Strengths: Great bike at first. Good components except rear hub.
Weaknesses: Cracked the frame under the steer tube 3 years after purchase. Blew out the Judy 5 times, the Super Deluxe twice.
Bottom Line:
I'm not surprised I cracked the frame with the type of riding I do. After a few after market parts it was great. The shock and fork were a pain to deal with, but when they worked they were great.
Similar Products Used: Jamis Dakar Expert, Tomac 6 shooter, Schwinn Straight 8, Santa Cruz Super8, Cannondale Gemini, just bought Giant DH Team.
Bike Setup: Put a Truvativ Hussfelt chainguide which is terrible, Azonic bars, Magura Raceline D rear brake.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Bert
a Weekend Warrior
from Québec
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2002
Strengths: This bike make no flex on ridding. Very good frame and cheap maintenance en the rear pivot. Very good factory setup. Betty Boup! Good rear travel 6"
Weaknesses: Bottle rack are really badly placed.
Bottom Line:
I found when i setup the compression of the super delux to hard, i have some felling that i i'am ridding a hardtail. The bike make no flex. It's surely because my 135lbs. When i set the compression to lower, this bike ride like dh bike, very smooth the lazy. I love this bike. Just changed the crank for a lx because the sugino are weak. Well balanced. Good fisher!
Similar Products Used: gt lts-3 (crappy rear pivot)
Bike Setup: Xt rear der stx rc fr der lx crank very good oldie deore dx pedal rs super delux rs judy xl 100mm fsa pig dh headset avid 1.0l v-brake rear hayes hydrolique 6" front brake bontrager crowbar dh comp stem and handle bar oasis seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Daryl McCormick
a Weekend Warrior
from Stroudsburg, PA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2002
Strengths: First...I noticed that Ray from Kansas, an apprent "downhiller" (isn't Kansas Flat?) gave this ride a poor review, only the subject of his negative comments was alomst exclusively related to user-definable ride characteristics. I have had this bike for four seasons...I don't get wobble, bobbing or any other crap like that because I took the time to dial my ride in to fit my riding style and weight. Its capable on technical climbs and descents, though it can get bouncy is slower technical sections.
This bike is a blast. Its not so heavy that I could ever complain about weight. The travel is plush and adjustable, the ride IS active and the geometry is super comfortable. I don't endo as much on this bike as I did the fully rigid Rockhopper I had before.
I have taken this bike on a 48mph downhill run and it can definitely haul ass...plus it takes to the air quite readily and easily.
Weaknesses: Whazzup with the super long stock seatpost and that P.O.S. seatpost clamp?
The rear shock should come with a lockout switch (like the GF Joshua does) at this pricepoint.
It should have come with stock disc brakes.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is this: the is an excellent free-ride bike. Its not so light that you can't actually race it in an XC or 24hr race, while the suspension doesn't affect climbing in any significant way; there isn't much bob if you set it up right. It descends like a demon if you have the skills. With mods this bike can be used in a wide range of racing situations (i.e. - XC, DH or DS).
Wicked bike, awesome jumper, sweet for Dual slalom... i tried it on all... A++++, i love the bike, it is my baby, never lets me down always preforms well, liked by every one....
Bike Setup: super deluxe, Rst alfalfa, lx... sweet!!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
gavin messenger
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2000
Strengths: quiet!(no clanks or rattles), very plush, cheap, good value
Weaknesses: judy xl's on the front, paint came off when I took off some of the stickers!
Bottom Line:
An awesome bike!! I purchased this bike 2nd hand, and, bar filling the cartridge with 12wt oil and swapping the elastomers with speed springs, it has performed far greater than my current skill level, leaving me with knackered legs and a big smile every time! The riding position is great, not feeling cramped or having the feeling you're going over the handlebars. The only thing I would change is to upgrade to discs and to put a decent set of forks on (the mods helped but only to a certain degree)
Submitted by
Lindon
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2000
Strengths: Makes me smile when I ride it. Gets me out on the trails.
Weaknesses: All the stuff other people write. It's all true. I still smile.
Bottom Line:
It's for fun. That's the bottom line. All the cons are true, but I'm not out to race, I'm out to have fun, and this bike lets me. So what's wrong with that!
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland,ME
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999
Strengths: A good all-around bike, easy maintenance.
Weaknesses: RockShox front & rear
Bottom Line:
I got this bike as a left-over in spring of '99 at a reduced price which also included the upgraded rear brake, hub, and rim for $1700. Before the purchase, the bike store sent back the rear shock because it was leaking. Three months later I blew the Judy XL on a 4' wheelie drop. After those repairs I haven't had a problem. Hayes brakes are the best, easy to maintain and if you ride during the winter, you don't have to worry about ice, muck, etc on your rims. This is a good bike once you get the rear dialed in. This bike has just as much or less bob than any other , including some swing arm designs I've riden. It's a FUN bike. I love riding it, especially down hill!
