Submitted by
mad_bart
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI Date Reviewed: August 13, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Low Cost, Comes with 33t chainring
Weaknesses:
Brakes, levers, handlebars, stem, saddle, no disc tabs
Bike Setup:
Stock wheels/drivetrain, Kalloy 27.2 post, Selle San Marco saddle, Oury grips, Avid SD-7 brakes, Avid brake levers, Easton stem,stock handlebars, Bontrager Jones XD TLR tiers, Shimano SPD pedals
Bottom Line:
This bike is great if you've got some parts laying around to swap out right away.
The tektro brakes and levers blow. The seat post is too short and the stock saddle is uncomfortably soft.
I rode this bike at Ore to Shore 2009 and it held up perfectly!
I'd recommend changing the tires, since the Nevegals are heavy and not fast rolling at all.
This is my first SS and 29er, overall I'm sold on big wheels and single speeding. This bike will be my primary mountain bike until I get more cash, then it will be resigned to commuting. I really wish this thing ha disc tabs because then your wheel choices wouldn't be as limited.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Victor
a Cross Country Rider
from Julian, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Big Laguna
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
This bike has exceeded every expectation I had about it. It is very light, and with the proper gearing, climbs like a mountain goat. It is a lot of fun to ride, and it will make you a stronger and better rider.
Weaknesses:
Some components are not the best out there, but acceptable on an entry level 29er for $349.99
It will make your other bikes collect dust.
Similar Products Used:
Voodoo Dambala, Surly Karate Monkey
Bike Setup:
At 230lbs. and having to deal with lots of big mountains I changed the chainring to 33t (included) and added a 22t freewheel (ACS Claws). This works very well for me.
Bottom Line:
I ride with a bunch of experienced 29er riders on the mountains east of San Diego. I was the last 26 holdout, so I decided to try the 29er experience. I am very happy with my purchase, and now my 26 is collecting dust in my garage.
Riding a rigid single speed 29er is the closest you can get to that first bike you had as a kid. Pure fun!!!
I highly recommend this bike if you want to try the 29er experience without having to drop $3,000 on a new high end bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Geared
a Weekend Warrior
from Waco, Texas, United States of America Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Cameron Park, Waco
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$385.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct.com
Strengths:
Simple, handles smoothly, almost svelte, really hard to beat the price. I like the simplicity of a totally ridged bike. No bells and whistles. Bicycling at its' most rawest form. Especially if you go fixy on it.
Weaknesses:
Quality control in the paint, apparently not prepped well and there are some discoloration (brown spots)coming through the white paint. (Note: I did not bring it up with Bikes Direct because I didn't notice it until a month later and by then I had already put a couple hundred miles on the thing and dropped it a half dozen times, beauty scratches) Welds not ground smooth, but notice there are alot of expensive bikes out there that have welds with the same appearance. Welds though are very uniform and impressive. No weld spatter, looks very stout. Some components were apparently less expensive as those used on other similar products, but the overall price to get into this 29er was the selling point. Besides even on the most expensive bikes I ever have purchased, I was exchanging parts for ones I wanted and still had to pay over the price of the bike. Seats are the first thing for sure that get swapped out and pedals are rarely part of your purchase anyway. Handlebars, grips or grip tape, stems, and etc... Not a product weakness per-say, but the wheels will need to be trued like any other bike after a few hundred miles, and the wheel bearings will need to be repacked too. I had about 600 miles in it when I started to realize some slack in the rear axle and crunchyness. Repacked with Paul waterproof grease. Noticed my rear axle was a little bent too. Yeah I know, I'm heavy and I run the bike hard. Still running with the bent axle since it doesn't affect the wheel rotation or impede the bearings. Will have to replace it later? Maybe, if it doesn't get totally trashed by next year with all the abuse or stolen.
