Submitted by
jack_read
a Weekend Warrior
from Bolton, MA USA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2009
Strengths: Weight, handling, looks, cool cable outing that works well
Weaknesses: NONE!!!
Bottom Line:
This is the best hardtail I've ever ridden. I built this bike about 3 months ago after picking up this 1996 Voodoo Bizango frame. It had never been built! I love this bike and can't imagine ever wanting another hardtail. I've got this bike set up for cross country. It weighs in at a touch over 25 pounds. When I first built it up I had WTB tires on it- a Mutano 2.4 on the front and a Motoraptor 2.14 on the back. It handled pretty well. This weekend I changed the tires to IRC Mythos XC II kevlar front and rear (1.95/2.1). What a tremendous improvement in handling! The bike is totally point 'n shoot. I rode it in its first "official" XC race today. I've done this race 3 times previously but was never remotely close to as fast (or as happy) as on the Voodoo. One thousand chilis!
Bike Setup: XT rear derailleur, SLX front, XT hubs, Mavix 717 rims, Rockshox Duke XC, Raceface bars and stem, Shimano clipless pedals
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Submitted by
josh74man
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2009
Strengths: Great Ride. Strong Frame. Holds a great line. Fits standard sized components for ease of customization.
Weaknesses: Gets a bit squirrely on loose descents. Little bit heavy for a racing hardtail frame, but well worth it.
Bottom Line:
Used this bike for the past couple of months for everything from the daily commute to 100km+ enduro races. I ride it every day. Comfortable, good handling, tough, and useful. Climbs like a champion. Looks the goods too. Steel is real. I found the optional v-brake mounts so cool that I had to use them instead of discs.
Buy this bike if you want to own one bicycle and use it for all manor of applications. Racing, fun rides, commuting; this one does them all comfortably and well. I'm happy.
Similar Products Used: To say a factory frame is similar to hand made frame is comparing apples to oranges!
Bike Setup: Titec-Mavic-
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Submitted by
Marcus Kruse
a Weekend Warrior
from Dearborn, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2007
Strengths: The weight for a steel bike is incredible.
Weaknesses: The handling is a bit quirky
Bottom Line:
This bike is now for sale! Make a fair offer & this dream ride could be yours. I love this bike but need the cash for lifes ups & downs. This bike has some upgrades to it. It climbs hills like no other I have ever seen. It can also just cruise the pavement with the best out there. It is just the best I've ever had . period.
Similar Products Used: gtr,dbr,gary fisher,among others
Bike Setup: titec neck & 2014 bars,judy x/c forks, shimano deore components, put my fisher rims on this bike rides like a dream!
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Submitted by
VooDooGuy
a Weekend Warrior
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2007
Strengths: The frame is wonderful. After 11+ years under my butt, it continues to ride like a charm. Nice flex in the frame and able to handle what comes my way. A bit loose on the turns, but a shorter stem seems to have made them go much better. There will probably never be another bike like this one. Bought from when VooDoo still was owned by VooDoo.
Weaknesses: A bit twitchy on fast turns, but I think I got that taken care of.
Strengths: My 18.5" Tange steel frame fits me perfectly. I'm a 5'8" voodoo woman (born in New Orleans). I can ride for hours and not feel it.
Weaknesses: No weakness. Just the hexes she throws. The day I brought her home from new mexico, it rained for 2 weeks straight here in las vegas. One of my favorite local trails caught fire 30 minutes after I rode her there. Other bikes get flats if I park them near her. (I need to get her a worthy Moots partner) I could go on. This one got out of the factory before the "hex free" exorcism that voodoo promises. Needless to say, I painted 'BADGIRL' next to bizango.
