Submitted by
dingo33
a Cross Country Rider
from hoschton Date Reviewed: September 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
fort yargo
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Bombproof design and construction
value
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz superlight
Bike Setup:
built strong but light, under 28lbs.
Built strong but light, just under 28lbs.
Bottom Line:
The old saying,"You get what you pay for" really does not apply to this bike. The motobecane is basically a knock off of the ellsworth truth. A buddy of mine has a truth and after he let me borrow it for a weekend I quickly decided I had to have one. That is till I priced a frame at two grand! Looking at alternatives I came across the motobecane on ebay and the rest is history. After almost two thousand miles on this frame it is still going strong with very little lateral flex. I could not be happier, the ride is super plush and it still climbs like a mountain goat!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Plummer
a Weekend Warrior
from Sioux Falls, SD. USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything with dirt, mud, logs, rocks.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct.com
Strengths:
The quality of components, and overall price of the bike compared to competitors bikes online and in the local bike shops is fabulous. With 150 miles on the bike I am very pleased with its performance. And have had ZERO regrets.
Weaknesses:
Had to rebleed the front hydraulic brakes right away due to spongyness feel, and the pedals are complete junk.
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh M-55
Bike Setup:
Stock with Gebali rear shock and chainstay protector, Big gear bash guard, computer, 8" front rotor.
Bottom Line:
I am very pleased with the bike and love the adjustability. Bikes Direct.com was also a pleasant experience, when I had to send the first bike back because the frame size was a little to large. Got full refund, and because of the positive experience I actually went from the Comp version to the elite version, and was very glad I did because the Juicy 5 brakes and the XTR rear derailer are much better than what comes on the comp version. Great for the weekend warrior who appreciates a good value and is not hung up on Top Brand Names.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WeekendWarrior
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountain View, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1199.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Best value for the parts that this bike has...
Weaknesses:
It's weight (at 32 lbs) it's pretty much on the heavy side. will definitely need to upgrade some of the parts
Similar Products Used:
custom bikes
Bottom Line:
The price is what really drew me into buying this bike... I couldn't find a bike that's loaded with good parts at a very affordable price. Bikesdirect price is the lowest I found.
Of course, it's heavy but it's something that can be remedied by upgrading some of the aluminum parts (ie., handle bars, stem, seatpost,etc.) to carbon fiber ones. Upgrading your parts is part of the fun...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Harris
a Cross Country Rider
from kansas city, mo, usa Date Reviewed: August 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
burp minor park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
bikedirect.com
Strengths:
this bike is loaded to the gills. I love all the stuff it comes with and very simple to maintain. You sit way back on the rear wheel so down hills are very fast and you can let the bike pull you up hills. Since you sit so far back you can really steer it in tight corners easy and let the bike work for you. The front fork lets you really dial in for long rides crank it down for technical and big drops crank it up. it totally will change your stance on the bike. the XTR will allow you to shift up hill with full peddle force and not miss a beat. the kinesis frame is solid and doesn't feel like a snake or wobbly at all for full suspention. At around 25 lbs you can't go wrong.
Weaknesses:
handle bar is for down hilling and way to heavy change it out. The peddles it comes with blow. And no seat clamp. but big freaking deal the money I saved let me get better stuff anyways. And everybody runs there own paddles anyways.
Similar Products Used:
GT 3.0
Bottom Line:
Great bike, lite, solid, responsive, great components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Bakersfield, California, USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Cannel Meadow (upper and lower)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1180.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Amazing value. RockShox Revelation 426 with pop lock, U-Turn (100mm-130mm), and easy tuning adjustments make for an awesome fork. Frame is very strong so far for my riding style. The WTB wheel set avoids pinch flats very well which allows for slightly lower air pressure for better cornering and bump absorption. I have had no problems so far with the bike. The components that come on the bike for the price is unbeatable. I spent many weeks searching the internet and shopping at many different bikes shops in different cities and would have had to have spent double the amount for an equivalent bike. I bought the 20 inch frame which is too small for me at 6' 4" but the value of this bike is well worth it.
