Submitted by
patrickgutierrez
a Weekend Warrior
from miami Date Reviewed: August 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Markham Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
ibexbikes.com
Strengths:
The components on the bike are top of the line.
Weaknesses:
None noted yet
Similar Products Used:
Giant Yukon
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the price. I looked at many bikes prior to making the purchase, and nothing came close in regards to quality of components for the price. The delivery was faster than expected, ordered bike on Tuesday and had it on Friday (just in time for the weekend.
The bike greatly exceeded my expectations and will be recommending it to many friends.
With the price and quality of the components and bike there is really no bike that comes close.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
astasoftride
a Weekend Warrior
from Pearland, Texas Date Reviewed: September 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hunstville, State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Ibex Bicycles
Strengths:
Price, componant group.
Geometry comparisons to current bike
Weaknesses:
Personal preferences - riser bars and trigger shifters
Would have liked a second set of bottle cage mounts
Similar Products Used:
Paramount Series 90
Bike Setup:
Stock except - swapped to flat bars, X0 grip shifters
Bottom Line:
I have been riding a steel Paramount Series 90 since 1992. That bike is great for riding nice technical sections, but with no suspension it isn't the best for high speed. Besides I had the bug for a new MTB :-)
I have not really had a chance to ride the bike yet, since Hurricane Ike struck this past weekend.
Since this is a mail order bike, I had to make adjustments when it arrived. Of course, I have done the same to each of the bikes I have bought in the past which have come through LBS or mail order sources.
I am looking forward to taking it out on the trails once they have been cleared. I will repost a review when I get it out.
Who should buy it? Some one who is willing to do the adjustments for them selves. Or someone who eventually swaps out pieces parts from any bike they buy.
Who shouldn't buy it? Easy, someone who relies on a shop for even the slightest things. Although the bike came nearly completely assembled, some people would just do it no justice.
Value Rating - 4 simply because I'm not into riser bars and trigger shifters.
Overall Rating - 4 until I can get it out on the trails. I will post a new review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Deserteagle99uzi
a Downhiller
from St. Louis, Missouri, USA Date Reviewed: September 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Council Bluffs, Chubb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
ibexbikes.com
Strengths:
Very adjustable mid-range to high end shocks, Top mechanical disc brakes, Great geometry, Lightweight for a FS, Rock Solid frame, 95% Quality components
Weaknesses:
Weak paint job (but honestly who cares if you are riding it hard), Rims a bit weak even for XC (expect to replace if doing over 4ft drops), Stock Maxxis Ignitors are terrible, crank and BB possibly recalled at earlier date depending on year of model. seatpost squeeks a lot after a years use.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Tassa, Motobecane FS, Various higher end Gary fisher hardtails and Fs's
Bike Setup:
Replaced stock tires with maxxis swamp things and setup tubeless with stan's tubeless kit. Turbocat s47 and trailguide for nightriding.
Bottom Line:
Minor annoyances such as squeeky seatpost, Crank loosening and having to be replaced (free of charge under truvativ's warranty). Front tires rode awful
Rode the bike for a year very aggressively, handling was always a bit unsure untill I replaced the stock tires (POS maxxis ignitors) and the handling improved tenfold. Weight was not an issue as I am 210lb, however it is no hardtail at 31lbs. Having wrecked it multiple times on various rocky outcrops and jumped it over 6 ft. i'm coming to realize it is basically indestructible save for the rims which i forsee having to replace as they are light and fragile even by XC standards (no problems yet though).
Spent loads of time researching components online before making the purchase and extremely pleased as all components are top notch for the money and ibex has even replaced the mechanical brakes with hydraulic since my purchase last year...doh.
SRAM double push shifters not as convenient as shimano triggers but make this up by being MUCH easier to tune and keep tuned. Very sharp fast shifting when properly tuned due to SRAM's 1-1 cable pull ratio
Fork is stock set at 100mm travel, frustrating as it is a simple spacer keeping it from it's true potential of 130mm and i don't want to risk the life of the fork by tearing it apart to remove the spacer. Will prob have it removed in a year or two when i have to have the fork rebuilt (or possibly just replace with a DH fork)
Rear shock is excellent and on the fly lockout is a must for anything involving a climb.
One year checkup saw minimal wear and tear and bike requiring only a general lube up and repack of the stem, pivot points and wheels. Crank was shot after one year but this was due to a manufacturer recall which truvativ refunded free of charge along with new BB.
My advice would be to get accustomed to the handlebar mounts, seatpost orientation, shock pressure levels and clipless cleat position before judging how the bike rides, took several months of tweaking to get each where you want but once you do this bike tears up singletrack with ease.