Bottom Line:
GET A VOODOO IF YOU CAN FIND ONE!!!!!!! I rescued this one from a garage in Alberquerque, NM. She hadn't been touched in 6 years. No wonder she was pissed off! The sexiest ass I have ever seen on a bike!!!!!!!!! Curved seatstays, ritchy dropouts. I have riden bikes for years. To class,to work, to the store, on the trail. I love riding, But this is the first time I have been in love with my bike. The term irrational devotion fits here. I have not left her locked up outside anywhere! (I take the trek for that. Although it would probably get stolen first! Noone knows voodoo.) I LOVE MY VOODOO! TILL DEATH DO US PART!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Nothing compares. Ive owned a GIANT doublebutted AL, a SPECIALIZED cromoly, a TREK cromoly, other steel frames. The voodoo is in a world of its own.
Bike Setup: funky orange Tange steel (does anyone know the paint color #? looks like slight pearl or metallic in it) XT, XTR, shram 9.0, 2002 carbon crown sid air shock( dark metalic blue) I added this part, she came with a 98 judy. Chris King, mavic 517 with blue nipples, I added kenda kosmic lites (480g each) I will be adding FETISH carbon fiber seatpost and stem. The 1998 mountain bike mag lists this frame and set up at $4100 new.
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Submitted by
Gaines Tyler
a Cross Country Rider
from Mystic, CT, USA
Weaknesses: Rear dropout (derailleur side) bends fairly easily, difficult to realign. This happened when I picked up a stick and snapped my rear derailleur off.
Bottom Line:
At first, the bike was a little scary, and seemed way to twitchy. I think this is mostly because the short top tube puts my weight forward. This is great for climbing however, and when I stand up and shift my ass back for steep downhills, I feel invincible, as my weight shifts back giving me good stability. The more I ride it, the more I love it. Too bad they're out of business.
Bike Setup: XT throughout, Titec stem, seatpost, bar, Mavic 222's, WTB Velociraptors, Specialized seat
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Submitted by
voodoo chile
a Cross Country Rider
from L.I.,ny
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2004
Strengths: well, hear i am again, singing the praises of the bizango. after several mtbking vacations im more impressed with this bike than ever. ive made it a point to take this bike all over the east coast and she performs flawlessly. whether its the mountains of nc, or the super technical trail of conn. the bizango brings it. joe murray's design is perfecto for east coast riding, which is funny because i think he's from the left coast.
Weaknesses: cant find another 19.5in bizango to buy.
Bottom Line:
supposedly voodoo is making a come back, if so and tight technical single track is your thing, you owe it to yourself to ride the bizango. no other bike can cast a spell upon the trails like a voodoo, peace.
Similar Products Used: read other posts under "edouble". thats me also.
Bike Setup: ditto
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Submitted by
Thomas Bartels
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2004
Strengths: - lightweight(esp for steel) - fast & agile - climbs like a monkey on crack - ritchey drop-outs - pretty
Weaknesses: - no rear disk brake mounts, but who really needs them on this bike anyway(i have an old model).
Bottom Line:
Originally I bought this bike on the voodoo website as a blemished frame(tiny paint blemish). I built it up as best I could afford at the time and expected to be riding it for the rest of my life and would upgrade it as soon as I could. After almost 5 years it is still living up to my expectations. My riding style has changed from purely XC to more freeride and urban and with a few tweaks to my equipment I am still totally satisfied. This bike can do anything, and now that BTI is distributing VooDoo in the US, you can get one too. ;)
Bike Setup: avid xt,fsx mavic,syncros,truvativ,conti,raceface,koobi
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Submitted by
edouble
a Cross Country Rider
from wheatley heights,ny
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Strengths: stated in my previous post on this frame.
Weaknesses: ditto
Bottom Line:
initially i loved the handling of this bike but hated the stiffer than normal ride due to the small triangles created by the sloping top tube design. the koobi prs saddle changed that and now i love everything about it. oh, also the prodigy post w/1" of layback really opened up the cockpit (im 6ft.2 riding a 19.5in frame)with no light weight parts it weighs a stunning 24lbs. im not a weight weenie by any means (240lbs)i just used what i had lying around so this surprised me.mine's is a 97 w/ the funky orange color. they dont make voodoo's anymore so i wont torture you with how great the ride is, just know that i will never sell this frame.
