Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2005
Strengths: Pretty Good Frame - Shimano Shifting System - Looks - Weight
Weaknesses: If you buy this at wal-mart - Its not going to be put together very well
Bottom Line:
- Good Bike for the price - Comfortable ride off the trail and on the trail - If your getting this bike BE SURE TO GET THE MODEL WITH THE SHIMANO SHIFTERS AND DERAILLURS!!! - After schwinn decided to take off the shimano equipment - The bike turned to junk - SO BEWARE -
- Another thing - If the friendly folks at wal-mart have pre-built the bike - Be sure to go over the whole bike and tighten all the alan bolts (espeically the handel bars)
- I also had to get my front deraillur and gears re-alligned b/c of wal-mart
- Other than those few issues - the bike is solid - Fairly light weight - An over all good buy !
Similar Products Used: to many to list but alot of junk
Bike Setup: rock shox SID shimano alivio compact drive cranks disk brakes front and rear alot of others that needs to be changed
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Submitted by
Derek Grant
a Downhiller
from Springfield, VA USA
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2005
Strengths: Huge range of parts availability.. including aftermarket.
Weaknesses: Don't like grip-shifters!
Bottom Line:
Note: this is not the 98-older model, obviously.
Anyways, after rebuilding alot of it, it turns out to be pretty durable. Have gone across and down most trails that have torn up other quality bikes. I don't get into running 50mph down a mountain, but I still ride through harsh enough areas to sufficently test it. Very smooth gear transition, good braking (now), front suspension is a bit stiff though. Rear spring also a tad stiff, but I'm a lightweight rider, so that's expected. Weighs more than expected also, but less than some others I've had. Overall, not too shabby!
Bike Setup: Mavic Cross-Link wheels front and back. ProMax front disc brake conversion.
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Submitted by
chriss
a Cross Country Rider
from pinellas park
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2003
Strengths: frame/frame/frame/suspension
Weaknesses: parts almost all need upgrade
Bottom Line:
come on you still ride an s30....yup and i will outride you anytime this bike has sit in my garage through 3 new bikes and just because I was bored one day I put all the parts from my stumpjumper pro onto my schwinn s30 and thank you god cause it weighs 26 lbs and is better much better than that new {technology} called epic and jeckyl so there please ride it if you got one.
Similar Products Used: specialized fsr/ rocky mountain element
Bike Setup: now set up with sid/xt/xtr/mavic
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Submitted by
Andrew Drapeau
a Downhiller
from Metropolis IL, USA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2002
Strengths: Suspension, works great even when updated! frame looks awesome and is durable. Anything fits the thing.
Weaknesses: Crappy parts, everything. The derailleur hanger keeps breaking on me even on 3 foot jumps??? Im gonna get me a stainless steel one. STX just plain sux thats the bottom line. wheels sux.
Similar Products Used: Giant Warp DS three, Specialized enduro uhh.
Bike Setup: Deore parts (hye im only a 13 year old and i dont rely on my parents). Azonic fender the rear fender, sun ringle zuzu pedals, azonic stem. The deore derailleur and shifter shifts faster then anything u seen on this bike, i can stand up and shift. My best part Rock Shox SID (hows that for a 13 year old huh).
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Submitted by
Cris Orozco
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Forest, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2002
Strengths: good climber, handles very good on trails, awsome look
Weaknesses: cheap parts, had to upgrade almost everything
Bottom Line:
It is a great bike for beginers, i have used this bike in most conditions, mud, sand, snow, and it handles very good, exelent going up or down. The bike is worth it. i hade ride this bike for a approx of 1000 miles, some times over 25 miles per ride and it never complained. Paint it's nice but a little weak. There are out there better bikes now, but it is still worth it. As a original bike is great, just get a new saddle.