Weaknesses:
Handle bars are a little narrow for my preference. A quick seat clamp release did not come with the bike. Occasionally check the pivot bolts on the rear 4 link for any loose bolts. A new handle bar and quick release seat post clamp are easy to come by. I've had to tighten the rear suspension bolts on a Specialized Enduro and Intense Spider so maybe loose pivot bolts are the norm? The rear axle sits nearly under the back of the seat which makes wheelies a breeze but steep climbs a little tougher.
Similar Products Used:
Kona hardtail, Specialized Hardrock, Giant AC2, Intense Spider and Specialized Enduro Pro.
Bike Setup:
Shimano XTR Rear Derailleur, LX 27 Speed Pods, TripleActive 4bar Double-butted 7005SL Aluminum frame, RockShox Revelation 426 Air Uturn Fork 100-130mm with Bar Mount PopLoc, Rear Shock Ario 2.2 BarMount PopLoc Adjust 3/4/5" Adjustable Travel RR, Avid speed dial Levers, Avid BB5 Mechanical Disc brake Calipers (upgrade to 8 inch front for those 8000 foot downhill trails, WTB SpeedDisc Wheelset, TruVativ FireX Cranks/BB, Ritchey Rizer 6061T6 Bar, Ritchey Comp Stem and Seatpost, Panaracer Fire XC tires. Read the instructions on how to tune the suspension if you don't know anyone who is fluent in bike tuning. Rebound makes a huge difference. Go all the way soft and then a few clicks out for a smooth ride.
Bottom Line:
Amazing deal. If you are looking for a bike around $1000 dollars but really want a $2500 dollar full suspension bike then this is your bike. I have recommended the bike to my brother and friends. Motobecane spent the money on the right components with the bike. The seat post is nothing fancy but who cares when you have five inches of quality travel and an XTR rear derailleur? WHO SHOULD BUY? Anyone on a budget (or not for that matter) who does self shuttle cross country rides and the occasional drop off shuttle run downhill rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, Va Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
buttermilk
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Stout welding, good looks
Weaknesses:
None yet, although I haven't been able to lock out the shock
Bike Setup:
Bought the frame and transferred all of my components from my GF Big Sur
Bottom Line:
Very happy with the purchase. I did a lot of research before pulling the trigger, and the reviews here helped. Been a GF fan for years and wanted to go FS economically. Basically swapped all of my mostly XT components from the old GF. I did the initial adjustment on the shock and have been having fun riding ever since. I like the retro Motobecane lettering on the downtube. And yes, as some have said, the paint does scratch rather easily. Not a big deal to me. I'm 6'2" and 200lbs; the 20" size is a very good fit. The top tube length is 1" shorter than my GF, but hasn't made too much of a difference. Might buy a longer stem at some point. I haven't purchased the poploc for the Ario 2.R yet, but the initial testing of the lockout by turning the dial did not lock it out. Maybe I wasn't able to apply enough pressure just by twisting it, but I do recall hearing others complaining about that feature. I haven't noticed too much bob so far, so maybe the lockout won't be as critical. I would do the whole thing over again. As others have said, just because the big names come out with new designs every year doesn't mean they are better than the old designs. At all. I heard from a lbs that once big name patents expire they are duplicated by companies like Kinesis (frame builder of Motobecane). So to me that is a good thing. Also, I am confused by some of the complaints of the weight of the frame. Maybe it was more towards the bikes that were purchased whole (with cheaper components). I find the weight to be very similar to my hardtail. As far as the ride, it's awesome. I bike commute through a park everyday and now have had two solid weeks of experience with it. I just thinks it's a great frame at a great price. Of course the quality of the components you decide to add will make a huge difference.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jess Lozano
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster CA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
haven't found it yet
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1295.00
Purchased At:
BikesDirect.com
Strengths:
Great components for the price!!! To buy a similar bike with these components would cost much more. I love the poploc feature on the Rockshox Revelation 409 fork and Ario 2.R rear shock as it makes climbing the hills much easier by virtually eliminating pedal bob (depending on how you setup your suspension and your weight, I'm about 175lbs). The bike rides smooth and handling on the singletrack is top-notch. On the downhill, the bike is solid and goes exactly where you want it to! The bike feels secure and tracks the trails exceptionally well at high speeds. The Avid BB5 disk brakes work fine. The WTB wheelset works great, though I may upgrade to a lighter wheelset in the future. Definitely a great choice for an all mtn rider looking to get away for the weekend. As mentioned, you can't beat the component specs for the price.
