Submitted by
Joshua Kebschull
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, FL.
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008
Strengths: Very fast race design, Very Stiff, Corners excellent overall A very fast design
Weaknesses: Short wheelbase makes you tight in the bike under a standard configuration. Lack of shock options.
Bottom Line:
After riding this bike for over a year..probably closer to 2. It really is a race design and probably a more progressive stance than many other bikes..I say a pro stance. Very light weight, very stiff and excellent menuverability! I bought the frame off of Ebay and built the bike while living in belgium and it worked beautifully there, I didnt need a lot of travel and when I did it was there. I needed a lightweight bike that would be subjected to a lot of climbing, it did the job! Now I live in Miami, Fl and the single track is a root and rock torture chamber that doesnt need a lot of travel but does need to eat it up. Which it does farely well, it is very windy and the frame design does excell in that area b/c it does corner very well.
For what it was designed to do, it has produced a lot of positive results, but by all means it is NOT an All-Mountain or DH bike!! Amoung all the Specialized, Giants, and Cannondales it does get a lot of looks b/c it is unique and different
About 2 months ago I had to send the shock away to Fox b/c the negative air chamber was blown out and the rebound was no longer adjustable..had to get rebuilt, all the seals were replaced and the Piston was replaced which cost about $180, but it has been flawless since.
I am looking at upgrading, this being the amazing Christini AWD which I test rode in Houffalize, Belgium at the MTB World Championships and it was very impressive.
Bike Setup: 7005 alunimumn, 4lb pound frame, on the fly lockout....
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Digger Trailmaker
a Cross Country Rider
from A far away place
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2004
Strengths: I am talking about the 2001 k2 razorback team. The frame is made out of a super light super strong 7005 alunimumn. The rear shock has a on the fly lockout switch witch gives you a total advantage when it comes to full suspension. Climbing up hill with the lockout makes it really easy, plus the bike is super light.
Weaknesses: The rear shock does not have enough travel. Only 3" of travel, plus when I sit on the bike half of the travel goes away. I only weigh 110 lbs. There aren't any places to pump up the shock to make it more stiff, so when I go off the curb it nearly bottoms out.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike for strickly xc riders. Any drops more than 2 feet are not a good idea. The lock out switch gives you the efficency of a hardtail on the uphills. It's a fun bike to ride, for what I paid you can't beat the price. I took this bike to a MTB resort, to try some downhill'n, this was easy downhill'n and the shock bottomed out, when that happen'd all my weight went to my seat and my seat blew up. The only weakness: the rear shock.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Wahoo, Lake Glist DH, K2 Zed 1.0, My first bike a Mongoose DXR full suspension peace of crap.
Bike Setup: This is a bike I built up, I bought the frame on ebay for $250.00. I put a Marzocchi exr comp in the front. And a bunch of other parts.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
gordon eatman
a Cross Country Rider
from cedar crest,nm,usa
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2003
Strengths: fast ,relatively light, great climber, great shock
Weaknesses: geometry puts you over the handlebars easily, dont need the handlebar lockout
Bottom Line:
great bike for a light person. I'm 5'7" and the small sizes too small although the top bar sizes perfect. Hope the 3" rise on the stem helps the launching problem. Fork and shock work great, not as plush as my friend's Santa Cruz Blur but about 2000 cheaper.Would welcome anyone suggestion's on the launching problem.
Similar Products Used: cannonsnail HT, Dagger hardtail
Bike Setup: original equip. except carbon handlebar, and 120mm 40 Deg stem to keep from launching
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kevbot
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003
Strengths: Excellent climber, smooth over rocks/roots/medium drops, very fast for fire road DH.
Weaknesses: Frame (after 2000+ miles use)
Bottom Line:
After 2000 miles of hard trail riding, the front triangle blew out under the seat post (where the pull shock is forged to the seat post). Haven't seen this anywhere else, so it may be a fluke manufacturing defect/hairline crack. Now I get the joys of dealing with K2 warranty and support. Good thing I've got a good shop that takes care of hassling the guys on Vashon everyday.
Too bad, I was going to take it to Kamloops this summer.
Strengths: Light weight, great component specs, awesome suspension design!
Weaknesses: On a personal level---I don't like the raised decal of the "Plasma Tubing".
Bottom Line:
Excellant bike. Kick a$$ suspension design---give it up to K2 for sticking with this Turner design and really making it work. I had a 2001 and loved it. The 2002 rides much like it---except a little more stiff (suspension) and a little beefier frame. Both are welcome improvements.