Shipping was slooooow as ibex was backordered in april when i placed my order, I imagine wait times have only gotten worse as this brand is drawing attention due to the rediculously good deal ($1000-1500 bike with $2700+ components on it).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Cambridge, MA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
ibexbikes.com
Strengths:
Price, great component set, solid frame, smooth fast suspension, good geometry
Weaknesses:
Tires, weak seatpost, somewhat heavy, no test ride
Similar Products Used:
Spec FSR XC, Spec Hardrock, old Trek 930 SS
Bike Setup:
Stock with Panaracer Fire XC tires, Spec Comp saddle
Bottom Line:
This is an amazing bike for the price, and is a total blast to ride. Assembly was very simple with all the tools needed for assembly provided, although the cables were crossed (a quick fix) and the front dérailleur was out of whack when it first arrived. The 18" fit me surprisingly well at my height of 6'11", and I prefer the longer cockpit this bike has over some other FS bikes I tried. Plus, this is one sweet looking bike!
The suspension works well after a bit of fine-tuning, and is buttery-smooth, although the front fork is really noisy on a low rebound setting. There is slightly noticeable bob - especially on hills - but the lockout fixes this (although a platform shock would be nice).
As far as ride handling goes, it it quick and responsive. I quickly realized its no featherweight - a big transition from my 24lb singlespeed. Hills are a bit tougher, but it really shines on the descent where it instills tons of confidence. Shifting is super smooth once you get used to the push-push style shifting which really frustrated me at first. The BB7 brakes hardly needed any adjustment, and worked flawlessly.
The only other niggle I have is the weak seatpost. It creaks, it slips, the collar doesn't hold it in place. I am just waiting for a good excuse to replace it. I also quickly realized that the tires were terrible for my loamy and rocky terrain and quickly swapped them.
Overall this is a great bike at an amazing price. While it is a bit of a risk ordering sight-unseen, the customer service is great and the components are all top-notch, nothing skimped on here (except maybe the seatpost and tires...). If you want a lot of bike for little cash, go for the Asta!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Aviano, Italy Date Reviewed: August 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Ibexbikes.com
Strengths:
Easy to assemble, great components, and lightweight.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any problems yet.
Similar Products Used:
First bike so i really wouldn't know.
Bike Setup:
Took a couple of hours to set-up but bike comes with easy instructions.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the bike is incredble for the price. Being in the military it is really hard to find anyone who can actually ship a bike. Not only did that ship the bike but it arrived in 7 DAYS! I recommend this bike to anyone who wants a great bike for a great price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BW
a Racer
from Arkansas Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Ibex.com
Strengths:
Great part mix. Love the Sram X7 stuff. Even came with pedals. Price.
Weaknesses:
Other than having to break-in the air fork and shock, none I have found. I wouldnt say that was really a weakness, just a waiting game. Rear wheel a little heavy. The Maxxis ignitors had to go.
Similar Products Used:
First FS owned. I have ridden may different brands though. I picked this bike up because a SS is tough going beyond 30 miles.
Bike Setup:
Stock other than the Michelin tires I added.
Bottom Line:
It seemed sluggish at low speeds at first, but a tire change and it came alive. I havent figured that one out yet but it seemed to lose momentum easily. Different tires.....whole new beast. I dropped the bars down the stem an inch or two and it put me right where I needed to be. Levels rough trail with almost no bob in the saddle or out, even without the latest stable platform shock. Had to wait for the fork and shock to break-in but after that found my air pressure settings and I was off. LOVE the SRAM shifting. Glad it came with this brand or I may have never known what I was missing. LOVE the BB7 Avid discs as well. Bought a air pump with the bike for 20 bucks (from Ibex) It even comes with pedals and a decent pedal wrench. Oh yeah, a cool little multi-tool also. I ordered it online, and in just a few days it was on my front porch. Took me just about 30 minutes to put it together. If I do upgrade something in the future it will probably be the hub set. The rear wheel feels a little heavy. Other than that its a blast to ride and will keep you out on the trail for extended rides. Great bike. Great price.
BW
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Gahanna, OH, USA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Alum Creek Phase 1
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
IBEX.COM
Strengths:
Light weight and very nimble. Climbs very good for a FS bike. Amazing components for the price. The overall workmanship seems very good. The frame design and geometry fit what I use the bike for. I'm not a fan of red but this actually looks pretty nice.
Weaknesses:
I would like to see more color options but that isn't really much different with most bike companies. I wouldn't want to see the pricing impacted as a result either.
You can't try it out before you buy it since it is an Internet only sales channel. This ended up not being an issue for me but it is something to consider.
