Submitted by
MarcelGB
a Weekend Warrior
from Weston, FL USA Date Reviewed: November 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Markham Park, Sunrise Florida
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike - H
Strengths:
PRICE [full-suspension]
Components Quality.... not heavy at all,
Weaknesses:
Front shock is not good, very flat/WEAK in my opinion, performance sent me a replacement-way better, with lock out and etc... HAND GRIPS ARE HORRIBLE....
Similar Products Used:
first mtbike....i had a walmart bike before equipped with shimano and rock-shox from the 90's huahuahua
Worth every dollar, you'll need to spend over $&#%@! to get something like this IF you are lucky..... and full suspension?... i looked around and don't regret the purchase.
The bike is very durable, it is a size small, so it fits me perfect...rides smooth...IF YOU CAN FIND ONE STILL, GET IT... DO SOME UPGRADES... AND U WILL BE SET.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Your mum
a Cross Country Rider
from Pretoria, South Africa Date Reviewed: September 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Van Gaalens (Literally the best single track of all time)
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Westdene Cycles
Strengths:
Price. Indestructable. Pretty good components all things considered, lets face it, this is not the most expensive bike you could buy.
Weaknesses:
Pretty heavy, Sram X5 rear derailer gives a few problems but is an easy upgrade. (Do this in the shop when you buy the bike, many places will swop it out and only make you pay the difference between the old and new derailers.) Fork is less than ideal but sufficient.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock setup except for SRam X9 rear derailer.
Bottom Line:
BUY THIS BIKE. Its so much fun, pretty darn tough and is a cheap initial purchase that can be upgraded as you go along, when you can afford it. (Looking at a new fork as we speak...)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jpculp
a Downhiller
from charlotesville VA Date Reviewed: July 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
my back yard
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
good suspinsion, very durable, can handle light freeride
Weaknesses:
heavy
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
love my bike and beat it to death, cant wait to get a real freeride bike though, its ok for xc kind of heavy but its good for you
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chadzillaa
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix AZ Date Reviewed: June 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Trail 100- Squaw peak AZ
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Jensen
Strengths:
This is for the 2007 Model. I think they bike is absolutely terrific for the price and suits my needs out in the mountains of Arizona perfectly. The brakes stop on a dime and are very smooth with no fade on even very long downhills. The frame is strong and has withstanded intense rock gardens and 2-4 foot drops.
Weaknesses:
When I first got it the front brake disc was out of true and needed to be bent back into shape. After that, they worked flawlessly. The real derailer seems to be tricky here and there and will skip and slip during hard climbs in low gears. I still need to get this adjusted (even after two years :) ) The mountains i ride in just dont usually require the lowest gears. It's either moderate uphills, or so steep you have to get off your bike and walk. The front forks are pretty slushy but are adequate for my riding at 160 pounds.
Similar Products Used:
nothing comparing to this
Bike Setup:
Bone stock with a Panoram trail computer
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike!!! It will suit your needs perfectly if your looking for a cross country bike and will easily withstand some light free riding and downhill. Absoulutely no complaints here!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mwcrandell
a Weekend Warrior
from longmont, co usa Date Reviewed: May 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
hall ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycle
Strengths:
frame, crank, derailleurs, rear shock,headset, the fork is'nt the best but it does the job.
now running easton xc2 wheelset, avid elixir cr brakes 160mm, candy sl pedals, race face evolve xc handlebar, stem, and seatpost, wtb rocket v slt seat, lizardskins peaty lock on grips, sram 971 chain with powerlink, stock sram x-5 derailleur rear, stock shimano deore front, ritchey zero-stack headset, kenda nevegal 2.35" tires.
Bottom Line:
If you buy this bike, do some simple upgrades if you're going to be riding on any rough trails. Chain broke after a few trail rides, ugrade this soon, I was lucky when mine broke it did not do any other damage. Also my handlebar was defective in diameter, grips, shifters, and brake levers were all torqued completely and still wouldn't lock on. The wheels came out of true several times finally upgraded those. After the upgrades I did, the bike has been solid. For the price of the bike plus a couple hundred for upgrades this bike is as good if not better than some of the more expensive competitors. People are all into the lightest bike and stuff, this bike weighs a little more than some but what's a few extra lbs, you just have to work a little harder on the trails which isn't a bad thing for a workout.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
highperboi
a Weekend Warrior
from Alameda, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
rockville and JMP
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
sunrise cyclery but
Strengths:
Price!! I got this when Last year when I just got into mtb and its value was great. It has decent components that most bikes for the price dont have. Its strong, taken it through everything no signs of distress so far.
