The Sette Ace offers everything that a die hard XC rider could ever wish for in a cross country bike. The Ace’s light weight frame and compliant suspension design work together to create a bike that is light and efficient enough for those extra long rides. The Sette Ace was designed to provide pure cross country performance; its light weight design was built using oversized and butted 7005 series aluminum tubing. Oversized tubing and a reinforced head tube keep this bike strong yet light weight. The Sette Ace breezes through the trails with 4 inches of rear travel, while sealed cartridge bearing pivot points keep everything operating smooth and trouble free. Full hydraulic hose and cable guides and a replaceable derailleur hanger help to round things off.
i love it! i ride aggressive trail with lots of drops,roots,rock gardens,ect. 3ft.to flat no prob. 6ft. to transition,,that extra inch would be great, but it still eats it. i've had it going on 2 yrs. now without a single problem. went with the ace over the flite cuz i ride real trails in N.E. and don't just session at our little freeriding spots. i just hit s#*t in passing. but i AM GETTING the flite to build up starting around xmas cuz im getting more and more brave thanx to the ace. great bike for pretty much anyone. hope sette comes out with a 5in model.
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Submitted by
ty1967
a Cross Country Rider
from Oceanside, CA Date Reviewed: October 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Calaveres Lake
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Rear shock, price, light weight
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
94 Trek dual suspension frame
Bike Setup:
I built it up using Sram X.0 components, Hayes 9 brakes, Marzochii Fork TS2, Race Face headset and Deus XC cranks, tubless wheels, Sette carbon bars and stem, FSA carbon seatpost, and candy peddles.
Bottom Line:
I picked this up on sale at Pricepoint. I couldn't pass up the price, it was over 50% off MSRP. I got the seat post used on ebay and I bought the new condition fork off a friend for $150. I bought most of the other components on sale off of Pricepoint and put it together for just under $2k, then I paid the wrenches at Performance to do some stuff that was giving me a headache like cutting and fitting the brake lines, and installing the cables and adjusting the derailleur. This is my second duel suspension bike, back in the 90's I rode a Trek with a Reese shock that sucked. The last ten years I have been riding a full carbon Diamond Back hardtail, so I can now really appreciate my new ride. I weighed the bike at Performance on their digital scale and it was 27.3 pounds.
I got a ride that cost me $2,200 including tax, shipping, and labor, and put together with better components than I see on $4k showroom models. I have put 80 miles on it over the last couple weeks, biffed twice, and I love it so far.
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Submitted by
BR-26354
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho Date Reviewed: October 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
your mom
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint.com
Strengths:
The price and overall quality of the frame. I'm blown away with how solid and light this frameset is, and it works too. Also the Sette parts. The seat is quality as are the Sette stem and bars I ordered along with the bike to replace the no namers that come installed. The wheels a huge plus.
Weaknesses:
None so far, even the Tora 302 fork, which I've heard nothing but negative reviews of, has actually worked pretty well.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, Trek, Marin, Jamis and Iron Horse.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Sette Edge OS stem/bar combo in white, a set of Panaracer Rampage 2.35 tires, and an Answer Carbolite seat post I had from another bike.
Bottom Line:
This bike works, and works really well. I was in a financial tight spot and couldn't spend the money I usually spend when buying a new bike, but I'm pleasantly surprised with how well this bike rides. It makes me question why I spent 3k plus on brand name bikes in the past when this one is showing me I don't have to. I'm sure I'll get a few weird looks from bike shop snobs, I don't give a crap.
The X-7 drive train and complimentary Truvative Fire X cranks are solid. Nothing flashy, just reliable and smooth. The fork could maybe use an upgrade down the road, but it's working for now. The Mavic X719 rims with XT hubs are awesome for the price of the bike as are the Juicy 3 brakes. As long as you know how to set up hydro discs then these brakes work great. No rubbing or squeaking and plenty of power. I laugh at all these noobs that think you need Avid CRs or top of the line Maguras to get a set of breaks that work well and do it quietly. It's all in the way you adjust them, and sorry, but any half-decent hydraulic brake is plenty powerful for a freakin' sub 30lb pedal bike.