Weaknesses:
This bike is not the lightest and can get heavy on the climbs. The bikes weighs about 32lbs. But for the price, you won't find a lighter bike with better componenets. The stock pedals suck. I upgraded to M520's and they work great in mud, dirt, and dust (plus they cut some weight). Also, the stem, seat, seatpost, and handlebars aren't the best as they're a bit heavy. However, replacing those components is relatively low cost and they'll be upgraded soon.
First off, I'm 100% satisfied with this bike. The product weakness are minor and upgrading is part of the fun of owning a mtn bike. This bike is exactly what I expected and there were no surprises when I purchased it online. I must admit I was a little weary of buying a bike online, however, bikesdirect came through and everything arrived according to spec. This is a great bike for someone who loves to just go out have fun with friends and ride all day. The component quality is great and the bike is built solid enough to take some abuse. If you're super picky about weight and looking for a superlight cross country racer, buy the upgraded version or go somewhere else. If your looking to have fun and want a solid all mtn bike with quality components, good geometry, and excellent handling, this bike is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl Lieberwirth
a Cross Country Rider
from Carlsbad, NM. Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
cross country hills excercise
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
looks pretty is about it. the rock shocks seem to work well and the pop feature is nice for locking the back shock for road riding
Weaknesses:
Rolls like it has square wheels. I usually set the pace with those I ride with, on this bike I cannot keep up and my friends have to circle back for me. My 6 year old specalized is amazingly easier to ride. The Motobecane actually feels like the brake is on.
Similar Products Used:
I have an old Specalized hardrock hard tail that out rides the new Moto like it was a hotwheels.
Bike Setup:
Bikesdirect special with pop shocks and xt/xtr components.
Bottom Line:
If you have a child do not get him/her one of these bikes they will develop a inferiority comples trying to keep up with their friends.
This bike is poorly designed and rolls like the brakes are on full time. I am 6' 270 lbs and ride 4 days a week @ 15 to 25 miles for exercise. I actually feel guilty trying to sell this bike.
Have tried to work with Bikesdirect and have sent numerous e-mails to the factory with little response and no satisfaction.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joey Ketchum
a Weekend Warrior
from Shreveport, La. Date Reviewed: February 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Monkey Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
ebay.com
Strengths:
For the money you can not beat the components that come with this bike! I am a BIG guy (6' 235), and the bike takes good care of me!
Weaknesses:
Would love to have a XTR front derailer!
Bike Setup:
Revelation Rock Shox front shock w/ pop lock Ario Rock Shox rear shock w/ pop lock
Bottom Line:
For the money, you WILL NOT find a better deal. I ordered my bike on ebay, and it cost $1185.00. The bike arrived 3 days later. It took about 20 minutes to set up (I am a self taught bike mechanic).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Macclenny, Fl Date Reviewed: December 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
san felesco
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$12.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct, local shop at Jacksonville
Strengths:
Solid performance, great components, great price
Weaknesses:
having to explain to my friends why i bought a moto instead of a more expensive name bike with lower end components :)
Similar Products Used:
This replaced my GT-idrive. Trek, cannondale
Bike Setup:
Reba fork with lock out, XT equiped, 50/50 pedals
Bottom Line:
I am a 280pound rider that is extremely hard on a bike. Over a year of punishment and close to 1000miles on this bike the only problem i have had was a broken chain, and that was clearly a wear issue. The bike performs great. I never liked Truvativ cranks but the drivetrain seems to be holding up well. I will be replacing it soon only becuase i want to, not because of a need. I really dislike my brakes. The bike came with avid brakes that are fine but have these crappy promax rotors that i just cant stand. I have been spoiled with hydro brakes and i will be replacing the avids one day but they do stop fine so it is hard to justify the upgrade...
