Submitted by
SR92
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA Date Reviewed: September 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
North Park
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$720.00
Purchased At:
Trek of Pittsburgh,
Strengths:
Genesis geometry with 100mm of travel makes it flexible in the right parts and stiff in the others. Shimano Deore XC componentry with Avid cantilever brakes make it light and easy for the rider. The components come ready to build up with disc brake ready hubs and easily built up steering. Paint job is very pretty on the 2007 (Chi Red/Black).
Weaknesses:
Bontrager AC-X tires wear poorly if it is ridden often on road or hard surfaces. The Bontrager seat that comes stock offers little support (I'm looking to switch to a WTB Pure V.
Similar Products Used:
'92 Jazz Voltage (by Trek. Test rode several high end bikes (GF Hi-Fi, Pivot Firebird, Trek Top Fuel) for comparison.
Overall a great choice for a serious starter mountain biker looking to get into a combination of environments. The Tassajara has a can-do attitude with the frame strength to handle some pretty good trails. I've ridden it on 20+ mile road trips and had fun on off road trails (6/10). I am very happy with its performance and look forward to many more years riding it. Great bike for the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mandible
a Cross Country Rider
from Royal Oak, MI, USA Date Reviewed: August 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Maybury Sanitorium
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Main Street Bikes, S
Strengths:
Excellent Geometry (not G2); great on both climbs and descents, no problem with the frame durability, good parts for the price.
Weaknesses:
Consistent trail riding (3-4 times a week) will wear out parts in first couple years.
Bike Setup:
'05 GF Tassajara:
Stock handlebar, stem & seatpost, upgraded everything else (see my profile for complete parts list)
Bottom Line:
This is a great entry level trail bike for those just getting into mtb'n like i did 4 years ago. Once you get your skill level up and parts start to wear out, upgrade as necessary. Don't be afraid to install high end parts on this frame, i've spent about $2,500 on upgrades over the last 1 1/2 years since i started racing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
coppersmith99
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona, USA Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Long top tube and Genesis Geometry suits my 6'3" frame and riding style.
Weaknesses:
With less than 5 years of light road riding (I ride a hardtail with 1.5's instead of a road bike), having never crashed the bike once, both main tubes have completely cracked through the tubes and the welds where they meet the bottom bracket.
Similar Products Used:
Ironically enough, I purchased my first GF in 1999 - a Mt. Tam for $1500. I retired that frame and hung it on the wall when I bought the Tassajara described above that failed. When I went to build the Mt. Tam back up again to use while dealing with Trek's warranty department, I discovered that the weld between the front tube of the main triangle and the bottom bracket had cracked and failed about 2/3 of the way around.
Bike Setup:
The Pilot fork was o.k., the rest of the spec was pretty poor - tektro, LX or below, etc.
Bottom Line:
Don't believe the hype about the Gold Series Aluminum frameset, or those who proclaim how tough it is. I am 6'3", 190 lbs - hardly one of the bigger guys who is going to ride an XL frame - and not one, but two of Gary's frames have failed where the main tubes meet the bottom bracket. I am currently waiting for a response from Trek's warranty department. I will let you know how they treat a loyal rider when I hear from them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lampy29
a Racer
from NY USA Date Reviewed: January 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Letchworth State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Towpath bikestore
Strengths:
Price - really can't beat the quality vs the price on this bike. The geometry is rock solid and the frame is tough as nails.
Matte black is awesome and really resilient (so far) to scratching and dents, but who cares about that?
Good enough for any weekend warrior
Weaknesses:
rear derailleur isn't up to par for races - experienced skip & ghost shifting during and after my first race and can't fix it.
Stock rear tire is awful
Pedals are dangerous on singletrack. Replace them as fast as you can.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Marlin
Gary Fisher Piranha
Trek 820
Cannondale Scalpel team (wish I had the $$$ for this one)
Bike Setup:
Shimano M520 clipless pedals, Michelin Dry2 in rear, otherwise stock.