Weaknesses: URT, frame both are terrible, they flex and bob. You notice the flex especally on sidehills. Bobbing happens everywhere.
Bottom Line:
To rephrase Ron Barr this bike is a complete joke! It sucks as a freeride bike because the rear suspension won't do what you want it to, i.e. jumping, slamming bumps. URT's are terrible because they are not fully active. Also this bike is not built stiff so it flexs a great deal further robbing power. Maybe one of these bikes will work for 40yr olds who tend to write in and give good reviews but for anyone with some nuts the bike doesn't have what it takes. Sucks ass, Cartman
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Quebec
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1999
Strengths: It just feels great
Weaknesses: Rock Shox rear shock
Bottom Line:
Personaly i like the bike... The URT system works fine, for someone that only wants to have fun... it bombs down hills craving for more, it's a tough and low maintenace, only one pivot... and i've machine a new pair of plates that hold the rear shock that make the feel a lot more progressive and i think that i gained at least 1/2 to 1 inch of rear travel but i'm gonna check on that and to you more exactly on this...it's a good bike!!! keep ridin!!!
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Strengths: Good spec for the price as with most Fishers. Inherent USA made quality.
Weaknesses: Rock Shox customer service.
Bottom Line:
Never was a fan of URT, however with the Genesis geometry the bike feels better. This bike has been PUNISHED and always comes back for more. I can't think of a ride where a big smile didn't come over me since the bike is a fantastic all-rounder. Sometimes we need to put aside personal preferences and evaluate the bike on its own merits - that's where I can honestly say that this bike is a winner. The only drawback was a blown fork cartridge which took weeks to replace, and perhaps the higher maintenance levels these new bikes require. My only wish is for a rear disc which will stop the shredding of rear brake pads. Don't buy this bike to race - buy it for all round fun and you will be happy. Well done Fisher (okay - Trek, but Gary did design the thing).
I think it's a good bike, a fun bike... The only thing a disliked about this bike, are the RockShox fork and shock. I changed the RS Judy XL for a Jr-T and the Super Deluxe for a Fox Vanilla RX, and wow! what a difference, especially with the Fox... the rear end is more sensible, it soaks up every thing, and reduces the bob, and the Jr-T, well for a freeride fork, can't beat them, and handles really well for downhilling... Like the review before me, you buy this bike to have fun, not to race!!!
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from North Attleboro, Ma
Date Reviewed: May 9, 1999
Bottom Line:
This bike is not about racing or competition. It's not about weight. It's merely it's name: the FH1. It's a Fun Hog. It was designed for fun and that's what it's about. if you're a diehard weight freak or x-country rider (like myself), than you buy a lightweight XC bike. If you're a DH'er and the suspension and toughness is the key, buy a DH bike. If you don't care if you win or lose, an just want to have fun, buy a bike like this. It's the kind of bike that just puts a smile on your face after a good hill, and not really caring if you want to beat the next guy. Ride b4 you buy. 5 chilis for the fun hog.For the techno-weenies, the braking is primo, shox are kind squishy, shifting is great, replace the seat, tires stink, though it has 101mm in the front and 130 in the rear -- it's still semi-light (i don't know exact weight, prolly around 25) and it all looks pretty good too....all work and no play is no good at...
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: February 6, 1999
Bottom Line:
I agree with Ron Barrs review (see earier posts). After selling my Fun Hog and purchasing a Cannondale Freeride 900 I can now see drawbacks to the URT concept. The bike bobs and that is a fact. I don't care what anyone says to defend the bike the fact still remains. I know, I fought against this problem the entire time I owned my bike, around a year. It was a very long year, filled with anomosity towards by bad purchasing decision. With my C-dale I have found that I do not have to change my style or conform to the bike's design. I just ride and enjoy efficient power transfer due to a superior design. No more pedal and brake induced suspension activity, just pure and simple forward thrust. I read reviews on the other sites concerning the Y-bike design and have found that the owners tend to be very loyal to this design. This tells me either it is the best type out there (which it isn't) or that the owners have never truthfully experienced any other suspension design. I have ridden the linkage types FSR's, LTS's. and Kona's but was swayed in my choice of the Super V because of almost equal performance with far less maintenance. The URT is not a performance orientated bicycle design this can be proved by viewing the new Trek catalog featuring the VRX. The URT Y-bike will soon die out and be replaced with far better suspenion designs. I can't wait to read the negitive reviews on sites like this in the following year!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
André
a weekend warrior
from Quebec, canada
Date Reviewed: January 19, 1999
Bottom Line:
This bike is a bomb, it eats up every thing you give it, very plush, it bomb down a hill just like it should... and best of all, you can go where ever you want with this bike... uphill, downhill!!!Hey Ron! are you a racer or what? if yes, you are not wise having this bike to race, mmmm.... i don't thik so, get real... FH1, stands for FUN HOG, not RACE HOG...keep riding and just enjoy!!!Loose control is rock'n roll
