Submitted by
Brian Maldonado
a Weekend Warrior
from Geneva, New York, USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2006
Strengths: This is a bike which is exceptionally well spec'ed (OEM) and well sized and designed. I am 5'11" and with exception of long neck on bike fits me well. My bike is a large. This year is equipped with a Marzocci MXR Air fork which does have oil in the legs (Primary settings are done with a pump at both legs.) About 55psi is good and has external preload setting on bottom of right fork leg. This is as near to the perfect bicycle as you are likely to find. Frame has zirconium as an alloy agent, geometry is comfortable but on the quick side (long wheelbase but steepish head and post angles. Very generous tire clearance with low Q-factor) Please take time to review specs of this year or many of the subsequent offerings from Fisher in the 29er range.
Weaknesses: Comes with ATAC pedals. Buy some Nashbar platforms or Crank Bros. 5050. This will give your feet a break as there will be ample room to move your feet around as you ride 75 miles of combined on and off road terrain.
Bottom Line:
This really is the perfect production bicycle. Other years are not as fortunate. This bike is so good that you will find many negative product reviews of the componants as well as the bike itself. Be smart. Understand Bicycling 101 and then compare.
Strengths: Light Frame, Awesome Geometry, Light...great components group for price
Weaknesses: Low Bottom bracket height....oh well
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! After riding a full suspension for 3 years, the 29er takes up what the full sos did, plus i can make it even lighter weight. Climbs great, due to a sometimes too low bottom bracket, descends awesome, all around a great bike. If you live in a place where full sos isnt completly needed the 29er is a great way to go. Also, for the price off the bat it has a very good components group
Similar Products Used: 2002 GF Sugar 3+ : full custom build 2006 GF Biggins GED : also full custom
Bike Setup: Race Face Dues Crankset, XTR front and rear, bontrager race lite wheels. bontrager raceXlite carbon seatpost, race face nexus carbon bar, xt shifters, avid ultimate brake set
Bike Setup: sick xtr everything, fatty head shocks, with alternat judy specails
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Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005
Strengths: Great parts package, Genesis geometry, Nice wheels that roll fast.
Weaknesses: Limited availability of aftermarket forks, limited wheels/tire choice.
Bottom Line:
Great riding bike. The 29er revolution is here, deal with it! The larger wheels roll over objects like they weren't there and maintain momentum to keep you going faster. It's almost like having a full suspension bike since it makes short work of rooty sections and steep downhills. The drivetrain shifts smoothly due to XT/XTR quality. Plus, Geneisis geometry works, it helps you climb better and descend faster. Some people have mentioned that this is a "big guy's" bike or that it climbs slower: that is just not true. Play with your shifting/gearing and learn that you can go faster with bigger wheels.
Bike Setup: XT shifters/levers, XTR rear der., XT front der. Bonty race crank, race stem, bars, seatpost, wheels. Marzocchi 3" travel fork with external rebound and air adjustment.
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Submitted by
David Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Martha's Vineyard, Ma.
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2004
Strengths: First Impressions- Slow turning/handling in tight spots at first, however, once acclimated to increase in wheel size, an incredible ride all around.
Weaknesses: Tried to find selection of tires online. Excel sports was the only site that I have found that offers 2 choices for 29ers. Is there other sites out there?
Bottom Line:
I found this bike on a whim. I was looking for a hardtail and by chance came across a brand new MT TAM 29er that had been sitting in the basement of a friends shop. At $1000.00 bucks brand new with warranty, I could not pass up this opportunity with how the bike was spec'd. I am 5 foot 4 inches and am riding the SMALL. I am a triathlete/roadie/cross/but Mtn Biker 1st and absolutely love this bike.
Are there people out there who are still riding the 29ers in 2004? If anyone has info on the hotspots to get 29er goods, please forward the sites to me at trigeekmv@yahoo.com
Strengths: Wonderful bike! Precise shifting and braking. Climbs like a goat. I commute on it year round thru abusive conditions. Sometimes the gears froze after getting caked with slush and salt, but a rinse at the end of the day frees everything up. I don't deserve the performance it still provides.
Weaknesses: Bontrager seat post cracked after 1.5 yr use. Bontrager cranks creak unless I tighten the bolts just to the shearing point. It took several sheared bolts until I learned just where it is.
Bottom Line:
I'd buy it again for the riding I do - year round commuting over roads that look like a moonscape. I can't say how this would be on trails or in races, but it is the most reliable transport I've owned. It would have been out of my price range had I bought it new at list price with the components it has, but for $800 in excellent condition on eBay, I thought the value was excellent.
Bike Setup: XTR rear, XT front, Avid Single Digit V-pull brakes, Marzocchi Bomber shocks, Bontrager Race wheels.
