Submitted by
Sir Robin
a Cross Country Rider
from Redondo Beach, Ca. Date Reviewed: October 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Whiting Ranch
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Nice ride, very nimble. The geometry gives you a great downhill feel. Great components, great value
Weaknesses:
Broke my 2007 frame along the top bar by the seat post from fatigue. (Me being 210 lbs and riding several times a week may have contributed to this.) Mongoose/Performance was apprehensive about replacing the frame claiming the seat was too high but eventually gave in and replaced the frame and rebuilt the bike for free. (Lesson - If you break your frame lower the seat before you turn it in, although I ride within the seatpost limits.) The 2008 frame they replaced it with has a reinforcement "triangle" between the top bar and seat post bar which acknowledges the weakness in the frame. Another thing I don't like is the "busyness" of the suspension above the crank. It makes cleaning and lubing of the crank area difficult. One more - the top bar is a bit high as the frame is made from standard tubing and therefore does not curve. Tough downhills where your "ride the bar" may threaten your future family.
Bottom Line:
Great ride, great components, and great value. It looks Mongoose acknowledged and fixed (one of???) their frame issue. Not in love with the rear suspension configuration, for my next bike I will probably pay more for something more standard simple, and easy to clean/lube.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
speddmn
a Cross Country Rider
from Grass Valley, CA Date Reviewed: August 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Foresthill Divide Loop
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Performance Cycle -
Strengths:
This review is for an '07. Great components. Hundreds of $$$ cheaper than the competition. 28 lbs mediun size. A fast, fun, 4in travel cross country trail bike. Don't buy if you like to do major drops, get a DH bike.
Weaknesses:
None for me.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyl
Bike Setup:
The stock FSA bottom brkt failed within 100 miles. Dealer replaced it and the crank with an XT setup. End of problem. Changed out the I-Beam seat and post with Thomson Elite setback post and my old Coda seat. They went to a standard seat and post in '08. Replaced the Candys with SPD 540 pedals, love em!
Bottom Line:
I've ridden about 1500 miles of singletrack in 2 years on my Mongoose and still love it! However the '09s are priced a lot higher, no longer the great bargain mine was.
I've had no frame problems but I know that Mongoose and Performance dealers stand behind what they sell.
I'm still riding on the original Kenda Karma tires and they are great. Good traction, and only one pound each! Flats have been rare, still using tubes with only air in them (28 psi). Never had a pinch flat. Other than the crank problem that was warrantied, the rest of the drive train is still working perfectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miso
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK Date Reviewed: July 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Evans cycles
Strengths:
Nice XC bike, if not broken. Actually the components are very nice, but the frame.
Weaknesses:
Mine cracked as well around the top tube above the seat/top tube junction, I was lucky enough to notice before it came off.
Bottom Line:
Despite being a nice bike, I rate it as poor, because a frame must not crack withing 6 months of low key usage (travelling from and to work in flat parts of London). I don't want to imagine what would happen during a race!
Pos: Mongoose offer a replacement after I had to send the bike in. Evans cycles offered me to change to another brand as I was not confident in this frame (and did not like the 2009 colour).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmz2309
a Cross Country Rider
from columbus ohio Date Reviewed: June 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
MSP
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1280.00
Purchased At:
A store
Strengths:
Here are the good things about the bike. It weights 26lbs for a medium which is great. Having all the XT components (2008 version which is what I have). Being able to ride it all day with out wearing you out to fast. It’s not like most XC bikes where you feel like your riding on a knife blade.
Weaknesses:
this is the bad about this bike. I have owned it for about 2 months now about 100 miles on it and the frame is cracked. (I am currently waiting on the new frame now.) Here is what is odd about the crack: Fist the crack is on the frame above the back end of the PR2 fox shock. There should not be to much pressure at that point. (Is the metal weak that Mongoose uses?) 2ed I am only 135lbs at 5’7’’ so I am fairly small. What happens if someone bigger than I ride it?
