Submitted by
Pexikan
a Weekend Warrior
from Manhattan KS US
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2010
Strengths: Lightweight, agile, very rider friendly
Weaknesses: Aluminum frame succeptable to dings, stock components are out-dated (as with all pre-2000 bikes)
Bottom Line:
I will never part ways with either of them. I can't get over how much life they still have in them, considering I was in high school when these bike were released. If you want a good looking, well built ride, look no further. Gary Fisher did something right with these. So what if people complain about a bouncy ride. The other day I rode with a friend who has a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. Waxed him through the trees. I ditched the grip-shift that was on my X, and replaced the broken LX components that came with it with SXT's. New wheels, and V-brakes, bang. I got a bike that preforms as good as newer high-end bikes for less than half the cost. The Z1, well, that's my next project...
Bike Setup: Bike #1 - Joshua X - Shimano rapid-fire shifters, stx derailleurs, Rock Shox quadra 21R fork, Rock Shox Deluxe rear shock, SRAM Single Digit 5 v-brakes, Michelin Country Rock tires, Bontrager Camino wheels and hubs.
Bike #2 - Joshua Z1 - XTR Shifters, XTR V-brakes and XTR derailleurs, Race Face Crankset, Rock Shox SID Fork, Stratos Helix rear shock, Ritchey Tires, Bontrager RACE wheels and hubs, Bontrager saddle, stem and Crowbar.
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Submitted by
TheBigWoo
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver,CO
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2009
Strengths: A very plush, smoothed out ride. Great "retro" design by today's standards and these are now getting pretty hard to find. They can however be found for a really inexpensive price compared to the original $2,999.00 price tag. They haven't been made in many moons so if you come across one, GRAB IT AND UPGRADE IT!!
Weaknesses: The orig rear shocks are good for general purpose, but may not compare to today's shocks...
Bottom Line:
These are a great piece of MTB history. No longer made, they can now be found for a good reasonable price by today's standards....
My 1998 Joshua X0 is still a great riding machine and can hang w/ big $$ newer Hardtails, which lack the "cool factor" of these classics. Hardtails are a dime-a dozen....
Y Frames are rare to see.....
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Tampa, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2007
Strengths: If you ever rode one you know what I am talking about. Day and night you can keep riding and not get too tired and give up. Gets you there and back without any problems!
Weaknesses: I can not use the bike as I am now in Florida! No Mountains to summit and bomb down!
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike from me and enjoy the ride. All parts including middle shock pump come with the bike. Make and offer. ibeede@tampabay.rr.com or cell phone 813-758-1947
This bike has been to many of the north east mountains and was an awesome 40-50 mph down hiller! I have been clocked by a toyota truck! Excellent technical ride over rocks and through serious mud! Up and down hill, climber and bomber a must. You want your brakes dialed in and Good times still to be had!
Bike Setup: Joshua Z with XT components and Silver frame, Rock Shox, Avid brakes, Sachs Shifters, Mavic Rims and Panaracer tires, Strata Shock fully adjustable, Night Sun lamps, all bells and whisles Etc...
Bike Setup: indy sl front fox vanilla back bontager seat, bars to much to list...
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2006
Strengths: Looks Great. Very good while it lasted.
Weaknesses: Derailleur hanger broke after a few hours and the back wheel bent. The bike was pretty messed up when i got it but it worked fine for the first hour.
Bottom Line:
It is a pretty good bike but alot of stuff broke really fast and now i can't even ride it.
Similar Products Used: Diamondback viper as really good bmx which is light and strong.
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Submitted by
Agingguy Oldbike
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntsville, AL
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2005
Strengths: Hoshua XO, Yellow: Once Customized, Reliable, Compact compartment (that's what I call it- short and stocky), handles exceptionally well on tight turns at speed or down hill slowly while over the rear wheel behind the seat. Once shocks were changed- always in control.
Weaknesses: Stock Parts- stock parts on this bike were not good. But buying it used at $750.00 gave me room to really make it mine (I would consider buying a used one if you need a FS and cant find the bucks to buy one- upgrade parts over time). Indy SL Long Travel had to go first- it did not go where I pointed it. Upgraded to Manitu SXTi, and am even upgrading it today (because of money priorities) with an '04 Marzocci Marathon S. Rear Shock- nearly hurt me bad. On landing- unpredictable how the bike would "do". I busted my arse- replaced with Cane Creek Air (6.75 eye to eye was not "standard" for rear shocks- but it is to the Joshua). Sugino Crank was awful- bent it on rocks and logs the first few rides out. XT Crank is more that adequate-
Bottom Line:
Perhaps I won't come in ahead of the "scapel" or the "fuel" or the "jeckyl". HOWEVER, this was a quality ride a few years ago- nothing has changed. Once the shocks and the crank were replaced- something most people may do over time, it is 100% reliable, predictable and performs excellently. A side note, climbing rocky steep terrain with this type suspension URT, Y, whatever... is great. It does not spin out - I may give out, but it doesn't spin out. My hardtail doesn't bob, but it wont climb like this. I do wish I could lock out the rear- but I accept it as is- plus the terrain here is ROCKY and rough. If you can ride here, you can ride most anywhere. Bottom Line: I'll love it for a few years to come, I've owned it for 6 and it is probably 7 years old. 4 chillis value because It took a little more than I would like to spec it to my tastes and pocketbook. Overall 5, without question- I love Fisher bikes- glad Trek didn't ruin them by killing their creative drive and attitude. Thanks Gary.