Bike Setup: started with original parts, this is how is now psylo sl, sun ringle lite wheels, xt components, selle italia max sadle (original has to go), race face riser bars
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Submitted by
Schwinnaphile
a Weekend Warrior
from Fargo, ND, USA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2001
Strengths: This bike is rock solid. The rear suspension works flawlessly, and I have never had a problem with any of the mechanics on the bike.
Weaknesses: The seven speed drivetrain is outdated. The original wheels were crap (luckily someone did me a favor and stole them for me), and the Avid 1.0's could use a little help. The Indy fork wasn't up to the quality of the frame.
Bottom Line:
This was a great bike for the beginning rider (which I was). The value of the bike was unbeatable at the time. Requires upgrades with time.
Bike Setup: Sun rims w/XTR hubs, SID XC, Thomson Elite post, Time Clipless, Avid Arch Rival 50's, Panaracer Fire XC
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Submitted by
Roger Pihlaja
a Weekend Warrior
from Sanford, Michigan, USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2000
Strengths: Price/Performance Ratio, Sweet Spot (tm) rear suspension works very well - makes hill climbing much easier, Frame is well engineered, HD Construction, Beautiful Fit/Finish, Transmission Shifts Very Positive & Stays In Adjustment
Weaknesses: Rock Shok Indy-C front fork could use more travel (75 mm) & better damping, Sometimes wish the transmission had more than 21 speeds, Araya TM-820 alloy rims seem a little soft & need frequent TLC to keep them spinning true, The stock saddle is too hard, Avid Single Digit 10 brakes need more stopping power, especially when wet
Bottom Line:
I have been a recreational on & off-road rider for over 35 years. I like to ride in the woods to enjoy the wilderness, not tear up the trail. I bought the 1998 Schwinn S-30 primarily for trail riding & off-road camping trips with my Boy Scout troop. I paid about $800 for it. In the Spring of 1998, when I bought the bike, the S-30 was head & shoulders better than anything else in sub $1000 price category. The Sweet Spot (tm) rear suspension is very impressive & essentially makes a rear suspension lock-out unnecessary for hill climbing. You must develop a riding style where you stand up & lean forward for hill climbing in order to make the rear suspension stiffen up properly. But, this is the proper way to climb a hill anyway & the bike rewards you with much more efficient power transfer to the ground. Every other full supension bike I tested in this class tended to compress the rear suspension & "squat" down, thus wasting a substantial fraction of my effort when I stood up & really cranked on the pedals.
At 72" height, 32" inseam, & 230+ lbs; I'm a big heavy guy. In addition, it's pretty common to load 40+ more lbs of gear aboard for a trail riding camping trip. The bike has withstood nearly 3 years of this sort of use very well. The full suspension keeps me from getting beat up & allows me to stay on the trail at least as long as my Scouts. My Scouts refer to my S-30 as "Mr. P's Orthopedic Bike". Of course, this usually after I'm one of the first to cover a 30 mile trail & arrive at the campsite with sufficient remaining energy to set-up camp & start dinner!
The Schwinn S-30 was my first full suspension bike, having used a completely rigid Trek mountain bike up to that point. Now, I'm a believer. The full suspension technology is wonderful & literally permits older riders to stay active in the sport without spending a ton of money. The S-30 is good equipment - period.
Similar Products Used: Demo tested comparable models from Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, & Mongoose before I bought the Schwinn S-30
Bike Setup: Bike is stock with the addition of a Cycle-Pro Rear Rack, which is designed for using panniers with a full suspension bike. I also installed a Schwinn Soft-Gel saddle to replace the torture device which comes stock.
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpine, Tx
I really like this frame, the stock componts were great until I out grew them and needed better stuff. I have done anything with the front or rear suspension. The wheels suck, and were replaced soon after I bought the bike. I think Schwinn could have given a better component group, but the frame rocks. The stock bike is great for beginners, but if your are any good, plan on spending money to replace stock components, or buy a higher level S series, if they are still avaliable.
Strengths: Great Welds, Good Handling and braking. Unbelievable Value.
Weaknesses: A little Heavy for those weight weiners. Low Level components.