You don't get the free tune-ups/adjustments like when you buy from a LBS but it is teaching me how to do the work myself. I am finding it isn't that difficult and I actually enjoy it.
A great bike at a great value. The IBEX rider community is one of the things that really sold me on taking a chance on the brand/bike. I couldn't be happier with my decision.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vance Bowman
a Weekend Warrior
from Greenville, SC USA Date Reviewed: June 10, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Value. Components. Overall Quality
Weaknesses:
Can't really think of any.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This is my first mountain bike and I could not be more pleased with my purchase. Since it was ordered online, I did have to do some minor assembly. Specifically, I had to install the front wheel, handlebars, (which had all the components preinstalled), seat (which came preinstalled on the seatpost), and the pedals. The bike came with all the paperwork for each shock and the Avid brakes.
On my first ride, one of my friends commented on how well put together it was. He noticed that they even used teflon coated cables, instead of the standard uncoated. So, literally, down to the wires, Ibex has not cut any corners on this bike. Everything is up to par with everything else on it. The Avid Mechanical Disc brakes are solid, both shocks are air shocks, and therefore smooth and infinitely adjustable (both shocks can be locked out on the fly). It has SRAM shifters, which I love because it allows me to keep my index finger on the brakes.
As to the overall performance, I don't really have anything to compare it with, since I've never owned anything else and my skill as a mountain biker would be considered beginner. So my comments here will be based on observation rather than experience. I would definitely say that the bike is targeted for cross-country riders. It's seating position is somewhat relaxed for long rides. That is about the only non-relative-to-my-skill-level thing I say about its performance.
Overall, an excellent quality, solid bike for the money. I would definitely give it your serious consideration.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Tracy
a Weekend Warrior
from The Woodlands,TX,USA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Memorial Park, Hunstville State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
ibex.com
Strengths:
Great value!!!
Weaknesses:
Tube tires, not sure if I like the shifters, & it a bit heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Gt I-drive, K2
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I just use this bike for road and trail use only. It's more of a cross training thing as running is my main sport. Anyway, this bike serves my needs at a great price and the folks at Ibex couldn't be more helpful. BTW, I feel myself challenging myself to do more and more extreme jump and downhill and the bike handles very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from North KIngstown, Rhode Island, USA Date Reviewed: January 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Breakheart
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1058.00
Purchased At:
http://www.ibexbikes.com/
Strengths:
Great bike for the money. I like the SRAM 7 drive chain. Rock Shox suspensions front and back are splendid. Avid BB-7 Disc Brakes are fantastic. Maxxis Ignitor 26" x 2.10 tires grip well, but may be a little narrow for the sand I ride in.
Weaknesses:
SRAM X7 Trigger shifters aren't as easy to use as Shimano's. Pedals aren't rugged but seem to be doing the job. I worried about the stitching on the WTB Pure V Race saddle cutting me- hasn't happened.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR Comp
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Fantastic bike. Great value. Solid XC performer. I had a minor issue- Ibex are great to deal with. If you know what you want and are eager to save money- go Ibex. I chose the Astra Comp X7 based on price point and outstanding components. I couldn't be happier. This is a fine, inexpensive mount that will delight a serious XC rider. Not for racers, but did you expect that at a $1,000?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RCook
a Cross Country Rider
from Des Moines, Ia, USA Date Reviewed: November 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Denmans Woods
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1032.00
Purchased At:
Online ibexbikes.com
Strengths:
Price, components at this price level are excellent. Full SRAM X7 drivetrain is great. Great customer service, quick email/forum response.
Weaknesses:
SRAM's dual thumb shifting is not Shimano's thumb and finger, duh. It's only a weakness because I'm not used to it.
Similar Products Used:
Test rode a Fisher Cake 3
Bike Setup:
Stock as far as the bike is concerned. I added an under seat pack and water bottle/cage.
Bottom Line:
For my first FS bike the Asta X7 is quite the ride. I knew I wanted a FS rig but after looking what I knew, Gary Fisher bikes, and then looking around in a similar price range I found Ibex. Simply what it comes down to is Ibex offers a much higher spec for similar money when compared to most other companies. For $1K I couldn't find another manufacturer that didn't cut corners on some part of the bike to satisfy a target price. If your looking to upgrade to a FS rig but don't want to break the bank take a look at Ibex.
Beyond money...
Having never ridden a FS before this has been quite the adjustment from hardtail. So far I'm very happy with how it rides, I still need to tweak it a bit to work with me better but all in all I'm quite pleased.
I need to put some miles on it before I can make a fully qualified report but initial impressions are good so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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