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Submitted by
Bill Harkrider
a Cross Country Rider
from Brooklyn, NY. USA
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Beth Page | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | R and A cycles | | Strengths: | Frame, light weight, cranks and tires. | | Weaknesses: | Koski seat is uncomfortable and judy C fork is a bit heavy with limited adjustment. The front derailleur had to be replaced rather early. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamond Back, Gary Fisher, GT | | Bike Setup: | Basically stock, except for the seat - Installed a nice Selle Italia Flite genuine gel, Time Atac pedals, and second set of Michelin tires. | | Bottom Line: | For the price, I couldn't have asked for a more durable, lighter bike. I cannot say enough about the frame. It's super light and stiff, so it helps me to climb like a goat. The components are a good mix between performance and price. I still have the Judy fork, only because the only complaint I have about it is it's weight. It hasn't let me down yet, and I don't have a pressing need to replace it. I plan on upgrading to disc brakes(it comes with disc hubs), especially since we've had the most rain I've seen in a long time here in NY. The fork will be upgraded eventually as well, maybe to a Manitou Black or Fox Float. That's about it. The rest of the components work pretty well, with the exception of the Deore front derailleur. You won't be disappointed with this ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sophy Christian Bun
a Cross Country Rider
from Carrollton, TX USA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bar H (devil's backbone | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun & Ski Sport | | Strengths: | This bike is super strong and super light. Iam a BMX by heart and this was a great intoduction to mountain biking. | | Weaknesses: | The front shock could be better and did not like the deore/xt combo the the derailler. i also had some creeking with the crank, but over all the bike is great | | Similar Products Used: | first mtb | | Bottom Line: | the bike is super strong and great for any xtreme cycos out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J Greg Kline
a Cross Country Rider
from Everett, WA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to list..... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$560.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeBarn/Ebay | | Strengths: | Frame...bar/stem....component group (though it is early) | | Weaknesses: | seat hard? cant seem to get shock to stiffen up much. | | Similar Products Used: | replaced 95 stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | stock xtcse2, Oury grips, Control Tech bar ends, swapped Avid SD5/3 for Avid SD7/7, Velocirapter rear tire, Ritchey clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Overall the bike is strong. First ride was smooth. Front end is a bit higher than old stump was. Judy C seams good, though it could use more adjustment, would like a Duke XC later. Early report, will write more later in season. Solid hardtail for the $$. 4 chilis for overall because its early. Put 6 months on it..then grade it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, FL
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | San Felesco | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | Frame, rear deraileur, mavic rims | | Weaknesses: | Seat, front deraileur | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock - better chain | | Bottom Line: | I've enjoyed the bike so far. The bike shop, "Chain Reaction" upgraded my chain on the spot. Frame is nice and light. Total weight is good, but may improve after Judy C forks are upgraded. Front derailleur is a gonna go first though. The shop that sold me the bike hooked me up with some nice extras and have made the whole purchase worth it based on price, product, and support. Great bike for the money. Bike will not "need" upgrades anytime soon, but a couple changes will make this bike top notch. I looked at Trek, Cannondale, and Gary Fisher before I decided on the Giant XTC SE2, based on weight, frame quality, and stock components. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GS
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago IL
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Moraine, Palos | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | 21st Century Cycle | | Strengths: | This is for the 2002 Model. Price versus components is great, RaceFace Cranks and rings, XT rear derailler, Titec cockpit...and the fork is AWESOME! The whole bike is black...and just plain looks evil! Gotta love it. | | Weaknesses: | Well, not crazy about a Delore front derailler, and the tires...well..Giant was going for lightweight with Hutchinson Mosquitos. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona, Navarro (REI) | | Bike Setup: | Changed the tires and front derailler. Tossed the Mosquitos and put on velocirapters and an XT front derailler. | | Bottom Line: | I couldn't find a line for the 2002's so I stuck it here. I had a Kona, and was looking for better bike. When I priced this bike and what was on it, and then matched that against what other bikes were with similar components, this was about a $400.00 to $600.00 savings. I looked at the SE1 (top hardtail model) and decided against it. There are some differences, but the money is the SID fork and tubeless tires on the SE1, and frankly, have see too many people with tubeless setups that end up sticking tubes in them anyway. Besides, both the SE1 and the SE2 use the exact same frame. Save the $600.00 bucks and get the SE2.
The big surprise was the fork on this bike. Giant must read these things, because putting the RockShox Duke XC on this was a great move. I was thinking of putting a SID on until I rode the Duke. Not going to worry about it now. I did toss the tires and the front derailler. I think Giant could charge another 25 bucks and put an XT on the front end. Everything else is fine. Sure, as things wear out I am going to put on upgrades to the cassette, etc., but what comes on it is awesome for the price!
