Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Melcroft, PA USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005
Strengths: Gary Fisher stands behind their products. Excellent warranty. Bike handles technical sections like no other bike I've ever ridden. Sticks to trail like glue. Handles very well. I got a very good deal.
Weaknesses: Paint has a tendency to rub off. But for real, if you ain't scratching and banging up your rig, then you're not mountain biking
Bottom Line:
Awesome Bike!!! I have read many mixed reviews since purchasing bike 2 years ago. I waited till now to give the bike an honest review eventhough this model is discontinued. Many reviewers had Issues with chainsuck, rear triangle problems and other problems. EVRYTHING MECHANICAL IS GOING TO FAIL NOW AND THEN. DOES YOUR CAR NEVER BREAK DOWN OR NEED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE? I have had 7 cases of chainsuck. I've put a total of 3,000 true offroad miles on this machine on rough East Coast (West Virginia) conditions. Competed in WVMBA series races and 24 hour races. Cracked rear triangle, but I attribute that to my riding style. Fisher replaced triangle within two weeks. Pretty good service in my opinion When it gets muddy, your gonna have some issues no matter what bike you have. Sometimes bikes aren't set up right or can be fixed to fail by any less scrupulous dealer, especially big internet shops that want you to switch to a bike brand they carry. If you need service on a Gary Fisher Bike, take it to an authorized dealer. That is why they are required to take all those training sessions. Full suspension requires more maintenance than hard tail. Read your manual. Fisher says to re locktite rear triangle bolts after 10 hours of use. Some bikes like cars can be lemons. However, everybody that has placed a negative review needs to take into consideration the variables that led up to their bikes mechanical problems. IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE. If you can find one of these sweet rides, BUY IT WITHOUT HESITATION. ONE OF FISHERS BEST BIKES EVER MADE!!!
Similar Products Used: Specialized M4, Giant NRS, Trek Liquid 30
Bike Setup: The only stock piece on the bike is the frame and awesome Fox fork. Thomson stem and seat post, Easton Monkey lite bars, Race Face turbine cranks and signature BB. Sun Ringle wheelset with WTB Weirwolfs
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Submitted by
Glen
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2004
Strengths: great suspension design & geometry; excellent hayes disc brakes, super climbing machine, very tight & nimble on singletrack
Weaknesses: drivetrain, chain suck even after swapping bontrager for 2003 xt cranset. cheap paint job, cheesy looking decals-should have come with optional anodized finish
Bottom Line:
like taking 10 years off my life; exceeds the climbing of my 7 year old hardtail. this is a great all-around trail bike for lighter riders like myself (150 lbs). looking forward to 'launching that mother' down porcupine rim again next year.
Bike Setup: pretty much stock (fox talas r & fox float r) except michelin tires and xt crank & rings
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Submitted by
Gavin Arnott
a Racer
from Squamish, BC, CANADA
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2004
Strengths: Totally Wicked Components, XT/XTR/Bontrager Race, Fox Suspension
Weaknesses: Awful Paint, Peels off and wears off.
Bottom Line:
The Bike functions great, nothing has broken. The paintjob is totally awful, it is peeling near the rear quick release and top of the seat stays, decals are wearing off, i cant believe it, but gary fisher is taking the bike back on warranty to repaint it, so its all good, ive never ridden such an awesome bike, the rear end stays nearly ridgid on climbs and sprints, and its fully active on downhills, the wheels are amazingly strong along with the suspension, i have done many 3-4 foot drops and the wheels are still perfectly true. I am very impressed with this bike, but i cant give it 5 chilis because the paint sucks
Similar Products Used: Sugar 3, Specialized Stumpjumper Elite
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Sergio Covacevich
a Cross Country Rider
from Santiago Chile
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2004
Strengths: This review is for the frame. Very light, climbs like a goat, rear suspension top of the line, no need to use a lock out system, the bike sticks to the ground like glue in the climbs; feels like a hardtail. No need to readjust the rear suspension in descents. Real solid and feels secure on fast and technical descents.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
This frame is awesome. Really climbs like a goat and it feels very light. There is no need to readjust the suspension once you tune it up to your riding style. In descents feels very solid and secure on fast and the technicl ones (this are the ones I love). Solid on curves. the rear suspension act very well in this descents and it eats up the rocks and bumps professionally. I love this frame and I'll stick with it. Top of the line. Very good work Gary.
Similar Products Used: Jamis dakar pro (2001), real good frame. Giant NRS 2 (2002), so so frame; and my old hardtail Trek 9000 (2000)
Bike Setup: Bought the frame on e-bay and the rest is my setup. Manitou black on front, Hayes mechanical disc brake on front and rear.Mavic crossroc tubeless wheels, Hutchinson mosquito tubeless tires (top of the line). Time atac pedals. XTR shifters and brake levers. XTR rear derr, XT front derr, shimano XT cranks. And fox float R front suspension
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Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Sherwood, AR, USA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2004
Strengths: Climbs like a goat!!!, Shifts smoothly, Disc Brakes.