I agree w/ previous comments, I don't use the lockout much. I don't see the need.
Submitted by
Ed Jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster, CA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2002
Strengths: Suspension design, parts spec, rear lockout, looks!!!
Weaknesses: Didn't care for the tires that came stock
Bottom Line:
I have had this ride for nearly a year now. It's been a real dream. I like the looks and design of the strut style suspension. More importantly it works very very well for a short travel/fs bike.
Climbing is a breaze and decending is even better. I agree that the use of the handlebar mounted lockout is a rarity. The suspension design is very stiff.
I ride alot of xc / single track and can whole heartly recommend this product. The bike has worked flawlessly for me. I am planning on buying a 2003 for my wife.
Submitted by
Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
Strengths: Light-weight, adjustable rear triangle, fantastic suspension design, excellant workmanship in product, great color scheme
Weaknesses: Price---but what do you expect for a 24 pound racer?
Bottom Line:
This is a fantastic bike. The suspension is simply the best I've found for my personal preference. The suspension is very "snappy"---that's the best way I can describe it. An absolute dream to ride. Not too soft like some of the designs I've riden (not too harsh like a soft-tail either). I would compare it best to my Superlight in terms of how the suspension works.
No question about it. It's a great ride for me.
The lock out is a major bonus too---although I don't ever use is while on the trails, it's nice to have for getting home.
Strengths: Fast Geometry, Stiff frame, very sturdy, shock lockout
Weaknesses: A Few Design Flaws, Not very light, Rear Shock issues,
Bottom Line:
First off I got a good deal on this bike (factory direct) I souped it up with some disk brakes and riser bars, etc to get it the way I like it. In total I spent about $2000.
This bike is meant to be a truly XC racing machine. It rides that way, meaning it is very stiff, very quick handling. However it is not particularly lightweight and I personally did not find the suspension very efficient for a short travel bike (3" at best) The pivot being on the seat stay instead of on the chain stay made the strut design act like a low single pivot bike. You could feel the suspension compressing as you hammered. Good thing it has a handle bar mounted lockout because you need to use it a lot.
My old bike (a Jamis) had a true horst link pivot and I could definately notice the difference. Besides the pedal induced bob, you could feel the rear "hang up" when you hit a bump in the saddle, this motion throws you forward a bit and messes up your rythym. With my Jamis I never noticed this.
The frame has some minor design flaws.
1. Clearance for the rear derailer at the dropout is very tight, the Rear derail clanks against the bottom of the chainstay. (switching to a SRAM derail would fix this but they spec XTR)
2. Then the reinforcer bar that runs from the chainstay up to the rear pivot above the drop out gets chipped all the hell from the chain.
Now the spec on this bike sounded better than it was. The Race Face cranks are of the OEM quality and the Chainrings suck. Literally, after about 8 weeks of riding I had serious chain suck problems and unfortunately for me it happend during a race. I switched them to XT rings and had no problems since. The Wheels were a major dissapointment which I got over since I switched to disks anyway. They are also OEM WTB wheels which are heavier and cheaper then their aftermarket versions. However the ultimate outrage was that the WTB tires are WIRE BEAD! On a $2400 "race" bike this seemed like K2 was cutting a few too many corners to make a buck., Oh and the WTB seat is very cheap and uncomfortable.
Also concider the fact that with this bike you never have the option to change shocks or upgrade. I new this going in but after I had to send the shock in for repair when the damper went out on my 2nd ride I realized how it may be an issue. Sure it is a cool design but is it necessarry, and is it worth the price of being locked in to one and only one shock. Also concider that K2 has had a lot of problem with their Noleen shocks in the past and now they are all made in Taiwan by DNM who is know for making cheap knock off shocks on low end bikes.
A few bright points are the Manitou Super fork which was by far the nicest peice of euipment on this bike. The Race Face post was also very cool I love how you can adjust the settings seperately. Of course Shimano stuff is always dependable. However basically I found myself wanting to replace almost everything on the bike. Oh and if you are concidering any bike with an integrated headset I suggest you go to the Chris King website and read up on it first.
Is this is horrible bike? Not really, personally I would not buy it again even with the deal that I got. Someone who is changing from a hardtail would probably like this bike a lot but I have been riding suspension for a few years and I did not feel this bike did it for me. If you are still concidering this bike I would just get the lower end one since the frames are the same. At least you are paying less for OEM parts. In my mind when you buy a "Team" bike it should be equiped with aftermarket race quality parts not a bunch of OEM crap. At least try to buy this bike on sale.