Bottom Line:
Great Entry Level to Novice bike for those who take it off road. Had to give it *5* big flamers for the overall value of this bike. It was well worth every dollar I payed for it.
Submitted by
mike rescigno
a Weekend Warrior
from pawling,new york
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1999
Strengths: braking and handling on downhills
Weaknesses: weight, low level components
Bottom Line:
having been riding for more than 5 years this is a great entry level bike as it is. As you progres change the components to a better quality and a little lighter and you can shed at least 1.5 lbs off this bike with no problem. At times this bike seems to be able to take more pain than the expensive bikes and keeps on going....
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmont CO
Date Reviewed: August 23, 1999
Strengths: Braking Fit is fantastic In the saddle, takes bump out like an iron Out of the saddle, you should be using you legs anyway.
Weaknesses: Just a few pounds heavy. No where for a air pump or rack to be placed.
Bottom Line:
For the money the bike is sweet, looks great, handles well. Can take a severe beating on the downhill. Front shocks could use a bit more travel. Rear again, would be great to have effect when out of the saddle.
Bike Setup: Only modification I've made is to put on road tires during my commute to work.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek Jensen
a Cross-Country Rider
from Edmonds, WA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999
Strengths: Good brakes
Weaknesses: Heavy, low-quality suspension travel, crappy components, probably the worst suspension design I've ever seen/ridden, and - what's this?- you spend a grand and you only get a 7-speed in back?!!
Bottom Line:
Why are the reviews for this vile peice of crap so good?!! Shifts worse than my previous '96 Trek 830 w/Alivio/Gripshift. Try to shift with even moderate pressure on the pedals and BAM! Your feet are jarred off the pedals as the bike attempts to make the roughest, hardest shift possible. Suspension design is idiotic - it only works when you're climbing, bobbing up and down, up and down, but then when you descend, it DOESN'T work because the pedals (which you're weight should be resting on) are in the same triangle as the wheel. Do NOT buy a full-susp. bike unless you're spending at least 2 grand, cuz the added cost gives you crappy components and shocks and added weight. Do yourself a favor and spend a paltry $700 on a '98 Trek 7000. I did, and it shifts way faster, is WAY lighter (25.2 lbs.), has a nice ride, and has an actual 8-SPD!! All for less dough than this load of crap.
Submitted by
MIKEE
a Weekend Warrior
from Marthasville,Mo
Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999
Strengths: I really love the feel of the bike.The Sweetspot suspension kicks ass.The frame is built like a tank.
Weaknesses: The only thing i am not to happy with is the stx components...which i will be upgrading in the real near future.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the bike is very tough and extremely fun to ride.It can take anything you can dish out and come back for more.I have been down many trails with it so far,haven't had any problems....SCHWINN RULES!!!!!
Submitted by
Leif
a weekend warrior
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1998
Bottom Line:
I am 30 yrs. old, 150 lbs. (175 when I bought the bike), have ridden my 98 S30 for 5 months and have approx. 400 miles on it. I consider myself an intermediate rider. Positive: good deal for the money, reliable, excellent dealer support in Tucson. Negative: shifters need to be adjusted weekly, cables route behind the front tire underneath the bike and quickly get sticky from dirt, rims get knocked out of true easily, front sprocket bends easily, stock tires and tubes are useless, fork is worthless for downhills. Keep in mind that the trails I ride are steep and very rocky. The rear suspension is not active unless you are sitting on the seat and forks in this price range are pretty much hyped up springs that have virtually no damping, so this bike is not a good choice for people who love bombing downhills. The rear suspension delivers more power to the ground than fully active rear suspension designs, so it is preferrable for beginners or cross country hardtail lovers with sore butts. The bike climbs and corners respectably. I gave it a rating of four stars because it is a relatively inexpensive introductory bike that never brakes down and got me completely hooked on mountain biking. The negative comments I mentioned can be eliminated with a few component upgrades.
