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Submitted by
John Stults
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | VeloPro | | Strengths: | Strong Frame, good components. I am 6-2, 300+ lbs. I am using this bike to get back into shape. I take this bike out 3-5 times a week, on some pretty hard and technical trails. This bike has not let me down. It is a great bike. I bought the 2007 model at a local store, and have had no problems with the actual bike. | | Weaknesses: | Only problem i have with it is i bent the front wheel pretty easy. Replace the wheels, but the stock tires are solid. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Rebound | | Bike Setup: | Hard Tail | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. If it can support my fat @$$, then it will work for anybody. This is a bike that works good on the trails. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brate B
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, TX.
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Government Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$449.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun and Ski | | Strengths: | Light 7005 frame, good components for the price range, 100mm travel on the front shocks, 2.10 tires (not little 1.95's) | | Weaknesses: | Its an entry level bike if you want to go screaming downhills and hitting 10 foot drops get a DH full squish bike.
Paint Job chips off pretty easy where cables boucne against frame.. but you dont buy a bike to admire the paint. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I clock in at 205 lbs and will admit im rough on the bike but so far it has taken everything I have given it with little problem. Looking forward to droping the saddle and trying some fast descents on it (not DH but close kidna).
All in all its done very well for me where I live and have a feeling I will get a few years out of this bike easy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cezary Wojcik
a Weekend Warrior
from Newburgh, IN
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$455.00 | | Purchased At: | ING Direct Shop | | Strengths: | No strenghths | | Weaknesses: | I bought two bikes, one for me, one for my wife. Teh one for my wife arrived with a defective deraileur, the chain was falling off the lowest gear. My bike was fine at the beginning, but after 5-6 30 minutes rides around the neighborhood the rails under the saddle ended up bend to one side (I am not overweight!), while the front disc brake was defective too and made a squeaking sound. I managed to return teh bike sto the seller for a complete refund. | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy the Bobcat trail! Either buy a Cannondale for over $1000 or buy a nice biek at Walmart for under $100. The Bobcat is not worth the price! Is too expensive for a mediocre biek and too cheap for a good bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bart
a Weekend Warrior
from Okinawa, Japan
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Strengths: | Comfortable all-terrain bike | | Weaknesses: | Rims. I can't add anything more that others have written. Poor quality. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Standard. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, except it's hanging up in my closet waiting for a new from rim! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnny
a
from marquette
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$290.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Great frame, decent components, great looks. | | Weaknesses: | rims are junk, fork could be better | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a bike that was easy to upgrade and would'nt give me a lot of problems, this bike is the ticket! I wanted disc brakes but didnt want to spend $500 on a bike. I found the Bobcat Trail for $290 and could'nt be happier. The only problem I've had was a rubbing sound from the rear. I thought it was brake rub, but it turned out to be a bad hub. I wanted to get new wheels anyway so I picked up some WTB Speed disc wheels and that fixed the problem. I am not very hard on the bike, mostly just rides after work on two tracks and bike trails around the house. This bike is kind of an overkill for me, but thats what I wanted. A good bike that will last. The best part about this bike.... the components that suckare the compontents you'll want to/have to replace anyways. Its got it where it counts. If your looking for a great bike at a great price get the bobcat. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
toby
a Downhiller
from milklbrook, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | highland heights | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | cupolos sports/wild rock outfitters | | Strengths: | super tough frame, great components especialy the brakes,......put the seat up great for cross country put the seat down awesome for freeriding and dirt jumping great bang for your buck and for beginning to intermediate rider | | Weaknesses: | really weak rims warped the first week and currently horribly bent..., bad fork not enough travel to skinny of stanchions,tires a little too skinny, other than that awesome | | Similar Products Used: | nishiki apache, raleigh spider, norco katmandu, arashi matrix | | Bike Setup: | new headset bearings...i blew them on a drop, new derailer hangar...tore it off shorting a sidehop, new chain...result of derailer hangar break, new back tire...2.10" wide | | Bottom Line: | wen i first saw the bike i loved it then i saw the price and i bought it now iv owned it for 2 years and i still love it and for wat iv done with it( 10 foot drops, 6 foot flat landing, 10 foot gaps, dirt jumping, freeriding, downhilling, and tons of urbain/skatepark/ begining trials)it has till held up AMAZING needs new headset, rims, hubs, rear and front derailers new rear sprockets and new bottom bracket...still though wen u buy it if u have the means get a better fork better rims and wider tires and uv got a mean machine for bout 600 can. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Edwards
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverton, Wyoming
