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Submitted by
Powhanna-J
a
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine rime | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Hornet Sporting goods | | Strengths: | Strong frame, solid fork. Took everything I threw at it and all I've changed in the past three years is the brake pads, and recently the chain and casette. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, but you can't stop this ride! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant butte (tank), kona hanahana | | Bike Setup: | Stock with a thud buster suspension seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I took this bike on Utah trails far and wide, from the Porcupine rim and Slickrock, to the Wasatch Crest trail and this bike handled everything like a dream. Threw on a thud buster and bamb, full-suspension was at my fingertips. I love this bike as it has taken my 210lb frame and made a XC enthusiast out of me. There is no better bike for the money and I will never let this one go. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Encino, Ca
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Reseda T2 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$530.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycology | | Strengths: | Great beginner mountain bike, decent price for o.k components. Deeore derailure is pretty good. Overall solid structure | | Weaknesses: | Fork, the Rock Shock Judy TT isn't very good. Has no adjustments to it, preload, lockout, rebound, none of it. | | Similar Products Used: | My new bike is a full suspension but I have tried the boulder SE | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | It's a very good beginner bike for my first few years, but if you drastically improve very fast, this bike is not for you, for 200 more bucks you can get something alot better. It was fine for me for 2 years, but I just had to let go. It is very dependable, I have friends with Deeore LX deraileurs and they've had many problems. The regualr deeore might not be the best put it sure is dependable. I am currently 16 years old, and it served me well as a beginner. If you plan to improve alot, i'd suggest upgrade to a better hardtail, but if you want to take cross country riding easy, i would very much reccomend this bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
char Hardimon
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Woodford fire trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Blackmans | | Strengths: | Purchased Iguana 2003 model with the new Pilot Rock Shox forks wich give a nice smooth ride. | | Weaknesses: | Cant complain. This is a good mid entry level bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Previous bike is an Avanti Pro series competitor. Paid 3 time as much for it, but enjoy riding iggy more. | | Bottom Line: | Good value for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glen Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Birches | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia Cycle and Ski | | Strengths: | It's been said in every review so far but the catch with this bike is that it is an incredible value! The shifters along with rear derailleur and cogs work well enough for competition. It's light and strong for the price. Looks great. Good stock seat. | | Weaknesses: | Again, everyone has said it but the cranks and front derailleur are considerably less then competition performance (ok, they kind of suck). The upright seating position makes it a bit more effort to keep the front wheel on the ground during steep climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | All the under $1000 bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Deore crank set. | | Bottom Line: | I have to give this bike full marks. I've entered the sport as a novice and found that my bike was able to allow me to grow. By now I ride well and find this bike will take me much farther. I did a lot of study before buying the bike and found it to be the best buy for under a $1000 Canadian. Now my passion for the sport runs high and I've studied and ridden the spectrum of bikes it competes with and again, I find that nothing can touch this bike.
Some may disagree but I like the seat more then seats that are worth 5x as much. After countless kilometers it's never made me sore.
I plan on changing the front derailleur to Deore to match my crank upgrade to complete the Deore component drivetrain. After all my upgrades are done, the bike has still only cost $1000 Canadian (about $650 US) and the bike competes with others worth $250 US more.
The upright position is apparently better on the 2002, but I still feel comfortable with the 25 degree stem. In fact, while on the road it's actually kind of nice.
This is a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Mering
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Sidewinder | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bob's Cycles | | Strengths: | none for the price paid ($600) | | Weaknesses: | -bottom bracket comes loose frequently
-cheap tires
-preload adjuster broke on Judy TT fork
-heavy
-Could have better front derailler than Shimano Alivio
-Had to upgrade rear derailler to Shimano Deore XT
-Tektro brake handles come loose | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fischer Aquila | | Bottom Line: | The Giant Iguana is a good hardtail for a beginner rider. If you have some experience, you'll need a bike with better components. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walter
a Weekend Warrior
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Where no-one has gone before | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Willie Engelbrecht Cycles | | Strengths: | -price
-solid frame
-most components
-can take a beating | | Weaknesses: | -SR crankset
-bottom bracket
-worthless pedals
| | Similar Products Used: | Kona, Trek, Specialised, other Gaints | | Bike Setup: | Clipless pedals, longer less angled stem, Koolstop brakepads, Deore crankset and BB. | | Bottom Line: | Very good bike for the price, but you get what you pay for!