The ride is great with this frame. No bob on the climbs and it decends really well, too, considering it's more of a XC setup. I ripped a piece of single track just as fast as I used to on my last bike that had a 130mm Manitou Minute fork and a slack 68.5 headtube. This bike is fast, up and down. Don't let the off-brand name fool you, this is a great bike worthy of upgrading, if you feel the need to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nice_camel_toe
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, CA, USA Date Reviewed: September 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Rockville & NorthStar
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Value. You cannot beat the price to component ratio for this full suspension bike. After seeing the quality of the build in person at the 2009 Sea Otter Classic I was sold. Another plus is the Rock Shox Monarch(at this price of a bike its awsome). I have taken this bike to the technical trails at Rockville to the black diamonds at NorthStar and handled them well in both climbing and descending.
Weaknesses:
No real weaknesses. Bought this bike for my wife and use it as a backup. Purchased a small frame and fits both of us well (5'4" & 5'8"). But descrip should have said straight top tube when buying small frame. Stand over should be shorter too for small frame bike.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Moab, Trek VRX 300, Fuji Reveal 2.0
Bike Setup:
Changed out tires to IRC mibros and lightweight tubes. Evrything else stock.
Bottom Line:
This bike is an awesome value. You will not be disappointed. I plan on upgrading the fork that is better suited for the monarch. Maybe a Fox TALAS so my wife can keep it at 100mm and have better stand over clearance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gridlok
a Cross Country Rider
from Willseyville, NY USA Date Reviewed: September 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Shidagin Hollow
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Front fork lockout, wicked light bike, cheap as you can get for a decent FS bike. Brakes and shifters are all excellent X7 quality.
Weaknesses:
Paint sucks, already scratched. Pedals are lame, swapped out for some Welco pedals. Seat is OK but designed for padded shorts or more padded asses than mine. Large frame is way too small for me (6'10" 205 lbs). Stock tires don't do quite so well with roots and mud.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Hardtail - Marlin XXXL
Bike Setup:
Stock except pedals / seat / grips and seatpost (too short) I upgraded
Bottom Line:
I can't believe how good this bike is for the money. The front fork lockout is sweet for keeping bob down on the climbs. I have the shocks front and rear set much softer than what is recommended. Its an incredibly kush ride. You lose a lot of pedal clearance if you ride the shocks soft. I was looking at buying a used bike on ebay for around (or over $1000), I'm glad I bought this bike instead. Decent warentee, great components and stellar bike. Came 99% assembled, just had to put on the handlebars, wheels & pedals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
radius1214
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington, WV, USA Date Reviewed: August 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Middleridge, Kanawha State Forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
www.pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Great parts for the price. Frame is moderately light. All white looks awesome. X7 Quality is great.
Weaknesses:
Paint scratched easily, cable rub wore off a spot of paint under the seatpost within a week and a half after I received it. Monarch 2.1 isn't adjustable, but it does a good job none-the-less as a set it and leave it.
Bike Setup:
Stock, with a better quality Shimano pedal.
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing for the price. This is my first full suspension and I couldn't afford to spend too much, so the Ace was right in my price range. I took it on some pretty hard trails the third time I road it - very rocky and technical, and it handled about a 5 foot jump without any problems. Climbs well, shifts well, hydraulic brakes stopped well. It basically owned the trail and all I had to do was keep pedaling. I'd definitely recommend it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stetego
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvington, NY, USA Date Reviewed: August 2, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Can't beat the price.
Bike Setup:
Stock from pricepoint.
