Submitted by
egerm
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2010
Strengths: EVERYTHING
Weaknesses: After about 14 years it's time to fix the whole bike.
I need to fix the gears, the brakes, it squeaks.
But I am 25 and have had this bike since 7th grade.
And I am someone that you don't give nice things to.. because I don't treat my material things like pets.
This bike has been left outside countless times, thrown on the ground, beaten up and locked away in a basement for like a year or two with grime all over it.
Bottom Line:
My bike is part of my body.
I am killer awesome on my bike and suck on any one else's.
When I lived in western ma I would ride from Holyoke to Northampton for work. Last year I would ride from North Cambridge to Charles St in Boston.. even through snow.
Bike Setup: I don't know anything about bikes. I just ride mine.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Aardvark
a Weekend Warrior
from Glen Head, NY, US
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2008
Strengths: It is Durable. I have been riding my M50 for 15 years now, since April 1993 and just had a major overhaul done with new sprockets, chain and spokes. I have had new tires and brakes but it took 15 years to wear down the major components. I am mostly on the road now but in the past I did a lot of off-road cycling with it.
Bike Setup: Factory original except new seat, light and bell.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rhonda White
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Mary, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2008
Strengths: Great warrior of a bike. I've beaten it on rough trails, babied it on pavement, she takes a lickin' and keeps on bring me home!
Weaknesses: None that I've found!
Bottom Line:
LOVE MY RALEIGH M-50! I ride her 3-10 miles 3-4 days a week, and then do longer tours on pleasant weekends (20-45 miles). She'll climb a tree in low gear, and burn the wind in high. You can't go wrong with this bike, especially at this kind of price!
I was offered a hardly-used Cannondale (less that 25 miles on it) but, after trying it out on a 10-mile ride, passed. I couldn't wait to get back to my M-50!
Similar Products Used: I've had Raleighs since childhood. Why mess with a good thing?
Bike Setup: Factory orig, except added upright Specialized hand grips.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
G
a Cross Country Rider
from Clovis, NM
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2007
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike specifically to ride to and from work (about a 5 mile ride each way). I have put over 1000 miles on it every year since i bought it. The only problems i have had is the seat has worn out and the rear sprockets are worn. These problems i have only notice over the last year. I love this bike and dont plan on replacing it any time soon.
Strengths: Strong bike. Takes some abuse and keeps it's mouth shut. I got this bike as a hand-me-down from my dad and rode the hell out of it and it's still very much alive and kickin'. If I hadn't just recently gotten a job and a subsequently purchased a new bike, I'd still be thrashing this bike around the trails.
Weaknesses: While it is a strong bike, it's still a rigid/rough ride. Late into it's comission, the rear derailleur was acting up, esp when going into 1st gear, it would skip too far and go off the gear. I tried to adjust it, but...no help. Aside from that, theres nothing!
Bottom Line:
IMO a great bike. Does great on non technical, fairly flat trails or urban riding but can keep up with technical downhills and climbs. Perfect bike for a beginner MTBer or someone who just needs a bike.
Submitted by
dan gibbs
a Weekend Warrior
from citrus hts, ca sac
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003
Strengths: Seems to have more positive reviews then negitive ones.
Weaknesses: None! I just think she's the best!
Bottom Line:
In Sacramento a few times a year the county comes by and hauls away shrubs and just about anything you concider junk that you pile in front of your house on the street. It started out with just a set of wheels. Then the next time it was time to dump I came across a M-50 frame in a pile of junk on my way home from work. She still had the crank, handlebars and fork. So I picked her up, brushed the dust off her and hauled her home. Scouting the piles of trash along the streets in my neighborhood I found a "Eagle" derailer for the rear on a bike buried under a ton of trash. The chain,from some old Magna up the street from my home. With the exception of the front derailer the whole bike costed nothing but time. When I first got her together and took her on her first ride I did "the test". I removed my hands from the handlebar and...... She was as true as can be. The gears worked, the breaks stopped and the best thing, was her price. I prefer the M-50 I built more then the Specialized I bought brand new. She's a smooth ride and handles great. I ride to work almost everyday, (10 miles one-way.)and I always mount the M-50. The Raleigh M-50 is a great piece of trash if you ask me. Everyone should find one!
Weaknesses: Tires and Seat wore out quickly(yet it was kept outdoors)
Bottom Line:
My parents bought me this bike when I was 10, in May of 1998 as a 97 model. I didn't know much about bikes then but my parents knew that I loved riding and thought...Why go through 12 cheap walmart bikes when I could have one of the best? I had already worked my way through one walmart bike that had gone to the dump and was well on my way to breaking another. So they bought it. I loved it, it was perfect for where I lived which was an island community in Savannah that was being developed. It being developed there were many trails available and I rode them relentlessly. Jumps. Bumps. Wreaks. You name it. After a year(my next BDay), while I was gone on a ski trip i came back and found RockShock T2's newly fitted. It had taken a while to get the right size and fit ordered for my bike and I still believe it was not installed properly by the local bike shop. Had I taken it to the Raleigh Authorized Dealer this probably would not have happened. Anyway, the bike has been great for all my needs, and I believe anybody who has any problem with the bike just expects too much for the money or didn't have it serviced regularly enough or at all. Bikes dont stay adjusted you know. All the components are tough and this year, instead of upgrading to 9sp. I decided just to replace my cassete and chain because it had been slipping. Also the new michelin tires are great...although thier rolling resistance on pavement is somewhat worse than the AT Kenda's that came stock. This is not that much of a compromise when I get out on the trail. The bike will be five years old this May and it will probably not be replaced for a long while. Awesome buy. Sharp looking. Durable. FAST.
