12 years ago! I learned to ride on it. The first 3 years were very muddy and abusive. I punished this bike. A bulletproof frame on cheap parts that I could easily swap over time. Since then I have rebuilt it 3 times. Most recently as a touring bike. This is the most versatile frame I have owned and will be riding it for a long long long long time.
Weaknesses: I replaced all the parts I didn't like a long time ago so it is perfect.
Bike Setup: in 1997 I put a Girvin fork on it which is also bullet proof. It is still on. It is built up for touring so nothing too flashy at the moment.
Strengths: Lasted me 10 years. Light, handled a few good beatings. Cost me NZ$1700 down from NZ$2200 brand new as an end of season special (June 1997)
Weaknesses: Long stem, Flat bars, short fork travel by todays standards. Fork used to 'top out' on take off when new. They settled down after about a year and a service. Doesn't handle running into gorse bushes at over 20mph.
Bottom Line:
Good bike at the time. Fun for XC, but too bouncy for the rutted, tree root-lined, mud-filled single track downhills we have here in NZ. Managed to snap the frame just behind the headset a couple of months ago.
Loved the bike for 3 years, then got a Marin B17 with 6" rear travel, Full XT componentry, Mavic D321 Rims, Azonic bars and stem, Manitou Xvert T's (tricked out to 6") and VP clipless Pedals. That's when I realised hardtails were for smooth riders and 6" beasts let you get away with murder!!
Bike Setup: (1997 model) LX componentry (V brakes, Cranks, Hubs, Dérailleurs/shifters), Judy T2 forks
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Submitted by
jclyow yow
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Strengths: Solid Build, Fast, Great for Trail.
Weaknesses: Handle Bars, Seat Post, Tires, pretty much what you see as upgrades
Bottom Line:
The bike is a sweet yellow, I think it's a 1999 though, not too sure. My first bike with shocks, yep, that's right. I bought it used from a friend who got it too big for her, and it was only riden about 6 times. Me I rode it 6 times in one week and busted the seat and post (6' 220lbs). I have since bent the rear bracket but no biggie. I love this bike, however I am still buying a FS XC bike, most likely the Giant NRS 2 or NRS 3 (depending on how much poop I get from my girlfiend). If you happen to come accross a decent used ATX 870 BUY IT, for weekend trail or XC fun this is an awesome bike....
Upgrades: Cables Shimano XTR Stainless - Avid Housing Pedal, Radical DH Clipless (Dual Side, Handlebar Titec - Hellbent Riser, Stem Titec Li'l Al 10 degree, Headset Chris King NoThreadSet - Red Anodized, Grips ODI Intense Lock-on Grip (reversed, Saddle WTB Laser V Stealth, Seat Post Titec XC 27.2 Black, Tires Kenda Klaw XT 26 X2.10
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Submitted by
Lud
a Cross Country Rider
from Solna, Sweden
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2002
Strengths: Nice starter bike, all hidden details seems to be hi quality. Excellent shifting.
Weaknesses: RST fork with no damping...
Bottom Line:
Good quality bike, only changed the transmission after it got worn out from a year of everyday abuse in all weather (think the snow kills...) The RST fork is basically crap but will make forest riding a little bit more pleasant than a stiff fork. With a better fork I would really recommend this bike!
Strengths: It's a durable bike that never let's you down. Thanks to its light and rigid CU92 frame, the ride is excellent. I mean, this bike does just about anything you want it to do,on almost any terrain.
Weaknesses: Averagely equipped. If you want to race with this bike seriously, you need to be ready for a big investment, that pays off at the end. BTW, the new version is much better equipped and lighter.
Bottom Line:
The ATX 870 is an excellent choice for those who wish to start racing. As I'm about to consider replacing my current bike, I'm actually thinking of purchasing the latest version of the 870 (other candidates are confined to Giant only). The bottom line - A wonderful package for its value.
Favorite Trail: All around the country (of Israel)
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: None.
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Submitted by
Kerry Warner
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2000
Strengths: The bike has very tight frame that will go where you want it to. The lightness of the frame and the really great spread of ratios of the 9 spd cluster let me climb up hills at 7 Kilometres an hour yet still give me enough top end to easily cruise at 30 kilometres an hour.
Weaknesses: The PAINT WORK. I have more chips on the paint work after one month then I had after two years on my Trek!!!