Bike Setup:
Everything is stock
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is a want to love this bike. I love riding it, like the components for the price. You wont find anything near this price point with the same components. But the Frame broke. I am hoping they don’t take to long getting me a new frame. Maybe this is a once in a blue moon kind of thing (lets hope). If I was to do it over again I would buy this bike as long as it does not brake again for me. This is my second Mongoose I had the 2008 Teocali and loved it that’s why I upgraded to the Canaan Elite.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mannnu81
a Weekend Warrior
from riverside ca USA Date Reviewed: December 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Skyline
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1640.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
I was attracted to the XT package and weight of this bike. under 30LBS for LG. i havent weighted it, but compared to my old K2 Lithium 3.0 its a feather.
For the price, im not sure you can get a better package. I also like Performance's lifetime service for free on the bike . Handling is good, best bike i had so far, but i havent owned very many.
Weaknesses:
white gets dirty fast, also scratches make it look ugly. Medium seemed too small for me, felt clustered, Large feels bigger than it should. Some reported cracked frames but Mongoose offers lifetime frame warranty, so im looking forward to a Canaan Team frame replacement.lol
Similar Products Used:
bikes in order of ownership: Giant Rincon, K2 Lithium 3.0 and now Canaan Elite
Bike Setup:
Stock except the adjustable seat bracket. stock came with a allen wrench screw, dont know why, no one wants to mess with wrenches on the trail.
Bottom Line:
2009 Caanan Elite model has only few XT parts, LXs mostly, its nasty pinkish red and MSRP $2500. 2008 model has XT all around and i snagged it at 1640 tax included and 10% back on my card for shoes etc. I say go for it if you're shopping in this price range. Bottom line, there might be better bike out there, but competitive pricing and an awesome package makes it a great value. BTW its got good reviews by cycling mags
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jono
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand Date Reviewed: December 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Karapoti
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1625.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Umm...rides great when it's not broken
Weaknesses:
Frame
Similar Products Used:
98 Marin Rift Zone, test ridden 07 Rift Zone
Bike Setup:
Stock except pedals and wheels
Bottom Line:
Where do I start with this one? This is my third review, my second broken Canaan frame, four months of no bike, and great support from Jenson and Pacific bikes. Given this is a bike review I’ll focus on the bike. This review is for the warranty replacement frame that replaced the first one that cracked around the top tube at the seat/top tube junction. When it’s working I love the way it rides, relaxed, smooth, quick steering but not too quick, predictable - but none of that matters if I can’t ride the bike. So my second frame (’08) has also cracked at the seat/top tube junction, but this time on the seat tube. I’m a 174lb (78kg) XC rider, commute five days a week, ride offroad 4 hours a week, and not that hard on frames (never broken a frame in my life except for these two) so I can only presume there’s a flaw in the design somewhere and the extra top tube gusset on the ’08 model appears to have transferred stress to the seat tube….
So while I love the bike when it’s working I can’t rate it highly while it continues to break.
On the bright side I suggested to Jenson that if the ’09 Canaan design hadn’t changed then we’d all be happier if the they replaced it with a GT Marathon – GT being a sister company to Mongoose in the Pacific Cycles stable – and they did good, sending me an ’08 Marathon 1.0. No shipping charges and no sending the broken frame back which is pretty important when you live in New Zealand and shipping costs are high. There was a problem getting the shock sorted out but all good in the end. 1 chilli for the Canaan, 5 for Jenson & Pacific bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Da Newb
a Cross Country Rider
from cary,NC Date Reviewed: September 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
286 & rocky road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
I felt right at home first time out on this bike, and as far as component wise, it's comparable to other brands at sticker price well over $3K. At 26Lbs (medium) it's not bad at all, rake's kinda more of a relax position which really helps if you planning on riding more than 3hrs. I'm lovin this bike, if i ever considering of an upgrade on the same level, i probably will go for BlurXC, other than that, i wouldn't think it's necessary to switch brand..
Weaknesses:
Weak frame, 2007 models the triangle (welds) are bad, and mine which is 2008, the pivot points are bad.
The pivot point where the RP23 shock sits cracked (hairline) the second time i took it out on 3hrs ride (technical singletrack). Took it back to performance and still awaiting for words from Mongoose.
Might wanna switch to different tire set-up (small block eight came stock) for real life sittuation, stock tires only good for racing on hard surfaces..
Similar Products Used:
Ironhorse Azure MKIII, Bianchi Hardtail single speed.
