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Submitted by
YR
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | cauch to fridg | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | wheel size, centered position, nice fork, low standover hight - yes the 29er has a lower than most XC machines standover height. Super stable at all speeds. | | Weaknesses: | BB a bit low considering the slightly longer wheel base
you will hit rocks a bit more often. This should be fixed by
the 2004 and on models with the 100 mm fork which will compensate for it. A bit pricy. Geometry doesn't allow for
easy wheelies. V brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | first 29er | | Bike Setup: | Medium size frame, original spec but tires were WTB Nanoraptor
wire. | | Bottom Line: | I own a giant NRS and ride the large size so the comparison
was somewhat flawed. I couldn't get the seat to the height I
like for XC (a half inch more and it could be perfect) so
at times it seems a bit hard on my knees but if I factor this in I love the 29er.
I took it for a whole week of riding
on few of my regular rides, a combination of everything I could throw at it. My morning loop consists of some flat road leading to the base of the mt. Then it is a semi-technical moderate climb for a 1000' gain and back down.
I usually don't understand description like "sweet", "inspiring" or "tolerant" and rather stick to facts.
I got the best time on this loop with the 29er.
The climb was probably the easiest (even though the saddle
wasn't high enough) and the run down was amazingly fast.
Next I took it to my favorite ST. It a tough fire road up
and a highly technical ST down with roots, rock drops
and steep downhill parts. Again the climb was the easiest
and I cleared everything I usually clear and a bit more
but beyond just clearing it, I felt more confident and
was far from riding on the envelope of my ability.
Next I took it to our local single-track-land. I expected the bike to be slow due to the tight turns but in fact most
of the obstacles were simply ingnored. I cleared larger section then ever before. I had a few more rides with it
and the same story could be told again.
To Summerize, if the terrain is smooth the bike probably have no advantage over the super efficienct NRS unless it is
flat and you can go faster. If the terrain is less then smooth then the 29er shine. It takes rocky climbs like
nothing else and it steers very predictebly and precise.
Going downhill is where I think the 29er truely reveals
its advantages. No matter what the terrain is like you will go faster, alot faster. However, due to the longer chainstay
and the steep seattube angle, it is difficult to weigh the
rear wheel so on very steep loose DH I locked the rear wheel
too often (it also can be attributed to the worn tires
and the lack of modulation of V brakes, modulation I got used to on my NRS). The same combination of chainstay and seat tube angle means that on climbs, literaly on all climbs, you simply stay seated. If you stand like you are used to from an average 26" XC machine, you will spin the rear. This isn't a XC racing machine nor a freeride.
It will shine in the all-day/epic/marathon type and will
enhance the ability of the technically challaned rider (like me). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Ada, MI,
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Ada Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Where to start, it just keeps rolling, pulls away from other bikes on the flats, streaks away on the downhills. Momentum is your friend. The added float really frustrates bikers with only 26 inch wheels as you float through sand and mud that has them pushing their bikes. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom bracket clearence. I am riding an XL frame and have caught my pedal numerous times on rocks and roots. Destroyed a supposedly indestructable Time pedal.
