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Submitted by
kid4lyf
a Racer
from Crown Point, IN USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Wicked Light and Fast | | Weaknesses: | lack of cable stops | | Similar Products Used: | C-Dale Super V, Fisher Sugar, Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | Noleen Mega Air fork, XTR/Sram drivetrain, carbon cranks, bars, seatpost, Bonty/Chris King Racelite wheelset.
22.3lbs soaking wet | | Bottom Line: | See my review in bikes-full suspension.
5 flaming chillies and I'm no lightweight. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest Trail, Co. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | This frame (purchased as a custom set-up complete bike) completely rocked the first 3 months. As a cross-country rider who likes very techicnal downhilling (weighing around 135) it's low weight (carbon fiber stays) got me to the goods with little effort. It performed well w/ nothing near 5 inches of travel. I.f yer going to lie why not say 10 inches like in high school | | Weaknesses: | All right, here goes. Bushings may work for a couple of years but, these (if you do not mind my bluntness) suck. If only a shoulder bolt was used inside the bushing instead of all threads, wear and tear would be greatly reduced. I'm in the process of machining my own replacements. Amp is phasing out of bikes (except for contracted Mercades rides, how the German engineers feel is yet to be heard of) which is a shame. As a cutting edge developer 10 years ago, Mr. Leitner failed to continue true innovation or even keeping up with the little dogs. | | Bottom Line: | Buy something else. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross-Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: September 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
CO Trail, Georgia Pass | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Light weight, great climber, good handling, active suspension really works | | Weaknesses: |
Rear shock | | Similar Products Used: |
AMP B2
Trek 9300 | | Bike Setup: |
Mostly XT, Marzocchi Z2 front shock, Chris King hubs, Kooka cranks. | | Bottom Line: | A good bike. Could be a great bike except for two things: if the rear shock didn't blow out every 6 months, and if the rear shock didn't use such a rinky-dink pivot to the swing arm (or whatever it's called) It's just a threaded hex bolt thru a ring bearing in the end of the shock shaft; there's way too much slop in this pivot for a $900 frame.As-is it's a good bike; super light weight, innovative design, the suspension works, it's just a bit lacking in execution. I wouldn't buy another one. Other companies have taken (stolen?)this design and improved on it.As for durability, I weigh 185 and haven't had a problem (other than the rear shock) yet. I don't expect to: had my B2 for 3 years without a problem (except for, yes, the rear shock!) until a rear pivot bearing came loose and the pieces shot out into the Utah desert. (Was able to jerry-rig it enough to get me back, but by then the damage was done.) | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Deric
a Cross-Country Rider
from SLC,UT
Date Reviewed: July 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Much stiffer than my b-4,excellent rear
suspension,Cool Amp upgrade policy | | Weaknesses: |
Frame is heavier than Amp claims.Short
top tube(maybe not a weakness to you) | | Similar Products Used: |
b4,FSR | | Bike Setup: |
B5 with a Risse Astro 5 rear shock,Manitou Xvert t fork,Avid arch rival brakes,Crossmaxs,Kooka,RaceFace,
Easton | | Bottom Line: | Firstly if you weigh less that 200lbs the B5 carbon rear is an ideal frame.I built mine as
a lightweight cross or freeride bike,substituting the Amp linkage fork for a Xvert triple clamp and the disk brakes for a set of Arch Rivals.I also had a set of non disk Crossmax
wheels that prevented me from going disk which worked out fine because the Avids work great.Anywho the large frame,without the shock,weighed in at 5.2 lbs on my scale and the Risse shock(a must have for Amp frames) was right on at 263 gms.I've been riding the bike for about 3 months and this thing is amazing....Both climbing and downhill.While climbing, the frame remains active with very little feedback or bobbing and thats with only 165lbs of air in the Risse.The big travel goes to good use
on the downhill with no bottoming and no decernable flex.I find that I don't have to steer around obstacles but rather right over them.
The bottom line is that this is one of the lightest 5in (4 in the front) travel bikes on the
trail,an honest 25lbs with dh cage pedals. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Cross-Country Rider
from SLC UT.
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Light weight | | Weaknesses: |
to flexible, shocks blow out all the time, pivots wear out to fast. | | Similar Products Used: |
Lenzsport, specialized fsr | | Bike Setup: |
all amp setup w/disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | this bike is for sale. If you are a hard core rider it won't last one season without rebuilding something. Buy a Lenzsport and you will have a bike worth riding! I would only recomend this bike for someone under 140 lbs that doesn't like to bomb down rocky hills fast. Great climbing bike and handles well otherwise. If the bike didn't flex as much and blow out the shock seals so easily this would be a great bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tarmac
a Racer
from auckland
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
karapoti | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
light weight
good handling
simple to work on | | Weaknesses: |
Ti spring not available as it is with the B3 | | Similar Products Used: |
AMP B3
Specialized FSR Pro
GT STS Team
Giant ATX 990
Kee Wee
& plenty of others | | Bike Setup: |
AMP F4, AMP discs, XTR drivetrain, Hope rear hub, Syncros Pro post, Dean Ti handle-bar, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I got the medium with carbon stays & the frame only weighs 4.5lbs. Complete bike only 22.9lbs.
Wicked! This bike is a climbing machine. I race it & it's great to able to get the awesome traction it provides in order to pass those hardtail guys pushing their bikes up the steep climbs. Then you can use it's 5 of suspension travel to blast the downhills. I could rave on about this bike for ages, but I'll just let you read some of the other reviews. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ole Blokhus
a cross-country rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had quite a few problems with Amp's rear shocks in the past, and as a result, I
started a primitive mailing list a while back. Chances are, if you have a problem
with your Amp, I might have some useful information that might help you. Feel free
to email me with any questions, and also
to receive the postings to the mailing list so far.Ole.
| | Overall Rating: |
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