Submitted by
kracer
a Cross Country Rider
from Crested Butte, CO, USA Date Reviewed: September 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
401
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Strengths:
Amazing bike for women who like to go fast - light and nimble. Climbs like a mountain goat - the gearing makes it easy to get up anything quickly if you want. Handles downhills smoothly.
Weaknesses:
Don't let the front shock get too soft and you'll be just fine.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, Giant
Bottom Line:
This is the best full-suspension cross-country bike for women out there under $2000. My bike is a 2004 and it's holding up like a champ. Maybe best for smaller riders as the geometry works great for me at 5'4 and 130 lbs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
darrinw2001
a Weekend Warrior
from Valrico, Fl Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
North Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Craig's list
Strengths:
Light frame, sturdy, good geometry, overall solid frame and components
Weaknesses:
top tube is could be angled down more by seatpost. handle bars were a little wide for me, cut 1" off each side
Similar Products Used:
Giant trance, Specialized enduro
Bike Setup:
Pretty much stock 2004 Cake 2 w/ Manitou Black Super Air, Swinger 3 way SPV shock, Panaracer Fire SC pro's, XT and LX components, Avid V brakes,
Bottom Line:
This is my 1st LBS type full suspension and I love it. I have ridden others but I like the feel of this bike and the air shocks. I am a larger "Clydesdale" rider of 260lbs and it works great for me. Got a great deal on a used, only ridden 8 times, looked like it was brand new bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthew
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: March 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Daley Ranch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Trek
Strengths:
This review is for 2005 GF Cake 2. I have had the bike for 8 months and I have about 750 miles on it. The bike is very light for a full suspension. I have been very pleased with the Shimano LX shifters and derailers. The Hayes hydraulic brakes are great. The carbon fiber seat stays are cool and have held up to my punishment. The paint has held up real well and Manitou SPV 3-way has functioned really well. I like the simplicity of a single pivot suspension.
Weaknesses:
I weigh 200 pounds, the Manitou Black Super Air 100mm front shocks could not take the pounding I was dishing out. Pretty much from the start I was bottoming the fork out. Increased pressure did help. I am not a fan of air shocks because of my weight and riding style. The SRAM cassette was horrible. Teeth starting breaking off of the cassette in the first couple hundred miles. I was told this was not covered by the warranty. The stock rear tire only lasted 300 miles. The grips and seat were terrible for the cost of the bike.
Similar Products Used:
This is my first full suspension.
Bike Setup:
GF Cake 2, stock except for the following: RockShox Revelation Coil forks, Shimano XT M760 Cassette, Conti Gravity rear tire
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, however when I purchased it I did not know a lot about full suspension bikes. This bike is an excellent cross country bike. In the stock condition though, it cannot be considered an all mountain full suspension bike, unless you weigh less than 190lbs.
I have had the bike 8 months of which I have ridden around 700 miles. It has held up pretty well. I replaced the front shocks but I should have done that right away. I recently had to replace the cassette because of broken teeth, arrrgh!
Climbing has became very easy on this bike. My climbing skills have impoved immensly and the Manitou 3-way rear shock provides bob free pedaling all of time. Since getting this bike the speed I ride has greatly increased due to its forgiving performance over rough terrain. I don't think there is a bad line when riding this bike, but that was after I replaced the front shock.
I would buy this bike again but I think I would consider buying the Cake with 120mm of travel, although a properly tuned 100mm travel bike works fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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