Bike Setup: stock, havent had to get it fixed except for a flat tire which was my fault anyway
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Submitted by
Rob Braam
a Cross Country Rider
from Deventer
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001
Strengths: Suspention, frame frontfork.
Weaknesses: To mant stickers.
Bottom Line:
This is my second review. After riding into a hole I broke my neck and a rib but I had luck and will recover completely. The bike had nothing even the frontfork is 100% okey the only thing that broke was a barend. So the bike must be stronger than me.
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Webster, MA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2000
Strengths: Durability, reliability, great decending bike, good climber
Weaknesses: Few. It has been there every thursday night and sunday morning without many complaints.
Bottom Line:
This was my first mountain bike purchased in 1998 and this is a follow up review. I have not had a problem with the frame and fork. Right now I need to change my headset (first time in three years) and the pivots need a good greasing. I have had the following problems: 1. Broke spokes on back wheel (former wheelset STX/CR18) after 1.5 yrs. 2. Otherwise normal issues regarding deralieur adj, greasing, lubing.
I am happy! I did purchase a 2000 K2 Razorback RSX and was ready to sell my K2 2000, but I received the bike with a crack in the frame and had issues with the bike shop. I returned the bike and ever since my K2 2000 has run the best it has run. I will purchase a new bike when this one cracks its frame! If you can still find one get one!
Similar Products Used: 1997 Proflex Reptile 1998 Gary Fisher Paragon 1996 Proflex 856
Bike Setup: 2000 XT - cassette, hubs, frt+rear der, crank, es 70 BB; specialized body geometry seat, gore brake cables, 1999 LX v-brakes, Ritchey pedals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Michaud
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2000
Strengths: This bike does everything well. Practically no bob when pedalling, goes over most anything with no objections. The crosslink for is fantastic, it tracks like a rigid fork. The NR-1 coil overs are good. The overall design is very well thought out. These guys had it figured out way before Specialized came out with FSR XC. Great XC design
Weaknesses: weight, NR-1 has no damping adjustment.
Bottom Line:
Great value for $700 US. This bike is excellent, I highly recommend it
Similar Products Used: Super V-500, DBR X-2, Spec. FSR
Bike Setup: Rhyno-lite rims, LX
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brady
a Downhiller
from North East, Pennsylvania, USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2000
Strengths: Everything. The front noleen cross link fork is unbeatable. It shifts perfectly, rear swingarm greatly increases the power uphill. No pogo.
Weaknesses: The front shock is hard to get to to ajust, tires look skimpy. Chain bumps up against swingarm when hitting large obsticals.
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks. I got it for 550 with all of these upgrades. It flies over anything, and has great handling at high speeds. I periodically take it down 50 ft. long flights of steps with no problems(just for fun). The suspention feels like a hardtail untill you hit a bump. I got on my old bikes, and compared to this one, they feel so primative. I Ruteenly take it off of loading ramps too, and the bikes suspention soaks it all up. I am a 14 year old who is a avid mountainbiker, and in my oppinion this awesome machine deserves 5 chilies.
Favorite Trail: Anywhere where i can beat the crap out of my bike.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: Gt Outpost trail, Gt Palomar, Gt Timberline.
Bike Setup: For some reason I recieved this bike with a lot of upgrades. It had titec downhill bars, different swingarm, and an NR-2 front shock.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Antonio, Texas
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1999
Strengths: Suspension. No bob unless you stand and hammer the pedals.Price. Cought the bike on sale at Irvine Bike Source. $520 delivered with downhill bar upgrade.
Weaknesses: STX RC components. Weight. 30 lbs. Better components would drop the weight considerably
Bottom Line:
Great bike. I haven't had it for long, but my first impressions are great. I can stay in the saddle and go twice as fast over stuff that would have me standing on my old unsuspended Diamond Back. The bike flows over curbs, rocks, you name it. I took the bike down a runoff ditch that would have been a real challenge on my unsuspended bike. I just put the bike in low and spun. Head sized rocks that would of been bouncing and hammering me, were just bumps. I didn't even have to leave the saddle. The rear end holds better than my hardtail on climbs. The suspension doesn't bob unless you stand and hammer the pedals. And if you are about to comment on the fact that the suspension MUST be eating up some of my pedaling energy on a sprint, see the above. I can sit in the saddle nearly all the time, saving tons of energy over standing to take a rough section.The front end has NO play in it. Rock Shocs can't hold a candle to the Cross Link in the trackind department. With a telescoping fork I feel like the bike wants to float all over the place. With the Noleen Cross Link just point and the bike goes there. I rolled a large rock under the tire today, and felt no play or wobble. Shock setup was simple and quick. No problems yet with the Nr-1's (Fingers crossed with silent prayer).The brake dive on the front end is a little disconcerting. Put a downhill bar on the bike, that extra inch rise definitely makes a difference on a hard braking, or downhill run.I have seen some bad comments about Irvine Bike Source in the reviews. I can only say that they shipped fast, had the order right, and their price was unbeatable. (They did forget to send the owners manual for the bike, but an email had the manual on the doorstep in less than a week.)Unless I have a problem with the shocks (Will post update if I do) I whole heartedly give this bike top ratings.
Bike Setup: Stock. Except for Bontrager Revolt ST tires and Titec downhill bar.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Braam
a Cross-Country Rider
from Deventer Netherlands
Date Reviewed: July 22, 1999
Strengths: frontshock,rearshock price/quality.
