Submitted by
Foxtower
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, MB
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2010
Strengths: Solid, very light aluminum (rust free) frame frame.
Hydraulic brakes don't freeze in the winter.
Dependable and durable and -- except for some low-grade components -- excellent quality.
Weaknesses: The base-level Deore components are high maintenance and are out of place on this otherwise durable, high-quality product. The low-end Deore front derailleur and rear hub are the only parts that have failed on this intermediate-level bike. I have switched them out for XT wherever possible.
Terribly uncomfortable seat!
Bottom Line:
Great value for money.
A quality workhorse for weekend warriors and those who need a dependable commuter.
For the price, I would have liked XT components across the board.
Once the components have been upgraded, this bike has been a solid responsive performer in all kinds of conditions. This bike is my daily driver in a city of climatic extremes. It gets as hot as +40C (104F) to -40C (-40F).
I would recommend this bike to anyone, except the high-end racing. For entry-level racers, you have to up grade the components.
C.
Favorite Trail: Canadian Shield, Northeastern Ontario
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At: Olympia Cycle and Sk
Similar Products Used: None.
Bike Setup: Paid extra for the SLR (Super Light Racing) frame and the hydraulic disc brakes.
XT dual shifters
Saint 180mm crankset
Crank Brothers egg-beater pedals
Hybrid tires for summer street and light trail commuting.
Nokian Extreme 294 studded rubber for the winter.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from Islip, NY
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2007
Strengths: Price, paint scheme, Disk ready hubs,
Weaknesses: Seat broke on first hard ride. The lower water bottle screw "spun" and I cannot get it off or tighten it fully.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for less then half price. I wanted something to ride for exercise and found this bike wants to rock. I have plans to further upgrade some things like seat posts and maybe
Similar Products Used: Giant, specialized other bikes in the price range I will pay
Bike Setup: Added WTB Rocket V, Avid BB5, Carbon fiber Bar Ends...along with some goodies.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Carl Vella
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississauga, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2007
Strengths: Durable (not one major repair in 7yrs, light (only 26.5 lbs, tossible, great shifting, decent braking.
Weaknesses: Pedals like most bikes in this price range.
Bottom Line:
Purchased this bike in 2001 and its been 7 years and the only thing I've had to repair is the chain. This bike is extremely durable, very light (26.5 lbs)which makes it great for climbing. The frame quality is very high, welds are clean and strong, one of the few frames Made in USA. I'd definetly have no regrets and I am happy with my purchase.
Submitted by
evosteve
a Weekend Warrior
from OP, KS USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007
Strengths: Good price, strong and light. Can handle about anything I dish out. Very cool orange/black paint job for 2006.
Weaknesses: Seat. If you get this bike, change out the seat right away
Bottom Line:
Good all around bike. I'm a recreational weekend rider but put this bike through a lot. I have yet to break any of the stock components on it. For the money paid, I couldn't ask for anything more.
Submitted by
Ben Pignatelli
a Downhiller
from Stateline, NV USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2006
Strengths: Great front suspension bike. Tough as nails. Will take you anywhere if you're up to the challenge. Bontrager design.
Weaknesses: a hardtail
Bottom Line:
If you're looking for a XC bike that can do anything, this is it. This bike took me from a beginer at Arcata's Community Forest to a downhiller on all of South Tahoe's offerings.
Never had a problem with the frame, even with the wicked abuse I offered. The bike is great for a lightweight cross-country, and offered me one last summer on hardcore downhills.
Strengths: It kicks ass up hill it is a very tough bike good its also it very responsive. The Bontrager tires grip good Its very fast. It was partucaly runover by a S10 pickup ended up bending the rim. But i got a new rim and the buke was good as new. The bike blowes through mud its hard to get it stuck. Its got excelent disc Hayes brakes they stop on a dime I put 911 Miles on it i after owning it for 8 months now im rebuild in it after wareing out the parts on it.
Weaknesses: The tires hold up terrible one of the has a small slice on the side wall. The tread wares down quickly on them. The paint holds up horabaly (scratches easily). The Shimono IG chain is crapy it snapped 3 times. I recomend you switch the chain when its new to a sram-p68 chain or do what i did and ware out the componets on it and in the winter rebuild it.
