Submitted by
cem24
a Weekend Warrior
from manila, philippines
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2010
Strengths: Less maintenance due to single pivot tech, short headtube length (perfect for climbing and cross country)
Weaknesses: brake jack and the color.. (i change mine with brighter 2-tone color)
Bottom Line:
I like the performance of the bike, althought outdated but it has less maintenance unlike other suspension designs. I wish khs offered different color combinations for this bike.. I really like the breaks... The first thing to upgrade the the rear shock. I change mine with an air shock and the bike rocks.. I really like the bike!
Similar Products Used: Had a GT hard tail road a Heckler, canondale
Bike Setup: Bomber Comp 120,WTB neck, Titec carbon bars, Sram X7, Hayes 9, Race Face Atlas crank, Speedplay pedals, X7 rear derailer. Shimano Deore front derailer, Rhyno Lite XT Deore hubs.Maxxis tires, Big soft seat.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Chandler
a Weekend Warrior
from Grand Junction, CO , USA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2008
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: SRAM Trigger shifters Heavy Sporatic Braking
Bottom Line:
I was alway having problems with this bike due to it's general instability. The brakes have two speeds--go and stop (no in between). It has terrible flexibility on technical trails. I switched out the X7 shifters for X0. It still never shifted well.
Frankly, my 15-year old Hard Rock hard tail works better than this bike.
Ultimately, I broke a leg on this bike. My friends discretely told me that I need better equipment before hitting the trails again. I'm inclined to believe them.
I'm certain people are happy with their new purchase. There are very few disparate reviews on this forum. I'm telling you this is a bad bike. If you intend to do technical riding, you will get hurt on this bike.
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Upwood, UK
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Strengths: All around performance for the price. No pedal bob from the mono-pivot.
Weaknesses: A bit heavy, but the amount saved on the frame allows purchase of components that makes it equal or better than its competitors.
Bottom Line:
This frameset is great for riders that don't abuse their equipment. KHS packs a lot of value into their products, my next purchase will be one of their road or cyclocross frames.
Bike Setup: FSA Carbon Pro Team crankset and FSA Platinum Pro Ti ISIS bottom bracket, XT drivetrain, Avid 185mm mech disc brakes, FSA XC190 bar and XC 140 stem, Mavic Cross-Roc UST Tubeless wheelset/Hutchinson Python tubeless tires, Marzocchi Marathon SL fork. Also tried it with a SID XC fork, Deore LX / Mavic 517 / IRC Mythos XC tires which removed a lot of weight, but also compromised handling.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Corman
a Weekend Warrior
from Grayslake, il,usa
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006
Strengths: Price, Components, Design
Weaknesses: Srength
Bottom Line:
Ive had this bike for two and a half years and really enjoyed it until the frame broke. Never took it off any big drops but a weld on the bottom bracket gave and the down tube cracked. I was bummed but the guys at Jenson worked with KHS to get me a new frame. Within 2 weeks they sent me a FR1500 frame at no charge. The 1500 is alot heavier but looks super stiff. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Bike Setup: Deore/Hays Mechanical Disc/Manitou XVERT
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nate Larson
a Weekend Warrior
from austin,texas
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2006
Strengths: rear suspension climbs great no pedal bob handles well
Weaknesses: a bit heavy
Bottom Line:
I love this bike so far. The suspension is great. It is heavy with the components that I have one it right now but with a change in wheelsets, cranks/bb it should take off quite a bit. For the overall performance of the bike, it is great. It climbs very well. It feels very efficient on the trails, with very little or no bob. I highly recommend this bike.
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from France
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2006
Strengths: Fun to ride. Felt great on the bike immediately. Encourages you to do more than you thought. Great all around bike.
Weaknesses: A little heavy, but still playfull. Had a problem with the read triangle welds. Rear triangle replaced under warranty. A little bit of flex in the rear. Monopivot bearings exposed to water and inside diffcult to access to clean up.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money. Go-anywhere-and-get-you-out-of-it bike. Will make a better rider out of you because you will try new things. WHY DID KHS STOP PRODUCTION? The new multi-link models are nothing like this bike! Please build another mono-pivot, no-nonsense, fun bike! 4 chilis overall "only" because of the mishap with the rear triangle!
