Submitted by
Palek
a Cross Country Rider
from Center Ridge, Ar, USA
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005
Strengths: Nice Strong Frame good component set for a beginner everyting held up really well under hard use and little maintenacne
Weaknesses: None considering the price. I think it is the best bike. But if you want to compare it to a 3000.00 bike all the components could have been better
Bottom Line:
This is the ideal bike for someone in the 300.00 budget looking to get into mountain bike riding. It held up under pretty hard riding for several years and the frame is still holding up today so it definitly get the highest rating as far as i'm concerned.
Bike Setup: factory for the first 3 years then... manitou X-vert Super fork, Sram X-7 rear dearileur, deore crankset, SRAM 7.0 hubs, SRAM 7.0 trigger shifters, IRC Mythos XC tires, Velocity rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rafael Lopez
a
from bethesda, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004
Strengths: First of all: the color. I got mine as the yellow/black/white combination, which looks really cool. The frame is cool, handles bumpy rides well, the seat looks like one you would buy seperately! Tires don't wear out easily. The frame supports disk brakes if youi want to add them some other day.
Weaknesses: It's to bad it doesn't have disk brakes. It would be better with them. the back derailour/shifter is really really bad, it worked for about 2-3 weeks and then you had to shift 2 down and 1 up for it to go one down. I eventually got a new one and it is much better
Bottom Line:
This bike is really good for begginers-more advanced people, probably not good for hardcore mountain bikers. Ofcourse, the only way you'll get this bike is if you get it used because......Schwinn no longer exists!
Strengths: Good frame, takes junk and bumps and falls well. I like the way it has a simple makeup, as opposed to dual suspension, and disk brakes, etc, because I like being able to take apart my bike and fix it or clean it or whatever. Or, just to take it apart for fun. Great "starting" bike. (Which is what it is for me.)
Weaknesses: I've only had this bike for less than a year, so I really haven't been able to find any weaknesses as such. Of course this is also my first "authentic" mountain bike, so I'm not too familiar with other bicycles and the way they handle and ride. Oh, there is one thing I don't like: the pedals start grinding with a little dirt in them and I haven't figured out how to get them off to clean them. I love taking care of my bike, and that's a good thing because I ride in a lot of dusty dirt, but that's probably why none of my components have been needed to be changed. (I do ride about 4-6 hours a week.)
Bottom Line:
I like this one: it's about 30 pounds and shifts well. I like the tires, the hardtail, the brakes, (even though they squeal a little when you stop super fast, but, what can you expect?), and I even like the color! (via Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Weaknesses: The fork has become so stiff I might as well be riding a rigid frame. Front derailler has worn lots (probably from poor maintanance from friend). The red is hard to find a perfect match when touching up.
Bottom Line:
The bike is pretty cool considering the price I paid for it. My friend borrowed it once and got hit by a car. he told me the bike went flying, so I was worried it was damaged. Only the rear wheel was bent and bad, but the frame didn't bend at all. Only wish it had rear disk brake tabs but a pair of good V-brakes should compensate. The newest mesa's are getting cheap in the parts area so i would commend getting a mesa GSX or something if you are getting started in mountain biking or your broke. other wise check out a moab or something.
Bike Setup: New saddle, LX front Derailler, LX rear, Deore shifters, deore hub and cassette. Soon going to put on a judy TT fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chad Fine
a
from Crownsville, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002
Strengths: This is a review of a 1998 Schwinn Mesa GS
The bike was a good starter mountain bike because of it being cheap enough. The frame is good and light enough for me. I really can't say too much bad about this bike.
Weaknesses: The shocks do suck now that I have bin riding the bike for 4 years now but when I had first gotten it it was real nice considering I stepped up from a no suspension framed bike. The bike does not hold up vary well in the rain,last year after I rode in the rain for a day every thing loosened up and to this day I still can't figure out how to fix it so I can't use the first and last gear but that does not stop me.The bike does not hold up vary well in the rain,last year after I rode in the rain for a day every thing loosened up and to this day I still can't figure out how to fix it so I can't use the first and last gear but that does not stop me.
Bottom Line:
A vary nice bike for the money and an awesome bike for stepping up from a non suspension frame. Even though I am going to buy a Schwinn Rocket 88 Disc soon I am going to still keep this bike because I love it. If you are a beginner or intermediate then go with this bike because it is a nice cheap entry level bike.
Weaknesses: The RST fork isn't good at all, I didn't like the grip shifters, and the chain rings got really loose after a while and there isn't anyway to adjust them.
