Submitted by
John Hedrick
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2007
Strengths: Pretty Darn Cheap
Weaknesses: Pivot Point gaurenteed to crack under after any tough riding..
Bottom Line:
Definitely not a freeride bike no matter how "extreme" haro says. Geometry makes for a decent Cross Country bike, but don not expect it to be light weight or easy to handle as the front end is kinda long and heavy and the single pivot makes the bike feel fishy around corners. The suspension works alright until the frame cracks around the pivot point. No need to hit anything huge to break it, just some challenging rocky terrain will provide enough laterall stress on the rear tire that the single pivot will have no choice but to crack. Just an all around poor design. Stay away if you can afford it. If you want a real bike that will last and feel rigid, don't buy this bike. In fact, stay away from any full suspension haro exept maybe the worx series, but then you might as well just fork out the cash for a smaller company with better products and much better service and warranties.
Favorite Trail: Mormon-National loop (South Mountain)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$680.00
Similar Products Used: DK Slugger, misc GT idrives, goin for a Brodie Devo to solve all problems
Bike Setup: Stock except Rock Shocks Phsylo Forks and a few other odds and ends..
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Submitted by
AROD
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingwood, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2004
Strengths: I think the bike is perfect for begginer freeriders, heavy XC riders, or freeriders that don't live in true freeride areas. I live in Texas, north of Houston where it's not entirely flat so it's pretty much all the bike you need around here. The price and components are great, I've only had the bike for about 9 months so we'll see how it keeps holding up.
Weaknesses: It seems to "stress" a lot on very rocky terrain, more than what it should or can take. It seems to hold up better on drops, than going over rocky terrain... The only other weakness is cornering or manueverability in tight places (minor though)
Bottom Line:
This product was recommended to me because of my size, I am over 6ft, 275 pounds and that doesn't seem to stop me from riding agressively for my size. Around here, 4 and 5 foot drops is about as good as it gets, and as good as I can get anyway, but so far so good. If it can take my body weight and riding style, I have a hard time seeign the bike break as easy as it has in some of the reviews here. I do believe the engineer is on to something about the pivot and rocky terrain, the first time I experienced it I had to sto and get off to make sure everything was ok. I need to upgrand the front fork will do soon.
Bike Setup: Fox Vanilla Rear, Low end Psylo front, hayes, XT, Intense
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from massachuesetts
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Strengths: Sick frame
Weaknesses: X-fusion rear shock
Bottom Line:
for a light bike with 7in front and 5in rear, it holds up pretty well, you just need better components. if your into freeride this could be the bike for you, just have to put on better components
Bike Setup: Jr.T, New fox vanilla rear,Mavic 219 disc wheels,Maxxis 2.35 on rear and 2.75 front,azonic love seat,avid mechanicals, no stock parts.
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Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from eugene oregon
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2003
Strengths: good deal, light, decent components, rhyno lites
Weaknesses: swingarm sways, psylo should be upgraded, crappy shock. I have blew the shock out, toasted the front hub, and SNAPPED THE FRAME AT THE PIVOT POINT off of a 3-4 foot drop, but it might have been fractured, loosened before.
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't highly reccomend this bike if you are going to be riding northshore, big drops etc.
Similar Products Used: kona stinky, big hit comp, big hit
Bike Setup: stock, except for easton bars, titec stem, race face bash guard
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Submitted by
JOHN CULLEN
a Downhiller
from VALLEJO, CA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002
Strengths: TRAVEL, HAYES BRAKES, INTENSE TIRES, PAINT AND LOOKS AWESOME. ALSO CLIMBS VERY WELL FOR A BIKE THAT WEIGHS OVER 30LBS. GOOD XT DRIVETRAIN AND EASY PLATFORM PEDALS.
Weaknesses: THE BIKE SEEMS TO SQUEEK A LOT AND I THINK IT IS THE BOTTOM BRAKET. IT DOESN'T SQUEEK WHEN YOU ARE RIDING, ONLY WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING IT? THE NO-NAME SHOCK, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, I HAVE READ FROM OTHER REVIEWS THAT IT SEEMS TO CAUSE THE BIKE TO BREAK AT THE PIVOT POINT.