This is a costly problem I have taken three hard falls catching my pedal and tacoed three rims. 29inch rims taco easy when they get a lateral stress. | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Palamino, GF 293 | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded the rims, pitched the seat. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first soft tail. A turned 45 and blew out my back and had to soften my ride. I ended up faster for my effort. My riding buddy had to buy a 292 just to hang with me. He held out for a 2004, got a better color and an additional inch under the bottom bracket that should cure the pedal clipping rocks and roots. If the 2004 doesn't sacrifice too much handling with the higher center of gravity I may consider switching. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joshua
a Cross Country Rider
from Osborne, KS
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Rolls incredibly smooth!! Accelerated pretty good. Fork worked really well. | | Weaknesses: | Um, don't know, none that I know of, but I did only demo it. | | Similar Products Used: | Surly Karate Monkey | | Bottom Line: | I rode a friend of mines (Gary Fishers new up and coming endurance racer Cameron Chambers) 292 (It was an 04 model). I couldn't believe it!! It rode sooooo smooth. I thought it accelerated better than my bike (a 98 Trek 930 (gotta love the steel!)) Granted, my bike doesn't have high end wheels or anything, but the sugar could fly. I could tell that if I'd had more time, we could have made some tracks, real fast. I was only able to ride it for a few short minutes during one of the regroup times during a local ride. But thats all it took, I'm in love. My want list got a whole lot more expensive. I would highly recomend you check one out before you buy your next bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Rohrer
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocono Lake, PA
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | petersons ski and cycle | | Strengths: | stability, climbing, ability to just roll over any obstacle | | Weaknesses: | no disks, Avid brake lever bent but this was my first bike not to have bar-ends installed. The crank is lower to the ground than my superV and I tend to hit rocks more often with the pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale SuperV, Trek Fuel, Trek Jekyl | | Bike Setup: | stock version no upgrades | | Bottom Line: | Reviewed this earlier and claimed I'd buy a 2004 but a scratch version arrived with an unbeatable price. No regrets! Tires and tubes are available in 29", all my riding buddies won't ride my 292 again because they like it better than their own rides. I'll be baffled too if the 29" wheels don't catch on. Try this before you buy another bike. 4 Chili's only because the Bontager component strike me as a shade below the shimanos in quality. It's a winner! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Earl
a Racer
from Woodstock, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Strengths: | This bike is an excellent trail bike. It has a very plush ride, and there was little if no wheel hop on the climbs. The 29" wheels rolled over almost anything. | | Weaknesses: | The front fork. The Marathon SL fork is the weak link in this bike. There is an increadible amount of chop in the front during breaking, and sometimes caused loss of control. There is also no real alternative to this fork, as I have learned due to a failure in the one I have now. I am only hoping that Fox comes out with a fork for this bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Cannondale Jeckyl | | Bottom Line: | Even though this is a good smooth trail bike, I would not recommend this bike to racers. The components are not durable. The other weak link to this bike is the wheels. I have had to replace the rear wheel one already (after 3 months) I also bent the front fork, and the adjuster on the Avid SD Ultimate brake cantilever broke. The Fisher frame geometry is awesome, but unfortunately the components for the 29er are just not up to the task, as I have found out the hard way. For the heavy rider or racer, I would recommend you stick to the Sugar 2+, or the team edition. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh,PA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Laurel Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | The bike rolls over everything in it's path. Keep the momentum and let her go. | | Weaknesses: | Previous post I mentioned that the wheelset was nice. Tes compared to the Bonti Race. I had hand built wheelset built 32 hole. Huge difference. | | Similar Products Used: | Mt Tam , 293 , KM , and 29er RacerX | | Bike Setup: | Truvativ Team Stylo,Chris King laced Salsa Delgado rims, Salsa skewers, all XTR, RF XY seatpost and rest stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is a Great bike! I point and go. That is it. For those not used to the 29er, give it time. It feels awkward to some. Boy, does it good, then it gets great. I truly believe in the 29er.
Climbing you have to keep it going, like road riding. Descending, like I said, point and let her go. She will get you to the bottom.The 292 really built my confidence on the technical descents.
Rocks, let her roll.
I have improved my skills tremendously since I got this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg
a Racer
from little rock,ar
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | womble | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | arkansas cycling and fitness | | Strengths: | rolls and rolls, i feel like 29 inch wheels have made me a better technical rider. i dont understand how people who have NEVER riden bigger wheels can say down play them. they may not be faster in every situation, but for rolling terrain, and 90% of the time its simply better for me. wheels are strong, love the newxtr. this bike is full xtr, custom package from fisher. excellent traction. 26.5 pounds | | Weaknesses: | heavy on steep long climbs. gearing is not the same as 26, i find myself using 22 ring a-lot. short travel is only good for road use, makes the bb height dangerously low. poor location for water bottle cage. i zip tied a cage to the sloping top tube and it works great. | | Similar Products Used: | supercaliber 29, rocky mountain element, fuel 100. | | Bike Setup: | full xtr w/ disc. bontrager race stem and post. marzocchi marathon sl. bontrager disc specific rims w/ acx light weight tires(kickass strong rims) | | Bottom Line: | please, dont knock the big wheels till you have fully compared.
