-International Standard disc brake mounts and replaceable derailleur hanger
-4 or 6" rear travel
-Extruded aluminum one-piece BB/pivot unit
-Shot-peened, anodized finish
-Compatible with up to 6" travel forks
the frame handles corners and quick turns well...very well.The Romic equiped rear end sucks up everything(I'm 5'10 at 155-160)from small baby heads to small roll offs(off my stairs at 3ft)and medium (off a small ledge about 4.5ft).That's all I had to test it on 'cause I had to get to work so I just had to eye a few things to test it off of.(This week end I'll do soooooo much more.)The frames Geo reminds me of a supped up BMX with cheese.Other than that you pretty much have to keep in mind how you have it set up.(Re:components)The Frame is dope..and my set up is ill=DOPE!
Weaknesses:
NA...But set it up for your style,needs and preference...or you'll pay(for what you don't need and then again when you ride)
Similar Products Used:
Tested a bunch
Bike Setup:
17in Ellsworth joker frame/Romic,Marzochi Z1fr 20mm,Thompson seatpost & 70mm stem,Avid mech. 8frnt+6r,Avid Ult.Lvrs and Flack jct cbls,Sram X7 Der.+shft, Idr blk cass+chain,Saint 3rng cranks,odessy pltfrms,prym gripps(FKNDOPE!)and Atomic lab DHR's +Hugi FR hubs+Dt swiss spokes on Panaracer fr 2.4 fr tire and Kenda 2.4 rear(I LOVE THIS BIKE!!!TEARS...)and Brooklyn Machine Works saddle.
Bottom Line:
This bike is Dope!!!The frame ROCKS!!Most definitly Kicks A,lot of stuff.Set it up and go!Hills,Drops,hard turns,STREET,WHAT!!!?!!!It moves..apply skills=EVERYTHING YOU NEED!or..at least for me..(when you buy a bike,consider what you need and want to do with it..)Oh,I also commute on this thing too.10miles to and from work and then some more just kickin it on trails and 'round town..Like i was on a XC and sht,bro!Peace,Unity and RIDE!oh...watch AMN.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: January 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Reeds Cyclery & Sport Shop
Strengths:
sturdy, craftsmanship, travel, little if any pedal bob (depending on how you ride i guess).
Weaknesses:
nothing other than they're hard to find sometimes.
Similar Products Used:
cannondale jekyll 500, santa cruz bullit
Bike Setup:
sram x.7 everywhere, truvative cranks, sun rhyno lite rims, thomson, duke sl.
Bottom Line:
this is a great all around bike. i'm a pretty heavy guy (190 lbs) and i have yet to bottom out this thing (except i have bottomed out my duke's, but that's not what i'm reviewing). i was a bit worried of bottoming out and pedal bobbing since i bought the small frame with the fox shocks. luckily i have had no problems in those departments.
going downhill on this thing is a blast. it feels really stable flying down hills and soaks up all the bumps and ruts that get in it's way. i've gone down the same hills with my friends cannondales and specialized bikes but neither of them felt as sturdy and aggressive as my joker. maybe it's a mental thing, but being mentally secure about your bike is almost as imorptant as the bike itself.
i would definately recommend this bike if you're looking for an "all-around" type bike. i have busted my cranks (not the truvative) and bent my rims and the frame is still in tack. it's worth spending the extra money on getting the parts you want and not settling for "cheaper" gear. you'll be glad you did. i know i was.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria BC Date Reviewed: January 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
North Park Bikes
Strengths:
Truly a great bike, pedals amazingly well, travel feels bottomless, versatile to all riding styles. Really good customer service. Durable finish.
Weaknesses:
Older swingarms but thats fixed now. Occasional bent bolt on pre 2003's.
Similar Products Used:
Brodie Diablo, Bullit, Rides on all the other usuals
Bottom Line:
I still ride my 2002, I broke 2 rear swingarms in the same place. The first time I had an RA# straight away and got a swingarm back in a jiff. Second time I was offered the same thing but decided to wait for the upgrade and got a new modified rear it took quite a while to come but was worth it This is still the best bike I have ever ridden. Customer service from Jim and Kathy specifically was what makes Ellsworth different from the many other companies. Thankyou
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenji
a
from Boise, Id Date Reviewed: January 7, 2004
Favorite Trail:
BOBS and Stack Rock
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
This is a well rounded frame. It can handle anything from light downhill to cross country depending on the setup.
