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Submitted by
Rens Rezelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Tokai Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1940.00 | | Purchased At: | Bowman Cycles, Cape | | Strengths: | Big wheels and light weight frame | | Weaknesses: | Granny gear still has a high ratio | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing close - upgraded from a Mongoose Super Tyax | | Bike Setup: | As per shop spec | | Bottom Line: | This baby rolls. I found that the lightweight frame was great for uphill riding - especially with the 29" wheels. Downhill you feel like you're slightly higher than other riders - great for approaching bumps and loose rocks - it just cruises over them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
saint mikey
a Weekend Warrior
from BEVERLY MA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | EVERYWYERE | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | INTERNATIOMNAL CYCLE | | Strengths: | 5'10-225LBS,FITS ME PERFECT LG FRAME,GREAT RIDE OVER TRAILS AND STREETS,CURBS ETC. I OWNED A 2007 AND SOLD IT FOR A 2008-GARY HEARD MY COMPLAITS ABOUT THE NEEDED FOX STRUT AND THE CROSS COUNTRY OF THE 2007 NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED LIKE MY GARY FISHER MT. TAM IN 1995 THAT LASTED ME 10 YEARS UNTIL IT GOT STOLEN! | | Weaknesses: | TIRES SUCK-BOUGHT THE 2.3 MIL | | Similar Products Used: | 2007 PARAGON- GO FOR THE G2 FRAME AND HIT THE WOODS | | Bike Setup: | STOCK | | Bottom Line: | IAM A LINBACKER ON A BIKE HAVE BEEN MT BIKING FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS GO '29 2008 PARAGON ROCKS! I JUST RID OVER ANYTHING,CHICKS DIG THE COLOR. NOTED ON 1995 MT. TAM- I SNAPED MY FARME IN 2000 AND GARY FISHER SENT ME A NEW FRAME FREE OF CHARGE- THANKYOU ALL AND GO SICK!!! MIKEY | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, Tx
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Oak Cliff Nature Preserve | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Richardson Bike Mart | | Strengths: | Smooth ride for a hardtail. Great components. 29rs rock! | | Weaknesses: | The frame. I bought it in November, 2007. In May, 2008 the frame cracked where the top tube meets the seat tube. Trek/Fisher replaced no questions asked BUT "will it happen again/". I did not mistreat the bike in any way. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 930 (from the last century) | | Bike Setup: | From the factory. | | Bottom Line: | I love riding it. I have seen another Paragon with a cracked frame. Bad omen? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon blas
a
from AK
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Swap in high school | | Weaknesses: | if i were really picky i'd replace the
fork, the shox arn't that great. | | Bottom Line: | i got a 95' and i have to say for the price i got it for it's great!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from La, california, usa
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Very good on the climbs, never had a problem on climbing really steep trails, the downhill is so good and the bike just gets you so confident while going down. the frame is sooooo good. It's light, it's the sturdiest i have ever had and accelerates like nothing i have ever ridden. | | Weaknesses: | The bike is a little stiff on long rides. | | Bike Setup: | Planning on changing the quadra to a SID | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best ever!!! It's frame is sooo sturdy and the components aren't so bad. for the money, this bike is the best. The fork however was disappointing. This is like the best bike out there, what is the low end fork doing on it? This bike is very good for people serious about riding but may get expensive if bought brand new for just the weekends | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a
from Akron OH USA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | I'm not sure what year mine is. I've had it for 3 months and i paid $750 for it. It has Hayes hydraulics brakes, SX-R forks, bontrager crank and wheels, and i just replaced the rear derailleur with an XTR. This is my first mountain bike and i'm in love. I give them bike two thumbs up for just being so awesome. I love it. Planned upgrades include race face cranks, psylo sl forks, and a different headset. I believe any beginner should start on this bike because of price and quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Porter
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, MA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | knob job | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Cezars | | Strengths: | Light, decent components, great hard tail, fun to ride. | | Weaknesses: | The head set sucks so bad,I broke mine on the third day of hard riding, a friend of mine had the same experience, get a King you'll be golden. | | Similar Products Used: | Ridden many mtn. bikes too many to list, carbonfiber, aluminum, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock, clipless, etc. | | Bottom Line: | great bike fun to ride trails, race, or just hop around but the headset is a piece. Well worth the dough. I've been riding it for almost two years and I havent' had many problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fisher king
a Racer
from IL,Belvidere
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
rockcut | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
solid frame
light
great parts for money
cool colors | | Weaknesses: |
havent found one except
it makes the girlfriend
jealous | | Similar Products Used: |
every hardtail in its
class and nothing
compared | | Bike Setup: |
team issue frame all
stock right now but just
wait | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best bike I have ever rode.