i simply have more fun on this bike than any other. lets face it, its fun going 17 mph in the woods.
great 24 hour race bike
a 29 hardtail would be e shweet ride too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Csomic Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, Wa, USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Most of Whistler's, Poisen Spider in Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | It rolls over anything better than a 26-er, is confidance inspiring, and very good at climbing rough stuff! It's also very pretty, if that matters.....! | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager Crank, stock brakes, a bit heavy, hard seat, and it is a bit cumbersome in tight, tight stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | No other 29-ers, but most current XC racers, including the Epics and Ellsworths.... | | Bike Setup: | Hope discs, WTB saddle, Kenda tires, shorter, steeper stem, Race Face Carbon 1" rise XC bars, some Ti fasteners, and suspension set-up to suit my 185 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | This thing just ROCKS! It just plows thru stuff my other bikes struggle with. Downhills are faster than anything in XC, and if this 29" concept doesn't catch on, it will be a mystery as to why! It climbs rough stuff with aplomb! Gary Fisher has set the MTB World on fire yet again, and they're finally race legal! I hope the other manufacturers DON'T catch on.......and I have the only one at the races! If you try this bike, be prepared for a BIG surprise. It simply rocks, then rolls...... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Rohrer
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocono Lake, PA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Gotta keep it a secret | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Peterson's Ski and Cycle | | Strengths: | 29" in wheels press themselves to the ground, the difference in stability is noticable immediately, no downside to the 29" wheels option , it's all good! | | Weaknesses: | fewer options to choose from, tires, front shocks | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Superv 2000, Jekyl, Specialized epic, Trek fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | stock with 4" rear travel | | Bottom Line: | Rode this daily for a week on single track, where other 26" bikes seem to hop around the 29" feel solid on the trail like it's heavier but it's really not. Climbs easily and wants to roll over everything. If you can live with fewer options in aftermarket tires and shocks, it's an alternative you will like. I found the comments made in the other reviews to be very accurate. This is a huge step forward in mountain biking and should be the next big thing if other manufacturers jump on the bandwagon. Try one before you buy your next 26" bike, you find yourself suckering your buddies into deep puddles, just to see them struggle as you blast through, great fun! The '04 is my next purchase if Gary fisher appears to be fully committed to the 29 for next year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Clark
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Great parts selection.Always liked the race lite bars and stem.The wheel set is excellent ZR 9000 alum.
The bike rolls through everything,fast.The bike makes you comfortable in narly stuff,long wheel base. | | Weaknesses: | Tires and bottom bracket HT. | | Similar Products Used: | GF Mt Tam , 293 and Titus Racer X 29er. | | Bike Setup: | Avid mech disk brakes,Race Face XY seat post, WTB laser V saddle,Kenda Klaw XT. | | Bottom Line: | The bike literally rocks.My friends didn't understand, until they rode it. Guess what? They want one . Hopefully, GF makes more for 2004.Try one you'll like it. You will love it!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse Hansen
a
from Hill City, SD USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Off trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2595.00 | | Purchased At: | Rushmore Bicycles, Hill City | | Strengths: | Fastest xc/trail bike on the market period. A truly good rider will adapt to the changes and will go further in a shorter amount of time with less effort. On singletrack, double track or no track (ok, not on pro downhill courses and the like, but trails the other %99.9 of us ride)downhills this bike will flat ass beat anything else out there. The bike climbs more stable than anything else, it allows me to clean uphills consistantly that before were a crapshoot or totally uncleanable. I ride mostly single track and off trail, our Black Hills single track is considerably narrower and steeper than anywhere else in the west. When riding steep downhills I can cut turns on loose off camber like no 26" wheeled bike. I do suspension tests sometimes,(testing bikes on a downhill transitioning onto a flat then a gradual uphill over small and large bumps, starting at the same spot taking the same line coasting then taking each bikes average runs on each shock setting. Much the same as XC skiers do when testing skis. The 292 kicked every bikes ass, from the 6" ass travel 30+ lb fox 125 up front to the 22 lb sid shocked hardtail. It was so much more efficient, the second place bike was the 29 Supercal (PS, hard tails are slower than softails on real mtb terrain, so if you dont get a 29er then at least get softail if speed is your top priority.)) and found the 292 to be the most efficient ride on the market. If anyone ever wants to see results e mail me at forestcityadv@hotmail.com, put suspension test results in the subject line or it may get deleted.