Weaknesses:
Rear tire clearence is only about 2.3
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Heckler
Bike Setup:
Manitou Black Elite 100/120 fork, race face crank, xt derailers, xtr shifters, Hayes Hydro brakes, xt hubs with mavic 317 wheels, azonic shorty stem, thompson seat post, selle italia seat
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It suits my riding style perfectly. I prefer downhill riding but to go down you must go up first. This bike is barely over 30 pounds with the set up I have so it goes uphill fine and handles the downhill with the ease of 6 inches of rear travel. If you want a well rounded bike this is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brooks Carter
a Cross Country Rider
from Moab, UT, USA Date Reviewed: December 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim, Sovereign, Amasa Back
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Moab Cyclery
Strengths:
The bike is a great combination of climber and bomber Rock Solid Frame feel Light Weight (relatively) Reasonable price for a quality frame Overall performance
Weaknesses:
The clown picture - gimme a break Jury is still out on the Megablaster tires
Similar Products Used:
Bullit, Yeti ASX, Cannondale Gemini
Bike Setup:
Small Black Frame (actually 04, but there was no 04 category)w/1.5 head tube, Romic D Shock, Manitou Sherman Breakout (6"), Hugi FR thru axel hubs, Mavic 519 Rims, FSA FR 200 stem & FR-270 Riser Bar 31.8mm, Thompson seatpost, Hays hydraulic discs, all XT, Time Z Control pedals, 22/32 w/bash guard, 11/34 cassette, Panaracer Megablaster 2.5 tires
Bottom Line:
This bike is sweet . . . really sweet. My buddy who has a nice FR rig got on it for 30 seconds and said he had to have one - it has a great feel. My instructions to Jonny at Moab Cyclery included the weight being no more than 32 pounds - he got it down to 32.5, and yet have parts on it that were beefy. He found the combination!
I weigh 140 and was looking for a bike that could take some serious hits on the downhills yet still climb well. It's a winner in both categories! I have shied away from single pivot bikes in the past to avoid a lot of bobbing, but was convinced by other owners reviews and Jonny that this set up was efficient - they were right. When I reviewed my 03 Specialized Enduro Pro on MTBR I talked about what a great climber it was and how it could climb anything my stumpjumper could climb. I took the Joker on a long hard climb on Sovereign that I had recently done with the Enduro and found that the Joker climbed it just as well! and I was wheezing about the same at the top (even though the Joker weighs 4.5 pounds more). Frame design and shock technical advances have made bob a non-issue. This bike really climbs.
Then I started looking for jumps to see if the bike could hold up that end of the bargain. On 3 - 4 footers on solid rock the bike soaked up the landings like they were nothing, and if I was a little out of position (which did happen a time or two) it totally ironed out the problem - so cool! The value of the 1.5 head tube, big Sherman fork, beefy bars and thru axel were proven a couple of times when I really missed the line off the jump. I found myself flying off the trail into an ugly, ugly boulder field that would have eaten most bikes I have owned, but the Joker rolled over everything like a tank.
Oh, and on the technical parts of the single track, the bike was all about precision (brakes, handling, etc). I am 5' 8" and ordered a small frame to help with maneuverability both on the ground and in the air. Right now it seems like a good decision.
What else could a biker want? A great climber and bomber enough to take anything I'll throw at it. Wooooohooooo! This bike will take me to the next level.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Sladeck
a Weekend Warrior
from Foothill Ranch Date Reviewed: December 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Joplin
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Mountaineer Cycle WV
Strengths:
7" of Travel via Romic shock, lightweigth @ 7.2 lbs. Super plush suspension - 1.5 headtube
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
Intense Uzzi SL and SLX, Tracer, M1
Bike Setup:
Manitou Sherman Breakout 1.5 6" single crown,King hubs,3.1 tubeless,thomson post, WTB saddle,RF cranks,FSA bars,stem,h.s.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best I've ever ridden. It's as plush as a DH rig, climbs as well as a 4" bike and can handle whatever you throw at it. I was amazed at the stiffness of the frame and how active it is. The Romic on the rear works perfectly, thanks Jimmy/Romic for tuning it for me. The 1.5 system with Sherman is the way to go.
