Submitted by
Dominic Libby
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton Date Reviewed: November 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Moabs trails
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Frame only eBay
Strengths:
Price! Great frame. Ride quality. Spot on geometry. Disc only. Fits 80mm or 100mm travel forks without any real handling changes. Durable. Allows plenty of space for suspension fork to fit under down tube(knobs won't hit). Color, cable guides(3 disc for line on top tube), accepts traditional components. Made by one of the largest frame manufacturers(Kinesis) in the world.
Weaknesses:
Weight
Similar Products Used:
Niner, Salsa, Access, Zion, GT
Bike Setup:
19" Fantom 29er frame, WTB Laserdisc Trail 29er Wheelset with Michelin XC AT Tires(summer) or Maddux Explorer 29er wheelset with Nokian Gazza Extreme 294 29er studded tires(winter), Shimano XT M770 cassettes, XT M770 Dual control disc shifters/levers mated to XT M770 calipers(185mm front,160mm rear) with Hope Gothic rotors, XT M770 rear derailleur, XT M770 front derailleur, Shimano LX M580 crankset/bottom bracket, Time Titan Carbon Atac XS pedals, Rock Shox Reba Race suspension fork switched from 80mm to 100mm travel via all travel spacers, FSA Orbit XL II headset, Titec Pluto 25.4 stem, Race Face Evolve XC 25.4 low rise handlebar, Sette lockon grips(like ODI Ruffians), Titec Pluto Carbon seatpost, Salsa Flip Off seatpost clamp, Specialized Phenom Gel 143 hollow CroMo railed saddle. Weight for large framed 29er bike 26.75 lbs.
Bottom Line:
*Please note this was a custom build from a stock frame.
This was my first 29er I built 2-3 years ago from a frame I bought brand new out of the box on eBay. With shipping it was $125. You can't beat that. What I thought would be a semi cheaply made bike frame was just the opposite. A fine frame made in a famous bike frame factory. Excellent alignment, welds and finish. Very durable and nice looking matte black finish. The build was perfect with all threads and facings done within specs. By the time I was finished I had a sub 27 pound 29er hardtail that carves New England single track like it was born there. Amazing climbing ability that totally surprized me no matter if I had a 80mm or 100mm travel fork. Since this build I've ventured to build and ride and test multiple makes of hardtail and full suspension 29ers. They all put my butt back on my Motobecane Fantom 29er. It's like climbing into your own bed and that's a comfort zone I can't give up. This bike rocks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cconorm
a Cross Country Rider
from Bham, WA Date Reviewed: September 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
galbraith mtn
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
i own the 29er pro model. the tora 318 air fork is solid a, avid juicy 3 brakes work great, i dont know why i have read bad reviews of them. i love the 29er geometry. climbing is great, XT rear derailer gets the job done. for 800 bucks this bike is much more than i expected. bikesdirect is great, i have friends that have also purchased bikes through them and are all pleased aswell.
Weaknesses:
pedals, but most stock pedals suck anyway
Similar Products Used:
specialized rockhopper
Bike Setup:
stock fantom 29er pro, with extended seatpost and new pedals.
Bottom Line:
after making the switch to a 29er after reading so many good things about them, i dont know if a can ever go back to 26. i am a lanky guy, and this bike fits me great. im 6,3 on the 21inch frame size. i feel as though the 29er has a faster topspeed (have not tested this, i just think so) and a little slower accleration than a 26inch bike. they climb better and romp though sketchy terrain. i mostly do xc style stuff and occassionally try technical trails, ill even take 2 foot drops just fine with the tora fork (this bike is not really meant for jumping a just cant resist little bumps)
i actually bought this as a mountain bike and a commuter as i can only afford one bike and this baby fit the bill just right. it is by no means as fast as a roadie but comfortable and efficient for a mountain bike. i have become a much better rider and more confident with this bike. you cannot find a better deal in this price range, and i dont care what anyone says motobecane bikes are super legit i will never shell out $$$$ for a bigname brand when there are great deals like this one the web.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jebus
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: September 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Palos Forest Preserve
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
BD
Strengths:
CHEAP! Can't imagine another HT 29er frame could be much better (at least not enough to justify spending 3 or 4 times the cash). Geometry feels good, quick handling, relatively light and stiff. Drivetrain and brakes have worked flawlessly after 300 mi.
