The frame bears the traditional BALFA signature of craftsmanship: Its front end is made of 6061 T-6 aluminum, and its swingarm, as usual, from 4130 cromoly for optimal stiffness, durability and tyre clearance. It gets 115mm (4,5 inches) of rear wheel travel via a FOX Float RC and the frame’s weigth is a cool 6,3 pounds. The geometry is typical trail ride with a 70degree head angle and bb height of 318mm (12,5 inches). The BELAIR is a single pivot design that uses two sealed bearings and has CNC rocker plates. Being a 21st century bike, the BELAIR is disc brakes only, featuring the International Standard.
Submitted by
Gary Egli
a Cross Country Rider
from Courtenay BC Canada Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
The whole dang area is great
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Dodge City Cycles
Strengths:
Climbing, single track response and technical descending. Rear lock-out.
Weaknesses:
Availability. You can import from the UK, but they are unavailable in Canada.
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mt Team SC, Element T.O.
Bike Setup:
Shimano Deore Brakes, XT / XTR drive, Manitou Black fork
Bottom Line:
I can do just about anything on this bike except big drops and really gnarly descents. I can ride down most stuff the free-riders do, but I can climb up to the trail head and not be a "shuttle-pig". If ever there was a one-bike-does -it -all, this is it. I bought this as a frame-only and did a parts swap. That explains the low-ball price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bud
a Cross Country Rider
from Grapevine, TX 76051 Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Northshore, Johnson branch, womble
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Strong, Stiff, great handling, plush,
Weaknesses:
Weight, short front front to center so if you are between sizes of regular or large get the large. Balfa now is building this bike in 4 sizes for 2004 with a manitou spv shock instead of the fox.
Full XT, Mavic cross max xl, thompson post stem, answer bars fox talas rlc ,etc etc etc....buit up quite nice.
Bottom Line:
Handles like a scapel. Suspension is a true 4.5in. and it feel like more. frame is impecably stiff. Somewhat slack seat geometry lets you carve and inspires confidence at high speed, The razor quick handling may slap you in the face and get your attention if your boldness is not kept in check. Climbs like a goat. Frame is 6.5lbs. Love the rear steel triangle. It give the bike a very laterally stiff ride with no side flex ,but has a steel livelyness that is hard to quatify. It probably is the reason the frame feels so smooth and plush, just like the Boulder defiant. You'll be hard pressed to get it into the 25lb zone built up. Although, with out pedals mine is in the upper 25.7-9lbs. depending on measuring device and right at 27lb.s with a set of time attck comps. The bike is very well balanced with the fork dialed in to mach the rear at 4.5in. I highly suggest a fork like the Talas with ajustability, as you can really dial in the specific handling traights you want from the frame. Durability is a non issue. I have broken countless framesets. This bike still is as tight as it was when I bought it. The fit issue and the 6.5 weight are the only thing keeping this from a full 5 and 5 chili rating. For the money. you'll be very hard pressed to find a better frame and a better handling mountain bike. This is a 1 bike do it all ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
William Cobb
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX, USA Date Reviewed: December 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The 20 trails that surround me
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Mad-Duck These guys rock!
Strengths:
Everything from the frame to the super stiff lateral rigidity of the bike.
Weaknesses:
none so far.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll, Cannondale carbon fiber Raven, Giant NRS, Klein hardtial.
Bike Setup:
XT cranks, XT rear D, XT front D, Hayes Hydraulics, Easton stem, seatpost, handlebars, and heavy duty front Psylo springs.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks! Props to the great team at Mad-duck in Grapevine Texas for setting me up with a sweet ride! So far this is the only bike I have rode that I have not broke. I just got back on a trip with a friend from Hot Springs Arkansas where we rode the Womble trail and the bike was comfortable all the way up and down. This bike is very responsive and climbs like a dream. Finally a cross country bike that us clydesdales can ride and ride hard without breaking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Spence
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Date Reviewed: September 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Western Ontario
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Won't say
Strengths:
Looks, quality, sweet ride, company reputation, handling
Weaknesses:
Hayes discs? aw, come on! OH, and the price is little steep but I guess i should just accept that you don't get stuff like this cheap, it's a boutique bike, I'll get over it.
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Slayer, Turner 5 spot
Bike Setup:
Swapped the horrible discs for a set of my fav: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Discs (better than XTR, trust me)
Bottom Line:
I hear a few missing the point on this amazing bike: It's NOT a freeride hucker, it's a burly XC bike from a DH/Freeride company, and that's the way it rides. It's the best bike I've ever ridden and I highly recomend it to anyone with the budget to get it. People just oogle at the suspension design and the way the rear shock integrates into the down/top tube. Very sexy! And I love the idea of the rear cro-mo triangle, I've gone through SO MANY der. hagners... This is the best! Am I making myself clear? THIS BIKE ROCKS!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Spencer
a
from Concord, NC Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Sun and Ski Sports
Strengths:
Handles downhills well, great for dirt jumping.
Weaknesses:
Some of the components suck. Mainley the Hayes cable actuated brakes.
Bike Setup:
All stock, did get a bash gaurd.
Bottom Line:
I've road this bike for just under a year, on all kinds of terrain, downhill, freeride, trails, and I am about 205lbs and this thing has taken everything I have dished out, I havn't dropped anything over 8'. If you are an advanced freerider I wouldn't recomend this bike, but if you are just getting started it will do you fine. The Hayes mechanical do suck, but I still have them on there and they do the job, After this year I will definalty be looking to get something bigger, hopefully a Banshi Sream, depends on the funds. Overall I would say it is a decent, reliable bike, definatly good for extreme trailriding and jumping, drops over 8' escpecially if your my size I wouldn't recomend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ben edwards
a
from truro nova scotia Date Reviewed: October 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
truro
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
canadian tire
Strengths:
yeah my supercycle was ok but it was really f**king sh**ty in the end
Weaknesses:
everything
Similar Products Used:
uuummmmm no
Bike Setup:
warped front mercalli forks and everything else was warped to
Bottom Line:
don't buy any i mean any canadian tire bike for any amount of money they really suck. p.s i like bananas . bananas for life so
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wes
a Cross Country Rider
from Campbell River, BC. Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
B.L.T. (this week)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Urban Lemming Adventure Sports
Strengths:
Has a solid feel, the Lockouts on both the Z1 and the Fox Float are a bonus.
Weaknesses:
Sometimes feels snakey in tight turns. The Fox Float blew up within one month.
Similar Products Used:
I had a Klein Mantra and feel it was similar in ride to a degree.
I'm really happy with my purchase, although more than what I wanted to spend ($4000 Canadian), but the price was paid for with the lockout suspension all around. The standover clearance is great! And the fact that I don't have to have the seatpost extended to its'limit like I had to on my Mantra makes it much more easier to get on in tough situations. I put 2.4 tires on and they JUST fit, I wanted 2.4 for my own confidence but that's not to say this bike won't do the downhill. I't not as beefy as the 2Step but I think it could still ride with the best if only at the back of the pack. I'm a cross country rider who likes to do a tiny bit of downhill and I'm a happy camper.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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