THE BOTTOM LINE: zero problems with bike other than common wear and my personal preference on some stock parts. GREAT price, GREAT bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Diogenes Cruz
a Downhiller
from Republica Dominicana Date Reviewed: October 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
DH,FR
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
rigid frame, good design of suspension, easy to maneuver in technical slopes
Weaknesses:
None until now
Bike Setup:
fron rock shox revelation, rear rock shox ario 2.R, hayes hfx9 v8"fron v6" rera dis, PZ carbon component(stems,seatposts an handlebars)shimano hone Hollowtech II Crankset ,shimano hone Front Derailleur, xt rear Derailleur an Cassette,Vuelta XRP WHEEL SET..
Bottom Line:
Buy the frame and the suspensions in ebay, is an excellent frame better than my GT i-Drive XCR 1000 Is very strong and smooth to handle in any land very weigh for XC (32 lb)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kent West
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, Nevada, USA Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Moab
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Smooth, strong cartridge bearing links, very little pedal bob (equiped with lockout on both ends for really steep stuff), light weight, stable geometry.
Weaknesses:
None really, just looks kind of funky with old-fashioned "Motobecane" lettering.
Similar Products Used:
Diamondback V8, KHS 604.
Bike Setup:
Rock Shox Revelation U-turn w/Poplock, Ario R rear, XT disks, crank, shifters, XTR rear, Supergo wheels, Thomson stem and post, Easton bar.
Bottom Line:
My frame came equiped with the Rock Shox Revelation U-turn with Poplock, which has to be one of the hottest forks out there, and an Ario large volume rear shock with Poplock. If you can get past all of the sneers and weird looks from big brand riders, all I can say is for the price, this thing rocks! I can hardly imagine a more efficient, better responding and performing bike - especially for what I paid. If you are trying to decide between sizes, go for the smaller size, because they run a little big, which was just right for me (medium). Also, the rider position tends to be kind of far back, so you need a straight up type seatpost, like a Thomson Elite (no set back). I've ridden this frame and fork hard daily for 6 months and had absolutely no problems at all. I paid $600 for the frame, fork and shock. The shock by itself is about $500 or more at most Internet sellers, so this was a steal. Buy one if you get a chance - you won't be sorry.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Hughes
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM, USA Date Reviewed: October 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All Cedro Peak Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1195.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Nice price. Sturdy frame. Reba Shock with adjust and lockout are great. Nice to be able to adjust rear shock suspension. The bike came upgraded with Avid brakes (which worked much better than Promax, wish they had upgraded the rotors too).
Weaknesses:
A bit heavier than advertised. The components that come with the bike are perfectly functional, but about as heavy as the come. For example, Richley bars must have lead in them they're two to three times heavier than any other bars out there. Promax disk brake rotors were both warped--I had to upgrade to Avid rotors. (note, my old Raleigh disk bike had Promax rotors too, and they were both too warped to use also--seems to be a pattern with Promax rotors).
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh RAM, Raleigh M60 hardtail, old Trek hardtail.
Bike Setup:
As mentioned below, I've made many upgrades: carbon bars, seatpost, rotors, tires, upgraded wheelset, pedals, and crankset.
Bottom Line:
First off the Motobecane Fantom Elite frame runs big. At my height I usually ride a size medium. But when I got the medium size, it was much bigger than my Raliegh medium and too big for me. Sent it back to bikesdirect.com and they swapped it for a small size. Unlike some others, I did not have any difficulty working with bikesdirect.com at all--they honored their return policy (glad I kept the box and all wrappings). The small frame fits much better. If you're under 5'9", you probably want to think twice before getting a medium size.
