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Submitted by
jimbo
a Weekend Warrior
from Chico, CA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | UMPQUA! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | North Rim Adventure | | Strengths: | genesis geometry. The cool mother hips sticker on the down tube. Me on the seat. | | Weaknesses: | The bike makes me ride too much. I'm supposed to be fat like all my old friends by now, but instead, I'm still in fairly good shape and I have no Idea who the next American Idol will be. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | XTR drivetrain. Race face low rise bars | | Bottom Line: | well, I'm guessing this will never be read, but: I've loved this bike like a memeber of my family for years. I've ridden it from the Moab to the Dolomitesps to the commute between Chico State and my house. Alas though, My old Mt Tam is showing the wear. I feel like I'm living the last 20 minutes or so of the movie: "My Dog Skip." What to do? I'm buying new brake pads, tires, cables and drive train. Then I'm going to put thousands of more miles on her! The only thing that sucks so far about my bike is the complete XTR drivetrain I put on her in 2003. It has always sucked. HAHA. I love my Mt. Tam. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
coppersmith99
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | NYC Retail | | Strengths: | At 6'3" the long top tube made the bike a great fit for me. The bike has always been a great climber. | | Weaknesses: | The down tube and the front tube on the main triangle and/or the welds where these tubes join the bottom bracket. | | Similar Products Used: | Ironically enough, a 2004 Tassajara from GF. Prior to Mt. Tam, a 1995 Specialized Hard Rock - I was lucky enough to ride stairs, drops, downhill and such back in the days before suspension. | | Bike Setup: | Stock spec was very good - better be when it retailed for $1800+ back in 2000. | | Bottom Line: | Loved this bike and rode it all over NYC and NJ for about 4 years. I was not aware of any problem with the frame, but simply retired it, planning on selling it on ebay (sorry CM, be careful). I bought a Tassajara and put only a fraction of the miles on the Tass that I did on the Mt. Tam, with most on the road. It started creaking from the bb - sounded like typical noise when play develops in the crank arm/bb spindle. Shortly got louder, and I noticed extra flex when my spin was poor. Whoa! The down tube cracked about 2/3 the way around, and front tube cracked 1/2 around both through the tube and the weld with the bb.
No big deal - I'll just rebuild the Mt. Tam while waiting for lifetime warranty as it was still hanging in the garage. But low and behold, I find that the down tube is cracked almost 1/2 of the way through just above the weld with the bb. No crash damage, no dents, just two apparently identical failures. I contacted Trek almost two weeks ago, delivered the frames to a local GF dealer per its instructions eight days ago and told them that I would be happy with a single replacement frame as I did get at least a few years out of the bikes before they died, and I can only ride one at a time anyway. Dealer says no response from Trek to date and I'm going to have to buy a replacement because I need to ride.
Most XL riders are going to be much heavier than myself. Depending on your weight and riding style, it looks like the frame should be good for about three years. After that, I wouldn't trust it for anything but casual riding. The ratings are for the frame - components are rated elsewhere. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CRASH MASTER
a Cross Country Rider
from brandon,fl usa
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | santos | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This bike is awesome. Perfect fit, perfect color scheme, and rips up the trails. Frame was bought used so not sure how good the factory set up is. | | Weaknesses: | The genesis geometry can make the bike a little on the slow side in tight switchbacks. I wish I had disc brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | 01 GT AGGRESSOR,99 GF MARLIN,01 MARLIN,01 GF SUGAR 1 | | Bike Setup: | xl frame,manitou mars comp,xtr brakes and levers,xt shifters,valiant rims with xtr hubs, irc serac tires | | Bottom Line: | This bike is just a blast to ride. I was lucky enough to find a used frame and build it the way I wanted it. The paint has held up well and the bike looks good for being 8 years old now. I have a sugar bike also but I like riding this bike more. It's tough to beat the simplicity and efficiency of a hardtail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
z1 zonly
a Racer
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Private sale | | Strengths: | Truly everything. | | Weaknesses: | Can't comment on the entirely stock setup, but mine has none. | | Similar Products Used: | '05 Specialized Enduro Comp (not so similar, but the Fisher is so good it made me sell it) | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork, Avid Juicy hydraulic disc brakes, Hutchinson Python tires, Time Atac carbon pedals, Rock Shox seatpost, WTB saddle | | Bottom Line: | This bike is flat out awesome. I have never reached its limit before my own, in any regard. It's nice and light and very precise, durable, and SERIOUSLY fast. I've hucked it like an FS bike and it's taken every bit of abuse. I've raced it and beaten numerous bikes that were many times more expensive.
