Submitted by
Matthew Trivett
a Weekend Warrior
from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Southwest rothesay dirt jumps
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$990.00
Strengths:
kicks ass dirt jumping bike with some sweet frame work for bigger air and better power. i think it is the best bike around because its for both trials and freeriding.
Weaknesses:
I can't say that there are to many weaknesses about this bike, its damn sterdy and has some sweet stuff. but if there was one thing about it, it would have to be the fork. manitou isn't rite for it. it needs dirt jumps 1's or 2's.
Similar Products Used:
i ised a norco before but it wasn't keeping up with me so i was looking for something and the ellsworth diffenetly is way ahead of me.
Bike Setup:
i haven't changed anything on the bike sence i got it. im looking to put so 2.9 tires on it and some bonb shell rims. but im not doing anything else.
Bottom Line:
The Ellsworth is the most kick sas bike i've ever riden and i would absolutly recommend it to everyone whos is into jumps and trials. it is diffently the strongest bike on the planet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesper
a Weekend Warrior
from Sweden Date Reviewed: November 19, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Streammountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$699.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes
Strengths:
Stiff, resposive, easy to manual. Can do anything!!!
Weaknesses:
Cheesy, but cool looking decals.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Chameleon, KONA Roast,Planet X, GT Zaskar, Tucker
Bike Setup:
XT/ Gripshift combo, Race Race Prodigy DH crankset, X-vert Super fork, Sun Rhyno Lites with Conti Vertical Pro tires 2.3, Race face Diabolous 50mm stem, Pro Tapers...
Bottom Line:
Very, very resposive little black bike. Accelerates like mad when hitting the back of a jump, needs almost no pumping to get going. Easy to flick around. Long top tube. I am 6´2´´ and ride the small size with a fiftie stem - perfect! (I have a rather short back). It is like a BMX for big boys. I dropped almost the same height as with my 8" DH-rig on my first ride - very inspiring! The only thing I would like to improve is my lung capacity...Try to ride one - You wont be disappointed! A hardtail for this price needs to be extraordinary - the build quality is top notch. But I think there are other bikes with the same performance for less money so I can´t give it five chilis for value. But if you have the cash or can find it used - don´t hesitate - it is the best funbike hardtail I have ever ridden in twelve years - awesome!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR, USA Date Reviewed: October 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
beautifully hand crafted, strong, light
Weaknesses:
expensive
Similar Products Used:
kona koa
Bike Setup:
kona koa 14" with profile cranks, mammtoh rims, handmade lexan bash guard.
Bottom Line:
Mike Martinson let me ride his specialist for a while. This bike rocks. Mike uses it, and he's in some big name movies, so that says something if the pros are using it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago IL, USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
anyplace back home in CO!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
The Single Track Factory
Strengths:
Aside from its aesthetic apeal, the Specialist is a stiff frame. Lite, nimble and great for just about any type of riding. Could be the perfect alternative cross country frame for a shorter rider looking to get into an Ellsworth, but can't fit on the SUB 22. Keep in mind that this frame is going to be more weighty than Ellsworth's XC specific frame. But its unbreakable!
Weaknesses:
Slack head tube prevents the bike from seeing a longer travel fork on it. If you are interested in this frame, it's a good idea not to run a fork with more than 125mm of travel.
Similar Products Used:
1999 Spooky Metal head (the easton frame), the only frame on the planet that may be better then the Ellsworth Specialist!
Bike Setup:
2002 Ellsworth Specialist (trials)-2002 Marzocchi DJ 1 QR20 with custom 90mm kit- Chris King Steel headset- Thomson Elite DH 70mm stem, Thomson Elite seat post, Azonic Double wall 2", Ouray grips, Shimano XTR mid cage rear mech, Shimano XTR front mech, Shimano XT disc brakes, XT shifter pods, Ultegra road cassette, Race Face Evolution DH bb, Race Face 170mm North Shore cranks and bash guard, Ringle zu zu pedals, selle' Flite seat, Salsa seat QR, Hayes elite rear hub on Mavic D-321, Hayes DH20mm front hub on Mavic D-321, Nokian Gazzaloddi Core 2.3 on the front, Hutchenson Scorpion 2.2 on the rear. Bike tips the scale at 25.4 lbs Want one? hit up Adam or Brian at the Single Track Factory in colorado, great shop great guys.
Bottom Line:
If you want the dirt jumping bike, you want the Urban bike, you want the trials bike and you want it to look like you had it hand made for you by some famous custom frame builder (god I love ya Frank, miss the Spooky). And you want it lite? Shell out the cash, take out a loan, put off the wedding, sell your girl friends stuff! Do what ever it takes but get this frame! There are so many other frames out there that are sold on hype alone. Or because they look more extreme, or cost a little less for what may seem like a little more. Keep in mind you can hide a lot of poor craft with loads of reinforcement gussetting, and still have a weak frame. This frame works. PERIOD.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jan-Henning Schelkes
a Weekend Warrior
from Freiburg ( Germany ) Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Coldsprings Santa Barbara
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Bike Company (Lake Forest )
Strengths:
Coll Bike !!!!!! It´s a stiff Frame wich is lighter than other Frames like it Its real fun for jumps and wide turns but its Toptub is to long for Dual courses with real tight turns . Warenty for Life .
Weaknesses:
no weakness
Similar Products Used:
I never road one
Bike Setup:
Psylo sl with Tulio ,Hayes disc Brake , Lx Shifters , Lx Front Derauler and Xt in the rear ,Lx Cranks ,frWeehl : Hope hub Mavic 521 Rim ,rearWeehl :Xt-Disc Hub Sun Singelwide Rim ,Tieres are Schalbe Fat Abert .Dk Ironkross Pedals ,Da Bomb Stem ,NC-17 Bar ,Flite Gel Sattel ,Procraft Seatpost.
Bottom Line:
Warenty for Life************ !!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy
a Downhiller
from Puyallup, WA, USA Date Reviewed: March 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
ANYTHING IN MOAB
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Dreamride in MOAB
Strengths:
STIFF, Stiff, and lets see maybe stiff. This is the tightest bike in my whole town of 28,000 I ride this thing and people literally knock me over just to look at it.
Weaknesses:
Maybe the stickers, but it was the tree's fault
Similar Products Used:
Nothing even compares...
Bike Setup:
Hayes hydro (back) Avid Mech (front) XT disc Wheels w/ Sun Ringle Singletrack rims Thomson Elite Seatpost Easton EA50 bars Selle Italia FLite Saddle XTR shifters and Redline Dual Slalom cranks
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is get off of whatever u got and get an Ellsworth. They have great customer service. Great folks that call ya to c if u like your bike. This bike is totally awesome. Ya... I know it's a hardtail but I can beat any full suspension old skool.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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