Submitted by
bigolbstrd
a Weekend Warrior
from kollum
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2009
Strengths: In 2002 i bought this puppy and in 2009 i'm still loving it.
Over the years i have upgraded a lot, in fact only the frame is as it left the factory.
After years of racing, touring and going big (ish) it only shows a couple of scraches and is still as tight as can be.
Weaknesses: stock v-brake, bottom bracket, hubs, headset. In fact most of the oem stuff just ground to pulp after about 1 1/2 years or less.
Bottom Line:
A great frame, some good components, some bad (the bontrager stuff). I have build mine more towards the marathon/all mountain side, frame will take big (2,5 big earls) tires.
Ok value overall, great frame for the money.
Similar Products Used: A lot of hardtails (of similar price or above) and some full suspension (pro flex, univega, klein, cannondale).
Bike Setup: Avid disks, magura air forks (100mm), schwalbe tire combo (2,3 inch), sun rims and xt/lx drivetrain.
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Submitted by
Zack Geyer
a Racer
from Green Bay, WI, US
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007
Strengths: Frame is sweet. Carbon rear end softens up ride a ton. Great value and it is just fast in races.
Weaknesses: Saddle (as with all newer trek bikes), Manitou forks (ride great but ive had to send mine in for repair 3 times), and wheels (i race a ton and the wheels just arent light enough for me)
Bottom Line:
The best it gets for a hardtail if you dont want to spend the extra cash on a full carbon frame. After a lot of severe abuse I seperated the frame but trek was cool about it and are giving me a new frame. With a few upgrades this is one of the best xc racing machines out there.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher tassara (old), GT zaskar pro, and turner sultan
Bike Setup: I replaced the saddle after one ride, I hate riser handlebars(personal preference) so i upgraded those, FSA 140 stem, bontrager x-light wheels, michelin xcr dry tubless tires
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Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Baton Rouge, LA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005
Strengths: FAST. Genesis geometry is great. I feel more confident in my climbing and cornering than on my specialized. Seriosly this bike flies! Black Elite is sweeeet.
Weaknesses: Front Derailleur. Ghost shifts, pops, an all around piece of crap, want to upgrade to XT. Brakes kinda suck too.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fast! I feel like my skills are better with this bike. The Geometry makes for excellent climbs, and cornering, I'm still not quite used to the downhills yet on it though. It is a cross country bike. Did I mention it was fast? I'm relatively new to the sport, and I think I'm going to try some races with this bike. Very happy with it. 4 logs.
Strengths: The frame absolutely ROCKS (lightweight&ultrastrong)!!! Manitou Black shockabsorbers is the BOMB (takes every bump extremely smooth)!!! Great paintjob, durability, agility etc...
Weaknesses: Ehmm....the break-rubber blew (bought new ones after 3 days) ,the original saddle completely s*cked (bought a Selle Italia Max :D) , the tires flex a bit ....(only small weaknesses) Every thing went for like 100$
Bottom Line:
SUMMARY: Great fun/$ value! This is an extremely well made product. The frame is very cool, lightweighted and well designed. I really like the shockabsorbers, they does the job! It feels like the guys on Gary Fisher really made some serious thinkin' about this bike. Good work GF!
Submitted by
Jamal
a Weekend Warrior
from Grapevine, TX
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2003
Strengths: Great Fit, Rigid. Will take abuse, bike's a Tank!!!
Weaknesses: Bike's a Tank!! (Little on the heavy side), Brakes, Chain, & Front Derailleur aren't the best. The seat is absolutely useless!!
Bottom Line:
The bike is great for the price. If you like the Fisher geometry and want something to buid on this is the one to get. It has the best hardtail frame that Fisher has to offer. The components aren't the best, but gives you something to work on as you go. The bike is rather heavy, but if you want to complain about that go spill some more money on a Mt. Tam.
The seat blows big chunks because the stitches tear from the rear. Fisher knows about this, so if you complain they sen a better seat.
The best thing is that this bike holds up. I've done atleast 4 endo's on this. Had some major spills on top of that. Bent spokes, broke my computer off about 10 times (Superglue is getting rather thick now), broke the chain once, knocked the front derailleur out of whack, etc. Point being..... the bike is still as rigid as the day I bought it.