Only replaced the pedals to Crank Bros. eggbeaters, put a Performance brand carbon fiber handlebars (love them), reduced the front sprocket with the 33 tooth included with the purchase from BikesDirect and installed a ACG 21 tooth rear cog from my local LBS. Everything else stock.
Bottom Line:
The bike is great for what I do. Single track technical, night and day, the bike handles very well. It's got this cushy, yet precise feel about it. I know, these two things usually don't go hand in hand with each other, but that is how it feels. No need for a suspension with those big fat tyres. I always get a thumbs up from friends because they don't expect the bike or me to achieve the feats I do on some of the technical stuff that they can't do on their multi-speed MTB's. The stem could be replaced with something more stout, but in comparison to some of the older MTB's I have that have taken years of abuse from me and friends, this stem looks and feels stout enough. There is no flex there. No reason to over kill. I'm 217lb 5'-9" and use a 15" frame on this Motobecane. Some say get rid of the seat post and seat too, but I am kinda partial to the WTB seat that is provided, but the seat post on the other hand is on the inexpensive side and might get replaced in the future, depends on if the steel part on the head rusts or gets tweaked out from hard pounding. I have been bicycling for over 25 years, have seen lots of bikes come and go in my life and this one has been a blast next to my Specialized Stump Jumper. Inexpensive and so I'm not worried about it getting stolen, and because it is a bargain buy I have been abusing it. I am pleasently surprised that it has been taking the abuse I have been giving it. I say if you want to try the 29er thing with little money up front, then pull the trigger, but if you are out there to impress your friends that you can afford more affluent products, then more power to you. Just know that some of us with these motobecanes are not newbies and will still smoke you in the trails. ;) Happy Trails, from Texas
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
h2o-x
a Cross Country Rider
from Fidalgo Island Date Reviewed: June 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All Single Track
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Handling, Simplicity, Price
Weaknesses:
Heavy, especially the stem, bars, and saddle.
Bolt on front hub...why?!
Similar Products Used:
This is my first 29r
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for a WTB SST saddle, Race Face seatpost, Aerus (Blue) stem, and Sette flat bars.
Bottom Line:
This bike could be a lot lighter, but it is a great price and handles really well. It is a fun ride. I use it for commuting and riding with my kids. I have had it on some non-technical single track.
I really wish it had a quickrease front wheel merely for convenience.
For the price, I got what I expected and am quite pleased.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
verk2410
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: June 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Appearance, Comfort, Flat copper paint is cool.
Weaknesses:
Stock stem, handlebar, seat is uncomfortable.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F4 29er
Bike Setup:
Easton bars, seatpost, and stem, Bontrager seat. Everything else stock.
Bottom Line:
Wanted to try a single speed. The rigid feel is totally old school. I love it. Cool, very nice bike. Can't beat it for 350 bucks esp. for a 29er. Handles great. I love the simplicity of it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jetmonkey
a Cross Country Rider
from ny, ny , us Date Reviewed: May 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
goosberry mesa
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
Affordable, good looks, solid ride.
Weaknesses:
some stock parts meant for commuting. must be swapped out.
Similar Products Used:
gary fisher
Bike Setup:
stock with upgrades to saddle, stem, hadlebars, brake levers, tires, pedals.
Bottom Line:
First foray into a 29er, so wanted to keep the investment modest, and thought i'd go for the full monty into single speed and rigid fork. Overall, am stoked on the whole SS 29er experience- it really is a whole new ride- and must give credit to the Outcast. Looked at pricier options like a Kona Unit and Surly Karate Monkey (maybe later) since i was skeptical about riding a fully rigid aluminum (i've always only ridden steel xc). In it's class, i can only compare it to the Kona Unit i test drove, which felt GREAT and which i would probably prefer, but just a bit out of my price range. The Unit also wheelied better.
