Submitted by
Madness Matt
a Downhiller
from Cairns, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2005
Strengths: good forks, rear shock, bars, running gear
Weaknesses: rear wheel too weak, broke 4 spokes in a week. Brakes had seized pistons and kept blowing out the override plugs.
Bottom Line:
a champion bike at a champion price. forks need a bit more oil in them but are otherwise very sensitive. can withstand big drops providing you have strong wheels. is capable of winning dh races but is a really good bike for people who are starting out and just want to have fun. is jumpable even with 6inches of suspension. overall a great bike for a great price. Keep it real riders!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Craftworks FRM125, Cannondale Gemini 1000, Kona Stinky Deelux
Bike Setup: Large frame, Junior T forks, Fox Vanilla R shock, deore running gear, hussefelt cranks, alex rims (upgrading to deemax soon), hayes hfx9 brakes, maxxis downhill tubes, tioga/kenda tires
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Keegan
a Downhiller
from Vernon, B.C. ,Canada
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003
Strengths: Frames light weight, front shocks are awesome front rims good, brake levers, brakes are too but they start to where out, handle bars are good
Weaknesses: tires,seat(hard as hell!!!!!) back rim to weak get a bigger rim like a alex dx32 or and doulble track!(24")
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks its really smooth and the bottom line is it'S FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!
Similar Products Used: dont no only full suspension i have ever had!
Bike Setup: Axion Double Jump Pedals, 26" Doughty 2.60 tire on front and a 26" Stout 2.30 on the back
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Strengths: - frame (strong and stiff) - suspension/travel (5"x5" is very smooth) - weight (light for a freeride squishy...37lbs) - rims (SingleTracks are staying fairly true) - levers (Funns are very adjustable) - 8" Hayes mechs(when broken it) - cranks (Truvativ are solid so far) - price/value at only $1800CAN w/tax... w/upgrades - Canadian Shore design/geometry
- Jubilee Cycle ...Lizard Skin and Axiom stem pad thrown in after the money changed hands :)
Weaknesses: Some of these are not weaknesses, just preference...
- changed the saddle (the original was like a rock) - changed the tires (the new 2.65/2.35 Stick-E Kenda grip everything) - changed the grips (ODI lock-on Rogues) - changed springs in Z1 (Ultra Heavy green spring are perfect for my 220lbs) - changed Fox Vanilla (free upgrade to Vanilla R from a 2002 Shore) - changed pedal (cartridge bearing JS Konas) - changed headset (FSA Pig)
- 2002 Z1 cryofit issue (no problems yet) - 31.8 handlebar and stem are fine, but needs more rise(2").
Bottom Line:
What can say... this bike is just awesome for what I spent~! The guys at Jubilee bent over backwards to set me up. They had this bike hidden away from last year... most shops wouldn't have brought it out... they would have tried to sell me a 2003 ;)
After tweaking the preload/rebound this bike is so smooth and very stable at speed. The ride up isn't that bad either.
I haven't bottomed out the suspension yet, but I've only done 3 to flat and 4-5 to tranny. With all of the upgrades this bike is sweet and I'm having a blast!
Similar Products Used: Specialized BigHit Comp, Rockhopper FSR, Norco Buzz, Kona Kahuna Deluxe
Bike Setup: Stock with the changes mentioned above.
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Submitted by
Shwag
a Downhiller
from Belleville, Ont. ,Canada
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Strengths: Awsome bike, handles well, front z.1 soaks up what you give it, light weight, hays 8" discs stop ya good, easy to tinker with.
Weaknesses: seat is a little hard on the ol'buttox (if you use your seat), grip shift left has to go!!!
Bottom Line:
Kikk'n, anyone looking for a sweet ride without selling their first born, get this bike!!! Ovcourse you cant get a new one anymore, cause I got the last one from the factory!!!!!!!!! :-P sukka!
Strengths: a very good lookin bike for the price. front shox are fairly plush and is not a bad bike to jump.
Weaknesses: The frame creeks and cracks alot and the saddle gives you a megasoreass.
Bottom Line:
this bike is one of the best on the market for the price. Is you are into downhilling this bike will get you down and back up to the top again. if you are looking at doin downhilling more seriously i would recomend saveing up some more muhlah for a higher quality bike.
Strengths: frame, rear shock, fork, post, bar stem,rims
Weaknesses: crank, brakes, tires, pedals
Bottom Line:
very strong, but on the very first day of riding i bent the second chain ring on my crank, handles the drops well, i would buy this bike it is a great freeride/ dh bike for a beginer rider, the brakes make a ton of noise.