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000, Specialized Stumpjumer.
Bike Setup: Factory with Thomson Seatpost & XTR brakes.
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Submitted by
John P
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003
Strengths: Awesome frame, good fork, decent component spec for the $
Weaknesses: stock brakes are horrible! wire bead tires at this price point are unacceptable.
Bottom Line:
This is the first year that Fisher put their top of the line aluminum frame on the Big Sur. The frame rocks, it is light, has a taseful paint job that will still look great in 5 years, welds are clean and even. The frame isn't quite as stiff as the one on my old Zaskar, which is good and bad.
I haven't had any trouble with the fork like some people, it has worked very well for me. Bontrager components are also pretty decent despite what some people say, but it would have been nice to see a few non-house brand Titec or Synchros pieces.
Fisher did cut a few corners, but I guess its okay considering the frame and fork. The brakes should be upgraded ASAP, they suck to the point of being unsafe. Shame on Shimano for producing those pieces of crap and on Fisher for spec'ing them on such a high dollar bike, they belong on a $250 hybrid. Also wire bead tires? Super weak. Even though it looks pretty the rear cassete isn't that great either, I suspect a SRAM/Shimano compatibility issue.
All in all this bike rocks, don't let these minor issues dissuade you from buying a Big Sur. Fisher is a great compnay that stands by its products, I have owned two Fishers in the past and used to work in a store that sold Fishers and they are a solid company. Buy this bike if you can find it on closeout or used, you will be hard pressed to find a better package for the money.
Strengths: Good geometry and well valued components for the price that it costs.
Weaknesses: They did cut corners with the 2002/2003 versions.
Bottom Line:
If you can get your hands on a 2001 version of this bike your much better off....I demoed the 2003 and thats where i'm basing this review from, but the bike is no where near the value of the older model. Plus, whats with the horrible colour scheme? Check out the pictures of the 2001, blue/white/silver, was much much better. Buy the bike if you can't find a '01. Happy trails
Bike Setup: XT/XTR, Raceface Cranks/Rings, Bontrager Race Lite Tubeless wheels
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Submitted by
Billy BoB
a Racer
from Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003
Strengths: Frame of course. If you think bontrager componets suck then you suck. Bontrager rocks. I got a psylo on my bike and it's the best ever.
Weaknesses: I had a problem with the front middle chain ring on the crankset, it bent a little. If you hit it with a hammer it's fixed so stop complainin about it. THE SEAT IS HOT!!!! sort of...
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE ROCKS. It is perfect in every way. Also i am tired of people complaining about bontrager. You people are gay. Thats all there is to say.
Similar Products Used: Trek (good but more expensive)Gary Fisher is pretty much Trek anyways
Bike Setup: It has a frame and wheels and what not.
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Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2003
Strengths: Frame, Fork, Value
Weaknesses: Seat (Big surprise), brakes
Bottom Line:
The shop stepped up at the get go; my price included all upgrades...
I'm over 6' and 185 pounds. I spent about six months test different bikes. None fit or climbed like this one...
They had trouble finding a mounting bracket for the Hayes brakes, so I had the original rims and brakes for about a week. Boy was I happy when the part came in.
The seat...Lasted one ride and fell apart.
Bottom line yes there is plenty of room to "customize" (half the fun), but I picked this bike for the frame.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain, Specialized, Trek, Giant, Marin
Bike Setup: Stock + Hays HMX-1 Disk (F/R), Fuji RP saddle, SUN Ditch Witch rims w/ MAXXIS MOFO XC rubber, and my old SPD Platforms.
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Submitted by
Scott HammerDog
a Weekend Warrior
from Bound Brook ,NJ USA
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003
Strengths: Bike is well made. Nice frame, great fork solid all around bike.
Weaknesses: The Seat, the seat the seat!!!!! I mean come on what a peice of crap....WTB put their name on it so you would think it was OK but Junk is the best word!
Bottom Line:
This is a really good frame suitable for any upgrade XTR what ever....Top of the line aluminum frame, great fork, I have no complaints I paid $800 bucks I was willing to go as high as $1000-1200 but I really could not find a better deal on similar stuff. All you got extra was disks but who really needs that and I can take the $200 saved and buy more shorts, shoes and power bars.......I say buy the bike great deal.....Left overs are great.....so buy your 2002 now.