I give it 2 flames overall and 3 flames for value but only since I got it cheap.
Strengths: Fast Geometry, Stiff frame, very sturdy, shock lockout
Weaknesses: A Few Design Flaws, Not very light, Rear Shock issues,
Bottom Line:
First off I got a good deal on this bike (factory direct) I souped it up with some disk brakes and riser bars, etc to get it the way I like it. In total I spent about $2000.
This bike is meant to be a truly XC racing machine. It rides that way, meaning it is very stiff, very quick handling. However it is not particularly lightweight and I personally did not find the suspension very efficient for a short travel bike (3" at best) The pivot being on the seat stay instead of on the chain stay made the strut design act like a low single pivot bike. You could feel the suspension compressing as you hammered. Good thing it has a handle bar mounted lockout because you need to use it a lot.
My old bike (a Jamis) had a true horst link pivot and I could definately notice the difference. Besides the pedal induced bob, you could feel the rear "hang up" when you hit a bump in the saddle, this motion throws you forward a bit and messes up your rythym. With my Jamis I never noticed this.
The frame has some minor design flaws.
1. Clearance for the rear derailer at the dropout is very tight, the Rear derail clanks against the bottom of the chainstay. (switching to a SRAM derail would fix this but they spec XTR)
2. Then the reinforcer bar that runs from the chainstay up to the rear pivot above the drop out gets chipped all the hell from the chain.
Now the spec on this bike sounded better than it was. The Race Face cranks are of the OEM quality and the Chainrings suck. Literally, after about 8 weeks of riding I had serious chain suck problems and unfortunately for me it happend during a race. I switched them to XT rings and had no problems since. The Wheels were a major dissapointment which I got over since I switched to disks anyway. They are also OEM WTB wheels which are heavier and cheaper then their aftermarket versions. However the ultimate outrage was that the WTB tires are WIRE BEAD! On a $2400 "race" bike this seemed like K2 was cutting a few too many corners to make a buck., Oh and the WTB seat is very cheap and uncomfortable.
Also concider the fact that with this bike you never have the option to change shocks or upgrade. I new this going in but after I had to send the shock in for repair when the damper went out on my 2nd ride I realized how it may be an issue. Sure it is a cool design but is it necessarry, and is it worth the price of being locked in to one and only one shock. Also concider that K2 has had a lot of problem with their Noleen shocks in the past and now they are all made in Taiwan by DNM who is know for making cheap knock off shocks on low end bikes.
A few bright points are the Manitou Super fork which was by far the nicest peice of euipment on this bike. The Race Face post was also very cool I love how you can adjust the settings seperately. Of course Shimano stuff is always dependable. However basically I found myself wanting to replace almost everything on the bike. Oh and if you are concidering any bike with an integrated headset I suggest you go to the Chris King website and read up on it first.
Is this is horrible bike? Not really, personally I would not buy it again even with the deal that I got. Someone who is changing from a hardtail would probably like this bike a lot but I have been riding suspension for a few years and I did not feel this bike did it for me. If you are still concidering this bike I would just get the lower end one since the frames are the same. At least you are paying less for OEM parts. In my mind when you buy a "Team" bike it should be equiped with aftermarket race quality parts not a bunch of OEM crap. At least try to buy this bike on sale.
I give it 3 flames overall and 3 flames for value but only since I got it cheap.
Favorite Trail: White Ranch - Up Belcher-Down Mustang from the top
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Similar Products Used: Jamis Dakar Pro
Bike Setup: Mixed group, XT, XTR, Hope Mini Disk Brakes, Riser Bars, Manitou Mars Super
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Honemann
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2002
Strengths: shock lockouts: it climbs like my old, stiff-as-hell, aluminum hardtail when it's locked out. Great handling. Great component set.
Weaknesses: although it's a great idea, the handlebar mounted shock lockout lever should be redesigned, it's a bit shabby.