In addition to much city riding I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT ON ONE LONG TRAIL RIDE, so i'm unable to speak to overall durability and will update this review if anything craps out, but i really don't expect any problems. I've ridden bmx to road to mtb my whole life and feel pretty good about sizing up relative quality after a good ride. I'm average height and size, not a bomber, and so i don't put the same strain on a bike that other riders might. This bike to me feels great.
Lighter than I expected, didn't weigh it but weighs noticeably less than my old and much smaller 26" steel frame gary fisher hoo koo e koo that i still ride.
I put in about $150 on upgrades, a big chunk of that went for some nano raptors for a smoother ride and a nice saddle. Tires- not a necessary upgrade since the kenda nevegals that come stock seem to be highly regarded, will use them in the future. The stem and handlebars HAVE GOT to go though, so budget for some upgrades. You don't have to spend as much as i did to enjoy this bike, and of course putting too much money into upgrades on this bike starts to beg the question... but i was happy with actually being ABLE to customize parts i really wanted and still be within my budget.
Some negatives- one of the draws was the flip flop hub that the outcast comes stocked with, which is a great option. but i imagined being able to easily swap back and forth from fixed to single speed, as in commuting to a trail through the city, but dealing with the horizontal drop outs and chain tensioner is a bit more of a pain than i expected, so i'm thinking it's going to stay a single speed even if i could benefit from a fixed gear. Some of the more clever dropout designs could be useful here. Still gets points for making it an option. Also the frame welds are a bit unsightly but you get used to it.
About the bikes direct issue, i'm sympathetic but neutral on that. had no problems with them. bike assembled easily, wheels were true. extra chain ring is useful.
A good entry into a 29er. With minimal upgrades, rides like a much higher priced bike.
best of luck
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Raumfahrer Rolf
a Cross Country Rider
from Herndon, VA Date Reviewed: March 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Fountainhead
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Sprtymama on eBay
Strengths:
Value! Harder to get a SS 29er rolling cheaper than this
Weaknesses:
Rear hub crapped out in less than a month
Track ends have significant dents stamped in them from the axle bolts being overtightened before shipping - makes tensioning the chain a hassle
Aluminum frame is pretty unforgiving
Frame won't accept disc brakes
Similar Products Used:
Kona Unit 2-9, Raleigh XXIX, Redline Monocog
Bike Setup:
Currently using it as a SS commuter
Bottom Line:
This bike got me hooked on SSing and 29ers. I was blown away by how well the two go together.
That being said, I only rode it for a couple months as a mountain bike before I re-purposed it as a SS commuter. I went back to riding trails on my old mountain bike, saved up my money, and bought a Kona Unit 2-9 last summer. As a mountain bike, the Unit outshines the Moto in nearly every respect. If I were to do it again, I would have skipped the Moto, saved a little longer, and gone straight for the Unit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kennemore_m
a Weekend Warrior
from Chattanooga, TN USA Date Reviewed: March 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Thunder Rock Express
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$370.00
Purchased At:
Sprtymama (Ebay)
Strengths:
Price, strong frame, light weight, appearance, excellent handling.
Weaknesses:
A few sub-par stock components (seat post, stem, handlebar, hubs).
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Mt. Tam fully rigid geared 29er.
Bike Setup:
Bontrager 400mm seatpost, Easton EA 50 stem and handlebar, Avid brake levers, Scott clipless pedals, 32 tooth chain ring.
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike for the price. Has some components that will need to be replaced but shopping around you can find great deals on the required upgrades. The biggest issue for me was the seatpost, stem, handlebar, and rear hub. I replaced all but the hub before the first ride. After the second ride the hub was coming apart. Had to tighten the whole thing down and put the bearings back in place but have not had any further problems.
The bike handles great! My primary bike is a Gary Fisher fully rigid geared 29er. Great bike but the Outcast actually handles better. I bought the Moto to give the single speed thing a try and I just can't get enough of this bike. I would definately recommend it but plan on upgrading a few things. I had great customer service from Sprtymama on Ebay.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon Beckett
a Cross Country Rider
from Harrison Twp MI US Date Reviewed: February 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
stony creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Its initially inexpensive. Good to run my dogs on snow or ice. 1st fixed gear,1st 29er, Very fun! Also good to tool around for exercise and enjoyment! Fixed cog is great, did not rust.
