Submitted by
Raub
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002
Strengths: genesis, handles awsome over all terrain component group is good for the price
Weaknesses: seatpost will not stay in one position but otherwise none!
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I have riden it over all kinds of terrain including some brutal downhill. The big sur is bomb proof, and handles great. Climbs even better. Never had a serious mechanical problem, this bike has made me a loyal fisher fan. If you like to ride hard and go fast this is a great bike to start with. HARDTAILS RULE!!!
Bike Setup: uppgraded to xtr rear der., thompson stem, truvativ stylo team cranks w/ raceface prodigy bb, profile riser bar, new front shock next on the list.
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Submitted by
Phillip Piggins
a Cross Country Rider
from Elk Rapids Mi
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2001
Strengths: The Gary Fisher Big sur has a great frame i love the genisis geomotry, it also comes with very good stock components
Weaknesses: The big sur has a weak bottom bracket and they could have spent a little more mony on th paint job, i mean its a nice paint job but it dosent compare to the kliens.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike just getting into the sport and than started getting up grades and now the bike is sweat. The genisis geomotry is great and if you road it and didnt think so there is something wrong. The big sur is i stiff bike with ok suspension and a great light and strong frame.The big sur is a great bike for u people who have mountian biked before but also good for thoes beginers who have the money to spend.
Similar Products Used: Trek,Wheeler,Mongoose and light speed
Bike Setup: I just upgraded to all xt drive train/ rear derailer xt front derailer xt casset xt chain xt/ XC indy suspension and coming soon front xt shifters and brake levers and brakes.I also have a lx crank and lx hobs, sell itelia FLIGHT seat, yetti grips (red) and pana racer red walled tires, they look sweat ( great treds ).
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Submitted by
Craig Ruhland
a Cross Country Rider
from Eden Valley, MN
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001
Strengths: great geomoetry, stiff ride, cuts easily through tight singletrack, good stock wheels, light, strong, well built frame for the money...
Weaknesses: crank is weak, GF framed in my opinion seem to run a bit small-be cautious, paint on downtube and chainstays got chipped and trashed, indy C is scary (get a meaty marzzochi!)
Bottom Line:
When I bought this bike I went for the frame and that seemed to be a good choice, however leaving the bike behind the house (1409) at college during an evening of drinking proved to be a poor choice. I miss that frame. In the college financial vise I would have bought the bike over again. I really don't know about all the trek-klien-fisher-bontrager unity going on but I guess that is a different issue. Anyway-the "genesis geometry" has proven itself for many, many miles both in trail application and in racing so I believe with this kind of price tag, and this kind of quality frame, this bike can certainly be upgraded for years of riding. If you are on a budget and plan to upgrade components this could be your ride. get off the computer and go ride!
Similar Products Used: various FS and hardies-schwinn, trek, kona, klien
Bike Setup: stolen after year of owning
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from South Wales, NY
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001
Strengths: frame, genesis geometry
Weaknesses: components, i.e. shocks, seat-hard as a rock, crank, etc... also have a lot of paint chipping.
Bottom Line:
The frame is awesome and very uprgradable. I've had this bike for three years, going on four and have now upgraded everything but the seat post and brakes, coming soon. The ride is excellent and for a 225lb plus rider it has held up incredibly well. I know have an $1800 bike and built it pretty much myself. As long as the frame continues to hold, I don't see getting rid of it soon. I do need a new paint job though.
WELL ENGINEERED FRAME, SIMPLE FORK(WON'T LEAK OIL), BUY FOR FRAME! SWEET COLOR, FAST AND DANGEROUS, FUN TO RIDE. BIKE GOOD FOR WEEKENDERS AND INTERMEDIATE RIDERS. FRAME GOOD FOR ELITE RIDERS! HAPPY TRAILS!
Strengths: Good bike great for those weekend poeple that just like to go all out. Wicked in turns and and some good components. The yellow paint just makes people scared!
Weaknesses: that thing that they call a shock crap. the crank is a little week
Bottom Line:
great bike i am going to get a 2001 in about 2 months.