Bike Setup:
Rockshock RECON Race 100mm (front) FOX Float RP23 (rear) Shimano XT Thru out including pedals.
Bottom Line:
Best bang for the buck as far as all around XC. As far as looks, it's definetely looks better than a rocky mountain..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jono968
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Warranty replacement. Mongoose and Jenson customer service!
Weaknesses:
The frame cracked (2007 model)
Bike Setup:
Stock except wheels and pedals
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous review. I bought my 07 Canaan Elite new from Jenson but after about 7 months it developed a big crack around the top tube at the seat tube junction. I sent an email with photos to Mongoose who replied within one day saying no problem, it looked like a warranty replacement and to contact the NZ/Aus distributor or Jenson to get it sorted. Both were equally helpful however I went with Jenson to avoid a long wait for the new frame (and since they sold it to me originally). I had to pay freight for the replacement frame however I didn't have to send the broken frame back. Nice. The new frame was an 08 'Team' version rather than another Elite however the only downside was that it came with no bottle braze-ons - just four holes in the frame where they should have been, no problems for me as I don't use them but might pose a problem for others.
Interestingly the Team frame is identical to the Elite except for a nicer finish and decals and sports a new gusset at the point where mine broke. Both weigh 2.9kg on my trusty bathroom scales. Full credit to Mongoose for the quick response and sorting it out with no question even though I bought the bike direct from the States and outside the regular NZ dealerships.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brianlewis
a Cross Country Rider
from Allen, TX, USA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
GT I Drive 4, GT I Drive 5, Ironhorse bikes, Gary Fisher bikes.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for CS300 Polar computer system
Bottom Line:
Fantastic bike, extremely light weight, for the price you can't get a lighter bike with high end components. No other bike compares, comparable units are 5-6lbs heavier, which is alot when you are trying to pop a tire up over a log... Hands down the best bike for the money..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lewdvig
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Assiniboine
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Incedible value. Excellent Fox shocks on both ends. Good wheels. Terrific drivetrain and brakes. Light weight. I-Drive based rear suspension. Looks sharp.
Weaknesses:
Rear linkage is a mud magnet. Kore I-Beam post and saddle.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Rush
Bike Setup:
Fox 32 F100RL, Fox RP2, Race Face Crank, stem and bar, SRAM X7 triggers, X9 rear der, Shimano XT front der, DT hubs, WTB rims, Avid Juicy 5 brakes, Kore I-Beam post and saddle.
Bottom Line:
Really great bike. I normally ride a medium but I got this in a small - the 22.5" TT and 29" stand-over is more important to me than the sizing sticker.
Very nimble trail bike. Great on single track and stable on fast descents. With the right rubber I think it would be very forgiving. I have IRC Mythos on it right now - they are poor in wet conditions and are not good off camber IMO. I'll be putting some Nevegals on soon.
The I-Drive hype is true, pedaling seems to have no effect on rear suspension - great for pedaling over washboards and small rollers.
It has a low centre of gravity. Feels good railing berms and in low speed technical stuff.
I am pretty old school, to me this is a proper mountain bike. One bike to do everything the average rider needs. Not a great bike for the North Shore crowd, but how many normal folks can really ride like that anyway?
For classic West Kananaskis trails like Powderface, Tom Snow, Moose Mountain a bike like this is perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tomma
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Strengths:
Great Spec, XT and Fox gear makes this bike really good value for your $$$. I upgraded the wheels to mavic crossmax and put thompson post and stem on it for a little more bling.
Weaknesses:
The stock wheels (speed disc lite) are not tough enough. The frame is rubbish. i have had constant problems with the frame. Firstly i had the rear triangle replaced, then found cracks in the frame around the welds for the shock. Got a replacement frame(the blue team frame) and after 3 months of riding it has cracks around the same welds. not sure if the 08 frame has fixed this weakness but i will not be riding the replacement. Getting a Yeti
Similar Products Used:
This was my first Dually.
Bike Setup:
totally sweet
Bottom Line:
I loved this bike and thought it was the greatest bike ever(first dually), it rides really well, climbs as well as any bike I've ridden etc etc, the frames that I've had just haven't been up to the job. It is a great value bike but has let itself down for me in the reliability stakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Kalix
a Weekend Warrior
from Parker, CO, USA Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hidden Messa
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Rays
Strengths:
Light weight and great component spec, scram XO shifters a dream.
