Submitted by
ZMC
a Weekend Warrior
from China and UK
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2010
Strengths: Light and fast
Weaknesses: Twitchy and flighty
Bottom Line:
This is a review of the frame only.
This bike won't suit everyone, it's a thoroughbred racehorse of a bike and certain conditions suit it better than others.
If you want to ride in a city it is fast in traffic with slicks or semi's on, teamed with lockable shocks it can fly around, great for jumping off curbs and can do wheelies for miles. It flies up hills and moderate and level terrain is great fun. Although keep unnecessary components off the bike or you'll ruin its strengths.
It is adequate at non-severe technical descents.
On the other hand if you want to do heavy duty stuff such has severe descents, jumps or places with with uneven terrain or very loose surfaces you'd be better off with a heavier more robust AM/FR bike.
Similar Products Used: Giant ATX7, Specialized Rockhopper, Kona 5.0 plus many others....
Bike Setup: All self built Avid/Truvativ
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
el bikobandito
a Cross Country Rider
from Penna
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2009
Bottom Line:
Alright, heres the deal, I'm at home sick in bed and bored out of my mind so I'm reviewing all my bikes (Cuz what else am I gonna do).
I bought this bike (XTC1) as my backup bike. Giant makes great frames and they stand behind their warranties (unlike others...eh Trek?!?). For the money the bike came with a really nice parts spec; X7,Hayes hyd disc, WTB rims...not great but really nice for the money. Anyhow I use it mostly to commute to work but it is ready to ride should my other MT bikes take a crap (and I have 4 mtn bikes...so you wouldn't think it would ever see the dirt but such is not the case. I'm tough on stuff so it has had considerable trail time.)
For the rocks and roots and logs in eastern PA, it is not the most comfortable choice but it gets the job done. I switched out the fork (to a Marz AM II and addded some high volume treads and that helped alot). It is nice and light (25 lbs) and very responsive. Accelleration is quick and it lost some of its twitchy feel with the longer fork. Oh, and as I said earlier, I am tough on stuff, I broke the frame and no questions asked, Giant replaced it...hear that Trek. If you're looking for an affordable HT Giant is the way to go!
Submitted by
heartland
a Weekend Warrior
from Bloomington, In USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2009
Strengths: Frame is stiff, stiff, and more stiff. Quick acceleration. Quality components for the price.
Weaknesses: Stiff frame can beat you up on the downhill and technical sections, but what hardtail doesn't? Stock tires are only good for dry, hardpacked trails.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike after cracking the frame on a used Trek Fuel 90. Trek's warranty fell through since I wasn't the original owner, and not able to afford a decent full suspension bike, I went shopping for a solid hardtail and wound up with this guy.
Did my first long ride on it last weekend - it's a light, fast bike, quick on climbs, but a bit rough going downhill, especially through rocky and rooty sections of trail. I'm running fat 2.5 inch tires, though, and these help take the edge off on descents. The frame itself is really nimble and responsive; you step on the gas and it goes. The Marzocchi fork does its job. It's a touch squashy, but the lockout works well and helps out with climbs.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with this new ride. I'm hopping all the logs and rolling through all the rock gardens that I did on my full suspension rig, and I think being on a hardtail again will help me get better at picking my lines.
Favorite Trail: Hesitation Point, Brown Co. State Park
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At: Bikesmiths
Similar Products Used: older Trek 6000
Bike Setup: Stock except for wheelset (Mavic rims laced to WTB hubs), Shimano deore LX shifters and derailleurs, shimano PD-M540 pedals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
santone53
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2009
Strengths: Frame is great... beefy... stiff... light Marzocchi Bomber front shocks are responsive
Weaknesses: Brake levers (Shimano BR M486) are fragile... bend/break easily... brakes are OK, but 'grabby'... SRAM X.7 rear derailleur is sluggish
Bottom Line:
Good solid bike, even on some of the steep, rocky trails here in central Texas. Giant should equip their US XTC1 with Shimano XT (Giant equips their UK/Britain XTC1 full XT... and they add an XTC3 and XTC4 to their hardtail lineup... which is brilliant, since the vast majority of bikes used here are hardtails)
Bike Setup: Replaced brakes with Shimano XT (BR M775) and derailleur with Shimano XT (RD M772)... will replace TruVativ crank with XT (FC M770)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
zippinveedub
a Weekend Warrior
from Roanoke, Va US
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2009
Strengths: Stiff Frame, Light, Decent Stock Components, Bang for your buck
Weaknesses: Stock tires(Small Block 8's) are fast on dry hard pack but fail at anything else
Bottom Line:
I really started riding a lot last summer after a few months I realized a 17 inch frame was a little small for my 6'4" frame. So I began searching for a new bike. I knew I wanted a simple fast hardtail. I narrowed it down to the XTC1 and the Rockhopper Disc. After several test rides I picked the Giant. I have began riding much more since then, I've thrown quite a bit at the bike and it keeps begging for more. I did manage to break a chain and I've had several issues with pinch flats but I believe that can be attributed to the small tires I've been running on rather rooty terrain. Overall I've really like the bike its very fast on some nice up and down rolling single track and is great for what I use it for.
Bike Setup: stock except for some easton ea70 monkey bars
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Trapper
a Racer
from Wodonga, vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2008
Strengths: Quick, light, responsive, great value for money, extrmely efficient ride with a great race geometry
Weaknesses: cracked bottom jockey in a muddy race but replaced by warranty and excessive chain wear in very short pediod ( the products that broke are both shimano so no surprise there )
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike which is light (11.5kg) and very fast up hills very responsive bike on the downhills as well although pretty harsh ride on rocky terrain. not really suited to longer enduro style races but awesome for anything else.