Weaknesses: none that I've noticed
Bottom Line:
Great Bike!! Much Improved from the hardtail Fisher I had before I got the Sugar 2+. I love riding this bike. I find it difficult to get off this bike after a long ride. I just want to keep on riding.
Buy this bike after you've beat yourself up on a hardtail for a while. You'll appreciate it more.
Submitted by
Gavin A
a Racer
from Squamish, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2003
Strengths: Climbs Well, Shifts Great, Very Fast! NO Chainsuck!
Weaknesses: NONE! this bike is soooooo sweet!
Bottom Line:
This bike is as fast as any hardtail ive ever had, it shifts well, there has been no peddle bob, except for when i sprint(it does sprint fast), the XT/XTR/BONTRAGER drivetrain works very good, i am yet to find a plusher fork, or a bike with no peddle bob without any systems. Im fresh off a hardtail and i am already going so much faster, better than the team issue becuase of the disks and adjustable travel front and rear. I have got no chainsuck, but i have the V5 middle ring installed(free upgrade from gary fisher from the V3)
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpjumper Elite
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Marty
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2003
Strengths: Fox and Hayes....Need I say more? Climbs and cuts through single track like a champ! XT, XTR combo works great. I have not experienced any chain suck yet and hopefully won't.
Weaknesses: Tires and some of the Bontrager components. I shouldn't complain I've had no problems with the set-up.
Bottom Line:
Can't say enough good things. I'm happy with this ride so far. My LBS has been great with me and my needs. Try one of these beasts out! Awesome value! This bike is great for the XC riders looking to go to the next level and still beat there buddies on the Sunday rides.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Comp, Trek Fuel 90, Liquid,, TBL hurricane(Loved that bike but she's out to pasture now)
Bike Setup: Stock except Panaracer Fire XC rubber.
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Submitted by
MATT BRANDENBURG
a Cross Country Rider
from HINSDALE IL USA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Strengths: ALL AROUND THE THE BEST BIKE I HAVE EVER RIDEN. IT WILL BLAZE THROUGH TIGHT SINGLE TRACK. CRUZ ON OPEN FLATS WITH NO PEDAL BOB, ANY THAT I NOTICE. A GREAT BIKE FOR LONG RIDES OR JUST BOMBING AROUND SOME TOUGH TECH TRAILS.
Weaknesses: IF IT GETS A LITTLE MUDDY BE READY FOR SOME CHAIN SUCK. KEEP YOUR ASS IN THE SADDLE WHEN CLIMBING OR YOU WILL LOOSE ALL TRACTION.
Bottom Line:
BEING A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FOR THE LAST TWO FUELS. I AM GLAD TO FINALLY FIND A BIKE THAT I AM SO COMFORTABLE, AND CONFIDENT ON. MAKES EVERY OBSTICLE SEEM EFFORTLESS ALMOST. A GREAT TRAIL BIKE WORTH LOOKING AT.
Similar Products Used: TWO TREK FUELS,CANNONDALE F2000,AND A SCHWINN MOAB 1 P.O.S.
Bike Setup: XTR THROUGH OUT EXCEPT BRAKES. PAUL BRAKES WITH AVID ULTIMATE LEVERS. CHRIS KING ISO'S & HEADSET, WHITE BROTHERS FORK XC-3
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Submitted by
David Ekers
a Cross Country Rider
from White Lake, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2003
Strengths: The RIDE, Hayes brakes, XT/XTR parts, and the Fox fork and shock. Oh yeah, did I mention the RIDE?! Four hour rides without pain! This bike climbs and goes downhill much better than I ever will. I can't detect any pedal bob or frame swing arm lateral flex. Made in the USA frame is top shelf!
Weaknesses: --Bontrager chain rings and bottom bracket. My chain was catching on the outer ring when I was shifting from the middle ring to granny. The guys at Builer's figured this out after they checked out everything Trek/Fisher asked them to and the chain still was eating my swingarm. The chain would wedge between the swingarm and granny -- this meant breaking the chain or removing the rings to release the chain. Trek/Fisher and Builer's warranty replaced the rear deraileur (damaged from chain), swing arm (damaged from chain)cranks (XT),chain rings (XT), chain (Dura Ace) and bottom bracket (XT) NOTE: A longer 118 BB length was installed...now if I ever get chain suck again there's room for the chain to slip out and be put back on without surgery.
--Bike deserves better pedals!
