Submitted by
electric732
a Weekend Warrior
from Corona, NY
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2010
Strengths: Comfortable, handles well, strong frame and adjustable full suspension in rear, solid fork and smooth shifting Shimano Alivio components
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
For casual mountain biking on state park marked trails, I cannot imagine a better mount. Went deep into the hills this weekend near Bear Mountain, up and down a variety of trails including large rocks, mushy mud sections, steep up and down sections, large fallen branches, etc. Stayed in the same gear almost all day; number two on left handle and number 3 on right handle. After three hours of constant riding, I was tired but able to maintain a steady rapid pace without feeling winded due in part to the gear selection and excellent ergonomics. The bike performed flawlessly and nothing broke or bent despite very rugged terrain and lots of potato size and larger jagged rocks. Tires had approx 50 psi front and back. Cannot think of a single complaint. It climbs, descends, stops, accelerates, jumps and navigates tricky rocky sections extremely well. I have never ridden an exotic high end 1000 dollar plus bike so I really cant compare from personal experience. Rear swing arm has two settings - I use the lower travel setting but have the option to increase travel if I want greater travel for big hits. Bottom line: it represents great value, especially if you can find a clean used one.
Bike Setup: light frame , beautiful brakes even though not discs
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Submitted by
kyle
a Downhiller
from mccall id. U.S.A
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2009
Strengths: good frame, really light! rear shock kiks butt.
Weaknesses: the derialleur hanger is the only real weakness that causes me truble.the V brakes could be replaced.
Bottom Line:
i win races on this bike. i'v done lots of work to my bike, but i love it. its fine tuned for me, and the way i ride. if you are looking for a good bike that dosent cost as much as a car, this is the one. i'm getting 2 more, one for the wife and a second (less hard core) one for my self.
Bike Setup: RST 10" triple crown frunt fork, fly racing 2 gear dh chranck, fly 1/2" aluminum bash gard, mettel pedle, giant dh bottom bracket, mavic weels, tioga yellow kirin 2.30 tires, dirt bike inertoobs, custom shifter triggers, new grips, new handle bars, new 1" neck, 2.5" seat post shock.
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Submitted by
Crittermandingo
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Strengths: Solid frame, rims, seat, overall looks
Weaknesses: Way too heavy, forks are crappy and bottom out over speed bumps. I have the 18.5" frame and I think the last time I weighed it, came in @ about 40 lbs. You have got to stay in the saddle otherwise it's like a sponge. The tires are a bit much, but good in loose gravel and hardpack. Don't expect to have much fun on asphalt. Components are not all that hot
Bottom Line:
I have to concur with many of the other reviews on this bike, GREAT bike for entry level bikers with the opportunity to make several upgrades for less than the cost of higher end bikes. Very solid frame which has not failed me yet. I am perhaps a little large for this frame (175 lbs) but dumping the forks and replacing the shock a true mtb for the price. Great value!!
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher hardtail. Giant Boulder hardtail 1990
Bike Setup: Mainly stock, I have replaced the grips a few times. Replaced the tires twice now. 1st was with Specialized crossroads which were an improvement. Now I have Nimbus Armidillo's ,(26x1.50) Which are a great rolling tire, which I need a less aggressive tire as I now live in Florida.
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Submitted by
Richie Acas
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Strengths: great and bouncy and well balanced,
Weaknesses: forks only nothing else
Bottom Line:
i tried it for 6 days now in mountain terrain, i go uphill n downhill with critical way, stones falling, wet mud, difficult terrain! bottom line, balance n control are all here in ds3 warp baby=]
Bike Setup: 1 set of shimano alivio , d-brakes etc, with amoeba barholder and GTS shocks, maxxis tires, with black mavic rims, and mob airshock suspension in below the sit.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2006
Strengths: Solid bike.
Weaknesses: Brakes - They get too soft too quickly... Upgrading mine to Avid BB7s once they arrive.
Bottom Line:
A little background... I ride nearly every day, and fairly hard riding at that. With a bit of freeriding mixed in, so this bike gets a pretty good workout.
Having said that... I love this bike. My gf rides a 2K5 Kona Dawg Matic, which cost $2000cdn and I wouldn't dream of switching bikes for it.
The only thing I didn't like about the bike, like I said was the brakes. So, I'm upgrading them to Avid BB7 Discs, since the fork is Disc ready anyway. Perhaps some day I'll upgrae the shock too, but so far thats been great for me.
