Submitted by
Mr. Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Bathurst NSW Australia Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Mt.Pan Back Lot
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Steve's Recycled City
Strengths:
- Price - Quality componants - Great shocks from the factory - Looks - Weight ! This is the lightest MTB I've ridden
Weaknesses:
- Heavy in the front thanks to the lardy *yet bullet proof* Judy XC's and Formula disc. - No complaints about the Formula disc yet. Except the previous owner tied the cable so it fouled the tyre when you hit the brakes - Top gear could be taller. Sorry if this sounds whingy, but I use it for commuting as well as trying to kill myself on weekends. New chain rings are in the works
Similar Products Used:
GT Palomar Haro Xtreme Norco Bush Pilot Avanti from similar price point ($1,600)
The bottom line is this is the best MTB I've ever ridden or owned. Its the best money I've ever spent on a bike and it was a steal for only $400 from the local hock shop. The frame has an excellent feel to it and is very compliant. It doesn't have the nasty habits of other alloy frames I've ridden such as conveying each and every tiny bump into my legs. Considering the burley looks its amazingly light, weighing only 11Kg. Also worthy of note is the hollow Diore cranks, and full Deore drive train. The low-geared top gear is a pain, but nothing new chains rings won't fix. Perfect for the XC blast and crawling up cliff's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
M Amirul
a Cross Country Rider
from Brunei Date Reviewed: April 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Arizona JP, Shahbandar
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
A responsive, one of the lightest bike within this price range. A good set of components mix from Shimano. The Judy XC suspension is also a plus.
Weaknesses:
The front formula MD-1 Disc brakes, well its a trade off for the price. Its noisy when especially wet.
Similar Products Used:
GT, Giant and Mongoose
Bike Setup:
Deore cranks, Avid Brake levers and Shimano Vs(for rear), Formula MD1 disc brakes, LX rear derailuer and Rock Shox Judy XC...
Bottom Line:
With its tight geometry makes this bike stiff and responsive thus control of the bike is good and the transmission of energy is more effiecient, the 7005 AL frame design (Newman technolgy) gives it the leading edge amongst others within the price range in terms of strenght and weight. According to the manufacturer it is approxiately 15%increament in strenght when considering the weight to strenght ratio.
For those who likes multi roled mtb..This is it!, Its light, seems to be indestructable under hostile terrain and have great components...Further more it affordable. This means great for muddy hilly trails, roads and terrains.
I'll give this bike a value rating of 5 since the components and the bike itself is worth the money. However the overall rating is slight lower due to the disc brakes, but hey you just cannot win it all for this pice range. It a great bike to ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stu
a Cross Country Rider
from canberra austraila Date Reviewed: March 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:
blue range , brindabella mtns
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The whole bike , there is nothing wrong with it. Its been raced a few times and has had a ton of flat out trail riding and nothing has broken.The judy forks are plusho
Weaknesses:
The front disk is damm fine but lacks the feel of a hydraulic unit , but it looks cool.
Similar Products Used:
mongoose 6.5, no comparison to this though.
Bike Setup:
deore front derailleur , lx rear , deore hollow tech cranks avid speed dial levers(awesome little units) titec stem 120mm although Ive changed it to a azonic 105mm cause Im a short ass.
Bottom Line:
The bike is top value for what you get , less than $1600 in aust which is great value.I think its a fine bike to get anybody started in cross country racing. The frame is damm strong , Ive never heard of one breaking. Some people say the formula hubs will fall to bits but so far so good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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