Bottom Line:
Just got bike from pricepoint.com and took out for the first time. I have to admit, I was kinda scared to buy this bike. I thought that it was too good to be true. Bike came packed very well and is 97% assembled. All that needs to be done is putting the front wheel on, thread the pedals, and put the bars on. Frame looks great and the welds are quality. As for the ride...I was blown away!! With the suspension dialed in, this bike handled amazing. I flew through some pretty hairy rock gardens without even flinching. And it climbs like a goat(I am not a small person, 6'4"-250). There were a couple of hills that I thought for sure I was going to need to walk, but this bike took me over rocks and roots and whatever else I put in front of it with ease. For the price, I can't imagine a better bike. The x7 drivetrain a great. Fox suspension (even if they're not the best models) is terrific. There are some parts I will be upgrading now that I have tested it stock. I will be changing the: Tires, Bars, Stem, Saddle, Grips, Seat post, and Pedals.
Bottom Line-If you are looking for a full suspension rig that can handle everything,(with the exception of hardcore downhill and huge drops)but don't have a bank full of cash to blow, this is the bike for you. You won't be disappointed.
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Submitted by
jaymzbrm
a Cross Country Rider
from NCR, Philippines Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009
great value & lightweight frame!
mine came with a manitou rear suspension. no gripes there.
the small size frame fits me like a road bike, it may be best if sette would decrease its sizing a bit. the 16.5" small frame feel & fit me like a medium hardtail frame. the top tube length is ok.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
carlos-ma-xc
a Racer
from Massachusetts Date Reviewed: April 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Harold Parker
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$660.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Light, strong, good cornering and climbing bike, great rear suspension, great price, high bottom bracket
Weaknesses:
A little front heavy, shock lever sometimes moves on its own during technical descents but the lockout is a nice feature for the occasional road ride
I’ve now had the chance to use this bike a ton over the past year and a half and I really like this frame. For the price it makes for a really well rounded XC platform. It climbs and handles great and the rear suspension works well even on technical stuff. Durability has been great, other than a bent derailleur hanger the frame has never hand any issues.
I paid 600 for the frame from Price Point. The extra $60 I’ve included in the price was to have the bottom bracket and head tube machined at my local bike shop. The surfaces come covered in powder coat from the factory and I HIGHLY recommend you have them machined to ensure the life of your bottom bracket and headset.
My only issue with the frame is that it’s a little front heavy due to the bottom bracket height and steep head tube angle. Originally I built the bike up using a heavy coil spring 100mm fork which made the bike stable on climbs but technical descents a little hairy. Now running a 120mm fork and I really like how it balances out the rig. Thus my only other suggestion when building one up would be an adjustable front fork 100/120/140 so you can find a setting that works best for you. Great Frame!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rpetica
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodland Park, Co USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Crested Butte 401/403
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Light weight, stiff latteraly, compliant suspension link design. Strong, holds up to abuse.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Scott Spark (my race bike), Stumpjumper, Sworks M4 hard tail.
The best $500 that I ever spent. Outstanding value, with very good performance. It climbs exceptionally well, handles very well, and handles technical descents with confidence. Overall, a very good XC bike. I have paid more and received much less. I would compare this frame to the much higher priced $1100-$1500 range frames. I have hammered on this frame all season in Colorado, and have no issues whatsoever aside from a slight clicking noise, which turned out to be remedied by zip tying my cables along the top tube. No creaking, no pivot or BB noise; nothing but smooth quiet performance. I recommend this frame, especially for the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ljsmith
a Cross Country Rider
from Olney, MD Date Reviewed: July 30, 2008
The is a great budget FS bike. I have always been a diehard hardtail guy, but I thought I would get a FS to try out. I didn't want to drop a ton of cash, so this frame looked like a great deal. It came with a Marzocchi XC 700SL, which is a total pain in the butt to get set up, but once setup works pretty well. But I would recommend not getting this fork just to save yourself some hassle. The bike rides great. I initially set the rear shock at 30% sag, but I didn't like how it climbed or the pedal bob. So I pumped it up to 120psi, and it now has about 10% sag. It climbs really well, but not as efficiently as a hardtail. But the suspension will allow you to climb faster on rooty and rocky climbs. The rear shock does have a lockout, but I don't find myself ever using it. The bike descends very well. Especially is you increase the travel on the fork to slacken the headtube angle. I find that I can ride much faster downhill than I could on my hardtail. But the steering is a little slower than my hardtail, so while it is much more stable I have to be careful when going fast because it won't respond as quickly. The bike is really light, 26lbs. with pedals. So there is very little weight penalty over a hardtail, in fact most hardtails weigh more than 26lbs. I would highly recommend this frame to anyone who wants a nice FS bike without shelling out a lot of money, as long as you can live without a pedigree name. I shopped around for deals to assmeble the bike and used the follwing parts from my spare parts box (cranks, BB, handlebars, stem, grips, shifters). So the total price of the built up bike was $1600, which is not bad at all. How many 26lb, XT equipped FS bikes can you get for $1600?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jasen
a Racer
from Tempe, AZ Date Reviewed: February 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
National- Phoenix, AZ Bell Rock Loop- Sedona, AZ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Super lite (5.44 lbs.), affordable, good looking frame, good climber, and a smooth operator...