I've jumped and dropped this bike in Utah, climbed up Harding truck trail 11 miles with 5,000 feet of gain, gone down the backside of Aliso/Laguna trail and it just gets better and better. The value is unreal and unmatched with any other frame. 7lb frame with 7" of travel for $1,300. Too good to be true.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martin S
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, AB, Can. Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Ellsworth (warranty)
Strengths:
Geometry, anodized finish is cool, Romic, 1.5 headtube, has a waterbottle mount for light battery, machined (instead of forged) derailleur hanger,long toptube, reasonable weight, warranty/customer service, cable guides are finally hydraulic friendly.
Weaknesses:
Cable routing is so-so, but that's a single pivot thing. Not a prob with the bike, but Ellsworths website desperately needs an update.
Similar Products Used:
'01 Joker, Bullit, Stinky, RM 6/7, ID
Bike Setup:
Hayes, Raceface NS, '00 Z1 to be replaced with Breakout Plus, XT thumbies,disposable rear Derailleurs
Bottom Line:
I chose to do the upgrade thing with Ellsworth when I broke the stays off of the left hand side of my old beat up '01 frame (first failure) and it was totally worth while. Now I've got a 7" romic equipped machine with the option of running a 1.5 steerer and Ellsworth gave me an adapter so I can use my old Fox RC as a backup when I send the Romic in for it's regular service. The anodized finish looks killer, and I don't have to use cable adapters to run Hydraulic lines. The Romic shock is pretty cool, it's very noticable on the climbs, I can't wait to get the SPV Breakout to match the rear. Ellsworth has redesigned the machining on the swingarm, gone is the weld that produced many of the failures of the old design, and the pivot on the mainframe is pared down and allows a larger weld surface for the downtube. The new machined swingarm yoke also reduces the stress raiser the old style had on the swingarm where the chaistay is joined, where I broke mine. Other than that, rides like my old one, which is awesome. Like the guy below I'm 6'3" and the long toptube is perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nelson Sommerfeldt
a Weekend Warrior
from Copper Harbor, Upper Peninsula, Mi Date Reviewed: October 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The Red Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Used @ mtbr.com classifieds
Strengths:
Gorgeous anodized finish Very light considering travel and strength Stiff, stiff rear swingarm Perfect pivot location
Light freeride/trailbike: Marzocchi Z.1 QR20 (130mm), XT disc to Alex Supra D's, 8" Shimano XT Discs, Race Face Next LP's, 2.4 WTB Motoraptors, Thompson post, Easton Mag Stem, Easton Monkey Lite bar, Odi lock ons, XT/XTR shifters and derailleurs. Total setup comes to 34 lbs
Bottom Line:
I am a very firm believer that there is no best suspension or frame design. It's all subjective, and what feels best to you, may feel like poo to the next guy. With that said, I'm writing this not to quantify this as the greatest bike of all time, but as the perfect fit for my riding style and personal preferences. I've riden pretty much every suspension design out there, so this review is for the rider that hasn't and is looking for an honest look at where this bike stands, and if it's right for them.