Weaknesses: Shimano stx-rc
Bottom Line:
Great bike for downhill aswell as up-hill. It takes some time to get a good balance between the front and the rear-shock. Excellent bike for fast riding on a rocky tracks. Really great traction in hillclimbing. After putting on shimano lx/xt set best bike for money.
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Portland, Maine
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999
Strengths: easily tuned suspension, smooth shiftings, great handling.
Weaknesses: Seat post adjustment range too limited. Disk brakes not available.
Bottom Line:
When I bought this bike I was looking for a full-suspension bike to ride rocky, rooty, muddy trails. I went to a dealer who carried bikes from 7 different manufacturers and tried 11 different models. It took me three days. I took each bike out for at least an hour and rode trails. First I tried Cannondale, then Specialized, then Trek, then Schwinn, then Haro, and Fisher. Each of them had good points and bad points. Every one of them bobbed when riding hard and I couldn't adjust the bobbing out without severely affecting the ride. They all seemed to wander aimlessy on trails. Then I tried the Proflex 2000. I couldn't believe the difference. The bobbing was easily removed by selecting the correct coil springs for my weight, and the bike pointed down the trails like it was on rails! I rode the other bikes again just to make sure, but there was no doubt. I've had the bike for over a year. I've put 320 miles on it in the Sunday Mountain Ski Area and Waterville Valley. The only thing that has broken has been a rear wheel that bent after I departed the bike while going down a ski slope, bounced off a tree, and landed on the rear wheel of the bike. I replaced the wheels with Mavic Crosslinks and the bike handles and rides better than ever.Last week I got the bike-buying fever again and decided to try the 1999 models. I tried all the new full-suspension models and I still like the Proflex 2000 handling the best. But, I really liked the disk brakes on the Level Betty SE. Now if K2 would just put disk brakes on a 4000.......
Similar Products Used: Level Betty, Specialized FSR, Cannondale Super V 1000, Trek Y Suspension, Schwinn.
Bike Setup: Factory specs
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave C.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Webster, MA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999
Strengths: Components, reliabilty, relaibilty
Weaknesses: Bike weight (30 lbs), tough to adjust front shock.
Bottom Line:
I have not had one problem with this bike after 150 plus hours of riding. I weigh 220 lbs and ride in various terrain and the front Noleen forks have been great. I can't compare the bike to many others, but I am 100% satisfied of my $1300 investment.
Submitted by
deryck
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlestown, RI
Date Reviewed: April 8, 1999
Strengths: Excellent flex in the front fork, surprisingly good torque in up hills. great over the rocks and roots
Weaknesses: Rear shock may be a little spongy, and the weight distribution is pushed forward one must concentrate on staying back on the rear fork
Bottom Line:
Excellent for high speed rock riding, doesn't beat up the rider in the roots. Has been very durable thus far. I frequently break chains, rims etc. and haven't had that problem with this bike.
Submitted by
Alex
a cross-country rider
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 19, 1999
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike! However I find the spings are a bit too stiff, I try to adjust them, and I find there is not much different! May be I am too light!(49kg)
Submitted by
bob
a cross-country rider
from germany
Date Reviewed: September 28, 1998
Bottom Line:
Sorry K2, but this bike just isn't up to snuff. It bobs like a pogo stick, then I blew the seal on the rear shock. Not only that but the front fork sucks on decents. What does this indicate, ask to take the bike on a more extensive test ride. Don't waste wour money on a noleen front fork.
Submitted by
Beaufort
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
This bike is really cool . It is a proflex. Girvin. Noleen. These companies Kick ass. It has a front shock. These fork legs are cnc machined from a block of 6061 aluminium, then cold forged with a natural powdercoat that licks blond beaver fur. A noleen front dual linkage shock. I have a 37 inch screw on
Submitted by
Iben Yackinoff
a weekend warrior
from Down South
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998
Bottom Line:
First of all I want to say that the net is really coolio. It's really fun looking up sites like Uncle Scooby's Playhouse. Ok, back to the bike, I like it. It climbs great and I don't even have to use my hands. Did I mention that I don't have any arms? My mom really rages on this bike, especially when I bring it into the house with mud on it. It does great on the stairs to the basement. The only problem with this bike is that I wanted to use my savings to move out of my parent's house, but maybe next year.
Submitted by
Don
a weekend warrior
from Springfield, Missouri
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1998
Bottom Line:
Killer bike. Was always leary of weight on a FS bike, but this baby climbs so well, I can hardly tell the difference from a hardtail. The Noleen shock is great - excellent cushion on big ruts and rocks. I'm thrilled with the bike and glad I upgraded from a hardtail.
Just curious, and a tad lazy.
Anyone recall if the Raven FR's had more rear travel than regular Ravens? Or did Cannondale just bolt on a Moto FR and call it a Freeride bike?
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Ok, this is weird. After a maybe 3 days of moderate riding my 2000 Manitou SX Sport, full travel ceases to exist with a dull metallic clunk about 1.5" into compression. And there i Read More »
Hi guys!
I am new to the forum and relatively new to mountain biking. About 8 years ago I bought a used 2000 model Jamis Dakar Comp full suspension bike. I rode it around a litt Read More »
So I'm thinking about getting a 2000 VW Jetta for a new to me car. The thing I'm worried about is all i hear about these cars is if it has the 2.0 motor its slow as hell. So my que Read More »