Weaknesses:
My Outcast came with stickers on the handlebar and seatpost, "not for offroad or aggresive riding". Seatpost is to short for proper riding position. I swapped the cheap stem, and I put the handlebars in the garbage so no one else will be in danger... freewheel sounds like a metronome and is rusting out fast despite any treatment. You will need to grease everything that has threads except BB. BB and hubs are breaking down fast. Chain tensioner digs into frame. Seat is mushy.
Similar Products Used:
Fisher Utopia (hybrid) Fisher Sugar2+disc (singletrack) several years old and nearly flawless.
Bike Setup:
Ergo brand grips,bontrager bars and stem, pedals i had in garage. Hold stock pedals in one hand and heft them for weight, its good for a laugh.(I'm not a weight weenie, its just funny. Also I stripped the brakes off completely, and put 36 tooth in front.
Bottom Line:
I love riding this bike in fixed gear, it may see some mellow two-track before I can replace hubs and BB, but not singletrack. I ADVISE BUYING A FRAME AND BUILDING YOUR OWN, THIS BIKE WILL FORCE YOU TO PRETTY MUCH LEARN TO DO THAT ANYWAY. If I had it to do over again, I would not buy this bike, I would build my own 29er fixed gear,(which I'm doing with outcast anyway). I hope this review doesn't sound too negative, this has been a mostly dependable winter bike, the drawbacks are not enough to take a way the joy of riding...Have Fun!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
razin cane
a Weekend Warrior
from garden state, new jersey Date Reviewed: January 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
cheesequake, and n.j. parks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
strong, simple, looks great, a great way to see if you like 29er or mountainbiking in general
Weaknesses:
depending on youre abilities, and demands, will need to upgrade a few parts.my only beef is it didnt come with the readiness to add disc brakes.
Similar Products Used:
none, my first legit mountain bike
Bike Setup:
put on the 32 chainring, despite my stubbornness, truvativ bars, salsa stem, and also an E-thirteen bash guard to fit the chainring
Bottom Line:
for entry level, the bike is cool. I only upgraded the bars and stem because i am 230 lbs, a big guy, and there was some bending in the bars when i hammer it uphill. also, i added the 32 chainring for the hills, and the new bash guard that will fit so i added another inch or so of clearance.bottom line, the bike is an absolute blast to bang around the parks, single track, anything i threw at it so far, its been great.i take it all over, but where it really shines for me is going through sand and loose ground, between the kenda 29 tires, and the rigid fork, there is no wash out, really holds a line pretty good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
thi5guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood, Ca Date Reviewed: January 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Aliso
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
BikesDirect
Strengths:
Solid frame. The white on black looks awesome. Fun to ride. Included 42 and 32t chain rings. Also included 18t fixed gear.
Weaknesses:
Bad rear freewheel cog. Made odd click sitcky sounds. I just replaced it.
Similar Products Used:
Gary fisher paragon 29er
Bike Setup:
Had a spare Chris King headset so I put that on and an old Weyless stem. Everything else is stock.
