Submitted by
Josh Cross
a Weekend Warrior
from Muskegon, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2005
Strengths: Price, style, nice 2.4" wide tires, amazing bike for beginner
Weaknesses: It's not a '05 STUMPJUMPER FSR COMP DISC 100, and if it was i'd ride it more
Bottom Line:
I have really enjoyed riding this bike. It has brought back my love for trail ridin' that i had when i was yonger. This bike made me realize the thechnology that has gone into bikes in the past 10 years is tremendous. This bike takes me places I coulod have only dreamed of when I was riding my huffy back in middle school. If I like this bike so much I can only imagine how much more I will enjoy my STUMPJUMPER FSR COMP DISC 100 whenever I get it.
Similar Products Used: Royce Union F/S, Motobecane F/S
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Abar
a Cross Country Rider
from Puyallup, Wa
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003
Strengths: rear shock is impressive for what it is the rebound adj. really works. It's surprisingly fun to ride.
Weaknesses: none for the price
Bottom Line:
I am using this as my winter bike, so i won't thrash my drive train on my Turner. saved some dough by using the same wheelset for both bikes. I rode the giant before and after the upgrades, what a dirrerence 6 pounds makes. This bike is very impressive it loves to be railed around corners and eats up everything in its way. I ride mostly tight rooty singltrack and this bike loves it. I am almost embarrassed to say that this bikes performance comes close to the turner (a $5000.00 bike) WOW!! I will post another review next year to see if the mud has taken a toll on the frames shock and pivots.
Bike Setup: manitou comp 100/120, LX cranks, spinergy Xcyclone disc wheels, avid mechanical disc brakes, terry fly seat, panaracer fire xc k. tires, (cassette,bar, shifters brake levers are stock)roughly 28 lbs.
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Submitted by
Cody
a Downhiller
from Boulder City, Nevada
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003
Strengths: Rear Shock.Brakes are good.
Weaknesses: sr suntour forks suck! wheels suck,I crumpled the rear wheel on a jump and decided to get better rims and go to disk.Saddle hurts my ass.pedals are sh*t.
Bottom Line:
This bike is pretty well rounded except for a couple of parts that can easily be changed.I really enjoy this bike and its not to bad going down bootleg.I would definetly recommend this bike if you want a reasonably cheap bike for trail riding or even a little downhilling if you're stupid like me.
Strengths: Frame has held up to my serious abuse. I have maxed out the rear shock many many times but still keeps on truckn'.
Weaknesses: Suntour forks suck A$$, had to replace with Marzocchi Dirt Jumper III. Crankset and bottom bracket went bad after sevral months. Replaces with Race Face Prodigy
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money. I spent less building my bike and getting better components than the DS-1
Strengths: Decent components and a pretty durable frame
Weaknesses: The suspension could be alot better
Bottom Line:
I really like this bike, it i got alot of new parts for it but overall i think this is a really good beginer bike. So far its held up pretty well despite a broken durailer and durailer hanger and a few popped tires. If your just getting into mountain biking i strongley suggest this bike.
Bike Setup: Bomber dj3 front suspension, michillen hot s rear tire and a hutchinson python front tire, mavic rims and front disk brakes.
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Submitted by
Rick Masters
a Weekend Warrior
from Latrobe, PA 15650
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003
Strengths: The price, style, ride, ease of pedaling. I think it is a good looking bike.
Weaknesses: Forks, the water botle location is nuts but I don't know where else to put it. We will see about the pedals They seem to squeek.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I am 47 years old 6' and weighed 240 lbs last month. My last bike was a huffy 18 speed which sat under my porch untouched for the last 10 years while I sat on the couch and drank beer. So I started riding the huffy and enjoyed riding but that bike sucked. I wanted a comfortable bike so I went with f/s. I went for my first ride through the woods with my buddies last night and decided I am not ready for that kind of riding yet so I am mainly going to just ride on back roads till I build up my stanima. So far in the past month I have dropped 22 lbs. My goal is < 200 lbs and I think this bike will help me reach it. It is a dream to ride. I do think I am going to get better forks but I figured that when I bought it. I am a big boy :-) My friend sugested this bike to me and I would recomend it to any one also.
Weaknesses: my frame broke at the shock mounts aftre taking it off a 5 foot drop....a few times. Took 3 weeks for a new frame to come in. Seat is too hard, and shifting constantly has to be tuned.
Bottom Line:
good bike, i have lots of fun on it, but easily comes out of tune. Frame could be stronger....but then again, i shouldnt abuse it :-/ cant do better for the price.
Submitted by
ian salsbury
a Cross Country Rider
from spokane WA USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Strengths: very good for cross country and bumpy trails
Weaknesses: a little heavy but not that bad. rear shock a little tight.
Bottom Line:
this bike is the best you could get for this price range and if you are a beginner this bike is absolutely perfect. i would recomend this bike over the giant warp DS3.if you are really a hardcore rider i wouldn't get it because the opponents aren't that spectacular.
Submitted by
tim
a Cross Country Rider
from los angeles
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Strengths: Value and price! Components hold up well, the bike can take a beating. I loved how the bike acted on the downhills.
Weaknesses: Heavy. Components are crap (but they work decently for a while), I didn't like the rear suspension. The fork really wasn't as bad as I expected but it still counts as a weakness. Saddle hurt my ass. Stock tires are too big unless you're in serious mud or doing only downhill, in which case they rock.