Weaknesses:
TORA 289 isnt the greatest I replaced it with a marzocchi all mountain 2 after a few months. Kenda Komodos dont hang in with fast turns and dont grab on anything loose. Chain broke on me the 2nd ride.
Similar Products Used:
none this is first mtb.
Bike Setup:
marzzochi all mountain 2, sun single track wheels w/ shimano xt hubs, michelin all terrain tires, Welgo b27 pedals, spanks stem, pro cf freeride handlebar, sette lock-on grips, E13 bashguard, upgraded front brakes to 8inch and rear to 7inch rotors, sram x9 rear dearaileur and sram 971 chain.
Bottom Line:
This bike is good for beginers and was cool for me for awhile but the faster and more technical stuff i road through got me upgrading so basicly the only thing original is the frame, crank and shifters but the bike is still great. I take it through the most technical trails at rockville and the fastest roughest parts of JMP and it holds up just fine. It seems like I changed out lots of things on this bike so that its not the same bike anymore but I'm still rating it a 4 because I am doing the wrong things with this bike. As a XC bike and I use it for AM but even with AM it is great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin,Tx,United States Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
walnut creek, muleshue
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycle
Strengths:
great value!!The frame, rear suspension works great, handeling is good. Point in any direction and go. Good breaks. This is my first duel suspention bike and i love it. This bike really cought my eye when looking for a new bike. I would call this bike a all mountain, xc bike. So far the bike has taken every thing that I can dish out to it. I am not worried about the frame breaking. How ever I changed the front shock to a Marzocci bomber and it really set the bike up. My brother is a little jelous that I came up with this bike becouse I was out for a while due to illness and then Bam I have a all mountain bike! His words were "where can't you ride around here now."
Weaknesses:
I found that the tires want to let go around turns. They are the WTB Kamodos. some gohst shifting but was able to adjust out. Front shock was a Rock Shox and leaked oil. Sinse the shock was leaking oil The manager let me trade .the front shock to a Marzocci Bomber{SWEET}
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this. I you want a good all around mountain bike that will beg for more. Buy this bike. The value is good. Solid frame good all around performing bike.
Than you can't go wrong with this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nkauf21
a Weekend Warrior
from LA, CA Date Reviewed: April 7, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
The price! This is a great value in a full-suspension bike. Adjustable front and rear suspension with adjustable rebound dampening. Hydraulic disk brakes.
Weaknesses:
The handlebars really have no rise and the stem is a bit long for my taste. The stock grips were uncomfortable. The tires are mediocre.
Similar Products Used:
Iron Horse G-Spot
Bike Setup:
Race Face Ride XC 100mm Stem. Titec Hellbent Prolite 1.5" rise bars. ODI Rogue grips. Shimano SPD M520 pedals. Rock Shox Revelation 426 fork.
Bottom Line:
I needed a new bike because I wanted to get back into mountain biking after taking a couple years off but didn't have a lot of cash to spend. This bike fit perfect. For the money, I don't think you could find a better deal on a bike. The frame is solid and that's all that matters to me because I plan on replacing most of the parts. It is a bit heavy at about 31lbs but that's to be expected in this price range. It really is fun to ride and the adjustable rear suspension is great. This is a great bike for a beginner or anyone looking for a new bike in the current economic crisis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brtnswbs9
a Weekend Warrior
from West Chester, PA, USA Date Reviewed: January 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
French Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Really strong frame, it could be lighter but good for the price. It's got components on it that are on bikes almost twice as much. Rides real nice due to the rear air shock with 4.4in adjustable travel.
Weaknesses:
Not a huge fan of the brakes. They are price point, but at least they are hydraulic. The front shock is coil sprung, but it is adjustable 80-120mm and its plush for a coil.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Blur
Bike Setup:
This with Crank Bros Candy C's.
Bottom Line:
This is pretty sick bike, despite what Eugene says below. Maybe the South African version is different or he just falls a lot. I have ridden it about 100 miles on trail so far, and I am really happy with it. I forgot to add that I am reviewing the 2008 model. I would consider this less of a cross country bike and more of an all-mountain whip. Good stuff, I hope it can take the beating I am going to give it for years to come.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MTBNick
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington Date Reviewed: January 25, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$575.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Shocks, Brakes, Frame
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Cheap Wal-Mart Mountain Bikes
Bike Setup:
08 model, all stock
Bottom Line:
This bike climbs great and downhill is a blast. The brakes stop you on a dime and the dual suspension soaks up everything, from small rough patches to 3 ft drops. The handlebars are a bit wide, but they do help when you are jumping. This is easily the best bike I've ever bought and probably the nicest full suspension bike for under 1K.
