Submitted by
Vince
a Downhiller
from Sewickley, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2005
Strengths: The Frame is tough. The wheel sets don't bend. It's with stood eight foot drops with the PSYLO. I've jumped it street and dirt. $700 disk brakes and xt rear derallier.
Weaknesses: PSYLO and Truvative Crank, and no 20mm through axel. the fork is soft and the crank bends easily. If the components could take a hit then this bike would be it.
Bottom Line:
This frame rocks, it is knarly. The fork is weak, and truvative sucks go and swap it out as soon as you can. The brakes will do the trick. If you like masive jumps then becareful with this because it's tough but it's not a dj bike. If you like racing this bike will do alright but it's heavy. If you like technical riding this bike does very well. This bike will so the trick in most situations especially for the money spent.
Bike Setup: Stock except for rock shock seat post, shimano clipins, specialized seat, and aluminum bash guard
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Submitted by
pat magroin
a Downhiller
from pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2005
Strengths: its light its black and orange
Weaknesses: where can i start? how about the brakes. as soon as ya ride through a little bit of water they dont grab, next the fork bottoms extremely easy, pretty much the wrong fork for this bike. the rear rim bends like a damn bannana and both the hubs cracked when i went off a 6 foot drop. on that same drop, a weld completely snapped connecting the rear part of the frame to the rest of the bike, and that sucked my nuts.
Bottom Line:
i would rather get molsted by MJ than ride this one without some serious upgrades.
Bike Setup: it was stock, now its in the garbage can
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Submitted by
Ron Parks
a Weekend Warrior
from Johnson City, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005
Strengths: Amazingly strong bike. Great components for the money. The disk brakes are incredible! Nice lever shifters, and I like that it came w/ an XT rear derailleur.
Weaknesses: A bit heavy, but it's made to be. You get a strong bike but trade a little weight for it.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, especially for the money. I ride non-competitively, so the weight just adds to the workout!
Weaknesses: i havent had enough time beating the crap outta the thing to find anything
Bottom Line:
dude this bike is gnarly. the wheelies are phat and it takes a hell of a beatin'. i bought it as an 03 leftover so it was nice n shiny when i got it, i havent had too much time to really test it out but i live by the famous words "go big or go home"! to anybody who has this bike ROCK ON DUDE!!!
Submitted by
Rowan
a Weekend Warrior
from Hobart, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2003
Strengths: -Awesome price. I got it 50% off, but it'd still be a good value bike at full price. -Tough frame that looks sick, handles brilliantly, is surprisingly compliant, and doesn't weigh TOO much. -Wicked group for the price - nothing stellar, but still, just buying the components would cost more than I got the bike for.
Weaknesses: -it'd be if it came with sealed hubs, the existing ones probably won't last for long in Tassie. -Psylo forks are too soft from the facory. -Weighs a fair bit and is a poor climber compared to my old xc machine, but still a brilliant all-round bike. -Deore shifters aren't that good compared to LX and XT.
Bottom Line:
For the money, you won't do any better. Rips it up on the way down, tears through technical single track, and is reasonable on the way up. Even at full price, it's a great value bike. A good alternative for those considering all mountain hardtails such the Cove Stiffee or the old Jamis Komodo. Bloody fun, and a well and truly upgrade-worthy frame.
Similar Products Used: Raceline expert, Kona Dawg, Giant VT, Trek 7000.
Bike Setup: Stock, except for a couple of trinkets. Will probably upgrade to Z1FR SLs and some decent hubs some time soon.
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Submitted by
adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord, NC
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003
Strengths: Great Bike. Lots of great components for the money. LOVE the brakes, shifts smooth, wide pedals, stong cranks, saddle cushion doesn't look soft but its shell noves with your weight so it's comfy, shock is awesome great travel and rebound adjust and travel adjust,frame and rims are strong and stiff, comes with 2.35 tires.
Weaknesses: tires, comes with maxxis 2.35, but not agressive enough tred for me. I went with the maxxis swampthings.
Bottom Line:
this bike is made to be riden. I like it so far. I can't think of anything on it to upgrade. (within reason) Everything on it is great. Rides nice and has an agressive freeride stance with the shock all the way up. I hessitated getting this bike with all of the choices out there but i am glad I bought this one.