Weaknesses:
Suspension bobs heavily under pedaling and is not at all active when seated. Front Fox fork with automatic lockout is a great feature but mismatched to the rear suspention. Rear suspension simply does not work. The steep head tube angle, long top tube and high bottom bracket make the ride feel like a road bike. Plastic rail saddle broke on first ride, Kenda tires have no side wall support and the entire package feels flimsy, not a confidence inspiring package.
Bike Setup:
Changes to a heavier tire and a shorter stem with riser bars haved helped hold me over untill I can replace the frame.
Bottom Line:
Look elseware. Having switched back and forth between hard tails and full suspention I feel the rear suspension on this frame only serves as a fance paperweight. The Rube Goldburg inspired swing arm design never feels attached to the trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adrian
a Downhiller
from Adelaide Date Reviewed: April 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
private
Strengths:
Frame design, component spec, suspension feel both with pro pedal switched on and off, geometry.
Weaknesses:
one very small is relating to cable length. If the outers are cut to short for both front and rear dérailleur's during compression the bike will change gears other then that NOTHING pedals but thats personal preference and a medium cage rear dérailleur.
Similar Products Used:
giant trance, specialized epic, teocali
Bike Setup:
more all mountain set up. 07 team frame with new 08 components, XT cranks, brakes,F and R dérailleurs, cassette, RP23 shock, wtb laser disc rims on xt hubs, marz. XC600 forks, easton monkey lite and EA70, fsa carbon, kenda nevgal tires.
Bottom Line:
After riding DH for a while i wanted something more versatile and to improve my fitness, the old ride up but still be able to descend with a grin is what i was after and this bike fits the bill so well. I test rode a Trance, epic, stump jumper, teocali and found my self comparing geometry's until i took a spin on a friends canaan. I was blown away with the whole package, set up, handling, the overall feel of the bike was great. It climbed so well, pedaled so well and descended better than I expected
When i bought the bike i was given some optional extras, like the 7" rotor on the front, XC600 ata fork, slighty more robust wheel set. All that makes an excellent set up
I highly recommend putting a fork on with travel adjust it will make the world of difference.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kris Dickson
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rocky Hill Ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Outstanding cross country performance for the price. High end components and specs. Dual suspension works perfect. Handles really well after minor mods (tires) and pedals.
Weaknesses:
Crank Brother candy pedals are junk. Kenda Kharma Stick E tires are scary on loose stuff like dusty trails or sand. I really needed to change the pedals and tires to make this a truly great XC bike.
This really is a great bike for the price. I picked up the last of the 07 model year for a song (1300 bucks vs 2000 MSRP). The bike is supposed to weigh 26lbs but as soon as I weighed it I got 28lb. It still feels super light and responsive compared to other heavier duty bikes like all mountain or freerides. The crank brother pedals were junk. I had major problems unclipping in time with them on steep technical climbs so switched to shimano XTR 970's that work like a dream. The only other item that needed to be addressed was the stock Kharma StickE tires that seem to puncture and wash out easily on anything other than asphalt road surfaces. I switched to panaracer firepro XC rubber and now have solid grip under most any conditions. Some slime in the tubes added weight but really fixed the puncture problems with the Kenda's. Stock shock setup was way to hard in the front and way too soft in the rear. Tweeking the struts ended up with 85psi front and 150psi back to get the sag right. There was some mention on the forums of this bike having a weak frame. I have tortured mine with serious jumps and extreme table drops without any signs of problems. I weigh 170lbs but so far so good. I'm 5'10 and picked up the medium size frame. The large would probably fit me just right. The medium frame is slightly tight for me and I had to move the seat all the way back to get the reach correct. I still prefer to have the slightly smaller, more controllable bike but I'm right on the edge of what fits. Life is good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan Halliwell
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand Date Reviewed: December 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Karapoti
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1625.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Great spec and great value. Very plush suspension but can also hammer out of the saddle with minimal bob in pro-pedal mode.
Weaknesses:
Crank Brothers Smarty pedals below par compared to bike spec. WTB wheelset?