As stated in 'similar products,' this bike is so good that it made me sell my '05 Enduro Comp. Jumping on that thing after riding the Fisher was like getting out of an F1 car and into a Cadillac. No comparison.
And the amazing part is that the bike is now 8 years old. XC-wise, I wouldn't be a bit nervous about pitting it against a similar rider on any newer bike. I would truthfully rather have this bike than any other one I've seen on the market--it's old enough to not be scared to throw it around and let it see a little abuse, but it's still VERY competitive in every aspect of trail riding. Just perfect.
This thing gets ten well-deserved chlis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Prossx
a Cross Country Rider
from KS
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | hmmm, the frame | | Weaknesses: | every single component that came stock on this bike | | Similar Products Used: | none, have gone from rigid steel to full carbon FS and now back to this | | Bike Setup: | XTR rapid fire shifters/derailleur, M760 cranks, Xmax XL, Hayes Carbon Discs, King, EC70 carbon, eggbeaters | | Bottom Line: | this is a follow up from 3 years ago (although nobody will probably read this). Bought this bike new, rode stock for 1.5 years, then upgraded a few components, then bought a Fuel 100 full carbon frame thinking FS was the bomb; the Tam frame slept in the attic for a year. Now its spring 05 and my Fuel frame is cracked after a year, so I swapped everything off it to the Tam...wow! This frame was a sleeper; everything I knew before was wrong. High end parts, discs, Fox RLT100 transform this ride into pure speed and handling, faster than my Fuel and I realized FS made me sloppy, lazy and slower. The Fox Fork and negative 5 deg stem make this thing handle anything with precision...tight singletrack, rocky downhill, etc. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Lee Cycle's (Ft Collins; Jack Asses) | | Strengths: | Great climber, light, fisher's warranty | | Weaknesses: | steep head tube angle | | Similar Products Used: | other fishers | | Bike Setup: | xt/race face/ thompson/ fox vanilla 125 | | Bottom Line: | I spent a lot of time fighting this bike because I had a crappy rock shock xc fork. The angle on the tube was way to steep and the bike had poor stability on steep descents or large drops.
But now it is near perfect using a 125mm fox fork. It still climbs well and I can finally let go on the down hill. Unfortunately I spent too much time with the rock shock trash (both a judy xc and a psylo xc).
If you live in Fort Collins stay away from Lee's Cycle near the school. I had questions about my warranty, which fisher is good about, and the shop manager pointed out another customer told me the other customer bought several bikes a year and gave me no further service.
I had not been rude, or indignant that my frame was broken and I now had to buy new parts to fit the current model year. I had also been patient with his prior lack of service.
Bottom Line; Fisher is a good company.
Dont buy one from Lee's.