Great for a first bike. Aimed at beginners/intermediates - note the upright seating position.
Gaint gives you a very good frame (strong, kinda light)fork, derailleurs, shifters and brakes, but from then on they try to save money. That is why....:
My bb stopped turning after 4 months and I dont even do jumps.
My chain got completely stuck between the front chainrings, because the gap was too wide (sloppy manufacturing)! That is also why front shifting was bad - not the Alivio's fault.
I've had to true the rear wheel twice.
Tighten the head every now and then.
I've had to pay an extra 130 dollars for upgrades.
I can have heaps of fun really trashing the bike, cause its worth less than a car (unlike other peoples bikes!).
Buy it, you'll like it in the long run.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Birch Trail, MB | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia Cycle & Ski, Winnipeg, MB | | Strengths: | - everything but the weaknesses | | Weaknesses: | - Judy TT fork, Alivio front derailleur, Tektro brake levers, 25 degree stem was too upright (quick and easy swap through the LBS). Pedals with toe straps.
- Note: you get what you pay for, wouldn't expect better components for the price. | | Similar Products Used: | - 1995 Raleigh Serengeti rigid. | | Bike Setup: | - stock with the exception of the stem, changed to an inverted 15 degree.
- 1st real upgrade will be the pedals | | Bottom Line: | - worth every penny, especially for the weekend warrior
- worthy of occasional XC racing with a few upgrades | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keiron
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | none yet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | - light weight
- performance
- well balanced component mix
- value for money
| | Weaknesses: | - non disc rotor ready front Acera hub, no caliper provision on rear stay for brake upgrade to disc (minor)
- SR/Suntour crankset (minor) shifting
- one length crank (175mm) for all frame sizes | | Similar Products Used: | Road bikes only - first MTB | | Bike Setup: | Stock plus SPD pedals (SH-M424) & Cateye Enduro 2 computer. (Michelin WildGripper Comps fitted stock to Australian model) | | Bottom Line: | As an entry level MTB rider, I took the opportunity to save some cash with the Iguana se 2001 model which met my needs with its front V-brake. Overall the bike is light, user friendly & responsive representing great value for money. The lightweight reliable components offer above average performance making the bike an absolute pleasure to ride.
Your average non-competitive rider from entry level through to intermediate would be hard pressed not be delighted with this package. The bike is a great climber, although getting sufficient weight over the rear wheel to avoid wheelspin on those steeper climbs can be a traction challenge. This could of course be exacerbated by a lack of expertise on my part.
Only a couple of minor niggles. Whilst chain suck hasn't been a problem, the SR/Suntour chainwheel lifter design destroys the otherwise silky smoothness of the Deore RapidFire shifters and Deore rear derailleur. Reading the earlier comments here, initially I had blamed the Alivio front derailleur. But IMHO it isn't. Whilst the SR kit is not inadequate, I suspect replacing the SR chainwheel/crankset with Deore would smoothen out front chainwheel change, improving and balancing overall geartrain performance. However it's not urgent, just desirable. Also, with an S frame and being of short inseam, I would also have preferred 170 or 172mm cranks instead of 175. Minor niggles though. I'll just replace the SR with a 170 spin Deore when it wears out. Even on the 2002 Iguana you need to replace it to get that. Overall 5 chills for value, with 4 overall rating for that SR MD302 crankset & one size fits all crank arm length fitment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kieran Koch-Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Prince George,B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | dont have one YET | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia | | Strengths: | Good forks sweet brakes for the value. Its a light one. Great for going uphills because its soooo light. about 23 pounds. | | Weaknesses: | front deraler kinda sux but thats about it | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4900,brodie alpha | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike kick assss. If you want a light easy to ride bike buy this one.I can beat guys on bikes that are as much as my dads car. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Fulton
a Weekend Warrior
from CAlgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in Kananaskis | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Ridley's Cycle | | Strengths: | Good Solid Frame, Excellent components (except Fr. derailleur), great value, rides well in city and cross-country. | | Weaknesses: | The front derailleur (Alivo) needs to be upgraded and If you want to do more cross country a wider tire would be good. And ditch the current pedals for clipless ones if you want (I did). | | Similar Products Used: | The only thing I'd ever ridden until this bike was Raleigh. Last one was the Serenghetti. | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum frame, Judy TT fork, Alivo and Deore derailleurs, Tektro v-brakes, | | Bottom Line: | Awsome bike for the cash, well built, and rides well anywhere. I would bike this bike again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dingo Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Colo. Sprgs., CO
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | chutes ( its all downhill with berms) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle therapy | | Strengths: | Giant is really cool about waranting the bike. Ride Giant!!