I'll start with everyone's favorite debate, the pedaling. I truly think that Mr. Ellsworth has found the perfect position for a single pivot design. This bike climbs like a mtn goat. For fast, cruisin climbs, the middle ring has virtually no bob. For steep, technical climbs, the granny gear pulls the rear wheel down, helping you get a little more traction. Now I can talk all day about how there is little or no bob, but honestly, most of that has to do with the rider, not the suspension. If you are Joe Chugsalong, and mash down on the pedals in pulses, of course you're gonna bob! Smooth power delivery makes a huge difference in any suspension design. Think cicles right? Well thats the key to making this suspension perform its best; smooth, constant power delivery. And like I said, I've ridden almost every suspension design out there, and the only one I feel does a better job of reducing bob is the lower travel VPP's (rode the new 8" travel VP-Free, not as good, good for being 8", but not really in this category either). Not even the Id, which is supposed to be the technically superior Ellsworth design felt as good. The weakest point in the pedaling comes with the big ring. If you are spinning like you would in the middle ring, bob is about the same, just in suspension compression instead of extension. The reason I say its worse is because if you sprint in the big ring, the compression effect gets worse, where as in the middle ring the reaction is much less. And this isn't to say its a problem, cause it totally isn't. The design just doesn't perform as well in the third ring.
If there is one thing I miss the most about my bike when I ride someone else's is the braking. I'll contribute most of that to the brakes though. I love the XT's. And once I got the 8" rotors on, there has been no going back. I've yet to find brakes that I like more than my own. But enough about this, I'm not reviewing brakes right? So the rear swingarm makes the most of the great brakes. My last bike was an RM6, and that thing was terrible at braking. Grabbing the rear brake even moderately hard pretty much locked out the suspension, and was very noticeable in bumpy sections. This is due to the caliper positioning on the disk relative to the pivot. Geeky engineering stuff I wont get into. The important thing is its never an issue on the Joker. I've read other reviews mentioning brake jack, but I've never noticed any. If my engineering knowledge serves me right, this suspension should squat under braking if anything. Techno mumbo jumbo translation is it brakes awesome!
When plush comes up in conversation, this bike will not be the first mentioned. This sounds bad, but let me explain. My RM6 was crazy plush, by far the best big hit absorbing suspension I've ever felt. However, it lacked in handling all the small, stutter bumps of trail riding and downhilling. Kinda like an off-road truck made to bomb through big holes. The Stinky suspension does a very good job of taking small bumps and big hits, great suspension design. However, it isn't very responsive. Think of the it like a Cadillac. Great, smooth ride, but not very sporty. Now think of a Joker like a Porsche. You'll feel everything, but the control and response is amazing. Some of that can be attributed to the Romic shock as well. The suspension stays firm in the corner, making turns quick and snappy. This isn't to say a Stinky can't rip like a Joker the way a Caddy wont keep up with a Porsche, because it certainly will. Here, more than anywhere, its all about what you think suspension should do and how it should perform for you.
Finally we come to geometry. Ellsworths are known for having long top tubes, and I personally love it. I'm a tall dude (6'3"), and having the long top tube gives me the ablitiy to move around the cockpit and get positioned for cornering. It also lets me run a short stem for more prescise steering without sacrificing body position for xc riding. I find the head angle is perfect with a 130mm fork. I replaced the fork that the previous owner had with the new 150mm Z.1 this spring when they came out. It slacked the steering enough to where I couldn't get it to snap around corners anymore. I gave it all summer, but have gone back to an '03 130mm Z.1 (fantastic fork). Ellsworth measures the Joker with a 180mm fork now, which jacks it back to 67 degrees. General rule of thumb is about a degree per inch of travel (25mm). You can do the math. I personaly like 69 degree head angles, and it really works with this bike. Other reviews have mentioned the bottom bracket being high, I totally disagree. Its only 13 inches, almost XC range, but not too low. Perfect in my book. Besides the long top tube, the other somewhat unusual dimension is the wheelbase, very long as well. I haven't had any problems manuvering around corners, trees, or skinnies, and it's super stable downhilling, so I see it as a good thing. To sum it up, of all the bikes I've ever ridden, none have had better geometry than the Joker. Jen at Barnett's agrees. :-)
So who buys a Joker? I own one because I like to do everything. I XC race it. I trailride it. I dirt jump it. I freeride it. I downhill it........You get the idea. Sure, it isn't the best in each category (except trailriding, its perfect there), but it does so well covering all bases. If you don't have the money for a quivver of bikes, I highly recommend this one to do it all. On the word of my roomate, the new Kona Coiler DeeLux is another nice bike that fits this bill if you can't put out the cash. The Joker costs a lot, but its worth it. The anodized paint and lazer etched graphics are engineering art. The most beautiful collection of metal you may find.