Bike Setup: Rock Shocks T2 suspension fork, 3 new seats, Michelin WildGripper Hot S rear tire, Michilin WildGripper Original up front, currently replacing rear cassete sprokets and chain w/ IG90 Shimano Chain.
Strengths: the bike has good handling and shifting. It shifts better then any bike I have ever had. It is also very durable
Weaknesses: the handle bars are a little easy to rust because of the material. I would prefer a more durable brand.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best bikes I have ever rode. Myself and any body else that has ridden it agree that it is a very nice bike. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am a 14 year old male and this bike is perfect for me
Submitted by
Sparkely Beefman
a Weekend Warrior
from Stephenson, VA USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000
Strengths: hmn, lets see, well it roles, that pretty well covers it
Weaknesses: oh, where to begin...
Bottom Line:
Alright, it is seemingly impossible to even begin to describe the crap I've had to go through because of this bike. It is not a good choice, even if you have $300 to blow, 75 pounds of candy would work out better for you. It is a heavy ride, at a feathery 32+ pounds getting it up hills sucks just about as much as the RST shocks, which for me bottom out at a plush 1/4 of an inch, good ol' RST. As for the tires; grade A crap all the way, never been able to grip with them. Shifting was smooth for the first month or so but started to reak once the new bike shine wore off. The only good thing I can think of about this bike would have to be the bar grips, man are those things squishy, but that is just about it, and $300 for a pair of decent bar grips really is not that great of a deal. My bottom line; if you really want to add misery and regret to your biking experience, Raleigh M50 all the way. Otherwise go ahead and hang on to that $300, save up, buy a Cannondale, and be happy.
Similar Products Used: lot-o-testing afterward and regretting let's just leave it at that
Bike Setup: same as factory only with bar ends and straps
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Hanford, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000
Strengths: It's the best Value well.......ever
Weaknesses: none worth every penny, seriously don't listen to any bull**** that other people write in they're reviews
Bottom Line:
the best entry level bike there is.If you've been riding some really cheap piece of crap bike and you're getting nowhere buy this, I used to think I sucked and now I'm sooo into mountain biking and I love it. I've bent wheels but who the hell doesn't bend wheels? Also the seat is very comfortable but not very durable and if it gets wet it doesn't dry for like three days. Big pain in the ass if it's cold. Also I broke the axle on one of the pedals and broke the plastic away from the axle on the other. this is an awesome bike though, esecially now that it's alluminum for the 2000 models. Definitly a must buy if you want to start mountain biking or already do and aren't happy with your low end bike. This bike blows anything else away that you'll see for 400 or less for sure, even most bikes you'll see for even more
Bike Setup: 99 Raleigh M-50 with all original parts except pedals, wheels, and seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Andrea
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington, NC
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000
Strengths: I bought this bike used and upgraded the fork and seat and other little stuff, it is really a solid bike. I have the older model with the green to blue fade paint, and the oversized frame. I beat the trails daily and have had no problems with my M-50.
Weaknesses: none.
Bottom Line:
Great affordable bike, holds up strong. Raleigh is a hot company, they make good bikes. The M-80 is the official bike of the North Carolina State Universtiy police-in Raleigh, NC.
Bike Setup: Raleigh M-50 frame, Rock Shox Jett T2, Shimano components w/ rapidfire
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent
a Weekend Warrior
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: October 9, 1999
Strengths: Strong Frame. Fairly lightweight. VERY comfortable seat. Good brakes and steering. Good deal for the money.
Weaknesses: The RST 260 suspension is terrible. I want to upgrade it when i get some $$$. Also, the gears seem to wear very fast. The rims aren't very strong either.
Bottom Line:
This is a great entry bike for mtn biking. Very affordable. The gearset and suspension will definitely be the first two things I upgrade. But it has a good basic set-up and should last for a long time.
I bought this bike for my girlfriend after looking at a lot of similarly priced bikes. I got it for $269, and I am really surprised at how well it works for such a small price. The fork is low end, but for what she'll be riding on it's perfect. The ride is very smooth compared to my aluminum GT. It climbs fairly well with the stock gears. If you're looking for a nice bike that would take well to upgrading the components on, this is definitely worth looking at.
Buddy of mine has an M50 or 55 that he's looking to get rid of for $100 or so. Claims to be "about" 4 years old. Seems to be in good shape, and hasn't been ridden very much. Read More »