Bottom Line:
I would have rated it 6 (yep,SIX) Chilis overall if it had come with the drive train set up as it is now. Performance was really improved with the Hollowtech XT cranks and rings! This is a great USA made bike with overall solid componets, Take a close look at the welds on some brand frames...Fisher frames are really high quality.
The drivetrain problem I had was sorted out (after a slow start)and my bike and I treated to upgraded componets that removed the problem I had, and really improved the bike. Gary Fisher customer service turned out to be very good, and Builer's saved the day.
If I ever manage to wear this machine out -- or somehow damage it beyong repair, I will buy another Gary Fisher from Builer's to replace it.
Bike Setup: Stock except for Time Alium pedals, seat bag, frame pump. Even the tires and seat work for me!
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Mill Creek, WA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003
Strengths: Excellent components - XT/XTR, Fox shocks and Hayes brakes. Relatively light weight.
Weaknesses: Haven't discovered any major issues with the bike. As time goes on, I will probably replace some of the heavier Bontrager components.
Bottom Line:
I was a liitle concerned when I bought this bike about the chain suck issues so I made a few upgrades based on previous reviews. So far (after more than 30 rides and more than 300 miles) I've only experienced chain suck once. That was my fault when I tried to mash the shifter to get into the small chain ring.
Initially, the handling of this bike was mediocre, but that was the fault of the tires. The IRC ones that came with the bike are not the best for Pacific NW conditions. When I replaced them, the handling and traction improved a bunch. I also tweaked the suspension settings a little and that helped.
To sum it up this bike has excellent components for the price. It's fairly light (a little under 28 lbs), and it's a good all-around bike for a variety of conditions. It climbs great and the Fox shocks work well on small bumps and big hits. The Genesis geometry works well for me. I have tuned my suspension to be a little more stiff than the recommended settings to enhance the climbing characteristics.
Similar Products Used: Tested a lot of $2000 bikes before I bought tis one.
Bike Setup: On my bike I upgraded the wheels to Mavic 317 and put an XT crank and Shimano HG-93 chain on. Front tire is a WTB Motoraptor and rear is a Vittoria Kudu.
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Submitted by
Marty Quinn
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlottesville, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Strengths: Plush travel, lightweight, style
Weaknesses: chain line is not so goot on this frame. And the paint does scratch easily (not so goot for resale value)
Bottom Line:
One problem - that durned chain line. It seems like the frame doesn't let the crank sit close enough to the bottom bracket and it is way off line with the cassette. The chain wants to drop to granny pretty easily. We'll see how it breaks in but it did take extra tinkering to get it set up correctly. Even with it set up correctly it feels like it want to go any day now.
That being said - THIS BIKE IS SCHWEEET. It descends all too quickly and doesn't seem to draw too much power ascending. The 4 inhces out back let me get away with things i wouldn't be on my hardtail. And the Talas RLC is a super smooth, highly adjustable fork that has yet to let me down. Mine weighs in at 30 lbs with a seat pack and some hoss-daddy tires - not so bad for 4 inches in the rear and 5 up front. Highly recommend for riders looking for a comfy rocket ship to take on long rides.
Similar Products Used: Fisher Supercaliber, specialized stumphumper, Sugar 2 (for a few rides)
Bike Setup: Talas fork, xtr/xt/lx drivetrain with a sram chain, xtr hubs, calipers, and rotors mated to xt hydraulic levers, mavic 519 rims, truvativ riser bar, thomson stem and post, tioga fctory DH 2.3 (f) and IRC trailbear 2.25 (r) and the incredible terry fly saddle. Oury grips.
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Submitted by
Walking for now
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Strengths: Climbs very well, awesome suspension, agile geometry, and looks.
Weaknesses: Chain suck from Bontrager cranks. Bontrager wheels. I guess anything Botrager. No cable hose guides and no disk specific frame mounts. Paint chips easily.`No Seat quick release.
Bottom Line:
First two rides and I suffer from chainsuck each time. I was aware of the problem and was shifting extremely careful and still does it. Yes, I have the new middle ring and new rear triangle. LBS calls Trek and says that it must be from "improper shifting technique." They acknowledge the problem but say there have only been about 15 bikes in whole model year with this problem, and that all other are customers not knowing how to shift. Funny how it never happened on my Jamis when all variables are the same. LBS will change to XT cranks and see what happens.
The third time I rode the bike the front wheel tacoed. I was riding carefull still since I was going to bring the bike the next day to the dealer for the chainsuck problem. I was rolling thru a rooty wahsed out rut when I got caught between a root and some rocks. The wheel folded; and as it rolled, it got caught in the fork thus sending flying. Once again, LBS says that its not the wheel's fault and that I did something wrong. I know how to ride damn it! I rode with a deathwish in my hardtail with cheap Mavic 139/Deore wheels and never had a problem like this. 1000 miles thru Pisgah, Bent Creek, Lynches Woods, Razorback, Tenessee, Kentucky, etc. Third ride. THIRD RIDE!! Bottomline the wheel is too weak. BTW I am 165 pounds.