I know this review is lengthy, but I feel that it gives you a true review, a good idea of what its really like to ride this bike. I hope it was informative, and happy trails. :-) Oh! And if you are looking for the best riding in the Midwest, look up the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. More specifically Copper Harbor. I promise you, it is the best. Check out www.keweenawadventure.com for more. Peace. :-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrea F.
a Weekend Warrior
from Biella ITALY Date Reviewed: October 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Single pivot design,simple and efficent! The geometry of the bike fit me as a glove. Light enough to pedal in all situation but still rock solid.
Weaknesses:
the bottom bracket height could be a little lower but this depend also from the rear shock.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro/Mountain Cycle San Andreas
Bike Setup:
Fox vanilla RC rear shock, XT group,XT hydraulic brakes (good but not great,better deore),Bergman Alice fork 150mm dual air(it's an Italian company not well known that work great)
Bottom Line:
the Bottom line is that the bike do is Job of beeig a real freeride bike in the best way! I take no lift to go uphill,so i need a bike that pedal as good as possible because I'm not John Tomac! The Joker is super efficent in climbing,very rigid laterally and light enough if you consider that is a 150mm rear travel. I guess is one of the lightest in his category. YEEEES my friends, now is time to go down!!! Bombing down fire roads and singletrack is a blast on the Joker, very balanced on jumps too,in a word inspires you confidence. I was afraid to sell my old San Andreas which is a superbike too, but the Geomety of the Joker in the large size (I'm 189Cm Height)fit me better. If you're serching a do it all bike,rock solid ,with no manteneance problems buy the Joker, I'm sure there are more sophisticated suspension systems out there, but the single pivot of the joker works great. Thank you Ellsworth.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Quentyn Seamster
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Texas, Dallas Date Reviewed: August 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Boulder Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
MTBReview
Strengths:
Light, strong, looks great, pedals like a dream
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
yeti ASX
Bike Setup:
chris king hubs & headset, easton bars & stem, Thompson seatpost, sella flite seat, xtr shifters, xt front/rear derailleurs, Time Z-control pedals, fox vanilla r fork, mavic d321 rims, Hope M4 brakes, truvativ Hussefelt 28/38 with bash ring, Nokian Gazzaloddi dual 2.3's Romic shock
Bottom Line:
I am posting a follow up review on my 03 Joker. The reason for the new review is that I have gone from a 7.5 eye to eye fox rear shock to an 8.5 eye to eye romic, and the bike is totaly different. It's hard to believe that a bike can get less bob and a better ride by adding more rear travel, but the Joker did! I had 5 1/2 inches of rear travel on my Joker when I wrote my first review. The bike had a fox rear shock with a spacer to hold the 6.5 eye to eye shock in place. I added a romic 8.5 eye to eye shock and took out the spacer, and I couldn't believe the difference with the correct shock in place! Before, I compared my Joker's ride quality to that of the Yeti ASX. They felt very similar. However, since adding the romic shock in the rear, the ride quality had surpased that of the Yeti. (By the way, both bikes are equipped with similar gear. The Yeti had a 5th element rear shock.) The ride quality is much smoother while pedaling. When I stand on the pedals to sprint, the rear of the bike dosen't dip down, in fact it firms up! Awsome bike, fun to ride. 5 little peppers for the Joker!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Ellsworth
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, California Date Reviewed: August 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Sooo many good trails! So little space to list them.
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
My Shop
Strengths:
Strengths: Low center of gravity really carves technical singletrack. Stiff chassis tracks better then almost anything I've ridden. Better then any other single pivot, and better then almost any linkage bike I've ever ridden.
It's lighter then most, without sacrificing stiffness or durability--IMHO.
The Active Forward Pivot location provides excellent pedal efficiency for exploring the mountain, with or without a lift...
The one piece BB/Pivot precisely locates the pivot so that the motion ratio and leverage ratio of the bike doesn’t change with the frame size.
I also love the anodized laser etched frame finish. Mine looks wonderful after three years of muddy woodsy, and often loaned out as a demo use.
