Submitted by
spacegrape
a Cross Country Rider
from DC
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2010
Strengths: Climbing on loose surface
Point and Shoot downhill handling
Bottom Line:
The 1" headset is like owning an 8 track player.
As much as I love mine - you may not like running the Rock Shox Quadra that I'm (sortof) cornered into using. I rode rigid bikes for 3 years before getting a suspension fork so the paltry (46mm) travel still feels good to me after 15 years. Off ebay, usually around $60 and yellow, they require black paint. I haven't had much luck with the air/oil rock shox from the period. Marzocchi still makes longer travel (100mm) 1" models but at a price ($300-$400)
Bottom bottom line is you'll buy one of these if you respect mountain bike hall-of-famer Keith Bontrager, and you want a ride with history in it. That said - don't bother with the post-trek Bontragers, the quality is good but they are less cool. You can tell by the seat stays (real ones are two piece (like a telescope))
Very bottom line is I can't imagine riding anything else - and I just bring up the negatives to keep 'em reasonable going forward ;)
Submitted by
bonty06
a Cross Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2010
Strengths: Strong, light and fast. I've had the bike for almost 13 years and it's been through it all. Many thousands of miles and she is still looking for more. My frame is a 1998 model and I see it lasting for ever. STEEL!
Weaknesses: 1 inch headset & trek buying Bontrager.
Bottom Line:
Great overall bike, handles single track like a knife. Just upgraded (if that what you call it) to a Titus FS disc brake bike, but I know when I am leaving the garage I'll be thinking of my Race light. One other thing, I converted the Race Light into a 9-speed. Buy one if you can find one, definitely a classic!
Bike Setup: XT/XTR drive train with race face cranks, king headset, dues bars, Bontrager seat post (original), Thompson stem, Bontrager wheels, Flite saddle, XT V-brakes & 747's
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jeff wu
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder,co,usa
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2005
Strengths: One of a kind frame. Responsive, light, agile, durable. I've ridden it hard and put it away wet, but she's still a great ride even to this day.
Weaknesses: Thrashed the original Judy XC fork. The guy at the bike shop had to rebuild it from various kits because it's nearly impossible to find a 1 inch front suspension fork. marzocchi maybe?
Bottom Line:
The frame is a 96, but I purchased it in 98 before Bontrager was bought by Trek. It was between this and a Klein Attitude. Aluminum seemed sexier at the time, but I just loved the way the Bontrager felt. Where I live, few people ride steel, or even hardtails, much less something as old as this. You get more than a handful of comments when you show up with a rig like this. The serial number has only 3 numbers. Apparently, there weren't that many made. The fork issue is problematic, but I plan on riding this bike until she breaks. That will be a sad day.
Bike Setup: XTR drivetrain, Judy XC (rebuilt), Fizik saddle, Panaracer tires, XT wheels, Zoom stem, and bar ends (can't see why folks ride without them)
Strengths: i built this up to a 21.5lb bike and it climbs like a cat with its tail on fire. plus it's just so sexy
Weaknesses: big name company bought keith out and now i have a bike warranteed for life that isn't made anymore
Bottom Line:
this bike has it's own bed at my house, everyone should own one. on second thought i'm glad mine's one of a kind, 'cause i know i won't meet you riding the same flippin bike as me every time i get out. if you can find a used one and you like to race or ride trails (no hucking) this bike rules. its the best handling bike i've had (of 12)
Similar Products Used: i own (and have owned) about everything there is. now i have a full suspension beast i usually ride but sometimes its nice just to play on this thing, to remember how to ride
Bike Setup: marzocchi fork, XT/XTR setup, raceface cranks, thompson post and a special blessing from el diablo
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Berkeley Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001
Strengths: A fine balance of flex and strength. A rabbit out of turns and an crisp climber.
Weaknesses: Limited fork selection
Bottom Line:
This bike has more ability to handle riding than I have ability to ride. No matter how much I learn, the bike is able to take me there. I've gone through a full set of components, put on new ones, and she's ready to go. I can't imagine a better investment in a ride than this one; crisp, quick, clean, supple, and elegant. Sure, there may be a light XC dually for me in the next few years but nothing will give me the go I have when I step down on this pedal. This bike is a real keeper.
Weaknesses: 1 inch headset (thank goodness for Marzochi). That's it.
Bottom Line:
Irreplaceable. Sure, today there are Ellsworth, Intense and Turner to drool over for full suspension rigs. But you can't beat the combo of history, engineering, and quality in what might be the best hardtail ever made.