Similar Products Used:
98 Marin Rift Zone 07 Marin Rift Zone (demo'd only)
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for Shimano SPDs and Mavic 819 tubeless wheelset.
Bottom Line:
I *really* like this bike, and since I got fitted to it properly it works beautifully. I looked long and hard at the 07 Rift Zone but as much as I wanted to like it just couldn't get past how big, tall and ponderous it felt. For me the Canaan fills a gap left empty by the new Rift Zone which has definitely gone more all-mountain in my opinion. The Canaan feels lighter and more agile - more XC. Steering is quicker than my 97 Rift Zone which took a while to get used to but was resolved by getting my position set up correctly. I'm dubious about maintenance needed on multi-pivot suspension designs but they all look easily serviceable and no problems so far - my single pivot Rift Zone was bullet proof for nine years. Fox forks and shock work as expected as do the FSA cranks, XT shifters, Juicy 5 brakes and iBeam seat/post arrangement. I ditched the Smarty pedals in favour of Shimano SPDs from the outset. I ride on the aggressive side of XC and I taco'd the front rim in a fast crash so not sure about the durability of WTB Laserdisc rims although the wheelset is very light. Overall I love this bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont, CA USA Date Reviewed: November 20, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Component spec, suspension, value, frame geometry, and freedrive design
Weaknesses:
Non-standard seatpost limits seat selection.
Similar Products Used:
'99 SC Heckler
Bike Setup:
'07 Elite Medium with FSA FR200 seatpost, XC190 bar, and Raceface Deus stem
Bottom Line:
Great handling and suspension with nice components for a very reasonable cost. Slightly slack 69.5 degree head angle gives a stable ride but still allows good turning.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX, USA Date Reviewed: November 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Super great components
Weaknesses:
Terrible frame
Similar Products Used:
Giant Trance
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This review is for the '07 Canaan Elite On paper this bikes looks like a great deal ... all high end stuff. What you won't know right away is that the frame has a fatal flaw ... it can break apart without warning. For me it happened on the 8th time I rode it at the bottom of a huge downhill just as the ground leveled out when all my weight was forced down on the frame it snapped into 3 separate pieces. Check it out for yourself:
Interestingly, e-mails sent to Mongoose remain unanswered, while my pre-purchase inquiries were promptly returned.
On another note, the PerformanceBike store I bought this at has refused to honor the warranty citing "crash damage". I replied that of course I crashed when the frame broke apart. The manager was unmoved by my argument.
The bottom line: Buy something else if you want to live a long life.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Kapiti, NZ Date Reviewed: November 4, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
-Nice and light - around 12kgs -Decent spec. Componentry is high spec and reliable -Cranks. The polished afterburner cranks are so sexy! -Suspension setup! Propedal works great expcept when standing up. I recommend making one setting rigid and one plush -Forks - Sexy in white! Adjustments galore
Weaknesses:
-Kenda tyres. Crap sidewalls. Dont bother, replace them strait away -I-Beam seat. Not sure about all i-beams but this has a PLASTIC seat rail. Crap and hard to adjust. Comfy tho -Quite a long reach for me with the 110mm stem. I recommend moving the seat forward 1st thing. -CrankBros smarty pedals are a cheap spec. Dissapointing for the rest of the componentry -Rear shock bobs when pedaling out of the saddle -Full suspension makes you lazy!
Similar Products Used:
Avanti hardtails.
Bike Setup:
Duh!
Bottom Line:
My first softail so of course im impressed! Lighter than my hardtails. Just sit back and enjoy the ride - the suspension takes care of everything! (but make sure you set it up with a shock pump first!) A very sexy shiny bike with top-spec components. Only a few small problems easily fixed. Shell out and get it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Forest
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Super soft ride without pedal bob (in propedal mode), builds confidence on downhills that are challenging and technical, sticks to the ground on the uphills
Weaknesses:
The crank bros. pedals that it came with are a disappointment. I've got some new spd's coming.
Similar Products Used:
GT, Specialized, Jamis, etc...