If your fisher feels choppy, spring for a longer travel fork. I couldn't ask for more from a hard tail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a
from grand junction, colorado, usa
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | waranty | | Strengths: | nice frame, fishers warranty policy is premo, climbes like a goat, goes down fast and easy. | | Weaknesses: | only my component selection | | Similar Products Used: | 94 & 96 mt tam, khs | | Bike Setup: | hodge podge, race face next lp, shimano xt shifters brakes and hubs, rithey head set and stem and riser bar, 97 rock shock xc(suck) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is sweet. It was a replacement frame for a cracked mt tam. You need some time to get into genesis geometry, but it creates a full ride. I like to ride my frame a little small so its easy to manuver, but that probably was not necesarry with this bike. If you lean forward on turns this thing can turn on a dime. When your going fast and back a little the front does seem to get light, but it is so responsive to body position that leaning into turns makes it track incredibly. Riding this bike on narrow single track feels like snow boarding in powder; very smooth. It also descends well. I have a crap shock, but on steep drops if you put the seet on your abdoman you can consistently negotiate the freakishly technichal rocky drops. When you want to just air off a ledge the front is light and perfect placement is easy. If you suck this bike will make you look good. Multiple burning turds. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwel
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | International Bicycle | | Strengths: | This bike is the schweeeet for $1000-XT/XTR parts, great frame-light and strong | | Weaknesses: | i experienced some problems with the front derailler--it moved on me--nothing big though after it was adjusted it was fine | | Bike Setup: | stock w/ lizard skins chainstay protector | | Bottom Line: | This bike is nasty for anyone looking for a really good quality xc bike that can handle downhills | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Prossx
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Shop | | Strengths: | Value, XT/XTR specs, Marzocchi Z2 Air shock, frame geometry is very comfortable for taller/longer armed riders. Bike climbs like a mountain goat and bombs thru downhill. | | Weaknesses: | Most everything Bontrager. As other reviewers have noted, you'll most likely replace most of these parts. WTB Nanoraptors needed immediate replacing. Geometry creates handling that isn't as tight thru switchbacks and front end gets light on steep hills. | | Similar Products Used: | None, this is my first suspension MTB | | Bike Setup: | Added XT cassette, XTR chain, Salsa skewers, Truvative Chainrings, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires | | Bottom Line: | Great frame geometry for taller/longer armed riders, very comfortable and handles very well in most situations. Front end lightness can be compensated for by leaning into it on ascents. Z2 Fork is fantastic although a bit heavy (4lbs) for an XC fork. The parts spec is a mixed bag of great to marginal. Unfortunately anything Bontrager that isn't "top of the line" is not good and this bike has a lot of mid-level Bontrager. Both pedals broke after 10 months (replaced free by shop), Bent teeth on LX Cassette, broke chain, bent rear Bontrager skewer, bent Bontrager chain rings. No complaints on the Bontrager Race wheels...very strong and no problems with hubs (yet). This bike is sweet for the money, but plan on replacing/upgrading components over time. Last of the truely high end 26" hardtails from Fisher. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KWB
a Cross Country Rider
from Snow Hill,MD
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | wooded single track | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Sport | | Strengths: | It's a Fisher hardtail.XT disc,great brakes.Z2 Atom works very well. | | Weaknesses: | the fork had to be refitted because of leak where lowers and brake arch meet,but now is fine.the free hub went up,but was replaced.seat post slips,replaced that.bearings in rear hub would not stay adjusted,had to add jam nut to axle. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 hoo koo e koo | | Bike Setup: | stock except XTR front deraileur,Thomson seat post | | Bottom Line: | this is a great bike.if you want a quality hardtail,get a high end Fisher.I traded a 2002 FSR COMP for this bike!it may sound crazy,but I love this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from taylor,mi,usa
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | two wheel tango | | Strengths: | GENESIS GEOMETRY! LIGHT AND FAST SMOOTH SHIFTING | | Weaknesses: | NONE YET | | Similar Products Used: | GARY FISHER PARAGON,TREK 8000,CANNONDALE M500 | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR,MARZOCHI ATOM Z2 BOMB,BONTRAGER RACE SHIMANO SPD PD-M324 PEDALS | | Bottom Line: | LOVE THIS BIKE SO FAR ITS FAST,LIGHT AND MOVES WHEN YOU NEED IT.THE TIRES ARE WTB NANO RAPTOR 2.1 WITCH WORK GREAT FOR ROAD RIDING AND SO FAR LIGHT HARDPACK ,THE FORK IS SUPER PLUSH AND RIDES GREAT.GOT TO GET IT OUT TO THE REAL TRAILS TO SEE HOW GOOD THEY ARE. STILL FOR THE MONEY I SPENT I COULDN'T FIND A BETTER BIKE AND IF ITS ANYTHING LIKE MY PARAGON IT WILL CLIMB AWSOME!AFTER I GET MORE TIME ON IT OFF ROAD I'LL WRITE A REVEIW AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Agees | | Strengths: | Nice and Lite! XTR, XT, Marzocchi | | Weaknesses: | Tires suck | | Similar Products Used: | 98 GT Backwoods | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a solid bike, the ride is so smooth. The Bontrager wheelset is sweet, they're light and roll so smooth. Frame geometry is well balanced, very nimble and the Marzocchi soaks up the bumps like butter! I'll give it 4 chili's since the bontrager pedals use a (suggested) different cleat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Pacific Bicycle | | Strengths: | Genesis Geometry, component selection for price point | | Weaknesses: | Tires not good in sand, mud, water, or when rolling over anything. | | Similar Products Used: | Test rides on Trek, Specialized, and about five other companies. | | Bike Setup: | All per factory. | | Bottom Line: | My first mountain bike. Like most folks that have reviwed this bike, I also love it. The frame geometry is great. The difference is evident the first second you get on a Genesis bike (and gets even better the more you ride). I agree with all the complaints about the tires. I have had no problems with any of the other Bontranger stuff though(yet?). Bike is lightweight and you must lean forward when climbing or your front tire spins out on anything. I am very happy with the other factory components.