Bottom Line:
A great bike for the price which was $AUST1,843. I do a lot of kilometres on the bituman yet wanted a bike that would let me do some serious dirt work. The ATX870 does all of this at a reasonable price. My only concern is the paint is chipping off all over the place from stones. I think that someone without a huge budget but needs a good all rounder should buy this bike.
this bike rocks it has brought me through 2 years of hardcore racing. it is a great bike for its price and I recomend if you see one and you need a durable bike get it. the type of rider that should get this bike is a starting racer that wants quality in a durable yet curiously light bike
Submitted by
John Ford
a Weekend Warrior
from Hoover, AL
Date Reviewed: October 25, 1999
Strengths: up-hill climb--lightweight easy to maneuver......excellent handle shifter
Weaknesses: no shocks....what kind of bike costs this much and does not have shocks
Bottom Line:
overall it is a great bike, handles great around turns, downhill as well as up hill is a plus.....would reccomend the 880 for upcoming riders (comes equiped with shocks, front and rear.)
Similar Products Used: Rocky mountain Blizzard Jamis Dakota
Bike Setup: 1998 atx 870 frame w/ Marzochi Lights,XT components all round,Titec hellbents, Raceface crank&stem&seat post etc.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross-Country Rider
from Newcastle
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1999
Strengths: the strengths are in the components and the performence for the price i got mine for Australian AUD$1600 for that XT Rear Derailer, LX the rest, parallell push V brakes, Mavic X222 rims, super light frame and a quality fork i.e. Judy XC
Weaknesses: the tyres Wildgrippers while i give them 5 big absolutlely great stars in the mud they are positively dangerous in the dry hardpack and rocks or tarmac where i live. the fork while it has fantastic quality travel especially high speed dampening and seriously next to no stiction it could use a long travel kit to take them from 63mm (2.5in) to 80mm (3.0in)
Bottom Line:
this bike is exceptional value for money, the brakes rule better than any avid except the arch rivals, briliant 9 speed drive chain never had a single problem even when caked in mud, good solid light wheels nice stem and saddle
Similar Products Used: Kona pohoehoe nice but heavy and same performence as the 870. scorpian XT nice components and fork but the stearing was realy realy bad, worrying even if you want this bike make shore you test ride it first !?!?!?! !!! :-)
Bike Setup: 870, judy XC, LX with XT rear derailer
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Petros Kolyvas
a Cross-Country Rider
from Montreal, Quebec
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1999
Strengths: Excellent frame, well equiped right off the shelf for immediate riding.
Weaknesses: Cheap bottom bracket.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line? Well it's been 1 year since I got this girl and she's looking better than ever with some very nice battle scars over her body. The Giant has stood up well and I've upgraded it appropriately. So what if I put DH tires and pedals and hadlebars on a hardtail, it's comfortable and I built up enough strengh so that I don't notice the extra weight. She's bombproof, looks sleek and works even better. What more could I ask!
Bike Setup: My bike is set up for me, to ride the way I like to ride, and I dont' try to label my riding style, which MTBR should consider doing.This bike is set up with Maxis DH (2.35) Helter Skelter tires for amazing traction and bounce wherever I go. I upgraded the rims to X517's, Judy XC LT fork, bunch of XT and XTR parts, WTB SSTK leather & ti saddle, Race Face crank, 636 pedals and a bunch of other indestructible stuff.
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Submitted by
DJ
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tilburg
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999
Strengths: combination of Price and quality. Low weight and stiffness wich makes it easy to kick it uphill.
Weaknesses: No clipless pedals and some minor quality parts on hidden places. What is to be expected for a price of $1100
Bottom Line:
I have this beatifull bike for a year and she made me sweat!!! Because of a mistake at giant the first atx870 got XT v-brakes instead of the LX ones. Benefit for the early customer. Upgrading is easy to do, tires, pedals, bracket. Conclusion the best bike for this price.
Similar Products Used: Giant cadex, Marin?, kogamiata in the same price category.
Bike Setup: Mozo comp
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a weekend warrior
from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: February 28, 1999
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike almost a year now and I love it! I have no complaints with it....i haven't been in this sport for long but I just love the feel of the bike Giant did a good job here....it has a great frame and good components to start with...The Judy T2 was a good shock to throw on too....I think it was a great buy...I just had to buy clips....I love Giant and probably will buy another when I'm done with this one.