I purchased this bike since I recently got into racing and my Raleigh RAM was too heavy (at least that was my excuse for poor racing results). I was looking for a racing bike that didn't break the bank. I asked bikesdirect.com how much this bike weighed, they said about 29 pounds. I looked at the componentry and figured just by spending a few bucks, a few more pounds could come off and I would have a racing bike near the 25 pound mark for cheap (cheap as racing bikes go). 25 pounds seems to be a good benchmark for XC racing bikes and was the target. Anyway when my bike showed up I was very dissapointed to find it actually weighed 32.5 pounds. But with a few bucks I shaved it down quite a bit. First $28 to buy a pair of Hutchinson lightweight racing tires from Pricepoint. That shaved 600 grams over the WTB wire bead Velociraptor tires. Then $39 to upgrade to Sette carbon bars also from Pricepoint. That shave off over 300 grams. The stock bars weighed 465 grams (wow)--new carbon bars 138 grams. Another $30 to purchase a lighter seatpost and shaved off 100 grams. So for about $100 roughly 2.5 pounds came off the bike. Putting the bike right at 30 pounds. I already had a racing saddle that weighs 150 grams less than the WTB saddle that came with the bike. However the WTB saddle is much more comfortable--so I use it all the time except during actual races. Also had a set of lighter weight Shimano pedals from my old bike. With all these changes, the bike weighed about 29.5 pounds. That was the end of the low cost weight loss.
I still wasn't happy with the weight, so I dug deeper into my wallet and purchased a new lightweight racing wheelset for $350. The wheelset that comes with the bike is quite heavy. The racing wheels shaved off 2 pounds. Another $100 was spent to upgrade the crankset with a lighter type--shaving 3/4 pounds. In the end the bike wieghs about 27.5 pounds including pedals (my scale reads in .5 pound increments) with a total cost of $1750. Not to mention the $40 spent to replace the Promax rotors with Avid rotors since the Promax ones were too warped to ride. Still a good deal as racing bikes go, just not the great one I hoped for. So I'm giving the value 4 out of 5.
Even being a couple pounds over the target 25 pound mark, the bikes is still a nice racing bike. Using it I came in 3rd out of 80 in my last race (actually winning my age division). Much better than my racing performance was when riding my old Raleigh. Therefore I'm giving it 5 out of 5 in value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Laurel, MD Date Reviewed: September 13, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
http://www.bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
great price, (mostly) high end components, beefy frame.
Weaknesses:
a bit on the heavy side, non-stainless bolts/hardware are already rusting. stock pedals are so-so. less than happy with bikesdirect customer service.
Similar Products Used:
gary fisher big sur
Bike Setup:
stock + "free upgrade" to rock shox reba sl fork and avid mechanical disc brakes
Bottom Line:
i'm pretty satisfied with the bike overall. however, in the long run, i may have been happier spending the extra $200 or so to go with a trek fuel, in terms of replacement parts, customer support, warranty, etc. but those are the things you often sacrafice when you go with mail order and try and save a few hundred bones.
the bike itself rides great. steering is a little twichty, could be the suspension geometry, could just be my setup. takes big hits well. doesn't bob too much going uphill with the fork locked out. would like to have a rear lockout, but oh well.
i give it an overall rating of 3 instead of 4 due to poor customer service from bikesdirect.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Pea Ridge, WV Date Reviewed: August 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1195.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Rides great. Mine came with a Reba SL fork, which is very nice.
Weaknesses:
I have contacted Motobecane about a warranty issue. They do not respond. Therefore, any warranty that you think comes with this bike is an illusion.
Similar Products Used:
GT Hollowpoint
Bike Setup:
Reba SL, XT/LX mix, eggbeaters
Bottom Line:
The bike, with the Reba SL's and Avid brakes is a good value at 1195. However, considering Motobecane's non-response to my warranty questions I conclude that there won't be any warranty support from them. I donwgraded the "overall" rating accordingly. Which is too bad, cause a little customer service goes a long way these days.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY Date Reviewed: August 9, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Rides like a caddy down the hill. Frame is really light, RS Reba's can't be beat, XT and LXs switch gears nicely. The ride is soft, comfortable... and just pimpin!