Bottom Line:
This is the best mid level bike available. Despite the flaw of including such low quality pedals on a serious mountain bike I negate this mistake in the rating because the fix is so easy and cheaply rectified. If you're new to mountain biking this may be the perfect bike for you as it includes components and a frame that are stocky enough to stand up to the abuse of a beginner or intermediate rider while being light enough to climb like a goat.
The shock is an enormous upgrade from that on the Piranha and lower Gary Fisher's and after riding my Piranha for 1 year + and growing out of it I went to my LBS and test rode a 'Tass. I was blown away. The Rock Shox Solo Air is incredible. It soaks up everything so much more smoothly than the lower quality Axel, and is also much lighter. The adjustability of the shock is also an enormous benefit and is easily done to match shock reaction to terrain conditions. This shock makes riding more enjoyable and comfortable.
This bike seems to have been designed to the casual mtb'er and the components included are good enough for that grade of rider. The Shimano LX grouping offers smooth shifting and the hydraulic brakes are perfect for XC riding, and offer much improved feel over the cable actuated disk brakes found in cheaper Gary Fisher bikes.
However if you are interested in XC racing this bike will perform very well with some tweaks. (pedals upgraded to clipless, tubeless conversion, upgrade rear derailleur, new tires) If I had realized I would be racing at the time I made my purchase I would have chosen a different bike but for hard riding this bike performs perfectly for what it has been made for.
I have gotten one of my friends into mtb and am helping him choose a bike. This is the one I've suggested to him.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pintail45
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX USA Date Reviewed: December 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$820.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles Plus (Dalla
Strengths:
Killer looks, great value, Genesis geometry makes climbing fun
Weaknesses:
A little on the heavy side, uncomfortable Bontrager saddle, cheap pedals
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper FSR, Santa Cruz Chameleon
Bike Setup:
'08 model (matte black) with upgrades...Recon 351, SLX crankset and cassette, XTR chain, PD-A530 pedals, Maxxis Ignitors 26x2.1, Sette Rev saddle, Moab lock-on grips
Bottom Line:
I LOVE this bike. Originally ordered a HKEK but they were on back order so I settled for the Tass. No regrets!!! This bike climbs better than anything I've ever been on and handles well on the downhills too.
Best mod I made was to ditch the saddle for a Sette Rev ($15 @ price point). Docking it 1 chili overall for the horrendous saddle and pedals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
videopelli
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs Date Reviewed: November 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Palmer Park / Falcon Trail
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Old Town Bike Shop
Strengths:
Geometry
Weaknesses:
Bontrager stem (the very samall warning sticker says (essentially) "Don't use for mountain biking
Similar Products Used:
GF HooKooEKoo
Bike Setup:
CTX carbon bar, Easton EA70 stem, Marzocchi 700SL, full SRAM X9, Shimano XT crankset, Mavic CrossRide wheels, eggbeater pedals
Bottom Line:
Great frame but needs upgrading almost immediately. I made the mistake of upgrading the stem first - the mistake was buying a much longer stem (100mm) than I needed. I then spent a year laid out on the bike, wondering why my lower back hurt so much. Went back to a 90mm/6deg stem, and the magic is back. Bottom bracket is a little flexy, but that helps absorb some of the bumps. I've taken this bike on the Kokopelli Trail from Fruita to Moab, commutes of 38 miles round trip, and lunch time rides on the Air Force Academy (don't laugh until you've done it). If you are looking for a good frame with decent components, and plan to upgrade over time, this is a great bike. If you want quality immediately, look somewhere else. The OEM components are mostly trash for anything other than bike paths.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ZombieFood
a Weekend Warrior
from Margate, Florida Date Reviewed: September 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Markham Park, Oleta State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
craigslist / local
Strengths:
Lightweight. Climbs very well. Descends well. Very agile and responsive. Good components all around.
Weaknesses:
None yet. I love this bike
Similar Products Used:
Honda Trail Pilot
Bike Setup:
2005 stock except it had WTB dual duty wheels and WTC 2.24 Raptors. Suspension seat post.