Bike Setup: old set of platforms, but otherwise stock,
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Submitted by
flyskyhigh
a Downhiller
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2003
Strengths: Overall this bike is strong, Rear suspension is great, Z1 are a little plush for my liking more noticable when climbing. Tires are good for freeriding take em brake em, then buy maxxis mobster.
Weaknesses: Breaks, Saddle. The breaks tend to squeek like hell at first and even after a few good rides they start up again. They require alot of attention and adjusting before they stop. The saddle is worst then "sitting on a brike" it's more like getting hit in the ass with a 2by4 by your best friend while you ride. Even worst it will bruise your balls on a wicked DH course. Thats what i've experienced with this setup so far.
Bottom Line:
This bike is really good for the money, like most of you we bargained and got way better deals then "retail" price so it really was worth it.
I'm convinced VPS is a great ride although my next bike will probably be a VPS DH 2004.
I recommend this bike to everyone, just keep an eye on your breaks and replace the saddle. I freeride mostly and this bike can really kick some dirt, it's great on and offroad =)
Have fun if you got one, buy one if you can't ride. Good bike to learn on.
Strengths: fork is nice, rims are very strong and overall quality of the bike is great havnt broken anythign yet.
Weaknesses: pedals, tires, brakes,stem, headset, for was too plush at first before adjusting.
Bottom Line:
the is an excellent bike for the price and has taken everything I can dish out from 15 foot drops to numorous casings and so on.... i m very rough on the bike and nothing has broken. brakes need to be adjusted alot and you need to replace the tires and pedals immedeatly.
Strengths: Very Strong, soaks up everything from the bumps to the 5ft drops to flat, Looks pretty wicked too
Weaknesses: Needs a chainguide stock, but ill buy one anyway, seats hard but i dont use it, when i go down i dont sit and when i go up i dont sit either
Bottom Line:
Overall i great value and an awsome ride, i would change a few things though
Strengths: It's strong, not to heavy, good components for the price, good suspension activity.
Weaknesses: Nice orchestra(makes a lot of craking sounds)
Bottom Line:
This bike has a good quality/price and has a good component group for the price again. I change what i didnt like, the tires, handle bars, the fork was good but i wanted better and now I have the hi end one. I'd like to change the rims for Single or double wides when the Single track are gonna be destroyed and i'd like to change the pedals to cuz they are standard. The suspension is pretty smooth and i like it like that. GO OUT AND RIDE OR DIE!
Bike Setup: I call it my "Atomik Monster" cuz i have a Atomik frame and a 6.5" Monster-t up front, Michelin 2.5 dh tires, Formula front hub, Easton Monkey Lites CT2 carbon fiber bars, Radical Artos DH, Hayes HMX-1 disc brakes, Funn levers, Xt/Deore shifters and Deore/Alivio derailleurs.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Strengths: [This is a follow-up to three previous reviews]
Strengths are: price, general componentry, rear shock has a really nice feel.... not plush per se, but smooth (there is a difference, look it up). forks feel nice too.
Weaknesses: Tyres (Kenda Kinetics = worst tyres ever), brakes (I changed em to Hayes hydros, couldn't be happier), the cryofit crown on the Wedges is starting to creak and the fork flexes a lot under braking, the seat is like sitting on a brick, i'd like slightly more rise in the bars (that's just my preference though).
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike as a "beginner downhiller", and since getting it, my skills have gone through the roof; unfortunately, to the point where i'm starting to wreck stuff. The rims aren't dead, but aren't dead straight either, the fork creaks like buggery, and the brakes and tyres just flat out sucked. i'm starting to wish for a slightly slacker head angle, but that's a bit retarted for a 5" travel bike. I'd recommend this bike to anyone who's in the market for a 5" travel bike. however, the limitations must be realised: yes, it's hella fun for DHing on, but no, it isn't a WC race sled. nor is it a bender-style drop bike. people who say "oh no, i bottomed it", well that's what happens. if you're never bottoming it, either your spring rate is retartedly hard, or you're not using the bike to its potential. the forks and the rear suspension are SUPPOSED to bottom occasionally.... if you weren't intended to use the full 5" of suspension, they wouldn't give you the ability to. i bottom mine every now and then, if i'm having a bad day i might bottom them 5 times in one run. so what, they're designed to take it. quit whingeing.
and there are a lot of bullsh1tters in this review column. like the guy who said he did a 10ft drop and it "soaked it up like it was nothing", yeah right. to the people who are claiming they've done huge drops/nosedives etc but the suspension hasn't bottomed, i reserve the right to call BULLSH1T.