Bike Setup: Bomber shock mavrick racing wheels and stuff like that
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Submitted by
jeff diem
a Cross Country Rider
from michigan
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2001
Strengths: great climber, wicked in turns, descneds ok
Weaknesses: indy xc fork, cranks, and hubs
Bottom Line:
great bike for the dough... i wish the cranks and fork didnt suck, but i work at a biek shop and the frame is used on the supercaliber, so jsut 600 bux for that was worth it to me!! maybe puttin on a psylo fork turn it into a urban assult vehicle, geometry be damned!
Bike Setup: Upgrades inc SID forks,riser bars, USE seatpost, Tioga factory tyres. Still need new cranks - reckon Raceface
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Submitted by
Anthony Senger
a Cross Country Rider
from New Berlin, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000
Strengths: Genesis Geometry w/ super stiff frame construction kicks serious butt! Wicked yellow paint (can spot another Big Sur a mile away!) Simple yet super effective Avid brakes!
Awesome Bang for the Buck...
Weaknesses: Flat bars will kill the top tube paint on big dumps! Shifting has always been a problem, I believe it to be the cheaper Sugino Crank/Rings with less than stellar STX cassette and front deraileur.
Bottom Line:
Awesome Hungry bike that is only so slightly let down by some cost sutting stock components. After adding the suspension post I never had problems hanging with my buddy riding a FS K2 Razorback ($3000+)!!! I've had problems with the shifting and chain suck (actually just killed my granny gear on the Sugino cranks...). Tried upgrading the front Derailleur. This did not help, much. I'm looking forward to putting on lighter, stronger cranks, because I just love riding this bike!
Real bottom line is that the bike is so much more than what you get off the show room floor, but the grin factor is so there, and upgrading it has been fun too! So for $800 plus my upgrades, I'm ripping it like a mad man! 4 flamers for value because the bean counters got at some improtant components, but 5 for overall!!!
Bike Setup: XTR everything, except for RaceFace crankset, and Spinergy SPOX in red, with red brake/shifting cables ;) Getting new front shocks (bleh).
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Bridgeport
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2000
Strengths: Awsome ride, good geometry, excelent entry race bike.
Weaknesses: None that I have found yet for the price
Bottom Line:
If you want a good bike for the money the 98 Big Sur is Awsome but I don't like the color skeam on the 99. Its a good bike for someone wanting to go from the weekend warrior to competitive racing.
Similar Products Used: Fuji Suncrest, Gary Fisher Hakoyaku
Bike Setup: Bontreager wheels, rims Wilderness Trail Bikes Tires, Saddle, Grips Shimano LX cranks and Bottom Braket, XT rear, And Avid Single digit V-brakes. Also comes with an awsome Judy Long Travel. It may be heavy but its got awsome travel and no sticktion.
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Submitted by
Alex
a Cross-Country Rider
from Noble
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2000
Strengths: climbing descending genesis colour
Weaknesses: cranks indy that came with it rims
Bottom Line:
awesome bike totally upgradable, a must if you don't have the coin, i give er' 5 flamers i'd give it 20 if i could
Bike Setup: manitou sxe xt derailleur thudbuster avocet titanium saddle
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Submitted by
Big Sur
a Cross-Country Rider
from Norman, Ok
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1999
Strengths: Great Components, rite price, and Just as good as any other hard tail
Weaknesses: Doesnt pedal it self
Bottom Line:
unless you plan on riding around the world the big sur is the bike for you. I have had mine for a year and I love it. I know guys with $6,000 joshua's and I still kick there asses on the trail. I spend less time in the repair stand and I ride twice as hard. I looked long and hard and road many test miles and this is the bike I picked.Enough said now go buy a big sur and get muddy!!!!
I need a new headset to replace the stock one on my 98 Big Sur,any suggestions?My budget is around $50,I should be able to get a decent set for that I think.
Thanks,
Chris Read More »
Hi,
I just bought a 98 GF Big Sur and really like the frame,so much I am upgrading it bit by bit instead of buying a new bike.One problem it has is the paint job,it's terrible!I Read More »