Bottom line, get this bike if you are on a budget and want a full suspension,lightweight bike with hydraulic disc brakes and 27 gears.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
anthonyi
a Weekend Warrior
from Sarasota, Fl Date Reviewed: November 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Alafia - Rollercoaster
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$799.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Solid bike. Good components. Excellent brakes. Great price.
Weaknesses:
Front fork may be a problem. Not for the "heavy hitters".
Similar Products Used:
Diamond Back hardtail
Bike Setup:
Stock - MONGOOSE OTERO SUPER BIKE '08
Bottom Line:
I like the bike. If you are on a budget, it can't be beat. I have had the bike for a few weeks, and it has been on a few trails (one intermediate and one diamond). The bike held up very well, but the front fork is now squeaking for some unknown reason. I am impressed with the components, as they all seem to work fine. The bike is strong and stable, and the hydraulic brakes are awesome. Hopefully the front shocks won't become a problem in the future.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Forshock
a Cross Country Rider
from Victorville, CA Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008
RockShox Pilot SL, RockShox Bar 2.1, Grimeca System 8, Alex 559 Disc, RaceFace Evolve XC crank, Truvativ GigaPipe Ti
Bottom Line:
2008 Model
For the price, a good entry level bike. Decent component package. Adjustable rear travel is easy to setup, and very useful. Shimano crank flexes a lot. RockShox Tora is stupid heavy. Hydraulic brakes for under $1k.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mountainbiker1
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hill N.C Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Preformance Bicicle
Strengths:
A solid bike with
Weaknesses:
0
Similar Products Used:
an other Mongoose
Bike Setup:
07 Mongoose Otero Super
Bottom Line:
A great bike at a great price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
itfitz
a Downhiller
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Beefy frame; best combination of components at this price!
Weaknesses:
Handlebars are WIDE. Rear deraileur was difficult to adjust so that it wouldn't skip while pedaling hard uphill.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
Stock, just added Shimano clipless pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is the 2007 model. The Otera Super is my first bike with suspension -- I've been a hardtail/hardnose holdout for years, and I got tired of my friends being in much better shape than me at the end of a day of riding. The shocks are adequate (I'm 195 lbs), seat is comfortable, and the disc brakes are awesome. Great intro bike or a nice way to get the most for your money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Iska
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
Very aggresive bikes, very aggressive frame, very good geometry. Derailators are good, breaks are very good also the handles are very comfterble. The handlebar is wide and aggressive thats makes riding comfortable and easy to control.
Weaknesses:
The fork is really soft for me, the rear shock start to make squizing noise after 2 rides. The tires have a good grip at most (up-hill and down) but they fail when cornering.
The grips are really garbage(but that's small money).
Similar Products Used:
Ironhourse Maverick 4.1, Haro R3 - both fell like breaking down when riding.
Bike Setup:
Standard
Bottom Line:
The bikes are really aggressive, I ride on them like 2 months 3-4 times a week very agressively, I weight more than 100Kgs and it still holds half a meter dorps and so easily (it's doesn't fell like its gonna break soon).
the front fork is really soft for me and it's almost closing on big drops.
On my bike one tire (Kenda) came defective and that really upset me for a bike that price, Still I think it's the best bikes I could get for that price on my country (that's for haro R3/R5 and ironhourse 4.1 at same price level that I think would break with me riding on). Still I think changing the spring on the front fork to a harder one soon.
To sum up with, very aggressive bike if your looking for aggresive riding and you are a begginer that's bike are for you, if you weight more that 90 Kgs and do high drops maybe you need to upgrade the front spring before buying (the manufacturer wrote 72 Kgs but I'm more than that and it doesn't close yet), Check for defects(right for everything you buy) espacially the shocks and tires. Very good price for what you get. I'll write 4 only because the defect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eugene Eugene
a Downhiller
from South africa Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
I cracked the swingarm on the frame . The frame has a dent in , i broke the fork , broke the derailler . Broke the front hub , bent the disc brake , broke the chain 3 times
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from corte madera, ca Date Reviewed: April 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
solstice
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
performance bikes
Strengths:
I really like the frame, simple and the welds are beefy, medium size frame geometry works well for me (5'10"& 180lbs.), adjustable travel in the rear with quick release is a bonus, rockshox bar 2.1 is great, great price.