Great entry bike for folks who can afford $1,000 bikes. Has better components than competition at same price point, and similar priced FS bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JOHN
a Cross Country Rider
from towson MD
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything in the woods | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | fisher pro deal | | Strengths: | frame geometry, weight, disc brakes, components ( XT/XTR), GREAT FORK ( the first fork i have ever owned that i did NOT break), head set. | | Weaknesses: | cranks are not that stiff and wabble after just a few hits in to loggs, the hubs are hands down the worst part on the whole bike. they started giving me major problem afer 6 months. oh yea and the tire suck in mud. | | Similar Products Used: | first hard tail.
crack-n-fail super V, shwin home grown,
usps road bike and a vervelo p2k tri bike | | Bike Setup: | i reaplaced alot of the bontrager stuff now. now i have the race face next lp crank and ISIS BB, easton carbon bars/stem, thud buster seat post(love it), and the best up grade was getting the spinnergy xclone disc wheels. 22 lbs hard tail with suspension seat post and disc brakes!! | | Bottom Line: | I have mixed feelings about the customer support. they would not warenty the hubs when they both blew up, but they did send me a new front disc break no questions asked.
I gave it 5 chilis for value because i only spent $1050 on it through a pro deal so I can not complain.
I only gave it 4 chilis for over all becaue you will end up replacing every thing that says bontrager sooner or later.
BOTTOM LINE
I LOVE THIS BIKE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DC
a Weekend Warrior
from Westchester, NY
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicylces Unlimited, Elmsford NY | | Strengths: | Weights not bad, XTR, XT, Marzocchi Z.2 Atom 80 shock, comfortable seat. | | Weaknesses: | Brake pads, Tires, Bontrager cranks are in question...Can't keep the x rated girl stickers to stay on the frame... (any suggestions?) | | Similar Products Used: | GT | | Bike Setup: | Put GEAX on the wheels, change some simple stuff, wear my helmut. | | Bottom Line: | After one year of light XC riding, I'm beginning to change certain components and question others. As you will read in other reviews, Bontrager is not doings so well. I'm still deciding on this, which means I'm questioning Bontrager's parts performance. I'm still looking into the creaks and crackles of what I believe to be the Bontrager stuff.
The stock ATB race tires are no good over here on the East Coast. I'm from CA, and they would be fine on most fast dirt trails out in Malibu or Ojai... Out here, forget about it. They can't handle the soft, wet terrain and mud.
Stock brake pads are questionable, I'll be trying something else this weekend to confirm the lack of stopping power in these East Coast conditions.