The Joker is a huge performer for a relatively small price tag considering it's capability and features.
Weaknesses:
As a single pivot design, it's often overlooked as conventional and passé. Although I would rather has a conventional tried and proven design executed with quality and attention to detail and performance, then the latest "greatest" idea executed with naïveté and marketing gimmick and hype.
Similar Products Used:
Id, Truth, Dare mostly. I've had more then one occasion to throw a leg over pretty much everything else out there--I will spare you the list.
Bike Setup:
17" Joker. 1.5 Sherman Mavic D-max--though I think I'd do the Crossmax XL's if I did it again. SRAM XO everywhere! FSA stem bars Truvative Crank and BB. Thomson Seat Post.
Bottom Line:
Had the chance to do downhill runs with a couple of groups of friends that just happen to find themselves up at Big Bear the same weekend I was up there with my staff supporting "Women's Only Weekend" at Snow Summit. That's such a great event, if your a women, I've never heard a women not have a great time there without a bunch of testosterone charged significant others bugging them.
If you’re a guy! What can I say, Big Bear and three hundred active healthy cycling gals! Not to mention a great place to spend the day riding with your buddies.
Anyway, I spend most of my time riding my Truth and my Id. But there are a couple of terrific times I've had a chance to bond with the Joker.
1. I was in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada for about three months; I had to take one bike. I took the Joker. I rode the North Shore with Dangerous Dan and his pals, Tyler, Eric, etc. I had a great time. Stayed off MOST of the circus, but did my share of bridges and a few low wide logs... But the Joker was an able ride there. I also rode the Mackenzie River Trail in Oregon and some great stuff in Washington while I was there. I rode the most pristine single track I've ridden in 20 years on various deliberately unnamed islands in the Puget Sound. The entire time I was on a wide variety of terrain from drops jumps ladders and logs to smooth narrow technical singletrack, and some big fast logging roads. The joker was a ton of fun the entire time. I found it to be simple, versatile, light, stiff and strong. I found the suspension to be stable, yet plush enough fro anything I wanted to tackle.
2. a couple of weekend ago in Big Bear. I hadn't planned on really doing much riding, like I said; we were there to support the ladies of Women's only Weekend at Snow Summit. But my staff had it handled, and I've been a little stressed and overworked, so they pretty much kicked me out and handed me my helmet and the Joker. I was riding with my buddies with full DH rigs and gear, full blown DH bikes; again, I was so pleased with the nature of the joker. Not once did I need to hold back to stay with these guys. In fact, after the first few runs, I just lead out.
Sometimes the best tool isn't the biggest tool. And that's I guess what I have to say about the Joker. It's the right tool for so much riding I've done and will do. I had a great time on the DH runs, aired out the Joker many times, in my own little 4-6 foot way. It was pointed it down through loose steep wooded singletrack, and out across the wide open steeps of the mountain. I had a GREAT day riding that bike. It's truly one of my favorite bikes.
I'm pretty sure you'd enjoy one too.
Ride well, ride safe, and if you can't be perfectly safe, REALLY ENJOY the rush, and reel it in before anything truly bad happens.
Tony
To James above have to say:
I'm bummed about your bike breaking. I'm bummed that you’re making really disparaging remarks about my business, too.
I'm really bummed about your bad luck with the Joker. I can understand why you have such a poor assessment of my work if it’s failed without provocation multiple times in the same place. While odds are against you having it happen multiple times, it is possible, it is a mechanical thing. When this happens we try to get resolution within a week of receiving the broken parts. Hopefully we get the problem taken care of as fast as possible and get the rider back on his bike with the minimum amount of money and time off the bike.
Our policy on broken frame parts for frames owned by the original owner is to replace the broken part. If it’s something that is even super recent, and clearly a glitch in manufacturing, and clearly not due to abusive use, EVEN if you’re not the original owner, we make a point of being very liberal and often promptly replace the part at no charge for polite and nice customers. But generally the warranty covers the original owner, and it’s a repair or replace with like part or frame, for as long as that frame is in production in that state.