Weaknesses:
Stem and handlebars suck, x-5 r. derailieur and shifters could be better, hubs and headset are garbage.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Mavic cross ride rims and hubs, azonic short stem, azonic double wall bars, ODI grips, rockshox tora 289, michelin all-mountain expert 2.2 in front, WTB moto raptor 2.14 in rear, cane creek zero stack 2 headset, X-O shifters and r. deraillieur, juicy 5 on the front 160mm rotor.
Bottom Line:
I have been riding mountain bikes since the mid eighties and I have ridden a lot of bikes. This bike is a lot of fun. I have punished the frame with several 2-3 ft. drops and plenty of rock gardens. I inspect the frame after every ride and there is no sign of fatigue. Although it has cost me $$, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of upgrading this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oldskoolbiker
a Downhiller
from Alexandria, VA Date Reviewed: March 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$680.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike Shop
Strengths:
Price!, name brand components all the way around, adjustable suspension travel, comes with 27" handlebars
Weaknesses:
Weight (34.5 pounds), handlebars were defective on my bike, lack of preload adjustment on fork, lever design of brakes require use of 2 fingers.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Dakar, Yeti 575
Bike Setup:
Factory Spec 2008 model, swapped defective bars for Sunline bars and Sunline grips
Bottom Line:
I wanted to buy my brother a new bike for his birthday since he is wanting to get back into biking after he fell out of it for a few years. So I was on the lookout for a bike he could use as a good starter bike for getting back into the sport. I wanted to find something that could be used for trail riding, and also be able to handle DJ and light freeride.
I was initially looking at paying $1200 for a Jamis Parker, but I happened to see this bike at Performance Bikes one day. It caught my attention because it looked pretty beefy and had adjustable front and rear travel. Front adjusts from 3in to 5in, and rear goes from 2.5in to 4.5in approximately. A closer look at the bike showed it had a good compoent set. Sram X-5 Drivetrain, Shimano Deore Front Derailleur and Crank. Rock Shox front and rear suspension, and to top it off Tektro Hydraulic brakes.
The MSRP of the bike was $899, which really is a pretty good price for what you get. But Performance had it marked down to $850, then they were running a 10% off all 2008 bikes special, and on top of that this particular store was running a 4hour "Managers Special" additional 10% off the entire store. That brought the price down to $680. Unbeleivable!
I got the bike home and had to spend an hour getting the bike dialed in since Performance's mechanics suck. I also got some brown Sunline lock-on grips to match the bike, and went to install those. The grips wouldn't clamp down. I measured the bars and they were 13/16" instead of 7/8". So they were slightly undersized, and the grip clamps wouldn't lock onto the bars. Instead of dealing with warranty, I just got some Sunline bars to match the grips. The OEM bars were almost flat anyway and I thought more rise would be a little better.
Once I got it done, I took it out through the neighborhood, and the bike feels solid. The shifting is good, suspension works well. I think there will be some pedal bob with the suspension in the longest settings, but the suspension can be dialed down if necessary.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gareth
a Weekend Warrior
from NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: September 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Strengths:
The value for money of this bike is amazing. This review is for the 2007 model. There is no other bike that has the gear this bike has for this money. It has good running gear. Not great though. Rear suspension feels great descending and climbs well. The adjustable quick release rear is awesome. It has pretty good hydraulic brakes.
Weaknesses:
I do about one 2 hour ride a week. This bike is now about one year old. The first thing I didn't like was the tires. They don't corner. I now have Maxxis crossmark kevlar bead with stan's. This also made a huge difference to the harsh small bump feel of the suspension. The bike is heavy and there is a small amount of pedal bob. The handle bars are so wide you will clip every tree you pass. I had them reduced by nearly 30mm each end and they were still wide. Great for jumping though. I now have a different bar . I just couldn't turn. I also felt the stem was to long. The rear bushes have worn out and there is a small knock and about 1mm movement in the rear. Can't be tightened out either. They a brass but I think Mongoose will have a brush kit to fix that. After 10 months the chain was so worn when I replaced it I found the rear cassette was also so worn it had to be replaced. The SX-5 deraileur got a lot of movement in the rivets. Replaced it with an old XT I had and LX shifters. The rear shock has a scratching noise that is the hydraulic fluid. Has lost a lot of it's smoothness.
Similar Products Used:
NIL
Bike Setup:
80mm WTB ally stem. Bontrager bar. XT deraileur and LX shifters. LX rear cassette. New cables and brake pads (wore out and started squealing like a pig). Clipless.