The frame is definately stiff, and climbs well, tracks well, and corners wonderfully. The rims (Mavic 221) are not designed for doing dropoff and downhilling. The bike is definately a XC bike. If your wanting to do serious drops and downhilling, either be prepared to upgrade the rims quickly, or look at getting a bike that was designed for that kind of riding.
Bottom line - For the money, you won't touch this bike with another kind. It looks evil, it rides stiff and the components are better than anything you will find on a bike at a $1000.00 from anyone else. If you're doing XC or the like, I think you can't really do better than this! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rolando
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Downtown Bicycle | | Strengths: | Very strong and lite. The stock compontes are good for to start off with. | | Weaknesses: | The Judy-C fork has to go. I also did not like the Koski seat and the handle bar. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockhooper, and stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | marzochi atom racer fork, avid cable pull disk brakes and an easton monkey lite riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | For the money, you can't buy a better frame with a nicer parts package. This bike really rocks up hill, around corners and handles great on jumps. Best buy I have made on a bike so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Irving, Texas
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$799.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun& Ski Sport | | Strengths: | Light frame; great components; nice geometry; great warranty. | | Weaknesses: | Titec stuff -- they might be good, but they are heavy and it didn't fit me at all. I'm not wild about Judy, but Giant should have charged just a few extra dollars and put an XT front derailler. So far, I can't say I like the Avid brakes, but that must be an adjustment. Paint job isn't my favorite. | | Similar Products Used: | Own a '99 GT Agressor. Tried or looked at Spec. Stumpjumper and K2 (various). Great bikes, but no one can dispute that Giant has the best bike for the money. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Easton bar with "Stiffy" stem (much better than stock). Soon will add XT front and brakes/shifters/shock will be changed on an as needed basis. Oh, and put the old Agressor upgrade seat on the Giant temporarily. | | Bottom Line: | For $799, I can't complain about anything, except the brakes. The rear brake doesn't work as well (IMO) as the Shimano on my Agressor. Perhaps it just needs some more adjustment. But with the bar/stem/front upgrade, for a grand, I have a great race and XC bike that, with a lighter shock, would bounce in just over 23-24 lbs. I looked at the SE1, but I didn't need Discs and it was out of my price range. But I couldn't be happier with the bike (or unhappier with the service -- don't buy at Sun and Ski unless you can't get it elsewhere or the price is just too low). I'm rating this a five assuming I can get the brakes adjusted properly. If not, I will trash the Avid and go shimano and rerate this bike appropriately.
Those of you who are not as picky as I am with whats on the bike, but want a top notch bike -- This is it! If you are even more picky than I am, buy the frame at Frankfordbikes.com and build your own. That frame has the SE1 (superior) color scheme. If you simply want a heavy bike, don't like aluminum, don't like Giant's gemoetry, or just have a bad attitude about everything, don't buy this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braxton Berrrett
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverton, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with bumps | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | South Valley Cycles | | Strengths: | frame,crankes"raceface prodigy", Titec"stem & bar" | | Weaknesses: | Not a real fan of the judy c, and the crappy seat post | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | I got a SID SL, and a easton ct2 seatpost | | Bottom Line: | It is a really good bike for the money. really strong but light frame,it could use a few upgrades, but over all its a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse Racine
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, FL
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Loco-Motion Cycles | | Strengths: | Frame, parts spec. (Raceface, Titec) Great value for the money. | | Weaknesses: | Not crazy about the Deore/XT combo. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fischer, Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now | | Bottom Line: | A great bike for the money. The shop made me a deal after Giant had sold out of the Rainier SE, which I originally wanted- I got the XTC SE2 for $800, so I couldn't go wrong. The frame is well-made and light. A great deal for the money. Will upgrade the fork when I find a good deal. Overall, a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew
a Racer
from concord, nh, usa
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Brook race corse | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$960.00 | | Purchased At: | waits sports | | Strengths: | weight for price, 2.9lb frame parts spec | | Weaknesses: | fork | | Similar Products Used: | c'dale f700 schwinn homegrown factory team | | Bike Setup: | full 9.0sl, zoke x-fly100, slr atb saddle, xcyclone disc wheels wildgripper comp s tires hope miny disc brakes xtr and thudbuster seat post | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the price, the koski seat sucks. the frame kick a$$ at 2.9lb, light frame made. if you need a light bike, 25.11 stock, and dont want to have a second morgage, buy this bike. its light enought to race stock and is disc ready. the parts i put on i got from a coach of mine that raced for schwinn, now unsponcered. this bike handels well on the trail, lean into a turn, spring like a mad fool and et behing the seat on a downhill. i think i will put an lx rear dilrailuer on because its lighter the the xtr and some xt shirters because the are lighter the xtr as well. i give this bike 5 flamin' roadies | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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