Weaknesses:
Felt slight delay when hammering technical sections at first, but when I got used to it it seemed to climb just as weel as my hard tail.
Similar Products Used:
None. Unless you want to count a proflex in 1992. Rided hard tails ever sense.
Bike Setup:
Avid juciy 7's, SRAM X9 in the back, X7 up front. Race face Next SL carbon bar, Race face Deus Xc Hadset, Race Face Deus XC crank set, Fox F-series RLC100 fork, Bontrager ACC carbon seatpost, WTB silverado Saddle, Soke/Dart classic combo tires.
Bottom Line:
This was the first FS bike I’ve since a ProFlex in 1992. I’d always thought that only a hard tail could climb the things I like to climb. Well, to my satisfaction, I was proven wrong…well, mostly. I went up a trail with some pretty technical climbs today and while I did very well for the most part, I found myself putting down my foot in areas that I’d climbed numerous times in the past. It almost felt like there was a delayed reaction when I need to hammer it the hardest. Towards the end though, I realized that this was just how this bike felt and that if I kept going with steady motion, I would roll right over those tough spots. I’m anxious to go back to those other sections to see if I can climb them now that I’m more used to the feel. Although I’d felt like I was climbing a little sluggish, I’d actually gotten to the top faster than usual.
I’m sure I don’t even need to mention how much more fun I had coming down. I found myself cruising down without even thinking about my brakes in sections where my bike used to bounce all over the place forcing me to take it easy. Instead of jerking down technical rocky areas, I almost felt like my bike was conforming to the trail like a snake. I was amazed at how smooth this ride felt. I had people telling me all the time that I would enjoy the benefits of a FS bike and I’m glad I found out. I’m rebuilding my hard tail and will definitely still take her out every once in a while, but I can strongly say that I have been converted over to the darkside, and I’m no longer a “hardcore Hardtailer”
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver/Squamish, BC Date Reviewed: October 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Seven Stitches
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Really light. Balanced. Simple.
Weaknesses:
Needs a high-clamp or top swing front derailleur, not mentioned in the specs.
Bike Setup:
Dropoffs up front, SRAM X.7 fore & aft with X.7 trigger shifters, Avid BB7, Truvativ Hussefelt cranks on a Gigapipe BB.
Bottom Line:
Light, clean, frame, with a smooth and simple rear suspension system. I took my time building it up as a frame and fork swap project, switching my XC ride from a hardtail to FS. My forks are on the heavy side, and have a little more travel than the rear, but that's solved with preload, so you can get away with a longer travel fork if you want - the geometry will handle it. I have been pounding the daylights out of this frame on Squamish singletrack, deep in the autumn muck. The bike feels great. It climbs great, and sticks to the ground on the uphills like it was clamped to a track. Standing on a climb (a hardtail no-no) still keeps the rear wheel glued to the ground. Chunky downhills are smooth - but this is truly an XC frame - I wouldn't want to do massive dropoffs with it. You get just a bit less plushness in exchange for the light frame. I used the rear lockout on logging road ascents, and it works just fine, but I could easily live without it - the bob is minimal. No slop at all. I can now get away with all kinds of riding that would have put me off the trail with my hardtail. I hesitated for a long while before buying the frame, and I don't regret it at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: September 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$580.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Weight, handling, responsiveness, good looks, build quality, bike fit, Manitou shock, delivery time from Price Point.