Bottom Line:
My first real mountain bike. I started riding at Markham Park in Florida and love it. I rode a full suspension before but it was heavy and didn't climb all that well. All the reviews here said this bike climbed like a goat and they weren't kidding. This bike is amazing. Its 3 yrs old but hardly ridden. The stock forks could possibly be better but so far they have not bottomed out or gave me any problems other than the lockout not working. Again its a used bike so that's not a big deal. I am hooked on Gary Fisher bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Revivalll
a Weekend Warrior
from Shelley, Idaho USA Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hot Potato
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Idaho Mt. Trading
Strengths:
I just started biking again from a 13 yr break so i cant give a real technical review. All I can say is for the past 3 months ive been ridaing every chance I get and this bike has been awesome!! I dont remember my old GT Avelanche performing even close to this. This bike climbs like a horse. I believe that I wll be a lifetime GF rider. In fact I cant see me needing to upgrade anytime soon, the bike can do more than I can. Great bike for a beginner and in my opinion for an intermediate rider as well.Plus I think its the best looking stock bike around, matte black finish is sweeeeet looking because Im not a "shiny" guy.
Weaknesses:
After the first week I replaced the saddle. I dont know if its a crappy saddle or a personal thing but it definitely didnt work for me!!
Bike Setup:
Stock except for new saddle.
Bottom Line:
Great deal on a great bike. Would recommend to any one getting to know mountain biking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a
from San Diego, CA USA Date Reviewed: May 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Santee
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$860.00
Purchased At:
Black Mountain Bikes
Strengths:
Awesome Geometry, Great Lockout/Solo Air Fork feature, Good looking bike, Smooth Shifters, Climbs Well
I've researched over a month before deciding to get this bike. My first priority in getting a bike was: The feel of the ride, the price, and the components. So I went to my local Trek bike shop and saw a Trek 6000. Very good looking bike, and decent components. I test rode it, but it didn't "feel" right. So the dealer recommended me the GF Piranha. Around the same price range, similar components, but it has hydraulic brakes. Unfortunately, all Piranhas in 17.5 were all sold out all over San Diego.
So I did some more research and shopped around some more and I test rode some of the mtb's from Specialized like Rockhopper, Stumpjumper and the hardrock's but they all didn't "feel" right for me. Then I test rode a GF Marlin and I loved the Genesis Geometry, but lacked good components. Long story short, all of the bikes I was interested in were all sold out everywhere! But the Tassajara was the only one left to try, and there was only one more in San Diego.
As soon as I got on it, I knew it was mine. Honestly for the price, you can't get any better components on any other bike than in the Tassajara. The Shimano Deore shifters were smooth, the LX derailleurs were great, the solo air/lockout option on the fork were great (esp for street riding), and the hydraulic brakes were responsive, and not to mention, the matte black finish on the bike is beautiful.
The only thing I do not recommend on this bike, that every other Tass owners has and will complain about is the Saddle. You're pretty much sitting on a rock. So I will be replacing that soon, as well as the grips and pedals. But those are very minor replacements.
It climbs great and descends amazingly. I am completely happy with this bike and I made a great decision. It was a little more expensive than I originally planned, but like I said, for the package that it has, it was worth it. As an advice in buying a bike, don't just go out there and stick with one bike. Research and test ride as many bikes as you can until you find one that "feels" right.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nige
a Weekend Warrior
from Bahrain Date Reviewed: May 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
Skate Shack
Strengths:
Great bike for the price and good for single track and hammering the trails. I'm a fan of the genesis frame setup and the fit felt very good. I had the 19.5 frame and I'm 6ft.
Weaknesses:
The frame cracked after 16 months use on the seat tube. Seat is awful.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 930 / Hifi
Bike Setup:
Changed the stock parts over the year to continental tires, shimano M545 pedals, cool stop brake pads, thud buster and block 8 seat.
Bottom Line:
Until the frame cracked I had no complaints. The bike needed a few upgrades to keep me happy. The stock tires are ok and lasted 3000 k but the continentals were much better. The seat is terrible, I gave it 500 k to break in but gave up. The genesis frame works very well for my size and climbed well and felt very controllable and fast on the trails.