Ive broken the frame many times, and giant gives me a new frame, no questions asked!!!. great value! | | Weaknesses: | crappy components, yet the value makes up for it | | Bike Setup: | sram 9.0/xt/marzocchi Z2 Atom 80 | | Bottom Line: | Giant is the best bike company by far because their stuff is cheap, works well, and Giant is willing to replace a frame and renew a warranty. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duane
a Weekend Warrior
from Carrollton, GA USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Perpetual Motion | | Strengths: | This is my second Mt. Bike, my first was a school commuter.
I rode several bikes in this price range and found that this one fit me the best. This bike can take a pounding and keep going. | | Weaknesses: | Components are a good value, but need upgrading. Will do for now. Don't like the seat and plan on replacing it soon. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Ranier, Specialized Hardrock | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike. Can take what you dish out and keeps going.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owen
a
from Alexandria, Va
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountainhead | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$519.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Nice strong frame A little on the heavy side. Would have bought something better but for a budget it is decent. | | Weaknesses: | High weight parts where it matters (Wheels.)Squishy brakes but to be expected in this price range. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6000 with LX and XT, Trek 4500 and 4900 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Good bike for the budget. Don't have your sights set on the finish line without upgrades. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Meccaspy
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Still looking... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$520.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Excellent frame, I like the metallic green/black color scheme. | | Weaknesses: | 25 degree "comfort" stem, Suntour Crankset, Kenda Tires | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500, Trek 4900 | | Bike Setup: | Thomson Elite Stem and Seatpost, Azonic World Force Raiser Bar, XT Crankset, XT front and rear Der. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike for the price. I bought this bike to try and get my riding rythm back and it is an excellent performer. If you are a beginner to intermediate rider looking for a good value then this is it. Just change out the stem, crankset, and the tires and you will have yourself one burly bike! I enjoy riding this bike with my friends who are more advance then I am and ride FS bikes. I will be riding this hardtail for awhile! RIDE GIANT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill W.
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$519.00 | | Purchased At: | Pacific Bicycle | | Strengths: | Judy TT front suspension fork, great rear derailleur, light and durable frame, strong rims, great shifters | | Weaknesses: | front derailleur is fickle | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900, Gary Fisher Marlin, Giant Yukon SE, similar priced bikes from HKS, Specialized Rockhopper, and Kona | | Bike Setup: | Stock components | | Bottom Line: | This bike represents the perfect mix of value and performance for my skill level. I'm a beginning mtb'er, and was looking for a bike that I wouldn't outgrow in a few months. Advanced riders may feel restricted by the bikes features, and upgrades would be a must. For me, the Yukon had the best collection of components for the price, and I felt very comfortable and in control during my test rides. I ultimately chose this over the Trek 4900 as it was $70 less from my local store. I've ridden everything from paved trails to challenging singletracks, and the bike hasn't given me any problems. This is a great bike to introduce yourself to the sport, so buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gavin Doolan
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$410.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Now - Melbourne, Australia | | Strengths: | Drive train, the frame, and the saddle is surprisingly comfy. | | Weaknesses: | The original brake set, and the original Acera hubs. | | Similar Products Used: | Equivalent in Trek and Avanti | | Bike Setup: | Stock + XTR V-Brakes and Levers, XT hubs, Mavic 217 SUP rims, Syncros Stem, Avitar Riser and old 737 clipless. | | Bottom Line: | I use the bike mainly for commuting. For this the bike is perfect. My upgrades obviously make it a bit nicer to ride than the stock version (I had these parts lying around, you see). I have yet to take Iggy, as I have named him, onto the trail, but the forks feel realy nice on the urban dirt. The shifters work well, and the 9 speed cluster is welcome. For the price I payed here in Oz (RRP was US$575), you couldn't get a better bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from Auburn, Illinois, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ace Bicycle | | Strengths: | Killer strong frame, overall kicks butt | | Weaknesses: | crapy brakes..tires are crap on the road, they wear down way to easly | | Similar Products Used: | nothing similar it out there | | Bike Setup: | stock..until next paycheck | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks. I've been trail riding for a little over a year now and totally ruined two bikes. I ride probably three to four hours a day on averge (wheneer I'm not working) and I've put this bike through some tuff stuff. I've hit some trees and put probably 400 miles on it. One weekend i rode through flood water up to my shoulders. N-e-who..this bike holds up and is great for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC USA