Bike Setup: XTR drivetrain, Sweet Wings Cranks, Avid Arch Supreme brakes, King/Valiant wheels, WTB saddle/tires, Syncros stem/Bonti Ti bar & ends, new U.S.E. XCR suspension seat post (gives new life to hardtails), a little Weigle spray to combat rust.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from blackburn, lancashire, England
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2000
Strengths: Strong, Light, Well built, good corrosion resistance, with 1degree reduced rake crown the steering is the best I have ever tried.
Weaknesses: Thin tube walls dent easily if you are not careful
Bottom Line:
Probably one of the finest hardtails in existence. Frame will last practically forever if you look after it. Very expensive, but if it lasts five years, then it will have kicked practically every other frame's arse for value, whilst giving you one of the sweetest rides around.
Submitted by
Fritz
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1999
Strengths: Extremely Light Weight Fast and Strong
Weaknesses: Expensive if they did not come on your bike
Bottom Line:
Very light weight and fast. When coupled with lightweight tubes and semi-slick tires this set-up flys. I have not had to true them at all after 750+ miles and being 205lbs. The rear hub did loosen after about 150 miles. Otherwise these rims are excellent overall.
Submitted by
Jay Wnuk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winona, MN
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999
Strengths: Light, strong, make a cool buzzzing noise.
Weaknesses: Not cheap, both hubs loosened up after a couple of hundred miles.
Bottom Line:
These wheels were noticeably lighter and seemed to be deflected off rocks easier. Other than the hub bearings loosening up once, they have been flawless. I got mine for $400.00 used, but they had new, supposedly crack-proof rims installed along with new nipples. So far they have not needed truing even after 2 hard races. Two thumbs up!
Similar Products Used: Stock wheels,Crosslands (good wheels also.).
Bike Setup: Trek 8000, Sid XC, mostly XTR, etc.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian Collins
a Cross-Country Rider
from Barneveld, NY
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1999
Strengths: The lightest By far the fastest Servicability strong ceramic coating Great strength to weight ratio Ring drive is great for slow technical riding
Weaknesses: just the slightest bit flexy, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages
Bottom Line:
These have dramatically improved my riding, they are soooo fast and smooth. The perfect XC riding/racing setup is these wheels with a set of ultra light tubes, a Bontrager Super-X 2.1 fr and a Bontrager Super-X 2.0 rear, both at like 30psi(I honestly haven't gotten a flat at this pressure yet) A really cool feature is the ring drive in the rear hub, it makes engagement instant, which means better chances of cleaning a technical section cause you can stall it and trackstand for a second and you start moving as soon as you pedal. I got these wheels, trued and tensioned them perfectly and they haven't come a half mm out of true after a whole season of riding. These wheels are expensive but try to buy a bike spec'd with them like i did. Even if you buy them aftermarket they are by far the best upgrade you can put on an XC bike
Strengths: Light light light Purdy I never thought I needed ceramic, but it rocks
Weaknesses: $$
Bottom Line:
These wheels kick ass. I raced a full season on them and never had to true them, after my initial tensioning. Anyone who thinks they can buy a wheelset, take it out of the box and stick it on there bike and never true it is nuts. I mean, its not a Spin. Make sure you have someone competant go over them and they will rule. I rode them hard over nasty rocky utah trails all summer, sometimes with wimpy 1.9 and 1.6 semi slicks on a FS bike. I can't believe how true they've stayed. WAY better than my SWorks wheelset which has been perpetually out of true.Its interesting that from feb until august there were no posts of cracking rims, but now there are. Seems there is a bit of a fatigue life problem. Well I guess thats what you get from a 390 g rear rim. I think I'll detension mine a tiny bit now.The ceramic has sweet modulation, and no more buffing the brake pads off the rim surface like regular rims. I did have to relace the front wheel to fit inside my UL70.Minus 1/2 star for the rebuild, rounds up to 5
Similar Products Used: XT/Mavic Other Shimano combos
Bike Setup: Specialized A1 Comp Manitou M4
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross-Country Rider
from a place
Date Reviewed: September 28, 1999
Strengths: Light and have King hubs
Weaknesses: Flexy and the rim cracked
Bottom Line:
They are too flexy for someone that weighs over 170. I cracker the rear rim after less than three months of use. The reason that it cracked was the extremly high spoke tension and I know I am not the first or only one that this happened too.
Submitted by
todd
a Cross-Country Rider
from wethersfield , CT
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1999
Strengths: light weight bombproof
Weaknesses: $$$ front wheel detension
Bottom Line:
great set of wheels!!! absolutly bombproof. I did have a problem initially with my front detensioning and some frt flex in my fork. I might rebuild it w a 2 cross. BUY THEM