Bottom Line:
This is a great, light, fast bike. I ride it very hard and It has heid up really good I even won an XC race on it. Even though it has been a great bike, today I ordered an `01 Schwinn Moab 1 because I want a really good bike for the upcoming XC season. If your thinking of buying a Schwinn Mesa don't hesitate, but you definetly need to replace the front fork.
Bike Setup: I replaced almost everything on the bike including: Rock Shox Jett fork, new seat& seat post, front wheel, tires, shifters, stem, headset, computer, chain, crank& chain rings, clippless pedals, grips, brake levers, brake pads.
Submitted by
Tyler B
a Cross Country Rider
from Winona, MN
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000
Strengths: The frame is extremely solid.
Weaknesses: The RST shocks are pretty bad. The shifting cables tend to stretch easily and preform badly when wet. Derailers need some adjustments.
Bottom Line:
I have put almost 4000 miles on this bike including 6 races and I am very pleased. I bought it as a bike to introduce me into the world of mountain biking. Everything exept the back wheel and shifting cables are still the original. I have taken plenty of hard crashes on this bike and nothing ever broke on it. The frame is awesome. This is a good entry level bike. You dont need anything more expensive than this if you are just starting.
Submitted by
jesse conroy
a Downhiller
from rexford,ny
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
Strengths: the frame is awsome, I have taken some pretty bad falls and its always held up,the rims are not the best but in my 2 years of riding I have only bent them once
Weaknesses: the shocks suck thats why I put judy xl on it this has increased the bikes performance greatly and I can soak up huge hits with no problem a new seat,stem,pair of handlebars,and definetly new shifters
Bottom Line:
I needed a bike that was extremely cheap and took hits like a tank this was the bike and after I put the judy xl on it with a triple clamp design the bike was unstopable yes I do downhill with a hardtail but I seem to keep up with fullsuspenions greatly im getting a 4-banger and my good bye to this bike will never be forgoten thats if i do sell the bike
Strengths: I have the Mesa GS bike. The strengths include frame, which is heavy, but forgiving.
Weaknesses: The RST shocks suck! It has a very heavy frame! The seat is made for fat people!
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for just cruising. After I upgraded the shocks, brakes, and changed it to a threadless headset, it was pretty good. I use it as an "urban assault" bike, and it has stood up pretty good in the year+ that I've had it. The rear wheel is different, because of a retard in a car, but the front wheel is still true! The bike, after upgrades, still weighs 31#, so it get's you in shape!!
This was my first real mountain bike. I always rode local trails as a kid, until my bikes all got stolen. I always loved the local trails and gradually got back into biking. Before I got the Mesa, I used to ride local trails on a 67' Schwinn Stingray Fastback that I found in my neighbors garbage!!!! This bike (Mesa)was super cheap, I picked it up for $279 new. I rode it around the city for about a week until it stopped shifting accurately. I took it in for a tune-up and the problem stopped. I have since beat the hell out of it everyday at school. Between riding it in snow, mud,rain, and trying to do tricks on my own, I subjected it to alot of abuse. After ridng it in snow for a half of a month the the rear derailleur stopped shifting unless it was kicked while riding. The bike would also shift whenever it felt like it. After jumping off stairs for a week or two, I bent the handlebars bad enough that it hurt my wrists to ride for over a half an hour. The shifting problem continued, the brakes wore out, I grew annoyed. I tore my shins up because the bike would shift during a hard foot stroke and the pedals would swing around and take a bite out of my shin. While experimenting with endos, I got so sick of the little annoyances, that I decided to get a new bike after only two months of use! This bike is good for BEGINNERS. I managed to almost ruin everything on the bike in two and a half months, and I was not a experienced mountain biker.
Bike Setup: This bike did not come with shocks as most others listed did. I actually cannot find a Mesa without shocks anywhere online, even on the Schwinn website!.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Baldwin
a Cross Country Rider
from West Union, IA U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2000
Strengths: EXCELLENT FRAME Steel frame is very forgiving comes with a halfway decent fork excellent Schwinn Quality
Weaknesses: Brakes fork may not be what you want (terrain you ride on)
Bottom Line:
Good bang for the buck needs some upgrading excellent Schwinn frame
Similar Products Used: marin muirwoods, khs al1000
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Frederick, MD
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2000
Strengths: dose well in mud shocks are soft
Weaknesses: shifters
Bottom Line:
This product is good for beginner mtn bikers. It dose well in down hill conditions, handles well in offroad/onroad conditions. The Schwinn Mesa will take you where you want to go, when you want to go.
Just wondering, are the trails over there ridable now? I've never ridden that stuff before and want to check it out.
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