Similar Products Used: My one and only FS bike- Fisher Hardtail ridden earlier- prior to that Mongoose Rockadile (before the department store days).
Bike Setup: 90mm stem- monkey bar type handlebars- XTR "V" Brakes, XT shifters, XT wheelset, XT crank, a quality "lighter" bb, Marzocci Marathon (S)front and Cane Creek Rear Shock
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Submitted by
Billy Owens
a
from Canada, Ontario, Chalk River
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2004
Strengths: execnt frame for any type of riding, light weight bike
Weaknesses: very flexable swing arm
Bottom Line:
this bike is deadly... i've owned it for a year now and i did XC riding for a bit and i am now doing free ride on it... the frame stands up to what ever i launch it off of... a few minor problems with the rear-end (derailer, casette and, chain)... i blew the old judys last year and got some pieces machined to get them in working condition but i just put on 2002 EXR's and they seem to be holding up good.... the only problem i had was that the swing arm was too flexable and didn't work well with my mangura rim brakes(to much flex that didn't allow for high pressure on the rim).... all in all good reliable bike
Bike Setup: older judy DH, rock shock delux, mangura hydralic rim brakes, shimano LX drailers and shifter, older KORE bars and stem, rino light rims, sugine impal crank set
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Park Forest, IL USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
Strengths: simple design, amazingly light, very upgradeable
Weaknesses: suspension bob, the fork was way too stiff for my weight, the color is uglier than homemade sin
Bottom Line:
The bike is my first REAL mountain bike. with swapping out wheels, crank, and bb, it's 24.5 lbs. That's bloody good for technology of the late 90's. It's now 2003 and the bike still rides like a champ. I've thought about getting a replacement fs rig, but this one still calls my name. I can't bring myself to get rid of it.
Bike Setup: Crossmax wheels, XTR crank, bb, Ti cassette (8 spd), specialized seat, MRP speed springs in stock Judy XC fork...everything else is stock...oh, Bontrager Jones tires
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Marblehead, Mass USA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001
Strengths: This bike kicks so much ass. It may be a tad old, but it does the trick. It's super light, like 25lbs. It's very rugged and i have done 10 ft. drops and it still is fine, i may need to get my tired trued though. There are great components and good pedals (clipless). But if you like dual suspension, and like light, comfterable bikes, this is the bike of all bikes. Not really, its just really good.
Weaknesses: The fork that came with my bike only has about 80mm, but it does the trick. Im lookin at puttin a White Brother's FR3 dual crown on it but if you want to up the front, you need to up the back. This bike could use work w/ new additions,
Bottom Line:
This Bike is good for a smaller person, im like 5'6' and its perfect. A good deal. That's about it. It could use upgrades and a bit of a tune up, but that's because I bought it used (it was ridden like 5 times), and the guy I bought it off of was a complete idiot. Oh well, yay for me.
Purchased At: I bought it off of a friend..kind of...
Similar Products Used: Joshua F4, I don't like this one as much, its a monster of a bike, yet i felt that it was too heavy for me. But it was a pretty good steal.
Bike Setup: Judy XC, Rock shox rear suspension, deore XT derailer, I cant remember the crank name or the stem (sorry).
Weaknesses: Just about everything. Especially the Welds and Grade of Alu used.
Bottom Line:
Its pants really, I've snapped mine. The only good thing is the 5 year Frame warrenty which allowed me to get a new Level Betty. (Which I sold straigt away) URT suspension design is Poor at best. May as well get a decent hardtail. Boring to ride, looks lame, don't know why I bought it really. There should be a 0 Flamin Chili option. Sorry to be so negative, the glass is usually half full.
Similar Products Used: Level Betty, Trek Y5, Heckler, San Andreas etc.
Bike Setup: RST Hi5, Magura's, XT blah.....
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Submitted by
Gary
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000
Strengths: I weight #225. The paint is durable, the rear pivot is stock and tight, minimal flex at the BB, and it allows me the to vary the sring-rate just by sitting or standing (standing mimics a soft-tail type response), which is more intuative than flipping a lever. It is simple, one pivot.
Weaknesses: The coil-based suspension BOBS. With the rear shock properly adjusted, and if you can spin, there is NO BOB. Cane Creek AD-10 is De' Bomb. WTF-GF?