Nothing can compare for the bucks.By one everyone
will stop and stare and ask questions but the ride
is awsome and wont dissapoint. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BoneDigger
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tyler, TX
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
light
corners well
good components | | Weaknesses: |
A little sloppy on down hill runs | | Similar Products Used: |
Too many to list | | Bike Setup: |
1996 Gary Fisher Paragon
upgrades:
Marzocchi Bomber Z2 forks, V-brakes; grip shifter | | Bottom Line: | I upgraded to this bike (used 96 model)from a lower end Trek (800 Sport) and have been amazed at the difference. I will be using this bike for racing and leisure use. I have been very satisfied with this product. The only problem is a slight sloppiness on a down hill run. Other than that, it's great for the price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B.J. Knabenshue
a Cross-Country Rider
from Morgantown, WV
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pine Ridge, KSF, Chas., WV | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Frame Design, Weight, Customer Service | | Weaknesses: |
Schwag Paint, Fork | | Similar Products Used: |
Spec. Stumpjumper M2 | | Bike Setup: |
Stock Bike Manitou SX-R | | Bottom Line: | An amzing bike for the dough. I've put my first year in, hosed the crap Indy SL and put a super plush SX-R (Factory was out of Ti, and the bike can more than afford the weight, I am just over 24 lbs w/ stock drivetrain) The frame is an excellent foundation for any high end drivetrain. I'm starving myself so that I can afford the Raceface, XTR, Real and Mavic 9 spd. drivetrain I've configured. My paint chipped off right after I started riding, but Fisher has offered me a new paint job (after my 1 yr paint warranty expired), and even the option for a semi-custom....it's going to be pretty sweet. I give Mr. Fisher 5 big habaneros for the awesome Genesis Geo. Program frame....I don't think there is a finer hardtail out there | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TheExecutor
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: April 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
City and country riding | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
You get what you pay for and more. | | Weaknesses: |
Not much!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
The best buy of it's class of bikes. | | Bike Setup: |
I put 98 marzocchi z-2 atom bomb, syncros crank set and stem and also a race face crome BB. | | Bottom Line: | I ot the bike in the spring of 98 and got it for a song $800 clams.I traded in my old trek 1000 that I had for 3 years. I have had the bike now for a year, and I fell in love with it. I made a few upgrades this year I put all shimano XTR component set Rear and front Derailer and shifter set. I also canged the head set to a criss king. and put a race face seat post. also put my old spinergy wheel set with syncros skewers. The frame rocks and he bike is about ten times cooler. I fall in lve with this bike mor and more all the time. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross-Country Rider
from Angels Camp, CA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Romero Canyon | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Everything, especially Price ($720+$150 for shock swap) | | Weaknesses: |
Original Cranks (Sugino)suck, so do icon pedals, but since the bike was cheap, (Closeout sale), I don't mind, because I can use the $ I saved to get tasty upgrades | | Similar Products Used: |
Stumpjumper, Paragon 99, Hookooekoo 98 | | Bike Setup: |
Manitou SX Carbon shock, Raceface Crankset, RF Ti BB, Mavic 517 with Hugi, Upgraded Cockpit, XTR Ti Cassette, Gripshifters and Derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks after a month, I know it's going to serve me well. Since I got such a great deal on the 98, I have made awesome upgrades to create a 21.5 lb XC machine, all for under $2200. Can think of no better deal. The bike handles great on singletrack, especially on the climbs. Carbon Shock is awesome. Nice and light, no stickiness, plush from the get-go. Love this bike! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Glass
a cross-country rider
from Iowa City, IA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I gave this bike a pretty good thrashing in 98 and I didnt have any problems at all. The only maintenance I did was oiling the chain and washing off all the mud. I have an XL due to my size (6'5 200lbs) and the genenis geometry works great. The only weak points can be found in the fork (Judy T2) and pedals (Icon). But overall this bike really rocks. Super fast... ultra light .... and soooo solid..... What more could you ask for? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Archer
a cross-country rider
from Memphis
Date Reviewed: October 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Wow, this much fun will be outlawed one of these days! I upgraded from a Katai and this is soooo much easier to ride, especially climbing. And I think stopping and falling over only three times on your first ride with clippless pedals is quite an accomplishment. I think riding with an 8 year old leading me helped some. Great bike!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Manganis
a weekend warrior
from Boston MA.
Date Reviewed: October 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
For all of you who own the '98 Paragon, you should have waited for the '99! I know what you're all thinking. Why did they paint it yellow?? I have to say, the new color had to grow on me. The component group however took no time at all to fall for. The wheels on last year's were sweet, and this year they're even better. The black annodized spokes are a super nice touch, along with the annodized cranks to match, also from Bontrager. I love this bike so much, I took the picture of it from Fisher's website and set it as wallpaper. If you want to drop $1,100 on a bike, drop it the same place I did. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan Pierce
a racer
from Grinnell IA USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
THIS BIKE KICKS SOME SEROUS TAIL!! I'm totally in love with it! I've been racing on a 98' pargon for the last 8 months, and so far have put over 1600 miles on it. This is THE best bike on earth for the price. The XT/LX compoent mix works well and is reliable, and the AVID brakes rule. I swapped the RS judy T2, which came on the bike, out for a 97' manitou SX Ti when I bought it. The manitou is a much better fork at about the same price. The one thing that I didn't like on the bike was the Icon peddles. They don't work well (if at all) in mud. I lost alot of time in my first race this year because of them. I put a pair of Time peddles on as soon as I got home. Anyway, the things that really makes this bike shine are the Genesis frame and the Bontrager valent/mustang wheels. I can't say enough good stuff about this frame. It's the lightest sweatest thing I've ever riden! The Genesis Geometry is for real. It climbs like a cat on fire. The Bontrager wheels are also amazing, super light. I have yet to have my front wheel come out of true. Way nice! I LOVE THIS BIKE. If I were bike shopping today I'd buy another one! This is as close as I'll come to flying.( plus, It's kind of fun to make everyone eat your dirt on the climbs) Five of those scorchn' chillis. GARY FISHER RULES! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. Falkenburg
a cross-country rider
from Newark, De
Date Reviewed: September 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Here, let me keep this simple, this bike is awesome! The components are pretty standard for this price ($1000) ex. Specialized stumpjumper. The frame is what sets this bike above the rest. I first thought the genesis geo. was another gimmick, boy was I wrong. This bike is more comfortable, stable and responsive then all the other properly sized bikes I have riden. I even got an upgraded fork for free (Judy T2 instead of a Indy SL). Five chilis for value, perfomance and fun factor. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Turk
a cross-country rider
from GAWJAW
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just picked up the '98 ziggurat, which is the same Easton 6061 genesis frame as paragon but w/an upgraded package. I also looked at the paragons, but i needed the upgrade (Despite what chris laplante said, you're not going to do a lot better weight-wise in this price range (<$1K) than the the Paragon--w/6061... 24 lbs (yeah, OK, with a hardtail and that crap Judy, it's no bomber, but be reasonable chris!), but given the volume Fisher does, ya think he coulda tweaked the pack here & there. Anyway, like the paragon, the zig is a good value, but not great, and the upgrade is pretty trick and cost-effective--XTR rear, XT SL rapidfires, Sugino 700 crank, WTB greaseguard front hub, XT in the rear, that short bontrager stem/bar...I think that's about it. I switched-out the Judy XC for a zocchi Z3 (a performace AND budget decision), and will ultimately upgrade the headset (stock sorry-ass dia-compe SAS)and the pedals (Icons, yuck!)...with those tweaks, this could be a real decent racer. performance? well, 5 days a week I gutterbunny over crud burb/urb roads, XC, single-track & a variety of junk on the weekends. So...sorry, this is no bombers bike, but takes a hard ride, real comfortable, quick, a climber, and lots of people should like the genesis geometry. At this price pt, US$1400 (I paid $1300), Zig's a very good bike. She's pretty, too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Damien
a weekend warrior
from Medford OR
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the 1998 Paragon after the company had exchanged its Indy fork for the better Judy T2. This bike rocks. I am a large guy (6'1 230lbs 15% body fat) and this bike takes me places like I was a true bike rider (5'5 100lbs 5% body fat) My old bike was a Nishiki Ariel with the raised chain stay design. It wasn't until I bought this bike ($999) that I realized how much my old frame flexed. This bike has zero flex, even with my size.