Bottom Line:
I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR A WHILE AND HAVE NOT CAME ACROSS A BIKE LIKE THIS EVER. MOST BIKES GIVE YOU PERFORMANCE IN ONLY ONE AREA, SUCH AS CC, FREE-RIDE OR DH. I KNOW THAT THE SMART GUYS WILL TELL YOU TO ONLY BUY A BIKE THAT IS DESIGNED FOR ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY, BUT THIS BIKE CAN REALLY PERFORM WELL IN ALL TYPES OF RIDING! I DON'T MEAN THAT A PRO CAN GO OUT AND WIN A CC RACE ON ONE OR AN EXTREME DH RACE EITHER, BUT FOR THE NORMAL GUY WHO LIKE TO JUST HAVE FUN...THIS IS THE BIKE. I CAN GO OUT AND KEEP UP WITH MY BUDDIES WHO HAVE CC BIKES AND THEN KILL THEM ON THE DOWNHILL OR JUMPS, "BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO THEM!" I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BIKE! THE RS PHYSLO'S WORK GREAT AND I HAVE NEVER BOTTOMED THEM OUT AND HAVE TAKEN 5-6FT. JUMPS. IF YOU WANT A MTB THAT PEDALS LIKE A CC BIKE AND FEELS LIKE A BMX, THEN YOU HAVE FOUND IT.
Favorite Trail: "ANY THAT MY BUDDIES ARE AFRAID OF"
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: SUPERGO BIKES
Similar Products Used: GIANT DS1 AND SPECIALIZED FSR.
Bike Setup: COMPLETELY STOCK.
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Submitted by
rich galusha
a Downhiller
from bennington,VT
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2002
Strengths: it's durable i've hit 12 foot drops and it didn't even hurt the bike. It's unbreakable!!!
Weaknesses: doesn't have any
Bottom Line:
the bike kicks a** i coulldn't ask for anything better for it's price the only thing you might want to do is upgrade the shocks like i did but they do work fine. The only thing i had to replace was the front disk because when i was riding along a 2x4 i fell off and the disk hit it and bent real bad.
Similar Products Used: ironhorse g-spot,kona manomano,and cannondale jekyl
Bike Setup: downhill
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Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Maryville, TN USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002
Strengths: Cheap, fun ride. Worth ever penny. Light bike and gets looks from Wally World riders. I like the peddals better than ones I have had. Nice components for price, and it rides smoother than other bikes at shop.
Weaknesses: Paint looks a little shabby, but not bad. Fender turned off color and shop junked it befor I bought the bike. Shock is squeeky. Chain broke the first day, shop promptly replaced it. The tires do not do well when wet. I could spin tires on pavement in rain. The front brake vibrates a little, but it might wear in.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for price. I am not worried about the frame. I would not recomend any other bike. I ride on mild trails and am looking to improve my skills. This bike is forgiving and fun. And, once again, the looks you get from other riders, especially with the bright yellow color.
Strengths: PRICE, PRICE, PRICE AND PRICE!! ALSO THE FRAME IS BULLETPROOF! I HAVE NEVER REALLY LIKED ROCK SHOX, BUT WAS VERY SURPRISED THE WAY THE LOW END PYSHLO'S WORKED. THE HAYES BRAKES ARE AWESOME.
Weaknesses: THE REAR IS A LITTLE STIFF SIDE TO SIDE, BUT I THINK IT'S PARTLY DO TO THE DESIGN AND THE "CHEAP SHOCK." I AM LOOKING TO GET A FOX SHOCK, IF IT IS POSSIBLE. THE TIRES ARE NO GOOD, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE INTENSE, THE NOBBIES SEEM TO BREAK OFF VERY EASY AND WEAR VERY FAST.
Bottom Line:
THIS IS A GREAT BIKE FOR THE PRICE. I WOULD CONCENTRATE ON HARD CC AND DOWNHILL AND SCALE DOWN ON THE URBAN FREERIDE, THAT'S IF YOU ARE JUMPING OVER 5FT. I BELIEVE THE BIKE IS VERY STRONG, BUT IT ONLY WEIGHTS 32LBS...NOT 40-45 LIKE THE HARDCORE FREERIDE BIKES, SO IT HAS TO GIVE AT SOME POINT. FOR THE COMPONENTS YOU GET ALONG WITH THE TRAVEL, THIS IS A VERY FUN BIKE AND CAN BE USED FOR ALL TYPES OF RIDING, BUT NOT TO THE EXTREME ON ANY ONE STYLE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THIS BIKE IF YOU ARE INTO HAVING FUN WHEN YOU RIDE AND INTO PERFORMANCE. IF YOU WANT TO RIDE SERIOUS CC OR FREERIDE, PAY THE X-TRA $2000 AND GET A SANTA CRUZ OR A ROCKY MT.
