Submitted by
Jason
a Downhiller
from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: November 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hydro Cut
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Brauns
Strengths:
The frame is amazing! Its welded so nice and strong!!!
Weaknesses:
stock rear shock, front shock, crank and bottom bracket, grip shift, brake levers, front dereiluer, pedals really suck!
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Durango SX, Oryx Equipe 80. Both really nice bikes aswell.
Bike Setup:
Manitou SX front shock, Fox Racing Vanilla R rear shock 8" 800x2.35, Shimano LX brake levers, Salsa brake booster on front and back, Shimano STX rapid fire shifters, Race Face Prodigy DH Crankset with Race Face Evolve FR bottom bracket, Azonic A-Frame platform pedals, 2.35 DH rear tire, Weinmann Double Wall back rim. Thinking about putting a Marzocchi Jr. T on.
Bottom Line:
This bike with all the stock components is pretty good for some cross country and trail riding but if you want to do any thing bigger like freeriding you have to upgrade them. Once you do it is a pretty amazing freeride/light downhill use bike. The brake levers, pedals, bottom bracket, and grip shift are pretty junky so upgrade them at least. Then both shocks. Put some brake boosters on and you'll be rocking and all pimped out for freeriding. You might also want to get some new rims as those tend to bend easily. I give it 4 flamin' chilis overall because it is a rocking frame but KHS could have put a few more better stock components on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Hampton
a Cross Country Rider
from Crestline, Ca. USA Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Box Springs "Two Trees"
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
University Schwinn
Strengths:
Inexpensive. Good bike to buy and build they you want it. Perfect for a beginner.
Weaknesses:
This bike is a little on the heavy side. It's about 37 lbs stock. Going uphill is this bike's worst enemy. If you plan on really riding the bike, the components do not last very long. The fork is weak, the rear shock must go, the single wall rims bend right away. The handlebars are steel and bend easily.
Similar Products Used:
This is my first full suspension bike.
Bike Setup:
Everything has been upgraded! Weyless downhill stem, Profile Design 60mm rise bars, full XT drivetrain, Sun CR18 rims with LX hubs, Rock Shox Psylo XC, Fox Alps 4r air shock, Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, SDG S700 Ti saddle, Kore chain reactor, THE front fender, Kenda Kinetics 2.35 front tire, Michelin Wild Gripper DH soft 2.25 rear tire, and VP clipless pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for starting out. Stock, it just can't take the abuse of hard riding. Once you do a few upgrades, the bike is ready to ride! I really put this bike through some abuse and it can handle a big rider like me (200 lbs.) So, I would say this is a pretty great bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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