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2003
Strengths: Wow, gotta love the paint job. Pretty good mix of components. Climbs well and rolls over anything, think of it was a bike between a hardtail and full suspension due to its 29 inch wheels
Weaknesses: The big wheels hinder handling in tight areas. Not as easy to find parts for 29ers than the standard 26. The chain fell of twice after like 10 miles of riding. I dont think its due to a bad chain line, probably something got stuck that i didnt notice.
Bottom Line:
Overall a good bike. If its your first time riding on 29ers than it takes time to get used too. You will feel high up at first. But it well roll over just about anything with ease. The only problem is handling in tight areas because the large wheel diameter takes more space to turn.
Submitted by
Ward Shooty
a Cross Country Rider
from smack dab in Lincoln Land,IL
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2003
Strengths: fast on trails and road still feels light even with discs nice paint
Weaknesses: pedals bang on things
Bottom Line:
I bought the fork/frame used then built up. Though not large myself this bike seems a big persons bike. Sitting next to my friends Paragon (same 19" frame size) it seems like a much larger bike It seems a little harder to "throw around" on tight trails than a 26 but the speed... oh yes the speed makes it worth it. On the road and trails its fast fast fast I decided on the fisher frame (alloy) over the karate monkey (steel) and glad I did even with discs this still feels like a light bike
Bike Setup: avid disc, salsa delgado-x, lx package, specialized clipless
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Submitted by
Lance
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2003
Strengths: 29 inch tires are great! They roll over anything, climb like crazy, and go fast when you're just out spinning.
Weaknesses: None that I've noticed.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend this bike! I am a tall rider, 6'4", and it is terrific for me. I don't know any short people that ride this bike so I'm not sure if it performs the same for them or not. The geometry is great for true cross country riding. It is stiff and takes off like a shot and maintains speed well. The larger tires take some getting used to on the real technical stuff, like logs and rocks, but after a short break-in period you'll love the way it feels.
Bike Setup: Stock. It comes nicely set up, ready for some hard riding.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2003
Strengths: Great ride, super smooth and fast.
Weaknesses: None that I have found
Bottom Line:
This is a great riding and handling bike. Any serious mountain biker doing cross country riding should take a serious look at one. It may take a little time to get used to but so does going from a BMX bike to a mountain bike. I was disapointed when I first got the bike because I was riding it like my other bikes. Once I got used to it (about a week) I wouldn't trade it for the world. If you can get one I would pick it up today, 2niners are here to stay!
Similar Products Used: Gt. Idrive, Moots, Specialized M2
Bike Setup: Stock with bar ends and Rock Shox suspension seat post.
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2003
Strengths: I love this bike, the 29's roll over everything with ease. Its stable at high speeds and I can clean technical uphills and downhills much easier than I could with a 26'er. I noticed it is harder to get the wheels up to speed, but that is equalled out by just choosing a lower gear. I never realized what I great rider I was until I bought this. My old bike was holding me back!
Weaknesses: Once again... I LOVE THIS BIKE... but here goes... The bottom bracket IS lower than the 26" versions. A buddy has an 2002 Big Sur and there is a definate height difference. I'm constantly whacking the pedals on everything I could normally clear on any 26!!! My rear freehub started making a bunch of noise recently (they sent me a complete wheel-warranty). Wheels seem easier to bend than a 26... most likely due to the longer spokes. Its a pain to find anyone local (including Fisher dealers) who stock any 29" tires or tubes!
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, wouldn't trade it for anything... well, maybe a Supercaliber 29 or a Sugar 292/293
Bike Setup: Stock, with a Cane Creek Thudbuster (it was a pain to find a shim). I'm thinking of going tubeless pretty soon!
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Submitted by
Sean Fitzpatrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Lewiston
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003
Strengths: very stable, very fast, surprisingly lightweight, despite wheel and tire size, also very versatile, uses a 700c wheel so narrow fast tires can be put on for a screaming fast hybrid or it makes a good touring bike.
Weaknesses: None, many people are concerned about availability of tires but I see that there are 5 different manufactuers for them now. Other complaints I've read are the fork choices but in my opinion Bombers are the best, least maintenance of any fork I've ever used.
Bottom Line:
I have found the bike to be better in all situations. Theoretically, the wheels should be more difficult to accelerate but that has not been my experience. I don't know why but I find that it climbs better than a 26" tire, particularly in steep stuff, could be the larger tire footprint provides more traction. I find that it really excells in loose, twisty downhill areas. I have never felt so confident as I have with this bike. I've read other reviewers complaints that it is slower in tight and twisty single track, again, that is not my experience, with the bike being so much more stable and find that I'm able to go through these areas much easier than I could previously.
