Submitted by
baconboy
a Weekend Warrior
from eureka, mt. usa
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2011
Strengths: shifters
Weaknesses: cables under tube
Bottom Line:
I've had this bike for about 16 years and have raplaced the tires once and I need a new seat now. I love this bike, my brother in colorado bought one on my recommendation and loves his too. any weekend warrior would really love this bike.
Bike Setup: added an extra large gear on wheel for large hills.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
BARTMAN73
a Weekend Warrior
from WEST SPRINGFILED, MA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2011
Strengths: PRICE, TOUGHNESS DURABILITY
Weaknesses: DERAILER SKIPS AT TIMES
Bottom Line:
i BOUGHT THIS BIKE IN 1995 B\C I WAS GETTING THE MOST BIKE FOR THE MONEY. THE FIRST TIME I RODE IT I CRASHED IT ON THE WAY BACK TO MY CAR AND ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW FRONT RIM, NEW FRONT SUSPENSION AND NEW BRAKES. BUT EVER SINCE THEN THE BIKE AS A WHOLE GIVES ME NO PROBLEMS. I JUST BOUGHT SOME USED ROCK SHOCK JUDYS TO UPGRADE MY R21'S B\C THEY FINALLY FAILED AFTER 16 YEARS. YES...THAT'S 16 YEARS OF HARD RIDING AND THIS THING IS STILL GOING. I WAS GOING TO FINALLY UPGRADE BUT DECIDED TO JUST KEEP THIS FRAME AND SWITCH OUT SOME COMPONENTS TO BRING IT UP TO 2011. GREAT BIKE AND I CERTAINLY GOT MY MONEYS WORTH!!!
Bike Setup: ROCK SHOCK FRONT SUSPENSION, AKAI RIMS, GRIP SHIFTERS, 21 SPEED, SHIMANO DL CLIPLESS PEDALS
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lars
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX, EEUU
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2010
Strengths: Great value for the price
Attractive Aesthetics
100 mm Fork with Preload and Lockout
Disc Brakes
24 Speeds
SRAM-X4 Shifters and Derailleur
Wider Handlebars
WTB Saddle
Weaknesses: Cromoly Frame?
Cables run along bottom of top tube
Bottom Line:
A really great bike for the money. When choosing b/n this bike and a comparable bike typically priced at $400+ (i.e., Specialized Hardrock, Gary Fisher Advance, Trek 4300) this bike was the obvious choice. Everything works very smoothly and it's very easy to ride. I only wish the cables were placed along the top of the top-tube instead of the bottom because it would work better with my car's bike rack, but no biggy. Also, I'm not sure whether the frame is chromoly or aluminum, but it seems to weigh about the same as my 6061 aluminum Flightline..
Similar Products Used: Univega Alpina
Haro Flightline
Specialized Rockhopper
Bike Setup: Bone Stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ras
a Weekend Warrior
from Augusta, Maine
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2010
Bottom Line:
overall I really like this bike. I have only put just about 100 miles on it so far but it is alot of fun to ride. I ride alot on roads and smooth trails but I do ride the occasional rough section. I did a 70 mile road trip on it one day and found that I need higher handlebars or a steeper angle riser. The front derailer will occasionally stick the chain between the big ring and the middle one but if I just keep peddalling smoothly while shifting then it doesn't seem to happen at all. The lockout front fork does get very stiff when locked out but will still depress if you push hard enough. The seat is excellent and so far I really like the disc brakes. I am 5'11" and got the medium(18") frame and it fits well with the exception of the handlebar height which can be corrected for the cost of a few more relatively cheap parts. The tires seemed to work very well when I went trail riding in loose gravel and loam and some wet grass on a steep slope. So far I like this bike alot for the money.
Submitted by
Vic from LIFT.
a Weekend Warrior
from toledo, ohio
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2010
Strengths: shifters and suntour shocks
Weaknesses: hmm.. the stock rims are weak.. the first 3 days i had it I had to have the crank replaced due to it bending when the chain popped, ive gone through a new back rim because I bunny hopped on the side walk and severley bent the rim and popped the tires and i rode down some stairs and bent the bars a little.. when I got it back i hot the dirt trails and the right pedal stripped the threads on the crank and now im waiting to get the crank arm replaced...
Bottom Line:
i bought this bike because it had raving reviews... its been in the shop for more days then ive had it...