Bottom Line... The bike is good, and it stands up to me (150lbs btw) riding it every day. So it's up to you to ride it and see if it fits.
Bike Setup: Stock, except saddle. New brakes coming in the mail too.
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Submitted by
Nathan Baldwin
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Beach
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005
Strengths: Its very sturdy . I am probably one of the only people ever to have only used this bike for street use. I at first found the weight quite overwhelming at the time i purcased it i was only 12 and now i am just 15 and a good bit smaller than the other guys my age. But once i had ridden it on my regular 4 mile rides to the mall and elseware it has built up my stamina and strength. And now when i use a friends bike i find it incredibly easy to use.
Weaknesses: The only problem on this bike is the derailer does get out of tune quite easily but is fixed just as easily.
Bottom Line:
Great bike good for beginners or he intermideate rider who wants to have a little fun.
Strengths: It is the bes Bike I have ever riden It has a really strong fram good cranks good fork good bracks every thing is good on this bike i have taken it of a 50 ft drop to slpe and the suspension didnt bodem out!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: absolutly nothing exept i had to buy it
Bottom Line:
grate deal for onley 2.000 i love it so much I want to go to bed with it
Similar Products Used: none I is so good nothing matches up to it
Bike Setup: stock with hays hydralic disc 4 poundeg
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Submitted by
Ron
a Cross Country Rider
from Harker Heights, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2005
Strengths: Great frame and rear shock for the money and disk brake compatable too. Great for high speed flats and down hills and small jumps at speed, after modifying the forks. Good second bike. Wide tires give great traction in corners especially off camber. I am 230 pounds and wear out bikes quickly and usually ride this bike on long slow trail rides. Low stepover height, you can put your feet down any where even on steep trails.
Weaknesses: Forks bob too much makes it hard to corner fast especially switchbacks. Heavy for climbing but it builds up the legs.
Bottom Line:
If you are new to Mountain Biking and want to try a full suspended bike for cheap then this is a good start. Or you are on a limited fun budget, i.e. married with 4 kids and have the time for maintenance this is a fun bike to pass on to the kids.
Similar Products Used: Trek 930 heavly modified, only the frame is original. Trek 970, Cross country racer with minor modifications.
Bike Setup: Replaced fork springs with MCU Elastomer and speed springs, old technology I know but it helps.
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Submitted by
crazy crapper
a Downhiller
from hickville
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2005
Strengths: good bike for a starter
Weaknesses: fork,cranks,seat,grips
Bottom Line:
good bike to start with but once you get good go for an Giant A.C because once you really start abusing the bike it falls aprt very fast and is not worth repairing. fork is royal turd if even that.
Strengths: Looks awesome, strong bike that takes all the beatings, seems light to me, rides nicely, back shock works great 5" of travel.
Weaknesses: The RST front shocks, I recomend if u have the money upgrade to a better shock
Bottom Line:
The bike is great especially if your just starting out or have a budget, not anywhere could i find a bike this nice for this kinda price. Its good how it fits fatt tires on it. I recommend this bike to anyone who wants to ride
Bike Setup: Specialized Pro 26"x2.6" tires, rhyno handlebars, marzocchi bomber 5" forks
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Submitted by
t. hanson
a Weekend Warrior
from pueblo, colorado, usa
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2004
Strengths: Great entry level bike that can hold up to most conditions.
Weaknesses: Heavy. This bike will either turn you into a super climber or kill you until you get strong enough.
Bottom Line:
I recently ugraded to my dream bike, a Yeti Arc. Do these bikes compare, of course not. That said, I am very impressed with my old warp. I had not ridden mountain bikes for a few years and was unsure if I wanted to get back into it. The warp handeld everything and its weakness (weighing a ton) built up the leg strength I needed to ride again. I would and have highly suggest buying this bike.
Submitted by
crazy crapper
a Weekend Warrior
from hickville
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2004
Strengths: awesome, can take major beatings, looks pretty hot
Weaknesses: after a while stuff wears down and breaks fork isnt to hot is a little heavy and bobs but i dint care
Bottom Line:
i had this bike for since march. since then i ve done 20 foot gap jumps, 5 foot drops, down hill, broken speed limits on a few roads and had a blast doing it all. i love this bike but i have riden it to the edge and it is dead now. i suggest getting 1 it got me started in the right direction for a season.