I just read the Fat Kid's review and had to post this since I bought his 29"er this summer when he came to visit me. I have continued to trick it out a bit but it came with lite, reliable parts, very nicely set up.
I love this bike. It was made for Alaska or anywhere with wide open spaces. It also carves up the singletrack like Thanksgiving turkey. No snow yet this year so I don't know how it will compare to a 26er in snow but it seems like it will be better. Not a good selection of winter treads though.
I rode a steel Breezer for about 10 years then on a trip back east two years ago the fat kid let me borrow his sugar. Loved it, bought one. The sugar is a nice all around bike and actually replaced the Breezer for a while. Then I rode the 29er. I was never really sold on the full suspension thing. I liked my steel bike. The 29er splits the difference perfectly. It is not as smooth as a sugar but it is smooth enough for me.
The 29er is the perfect trail bike. Rock solid and reliable but fast and comfy too. My only gripe is why is this thing made out of Aluminum. It makes no sense to build an all day adventure bike with a stiff racer type frame. A steel frame would really put this ride over the top. Until then I am looking for a suspension seat post.
Anyone who wants a real mtn bike should buy this bike, 29ers are the future, ride them or you will be passed (past). Sorry couldn't resist the pun.... Also don't believe the hype that they are for tall folks, I am five feet eight inches tall and the med Mt. Tam fits fine.
Bike Setup: Race Face cranks, King head set, Sram 9.0 brakes and levers, Easton Carbon flat bar, Thompson post, egg beaters, Velocity Dyad rims on XTR (vintage 1993) Hubs, 36 spokes, Sram X.O shifters, World Class ti BB, Wtb Tri lite saddle, everything else (stem, fork and frame) is box stock baby.
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Submitted by
the fat Kid
a Cross Country Rider
from Renselaerville, NY
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
Strengths: Flipping Green Paint
Weaknesses: rotating weight
Bottom Line:
the 29er in a nut shell..acutally it wouldn't fit the wheels are too damn big. I have been waiting to review the 29er until i spent ample time on it so i could give a real opinion. Not one of these "I demo it and it is the greatest bike ever..buy one" Or "I saw my buddy's and it sucked" I've read all the reviews on this site, as well as all the paid advertisments, guised as bike review in all your favorite bike mags like Mountain Bike Fiction. Here is What I found out after a year in the saddle...The big Wheel are definately differnet! it is one fast bike!( one rotation of the wheel covers a lot more distance then a standard 26 inch wheel.) it require more work to get it through tight single track, and it does roll over roots and rock with ease. I wouldn't say it it feels like a sugar because i had a couple of thoes and they still are my favorite bike, but it was on this big wheeled freak that i won the rock garden challenge at a local MT bike fest. It was my second time winning it, but the first time anyone has ever rode out the other side of it. The big wheel take a little getting use to, your front end wants to dive when you go off big drop, the bigger wheel require you to have to get you weight back farther to get past the center of the hub.This is true when you hit big air on the trail as well. (you quickly get use to it) It is a very stable bike, and like to be laid over in a corner, the wieght of the wheels act like gyroscopes and keep the bike from going over. Altough I have laid it over too far..ouch! On the other hand it is the weight of the wheels that make this bike a bear on the long climb. Heavier tire put the rotating weight right where you don't want it. lose your spin an this bike gets heavy.(use hybride tubes to save wieght and a 170 crank to help keep the spin.)But on the flip side the 29ers giant wheels have a larger contact patch that give you better traction on the climb so you can climb steeper stuff. All said an done I didn't fall in truely apreciate the 29er until i spent two week riding in alaska. This Bike eats up alaskan single track. I went to alaska with both my sugar and the 29er and only came home with the sugar because my buddy had to have my 29er after a couple of ride. so I bought a new one when I came home. It is a fast fun bike that takes the edge off the trail and gives you a confident stable ride. Passing fad or here to stay? I think you will find the 29er will have it place on the trail.
Similar Products Used: No other 29er, Fishers cannondales treks specilazied etc....
Bike Setup: the first one was all tricked out... the second one stock
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Chandler, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002
Strengths: Light, fast, fun, smooth, less potential for accidental endos, and rolls over ALOT.
Weaknesses: Headset needed to be replaced, tires are hard to find....
Bottom Line:
I was lucky enough to win a drawing from Supergo and got this bike for free. It has been a pleasure to ride, and has reduced the number of times I have had close encounters btwn my head and a rock (less endos). The bike rolls over rocks much easier than a 26" and climbs easily. I had to get the headset replaced, it came loose several times, but Supergo's staff even took care of that. I really enjoy the 29'er, I HIGHLY recommend trying/buying it, I doubt I will ever go back to 26....oh yea, buy a spare tire anytime you see one!