I agree with some of the other riders that the pedals suck, but that is an easy and fairly inexpensive item to upgrade. I love the seat, and this somewhat counters the can't-click-in-won't-let-you-out Icon pedals. I must say I love my paragon and it truly deserves five stars. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from Morgantown WV
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I ordered this bike in December and never recieved it until the end of Jan. Because of the wait, the fish man upgraded the Indy SL with a Judy T2. I was content with this decision they made, on top of this, he included a poster with himself and Paola Pezzo signed. What great customer service. I have been riding it for 6 months and already broke the crank. (Surgino) It was warrantied and back to me in no time. I added gore cables to smoothen up the LX shifters. When I get some moola, that will be the first thing to go. On the down side, the damn Icon pedals suck. Overall, It's a lightweight bike for an X-large frame. They drilled out the chainstays to save weight, and I love the geometry. I'm climbing shit I have never been able to before. You GOTTA BUY IT, YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richie L
a cross-country rider
from San Diego, California
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I am the recent owner or a 1998 Paragon. I haven't really been to the Mountain Bike scene a lot in recent years. I love this bike. It goes every where with me. I used to own a Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and this bike kicks big butt. I love how it feels on the single track. Geometry is the best I have ever felt. Kodos to Gary! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a cross-country rider
from Marietta,GA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I ordered the 98 Paragon in late Feb. but it was on order until early April. The
store said it was because of the XL size (I'm 6'6 230) and high demand. I almost canceled my order but I'm glad I didn't. This bike rocks! The diffrent geometery
took a short time to get fast on but now I can't see how I rode anything else. I changed out the shock with a 97 Manitou FS-ti it was only $20 more with that awsome mail order deal. I also want to get a sturdier crank. buy this bike! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marte Augusto
a weekend warrior
from Ma, USA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My last bike was a Bridgestone so the comparison is useless, so here I go. At $1000 there is a lot of competition but the fish rules. The Genesis took some getting used to, but it feels normal now. Ride this bike, it needs to be ridden hard. The frame(6061 al) is kind of soft and dents easilly so be carefull, but provides some dampning to the hardtail experience. Overall an excellent bike in a year of excellent bikes! 6/98 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Executor
a weekend warrior
from Chicago IL USA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have owned many bikes and the Fisher Paragon is by far one of
the best I have owned. I got it around March of 98. I use it to
ride around the city and I take it to the trails on the week end.
If yo plain on geting one, the first thing I would do is upgrade
the head set. Don't get me wrong it's a nice bike, but if you are
a tech head you can use this bike to make your dream bike. I just
put a King head set on and spinergy rok-xe weels. What a ride. one
thing is for shure fisher made his bikes with a lot of love. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: June 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Ha ha! All of you that paid 1000 for this bike eat your heart out. Although this bike is well worth the price, see my comments below, my LBS just reduced the priced to 899. By far this bike is well worth it. I guess it pays off to be in the backyard of where Gary makes his bikes! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a racer
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: June 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I recently just purchased a 98 Paragon, and I am very pleased with it!! At a great price of only $999 it includes great components including the popular XT and LX Component Groups which handle great. The bike also has Bontrager Valiant and Mustang Rims which are very light and strong. Some of the other stuff includes a Sugino Might 500 Crankset, Avid 1.9 Brake Levers, Avid 20 Brakes, Indy SL, and a Bontrager Seatpost. The bike is also equipped with Gary Fisher's new genesis geometry which lets you go up hills easier, and gives you more control on wild downhills. This system includes a shorter stem and longer top tube for easier handling on both ascending and descending. The only part of the bike that I have upgraded is the shock which used to be an Indy SL, but I decided to upgrade it to a Manitou SX-Ti. I have rode the bike so far on pavement, gravel, and off-road terrains and the bike has handled superb. Overall, if you are looking for a bike in the $1,000 price range, I would definitely keep this bike in mind! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Smiker
a cross-country rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got a 96 version of the Paragon a couple of months ago. It was a decent amount cheaper, and at that particular shop has a 5yr warranty on parts, as well as the lifetime on frame. It's pretty cool. The bike feels really light, but still feels steady at speed (not slow). I put on a Bonty riser and flipped the stem to keep the front wheel sticking. Now it's awesome. The forks are pretty firm, but are quite laterally stiff too.