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere on the Loop Road above Lander, WY | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Sierra Trading Post.com | | Strengths: | Low, low price; light, strong frame found on Marin's higher end alloy hardtails; shimano disc brakes; good tires; clean, solid construction; a good bike for getting into the sport | | Weaknesses: | A few cheesey components including the In-Sync fork (replace it right away!), saddle, and rims. Shimano Acera drivetrain is solid if you keep it tuned up, but it needs pretty constant attention. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | After riding the bike stock for about a month I've made the following upgrades: 2003 Manitou Black Elite fork w/ Lockout (a sweet ride), Easton EA50 seatpost and Bontarager saddle, replaced the stem with a longer unit with less rise, and installed flat handle bars (I have really long arms). Crankbrothers Candy C pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I used to be pretty serious about my mountain biking when I lived in Montana some years ago -- a move to the big city on the East Coast had me selling my bikes. When I came back West to Wyoming I decided to get back into riding without dropping $2500 in a new bike. Picking up last year's model was the ticket on price, and this bike works very well for what it is intended. Ripping downhills is definitely not it's calling. The frame is light and stiff, so the bike is pretty responsive, and replacing the fork transformed the ride completely. Ditch that In-Sync fork as quickly as possible! I have been very happy with the bike so far, though an upgrade to a SRAM 9 speed drivetrain may be coming in the near future. Buy this bike (or the 2004 version) if you're looking for a good value on a solid frame that you can easily upgrade. A perfect bike for those just getting into the sport (or returning to it). Don't buy this ride if you've got visions of North Shore stunts or bombing the downhill at Silver Mountain. Ths bike is what it is: a good, solid hardtail cross-country mount that hides nothing. Four flamin' chilis! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ty Weiss
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, FL 32804
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Snow Hill Rd, Soldier Creek, Big Shoals | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | Locomotion Bike Shop | | Strengths: | This bike is a good performer! Great value! Light, nice looking, good components for the money(stock), Kenda tires hooks up on all that I have presented them. Very fast bike as well. | | Weaknesses: | Front shock Insync - 1st trip to White springs to hit some trails and going down step drops the shock 'guts' exploded out and into my face for a nice bruise. Very cheap shock - replace it with a Manitou, now everything is fine. I will also upgrade the derailluers (fr & rr)& the shifters (Big) No major weaknesses.. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose gsx 9.0 - Trek 4500 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX, serfas seat, Tamer trick willy suspension seatpost, Shimano M475 Discs, Kenda Koyote tires, sun rhyno lites laced with Deore XT Hubs. (23 1/2 lbs) | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike to start out with and get to know your limitations and abilities. Also a good bike to perform upgrades on since it is a good performer on the trails. very fast and tight in turns and on roots. Very durable so far. I would upgrade the fork immediately. Other than that, the bike is ready to go right out of the bike shop. Happy trails.......... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TiMo
a Weekend Warrior
from Sammamish, WA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Good frame geometry and components at this price point. Can't beat Shimano discs & 7005 frame for under $400. Completely stock it is under 30 lbs, pretty responsive in the mud & dirt, & the discs rock (threw me straight over the bars during the first singletrack emergency stop). | | Weaknesses: | Don't forget that this is just a step above an entry level bike. It's obvious the fork needs to be upgraded after only one ride. I'm only 170 lbs & the InSync 323 Bottomed out constantly. I've already swapped out the seat - the stock seat was way too fat for controled decents. Lots of components will be replaced with my next bonus check (Shock, Derailleurs, pedals to start). | | Similar Products Used: | Old school rides: Cannondale CAD, Sterling hardtail
Recently Tested: Trek 4300/4500, Specialized Hardrock, Giant Iguana disc, GT Avalanche | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Trek CRZ seat (lifesaver on rides over 10 mi). | | Bottom Line: | This bike can get it on straight off the rack for beginner & intermediate riders. It handled great at speed on some tight singletrack & has good road manners for a MTB. If you need a solid bike at a decent price - it's worth a look. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Juhasz
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rowlett Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$429.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes & More | | Strengths: | Great bike, very responsive. A great deal with disk brakes. The component group is great for hardcore or just plain fun. Kenda tires excellent performance for every challenge on the trails. | | Weaknesses: | Seat is too large for comfortable turns and long rides. Pedals are weak (after one ride and a minor bump with a root, one of the spikes was bent). | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F300, Fuji Thrill, Kona Lavadome, Raleigh M80. | | Bike Setup: | Telluride seat; Shimano dual sided (platform and SPD); Shimano ACERA, Alloy 6061 handlebar, stem and seat post; Kenda tires, Shimano Disk brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike for people that want a good bike, but are on a moderate budget.
Some features like the pedals, seat, seat post and derrailleurs can be upgraded later.
It has a great component group at this price point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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