Fisher refunded my total money on the bike after 16 months so no complaints with the customer service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Max S
a Weekend Warrior
from Saratoga, CA Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fremont Older
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Summit Bikes
Strengths:
Uphill is great, hydraulic disc brakes have good stopping power, Genesis Geometry builds confidence and skills. Tora 302 Air SoloAir fork is really good. Lockout is also very helpful for street riding. There are also great components on the bike for the price level.
Weaknesses:
Seat is pure crap. Handle bar grips are mediocre and so are the pedals. But it does not really matter because they are easily and cheaply replaced. It is also hard to get the front disc to be positioned properly. I have to take off the front wheel when I put the bike away, the next time I have to spend some time getting the wheel positioned so that the disc does not rub.
Similar Products Used:
Test rode Specialized Rockhopper Disc and Fisher Piranha.
Bike Setup:
Stock 2008 w/ Giant toe clips
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price. I spent several months researching bikes before deciding on this one. The difference between this bike and other bikes at this price range is the quality of the components that Fisher uses. It does use crappy pedals, grips, seat and mediocre tires, but those are the parts that are most often replaced because of personal preferences of riders. The savings from putting crappy replaceable components means that the money is spent on harder to replace components such as derailleurs (Deore and LX), shifters (Deore), brakes (Shimano M485 hydro discs) and fork (RockShox 302 SoloAir). Fisher also uses a very good frame from the start so upgrading components (which will probably happen only if I break something) is easy because the frame won't decrease the performance of the parts.
One of the best values out there, however, Trek is very slow in making more. I got one of the last 17 in California and they will not make anymore until May. If you can get your hands on one, get it. When I was comparing bikes at different bike shops, one salesman said, after looking at the components on the Tassajara, "Wow. Nope, we don't sell anything this good here."
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Ohio Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Strengths:
The bike is very light and nimble. Very easy to control. Confidence inspiring geometry! The stock Bontrager tires are very good. Overall quality of components is impressive for the price!
Weaknesses:
Stock seat is not for long rides.
Similar Products Used:
Felt, Giant
Bike Setup:
Bone Stock
Bottom Line:
I bought the Tass to start mountain biking again after ten years away. My last bike was a Paramount Series 90 (1993). I also rode a new Felt and Giant both of which seemed heavier and less responsive. This bike will climb like a goat and can fly downhill. My first true test came at Ray's MTB in Cleveland (awesome place) which is an indoor mountain bike park. I was instantly impressed with the bikes handling! I gained my confidence quickly on the Tass and feel that it will grow with me as I relearn all of my lost skills. I am very pleased with my purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chad
a Cross Country Rider
from minneapolis, mn usa Date Reviewed: October 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
theo wirth
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
penn cycle richfield
Strengths:
great frame and shimano deore components
Weaknesses:
None, love it! I'll upgrade as necessary.
Bike Setup:
stock with minimal upgrades
Bottom Line:
Really great bike all around. I commute 27 miles roundtrip a day and with a few minor adjustments, hit up the local single track trails on the weekends (which are awesome if anyone knows Theo Wirth Parkway!) Needed a few adjustments after the first 200 miles to chase the squeeks and rattles away but what wouldn't? Overall a really solid stock setup with a great frame to keep improving over the years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cessna Riel
a
from Orlando, FL Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$640.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Genesis Geometry, component group, easy to upgrade.
Weaknesses:
Manitou Axel Air Platinum 100 Fork, Bontrager Jones XR Tires.
Bike Setup:
2006 Tassajara upgraded with Avid BB7 Disks 160mm Rotors, Avid Speed Dial 7 levers, Wellgo wpd 95B (two sided clipless/platform pedal), and 2008 Fox Vanilla RLC.