Submitted by
Muddy44
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, WA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2010
Strengths: good entry level mtb
Weaknesses: plastic pedals
Bottom Line:
good entry mtb...not as light as a more expensive bike but for the price it was a good purchase. It also came with rapid fire shifters which are much better than grip shifters.
Submitted by
Todd Young
a Weekend Warrior
from Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2006
Strengths: I bought this bike in 1989 and in 2006 it is still going strong. Granted I have gone throught he normal replacement parts (tires, brake shoes, grips, saddle, etc) over the years, but the bike itself and Shimano gear system / brakes are still as good as they ever were.
Weaknesses: No real problems to report...just expected wear and tear from use.
Bottom Line:
This was an excellent bike for the money, and for the cost of an equivalent bike today it was one of the best purchases I ever made. She's held up very well over the last 17 years and with proper maintenance she'll last me indefinitely. Short of any serious damage I see no reason why I would ever need another bike. If you see one for sale at a decent price...grab it...$$ well spent.
Bike Setup: I do more distance riding now than off-road...so I switched to some middle slick tires with outside knobs, so I can go smooth on pavement and still handle dirt if necessary. I also opted for a more civilized, comfortable saddle for long distance rides, and added a set of saddle bags (because I hate riding with a backpack). This bike has changed with me as I get older.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from newcastle, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003
Strengths: Very good bike. Bought it a year late and on special, thats the reason for the low price.
Weaknesses: Front forks (no suspension) started to flatten and bend up after 3 years of on and off road riding.
Similar Products Used: 1996 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo. 2001 Voodoo Bizango. 1997 Voodoo D-Jab. 2000 Voodoo Nzumbi.
Bike Setup: 1986, yes, that's 86, not 96 Colorado. Original drivetrain (friction, not even SIS, thumb shifters), wheels, brakes, saddle and post. Circa 1988 threaded stem and flat bars. Circa 1988 ODI Mushroom grips.
Strengths: Reliable, Strong, Fast, Small Frame is quick
Weaknesses: Rear Deraileur Snaped in half with out even being struck.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for all types of riding. Very quick on downhill single track. Can go up hill alright also, better than most downhill bikes. This may not seem like a downhill bike, but with I've seen it keep up with people on Kona Stabs. Very well suited for the Sage Rhino View Trail. The bigest drop it has taken is about a two footer, but I'm sure it is ready to go bigger.
Bike Setup: Stock 1988 Nishiki Colorado, With Slick Willy seatpost
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
r.c. applegate
a Weekend Warrior
from riverside, california, u.s.a
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001
Strengths: reliability, light weight, price
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is a 1989 Nishiki Colorado that has over 2500 hard hours on it. It has lasted me so far 12 year. Other than tune-ups, tires and innertubes, and one seat I have had no problems or any reasons to put more money into it. I still anticipate a few more years use out of it, and then I'll purchase another nishiki.
Great bike for the money. This is actually a Raleigh M-80 in Nishiki Clothing. The sales person told me that Raleigh acquired Nishiki (back in 98) and this frame was the same as the M-80. I didn't believe him, so I went to a Raleigh dealer and took notes on the components, frame, etc. It was actually the same bike, (even made in America!!). If I remember correctly some components were a little different, however, the frame was identical just different paint and logo.
I've recently upgraded the pedals, but overall this bike is great. I recommend it to anyone starting out, or wanting to upgrade.
The Original Growler MTB Races - May 26-27, 2012
The first of three separate dates for online registration opens next Wednesday February 1, 2012 at 9pm MST.
Click on the link Read More »
The Original Growler MTB Races - May 26-27, 2012
The first of three separate dates for online registration opens next Wednesday February 1, 2012 at 9pm MST.
Click on the link Read More »
2011/2012 has been a great biking year for me. I started riding in 1994 with a Keith Bontrager ( boneshaker) racelite hardtail. I REALLY got into Ibis Ti bikes starting in 2002with Read More »
Looks like the Pro's will be back for this up at WP, I was thinking that no Crankworx No Pros !!
2012 FMB World Tour Schedule
[url=http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/ Read More »
Sand Creek Sports has updated the Tentative Colorado Mountain Bike Race Calendar.
The calendar is on the Race Calendar page at [url=http://www.sandcreeksports.com/rcs.htm]Sand Cre Read More »