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension bike and I don't think there's another bike that could have sold me on making the transition from a hardtail. So if you are looking for a great cross country bike that won't destroy your back by the time your 25 year old, this is your bike. If you looking for a North Shore free-riding machine try another bike. Having the ability to lockout the shocks is awesome, it's the best of both worlds. When you lockout the rear shock or both shocks IT CLIMBS! I can still keep up with my friends on hardtails and I smoke full suspension riders. I rode Flagstaff during lunch yesterday, and with both shocks locked out I took care of a couple of roadies, to their chagrin. It's not a "downhill" bike, but it can really descend. The rear shock is just enough to eat up most of the obstacles the trail will throw at you. I found it very stable on steep descents yet it was nimble enough to pick through some tough lines. I haven't had a technical problem with any component on the bike. It's a solid build with a great group of components. Overall it's a great ride and an excellent cross country bike.
Weaknesses: Everything, Heavy, Sluggish, poor product mix i.e. shifting problems and poor shocks
Bottom Line:
After the second ride my rear shock blew apart, I tok it back to the dealer and they told me to contact the rep, the rep then told me to contact K2 direct because K2 has not paid the Reps since November and he is unwilling to pay out of his pocket to send the bike back, I then call K2 and after waiting and leaving several messages I finaly get a hold of a live body, this guy Peter who is a total a-hole to me tells me that I need to go back to the dealer. I go back to the dealer and they tell me that they are unwilling to pay to send the bike back because this would be the third one this week, they seem to be having problems with all the Noleen shocks, all the shocks are made in China he tels me and K2 does not have any extras. Fast forward to May, I sent back my shock in Jan and it is May 10th and I still do not have a shock for my bike! I paid 2300.00 for this piece of trash and every time I call K2 they tell me that it is on the way..the shock must be walking itself down here...The bottom line is that when and if I get my bike put back togather I will be selling it, if you like a bike that is heavy and rides like crap, and a company that has zero customer service buy the bike.
This is one sweet ride, let me tell you. I am an XC racer from Colorado, and I have only owned hardtails in the past. This is an incredible improvement, with no negative side effects. The handling is incredible- just lean or point and there you go! The bike seems to accelerate like nothing I have ridden before. And, climbing, the full suspension is definately a plus for traction. To top it off, the thing weighs next to nothing. I have a Manitou Mars Super with lockout fork and the combination of lockouts is superb. Just flick the shifter and switch and hammer away- this baby doesn't even flinch. Great for sections of road! I was skeptical of buying a K2 bike (should I say "snobby?") but I am impressed. This is a bike I surely recommend.
Bike Setup: Stock, as pictured, with XTR/XT, Raceface, WTB
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan Hopkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia Missouri
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2002
Strengths: Amazing bike...Had the 2001 and this one is better looking and stiffer in the rear end. The geometry is now adjustable but maybe too quick in the steep mode
Weaknesses: need a long seat post due to radically sloping top tube...but this give great clearance and looks
Bottom Line:
I had the 2001 and upgraded to this one (k2 gave me a hook up..grass roots program) and I loved the bike before...very light and trust me on this...I still have some nice hard tails I take out for fun ocassionaly...on anything but super flat trails this Razorback is way, way faster than a hard tail...the suspension absorbs little hits that would rob you of forward momentum...and because she is so light and the pull shock design you lose nothing on the hills and in fact if there is any roots or rocks you will climb better (traction) and faster than any hard tail. The bike is amazing... I have ridden a specialized fsr xc for a month and it is a nice bike...but the razorback is simply better. The only thing this bike may not be appropriate for is big drops...and that is why it literally wieghs 10 pounds less than a "free ride bike"...I did the 6 inch travel thing...no thanks...couldnt climb anything...the Razorback is the best real world dually I have ever ridden...if you can find a used 2001 frame...get it...cause in reality the ride quality is the same as the new 2002 (only real difference is geometry adjustment...but in the steep mode the front end is too twitchy for my tastes...nice to have the option though
Similar Products Used: mutliple hard tails and dualies
Bike Setup: custom
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Gray
a
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002
Strengths: A beautifully put together, well thought out frameset. Good adjustability and amazing attention to detail. Bar mounted lockout!! Roller bearing pivot.
Weaknesses: None as yet.
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing to ride. It is very comfortable for cross country riding and handles like a dream. I have built it to a tight budget (and to last) so subsequently it could be lighter (it is no fat pig though). It tracks precisely and feels very solid. I love the low maintenance roller bearing pivot which should be perfect for New Zealand conditions unlike other full suspension bikes I have owned. The bar mounted lockout is a revelation. The disc brakes are a huge step up from v-brakes. The finish and attention to detail is amazing.