Bottom Line:
Gary Fisher put together a good combination of quality components and affordable pricing in the Tassajara. The geometry leads to a excellent handling and once you get the seat position/stem/handlebar combination right it is comfortable for longer rides. The only major detraction from this bike has to be the fork. I does go stiff after around an hour of riding, though the adjustments function well(minus the compression adjustment once it gets stiff). Drive train functions flawlessly. The stock brakes work great for XC and city riding. They have good feel and modulation. The stock tires throw up tremendous amounts of sand and tend to slide around a bit more than what is comfortable on loose packed surfaces but seem to have good grip over most everything else. This bike fits perfect for someone who is looking for a good valued fun reliable bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Carson
a Racer
from Austin Texas U.S.A. Date Reviewed: September 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Greenbelt
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Sport Shop
Strengths:
Very upgradeable, great bike for the price, good component mix.
Weaknesses:
The geometry is too laid back for me, the fork isn't the best.
This bike is a great bike for the money and can go as far as you take it. If you race more you can upgrade to shed some weight, but for the price it is unbeatable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tjay
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, Ca. USA Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
joseph grant park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$594.00
Purchased At:
STbikes a.k.a. TREK
Strengths:
Just bought the bike about 4 hours ago.
Weaknesses:
must replace the seat and the bulky pedals, tires are not so good. I hear noise when I do sharp turn in the front wheels. Not sure if its the tires or what.
Similar Products Used:
hmm...Diamond back only thing is this Gary Fisher is about 7 lbs lighter :)
Bike Setup:
stock.
Bottom Line:
Light weight. 15.5" weighs 28 lbs. Shift is great. I am not leaning forward anymore like my '99 TREK 930 singletrack. Only spent $643 out the door w/ free $5 bottle and $100 tune up!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Jasper, Texas, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Bike Beat (Newport News, VA)
Strengths:
Fairly light, nice aggressive stance, very controllable. Best component group I could find in this price range. Great platform to build on if you're not ready to jump into the $1500+ range of bikes. Can be lightened to about 25lbs without to much fuss.
Weaknesses:
Stock hand grips (usually end up numb after 2-2.5 hrs. on the trail), a little on the heavy side (about 29lbs for 19" when I bought it). Seat post always seems to slide down a bit no matter how tight I adjust the clamp.
Similar Products Used:
1998 Kona Hahanna (chromoly, not aluminum), not really in the same class, just the only other mountain bike I have ridden for any length of time.
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for panaracer (120 TPI) fire XC's, shimano CN 7701 chain, and X9 rear derailleur and shifters (I can't recommend these enough, shifts seem like they are instant), a few other odds and ends. Next stuff to go will be the fork and the seat, followed by change to tubeless tires. Stock LX derailleur worked fine, but hanger failure led to a cascade effect resulting in destruction of the derailleur, some spokes, and the chain many miles from home.
Bottom Line:
I ride a combination of urban and trail. Lately have been riding in Korea with some friends with full suspension rigs way out of my league, but still managing to hang. Climbs great (our climbs here are NOT switchbacks, straight up) and descends well, easy to control. The front fork is a 2005 Axel Elite and it definitely has some limitations, but is performing well considering the abuse I'm giving it. Overall I love this bike and would buy it again. I researched and test rode quite a few bikes before deciding on this one and nothing else felt quite like this one. Fisher geometry may not be for everyone but it works for me. One bad thing, it almost encourages me to ride beyond my abilities. We usually hit rapid descents here, 35 to 45 degree declines of tight single track with lots of overhanging trees, grabber vines, and a ridiculous amount of pedestrian traffic and I always feel well under control so I come down way faster than I should. The aforementioned pedestrians are always in danger from us and we often end up bailing down a gully or into bushes to prevent international incidents. The stock brakes are nothing to write home about, but I weigh 185lbs and they haven't left me hanging.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Vazquez
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA. Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
La Mission
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Trek Bikes San Diego
Strengths:
Control. I'm comming from a 4500 Trek and this Tassajara seems to make it better at high speed and downhill. 9 Speed versus 8 of the trek makes also a little different.