Weaknesses:
If you got the promaxx brakes get rid of it. Ritchey Rizers handlebars weighs a ton. Truvative Isolflows came with cheap warped chainrings. Replace the tires, and rimset, they weigh too much. The seat post and seats are relatively cheap. The chain broke on the first ride.
I only bought it because they offered to upgrade the fork to Reba's with pop loc, and the brakes to Avid Mechanicals.
Race Face Air Alloy handlebars, Gyro chainrings, Wipperman chain, Aztec rotors on the back, Hayes on the front, Python Air light tires, Truvative platform webbed pedals
Bottom Line:
This applies to Fantom 3.0, Fantom Comp DS, and Fantom Elite DS (most of their parts, and most importantly, the frame, are shared).
A long time hardtail holdover, I decided to treat my body and buy a squishy. I bought this bike for its hybrid abilities. The trails I ride on are mostly x-country, though I go downhill a lot more often. This bike and frame is definitely suitable for dual duty. The bike laughs at the all rock terrain that normally swallowed my hardtail in whole.
At $1200 the Fantom Elite DS is not worth it, go for the $895 Fantom Comp, they come with the same frame and upgrade from there. I only purchased the Elite, because they agreed to upgrade from Psylos to Rebas (the RS Reba’s just ROCK!!!), and from Promaxx to Avid BB.
The bike weighed high 28s stock. I'm now down to high 26's with the upgrades.
The bike felt heavy at first (naturally, as I was used to a hardtail). I loved the pimped out chilaxin ride down the hill. It is better at the cross country rides than I originally thought. There is no lockout and there is a bit of powerloss on uphills, but I'll take it considering the ride comfort. I don't ever get off my seat now.
A WARNING ABOUT BIKESDIRECT.COM
Out of the box: -one bolt missing from the rear brake -both promaxx brakes were too warped to be used -the biggest and middle chainrings were warped -there were major scratches on my stem, rear shock and hanger -chain broke on the first ride
**I emailed bikesdirect about these problems right away and the manager replied once offering to replace the broken parts. That was a month ago, and I haven't received anything yet. I've tried emailing them another 5 times and they seem to have blocked my email.
They forced my hand, I've since filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau. They've had two complaints so far before mine.
I would have given the bike 4 chilis for the value and 4 for the overall rating. But because of the experience with bikesdirect, the bike only gets a 1 and 3.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from New York, NY Date Reviewed: July 31, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Swap
Strengths:
I traded off my hardtail for this bike, as i figured i am now more interested comfort than raw speed at any expense. All it all it is a pretty solid ride. it isn't unreasonably heavy, the gussets and welds look pretty solid, and the stock components (psylo, bar adjust) are decent enough. The 4-bar linkage also works quite well, though i am at the high end of scale for the bar adjust, at about 190 lbs w/o gear.
Weaknesses:
The pivots are junk. the main linkage/seattube pivots are sealed cartridge bearings, but the rest of the suspension is handled by bushings. I am slightly worried these will prove to be a weak point though i have had no issues yet. the wtb wheels and promax brakes are also cheapo components that will soon have to go. final niggle...the psylo springs are VERY soft. i dont know if they skimped during assembly and got a deal on soft springs or what...
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS, Specialized FSR, GT Zaskar LE
Bike Setup:
All Stock.
Bottom Line:
The wheels, brakes, and rear shock will all have to be upgraded eventually, but this seems to be a very competitive bike at the asking price. It handles well, isn't too portly, and boasts decent components that are perfectly servicable, if not the sexiest on the trail. I am quite pleased with it so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Grant Pass, Oregon Date Reviewed: June 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
love it all........except Cane Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$495.00
Purchased At:
Sprtymama - E'bay Store
Strengths:
Very solid frame. Excellent value! Great travel adjustment to tune ride for varying trails.