Bottom Line:
I love the bike. It is so fun to ride. Its not too heavy. The ride is awesome and turns great. I used this bike most of the time being in the mountains or on the street.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joelness
a Weekend Warrior
from Randle, WA Date Reviewed: November 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
overall value, especially WTB saddle and grips which always seem to impress me
Weaknesses:
generic components
Bike Setup:
bone stock
Bottom Line:
I've kept this bike stock, because I think that's what a review should be. The aluminum frame is exactly what you would expect, light and unforgiving. Without help from the 29" wheels this would be a deal breaker. The fork is heavy, but does provide just enough give. The hoops are good for commuting and light trails, your weight and riding style may dictate otherwise. The hubs are way too light to be considered for any serious trail use, but having the option of riding fixie is a lot of fun for those of us using this bike for it's intended purpose of commuting. The brakes are very nice once they're set up properly; mine came with no toe and thus screamed like a banshee. The WTB saddle and grips are the usual WTB awesomeness. The generic seatpost, stem, and bars follow suit with the hubs and really aren't cut out for anything even resembling aggressive riding. The gearing poses much the same problem as it is perfect commuting and flatland fare but leaves much to be desired once the trail turns steep and/or technical. This will be very familiar to anyone with prior Motobecane experience. It's needed a tune up after every serious trail ride, but it's overall value as a first SS as well as fixie and 29er make it a homerun for me. I can't think of a better value in a versatile HD commuter and light trailbike if you keep in mind that any parts not listed with a brand name on the description are going to need some attention before serious trail use is made a viable option.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ranger Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: October 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
multiple
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Good Entry Level Bike
Low Price allows for upgrades
Solid Crank
Weaknesses:
Awkward Stock Components
Not disc brake compatible
Low-end hubs
Similar Products Used:
Redline Monocog
Bike Setup:
On-One Superlight Chromoly Fork, Race Face Deus XC Stem OS, Sette XLR O/S Low Rise Handlebar, Sette APX Alloy Seatpost, Crank Brothers Acid 1's, 32T Race Face Bash guard.
Bottom Line:
The Outcast 29er is a catch 22 in the 29er world, it offers a great price for the entry level rider, but can leave much to be desired for the more serious enthusiasts. The truth is you get what you pay for, if your interested in the idea of 29 inch wheels, you can't find anything cheaper, price or components-wise (unfortunately). The only "name brand" components installed on this mail-order bike include the crank, brake system, seat, and rims, all base components within the manufacturing companies that provide them. The frame is aluminum, which lightens the overall weight and still provides a comfortable ride, but lacks the muster for more technical trails that Steel frames generally provide. The downfall of this frame though is the inability to upgrade to disc brakes, not a must, but a nice thing to have if you ever decide to upgrade,
Out of the box, the Outcast works great for commuting and light trails. If that's the general purpose of this bike, then it's more than worth its value and provides a reliable ride if well taken care of. If you plan on using this bike on anything above beginner trails and sidewalks I suggest upgrading a few components in order is fulfill your needs. I strongly suggest purchasing a different bike if you see yourself on advanced trails over the course of the lifetime of this bike. Of course you upgrade components to your needs and I highly suggest doing so, after a little bargain shopping you can tailor this bike to your body style for as little as 150-200 dollars and feel very comfortable with its performance.
I purchased this bike because I needed a light trails bike and was interested in the world of 29ers. After much use, I begin noticing how uncomfortable and flimsy the stock components were, this includes the fork (even though constructed from a chromoly blend). I agree with most of the reviewers here with the complaints about the component size and how it's the same for a 16in frame up to a 21in frame, but once again I remind you that this bike is available for under 360 dollars (the price of a decent suspension fork). I upgraded the whole steering system to O/S and a higher quality rigid fork (suspension forks throw off the geometry of the bike, another downfall).
The gear ratio intended for this bike was 42x18, which stated by previous reviewers is wonderful for flatland, but extremely undesirable for technical uphills or off-roads for that matter. It does come with a lighter geared chainring, but when you switch them out, you're still left with a giant bashguard meant for the 42t chainring. Before switching to a more appropriate size, I was catching the bashguard on almost anything, which is great, it was fulfilling it's purpose, but there was at least an inch to inch and a half distance between the outer portion of the bashguard and the chainring, which is just overkill.