Weaknesses:
The geometry seems to be better but some how throws me at a position were my hands go numbness. When Going on a trail for more than 2 hours can't feel my hand(s) and it's quite alarming, sometimes I feel like I'll have no control of the bike or brakes, I actually have to lift and shake my hands every 3 to 4 minutes to get the circulation back. Occassioanlly it takes more than just the hands. This never happened with the Trek 4500
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4500
Bike Setup:
Tassajara stock with shimano clips.
Bottom Line:
I will reccomend this bike if the trails are fast or with certain downhills, but I think you should think twice before get on it if you're a long trail rider, cause the geometry will push you back causing pressure in your shoulders and numbness on hands and fingers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nic
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio Date Reviewed: March 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bike World?
Strengths:
Very durable. I ride cross country, but I enjoy hitting the jumps on any trail that I go to. I have stock everything and all of my components are working fairly well.
Weaknesses:
I bottom out the on few occasions. I've had to pump it up once. Not a big issue. The wheels need to be trued, but this is after owning the bike for three years. It is in dire need of a tune up
Similar Products Used:
This is my first XC bike since getting back into riding
Bike Setup:
upgraded to pedals to be more connected to bike.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike. I would recommend it to anyone. I am 6'4" and ride the 21" frame. It is extremely durable for a weekend warrior XC rider. I got the bike in 2004 at the end of the year and got an excellent deal. This bike is very good at climbing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Austin
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas Date Reviewed: March 4, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Bike World
Strengths:
Durability, Genesis Geometry
Weaknesses:
Somewhat heavy frame. If you are a big guy or gal I would make sure that frame flex is not an issue before purchasing, however if you're like me (145lbs) this is a non-issue.
Bike Setup:
RockShox Recon 351, eggbeater pedals
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great value and comes with wonderful geometry. My skills are somewhat beyond this bike's capabilities, as I am too poor to get another bike, but it holds up extremely well and has some room for upgrades. I would STRONGLY suggest installing a better fork. After installing my Recon 351 it was like a switch was flipped, it instantly rode better in all respects.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich Zelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Kings Park, NY Date Reviewed: February 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Long Island Greenbelt Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$720.00
Purchased At:
Adams Cyclery
Strengths:
Genisis Geometry is a big plus. I'm comming off a Specialized Hardrock, and the difference is like night and day. You sit a little more stretched out, so your weight sits differently than it would on a conventional frame. More control in decents and climbs, solid as a rock, good color, easy to upgrade to discs, who could ask for more in a frame? On the topic of brakes, somthing some people seem be unsatisfied with, I am perfectly happy. I spend about 60% of my time on the street, going to town or to school, but the other 40% I spend on the local trails, nothing too technical, but there are plenty of major changes in elevation, in both directions. Long story short, the breaks stop me plenty quick, and very smoothly. I'b beccome accustomed to a SRAM X-5 8-speed drivetrain. Once again, the difference when switching up to the Deore and LX combination with 9 speeds is like night and day. The shifting is so smooth, espicialy in the low end where it matters the most. Some people find them strange, but the BMX style stock pedals were great for me. They were a strong, simple platform that grips well into regular old sneakers.
Weaknesses:
One of my few complaints is that the top end of the third sproket up front is a little low for my taste, but this is because I use her as a commuter during the week. One of my other gripes is the seat. I know people always say stock seats are garbage, but this is rediculus. I'v got a Specialized BG1 now which does the trick for me. The stock tires don't suit me well at all. The knobs are too spread out to work well on the pavement and are too shalow to grip the dirt well. They give you the worst of both worlds, and they are noisey on the road. I'm getting a set of slicks for the week and some better knobbies for the weekend and summer.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper (my dad's) Hardrock Sport Disc (brothers) Hsrdrock Sport (old, mine)
Bike Setup:
Specialized BG1 seat, Crank Brothers Mallet C pedals
Bottom Line:
An amazing bike, one of the best in its price rage. Alot nicer than the Specilaized Hardrock Pro at the same price. Get a 1 year old left over so you can have the nicer color from 2006 (matte grey) and save a good deal of cash!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond,VA, USA Date Reviewed: October 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Agee's
Strengths:
Solid Fisher design.
Weaknesses:
Tire's. Brakes if you are a hardcore trail rider.