I was afraid of doing technical downhill stuff at first, afetr going over the bars, but am now used to the bike, and it rocks. It's not bad for the odd bit of trials either. It's light weight helps for this. What's cool about the Easton frame is its shock absorbtion qualities. This bike is heaps good. It must be even better with Genesis Geometry. A superb bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randall Simpson
a weekend warrior
from Dallas, Texas
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I picked up a Ziggarat recently, due to limited availability of the Paragon. It has an Judy XC fork, XT shifter and front d'rail, and XTR real d'rail. Got it all for $1,350 and a stick of gum. It's an awesome bike that is rock solid and climbs well, and jukes through the snakey trails like a spooked white tail deer. The short stem (quick handling) has saved me from eating bark many times. Both bikes are outstanding values, but I'm glad I upgraded to the Zig. If you are considering buying it, don't wait! I understand the factory is completely out of product due to underestimating this year's demand (at least that's what they told me).I'm maxing the chili's and calling them HABENERO'S! This one is definitely SMOKING HOT!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joachim Pfeiffer
a cross-country rider
from Karlsruhe, Germany
Date Reviewed: May 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have some 500 km '98 Paragon experience now on different terrain, and it's getting more and more fun. Climbing is great for two reasons:
1. It's one of the lightest bikes for this price. The Indy SL is the major contributor for that compared to other Alu-bikes, but weight is the only plus of this fork - downhill it feels like a toy. For me, it's not a big deal though, because i grew up with ridig forks anyway and favor weight.
2. The Genesis geometry with the short chainstays.
Climbing isn't the only plus of the geometry: Lack of empendo-feeling (compared to my old bike) is a real improvement. Minus: It weaks in corners and swims on snow+ice more than other bikes.
Like most others, i changed some parts: I felt very uncomfortable with Avid's short brake levers (the breaks are great). On the other hand, the shifters need long levers due to mounting requirements. Shimano's integrated LX shifter/brakes are ideal to solve this. I've changed the stem, too: It's some 5 cm longer than the original one, so steering is less nervous now. I recommend a 0° stem if you do that, too. The latest change was two weeks ago, out in the green: I was really surprised to draw a super thin tube out of a fat tire. There was no impact from a nail or stone, it just broke at a weak spot. I don't now if this is normal for such tubes, because I only use thick ones even on my thin tire...
Anyway - this bike is great and gets 4 Chilies. If only value/price would be better in Germany (imported stuff goes through many hands)...
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Veillette
a weekend warrior
from Baton Rouge, LA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had my 98' Paragon since ealy Feb and I love just about everything on it. It is the same frame on the rest of the higher hardtail models just with components that aren't as good. But hey you can't really complain too much about LX front derailer and XT rear derailler. Although I do plan on upgading it all. That is what is real nice is that if you are like me and didn't have a lot of money when buying the bike you can upgrade later when you have some money to spend but for the time these components will hold you over. Another ting is that I choose to get the bike with a JUDY T2 on it so I can upgade to a Judy XC. Which I am in the process of doing right now. For the price of $999 you can't go wrong with this bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just baught the '98 paragon for under 1000. It was the best deal that I could find after 4 months of looking for a new bike. The frame is light and stiff. The Indy SL fork is descent, but i will upgreade. The only think i dislike is the front derailer and crank. They seem to weak to be on a race caliber bike. I will upgreade to xtr front and raceface cranks. Watch for me in the races, i might be sneaking up behind you and taking the win with this awesome bike! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Huckerby
a weekend warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Have had my 98 paragon for about 2 months. Needed a bike that would stand up to my 220 lbs. So far this bike has stood up and some, especially after upgrading to the DH shox. Have already taken some serious burns and my paragon continues to laugh. Plan to drop the mighties for raceface cranks as soon as the loonies come through. No looking back Gary. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Liam
a cross-country rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have the new 98 model with Genesis geometry. I did not think I would notice the geometry, but boy was I wrong. The Paragon is able to climb better than any bike I know. It is amazing. the worst part about it is the shoxs and they can be upgraded(JUDY T-2). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike rocks! Just got it and i can already tell that this bike will take anyhting i put to it. Awesome! Ok fifty words la al al alla lala alalala aladddf a fdf alld fldfdldf ldf dlffdlf ldffll fdlf dflshgfhagl asfjsdf la lal th fiak sla slskd aldk alda dfas fasf df f f ff f f | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eryke Schexnayder
a weekend warrior
from Los Altos, CA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
In a word SSSWWWEEEEETTTT!!!!Man I cant get enough, The new Genesis Geo is everything its said to be, I fly going uphill. Very light and nimble, just right for narrow trails. She can take a serious thrashing too. Without question, the very best bike Ive ever owned. Maximum Chilies for my baby!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Jackson
a weekend warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: May 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My '98 Fisher Paragon kicks butt. I have put about 400 miles on this thing, from streets, gravel, ruts, steep inclines and declines, and even a few 6' cliffs (not by mistake). This fram is the strongest alu frame out there. I would never have tried the cliffs with my old GT Avalanche. That thing cracked on me going over a curb. The components on the Fisher are great, haven't had a problem yet. Recomend upgraded the fork before leaving the store. Although Indy SL is light and decent, can't handle rough trails that well. Five chiles for this awesome bike. Don't think of getting anything else, can't find anything better for under 3000. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a cross-country rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: May 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is awesome. It has everything that you need from either a cross-country race to a steep downhill. Very stiff and nimble. Brakes are excellent. Picked mine up for 999. Best value and performance around. I upgradede mine to a bomber z2 fork (thanks scott) and it soaks up all the bumps, but is stiff enough for the turns quick manuevering. Way to go Gary! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a racer
from NJ
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The 98 Paragon is a great hardtail bike. It is sold for $999 in my area and includes a Indy SL fork with a mix of XT/LX Components. It climbs great, gives you lots of control on the downhills, and looks great. Besides the Indy SL which I am planning to upgrade to a Marzocchi Atomb Bomb when I buy it this is definitely a great bike! Check it out if you are looking around for a new x-country bike because it definitely has my vote. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a racer
from Boulder CO
Date Reviewed: April 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just picked up a '98 paragon. This thing is rock solid. It climbs like a bat outa hell. Very fast and the best handling I have ever had on a downhills. The componets are great for a stock bike. The only thing that I am disappointed in is the Indy SL shock. I think with such a great bike that Fisher should have used either a Judy or a Bomber Z2. Overall this is the best bike for money, and oh yeah, it is one rockin' wild ride! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jersey Baron
a racer
from N.J
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Paragon has proven to be one of mountain bikings greatest values ever! I