Similar Products Used: SANTA CRUZ SUPER-LIGHT AND GARY FISHER SUGAR 3.
Bike Setup: COMPLETELY STOCK.
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Submitted by
James Parker
a Weekend Warrior
from Oceanside, CA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Strengths: 5" of travel front and back, Hayes Disk brakes, xt components, rhyno lite rims and great looks. The bike is also very well balanced.
Weaknesses: I guess the rear shock...that's what i have heard, but have not had any problems with it. Also the brake cables wear off the paint on the neck and bottom tube, but it's fairly easy to fix.
Bottom Line:
I have had my Specialized hardtail for a long time and never even considered getting a full suspension, much less a downhill/freeride bike! My buddy bought a Santa Cruz V10 (he's got a lot of $$$) and sold me this bike. After riding this bike, i did not even want to ride my hartail anymore! This bike is sweet!! I can't believe there are actually people who say that the frame brakes and that it's a piece of crap. I believe you get what you pay for and even at full price, this bike is the best buy out there. It's a lot heavier than my hardtail, but it seems to climb just as well...can't figure that out?? I feel like the luckiest person in the world for buying this bike for only $900! I only ride a couple of times a week, so i think this will do me right. It is light enough to do some cc if needed and has the squishy suspension for some hard urban/freeriding, as long as you don't get to crazy. If you are a hard rider like i am, but don't jump anything over 5ft, then buy this bike and you won't regreat it i promise.
Similar Products Used: my ancient '94 Specialized Stumpjumper.
Bike Setup: i believe the bike is stock, except for the Maxxis tires.
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Submitted by
Robert Haydon
a Downhiller
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2002
Strengths: You can't find a bike with Hayes disk brakes, rhyno lites, xt drive train, intense tires and 5" of travel front and back for anywhere near this price! It's like you are getting the frame for free!
Weaknesses: I have had none so far, but have read other reviews of people saying that the frame is crap and will break on anyone...i am only a 165 pds. and have done several 4-5ft. drops and had no problems at all. Maybe this bike works well for a lighter person and maybe can't handle those type of drops with someone who weighs 185-200lbs. I have heard this nasty rumor and have been brutal on my bike trying to see if it will break...i just can't do it.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fun!!! I am not into racing, nor am i 18 years old and feel the need to jump off a house (i'm sure some of the guys that have reported breaking the frame have probably done so.)or anything just plain stupid, however i do like to do some 4-5 ft. jumps and a lot of downhill and this bike handles everything i dish out! If you just want a bike that can handle rough terrain, freeride and also keep up with your x-country buddies, this is it. I actually can climb better with this bike than i did with my old hard tail that was 6 pds. lighter! You can't go wrong for the money. If you are looking to race or to do the stunts that you see the guys doing on 4-5 thousand dollar bikes, don't buy it.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky...a better bike, but your wallet will feel it.
Bike Setup: stock, except for easton bars and pedals.
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Submitted by
MIKE
a Downhiller
from Knoxville,Tennessee
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
Strengths: Value.GREAT paint job.
Weaknesses: probably will not take many more hard urban rides i think!Don't do anything over 3' to flat... Paint is starting to turn white a little at welds at shock mount/downtube--- =stressed a little! Only time will tell if it fails there.....
Bottom Line:
I am going to keep riding urban wether the frame crackes at the shock mount/downtube or not..Haro will not warranty it Until it fails! So when & if it does, i'll soon find out! Otherwise the bike is solid & i like it! I got a 19.5" & it is Big! I would not do any drops over 3' to flat concrete over & over because the frame will probably fail! I will/better, get a 2003 Haro under warranty when/if i break this 2002 frame because the 2003 is beefier on the downtube i heard! It's still a good value & real fun bike. ........cheers!
Strengths: Great components, especially the Hayes.