The only time a repair would require you to pay is if it is deemed a crash replacement or consequential damage. So I don't know why you'd have been told it would cost you money, unless you wanted to upgrade? Your review comments don't make complete sense to me; I'm not sure what's going on. But I’d welcome the opportunity to try to sort through it and come up with an equitable resolution.
This I know though; MTBR has clear rules for posts, and one of them is that the post has to apply to the product you’re posting under. When you post in the 2003 Joker area, and it’s clearly not a 2003 Joker being reviewed, they sort through those to keep their site organized. And you can bet many happy and loyal Ellsworth owners will bring it to their attention.
But listen. I’m not some overpaid CEO that makes a mad wad of cash making 2,000 frames a year. I do it because I love to ride, and to me, the Joker is a great bike. Every frame I make, I personally feel, brings something to the bike world that is unique and worthwhile. I ride my frames; my frames are ridden by my family, and by my friends. Not to say that mistakes don’t happen, but if there was a problem as egregious as you have alleged the Joker has, I’d stop making the bike.
Inconsistency in the weld of the upright on the back of the Joker caused me to redesign that rear upright so that it didn’t have that weld anymore. But by in large, in the four years of production of that rear end, a very small percentage of those revealed that contaminated weld. If you’ve been through two and you’re on your third, you may well have had some VERY bad luck—and I could completely understand why you are bitter. By the same token, it sounds like the one you have now is holding up fine?
I have bills to pay, employees to pay, taxes to pay just like you. If we both at least love to turn the cranks--even if you like your Turner better-- I can live with that. There are many happy Turner owners in the world. It’s good. I like happy bike owners; they make great riding companions.
But the disparaging remarks, they really bum me out. That's a heart felt plea to seek a resolution, rather then revenge. I'm not interested in being anyone’s focus of vengeance.
Call me at 760-788-7500 x201, and let's sort through what the problem is; let’s try and resolve it.
No question the world’s got its problems. My goal is to be part of the solution. Making bikes that are fun to own and ride, enticing folks to get outside and experience the Earth that we are all so connected to, yet live so disconnected from in our day to day lives.
Again, thanks for trying to understand. I look forward to hearing from you and doing what I can to try and make you a happy, or at least less bitter, fellow cyclist.
Thanks,
Tony Ellsworth
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Quentyn Seamster
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Texas Date Reviewed: August 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Boulder Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
MTBReview
Strengths:
Great looks, solid feel, strong construction, light for a big travel bike, paint is very scratch proof.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Yeti ASX, Santa Cruz Heckler, Ventana
Bike Setup:
chris king hubs & headset, easton bars & stem, Thompson seatpost, sella flite seat, xtr shifters, xt front/rear derailleurs, Time Z-control pedals, fox vanilla r fork, mavic d321 rims, avid disk breaks, truvativ Hussefelt 28/38 with bash ring, Nokian Gazzaloddi dual 2.3's
Bottom Line:
First, Let me state that the people who are posting negative reviews about the Joker are posting reviews about Jokers that are 2002 and older! Please don't post those here. The Joker was redesigned for 2003. It's easy to tell if it's a 2003 Joker vs the older ones. The 2003's have a slight curve in the rear triangle where the rear triangle bolts onto the fron of the bike. It's just above the crankset. The old Joker's rear triangle goes straight down. What does all that mean? It means that the new Joker is stronger than the older ones, and it now has 7" of rear travel instead of 6". The new 03 Joker is also avaliable in either a 1 1/8th head tube or a 1 1/5th. Now as for the Jokers ride, though I am new to mountain biking, I have ridden and tested a lot of bikes in the few weeks that I have been mountain biking, and I can truly say that the Joker has one of the best rides out there. The Joker pedals with absolutely no bob in the rear. Don't believe me? Go test ride one! The frame geometry is almost perfect, it soaks up pumps, climbs like a mountain goat, and looks out of this world. My Joker is only 34lbs. For the money, there is only one other bike that comes close to the Joker, and that is the Yeti ASX. I deffinitely recomend the Joker to anyone that is sick of the "gota have the lightest, fastest gotta win" syndrome. Get back to what mountain biking is supposed to be..... FUN, and that is just what the Joker delivers, tons and tons of fun. You can drive over just about anything that gets in your way, and still pedal uphill. With the Joker, you get the best of all worlds in one package.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trond Olsen
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Le Brevent - Chamonix
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
I won it at a lottery
Strengths:
-
Weaknesses:
-
Similar Products Used:
-
Bike Setup:
-
Bottom Line:
Why bash a product that has been extensively redesigned for 2003? The two guys below who blows their snot all over this product have ridden the product for more than two years. Everybody knows the old jokers had problems. The 2003 Joker has a beefier swingarm at the dropouts, one-pice vertical block of alu near the pivot (last years was welded) and beefed up around the shock mount. It has been upped to 7" and using a longer stroke shock.