Bottom Line:
This bike is an incredible value, Giant seems to be very good at coming up with economical bikes. Just get new tires for the bike, I put on a pair of Panaracer's and they made an incredible difference, I was suddenly able to do hills that had stopped me before.
The weaknesses I mentioned are totally acceptable for a bike that costs this little. Just the FRAME for my new bike (a superlight, which is considered a more "value" oriented bike) cost more than twice that of the COMPLETE Warp. Ouch.
That said, however, I think if you have serious trails around you and if you really get into mountain biking you'll want something better than the Warp. Especially if you do a lot of climbing and cross-country stuff. Yes I was able to do the same trails as everybody else with my Warp, but with my new bike I'm able to do more and I am less tired at the end. Which makes the whole thing more fun.
5 chilis for value, I can't imagine a better value for a bike. You get more than what you pay for.
3 chilis overall ... not a bad bike at all, just not that great of a bike either.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Blur, Superlight
Bike Setup: Put on SPD pedals, Koobi SI saddle, and Panaracer XC Fire Pro tires. NEW TIRES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, THEY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
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Submitted by
mark shiels
a Cross Country Rider
from kamloops, B.C.
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2002
Strengths: good shifters, very ergonomic, sticky tires, great price, I paid about $750 canadian. 20.5 frame is great for big guys like me. Handles everything i can dish out, havn't taken any thing bigger than a 4 ft drop but soon as i get enough nerve.
Weaknesses: front fork in cold weather, I'm 6'4",220 lbs and easily bottom out the suspension.
Bottom Line:
if your just starting out like me, i'ts probably the best bang for the buck. It can be a perfect bike with some small upgrades.
Similar Products Used: first full suspension bike.
Bike Setup: mainly stock, body geometry seat, soon to have platform pedals and lizard skins on the bars, chain protector is a must.
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Submitted by
Joshua Picken
a Downhiller
from Adelaide Australia
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002
Strengths: Price, Strong Frame, big ass tires, Lightweight
Weaknesses: front shox (sun tour) not much chop Derailurs could be beter, Chain clanks are so bad on down hill runs and starting to do damage im geting a chainstay guard asap.
Bottom Line:
This bike is excellent value, its shox could a lote better but for the price who gives a. My baby flys down the hills its so fun to ride and the girls love it.
Bike Setup: stock hope to have Manitou Black or Marzocchi bombers very soon.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Hampton, VA - USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2002
Strengths: Beefy tires Takes hard hits well tires get unreal grip (makes it hard it kick the back out in a slide) the shifters work sweet (you dont have to hold it in the gear just click and go) Great rear shock (you can make town car smooth, or sports car stiff) A bit heavy but still light for it components Climbs hills great
Weaknesses: Tires might be a bit to beefy, makes you work more to peddle Front shock - i read the reviews and it does not begian to discribe how weak it is. I'm 6'3" 200lbs - i constantly bottom out the front shock, also makes it hard to stick in corners because it absorbs the energy to go into the turn Seat is rock hard. After a few weeks of riding it still makes me sore
Bottom Line:
If you adjust the the back shock properly, replace the front fork and get a softer seat, this bike kicks @$$
Bike Setup: Stock yellow 20.5" frame, but will soon upgrade fork to RS Duke race, and disk brakes.
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Submitted by
RJ
a Downhiller
from Laguna,California
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002
Strengths: frame is tough
Weaknesses: Suspension,Front and rear suck really hard. Components stink. wheels bent first ride
Bottom Line:
This bike sucks. Second day riding I bley out rear shock. third day, front forks. You'd think with 5in of travel it would be able to handle 2ft jumps, but no. if you plan on doing anything more than looking at possies and dandilions. Don't get this bike, but the psylos are awesome
Similar Products Used: first full suspension but tried trek downhill and gary fisher downhill
Bike Setup: psylos xc
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Submitted by
Jordan Harmer
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, California
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Strengths: Great bike for the price, i love the back shock, it has compression and rebound damping control, looks cool, fork makes a cool pffft sound - not important i know but its cool anyway so dont give me a bunch of crap about it
Weaknesses: ok derailleurs you sometimes have to push the shifters a liiitttle farther than the gear that is showing
Bottom Line:
good bike for the money, i live in a place where there's kind of a lot of hills, so not that great for that
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from TAMPA, FL. USA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Strengths: PRICE IS OUTSTANDING FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL FULL SUSPENSION MTB. BIKE LOOKS GREAT AND HAS WELL BALANCED COMPONENTS. REAR SHOCK IS OUTSTANDING.
Weaknesses: A BIT HEAVY BUT IF YOU ARE IN ANY KIND OF SHAPE IT IS NOT A SIGNIFIGANT PROBLEM.
Bottom Line:
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS A SUPERB BIKE FROM GIANT. I HAVE READ THE REVIEWS ON THIS BIKE AND COULD ONLY COME TO ONE CONCLUSION. SOME OF YOU ARE IDIOTS. ALL WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WEIGHT, FRONT SHOCK AND COMPONENTS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE PRICE YOU PAID FOR IT. TRY TO FIND ME A COMPARIBLE BIKE FOR THE PRICE AND YOU WON'T FIND ONE. THIS BIKE CAN BE UPGRADED TO A FIRST CLASS DOWN HILL BIKE WITH EASE. I RECOMEND THIS BIKE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO START OUT IN THE SPORT.