Weaknesses:
Paint job looks great, but is a bit fragile. After a week in Fruita and Moab, the cable sheaths had rubbed through the nice black paint to expose the white primer. I like battle scars so not a problem for me. The stock derailluer is pretty light (weak).
Similar Products Used:
Liquid - borrowed for a day...good ride, but I'm a long time hardtail holdout.
Bike Setup:
Mazocchi MX Comp ETA fork, Bar Adjust rear, LX components, Avid Mechanical discs.
Bottom Line:
Great bike regardless of price. I'm a 6'1", 215lb rider. I ride hard and let the bike do it's thing. Everything has held up well so far except the drailleur hanger. The aftermarked hanger I put on is quite a bit beefier. In all fairness to the hanger, I was in Fruita and Moab for 8 days of hard riding. I know the rear end took some big hits.
If you're looking for a good all-around XC bike, consider this one. The adjustable rear travel works great. I would buy it again!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: April 1, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$495.00
Purchased At:
E'bay
Strengths:
Awesome deal - Frame, RS Bar adj rr shock, Pike SL U'turn fr. fork, Ritchey seatpost, Stem, & headset for $495. Pike alone is worth 4 bills & is the best fork $ can buy. Adjustable 4 bar susp. 4/5/6 inch travel. At the 5 in. travel setting it soaks up everything, and climbs excellent. Rear linkage/4 bar is super stiff laterally, and is very compliant with/Quality bearings/bushes. Headset is a nice Ritchey fuzzy logic (sealed) and the Stem is a superlight (nice) Ritchey logic pro.
Weaknesses:
Weight is 28 lbs. with light wheelset and trim components. Super solid feel is the tradeoff. Seatpost is light, but is the 1 bolt design. Rock Shox Bar Adj. is an ok shock w/ rebound control. Make sure to lube the internals as recommended to keep the seals fresh. Shock is the only component needing possible upgrade, as there is no rear lockout on the Bar Adj.
RS Pike SL UTurn Fork 95-140mm travel, RS Bar Adj. rr shock, Avid Mech 7.0 brakes, Marz.Q20/XT hubs on Sun DSC2 rims, Tubeless Fastrack/Adrenaline tires, XT Shft/der's, RaceRace Cranks, Ritchey ProL pedals. Flip the stem if you're into cross country handling.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks for the money. On an 9 mile closed course x-country loop, this bike is within 1 min. of my Jamis XC Pro which is 3+ lbs lighter. The ride is twice as plush though and you could probably ride twice as long. Most of the weight penalty is in the 20mm thru-hub and 4.9lb Pike Fork. BUT - the Pike fork is awesome - check the reviews. Frame is Alum 7000 series with great looks and super sturdy/stiff design. This bike has the ability to bomb like a downhiller, but can get up and go like any Full Susp. X-country rig. Seems like Geometry and linkage is similar to the Ellsworth Moment at 1/4 the cost. Don't skimp on the buildup & wheels, as you will pay the price in weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
noob boon
a Cross Country Rider
from Falls Church, VA, USA Date Reviewed: June 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
many
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1095.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
price, solid frame, 3/4/5" travel rear shock, easily adjustable for different ride styles, I also like how it looks
Weaknesses:
crappy weelset, diskbreaks, a bit on the heavy side (I've got 20" one - the largest)
Similar Products Used:
giant nrs2, ironhorse hollow point, jamis dakar sport
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Although I'm a noob to mountain biking, I'm far from being one in street and cross country riding and this bike seems to be able to do everything I need it for. It feels much more solid than nrs2 and hollowpoint and should be able to take a bunch of abuse. I like how it's easily adjustable to either plushy ride or more like a hardtail. The stock wheelset (or at least the way it was built) and breaks (maybe they'll get better eventually) are a whole different story - absolute crap, and are on my list of upgrades (it'll probably also lighten the beast a bit). Anyways, I think I'll keep it in my stable - the more I ride the more I'm warming up to it. I personally think it's worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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