LX/XT mix (Square taper!), Thompson post, Avid BB7, Crossrides, Mutano Raptor 2.4s, Marzocchi EXR Air 100mm
Bottom Line:
Excellent frame for the recreational XC rider (I am converting from a hardtail). 35 miles on it so far. The frame geometry is as well-sorted as anything I have tried for our tight bumpy Eastern singletrack, and compares favorably to a Rush 5 I tested (except for my fork, which does not match a Lefty). There is absolutely no sign of any frame flex when hammering a hillclimb, as with the Hollowpoint I had. It feels like a hardtail. What I notice is that I'm not bouncing and banging around the trail like on a hardtail. No problems at all in building up the bike. The BB threads and headtube were clean. Japanese sealed bearings everywhere. Everything works. The bike weighed in a little under 6 lbs. by my fishing scale for a 20.5 inch frame. The bike looks great in white, very clean looking. Decals are under clear coat. I would have liked to take the decals off, but it looks really sano anyway.
I would have been pleased to purchase a SC Superlight frame from an Atlanta LBS, but could not find a shop interested in selling me one (availabilty seems to be an issue). So I turned to the Internet and figured for $550 plus shipping it was worth taking a chance, as long as I'm ordering out anyway. If you have components and just need a new frame this deal is impossible to beat.
The only reservation I have about the Sette is, what kind of warranty support if you have a problem in two years? I called PP before ordering the frame and asked for them to fax the warranty but they never did, even after a follow-up call. The warranty booklet that came with the bike appears to provide a 5-year warranty, but with so many disclaimers I don't have much confidence that it's woth anything. Overall highly recommended for DIY types, docking value 1 chili for the sketchy warranty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nelmar
a Cross Country Rider
from Daly City Date Reviewed: September 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Skegs point, Resolution
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Price, durability, and weight (frame weight 5.3 ilbs)! Built my bike from the frame up and it weighed just under 30 ilbs! Tested and compared with Santa Cruz Nomad.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
GT i-drive, Ellsworth Faith, Santa Cruz Nomad
Bike Setup:
Shimano XT and Lx components, Chris King headset
Bottom Line:
I was looking into building a Santa Cruz Nomad, but I decided to try an unknown name brand and luckily ran into this frame. I've been riding this bike hard practically everday and hasn't failed me yet. If you're looking for a lightweight bike that would take the abuse to compete, train, or just plain have fun with, this is it. Added with quality components and you have a bike just as good or even better than other quality bikes. It has great weight and balance distribution, control, and durability that made me want to get another frame and build it for other people to try. For the price you can't go wrong. with the money I saved, I'm buying another one. You get more than what you pay for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Dickinson
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA. USA Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Water Dog / Purisima Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$599.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint.com
Strengths:
Sette XC Ace
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz
Bike Setup:
RaceFace Cranks, Bombshell FatDaddy wheels, Fox Vanilla fork.
Bottom Line:
This was my second attempt at a full suspension and if my first bike was like this I would still be riding it. Love the rear suspension with no bob or bounce. Nice feature of the lockout rear shock but have not really needed it. I setup the shock per the manual and it has worked great. Bike handles great at low speeds and is very strong. If you like building your own ride I highly recommend this frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Fullenwider
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Texas, USA Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Grapevine NorthShore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Light, Very Strong, Quick
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
Manitu Nixon Platinum Intrinsic fork. Race Face cranks. SRAM X-9 rear, X-7 front
Bottom Line:
This bike cannot be beat for the price. I am very large, 6'5" and over 250. I was worried about strength and durability and I love to go off rocks and speed down hill. This bike holds up. It has a lockout on the rear shock (standard) but I have never had to use it. With my weight I was worried about peddle bob but this bike does not move.
If you are thinking about building an XC bike, dont look past the ACE. You cannot go wrong for the $$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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