Similar Products Used: Marin Attack Trail - Piece fo Junk. Not to talk about the warranty and service, or lack thereof.
Bike Setup: Bought as frame-only. Marzocchi MXC ETA. Hayes 9 160mm. SRAM 9.0 rd, XT fd, SRAM 7.0 twisters. FSA V-Drive crankset. Time attack pedals. Easton 50 Rizer bar. BBB stem. Stronglight XL II headset. Mavic Cross Ride. SDG Bel Air RL. Pazzaz post. Continental Vapors tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
daren brooks
a Cross Country Rider
from Mapleton, utah, usa
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2005
Strengths: Amazing frame and durability
Weaknesses: not perfect at anything but great at everything!
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike! I can't imagine paying less and getting more from any brand. I hammer stuff pretty hard and this bike just keeps going. I really would like some more rear travel and adjustability, but for now, I just can't justify paying 3x what I did for a slightly better bike. Buy one if you can find it and the grin on your face will get tired before the bike will.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain Switch, KHS Team ST,
Bike Setup: Stock except for panaracer firex tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Prescott, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
Strengths: Price, Single pivot, good geometry and quality welds.
Weaknesses: Heavier than some frames.
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension bike and have only been on it two times but the two rides were the best rides I have ever had. The bike is heavier than my hardtail but I climb sections of hills I had to walk with the hardtail. On the dowhill sections of the trails it is great I rode like never before faster and in the corners took them twice as fast as I would on my hardtail. This bike has opened up a new world of mountian biking for me. I rode it on one steep downhill that I hike and used to think I would not be able to ride on a bike but on this frame and setup with a 120mm fork nothing was to steep and no obstacle was to frightening to go over. Now roots and rock I used to slow down for and roll over I now can just hit them and jump. I am a cross country rider not a downhiller and not into drops but on this frame I will be riding areas I thought I never could have on my hardtail. This frame wants to be ridden.
Bike Setup: LX cranks and derailleurs, XTR cassette, Sram grip shift, Sun Rhynolite wheels, IDR Dual Banger brakes, Marzocchi MX Pro fork w/ETA and Kenda Tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Modesto, CA
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2005
Strengths: For the price, can't complain about the components.
Weaknesses: The pedals, no matter how soft I set them, I could barely get my feet out. (the 04 model came with pedals, I can't remember what kind now)
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike for the price. I bought it a year ago and have trashed this thing. I've had to get things adjusted a few times but besides that, it takes the beating!
Submitted by
ed shenzik
a Weekend Warrior
from sacramento
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2004
Strengths: durability price
Weaknesses: It won't break so I can't get a new bike
Bottom Line:
this is the 2003 frame with the rock shox rear shock. I have ridden this bike at Moab, Downieville, Tahoe and everywhere else. I have ridden it off 4' to flat and numerous downhill courses and can't break it. I weigh 190 without gear. The frame doesn't really have have any major strong or weak points except that it keeps on going after two years of hammering.I want a new 5" bike but I have to wait till this bike dies. I also love the avid mechanicals. They are effective and pretty much maintenance free.
Bike Setup: xt components, Marzocci MXC with eccc, Hope XC hubs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JOE GEIER
a Weekend Warrior
from WATERLOO,ONT.CANADA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004
Strengths: Handles great,Climbs great.Makes you ride more aggressive because you feel more confident.This thing flies over rocks you don't feel a thing. Super suspension.
Weaknesses: None i can think of.
Bottom Line:
What a blast to ride.Screams to be ridden hard.Great brakes.
Hello fellow riders! I was looking into buying a 2003 KHS 504 XC from JensonUSA. Does anyone have any knowledge on these bikes? Would you recommend buying one? Can you recommend Read More »
Well I just picked up a smokin' deal on a KHS XC-504 frame. Yeah, I know the downtubes crack but the headset and seatpost alone were worth the money. Anyone happen to know what l Read More »
Anyone happen to know what size of pivot bearings I need, or what the bearing no. might be? This is the old Superlight-knockoff model, not the new rocker beam one.
I popped off Read More »
