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Submitted by
Tom Apgar
a Cross Country Rider
from Suwanee, Ga. USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Stiff and light carbon fiber frame; great for tight singletrack and hill climbing. Little flex on descents. | | Weaknesses: | Don't know reliability of frame compared to titanium, aluminum, or steel framed hardtails. Would probably trade out disc brakes for Avid mechanical discs. | | Similar Products Used: | None. Bike was won in raffle. Usual ride is GT I-drive ds. | | Bike Setup: | Thompson post& stem, Mavic 317/Magura hub wheelset, Magura Louise discs, XT drivetrain and dr's, Time atac pedals, Maxxis Larson MM tires, Manitou '01 SX-R fork, and epx carbon riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | For serious XC racing, this bike should rock. It is stiff, fast, and even inspires confidence in technical downhill if you stay off the saddle. It could be upgraded later to get the weight down to 22-23 lb. - it comes in at about 25-26 lb. with specs above. I am an older and average trail rider, and enjoy the light feel of the bike on hill climbs. I believe the bike is targeted to racing, but swapping out the Manitou 80mm fork for aa adjustable 53-100mmfork and perhaps adding a suspension seat post could make this a better all-around trail bike. I also found the riser bar to be too wide for comfortable shifts/braking. Overall, a nice ride for a serious racer who wants something a little different and the dollars to spend. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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