Light (sub 23 lb) flickable bike that goes where you point it and climbs walls. I don't know why everyone's complaining about the paint - mine wasn't painted, it was powdercoated. Nary a chip after six years, some dulling along the top tube where the cables have stummed against it. Sidenote on the Icon barends - sure they're scary light, but if they break, the worst that can happen is I fall over at 5 mph. I only use them when climbing.
Bike Setup: Titec handlebars and seatpost Chris King headset Suntour XC Pro 8 speed topmount shifters XTR brakes XC hubs with Bontrager Mustang back, Mavic 217 SUP front, evolution spokes Rock Shox SID SL (2002) fork San Marco Concor Light Ti saddle Sugino Mighty 900 crank with Al chainring bolts, Ti crankbolts Race Face Turbine BB XTR rear derailleur and cassette XT front derailleur Icon (70 gram!) bar-ends Ti bolt and axle kit
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Submitted by
edouble
a Cross Country Rider
from wheatley heights,ny
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2002
Strengths: nimble handling, short wheelbase,small triangles for in creased stiffness, very fast downhill.
Weaknesses: not as supple in the rear as some steel frames , paint chips soooooooo easy.
Bottom Line:
ive been looking for a steel hardtail that had a sloping top tube,for a stiff front triangle, relatively short wheelbase for a big bike,19.5 in frame (im 6ft 2in 240lbs,the trails here are really tight)and quick,nimble handling. this bike is all of those things. the small rear triangle was beating the hell out of me but the koobi prs saddle took the edge off big time. this bike climbs well and absolutely flies down hill. they dont make them anymore, mines is a 97 and im very pleased with it.
Similar Products Used: jamis dragon (awesome) airborne blackwidow (harsh rear end but greatclimber) universal cycles zero flux (quick and nimble) great value.
Bike Setup: z2bam, xt, mavic 225's, syncros, salsa,hutchinson pythons, time pedals,koobi prs saddle
Strengths: Quick and nimble, durable, sooo smooth.
Weaknesses: Other than paint(who cares if you really ride), none.
Bottom Line:
I never thought the top line bikes were all that much better than the sub $1k ones, but this is a super schweet ride well worth the dough. The long top tube feels fine. At 195lbs, 5'10" this bike can handle my size. Anybody can have a mass produced bike like Trek or Fisher, but you'll see scant few Voodoos on the trail.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Bomber Z2, Mavic rims, White wheels, full XTR, Geax rubber, Titic bars, Raceface stem, Chris King headset
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Submitted by
Peter
a Cross-Country Rider
from Coventry in Sunny England
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1999
Strengths: Light, nimble, quick
Weaknesses: Yep, the paint job ain't so good. But it ain't bad
Bottom Line:
This is a 97 Bizango (the orange one), so not 853 but Tange Superlight. It is a great bike. Why buy aluminium when steel can be like this? I guess to get a steel frame to ride like this takes engineering, and that costs, so it's cheaper just to build in aluminium. But anyone who rides alimium, take note, this steed can do it all without making your bones ache!Mine is 18.5. For my height I should really ride a 17.25. Don't know how much difference this makes, but if a smaller frame made much of an improvement on this it would a truely awesome machine.This is a bike that you grow with. It always feels like it can do whatever you want. You never reach its limits. It climbs great, if it went any better downhill it would have wings.Scrap the Zaskar (thy're made in Taiwain, don't care what GT say) and get real.
My VooDoo Bizango was recently stolen. It had Rock Shox with Englund Air Kit, carbon fiber front spokes (I know...), Kooka cranks, Machine Tech brakes, King headset and bottom brac Read More »
Hi,
First off, I feel very fortunate that I have the option to even make this choice! By luck I've ended up with these two frames. I built the Bizango up last year and love it. Read More »
Hello Friends!
Went for a pretty fun ride last night on the ole' Bizango and wondered to myself if anyone else gets to enjoy one of these beauties? Looking back on my mountain Read More »