Bash your own model (2001 or whatever), don't talk about products you don't know.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Greig
a Cross Country Rider
from Southampton, Ontario Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hardwood hills
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Kincardine Home Hardware
Strengths:
Light weight for what it is, Build quality,When you call Ellsworth you get a person on the phone who knows answers to your questions.
Weaknesses:
None so far. Not even the price.My vee brakes do not slow me down fast enough any more.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn hard tail, Norco full suspension
Bike Setup:
Joker sl in medium,psylo sl,xtr hubs on 519 mavic,xtr controls and vee brakes with bontrager post and stem,race face cranks,romic shock
Bottom Line:
I did not have the luxury to ride one of these before I ordered one. I relied on reviews I read and tests in the magazines and could not be happier.The people at Ellsworth talked me into the romic with 7' of travel even though they knew I was building the bike up as a premium trail bike.I must admit I was nervous about that set up for climbing but they reassured me that it would climb better than my old bike. I estimated it would weigh about 30 lbs built with the parts I had and thats about right. It climbs almost like a hard tail with the romic shock anti-bob feature and descends like a downhill bike.Amazing.My friend rode it up a series of switch backs and was impressed to say the least.This was alot of money for me to spend on a bike but was worth it.The fit,finish,welds,machining are about as good as it gets and the ride and climbing ability are pure genius from the gang at Ellsworth and Romic. The add says it all People Who Ride Know.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brady Walters
a Weekend Warrior
from Littleton, CO Date Reviewed: April 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Pipeline
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Ellsworth
Strengths:
Very strong, Decently light, good xc/freeride. Plush and effceint. Very fun to ride in all conditions.
Weaknesses:
If cross country none. For freeride applications the stock valving on the romic is too weak...just send it in and they'll do it up right for ya!
Similar Products Used:
Bullit, Superlight, Other stuff
Bike Setup:
z.1 freeride, double ring up front xtr drivetrain, xt disk, rhyno lite's n'stuff
Bottom Line:
I love this bike! You can ride it anywhere and have lots of fun. Perfect trail bike, you can make it really light if you want. I mainly use it for urban assult and shuttling, best bike I've ever ridden for what I want to do just get one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis
a Downhiller
from murrieta Date Reviewed: February 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4250.00
Purchased At:
i.e. bikes, Murrieta CA
Strengths:
A super sweet ride! 6 in of fully usable travel with a near vertical wheel path to eliminate pedal bob and brake jacking. Super-plush yet still very efficient, frame weight is only 7.3 lbs with a romic rear shock (awesome) and a large frame. medium frame closer to 6 lbs, will be .25-.5 lbs lighter with a titanium spring for the shock. Totally awesome bike, absolutely indestructible as long as your rig is set up right.
Weaknesses:
Geometry is just a hair slack for my taste, but perfect for freeride/ entry level DH
Similar Products Used:
turner, intense, specialized, KHS
Bike Setup:
03 marzocchi z.1 fr with eta lockout, xt/xtr, xt disc, thomson, easton bars, fsa cranks and BB, 317disc rims on hadley hubs with dt revolution spokes, intense tires, bike weight only 30lbs, not bad for a freeride bike
Bottom Line:
an awesome bike, perfect for a freeride/ entry level DH bike that you can still pedal. i take mine on 20 mile xc rides and it still performs beautifully, ellsworth is an awesome company with a sweet product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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