My favorite part about the bike is watching the sad confused look on a guys face after a 29 test ride and after spending a lot of money on slower bike.
In Utah type terrain such as 24 hrs of Moab course or poison spider, or Porcupine, this bike is amazing. It will take you not only a little faster, but to another level if you have the sack to let it run. The bike just rolls faster over the bumps and dips that stall out and buck even long travel 26" bikes. If you are a skilled rider, you will love this. IF you are a novice you will love this bike, if you are an avid self proclaimed expert you may not like it because it is NOT like your other bikes. The bike needs much less steering input to turn, it takes a couple over the bar oversteering mistakes before you realize this front wheel will not slip and slide like a 26". When climbing very steep stuff and you get your upper body down and slide the saddle nose into your taint, well, that is a bygone move not necessary on a 29, you just sit on the saddle normal, spin, steer with your handle bar more than body english. DT swiss hubs are great, race lite wheels take abusive riding well and true up nicely. | | Weaknesses: | Fisher is producing them too slow for the demand, they did not think the market would respond this fast. The Marathon fork is great, but would be nice to have a longer travel fork option due to the higher speeds this bike enables you to produce on the downhills. The mag reviews on the bike are not as good as they should be due to the bikes stability. Like a good pair of stable skis feels slow compared to a squirely slower pair, so does this bike compared to others. It feels slow, but do some tests with a stop watch and the truth will be in the numbers.
The bike is slower ONLY on SMOOTH hardpack twisty ( I mean twisty tight, like through a communists apartment tight, not normal trails) trail where speeds are under 2mph, can ride as tigh of a line, just can not squeegy slip the ass end around as quickly. Cheapest 29 softail is $1800. | | Similar Products Used: | Most everything extensively, own a bike shop. Also ride lots of other peoples bikes on challenging terrain, we also have guided trips and get to swap bikes a lot. Rode a 29 supercal most of last year and it helped me finish ahead of much stronger riders. Currently ride a dakar XLT for abusive fun riding. We are located in a town of 600 surrounded by Black Hills national forest on all sides, so our customers get real test rides and all of our new bikes are a little dirty.
Have ridden the Moots, Kelly and Viscous(sp?) 29's | | Bike Setup: | stock, enjoyed riding a customers who had us install avid mechs., with disc brakes this is the ultimate woods bike, gives you pinpoint control on super steep downhills allowing you to weave through the forest like never before. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a faster xc bike, get a 29. If you want a more responsive stable ride, 29. Every shop carries 29 tubes, a 35mm tube stretches just fine into a 52 mm tire. Do buy an extra tire with the bike for now, a small price to pay for such an excellent ride. I will keep a 26" wheeled bike in my quiver, but my 29 will be the only bike I ever take to the races. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Shackley
a Cross Country Rider
from El Cerrito, California, USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any in Sedona, Arizona | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2449.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharp Bicycle, Lafayette, CA | | Strengths: | The Gary Fisher hype that 29" wheels are better than 26" is certainly true for me. It rolls very fast, seems to glide over everything in it's path, and the kinetic energy advantage is real. I've ridden a Sugar 2 for a couple of years and I'm selling the Sugar. Unlike other reviewers, I find the Marzocchi Marathon SL to be a great shock on the bike. It's very adjustable with plenty of travel. | | Weaknesses: | The Bontrager parts seem a little cheap for a $2700.00 bike, but it's a Trek offering, so it's expectable. The cheap Titec seat is surprising though. I replaced it with a WTB Rocket V Laser. The IRC Notos tires are pretty lame. I've gone to Kenda Klaw XT. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Mt Tam; Fisher Sugar 2 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except, Titec XC Pro seat post, WTB Rocket V Laser seat, and carbon bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I've ever owned or ridden in 13 years. I bet that 29" bikes will catch on this time, and the Genesis geometry is as good as the hype. Hopefully Fisher will get off the Bontrager kick and choose components that are a better value for an expensive bike. I placed the value rating at 4 chilis because of this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carp Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rock, Ar.
