Submitted by
Alex Deng
a Weekend Warrior
from Burnaby BC Canada
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2004
Strengths: The frame! Very burly, very balanced. Extremely wheelie friendly. The looks, mine is everything black, and that can't look any better. Feels plush and hey, it's a VPS! Also, for my set up, the bike is relatively light. 38.5 pounds. With this bike, u won't be scared to check out big drops.
Weaknesses: Well, the chain guide makes a sh&*t load of noise. And the monocoque frame don't help too much on noise reduction. Frame can't take RC cuz of the downward curvature to the frame, so stick with those feeble Fox V R.
Bottom Line:
nice bike for the price range. I did frame swap from a Norco Manik, so all together, i spent 1800-1900. And i am sellin my Manik frame if anyone wants it. If u r a demanding weekend warrior who occationally hit the shore, this is the bike for u. This is a perfect bike, if u can still get your hand on one of these 02 frames new,that's the way to go!
Bike Setup: I have 26/24 Single track wrapped in Kenda Blue Grooves/Nevagals with deore tranny and mrp chain guide. 04 drop offs, El Norte IV bar, and of course, the trusty HFX-9 eights.
Strengths: bike has a pritty good feal. orange is a sweet color.
Weaknesses: shock isnt very good. dents easaly
Bottom Line:
this was my first good bike. when i had it i really liked it. bit now i wouldnt really want it. i would recomend this to beginers and riders that arnt all that good.
Weaknesses: Paint chips easily, the frame is very loud because it has such a large hollow section, you notice every pop, clink, and bearing turn easily. Cable rub is a problem as there are no cable stops for the rear derailer. Tire clearance is limited to a 2.5" if using 26"
Bottom Line:
Quite a nice frame for FR, but pretty good for DH also. Soaks up drops pretty well, but don't expect a nice quiet ride. The huge hollow sections amplify everything. People will always hear you coming;) I've used the frame pretty hard, and nothing has gone wrong yet. I love the ride! An excellent introductary FR/DH frame. My riding improved greatly when I got on it. It's very stable at speed, but is also quite manuverable for north shore trails. Fun Fun Fun
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z1 Freeride, Pig, Risers, Hayes hydros, RF bb + North Shores, Rhyno's with maxxis tyres, Envy DoubleE chainguide (nice), Shimano drivetrain.
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Submitted by
SuperCraig
a Weekend Warrior
from Middle Sackville, NS, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Strengths: Very solid frame, no flex. Excellent linkage. Huge headtube area.
Weaknesses: Weight, 30.0 seatpost.
Bottom Line:
A very good bike suitable for trails, freeriding, big hit and maybe even light DH. Buy it if you want a well spec'd freerider. If you want the frame but would like to save a few bucks on components get a VPS Drop.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Heckler, Diamondback xts-3. Alot of other FS bikes that my friends have.
Bike Setup: Size Medium Launch. 2001 Super T. Fox Vanilla R Mavic F219 wheels. Continental Survival Pro rubber. XT rear der and 9 speed cassette, LX shifter. Race Face North Shore XS cranks, 34t blackspire chainring. Axiom chainguide. Axiom stem. Race Face handlebar. FSA Pig headset.
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Submitted by
Eric B
a Weekend Warrior
from Québec city
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2003
Strengths: Buy as a frame only. Tough, adjustability of the rear suspension, look like a tank, flashing look, plushness! Something "versatile"
Weaknesses: On the small model; Standard bottom bracket that come with it are crappy, have sound of lunch box, bob when the rebound are not adjusted to slower, lack of one inch of top tube.
Bottom Line:
After ride 3 good run with that frame, i believe that is a good frame for freerider or donwhiller that love to have a tank! But with a 5" single crown fork it lack of stability at high speed because the whell base are too low. It's a good frame! I'v change the mine for a 4x4... He will work better with the ride type that i run!
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR Enduro comp, Marin Pine Mtn
Bike Setup: i'm running a 24" rear wheel and bought the bike with some component upgrades and changes that brought the bikes weight down to just under 36lbs. Not bad for such a beefy bike.
Strengths: Frame is solid, constructed well. Components, great for the price. Freakin' cool lookin' bike, I got the orange. Also, where I live its exotic, kinda like a 6 figure sports car.
Weaknesses: Noisy, but thats due to the hollow frame, like someone else said. Can be good when dropping near people who don't know you're there, scared a ton of people by doing drops behind them! I've heard the brake levers are junk and I see what they mean, they aren't very strong looking and feeling.
Bottom Line:
For the price, this is a great freeride full suspension bike! I looked at tons of bikes from tons of manufactures and finally got the Norco. Its strong for urban and freeride. Its taken drops great, I'm more afraid that I'll break before it does!
Strengths: Strong! Pedals nicely for a dually. I race the collegiate DH circuit down here in CA and it's perfect for it since the College DH courses aren't totally World Cup gnarly.