Similar Products Used: tassjaharra or how ever you spell it, marin, trek 6700,
Bike Setup: stock except for the tires, replaced with the knobby swampthings at 70 dollars (ouch)
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Submitted by
Joseph
a Weekend Warrior
from Mansfield Center
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003
Strengths: Frame is amazing. Crankset and bottom bracket are stiff! Brakes real strong. Can't beat the parts spec for the dough. Rides great. Feels like I have been riding it for years.
Weaknesses: Only one. The Psylo XC does not belong on this bike!! Give me anything but this fork.
Bottom Line:
Here it goes: This bike is awesome. It has restored my love of bikes in general. On the street it rides like a big BMX bike and in the woods it rides like an all-purpose hardtail. I am a former long-travel, full-suspension lover. I used to ride a six inch trailbike and I cannot believe how much I love this bike. It is my first Haro and I have to hand it to them. Great parts, great frame and tons of confidence to go with it. I would be less than honest if I didn't hammer Haro for the ridiculous choice of the Psylo XC. It is sloppy, twisty and not even in the same ballpark as the rest of the bike. Within the first hour that I owned this bike I dropped off a set of stairs and the fork would not return to the 125mm setting. I had the fork dialed all the way out prior to the landing and it now rests at 115mm, at the most. When I sit on the bike it falls well into the travel (at about 85mm). I know that I need the stiff spring due to previous ownership of a Psylo SL. Regardless, this fork rots. The SL I owned wasn't great but it was alot better than this piece of junk. I will take the bike to the dealer and have it looked at. I hope they come through for me. 4 Chilis all around. Would be 5 but the fork is really that bad.
Strengths: Good brakes, wheels, cranks, bottom bracket, pedals, the orange color is cool
Weaknesses: The crappy pysco, oh I mean Pyslo, oh wait you have to be pysco to ride a pyslo, the long cross-country stem, the hubs do not stay adjusted, and........the large crack
Bottom Line:
The bike got a large crack on the seat tube right under the top tube weld. I've had this bike for one month, I have only jumped it a couple of times and the biggest drop I've done was only six feet. I'm also 16 years old and only 140 pounds. This frame should not have cracked period. This is a dirt jumping, urban bike (Haro get it right). The front end of the bike is beefy but the rear end of puny. Hopefully Haro will read what I've written and maybe take my advice and re-engineer this bike. It has the potential to be an awesome bike.
Similar Products Used: giant AC1(It also cracked) Trek Bruiser(Trek needs to still build them)
Bike Setup: Stock except Blackspire chainguide, Thompsom 50mm stem
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Submitted by
Jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Shop employee from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2003
Strengths: Psylos are great they are very linear in their travel. I weigh 110 kg and find even the stock springs are ok. Frame geometry is great, stiff everywhere. The Shimano 525 disks are good, although they squeak when wet. New tyres are great in all but severe mud.
Weaknesses: Levers on the brakes bend easily. As does the derailleur hanger but this is fairly normal.
Bottom Line:
This bike will make you do things you didn't have the guts for before. The 03' Psylos are the goods. Maxxis ignitor/Dynomite tyres are really good they roll fast for their size and grip well in most conditions. Am very impressed with the brakes they have better modulation than Hayes with similar power. The only drawbacks are the bendy levers and the squeals when wet. They are easy to service too. This is one of the stiffest frames i have ridden!
Similar Products Used: I work in a shop so heaps. Gt ruckus, P3, Most comparable forks. Used to have Manitou Black Elite 100-120. The Psylos aren't quit as stiff under twisting but are better everywhere else.
Strengths: This bike has nearly fork, the Psylos. I have never bottomed out on these. I like the Shimano Hydrolics. They are very reliable. the turn radius is good. The truvativ hussefelt dh cranks have never failed me yet.
Weaknesses: The color could be better
Bottom Line:
this bike is good for anything. urban, cross country, freereide, and light downhill at attitash. The shoxs i say again are nearly. Anbody who likes riding bikes get this. with all the good stuff on the haro escape 8.3 it is fairly cheap.
Similar Products Used: trek 4300, gry fisher mamba, sugar 4 gary fisher
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Submitted by
Lawrence
a Downhiller
from Alamosa, co
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003
Strengths: Burley frame.
Bottom Line:
Once again Haro has made a great bike affordable. The frame is great for freerideing. Ofter I forget that I am rideing a hardtail, untill i take a large drop, that is. The components can be upgraded, but if you but if you buy the 8.3 there will be no need to upgrade. Drops feel great on this frame. I can go from ubren freerideing to trail rideing with no change in the bikes handeling.
