Cove Bikes Hustler XC Full Suspension

4.63/5

(8 Reviews)

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MSRP : $2200.00

Product Description

It’s a bike that balances the challenges of down with the harsh realities of up. A ride designed for those trails so wicked you’ve got to bring extra lube. The Hustler comes with a 5.5 inch, adjustable Fox RP3 air rear shock on a four-bar linkage and lightweight Easton RAD tubing frameset designed for plush, efficient performance.
(MSRP listed above is in CAD)

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Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)

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Submitted by DyNaM1T3 a Weekend Warrior from uk

Date Reviewed: February 18, 2010

Strengths:    Stiff, good geometry, flickable, handles a dream, not too bad uphill or on the flat, (ratios, 26t-40t-bash/11t-32t & strapless toeclips help alot, as does the RP23), very very plush ride, descends superb & you can feel exactly what the bikes doing.

Weaknesses:    Factory paintwork finish (pixie blue) is shocking (there must be 1.5 lb of double powder coat on it), took a week with p1500 wetndry to flatten (more orange peel than outspan) & cutting compound to buff it, then wax (new stickers 1st). a bit pricey. 6.8lb? (But then i didn't want an xc bike)

Bottom Line:

Alot of top shelf cycle companies let the finish slip, if I had've payed Rolls Royce price I would've expected decent paintwork. All in all, an outstanding do-it-all, all-mountain frame.

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Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $500.00

Purchased At:   2nd hand 2009 frame

Similar Products Used:   None - hardtails Cannondale, Orange Crush

Bike Setup:   Cove Hustler (sml), Fox Float 36R(130mm)/RP23, Halo Freedom/Pro2's, RF Diabolus stem, g/e grips, chainstay guard & Atlas AM post & cranks, Hope M4/Mini, headset, clamp & bb, Blackspire stinger & E13 turbocharger, FSA DH carbon bars, Gusset Prosecutor pedals, X0 gripshifts & med X0 rear/XT front mechs, PG-980 & KMC X9SL, USE Carbon Pro seat. DMR Moto Digger tyres.

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Submitted by 120spaced a Cross Country Rider from North Vancouver, BC Canada

Date Reviewed: August 2, 2009

Strengths:    -aggressive head tube angle allows for great descending.
-lively suspension
-reasonable price
-descends like a DH/FR bike
-inspires total confidence
-bombproof

Weaknesses:    -the frame design does not make it a great climber (but the FOX RP23 shock makes up for the design shortcoming).
-could be a little lighter.

Bottom Line:

the bottom line is this is my favorite bike of all time. i've been mountain biking for almost 20 years, and this is it. it rides 90% of the shore (everything but BIG drops and the gnarliest of rock gardens), it handles 4 foot drops without a peep and eats up steep descents, but it can handle that 4 hour epic XC ride as well. i've ridden it multiple times in the Test of Metal in Squamish and while it's more bike then you might need it still performed great.

Cove has been making bikes for the shore since the early 90's and it shows. they were on the "trail bike" thing before it was a category and years before the Nomad showed up. this frame paired with the RP23 and the Pike is unstoppable-just a quick adjustment to climb, a quick adjustment to descend. drop it in the middle for a traditional XC ride, this bike does it all and never complains.

like i said the weight could be less, but it's not bad at 31 lbs for a 6" travel bike and what you get descending is well worth hauling it up. i've recommended the bike to several friends and even my brother-in-law who has a Santa Cruz hookup. he's been riding it for 3 seasons as well and still loving it. i can't say enough good things about this bike. the only thing that might get me off it is if Cove drops their VPP-ish version (their "shocker" platform) of the Hustler because i only wish it was a better climber but that's it. ride it and you'll never go back to that feeble 71 degree head tube angle 25 lb XC bike! the only person that shouldn't buy this bike is if you ride flats, and if that's the case you should just ride a single.

cheers.

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Favorite Trail:   Severed D1ck

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $3500.00

Purchased At:   Cove Bike Shop, nort

Similar Products Used:   -Kona Stinky
-Ellsworth Truth
-Cove G-spot
*none of these bikes are truly comparable as the Hustlers sits perfectly in the middle.

Bike Setup:   -Pike 454 fork
-FOX RP23 rear shock
-King hubs to Mavic 719 rims
-larsen TT tires
-Cromag 31.8 fubar
-Thomson stem (90)
-Saint hydraulic braks (8" rotor front, 6" rear)
-Thomson seat post, offset
-WTB saddle
-RaceFace Dues cranks
-Shimano 959 pedals
-XT shifters

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Submitted by Huvis a Weekend Warrior from Burnaby

Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009

Strengths:    Feels solid in the rough stuff, good geometry, ok Climber

Weaknesses:    Price. does have brake jack

Bottom Line:

This is my bike of choice, I have lots. Its good up and way better down. I have had a Kona dawg and liked it also. If you can only have one bike this is as good as any, but a little pricey.