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$465.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Source/Park Rd | | Strengths: | The value is there. I comparision shopped for a month. | | Weaknesses: | Definitely the cranks. (I'll be going to splined Deore LX's real soon. The Kenda Tires also suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Looked at Jamis Dakota SX, K2 Zed 3.0, Schwinn GSX, Fisher Marlin, Trek 4900. Buy this over all others under $600 and change the crank & bottom bracket! | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Michelin tires | | Bottom Line: | Buy this for $ 450-470 and spend another $100-150 on tires, cranks, bottom bracket. You will not be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bert
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything without cars | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Elliots | | Strengths: | Excellent rear deraillers, wide handlebars, light frame. Easy to get used to, only notice how good | | Weaknesses: | Shocks heavy & no damping. Pedals medioca | | Similar Products Used: | Diamond Back Topanga, Shogun TB4 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for a set bar ends & standard ride to work accessories. | | Bottom Line: | Shopped around, best componentry you get these sort of $. Wouldn't take any of the other similar price bikes onto tracks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Krash
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Box to JPL | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Two Wheels One Planet | | Strengths: | Gets you started and lets you fall in love with the sport. Good Price, you get what you pay for. Very Upgradeable!! Comfort seat... feels like suspension seat post. | | Weaknesses: | Low/Mid grade components will begin to break as your riding level and the difficulty of terrain increase. Will need to upgrade components to meet the challenges!! Hubs aren't disc ready. | | Bike Setup: | Panaracer Fire DH Pro 2.3 tires, Shimano SPD-M646 pedal, XT cranks (older model) | | Bottom Line: | Over all good hardtail bike for beginners and intermidiates. It is allowing me to develop as a rider. For tough terrain it'll need upgrades in the fork, crank, brakes, front derailure, and tires. Sounds like a lot of changes but only if you plan to ride HARD! I ride with guys on full suspension XC & Freeride bikes, such as the Schwinn 4banger, GT i-Drive, and the Giant AC1, and I'm never far behind!! They don't call me Krash for nothing... the frame has taken a beating and is still goin' strong. I love it when were discussing bikes and a lady asks what I have... a Giant Iguana of course! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sweetened & Condensed - Lysterfield | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle SuperStore | | Strengths: | -Strong, light frame
-Reliable shox
-Decent components/drivetrain
-Light, strong rims and very nice tires | | Weaknesses: | Um... doesn't come in any other colour than red/black! | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose DX 4.0 | | Bike Setup: | Deore drivetrain, Tektro brakes, RS Judy fork 80mm, Michelin WildGripper Comp tires, Weinemann ZAC 19 rims w/Shimano hubs | | Bottom Line: | A good, fast sturdy bike that is light enough to cruise up hills with ease. Intermediate racing bike that has features good enough to last a long time. The value is excellent for the money you pay! Ideal for the intermediate XC rider, not for beginners or experts! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$370.00 | | Purchased At: | Second hand | | Strengths: | -Fairly strong frame
-Deore derailler/shifters
-Good paint job
-Good components | | Weaknesses: | -Cranks flex | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I got a sweet deal 'cos this guy had his old bike stolen and replaced and now he doesn't want it, never ridden. Anyway, a good starters bike and good parts mix for around $500. The for hasn't got any damping and the seat is a little hard but it's one of those 'shut up and get used to it things' | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alan buchanan
a Weekend Warrior
from boynton bch florida
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ft. pierce | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | downtown cycles ft lauderdale | | Strengths: | awsome value. great frame, judy tt fork,deore derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | crank set broke in less than a month. I dont like the 'comfort recreation bike' feel of the 25 degree rise stem, but that can be fixed easily enough for thirty bucks. | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn mesa gs & gsx, specialized hardrock a1 comp fs, gary fisher marlin, iron horse desperado. | | Bike Setup: | stock other than truvativ team stylo cranks and shimano m324 clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | the best equiped bike for the money. other bikes of this quality cost $1000. the crank set sucks, but you will never get high end cranks on sub $1000 bikes. I love this bike so far. I beat the hell out of and it holds up well it also performs well. I smoke alot of guys on bikes that cost as much as cars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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