Bottom Line:
1997 Z0 Medium. Purchased the frameset in '98. Price included Judy (sorry, you need to dampen the REBOUND stroke on a shock, compression is to be controlled by spring rate and oil weight) SL front fork, King headset, Bontrager: bar, stem, post, and the terrible RS 'Super, Deluxe, Coily, Remotely Dampened (at best)rear shock. At the time a great deal. After the first real ride I replaced the SL guts with Englund Air's (warranty issue resolved by the LBS). The rear shock was replaced by a Fox ALPS 4 . The frame style (URT) and geometry demand that the suspension components use the progressive quality of air to perform respectably. It is a shame Mr. Fisher chose to "Tango" with Rock-Shox when spec'ing this frame. I rode the frame for over two years (+2,200 miles) with the afforementioned configuration. Then I purchased a 2001 Z-3 Air 100. Crap. This is the best combination EVER on a URT frameset. I will ride the frame until they no longer build replacement parts for the shocks.
Similar Products Used: Kona, Cannondale. Liked the FSR.
Bike Setup: ESP 9.0, 217 rims, Avid 2.0, Alps 4, Z-3 100 Air, White Bros. crankset, Bontrager: post, stem, bars. 26.7 lbs.
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Submitted by
Pigrider
a Cross Country Rider
from Vista,Ca
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2000
Strengths: Price, component package, FUN factor
Weaknesses: superdeluxe rear shock
Bottom Line:
I ride a santa cruz superlight now that weighs about 25 lbs with a Marzocchi X-fly Z2. I love this bike but find myself missing my old Joshua Z2 every once in a while. I still wish I had it. Don't let these reviewers tell you how bad the whole unified rear triangle (URT) suspension is. Yes you get some bobbing and no lots of people don't like it. You can read and believe all the dogma that techies spew or you can ride. When it comes to just going out and riding your bike for fun the Joshua is an excellent bike. Its steering is not as precise as the superlight and the suspension is not as stiff either but it rides well and handles pretty good. There is very noticeable bobbing when you are climbing very steep technical hills, but I noticed that the URT actually drives the rear wheel into the ground and you get more traction. The superlight does not do this so it took me a while to get used to shifting my body in a different way. In my mind I think of the Joshua as a Cadillac and the superlight as a Ferrari. If you race the Joshua is not for you but if you ride a lot XC and pretty gnarly downhills this is a damn good bike. If you own a Joshua or have an opportunity to buy a used one you should do it!!!
Similar Products Used: trek rigid then this one and now Santa Cruz superlight
Bike Setup: I had the Joshua Z2 1997 model with the Judy XC
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Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2000
Strengths: fairly light for a full suspension bike, awesome handling, rides over everything.
Weaknesses: rear rock shock deluxe sucks! but on the plus side it won't last long, so you can replace with something worthy like a Stratus XC Pro shock.
Bottom Line:
I am a cross country rider and I love this bike. I can go anywhere and ride over anything. It goes where you point it. On the minus side it does pogo a little if you power up a hill, but this is easily fixed by replacing the rear shock with an air shock that has a lock out feature such as the Stratus XC Pro or the Fox Float RC. If your bike comes with a Rock Shock Deluxe, it will need to be replaced anyway, trust me.
Bike Setup: 1997 Joshua Z2, stock except for Stratus XC Pro rear shock
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Submitted by
Allister Blanco
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 1999
Strengths: Simple Design. Bullet Proof. When you were out the pivot, there's no guessing which one!
Weaknesses: Weight.
Bottom Line:
The addition of the Z.1 BAM turned this into what is now my favorite ride. I have a Ritchey Soft Tail (Excellent as well), but not as much fun. Lock out the rear on the climbs, therefore no bobbing. Let's face it, if you're going to have fun on a heavy FS you're gonna need legs. I don't recommend this ride for out shape folks as the weight penalty will kill them. 4 stars because I'd still rather climb on my lighter softtail.
Similar Products Used: GT LTS, Ventana Marble Peak
Bike Setup: Stratos XC Pro Rear, Marzocchi Z.1 BAM Front 4 inches travel front and rear
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Submitted by
LIAPOMOBAU
a Cross-Country Rider
from Troy, NY
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1999
Strengths: All around great bike
Weaknesses: Bobs a little, but easily taken care of with remote damping adjuster.
Bottom Line:
I have the 1997 Joshua Z2 model. This is a just plain and simply a really nice XC bike. Has just the right amout of travel on front & rear. The rear has a remote adjustable damping thumb shifter that can almost lockout for climbs & rolling areas. Sure it bobs a little, but it really isn't all that bad with the remote adjuster. I've made several upgrades to my bike since I got it as parts wore out or as I found a really good deal. Now I have a pretty sweet bike. It's sweet to begin with though. I'd recommend this bike to someone who loves XC with the occasional need to just bomb downhill. The only complaint I have it that I had a cable housing that was rubbing against the frame & it actually wore away at the aluminum frame & created a notch in it. Luckily it was at the lower end of the seat tube so it isn't go to weaken to frame. It was easily remedied by putting a plastic hot spot sticker there. This is a great bike though. I love mine & I'll be keeping this baby for years to come.