Bottom Line:
Awesome for the price. Great geometry for descending as the fork is about 69 degrees. The parts will wear out quick. But that is cool cause then you can get better stuff. Or just spend a bit extra and get a bike with better gear. This is a pure weekender bike. Too heavy to race and the setup is mediocre.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from hayward Date Reviewed: July 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$649.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Quality Frame, good rear suspension, adjustable travel with lockout. I love the geometry, climbs like a goat
Weaknesses:
Front fork, front derailleur, seat collar
Similar Products Used:
Specialized
Bike Setup:
FSA low rise bar, X-7 Shfiters, X-7 Front Derailleur, X-9 Rear Derailleur, FSA AfterBurner crank
Bottom Line:
Wanted to upgrade to a full suspension bike but did not want to spend a load of cash. Great deal from Performance, sale price of $649 plus 35% back in store credit. Used credit to upgrade derailleurs, shifters and bar. Nothing really wrong with X-5 shifters and rear derailleur but the X7 & X9 combo is alot smoother. Forks to squishy for my taste but will ride them until I can get a deal on good forks. Only problem is the seat collar, shim in the collar is coming off. Overall excellent bike, no others with these features can compare at this price. Climbs better then my hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Drew S
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ Date Reviewed: June 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
All of Round Valley
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$675.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Frame design and Rear suspension set-up... The adjustable lockout and SR/suntour air shock are a terrific value on this bike. it works really well and their is almost no pedal bod under any circumstances! It just rides smooth and you can adjust it to you liking... Tektro Hydro disk are also IMO a great value becasue most other bikes in this price range come with mechs. The tektro have great power, control, and are very quiet! WTB speed v saddle is comfortable
Weaknesses:
Front fork is squishy, soft and heavy (and i only weigh 135 lbs)... I'm not complaining though because no other bike for the same price has a front fork that is any better... You just have to accept that when you spend $700 on a full suspension bike, you will not get a good front fork... Also the SRAM SX5 rear derailleur is a little twitchy (sometimes it like to ghost shift under hard pedaling up hill) it got better when i lubed it and i think it will be even better when i adjust it... However most bikes in this price range come with the same rear Derailleur anyway so it's not a big deal... Kenda Komodos get good traction on smooth dirt (hard to soft) and good traction going up hills... However, sidebite is horrible if you are on loose terrain (stones, rocks and loose dirt)... This makes going around turns fast really uncomfortable! WTB speed v saddle is heavy Mongoose platforms are heavy but are good for learning... I would be so scraped up if i had used clipless from the start Most people would also say that the bike itself is heavy... BUT IT"S NOT... if you think 32 lbs is heavy then you need to find a different sport... And if you want a lighter bike then you need to spend more money... It will only make you stronger and faster then everyone else... XCing is about skill, endurance and strength! Having the best equipment is not going to make you a better rider. Training and dedication though, will!
Similar Products Used:
None... Just walmart bike. I started MTBing about 2 yrs ago... got past my begineer stage but then stopped riding because i needed a new bike and didn't want to spend the money... Then I started road biking about 6 months ago and my endurance grew tremedously. THen all my friends started getting XC bikes... So i was like "fine i'll start riding MTB again and go with you guys." went once and remebered how much fun MTBing was . Right after that i went bike searching and picked up my Otero Super. My skills have almost caught back up however my road biking has made me a lot faster than i was before :P
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Great value for the money... I would say that it is just as good or better than anything in the price range and it's true value lies in the rear suspension setup, frame and brakes. Everything else is comparable to that of other sub $1000 FS XC bikes... In the future i will upgradge the Front fork (Manitou R7 comp), Tires (Panaracer Fire pro or a Smoke/Dart Combo), pedals to clipless (maybe Eggbeaters), Rear derailleur (possibly Shimano XT or SRAM X-9), Saddle (WTB Shadow V) and Grips (i want a pair of ergons and bar ends)... Will cost about $500-$600 to do those upgrades and they will drop about 4lbs bringing the total weight to about 28lbs which is pretty light considering the money Excellent value!!! Awesome ride!!! Good Brakes!!! Buy it if you have limited funds but still want a good base line FS XC bike to start out with...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bailey
a
from Atlanta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Strengths:
Great value, great recommendation from Bicycling magazine
Bottom Line:
I don't know yet. Will ride more and find out, but what I heard was that at this price range, nothing else was close. Seems good so far, though I'm really surprised there is not a dedicated owner's manual. Wanted to get the first review going.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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