Weaknesses:
Dart 3 fork is an absolute piece of s#!*, flexes more than it cycles, weighs 7 lbs, doesn't inspire any confidence. Ended up dropping $400 for a decent fork - well worth it. Junk stem, bars and post, headset blew up - cost me another $250 to get the bike to be what I want. Lesson - fork over the extra $400 up front for the Pro SL offering and get a Reba (which you probably can't find for less than $450), juicy 7s, nice wheelset, xtr, ritchey bars, stem and post, basically better everything. You will have a great ride and no need to upgrade anything, too bad they started selling it 3 months after I bought mine. Still bothers me to this day, this is why I am writing a review.
Similar Products Used:
Havn't had the pleasure of riding anybody else's 29er so this isn't a very objective review.
Bike Setup:
Stock w/ Manitou Minute, upgraded stem, post and bars, S8 headset (another $650)
Bottom Line:
If you plan on leaving the pavement don't be cheap, go with the Pro SL spec. If you get hard up for cash you could tear down the bike and sell the parts on Ebay for more than you paid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CKdevil
a Weekend Warrior
from Murfreesboro, TN USA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hamilton Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
BikesDirect
Strengths:
Was good while it lasted.
Weaknesses:
Busted frame.
Similar Products Used:
Rode a Baracuda for 3yrs before upgrading to this.
Bike Setup:
Stock with Shimano clipless
Bottom Line:
Had to get this out. Was out at Hamilton Creek rolling along, started hearing some creeks, looked down and shocked to find my frame cracked in two places (top tube and bottom tube as they enter head tube). I am but a buck 85, and had the frame buckle with what I consider typical usage. The Baracuda had seen 3yr of similar usage. Will contact Bikesdirect and Motocobane, a headache in the making.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cg61doc
a Weekend Warrior
from Annapolis, MD, US Date Reviewed: July 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Arundel
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$595.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Frame, Geometry, PRICE!!
Weaknesses:
No free LBS tune ups. Not crazy about the Shimano XT long cage 9 spd. Seems to be slow and searching on up shifts. Handlebars very lightweight, saddle weak.
Similar Products Used:
1st 29er. Have ridden 26 inch hardtails for 15 years.
Bike Setup:
Stock except kona cowan handlebars, jamis stem, wellgo rodeo spds, bontrager select extra long seat post, bontrager inform r saddle
Bottom Line:
Have owned for less than a month. Approx 400 miles of equal amounts of paved, fire roads and singletrack. No real hard hits and only a few minor crashes. Much faster than my 26 inch bikes. Downhills, flats and gradual uphills are a breeze. Steep uphills a little more difficult as the bike weighs a bit more and the gearing with the 29 inch wheels is a little higher. Very sure footed and agile. Nice stiff frame. Wheels suprisingly stiff. Rolls over stuff that I would normally have had to hop on the 26's. I did bend the handlbars, need a longer seat post (I'm 6'6" and 240lbs), broke seat. Overall a fantastic bike for the price. Guys that were faster than me and now struggling to keep me in sight. I'm the one stopping on the trails to let everyone catch up. Time will tell if the frame will hold up. Will probably switch the rear derailer to a SRAM x-7 or x-9 long cage 8 spd unless I can get the Shimano LX long cage 9 spd dialed in. Will give it another month to see if it's just cable stretch issues
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
burruss
a Cross Country Rider
from Palmyra, WI usa Date Reviewed: July 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
John Muir
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Bought the frame on ebay, built it up from the "parts bin", Nice geometry and ride, rides nice in single track not like some 29ers. a balanced ride
Weaknesses:
I am sure there will be some, one of the better 29er rides I have had. Seatpost slips now and then, replace the quick release collar that comes with it. Weight as built up it is 29 LBS
Similar Products Used:
VooDoo Azain (good), Soma Juice (good), Surly Karate Monkey (sucks), Salsa Dos Niner (very good)
Bike Setup:
Ritchey Sealed headset, XT derailures and shifters (8sp), Moxey seatpost, Bomber MX fork, 32 hole Xt hubs/mavic T521 rims, Avid bb7 breaks, Ritchey stem and bars, Origin8 crank (hey I said it was made form the parts bin)
Bottom Line:
A nice ride, If you can build up a bike it is a cheap way to try the 29er thing. Like any and all bikes if you ride them hard they will break, you can pay $ 500 to 1000 more for a frame that might save you 2 pounds and have a pretty paintjob. The motobecane is a value oriented frame/bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dhw
a Weekend Warrior
from slo Ca USofA Date Reviewed: May 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
east boundry
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$765.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
well I got this bike because the Ti one was sold out and I think it is a smokin deal! Really like the fork lockout remote, bike climbs good I think it is about $700 to $1000 less than comp equiped Specialized or Raleigh
Weaknesses:
Junk bars and stem ( never made it home with them ) Could be lighter
avid juicy 3 have never been my favorite
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh XXIX
Bike Setup:
stock except changed to truvative stem and titec bars will change seat and seat post
Bottom Line:
I am a big fan of the 29er thing I didn't dig the bike direct bait and switch ( I wanted the Ti bike but the were sold out with it nd the next model down so I settled for this. I am a dude on a budget and this will fit me nicely with a few changes it will work out fine
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FrenchFit
a Cross Country Rider
from The Left Coast Date Reviewed: May 9, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
BikesDirect
Strengths:
Love the geometry and climbing on this bike. With a lot of tweaking got the components to function flawlessly, with the exception of the lame fork. So one year in, have torn it down twice, rebuilt the fork once, run two different wheel sets. All and all, it is more bike than I can believe for $.6K.
Weaknesses:
Could be lighter stock. Dart 3 fork: There are worse no doubt, but this is a pure recreational fork, and it is not maintenance free. If I was riding this bike more I'd dump the fork for sure. Component are simply OK.
Similar Products Used:
This is the only 29er I have, usually ride 26" hardtails or 700 Cross in AT / mixed.
Bike Setup:
Changed out the stem, bar for Easton carbon, made a few minor mods to lighten it a little. Also, came with WTB Motos which are too heavy in anything but gunk. Took me about a month to get it figured out with what components, tires, and set-up make it really get up and go.
Bottom Line:
For banging around on the dirt and hills, I pick this bike every time. Since this is my only 29er experience I'm not sure if I'm loving this bike or just the 29er geometry - but it simply works. So, I maybe missing the joy of a $3K 29er, but for $.6K I'd say this thing is a steal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
glazej
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Cruces NM USA Date Reviewed: April 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tortugas, Sierra Vista, Don Anas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$596.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Quality components, finish, easy assembly. All pre-purchase questions handled completely and quickly
Weaknesses:
Seatpost, clumsy stem, handlebar. These can (and will) be replaced
Similar Products Used:
no 29er's
Bike Setup:
stock, crank brothers Candy C pedals
Bottom Line:
Excellent value. I checked on similar set up 29ers, like the Fuji, and this bike was consistently $400-$600 less. Rides great and delivers the 29er advantages. I have the matte red and it is a great color. Total set up time from the box was about 1 hour, most of which was spent reading about and setting up the front disc brake. This was my first experience with discs so I took it slow.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
peterd
a Weekend Warrior
from Renton, WA USA Date Reviewed: March 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
none yet
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
lots of bike for the money, fun to ride. Its an inexpensive way to get into the 29er world.
Weaknesses:
The dart 3 fork is garbage, trying to get my hands on something better. Some of the components, mainly the seat post, stem and handlebar are cheap junk.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Stock but I have added a set of crank bro's candy's an upgraded stem and handlebars and new tires.
Bottom Line:
Spend a bit more and get the Fantom PRO with the Tora fork and a few other upgrades.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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