Weaknesses: Fork bottoms out on 8'+ drops, but it's probably setup a little soft.
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike. 99 percent of people don't need anything bigger than what this bike gives you, plus its cheap!
Similar Products Used: RM 6, too small of a cockpit, Specialized Team DH, too heavy
Bike Setup: Stock, basically
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Submitted by
chuck
a Weekend Warrior
from aldergrove british columbia
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2002
Strengths: it's not orange,good strong bike,custom junior T,8inch hayes juice brakes,alex rims, she rocks
Weaknesses: i blow up the rear shock after about three monthes but took it back to the bike zone and got supreme service there with a loaner shock while mine was being repaired
Bottom Line:
the bike rocks,the derailer is not an issue,and i am sure the prodiy cranks would of been fine,makes riding easy compared to the hardtail,for $3400 it is a good deal compare to other bikes that are equipped simalarly
Similar Products Used: kona stab, brodie devo, big-hit
Bike Setup: stock except switched double ring for single. MRP 34 tooth boomerang with two blackspire bash guard = indestructable!! go anywhere with this!!
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Submitted by
UrrToast
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002
Strengths: great value for the dollar Jr-t, Fox vanilla R , RaceFace prodigy's DH Tires r good
and so on
Weaknesses: Alivio maybe..if it breaks I get better one. Other then that looks Ok to me.
Bottom Line:
Was recommended by various freinds. And they where right. For the price this bike cannot be beat.
Similar Products Used: Kona , Brodie, Rocky Mountian, Cove, and other's
Bike Setup: Factory stock Will upgrade front and rear springs very soon
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Submitted by
Adam G
a Downhiller
from Campbell River, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Strengths: Jr fork, 5.2 inches of travel in back, no flex, and damn tough.
Weaknesses: had to cut the seat tube down. pedals are kinda weak. and now im riding non-stop with full body armor in 34 degree tempitures.
Bottom Line:
not not buy this bike if you dont want a sweet ride with a kick ass price tag. buy this bike if you want awsome performance a nice 7 inch fork and plush buttery smoth travel with no flex.
Strengths: ABSOLUTLEY THE BEST BIKE SET UP FOR THE MONEY. CANNOT FIND ANOTHER BIKE SET UP WITH JR. T'S FOR WITHIN $400. MOST OF THE CLOSE COMPETITION REQUIRE ADDITIONS TO MATCH THE LAUNCH.
Weaknesses: TOUGH TO FIND, A LITTLE NOISEY DUE TO THE HOLLOW FRAME, STOCK SEAT POST IS TO LONG, BUT IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO FIX THAT, DON'T BUY THIS BIKE. SOME BUDDIES DON'T LIKE THE KENDA KENETICS, BUT THEY SEEM FINE TO ME.
Bottom Line:
THIS IS A TOUGH BIKE TO BEAT. I AM 6'2' AND 220 SO I WANTED A STRONG BIKE. I PLAN TO DO EVERYTHING WITH THIS, NOT JUST DOWNHILL/FR, AND I KNOW IT WILL LAST. I SPENT NEALRY 5 MONTHS JUST SHOPPING AND CHECKING OUT STORES FROM VANCOUVER TO CALGARY. THE ORANGE IS SUPER SWEET, AND THE CUSTOM QR 20 JR. T'S ARE ABOUT ALL ANYONE WHO DOESN'T GO HUGE COULD EVER NEED, LIKE MYSELF. THIS BIKE IS SUPER SWEET.
Similar Products Used: RM SWITCH, BRODIE DEVO, SC BULLIT
Bike Setup: STOCK W/ FUNN LAUNCH PAD SADDLE
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Submitted by
Switch
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2002
Strengths: jr.t, hayes brakes, real four bar linkage, bearing on all pivots,
Weaknesses: stem, seatpost and tire in mud are very slippery.
Bottom Line:
this bike was very incredible for the value. It's a real pacckage deal to have a jr t, hayes brake with 8 inches rotor. And for sure it's a little bit heavy but it's very easy to pedal. A lot easier than all the bike I have tried in this range of weight. It's possible to have acceleration on flat. I'm sure it's because of the real four bar linkage it's worth the money. The monocoque frame semm to be very tough but the paint is so easy to scratch we are very far from rocky mountain paint. I ride this bike since a couple of month now and I think it's best purchase and very happy with it. I feel so confident now on downhill and I can go faster with this bike. And it have no jacking under hard braking it's a thing that I really appreciate with the 4 bar linkage. It's a really good bikes and work very well. So buy it. My only complaint are about the paint and the monocoque frame that seem to amplificate all the sound of the bike but after a period you don't notice it. You will never regret to ride it.
Is there a spacer between the bearings on the bottom bracket pivot of the 2001VPS Launch? The bb pivot takes four skateboard bearings (2 each side).
Thanks for any help. Read More »