have had my '98 model for just over two months and am loving it more every ride, can't believe I picked this thing up for under a thousand dollars. Only upgrades were swapping out the wimpy Sugino crankset for beloved Raceface and losing Rock Shox for WB DC 90 fork. With these additions I went to the first race of the season and my friends could'nt believe the handling of the bike.Great in all cross country situations, singletrack, fireroads, uphill, even minor downhill situations it handled as well as any hardtail should. At 6'2 195 lbs. Bike
is awesome with above additions.Even with aditions price is still only 1500.Gary +Genesis, thumbs up,don't forget TIME ATAC. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris LaPlante
a downhiller
from Maine
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is horrible. The components are junk and the frame is heavy. I don't see why anyone would by this bike. The only reason I gave this bike a 1 for a rating is because that is as low as it goes. The indy Sls dont work worth crap. Dont waste your money on this bike. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Anastasio
a cross-country rider
from maine
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought a 97 Paragon for $800 and I love it. It is very light even for a $1200 bike. The indy SLs are very light and seem to be working well so far, I love the Easton frame it is very light and stiff. The bike is very responsive. It is too bad that the bike was down speced for 98. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jackson H.
a cross-country rider
from Carmel,IN
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the greatest bike I've had! Its a 96 paragon, I got it for $879.00 because it was a close out sale. This is a great performance bike, I recommend it for anybody. If you can find a bike like this at this price buy it! It responds very well in everything, the componets are also great like XT, and LX.
Yhe seat is the most comfortable I have ever used, it seems to mold my a*s. The only complaint I have is the shocks are to stiff, but I found out that if you pour some motor oil in the shock itself it would react alot better. The tires are fine but I would recommend upgrading the brakes to V-brakes and the pedals to clipless. Also there's always a sqeak when I bang on my shocks head on,maybe the builder messed up. Thats really nothing to worry about, so now go buy this bike! I rules! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a weekend warrior
from Buffalo, NY
Date Reviewed: February 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I rode one of these bikes for a season. I liked it. Climbs great, excellent handling, and decent components -gripshifts (opinion only). I would recommend this bike to anyone that can't spend the bucks for the big dollar rides that we all want. This is my second Gary Fisher that I've had and I love them. Going to F/S this season and the Y bikes don't cut it for me. Sorry Gary | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aldo Visintin (Austria)
a cross-country rider
from Austria
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got my 97'Paragon 6 Months ago after 2500 km (about 1600 miles) I can tell
its a great bike. Great looking, stiff, good to handle, and very good climbing.
What do I not like:
LX-V'Brakes - i changed it to XT-V'Brakes (mixing with LX-Handles - like on Marin bikes)
Anti chain suck device is a pain in the ass - it losens every 100 miles!!!
What was bad:
When I got my bike - I recognized that everything has to be readjusted
RearDerrailleur hanger was not in the right position for the ESP 7.0 Derrailler
the bearings of the SPD-Pedals were to tight.
The IndySL was not lubricate enough!After the maintenance work - I am now satisfied.
But my friend has a Rocky Mountain for the same price - the overall
quality is better.
I am not sure whether I could recommend my Paragon?keep on riding
also in the SNOWAldo | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Emling
a cross-country rider
from Traverse City Michigan
Date Reviewed: February 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Yo I got my '97 Paragon a year ago and the thing just keeps growing on me. I can't get over the frames ridgedness I love it. Stock the bike is a dream upgraded its the Bomb. I thru on an XTR front der. and a Judy SL plus a new seat and I couldn't ask for a more classic looking and totally rad piece of machinary. Even without the other stuff it climbs like a bat out of hell and folds a line so good. I rode my friends GT what a totally weak action bike. it just doesn't handle well. Single trackin it on this bike is great and downhill its to stable to even mention. keep up the good work Gary and keep Paola on the payroll
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a cross-country rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: January 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is good, but lacks on some good components. I like the XT Rear Derilleur, but the other parts of the bike aren't as good as I expected. They are fine for a Weekend Warrior, but if you are thinking about riding this bike a lot and in the hard mountains, you might want to go for something like the Fisher Ziggurat or MT Tam. I'd give this 3 1/2 chilies. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan
a weekend warrior
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: December 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The 98 Paragon is way light and responsive. The best bike ever for a good price. Nothing I've found to fault it yet. It's even strong enough to give cars a good run for their money on the road. V-brakes are great in the wet and the rapid fire shifters and definitely better for steep ups and downs than the grip shift style. Five bigguns from an upside down, down under bloke !! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a weekend warrior
from SanJose, CA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had my '97 Paragon for half a year now, and it's been great so far. I'm
glad I picked it over the Stumpjumper M2. Was a little hesistant about the
ESP7.0 at first, but now I would never go back to rapid fire. Sram ESP kick's
ass - smooth, crisp and super light. This bike will make you want to climb
all day. Do yourself a favor, and buy this bike. Five friggin' chilis!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mag
a weekend warrior
from nevada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
this bike kicks ass!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a weekend warrior
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought my '96 Paragon over a year ago and have absolutely no complaints. I took it with me to Big Bear Mountain for some serious downhilling and it gave me solid performance. It was light and stiff when climbing and nimble in turns and over ruts. It has become a great xcountry bike for me in the GA backwoods. My only complaint is that I bought it before the Indy fork replaced the Manitou SX. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerad
a cross-country rider
from pocatello idaho
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
What do I have to say with all the other reviews. This bile really kicks ass. I have had my 97 Paragon for about 3 months and have put over three hundred very pleasing miles on it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie
a racer
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had my '97 Paragon for 6 months now, and I love it!!! The frame is incredibly light, stiff, and the paint job (onyx black) is really well done. The Indy SL fork performs extremely well on small bumps, but as speeds increase, the performance begins to suffer. I've raced this bike many times, and it holds up in terms of reliability. I've never had to true the wheels etc. The Gripshift ESP 7.0 combo works far better that Rapidfire/XT and weighs a whole lot less. Pick a '97 up at your local shop before it's too late!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan
a weekend warrior
from
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
after weeks of shopping & riding i fanally got the best bike, i tried scwinn moab2
raliegh 400 and some trek bikes but theres nothing compare to the performance
of 98 Paragon...this bike is so smooth and handles any surface easily...climbs like a moutain goat too....and yahh the color is awesome!!!! i give it 5 burning chilis.... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Maiman
a cross-country rider
from Acton, MA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got my 98! Paragon with the new genesis geometry. Wow!