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Wheels, suspension and ride guality. | | Weaknesses: | Didn't really notice any other than the V-Brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | Sugar 2+ | | Bike Setup: | Stock as demo bike. | | Bottom Line: | I also rode this bike at a demo days last fall. I rode the 292 first and then rode the sugar 2+. I have riden the sugar 2+ before and really liked it. Had even considered buying one until I rode the 292. I was really impressed with this bike. It was so easy to ride. I had heard how this bike really rolls over rocks and roots but had no idea it was this good. I was impressed at how easily it accellerated up hills and off curves. I didn't have any problems on the tight turns. For a bike of this caliber it deserves disc brakes. As mentioned above I rode the sugar 2+ after riding 292 on the same trails, and as much as I liked the sugar 2+ before, I really liked the 292 even more. I really don't know why more people aren't riding this bike. As I said, I was really impressed with this bike and will be buying one when the new models come out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
el sid
a Cross Country Rider
from mid west
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Like the wheels. Like the ride quality. | | Weaknesses: | Crappy Bontrager parts, however the wheels are choice. And what is wrong with Gary Fisher and his art school drop out graphics. The paint scheem sucks @$$. | | Similar Products Used: | first time on a 29" | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC. | | Bottom Line: | I had the opportunity to ride the 292 at a demo day last fall. I rode it for about an hour+, much to the chagrin of the GF rep. I love this bike. Once you get over the lame ass paint scheem this bike rolls and rolls. I didn't even notice the little bumps and it soaked up the med and large stuff with out breaking my line. The bike does feel large in tight single track and I had to start turns sooner in order to keep up with my riding partner, however on the off camber turns I had excelent control. On the downhills this thing screams and is very stable. Going back up I noticed no real loss if anything I may have been climbing faster and smoother, rocky assents were briliant. This bike also kept speed on the small ups and downs that my 26" needed a few pedal strokes to finish off.
All fellow endurance racers this is an all day/night ride.
As for the comment by the previous reviewer I found the shock to be supple and accurate. No problems. I would ditch the V-brakes and put on some disc brakes, and loose the Bontrager cranks. Apparently Gary Fisher will be offering custom kits with different paint scheems. However I am dubious. From what I saw at the G F interbike booth they appear to to be equaly juvenile.
I am giving this five chilis on the overall for the ride quality. And three chilis on value due to the fact that I will have to get the frame re-painted when I buy one.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, Florida
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos, Florida | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Rear Suspension. 29 inch wheels. Bontroger components (except crank). Adjustability in rear. | | Weaknesses: | Fork (Might just be because this was a demo version, but the other demo 29 had the same fork, and that one blew out the same day). Product limitedness (Tires, rims, forks, tubes). Seat. | | Similar Products Used: | '01 Sugar 3, '02 sugar 3+, Trek Fuels, Klein Adepts | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I rode the bike for about six miles at one of the most techinical and best race courses in Florida (Razorback, Reddick Mountainbike park) and was very impressed. Everything worked great, but the feel of the fork and the loud metallic clanking comming from it sort of worried me. I was surprised by how fast the bike accelerated, a lot easier than I thought. Rolling roots was also a lot easier with the wheels and suspension (overe my C-Dale HT). If you dont mind the limited products for 29 inch wheels and want to be differnt, this is a great bike. Have the shop set up the fork for you when purchased though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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