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Favorite Trail:   Burke Mountain

Duration Product Used:   2 Years

Price Paid:    $800.00

Purchased At:   Private

Similar Products Used:   Kona dawg

Bike Setup:   Pike 454, Atlas cranks, Juicey 7, hope hubs,719 rims, thompson, It is a solid AM build.

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Submitted by zoop from vancouver

Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007

Strengths:    good all round bike

Weaknesses:    cant think of much.. wish it was cheaper..

Bottom Line:

if you only got one bike its the one to have.. pedals uphill ok.. pretty versatile you can set it up as XC, or freeride bike.. wicked to ride down.. strong frame...

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Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $4000.00

Similar Products Used:   nothing really similar, an older rocky, some hardtails...

Bike Setup:   not really set up as crosscountry bike..

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Submitted by Al Dee a Weekend Warrior from UK

Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007

Strengths:    Strong, slack n low geometry.

Weaknesses:    RP3 shock

Bottom Line:

Handles superbly, loves steep technical trails, drops, jumping and is great for big all day rides as well. A fantastic all rounder - if i could only have one bike etc.

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Duration Product Used:   2 Years

Price Paid:    $1100.00

Similar Products Used:   Turner 6 Pack, Intense 5.5

Bike Setup:   DHX5 coil shock, Pike u-turn coil, Formula Bianco brakes.

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Submitted by Bart Simpson a Weekend Warrior from UK

Date Reviewed: May 28, 2007

Strengths:    Geometry, frame strength

Weaknesses:    None for the kind of riding I do.

Bottom Line:

I had this bike built to "all mountain spec" as I just like riding bikes, preferably technical singletrack, steep and gnarly kind of terrain, and only for fun and fitness purposes. The frame was bought after a long time considering reviews and testing bikes. As I had never had the pleasure of actually testing a Cove, I was somewhat apprehensive, after all a considerable sum had been spent here! No worries. The geometry is spot on for me( I am 6"4' ), it is chuckable, but not too short for extended climbs. The fork is brilliant, and can be wound down for tight singletrack or long uphills, and the RP23 seems perfect for general trail riding. It( and I ) have regularly managed 4 foot drops without a squeak, and the bike is brutally fast and controlled on gnarly downhills, even with monstrous braking bumps.

I have yet to find fault with the setup or build, and the shop in Leamington Spa that built the bike ranks as one of the best I have ever dealt with.

I would recommend this bike to anyone who likes the more aggressive end of trail riding with a bit of downhilling thrown in.

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Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $5600.00

Purchased At:   John Atkins Cycles

Similar Products Used:   Orange 5, Orange Patriot

Bike Setup:   19 inch frame, Rockshox Pike Air 454, Fox RP23, Race Face Atlas+finishing kit, Avid Juicy 7 brakes, SRAM X9, Kenda Nevegal tyres, Hope Hoops wheels(DT 5.1).

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Submitted by Ian from powell river, bc, canada

Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007

Strengths:    feels super sturdy, plush travel, handles good

Weaknesses:    none

Bottom Line:

really nice bike. being called a XC bike doesnt give it enough credit... it should at least be in the all mountain category. mines set up as a freeride bike and i could probly use it for slopestyle riding if i wanted to. pedals really well uphill and the suspension is really active goin downhill. mine is pretty heavey, but i could probly drop a few pounds changin out the wheels cranks and fork, but id rather have a heavier bike that isnt gunna break on me

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Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Similar Products Used:   giant ac, norco fluid, santa cruz jackal(not really simalar tho)

Bike Setup:   2005 cove hustler, 2006 z1 fr sl doppio air, supra bh pro wheels, kenda nevegal 2.35 front, michelin 2.2 rear, rock shox pearl 3.3 rear shock, titec berserker, hayes, easton, blackspire bashring, deore derailer, other bits and bobs

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Submitted by richard a Weekend Warrior from ontario

Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006

Strengths: The bike loves tight twisty trail rock solid on the downhills the faster you go the better the bike it loves the rough trails and the best part it climbs quiet well i.ve racing on ski hills and have had no problem keeping the pace on the climbs rp3 fox works great.

Bottom Line:

If you want a bike that eats up the rough stuff and is strong enough to go off of trail size jumps and not break like other xc bikes and still need the capacity to climb this bike does it all my bike weighed in at 29lbs.and theres still room

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Favorite Trail:   brant trac

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $1600.00

Purchased At:   king street cycles

Bike Setup:   race face crank;mx comp ; xtr ;deore hyd. sdg Ibeam seat post mavic 819 tubeless nokian nbx

Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)

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Cove Bikes Hustler XC Full Suspension

Product Description

User Reviews

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