I was riding an old Trek930 and cruising around on the Paragon
is like driving a BMW. Tight and precise with lots of power
because it's so light. I've just had it a few days, but so far
it's easily worth: | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
flip
a cross-country rider
from Andover, MA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got a '96 this past spring after 5 years on a Bridgestone MB-3. It being a previous year's model, got a great deal ($900). Started riding seriously soon after I got it... very quick and responsive, great acceleration and climbing. The long reach suits my 6'1 frame nicely. Aluminum frame provides nice tactile connection to the ground without kicking me in the ass. Manitou shocks make for a comfy descent over rocks. It seems to be indestructible. I simply can't get enough of this bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Thomas
a cross-country rider
from Arizona
Date Reviewed: September 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
After riding a Trek 970 for 5 years, my '97 Paragon is a dream. It is light, climbs like a dream, and at 200 pounds (me) goes downhill perfectly. I was torn between this bike and a Stumpjumper. I'm glad I went w/ the Fisher. No upgrades planned yet, give me some time. The gripshift derailuers kick ass over shimano! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Paterson
a racer
from Ct
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
It just kicks ass, same 3.2 pound frame as supercaliber with awspmw parts spec for a lot less cash. It is a climbing machine, and it accelerates like mad. Throw some englund air cartriges in the fork and you can decscend like a maniac. I have upgraded parts on mine as I have broken things and now it only weighs 23 lbs. Great bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimmy Lim
a cross-country rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got a 96 paragon and I upgraded the everything to 97 full XTR and the bike
weighs 22lbs. The frame is stiff which makes it very good for climbing uphills
and it also accerlates very fast.I think i makes a very good cross- country bike
and going downhill it handles very well even on very rocky terrains. I used
to have a Klein Attitude and the Paragon handles better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a racer
from Athens, GA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I own a 95' Fisher Paragon that has been completely upgraded. The frame geometry fit me to a T, however my frame was not aligned correctly before heat treatment and has always been slightly out of true. The dealer (Agee's in Richmond,VA-stay away from them) would not help me at all with this. Regardless, after I got rid of the crappy gripshift that wouldn't shift worth shit with the light action XT rear, got better tires and some v-brakes, not too mention a better fork, it is not too bad of a race bike. I do find the frame a little too stiff for my tastes, it really beats me up bad and combined with the short chainstays, it's not the best descender. I bought a USE post, and that has helped some. My biggest gripe with the frame (besides the poor alignment job) is that the seatpost slips. On every ride it slips down a half inch to an inch. This really sucks during a race. I tried everything to prevent it from slipping: new seat collar, non-quick release bolt, new seatpost, seatpost with shim, no grease on seatpost; but it makes no difference. I have a Litespeed Ocoee frame on order and I will just switch over all my parts. Still for what I paid for this bike in 1995 ($1,100), it has been OK. I felt it was the best bike for me in this price range at the time of purchase, but I do feel I'm ready for a little bit better quality and better performing frame(since I've already upgraded the whole bike). But I will build the frame up with old parts and make it a commuter. So I give it an average rating of 3 chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor Rodriguez
a cross-country rider
from California
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I own a '95 Paragon 16. I purchased it with a trade at Olde Faithful Bicycles in Cody, WY. I ended up paying $700 with my trade. I love this bike! I highly recommend the bike shop too if you are ever in the Cody area. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Tucson,AZ
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have a 1996 17.5' Paragon. The real size is 19 center to center. I guess it is a great bike by all of the other reviews. But, mine is too big. I am 5' 9 1/2 and the folks at the bikeshop said this is the size for you. Kills my back everytime I ride it. I' ll be selling it soon ! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TB
a cross-country rider
from Sterling, VA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Awesome bike at a fair price. 5 chilis. I have had my 97 Paragon for about 2 months now and it has been impressing me every ride. It is soooooooooo light compared to my old CroMo Rockhopper. I have found no reason to make any upgrades yet, although I did replace the Ritchey pedals with Shimano 747s. Other than that, this baby is still stock. It climbs like a goat and feels nice and stable on downhills. The IndySL shock is great for me (I am 150-155lb rider) and is light (2.7lbs). This is my first bike with Gripshift and I like the ESP7.0 system. I'm a happy camper. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Superman
a cross-country rider
from Metropolis
Date Reviewed: July 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is so light. I haven't made any upgrades yet, and really love the shifting despite the Gripshift vs. Rapidfire, Sram vs. Shimano thing. For the price I will have to give this bike the highest rating. ESP 7.0 is better than XT, especialy the shifting in the front. I've ridden one of my friends bike with XT and allthough the rear was ok the front was constantly grinding against the chainrings. The chainsuck device needs some locktite or something to keep it in place. It has lossened with vibrations, and can then grind against the chainrings.