Weaknesses: Pivot point. Being a mechanical engineer, the problem is as clear as day to me; too much stress on too little surface area. Pressure(or Stress) = Force/Area. The force is your body and the area is the weld around the pivot point. It is just like bending a clothes hanger back and forth, eventually it will break. How fast it breaks depends on how much force you apply and at what frequency, or in the case involving this bike: how much you weigh, how often you ride, and what type of riding you do. Someone weighing in at 150 riding in the city most of the time may never experience a problem. The problem most likely occurs on any kind of rocky downhill. As you ride over rocky terrain, as most people with mountain bikes do, your body weight will shift back and forth while your tires are hit by rocks and other crap causing them to bounce all over the place. The only thing keeping the rear wheel in line with the front wheel is that little pivot point. This is where the clothes hanger analogy comes into play. The constant back and forth action of all types of forces from rocky terrain transferred to that weakly designed pivot will eventually cause it to crack. What we are dealing with here is fatigue or endurance limit. The endurance limit can be increased to a safe point by one of the following: reducing the applied stress or the number of cycles (the number of times you hit a bump). You obviously can't control the amount of bumps you hit so the only answer appears to be reducing the stress. You can reduce stress by reducing the force (your body weight) or increasing the surface area. Since most of us who ride are probably in good shape loosing weight is out of the question. Also, I didn't see any weight limits on my bike, did you? So, it looks like increasing surface area is the only reasonable answer. Haro should own up to their mistake and take full responsibility for this crumby design. THIS FRAME SHOULD BE RECALLED. Maybe if they didn't advertise with slogans like "chest high drops" and calling the bike X-Treme I would understand. If the pivot was designed the right way, this would be a great bike.
Bottom Line:
I broke 2 frames. After the first one, Haro made me buy a stiffer spring for $37.00. They claimed that I was bottoming out and this is what cracked the pivot. I never did more than a 1 foot high drop so I never bottomed out. But, I went along with them anyhow and bought the stiffer spring. Now, here I am 5 rides later writing this review. If anything, the stiffer spring accellerated the problem. Don't buy this bike! If you already did, examine your pivot point carefully as the early stages of the crack may be no more than a small hairline fracture. You may have to use a magnifying glass to really see it. Anyone with a cracked frame please contact your local dealer or Haro so that we can get this problem resolved. And if you have time, write your own review or drop me an email as I am curious as to how may people this is happening to.
Similar Products Used: Royce Union Mt. Vesuvius (it never broke)
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Lou
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilkes-Barre
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002
Strengths: Components are worth it. If you are looking to build up a frame, buy this for the parts only.
Weaknesses: Frame cracked at the pivot / Blew two rear shocks out. I also have two other friends with the same bikes. One of them broke their second frame and the other just broke his first. One of them also blew the rear shock. Junk frame and shock...
Bottom Line:
Well.....I can't say how I REALLY feel but... Please contact Haro or your local dealer if you have a problem with this frame. This is DEFINATELY a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately. PLEASE check your frame for cracks around the pivot before the thing breaks in half on you...ouch. I am doing all I can to get a resolution from the company about this issue. The new ad even states that you can do "Chest High Drops" but this is not possible without killing yourself. Lets all work together to get a recall on this poorly designed frame. Something must be done....
Similar Products Used: Jeckyl 1000, Fuji Diamond One
Bike Setup: Stock with Egg Beaters, Panaracer Fire XC Pro and the stem turned around.
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Submitted by
dvVIII
a Downhiller
from Hogtown (Toronto)
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2002
Strengths: A good all around bike; not too heavy to ride cross-country, not too delicate to freeride or bomb down a hill on. It's definately an improvement over previous versions as it's lighter and has upped rear travel from 4" to 5". The new rear swingarm also seems much stiffer laterally.
Weaknesses: I'm still worried about the pivot point blowing up again
Bottom Line:
Though I didn't get this bike as the complete X3 it's the closest comparison to the bike I built around the replacement frame. I can keep up with XT-equipped hardtailers and jump, huck and descend with the freeriders (well, the ones that still have front derailleurs. I'm happy enough.
Bike Setup: Black Elite 100/120, Stratos damper, XT/Alex wheels, Amoeba stem and riser bars, XT/Deore mix
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Submitted by
John Boy Walton
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002
Strengths: Durablity, Price, Comfort, Looks...must I go on...The no-name shock even works well.
Weaknesses: A little heavy but I find it easier to trim pounds off of my body than ounces off of a bike. (Not a big problem)
Bottom Line:
This bike has been great. It rides like a chariot (not the crouched down bullet bike style) and has held up to everything that I have done to it. It is just a fun bike to ride downhill, freeride and cross country. I thought that the 'squishy' feel would hurt my climbing and cross country but it really climbs well. 6 months of great riding and I haven't had a problem yet. This is a great buy on a bike and I would recommend it to anyone.(Except maybe people who jump it 10 feet off of house roofs...any bike will break (or crack) if you do that to it.)
