Submitted by
brandvegn
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, AL
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2011
Strengths: This bike is thick and burly. I have had it and been using it for a long time. I use it about 2-3 times a week for minor biking (3-8 miles) to places. I use it about 5-10 times a year for anything remotely called mountain biking, mostly trail rides with some singletrack. When I originally got it, I would say I went out about 30-40 times in that first couple of years.
Weaknesses: The padded breaks are fine, but at some point and time, if I ever really get into mountains, I will have to get disk brakes. I am still running stock on these. The crank is nothing to write home about. I did upgrade to some nicer shifters when I bought the bike. The fork is fine for what I do. I imagine I would like a tighter response on bigger stuff now that I know how forks work.There is some residual bounce after landing bigger jumps which can throw me off on balance, but I haven't had this happen yet.
Bottom Line:
The frame on this is it's biggest atribute. It is big, yet light and I think if I was a bit of a harder rider, this thing would not crack. It is just a burly, hefty frame and I love it. It is light, but probably not as light as newer bikes at this price point. The stock components are sufficient for light use, but I went through pads like crazy, the crank had some give on uphill and still does. I would say after 9 years you may need to change out and upgrade, but I think stock is fine for normal light to medium use.
Submitted by
Jarvis boots
a Racer
from hilo,hawaii
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2010
Strengths: frame,brakes,fork,cables,rear derailer,seat,da ho bike
Weaknesses: plastic pedals,front derailer
Bottom Line:
i have a yellow giant yukon front and rear disc mostly used as a trial bike but i still ride au ova but dis wan da best bikes i owend very durable if u no how useum stock brakes decent hayes but upgraded to shimanos soon to sample bengals i used this bike for four years an not to much mantinence or attention.
best bike for all around use
Strengths: amazing on uphill climes. Did a 1 in 5 hill easy as. It rocked
Weaknesses: cornering oould have given me more confidence
Bottom Line:
It rocked for the money it costs. Totally recomend it for long and short runs on an off roads. My friend had put amazing tires on it so it did'nt stick to the road too much but handled the gravel ok
Submitted by
glokeh
a Weekend Warrior
from Missoula, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2010
Strengths: Good frame, great tires. Like the disc breaks
Weaknesses: Saddle hurts on long rides. Seat stem doesn't go down far enough. Weak components
Bottom Line:
I purchased this bike so I could get back into Downhill riding again. I searched and searched for the best deal since I couldn't afford a full suspension but didn't want to settle for a Wal-Mart bike. Overall I like the bike. I took the bike on an advanced trail and found myself second guessing my purchase. The bike held up but it felt like riding a bucking bronco on 90% of the trail. The Dart 1 front fork did little for me and can't wait to upgrade. I would say this bike is more suited for easy trails and around town.
Submitted by
Rob Lawrence
a Weekend Warrior
from Hartsville, SC South Carolina
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2010
Strengths: Decent bike, light enough. Acceptable entry level disc brakes
Weaknesses: Frame split at lower sway arm, and Giant will not honor the warranty. Shop states bike was "put in a vise and pulled apart." Seriously, who would do that? It has to be a defect, but Giant won't honor it's supposed warranty.
Bottom Line:
Giant does not seem terribly earnest at honoring warranty. There is no way this bike was damaged in the manner they state unless someone stole it, "pulled it apart in a vise" and then put it back in my shed exactly as it was. Preposterous. Giant is not dependable in either quality or in backing up their warranties obviously.
Similar Products Used: Ancient Diamond Back early generation aluminum frame....20 plus years old and still a dream.
Bike Setup: Stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
DanMcCann
a Weekend Warrior
from Kenora, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2010
Strengths: 2009 Yukon...The frame is super solid and I love the Rock Shox Dart 2 fork. I use this bike for both road and trail and I love the lockout on the fork. When riding on flat or climbing hills it is great to be able to just flip the lockout and save some valuable energy. I also like the Shimano Deore rear derailleur. It shifts quick and smooth.
Weaknesses: I find the front derailleur (Shimano Alivio) to be hit and miss. It tends to hang up on shifts and throw the chain off on occasion. It may just need to be tuned up a bit. I also find the saddle a bit uncomfortable, but thats just a personal preference.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike to get back into biking since I haven't really ridden much in the last 8-10 years. I wanted a good entry-level bike that I could take on the road and the trails and so far this bike has done really well. I am 230 lbs and this bike feels really solid even for a bigger guy like me. I looked at a lot of bikes and by far this one seemed to be the best buy for the price range. It had some quality components and a good frame to build off of later. Most of the other bikes I looked at in the same range had lower quality forks and didn't offer disc brakes. This is not a great bike for someone looking to be doing big dirt jumps or drops, but if you are looking to get into some all around mountain biking I would strongly recommend this bike.
Bike Setup: 2009 Giant Yukon (all stock)--- Rock Shox Dart 2 fork, Hayes MX4 disc brakes, Shimano Alivio front derailleur and shifters, Deore rear derailleur, Kenda K-Rad tires...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
m3mito
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, AUS
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2010
Strengths: Tough as hell, was really happy with my Yukon, used it to commute and cross-country. 2007 Model, good components for a beginner or going pro rider....wont let you down
Weaknesses: When i got myself a Giant XTC2 as my main bike to cross-country, I decided to change everything in my yukon.