Thus far it seems that I have nothing but animosity for the overall performance of the Outcast, but this isn't true. After the upgrades, I built up a quality rigid 29er for under $500 dollars. With a little know how, you can create a very reliable and comfortable ride able to handle a majority of trails out there. Though the bike has its disadvantages, as does any bike, I had just as much fun rebuilding it as I now do riding it. Out of the few bikes that I have, I consider this one to be the most entertaining.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cander49
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore, MD Date Reviewed: October 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Loch Raven, Baltimore, MD
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Price is cheap, frame is well built and pretty light, 29 inch wheels are pretty fun
Weaknesses:
Ugh... 2 MAJOR issues with this bike that should ABSOLUTELY keep you from purchasing it. Motobecane used to be a reputable business, but a shady company called bikesdirect.com bought them out and drastically lowered the quality. First off, the alloy on the pedal crank arms is absolute junk. I've had this thing for 10 days and the crank arms are completely trashed. I set it up properly (didn't cross-thread the pedals or something stupid like that, not to mention the fact that I had professional help with the setup...) and the threading was apparently so poorly done that one of my pedals already tore the threading straight out and my pedal just fell off while I was riding today, causing a particularly nasty slam. I guess it's my fault for crashing since I knew it was going to pop off at some point, but I rely on my bike for transportation and didn't think it'd fall off this fast. Second, and perhaps, even worst, I've emailed bikesdirect.com about the problem literally 3 times now (before the pedal even fell off because I could see that it was getting pretty bad) and faxed them and they have literally completely ignored my 4 messages despite having ample time to get back to me. They don't even have a phone, which should've been a tip-off I guess. Other than these problems, the bike seems overall shoddily put together. The breaks seem pretty cheap and the bolts don't seem to want to stay tight despite a professional setup. Also, the front hub makes lots of clicking noises. I'm not sure what the problem is, but miscellaneous noises never seem to be a good sign.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, Trek, bought this on recommendation from my Dad, who apparently has only used "real" Motobecane bikes from before they were bought out.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend buying something else from a local reputable dealer. I haven't seen anyone else having problem with threading, so maybe it's just a glitch in quality control, but it looks like it's going to turn into a major headache to deal with this as I really don't want to drop 25% of the bike's cost to fix it when it's almost brand new.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chuckjoga
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado, USA Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Sedalia, Indian Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Cheap. Quick handling. Good tires. Nice looking in white. Decent rim brakes. Really works. Fun to ride. Came with an extra 33t front sprocket and flat pedals. Comfortable WTB seat.
Weaknesses:
Cheap hubs will need to be upgraded. 170mm short cranks probably to avoid wheel/toe overlap. Frame & stock fork are not suspension corrected and the geometry will change if suspension fork is added. Brake pads go away fast. Nutted axles. No disc tabs on frame or fork. 2-bolt stem and thin looking bars.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F29 1FG
Bike Setup:
ENO 22t freewheel, SRAM 870 chain, Time ATAC Alium pedals, DMR Revolver rear hub, Quick-release front axle w/Sette skewer, Bell brake pads, Sette clamp on grips.
Bottom Line:
If you want to try a 29er for cheap, this is a good deal. If you think that you may actually ride it off-road, spend $600-$800 at your LBS for a Redline or something used. The hubs and loose bearings are no name and will need to be replaced. The Truvativ cranks turn very smoothly, but are square taper and the bottom bracket shell is prone to rusting. Remove and generously regrease the bottom bracket and head bearings before riding in anything resembling moisture. I had a low-side crash and lost an endcap on the WTB grips and replaced them with clamp-ons. Bars and stem seem OK, but I'm a bit wary of the 2-bolt stem. If one of the bolts snaps, you're going down hard. The short cranks worked fine and actually lets you spin a bit faster on the flats when you're geared down for real mountain biking.