Bottom Line:
This is a sturdy good bike can handle almost anything that comes its way its good for medium level mountain bikers. Its a good bike for the buck.
Bike Setup: Removeable dropout, Hayes disc brakes, Thumb shifters, good cranks,stem,bars.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Madsen
a Weekend Warrior
from Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2005
Strengths: Great, strong bike that can handle alot of crap from any rider.
Weaknesses: Needs "Stomp" Pedals and a new fork for a better ride.
Bottom Line:
ITs a hardcore bike that will handle things from drops, to rock climbing, to racing full on out down a hill. I suggest this bike to someone who is just starting out or is a amature. It can take falling or even if you get a flat you can keep riding on it for a mile or so and it wont even be hurt. You should totally get this if you want a great HardTail.
Similar Products Used: ´1999 Specialized Hardrock A1, Cannondale F400, 1996 Gary Fischer Paragon.
Bike Setup: I bought the frame from some trial riding guy in NJ, and added parts to it that i already had. Fork is a 2002 Sid race titanium. Drivetrain and brakes are a mix between Sram 9.0 and Deore LX. Wheels are Mavic 221´s with XT hubs. Tires are Hurchinson mosquito gold´s.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Hunt
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2004
Strengths: Lightness, Frame Strength, derailleurs
Weaknesses: cranks, shocks(too hard i have the 04 version of the 6500 and that comes with pilot c's) rims are weak
Bottom Line:
Great bike just watch out for the cranks mine mangled themselves but trek replace them. am getting better xc forks and hydraulic discs
Submitted by
Danny
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK.
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2004
Strengths: Nice Colour. Fantastic Light Frame. Good value for Money when purchased.
Weaknesses: Seat took a bit of getting used to. Brakes seem to be getting worse with time. Front shifter dosen't like being crashed.
Bottom Line:
Fantastic, fun bike. Loves to be ridden off road. After getting some real comfy shorts I can now sit on the seat without worrying if i'll ever have kids. Brakes are a little weak, and look crap. Will replace soon, but will stick with V's, probably LX. Front shifter also seems a bit tempremental after a crash or two. Suppose the most obvious fix for that would be not to crash.....
End of day, love the bike because it loves to be ridden.
Bike Setup: all stock but i took off anything that i didn't need like the seat, right now i'm using it for some in town Trails stuff, and it holds up good
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Submitted by
Jr
a Cross Country Rider
from Hillsdale N.C. USA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Strengths: Great Frame that is light,strong,rigid and A1 paint.
Weaknesses: Hard Seat,Manitou Fork to soft,(I Weigh 225),Brakes sorta cheap looking but work fine.
Bottom Line:
This was my first true Mt Bike,my 13 yr old son has a 4300,as I upgrade my 6500 I am installing the old parts onto his bike,I would recommend the 6500 to anyone looking for a good intermediate hardtail mtb,has a great frame worthy of upgrades,you will need to replace the seat it is like a rock. If you weigh over 170 install a heavier fork.
Bike Setup: Replaced seat 1st with more comfortable Trek seat,Installed Rock Shox Duke XC Fork,Rock Shox susp. seatpost,Shorter handlebar stem,XT rear Der.,Presently looking for new brakelevers,Everything else stock.
I took my bike in to a local shop and they adjusted my brakes for me for free. Nice guy… when he was going over the brakes he looked over everything and said I was in need of a tun Read More »
I took my bike in to a local shop "Santa Rosa" and they adjusted my brakes for me for free. Nice guy… when he was going over the brakes he looked over everything and said I was in Read More »
I took my bike in to a local shop and they adjusted my brakes for me for free. Nice guy… when he was going over the brakes he looked over everything and said I was in need of a tun Read More »
I took my bike in to a local shop and they adjusted my brakes for me for free. Nice guy… when he was going over the brakes he looked over everything and said I was in need of a tun Read More »
I took my front and rear tires off and put my bike in the trunk of my car to go MT. Biking today when we got there, I noticed I must have pressed my brakes together, both front and Read More »