I bought this bike because it was fairly light and Jamis was out of 17" Drakar's. I didn't want to wait for next production run so I bought the Sugar. Now I find a Drakar in Chicago for $200 less than my Sugar. I wish I could have waited and flown to Chicago with the $200 and bought that bike instead.
Trek/Fisher let me down. They showed me that my opinion and satisfaction doesn't matter after the sale. Never blame consumers for shoddy designs and components.
Similar Products Used: Tested Jamis Drakar 2.0, Specialized Epic, Trek Fuel, and my old trusty Jamis hardtail.
Bike Setup: Eggbeater pedals, Easton EA70 flatbar, IRC mythos with Stan's tubeless solution. Everything else stock.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Itasca
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Strengths: fox suspension, XTR/XT drivetrain, Hayes disc brakes, and this is just all around a great bike
Weaknesses: ummmm? i dunno can't think of any
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. Out of all the other bikes that i tried/ looked at this was the best bike for the money, it has the same setup as the Palomino race disc (only it doesn't have that awesome paint job) XTR rear derailer, XT front/ shifters, hayes mag brake system. you won't find this setup on anything else unless you want to pay for it. i read the other reviews before i bought it and a lot of people were saying the wheels aren't truely tubeless, honestly i haven't tried but i'm planning on replacing them eventually, not that bontrager is bad (which it isn't i have had no problems at all with any of it) but it's not the best either. **if you are looking for a mountain bike definitely check this bike out. or any of the sugars you won't be disappointed**
Similar Products Used: Fuel(s), palomino race, santa cruz superlite(s), Sugar 3 disc
Bike Setup: Stock except i swapped the 515's for egg beaters plus some other accessories
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Submitted by
Kirk
a Weekend Warrior
from Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003
Strengths: Very capable bike. Instills a lot of confidence. Good componentry (for the most part). Wide variety of settings for (almost) all rider sizes, weights, styles, and skill levels.
Weaknesses: Front fork not terribly stable at speed when downhilling with a large rider (> 270 pounds). Rear derailleur occasionally has a problem selecting gears at the most inopportune times (usually on power strokes). Bikes in general cost too much; I could have bought a (crappy) car for what I paid for this thing.
Bottom Line:
I moved up to this bike from a Raleigh M80 (which I totally disliked, btw). What a difference it has made in my biking experience. I feel so much more confident on the Fisher. Not to mention, the riding position is far superior to that of the M80 (or any other mountain bike I've ever ridden) so I am much more stable on the Fisher.
Once my weight drops sufficiently, I feel that the front fork issue mentioned above will be resolved. Basically, I have the air pressure maxed out and still the travel is too great (at least, according to the manual). It gives a slightly unstable feel when down-hilling at speed. Of course, it's nowhere near as bad as the M80. I couldn't help but think that I was going to torque the front wheel off on the M80. Even with an upgraded front shock (and, beyond that, an upgraded spring for the upgraded shock), it couldn't handle my weight.
As for the rear derailleur, well, I'm sure this is a tuning issue, but the three Fisher Sugars I have ridden all had this problem, so either it's extremely sensitive or Shimano overlooked something when "debugging" this thing.
On the whole, I have to recommend this bicycle for anyone trying to get serious about mountain biking. While it may not be the ultimate bike, it should definitely serve me for several years.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Sugar 3+ Disc, Specialized Epic, Not Necessarily Similar: Raleigh M80, Schwinn Frontier GS
Bike Setup: So far, totally stock.
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Submitted by
DANNY KELLY
a Racer
from IDAHO FALLS,IDAHO
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Strengths: FOX FORX,HAYES MAG DISC BRAKES
Weaknesses: WHERE ARE THE DISC BRAKE CABLE MOUNTS? THE BONTRAGER TUBELESS WHEELSETS SUCK.HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO MOUNT OR DISMOUNT A TIRE? WAY TOO HARD.
Bottom Line:
WAY TO GO GARY FISHER FOR CHANGING TO FOX FORX & FOX FEAR SHOCK.I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THE SUGAR DESIGN THIS BEING MY THIRD SUGAR.IT CLIMBS & DECENDS GREAT.WITH THE FOX SET UP THIS IS ABSOLUTLY THE BEST SUGAR BY FAR,IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEEL FOR THE BETTER! ANYONE WHO LIKES TO RACE OR GO ON EPIC RIDES THIS IS THE BIKE FOR YOU.
I am in the market for a new bike for trail riding/adventure racing. I am trying to stay under $2000.
I have found a demo 2003 Gary Fisher Suger 2+ for $1400. It hasFOX Float re Read More »