Bike Setup:
All XT, with Juicy 5 brakes, Fox 100rl front, Fox RP2 rear
Bottom Line:
I took this bike on a pretty serious ride right out of the box and it totally shined (Walker ranch, Boulder, CO). I've done some serious climbs/descents since and I'm very impressed. If you're looking for a great x/c bike with great mountain capability for under 2K, look no further.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Davis
a Weekend Warrior
from Fallbrook, CA USA Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Great XC rig... the price is really competitive for the equipment that it is spec'ed with.. Great frame geometry. Slack head tube angle makes descents fast, stable.. but not too scary.. Full Shimano XT on a FS XC rig for 1600..
Weaknesses:
The saddle is on the narrow/race side if you are a bigger guy... Specs listed on the web show RP3 shock on the rear.. mine came with the RP2 (OEM)..
Similar Products Used:
GT I-Drive
Bike Setup:
XT all the way around.. WTB laserdisc rims. Juicy 5 Brakes, hollow FSA afterburner cranks.. Kenda Karma Stick E's..
Bottom Line:
Sweet Bike, Fox shocks front and rear.. mine came with the Fox RP2.. apparently Fox quit making the RP3 for '08. I am working on getting the RP23 for the rear as an upgrade.. I have ridden the bike on some light cross country stuff.. and I must say I am impressed. It weighs the same as my old GT Alum Hardtail.. and climbs like it too.. but the downhill stuff is so much easier..Juicy brakes work great.. With the propedal on I can hammer on hardpack and there is no pedal bob.. Everything you could possibly need in a XC rig.. I look forward to getting it out on some more technical stuff...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TOF6651
a Cross Country Rider
from FRANCE,MARNE Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
go sport (FRANCE)
Strengths:
Light,confortable and fast,freedrive system with front and rear fox suspensions front and rear make power from legs go direct into the ground and take care... and equipment will not disapoint you.
Weaknesses:
too long stern (ouch, my back), maybe tires and saddle, time will tell.Mongoose is rare here in france except BMX,and not enough protections between cables and frame,difficulties to put saddle bag on with this I beam but ok with some.
Similar Products Used:
none ,have a low-end full suspend bike ,day and night with the canaan
Bike Setup:
mainly stock except shorter and orientable low-price stern before buying a real one...
Bottom Line:
Please sorry for my english , im french. First "real" bike for me... Son have got a Brawler BMX of same brand so i was trusty about Mongoose.After few (strangly rare)reviews found on the web,i decide to buy this Canaan at Go-sport,france .No stock there, two weeks of well-worth wait.Riding 4/5 times a week,15/30 kms each session so i was needing a decent bike.After few tuning sessions, now full pleasure.Fast and safe.no "buyer's difficult choice" regrets,lol
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Boggs
a Cross Country Rider
from Oceanside Date Reviewed: May 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Idylwild
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Low weight (26 lbs) and perfect choice of components. Climbs really well.
Weaknesses:
None. Wheels are bit heavy. I changed them to Stans Tubeless at 1450 grs a set. Big difference. flies on single track.
Similar Products Used:
GT I-Drive 3.0 is my second bike. This bikes a like a Ford 4x4 truck. It goes and will climb, just don't rush it. Downhill it rocks.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Tubeless Olympic wheels and Crow tires.
Bottom Line:
Much better than I expected. Light and fast with nice geometry so that downhills are fast, but never "twitchy" as on say a Giant Anthem with steeper steering angle. Best bang for the buck in a XC under $2000. The bike is now about 23.6 lbs and is a joy to ride long distances.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sealover
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach, N.Y. , USA Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Greenbelt - north of Jericho
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Bluesky Cycling
Strengths:
It's a very smooth riding bike with a parts mix you don't have to think about. I goes were you want it to go almost telegraphically. Awesome! just awesome.
Weaknesses:
Pivot at the end of the chainstay had to be tightened, a washer had to be added to secure the bind. I've heard that Mongoose has a problem with loose pivots so I did a self inspection.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher -cake 3 DLX , Kona- Kahuna and a 1997 Schwinn S-20 the was the most awesome before I bought this.
Bike Setup:
Mainly stock except a slighty shorter Tom Ritchey stem.
Bottom Line:
I felt like a passenger on this bike, the ride was so smooth and comfortable it was unbelievable. The Fox F100rl fork coupled with the Fox DHX shock are a perfect match. This bicycle is hard to get but is well worth the time and effort. You will feel like you've owned it for years- right out of the box.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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