Gary has done a great job with this one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a weekend warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Fantastic Ride. The 1997 V brakes make all the difference in the world. Combine a light yet stiff frame with a Indy SL Front Shock and upper middle components (LX and ESP 7.0), this bike is a great bargain. I got mine for $899.00 from Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Colorado. I called around and everyone else wanted $1225. I recommend the bike as well as the Bike Shop. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julian Kapoor
a weekend warrior
from San Jose, Ca.
Date Reviewed: June 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
After having tried out several bikes, I finally decided to get a '97 Paragon. For a while I was stuck between the Specialized Stumpjumper and the Paragon; I liked the rapid-fires on the stumpjumper, but the paragon was four and a half lbs. lighter. The Stumpjumper was a little too heavy for my taste and the X-ray gripshifts on the Paragon are great, not to mention lighter. The bike comes in at around twenty-three and a half pounds, does ascents like a bat out of hell, and isn't bad at all when downhilling(gets a bit jittery at high speeds). There was nothing really crying out to be upgraded; I'm not to crazy about the velociraptor tires, but I can live with them untill I can get someting better. Actually, the only problem I had was with the breaks: While I was descending Mt. Umunhum Road in Los Gatos, my rear break pads stipped some metal from the rims and alerted me with an unnerving hiss. I had to replace one of the pads. The shocks are excellent, despite what others might say. They work in all kinds of weather. Oh yeah! I had to replace those disgusting bar ends; they bend where one's palms would be and dig into them with the sharp edges. The Paragon does well on the road after I put some Tom Slick tires on. I can finally keep up with my friends P-22 Ritchey. Overall, I feel that this is best bike around for the money at a little over one grand. I've had this bike for about one and a half months and I love it! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd W. Miller
a cross-country rider
from Bethel, ME
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I just received my '97 Paragon and have about 5 rides on it. Overall, I'm impressed, it's very light abd does climb well (as many reviewers have said). I too am saddedned by the Indy SL, while it is a very light shock and has 63 mm of travel it lacks torsional rigidity. On fast downhills it doesn't as stable as I'd like. But I did read a review on it and they did say it wasn't great if
you're 190 lbs or more (I'm 190 lbs). I will probably upgrade to a Judy SL after more testing. Otherwise, the bike is built up well the ESP 700 shifters and 7.0 derailier are a smooth combination. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Dole
a cross-country rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is awesome. I bought this bike because I would like to race more. It's a big upgrade from my old Tassajara. The 97 model has an awesome drivetrain, good brakes, and a light frame and fork. My large weighed about 23 pounds. The ESP drivetrain is so smooth. You just twist your wrist and your in the gear you want and gone. The brakes work very well, but I am not so sure if I like the short LX levers. This bike is awesome. Once I get the lighter springs for my fork, the stock ones are to hard for my weight, It will be perfect. Oh, the only thing I am not sure about is the Tires. They say to inflate to at least 45 lbs, but that seems a little hard for what I like. Other than that the bike is great. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy S
a cross-country rider
from SF, CA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Getting my two cents in. I bought a 96' Paragon a couple of months ago and have had nothing but great rides on it. My weight is 160 and I stand at 6'2 so I got the 19.5' frame. This thing rides, and is at 24.5 lbs, very lite; you'll climb like a goat on it. Besides upgrading to LX v-brakes and conti tires the bike is stock, no troubles with the components. I would recomend this bike to anyone, racer or recreational rider. I won my secound race on it so thats got to say something about this bike. ENJOY IT1 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trish
a cross-country rider
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: April 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I purchased the 97 Paragon 14 back in December. Coming from a hybrid, this bike is a breath of fresh air. I tried about 15 bikes before settling on the Paragon. Unfortunately, there are not many bikes out there that fit women under 5'5. I have found that the Paragon fits me quite well. The Indy SL fork has preformed well on the tight, technical single track that I ride.It becomes a little flexy when riding aggressively, however. As a small rider, that does not bother me very much. The components are decent. I have had no problems with the drive train, save for a hideous case of chain suck, which will not go away. The Velociraptor tires have GOT to go...they quickly fill with mud. I intend to replace them in the next month with off-road slicks. Other things that have been replaced already: the saddle has been changed to a Terry Women's Saddle, and the chainwas replaced with a Sachs M55.The Paragon flies down the hills almost as well as a downhill bike, and overall, it is a great climber. I have appreciated the light weight and agility. It is a good value for its price range, but expect to put a few upgrades into it in the first 6 months. The Paragon has also served me well in races. I must say that GF customer service is the best. There was an estimated time of 6 weeks for delivery of my bike to the LBS, but I email GF customer service to see if there was an extra 14 Paragon sitting around somewhere. My bike was shipped the next day, and I was riding it a week later. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Staffan Svensson
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: April 7, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike costed me about 13.000 swedish crowns($1800). I think that this bike was worth every Penny of that. It doesn´t weigh anything with the Rock Shox Indy SL. When I´m riding in the forests I don´t have to think about all the weight that´s rolling under me, It´s like a fether... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albert Lew
a cross-country rider
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I purchased the '96 version of the Paragon in the smallest size (14.5). The bike handles well on tacky surfaces, and it is easy to redistribute your weight on the bike for twisty singletrack and steep climbing. The wheels are holding up extremely well, although they should since I weight < 140lbs. The Answer fork is very stiff and provides good directional control.The downsides are the brakes, the tires, and the fork, in that order. In the small size, the cheesy cantilever hanger for the rear brake hangs at the wrong angle and there is no braking power. Solution: V-brakes. The Psycho tires didn't seem suited to East or West coast riding. Finally, the forks don't offer much travel if you are light. Upgrading the Englund Air improved things considerably.Besides the wheels, the frame is very durable. I crashed against a big granite rock in Massachusetts, and only a small ding was made to the downtube. I've been riding it since, and everything seems okay. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