The bike handles well overall, but it's downhill style angle on the front forks makes it tough to turn on the tight stuff. That's Genisis for ya! Overall this bike's what I was looking for: simple hard tail, no fluff, takes a beating, better to best components, and competitive. Modifications are inevitable. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Elk Grove, IL
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Budget Bicycle Center | | Strengths: | Color, Disc Brakes ( I got the disc brake version), Genesis geometry, I'm 6'3', | | Weaknesses: | Rear freehub, on the bontrager hubs doesn't spin freely, grips, seat clamp, Bondrager pedals SUCK, broke them in about 2 months. | | Similar Products Used: | trek 8000, schwin Moab 1 | | Bike Setup: | odi lock jaw, shimano xt brakes stock | | Bottom Line: | I love the bike, it help up pretty well, exept the bontager parts, Bontrager SUCKS, I really liked the color. The fork is all right, it has a lot of flex and rebound is slow. The tires were ok for the summer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ames
a Cross Country Rider
from Darien, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$825.00 | | Purchased At: | employee purchase from fisher | | Strengths: | -solid 6-series lightweight frame (fisher's best)
-great component lineup
-genesis geometry
-frame is handmade in the US | | Weaknesses: | -stock brakepads are a little weak
-Dia Compe headset creaks
-Z2 fork has no boots | | Bike Setup: | stock except for Avid Rim Wrangler II pads and holders, WTB velociraptor kevlars, and a beefier front skewer. | | Bottom Line: | I love the bike. I would recommend it to anyone.
I like the genesis geometry. It really inspires confidence and climbs great. The Marzocchi shock has damping that actually works and big 30mm stanchions. You can't go wrong with XT/XTR. The saddle's really comfortable.
My only true complaint is the headset which really does suck. It's a pain to adjust, comes out of adjustment, clicks and creaks under load. Fisher should have put something sealed in like a Cane Creek.
If you're on the East coast, replace the tires with something like IRC mythos or WTB velociraptors... otherwise the bike comes with everything you need for serious XC riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Racer
from silver spring md
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$14000.00 | | Strengths: | the genesis geometry (for tall people)
stable and confidence inspiring on the fast downhills
quick and efficient on the climbs
fairly light for the price
reliable (so far)
| | Weaknesses: | a tad sluggish in the twisty stuff
a bit heavier then the comparable stumpjumper | | Similar Products Used: | m4 stumpjumper pro | | Bike Setup: | stock except for time atac pedals | | Bottom Line: | I really want to love the bike... But its a touch heavier than the stumpjumper that I was checking out. The specializd bike is sickly light, its almost wrong how light that bike is. I went with the fisher though because it fits me better. I'm a little over 6'1 and the Specialized made me feel like i was going to go over the handlebars if I put any pressure on the front brakes. I also felt a little cramped in the cockpit.
I've been racing the bike now for three months and overall it has done really well. Mechanicaly the components on the bike are pretty sound. However, the crank did loosen from the star that bolts to the chain rings. I had to take it back to the shop for that. I also repacked the hubs with quality grease becuase they seemed a little slow.
When I first got the bike I was really happy with how far back the bike puts me behind the front wheel. But after a couple races I panicked becuase you really need to pay attention and keep enough weight on the front tire. I had some problems with the front tire slidding out in slippery fast turns and I've actually locked up the front tire a couple of times under hard braking. I'm finding that the remedy is just to stay forward on the bike when you need the front tire to grip (turning and braking). I absolutely love the bike though on the fast rough descents. The bike feels so comfortable and stable that inspires confidence even when the tires are getting deflected by large or loose stones. The Z.2 fork really does well to soak up a lot of really scary stuff.
For racing my only legitimate complaint is that the bike can be a touch sluggish when the single track gets really tight and twisty. It's the trade off though for the stable frame at speed.