Similar Products Used:
1993 Marin ?, 1997 Gary Fisher Wahoo.
Bike Setup:
Kenda Kross Pluss Tires, Toe Clip Pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. I have set it up for city riding and light trail so the stock V brakes suit me fine. The air forks are interesting and even though they are on the low end they are very adjustable.
I would like to see Fisher make 29er bike in this budget range, but I am very happy with this bike and ride.
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Submitted by
Trogdor
a Weekend Warrior
from Larkspur (in Marin), CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Eldridge Grade
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$660.00
Purchased At:
The Village Peddler
Strengths:
Great frame - the Genesis geometry really helps when climbing or descending by lowering the rider's center of gravity. Great Shimano Deore and Deore LX drivetrain, especially for the price of the bike! I like the Bontrager "Crowbar Sport" handlebar - it has a cool shape and actually has pictures of crows' heads on it! The matte gray color looks really good with all the other black parts, in my opinion. The Manitou Axel Platinum Air 100 fork has the helpful lockout feature, which is quite helpful on streets or on slow steep climbs.
Weaknesses:
The brakes aren't that great, especially on steep downhill sections. I'm considering upgrading to disc brakes. Also, the saddle gets uncomfortable after a while - I'm condidering purchasing a new saddle. The Bontrager tires can slip in loose terrain sometimes when climbing or when braking on steep downhill descents- I'm considering purchasing some new tires, too [probably WTB Veloci Raptors because they have a cool name, they look cool, and they got really cool (I mean good) reviews]
Similar Products Used:
An green older Tassajara (I forgot what year its from) Another 2006 Gary Fisher Tassajara that got stolen
Bike Setup:
Stock for now.
Bottom Line:
This is a great mountain bike for the price, so if you're on a budget, be sure to check it out. If you buy one, you'll have a great time on the trails (unless you crash or something...). If you're really serious about riding, consider getting some disc brakes and maybe clipless pedals. Of course, if you do have the extra money, you could purchase an even higher quality hardtail with Gary Fisher's Genesis geometry, like the Hoo Koo E Koo or the Big Sur. Or you could even purchase a full-suspension bike for easier downhill riding. But this is a wonderful bike at a low price of $720 MSRP, and I highly recommend it!
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Submitted by
miles boswell
a Weekend Warrior
from knoxville tennessee US Date Reviewed: July 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
bigfoots
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
river sparts
Strengths:
the frame is good strong great welds
Weaknesses:
front shocks suck i got morchushi 70-100mm ajustable shocks brakes suck also i bought avid disks 6 inch they get the job done
Similar Products Used:
gary fisher bitter
Bottom Line:
good bike for the price but get disk brake and new shocks if you are going to be dirt jumping
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Parker
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Petersburg, FL, USA Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fern Trail, Tallahassee, FL (not much left now)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
BICYCLE OUTFITTERS, Seminole, FL
Strengths:
The frame looks very strong, and I am a big guy so the gnarly welds make me feel more confident. The component set was great for the price, and the air shock worked out well for me (once again, I am a big guy).
Weaknesses:
In short, brakes and pedals. Kind of a given at this price.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6500 and Cannondale F400
Bike Setup:
Stock with slicks.
Bottom Line:
I shopped around for a long time, and finding a good bike at this price point was not easy. It seems like the answer is always in the 1K+ bike, which I was not ready to commit to after not being on a bike for the last 4 years.
A few years ago I tested a fisher and did not like the ride, so I excluded them from my shopping. On the day I decided to buy my bike I went out to buy the Trek 6500, once at the local shop I saw this bike and took it for a spin. Well, the ride was great (not like I remembered), and the components on this bike were nicer than the Trek. I was sold.
I have since put some miles on the bike (urban rides, no trails in my county), and have been impressed with it so far (no issues at all). Once I get it really broken in I will post more experience.
In my eyes this is a good bike for someone starting out, or for someone looking to retire their full rigid. If you get serious, or are serious expect to do some upgrades to what is a really solid foundation.
Good luck!
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