(road tyres, seat and shifters) However it became too attractive and some IDIOT stole it :(
Bike is good as is...but if you want to ride hard, you may need to change the front suspension, shifters, cassette and tyres.
Bike Setup: mmm too long to list...check the website. ;)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
mattlreese
a Racer
from Gaithersburg. MD
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2010
Strengths: 1. Not many brands make a 24in size bike which is what I needed.
2. Frame is solid, good construction
3. The Crank is ok. (with a new chainring)
Weaknesses: 1. 550 seems kind of high for a entry level bike with disc brakes.
2. Dart 1 fork is worthless
3. Disc brakes ended up braking about a year into owning the bike.
4. Component group is worthless I bent the middle chainring on my first ride, and it was on a paved trail.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike about two years ago when I was first getting into the sport. I did not know much about bikes then and there was not a whole lot out there that fit someone of my height. I knew Giant was a good brand, and the bike had disc brakes so I bought it.
I like to compete in entry level mountain bike races and since I am a big dude I do tend to put a lot more stress on the components the other people may. This bike is ok for light mountain biking but you will end up replacing many of the components . The frame is pretty solid though so you cannot go wrong. I am down to the wheels, crank, and frame as my only original parts. I would upgrade more but I am going to wait and buy a 29er.
This is not a bad bike, but I would shop around there are better bikes out there at this price point.
Submitted by
singletrack4me
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2010
Strengths: Price. I'd like the pedals if they worked right. Brake levers are light, feel great and have stood up to a couple of crashes.
Weaknesses: Lousy quality control and customer service, forks (heavy, little adjustment) and brakes (squeal most of the time once they wear in) will leave you wanting something a little better. Stopping power is plenty for the rear but the front is too weak. Endo's on flat ground are out of the question. The shifters don't tell you what gear you are in which has gotten me in trouble a couple of times.
Bottom Line:
It got the Giant bike because it seemed to be a decent component set and best overall value. For the lower price you get lousy quality control and poor customer service. The bike is made in China, not Taiwan as I'd expected. The frame welds on my bike are the ugliest I've seen, both pedals had bearing issues and one would barely turn. Front shifting is the worst of any bike I've ever come across, perhaps because it has a different (and cheaper) derailleur than in the specifications.
My dealer blew me off so I contacted Giant on their hard-to-find contact web form and got no reply. Good thing I was only after a pair of pedals and not something expensive. I sure hope the frame holds up.
In retrospect, I would have been much better off with a decently specced bike with v-brakes and then upgraded to better discs later. Giant don't have such a thing in their product line which is fine as I won't be buying from them again.
Submitted by
tienle355
a Cross Country Rider
from Santee, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2009
Strengths: light, good starter bike, brakes good, looks decent.
Weaknesses: tires seem to be poor (do not grip as well I think), shifters could be smoother.
Bottom Line:
I'm riding 4 times/week and on average an hour a ride. Need to upgrade tires or something to improve grip. Got to do something to improve climbing steep hills. Love this first/starter bike. Looking forward to upgrade this bike or bike a better/all-mountain/trail bike with full suspension.
I got the bike a few months ago, because I read the ratings, did some research, and it seemed like the best bike for my money. This is my first mountain bike, so it's a major improvement. I weigh about 175 lbs. and ride frequently on some pretty tough rocks. The tires were shot two weeks after I got the bike (the sidewalls are so thin, that at max psi, I got a pinch flat nearly evey time, they have very little traction and skid easily, and small stickers went right through them). After new tires, some truing on the wheels, and a few adjustments here and there on the bike, I would reccomend it to anybody that isn't taking anything more than a ton of 8 in. drops.
Grew up on GT BMX and loved the track. Just getting in to the sport after moving from flat FL to the hills here in socal, and this bike got me out on the trails. I would call this a great bike to get if you're not sure you'll enjoy the sport or don't want to drop $$. It gets me through the canyons, along the beaches, around the harbors, down the street for a haircut...it's a great all-around bike that gets me outside more. However, now that I'm hooked on the sport, I'm looking to upgrade. I have no regrets on getting this bike. It's great for local trails, but going downhill, ride the brakes; it can be a bit rough. This bike has not let me down, and I've had some great times on it!
Similar Products Used: none. First bike since growing up
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
exbmxflyer
a Weekend Warrior
from Fallon, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2009
Strengths: Value for money, sturdy, low top tube.
Weaknesses: Heavy, seat tube angled far forward takes some getting used to.
Bottom Line:
Smallish rider 5'9" 205#, but ride hard on good jumps and berms (former Elite BMX racer). Downhill on rough terrain at scary speeds hit jumps flying 25' (low but far) and no signs of weakness. On a BMX track jumped it with no problems except some big clanging noises. Forks have never bottomed out. Disc brakes get hot under heavy use, but keep working. I'm a beginner at MTB and ride like it, which is rough on a bike. Really good bike for me. I've done minimal maintenance, just tighten things up, spray off the dirt, lube the chain, ride, repeat.