Similar Products Used: XTC 3, Jamis Dakar Sport, Raceline Enduro
Bike Setup: stock standard with time atac pedals and Maxis Larsen on front and Crossmax on back (which are awesome)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Barry Glasse
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2007
Strengths: Very light (11.2 kg). Wickedly fast on the uphills. Took 11 minutes off my best time around Karapoti Classic course (22km with some serious uphills).
Weaknesses: Hutchinson Piranha tires are very light with very little rolling resistance. However the trade-off is that in the loose surface that I ride in the trial can resemble an ice skating rink. Not going to change the tyres yet as I'm in love with the speed!!
Bottom Line:
I'm 46 years old. Weight 85kg. Height 1.76cm. This bike is light & fast on the flat & uphill. There are trade-offs however. Its twitchy, the tyres don't help. My wife on her Giant Trance X2 (FS) kicks my hardtails arse on the downhill's. However I have had a cup of tea waiting for her to catch up on the uphills. Bottom line is I'm glad I bought this bike. It has exceeded my expectations. If you want a fast, value for money hardtail, then buy this bike!
Similar Products Used: Avanti Montari. Avanti Barracuda. Solid bikes but heavy.
Bike Setup: Out of the box. XT/XTR components. Fox Reba Race fork. Avid Juicy 5 brakes.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sar
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2007
Strengths: Fantastically light and responsive frame, perfect race geometry allows you to chuck this bike around with ease. An 'Out of the Box' racing XC bike with great equipment supplied. Avid juicy 5's, Deore XT cranks, RockShox Reba race fork, m505 pedals XT running gear etc.....the list goes on and on.
Weaknesses: None thus far
Bottom Line:
A fast light XC bike with a lifetime warranty on a great frame. Perfect race geometry with wide rise-bar span makes this bike agile and a joy to ride! Would be a good commuter bike with the aid of some "Conti" tires rather than the Hutchi-Piranhas supplied. The perfect bike for anyone who requires good quality equipment coupled with a high quality, light-weight frame and setup. Ride on people, Ride on!! :)
Favorite Trail: Lysterfield commonwealth games single track
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Lygon St. Cycles, Melbourne, Australia
Similar Products Used: Trek SLR 8000, Giant XTC 2, Trek SLR 6700, Scott Scale 40, Scott Scale 30, Specialized Stump Jumper
Bike Setup: Out of box equipment: -Shimano m505 pedals -Deore XT cranks and bottom bracket (external bearings) -Deore XT running gear -Avid Juicy 5's -Easton aluminum
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Laurie
a Cross Country Rider
from Townsville, QLD, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2007
Strengths: Nice light bike with great gearing and equipment.
Weaknesses: Hydraulic disc brakes, I have had so many problems with this bike and the pads coming incontact and adding friction on the discs whilst riding. I had to have them adjusted so that so much to stop this that now when brakes are applied I don't get that instant stop it takes time. This can be hazardous to one's health when riding hills etc.
Bottom Line:
Over all not a bad bike if you like your non competion off road riding. Suitable for any terrian you chose, i ride my on the road more than off.
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from austin texas
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2005
Strengths: super fast, handles great, very light, great package for the money
Weaknesses: paint chips easily
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for those looking for a fast XC race type ride. By far the nicest hardtail i've ever had, and i have been racing for years. Handles great in tight turns and acclerates out of corners. It also can hold its own on downhills. If you like the hardtail, go and get one if you can still find one.
Bike Setup: similar to stock, carbon bar, bar ends, wtb shadow team, avid SL levers
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Fernandez
a Downhiller
from Richmond hill
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2005
Strengths: Very stiff, super manouverable ,great geometry, very forgiving ride
Weaknesses: Carbon bar would have been sweet.. easy upgrade, other then that nothing! great value
Bottom Line:
Giant produces the most frames in the world for over 20 other bike manufactuers, they have an edge over the whole market to meet price points amazingly.
Similar Products Used: Epic, Stumpjumper HT, Kula primo , King Kikapu
Bike Setup: Stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Bennett
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2005
Strengths: Lightwieght, stiff, responsive. SRAM XO and that lovely DT hub click. Great climber and trustworthy on a DH section
Weaknesses: high stem handle bar height
Bottom Line:
For the money it is very hard to beat. Climbs like a Sherpa and decends like a rollercoaster. Great for as XC race bike without needing to sell your organs to the black market.
Similar Products Used: Giants XC Cannondale f600 ect
Bike Setup: sun rhyno lite,xt,duke air
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin Texas USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2005
Strengths: I got this frame as a crash replacement. I paid 250.00 for the frame. It is a 2001 XTCse1 frame and I must tell you this thing rocks. I built it up with LX XT, Thomson seat post and stem. 517's and roll x pros. And a SID SL. The bike is light fast and very responsive. I have ridden many trails on this bike I have to say that this bike refuses to quit!! The acceleration of the frame is really really nice. I keep trying to find reasons to get another frame but I just can't find any faults with this bike at all. Light, stiff, compliant, and an out right joy to ride. The name of the frame says it all.
Weaknesses: Can I get a new paint job. The paint is increadibly durable. In other words I can't find a fault with it at all
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this. This frame is stiff, light, accelerates like a scallded a** ape, climbs like a billy goat on steroids and laughs the entire way. Decents are fast and very controlable and the bike just make you feel confident as all get out. SO GO GET ONE. 5 peppers all the way!!!!
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