Submitted by
JMB1
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: January 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Little Bear Flagstaff AZ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Performance bike
Strengths:
Nicely equipped, shifts and brakes like a dream. Climbs nicely, Handles nice,
Weaknesses:
grips are way too hard and thin...I'm used to OURY grips...no gear indicator on the shifters...seat way to hard and uncomfortable. A little lite in the front end...but easily fixed with rider positioning.
Similar Products Used:
2002 GT I-drive 1.0.
Bike Setup:
SDG bellaire saddle Ti. OURY grips, SPD pedals, Ergo bar ends, will probably switch to grip shift system.
Bottom Line:
As an ex-cross country racer in the expert class, I think this bike is awesome. I thought the 2002 I-Drive I had was nice and this thing blows it away. I just took it out on a two hour ride and could not believe how the improvements and the technology make this bike so much better. I will probably cover the downtube with thick clear contact paper to avoid rock damage. Climbs and descends well, wheeliest very easily when needed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wasso67
a Cross Country Rider
from Pueblo, CO Date Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Voodoo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
some poor dude who h
Strengths:
Nice spec, very good at downhill, climbs very well, and a great value. Handles well once set up is tuned.
Weaknesses:
Noisy frame with all the popping. Difficult to get dialed in. Like any carbon frame, rocks don't do it any favors. Seatpost can slip if not tightened properly.
Similar Products Used:
Mooto-X 29er hardtail.
Bike Setup:
Stock except I put on some carbon bars and got some King/ZTR wheels running tubeless. Also put a 34 tooth cog in the back.
Bottom Line:
This 4 inch bike is the bomb. Can be an awesome XC bike, but can also do double duty as a trail bike. Nice combo. With the RP23 all is possible along the spectrum. Great downhiller, makes up for oh so many mistakes. For some reason I have trouble keeping the front end down on steeps, but that is probably rider error. Setup is key. First of all, do not run low tire pressures! This jacks everything up. I went tubeless and dropped psi to 30 rear and 25 front and couldn't dial it in. Finally went up to about 38 on the rear and 32 on the front-much better. MBA said to set the Fox RP at rider weight and run half that in the front. I am 162lbs., run the RP at 175 and the front at 75 and this baby is tuned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kootenayskier
a Weekend Warrior
from Rossland BC Canada Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Full Monte
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Easy climbing seated or standing. Fun and flick-able on the way down.
Weaknesses:
A bit of creaking
Similar Products Used:
Trek EX-9, Gary Fischer Hi Fi.
Bike Setup:
Stock.
Bottom Line:
I regularly ride a Nomad, but recently had the opportunity to demo a few different XC bikes (see above). The Marathon climbed as well seated and much better standing than the others, but was in a league of it's own on the way down, not plush but confidence inspiring, feeling more like a 4X bike than a XC bike. The Shimano discs made for one finger braking, the Nevegals dug in, and the Odi lock-on grips are a small but important detail on a bike I could easily add to my quiver. (note: I don't know how much it costs, so my value rating doesn't mean much).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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