Straight from the shop the bike is more than capable for xc racing. The frame feels very efficient and the components are reasonably light and rather sturdy. Even the tires are pretty descent as long as its not wet. Overall, if your a tall and looking for a xc race bike definitely check out the mt. tam | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
blake
a Cross Country Rider
from amarillo tx
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | GSL & Juniper | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Depot | | Strengths: | Everything About IT!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | NONE!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper M2 Comp, GT Zascar, Schwinn Homegrown Pro & Factory, & Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | I started out stock and have upgraded over the last month or so. I upgraded to Avid single digit Ti brakes, XTR Levers, XTR shifters, King Headset, King on mavic 517 Wheelset, IRC Serac XC Tires, and a 2001 SID SL. | | Bottom Line: | The bike is awsome!! The tire are great for where I am from. I LOve this Bike. I can see how the tires would be bad for the east and west coast ridding. I Am still upgrading but for no other reason then Iwork at a bike shop. This is an amazing bike right out of the box. Genesis Geometry Kicks!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Menlo Park, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bolinas Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1649.00 | | Purchased At: | Pacific Bicycle - Berkeley | | Strengths: | Extremely light, easy to handle, great component mix, Light/responsive front air shocks, great climber | | Weaknesses: | Weak stock tires & brake pads | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Paragon, Giant XTC SE-1 Hardtail | | Bike Setup: | XTR rear derailleur, XT brake/shift. Bontrager crank, race wheels, & handlebar. Marzocchi Z.2 Atom 80 Sport fork | | Bottom Line: | A reasonably-priced, feature-rich bike that's easy to ride in virtually all conditions. The stock tires and brake pads are junk - I replaced the tires with Panaracer Fire XE Pros and the brake pads with Kool-Stop Mountain Pads and I'm now completely dialed. This bike is great!! The Mt. Tam is a great climber but the bike is so light you really have to practice/adjust to keep the front wheel down on steep uphills. Easily controllable on downhills. A disk-brake model is available but unnecessary. Serious bang for the buck for intermediate to racer levels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirstin Nickerson
a Weekend Warrior
from Annandale, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | great brakes, very light, fits great, love the seat | | Weaknesses: | tires suck | | Similar Products Used: | stumpjumper, sugar 3, genesisters model (forget which one), moab | | Bike Setup: | stock, will be switching to knobbier tires asap | | Bottom Line: | i started riding last year, and learned on an old hand-me-down deathtrap of a bike. i tested new bikes for about 6 months, and finally decided on this one, because i wanted a bike i could ride in all weather conditions, that would perform well in races.
so far (i've had the bike for about a month and a half now) i'm pleased with everything about it except the tires. they handle very poorly in mud, and (not sure if it's the tires or where i'm riding or both) i've already gotten 3 flats. it took a couple of rides to get used to how much lighter the mt tam is, and having a bike that actually fits me. at first, i found my front end leaving the ground a lot when climbing steep hills, but i've adjusted for that now. the bike hops kerbs and stumps beautifully, shifts well, and is well balanced.
the bottom line is that i love this bike. i have much more control over how i go up and down hills, and turns nicely once you get rid of the stock tires. it's worth every penny i spent on it, and i look forward to doing my first race on it later this month. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Em
a Cross Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great frame; the genesis geometry fits me very well. I have lots of control on this bike. | | Weaknesses: | The tires that come with the bike are weak. Knobbier tires are a must for muddy conditions. This year's colors are lame. I also don't like the cranks. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Replaced the stock pedals with Time ATAC pedals. Also, replaced the rear wheel with a knobbier tire for better handling and control in muddy and slick conditions. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first mountain bike and also my first season of mountain biking. With that in mind, I think this is a great bike. It handles great and I have had no mechanical problems with it. This bike has held up well to all of the abuse I have dished out so far. I think this is a great bike for someone looking to do some aggressive, fast riding. I definitely plan on racing this bike very soon. So, overall I say five flaming dealies and four for value since I am cheap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gille Briand
a Racer
from Chandler, Qc , Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1580.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Elite | | Strengths: | Light
Fast
Bomber z2 atom sport
WTB seat (really comfi)
Wheels | | Weaknesses: | Brake pads sucks
Tires (cornering)
| | Similar Products Used: | Oryx Equipe 4000 1999 | | Bike Setup: | Xtr rear deraillor,avid 5.0 brakes, Bomber z2 atom sport,Xt shifters, Bontrager cranks stem wheels and seet tube. | | Bottom Line: | That bike kicks a$$!!!It is light fast and responsive. The bomber is super plush and I like the genesis geometrie. The seat is really confortable and the wheels are light.I don't know why avid placed those brake pads on a bike of that price, I changed them to xtr pads and know it is just fine.
Just go get that bike!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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