giovanni sandri
a cross-country rider
from brasilia, brasil
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
essa bike e fera ja ganhei 5 corridas no campeonato estadual | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nanatak
a weekend warrior
from North Pole
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've got the '97 Paragon. It's very light. It climbs well. And it take descents like hell. When the Paragon now is equipped with Indy SL front fork and WTB Velociraptor tires, it must be allowed to call it complete (as far as I can understand). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a weekend warrior
from VA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got the '97 Paragon. Great bike, really light. Nice components- Gripshift ESP 7.0, LX v-brakes, Indy SL fork, Mavic rims, WTB Velociraptor tires. The frame is really cool looking. It's Onyx black. The gussets and welds are nicely done. Awesome bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a cross-country rider
from bend, oregon
Date Reviewed: December 17, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
i just got the '97 paragon and it is awesome. it handles great. you get a great frame with good components for a good price. (i got mine for $1150). best of all, it's american made! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a racer
from San Fransisco
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
love it. I did do a lot of upgrading though. The origanal cranks were cheap and I broke them. Same for the BB and bar. I put a shorter KORE stem on and the bike fits perfect. I like the downhill position more so I'm getting a Riser bar too. Mach 5 is good, but has some stickshun. I just got a Judy FSX with risse and spring and it's the best front shock it ever riden. Bike is great for intermediate-some advanced riding. With a little upgrades, it's a perfect XC racer bike. The origal weight for mine was around 24.5 pound but now it's 22.5 and perfect.
Drew | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Reilley
a weekend warrior
from Chelsea, Me. USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got The '97 Paragon. Only 22.1 lbs with an Indy SL fork and
gripshift ESP derailleur and LX V brakes. This bike climbs great. It has
a real nice feel on rough technical trails and flies on decents. I used
to ride an '91 HKII and I thought that bike was great. This one is like
a porsche compared to it. I was bunny hopping logs and jumping gullies
effortlessly. Wish the fork was a Judy SL but doesn't everone. The welds
are real pretty and neat and the frame is stiff and light. If you have
$1200 and want a new bike, buy this one. You will be glad. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vy Truong
a cross-country rider
from Alexandria, Virginia
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Great hill climber. Little disipointed with the low end shocks on such a awesome bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Schwake
a cross-country rider
from IA.
Date Reviewed: October 15, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I have the 96 Paragon and I love the ride it offers. I really like the paint
job. I like the way the bikes specs and the answer shock works pretty good but is a little stiff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Desmond
a racer
from KS
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is excellent. I have the '95 and it cost me $950 NEW (near christmas of 95). It is light came with great components and handles awesome. Even for the $1200 this bike is worth every penny. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Prep H
a cross-country rider
from san francisco
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I LOVE MY PARAGON. it's a '95, 16, handles great, is light, looks cool, climbs like nothing i've ever ridden. takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. i got it used with some significant upgrades (shimano 737 pedals, better rear derailleur, diff bar ends) so maybe some of the original components were cheesy, i don't know. but regardless this is a lot of bike for the bucks. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy Lum
a weekend warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've just purchased a '96 Paragon to replace the 30+ lb unsuspended anvil I had
been riding. Overall, a great bike that I think will keep me happy for many miles.
When looking for a new bike I had a set some criteria to help me make my selection.
This included relatively light weight (25lbs), front suspension, perhaps an American-
made frame and a parts mix that did not compromise too much (i.e. no steel cranks
and chainrings) and came in at about $1000.
After some initial looking I started to focus on the Trek group (Treks, Fishers, Kliens,
and Bontragers) as well as Marin, Cannondale, and GT's. After riding them all I
decided on the Paragon, which I bought for $1100.
The build quality on the very light Easton ProGram aluminum frame is great. The
welds are very smooth and uniform and the paint job is flawless. The component
mixture is well thought out - XT/LT derailluers, Sugino Impel cranks, X-Ray shifters,
Shimano 535 clipless pedals, Mach 5 Pro XC fork. I know that the fork and tires,
Psycho's, have taken some flak here but the tires are easily replaced and I plan to
keep an eye on the forks. Everything works well and nothing cries out to be
replaced. Bar ends are included as well. At just over 24 lbs, weight is excellent.
The bike climbs very well due to the light weight and responsive frame geometry.
Descents are stable and the shock does a good job absorbing the large bumps,
although I will probably switch to the softer elastomers to try and dampen the small
ones a bit more. The rear LX break seems a bit mushy, but nothing serious. Over-
all, a very competent bike that is fully equipped and ready to rock'n'roll with any
other hardtail out there! It may not have all the high-zoot components like V-brakes
and the 5 SX or Judy fork, but what it has works extremely well. For just over one
large, I don't think that you will find many bikes that offer all that the Paragon does.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Francis
a Norba racer
from Campbell, CA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The '95 paragon is an excellent intermediate-advanced bike that has a
solid frame and well selected parts. The aluminum frame is light but
seems strong looking at the strong gusseted welds. The parts are well
selected with gripshift, xt rear derailleur and 24-speed setup.
On the trail, the short chainstays and light weight make it a climber and it seems very
responsive on singletrack.
The only possible drawbacks are the Onza pedals and Quadra 21 shock may
not be up to snuff with the rest of the bike but it looks like these
two have been upgraded to shimano 535 and Manitou Mach 5 shock.
| | Overall Rating: |
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Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
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Enter here
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$ 1200.00