Bike Setup: Bike is totally stock except for the seat which I switched out the very minute I got the thing home......Bontrager, XT/LX stuff nicwe package for the dough!
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord,NC
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002
Strengths: Great for tall people. I feel it is very strong bike that has taken a lot of punishment by my fat butt. Wheel set has not had a problem even after some wrecks.
Weaknesses: Need upgraded spring for fork if you weigh more than 225. Trust it makes all the difference. Not impressed by the XT? shift system. Doesn't take much to make it act up when your racing.
Bottom Line:
I would recommend to anyone sarting off to be one that you would keep and get your money out of!
Strengths: Geometry, climbs like a goat, fork is great so far
Weaknesses: Bontrager front middle chain ring, Mythos tires, saddle, seat post and paint job could be a little brighter.
Bottom Line:
It's a great hard tail that you can build on. All of the above "weakness" items have been replaced except for the paint job of course. I love this bike so far, and it has carried me through some great races (7) this summer without any problems. No complaints about the fork right now, I switch the travel length when I'm going from road to trail. The frame is ultra stiff so that climbing power isn't lost. And the geometry is noticably quite different and better from my old Gary Fisher. I don't regret buying it except for when the middle chainring bent as I was climbing a short steep climb (by Pottery road) - and this happened twice - once again with the replacement ring. So whatever you do avoid Bontragers chainrings. Final chainring is a Shimano and I've ridden about 2 months and no problems. All of the complaints I've had would probably also apply for other serious off roaders and racers so if you're not - you won't notice the problems I've had. This bike was worth the money but watch out for a few of those cheap parts that come with it.
Bike Setup: Michelin Sprint back tire, Revolt SS tire up front, Thompson seatpost. Middle chainring replaced by a Shimano
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Submitted by
Andrew H.
a Cross Country Rider
from Boone
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002
Strengths: The Black kicks ass. Geometry lets you climb almost anything. 26lbs. Despite what others say, the bontrager components are alright. They're built to last.
Weaknesses: The saddle absolutely blows.
Bottom Line:
I ride this bike hard almost every day on and off trails. It rides with a lot of urbans and can follow off or over any wall, jump, or log. Definitely a best buy for the price.
Bike Setup: Stock except for Selle San Marco Ti saddle and XT front derailer.
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Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Glen Burnie, MD.
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002
Strengths: Its a Fisher, Platinum series Genesis Frame, BLACK fork, Wheel set.
Weaknesses: Brakes..Brakes..Brakes.. or should I say "the lack there of." Bottom Bracket, if you are a big guy?
Bottom Line:
For the money, I love this bike. It has been awhile since I owned something that made me want to "hug my bike." The Big Sur does just that!! In my opinion, GF does a good job of mixing components to get there customers the best "bang for the buck!" I would not say that every component is great but the things you need are there. I give the bike 5 chilli's for value, 'cause of the deal I got. I give it four overall cause I had to replace parts and thats not "perfect." If you are an int. rider looking to move up a notch in machine you can not go wrong but remember it's an XC machine.
Similar Products Used: Many from GT, Specialized, Trek, and Fisher.
Bike Setup: Stock except; Avid Arch Rival 50 and Shimano un-72 BB.
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Submitted by
jens meijer
a Racer
from Kollum, friesland, the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002
Strengths: Great frame with genesis geometry and the manitou black fork
Weaknesses: Anything bontrager, el cheapo saddle, cheapass special v-brake's Needed a new bb after only one month of use (one xc race and a few training rides).
Bottom Line:
Great frame and fork, but with some budget parts to make the price competitive. This bike is last years parragon for a lot less.
The bontrager rear hub has started to make a grinding noise (busted driveside bearing) and the front isn't looking to good as well (rust has started to ooze out). Superstock wheelset is to flexy for me, and i was thinking of buying a new wheelset anyway.
The frame and suspention get top marks, but the bontrager bits and cheap v's are to crappy for 5 chillis. Ride is great tho :)