I started riding this bike to the park and mostly flat terrain. I got hooked on the 29er and started taking it to the mountains. If you hammer and ride aggressively, don't buy this bike. After about 500 miles you will end up spending a bit more on hubs, freewheels, chains, and brakes. The non-dished rear wheel with the sturdy Alex rim was a snap to rebuild with a nice hub. This is my park bike again and I'm now hammering the Cannondale 1FG. The Outcast 29er is still a nice looking bike, though.
The bottom line is that if you come across a used, lightly ridden Outcast 29er for $200, buy it. Hardcode XC riders stay away or ride it box-stock and plan to sell it within a couple months after you're hooked on the 29er thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmfrankl
a Weekend Warrior
from Seoul, Korea Date Reviewed: August 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Low price, functional frame and parts.
Weaknesses:
Some clicking in the freewheel hub.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
Began stock. Now running Schwalbe Big Apples and Crank Brothers Mallet pedals and an ENO freewheel hub. Am about to put on a Thomson stem and seat post, a better chain, etc.
Bottom Line:
The upgrades I have made are largely vanity. I just want a higher end bike. That said, this thing performed fine from day one. I read all the negative feedback and was ready to suffer a bit. Almost none of it was true. For the price this thing is fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chain smoker
a Weekend Warrior
from malden ma usa Date Reviewed: July 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
fells
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
price
Weaknesses:
stem, bars
Similar Products Used:
single speed specialized custom
Bike Setup:
basically stock - Switched to big apple tires. Really like em'
Bottom Line:
Great deal for the money. Fairly light and seems to be holding up fine.
Hard to wheelie, but once I get it up it balances just fine. Almost impossible for me to manual on this...
Switched to big apple tires
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rsbuell
a Cross Country Rider
from Maianga, Luanda, Angola Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dave's Valley of Death
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bike shop on southsi
Strengths:
Superior handling at speed in loose and sandy terrain. Light weight and very simple to maintain.
Weaknesses:
21" frame and the bike came stock with 170mm cranks - these cranks are too short for a large person - I had to change out the cranks for 180mm.
Similar Products Used:
Surly 1X1
Bike Setup:
180mm TruVativ crank set. Geared 17-42. Upgraded wheels to Chris King Hubs with DT Swiss 1.1 rims. Upgraded seat post & handle bar to carbon fiber. Run 2.5 tires for cyclocross riding in sandy terrain.
Bottom Line:
I have put about 2000 miles on my Outcast in the sandy rolling hills of West Africa. Bike is very light and simple to maintain. Excellent handling at speed and float in sandy conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
123honus
a Weekend Warrior
from Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Price, its a 29er, good looking, it is available quickly,
upgrade as you see fit and not spend a lot.
Great way to see if you like 29er and or single speed.
Weaknesses:
If you do not have a little mechanical ability it could be a problem. If you do it is great.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
I have been experimenting with gearing. It came with 42-18.
Good for the street and marginal hills. You will need Lower gearing for more serious trails. For the street or fairly level trails it is fine.
It comes with a fixed gear and a freewheel. Both 18 teeth.
It needs a 32 or 36 primary for the trail.
Bottom Line:
Now that I know a little about bikes I still think it is a good value.
I removed the cranks, the BB and the freewheel.
You will need the special tools to do this if you are not going to use a local dealer.
I believe the parts are fine. You can upgrade as you see fit.
V brakes work fine for me, 210 LBS.
I will probably change the bars and grips.
The gearing will have to change for more serious trails.
After changing the freewheel to a 21 teeth, I feel it is going to be easier to change the primary sprocket than the freewheel. It takes longer to change than I expected.
I am still on the fence for the single speed, but the bike has been great fun so far.
I think lack of suspension is fine if you have 29" wheels.
If you have a good local dealer that stocks 29ers and you do not want to work on your bike, I would consider spending the extra few hundred and buy from him.
For me this was a great purchase and got me into the 29er and the single speed at a very reasonable price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ramon Hernandez
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellport,NY,USA Date Reviewed: May 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Stillwell
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
They include an extra chainring (33T) for OFF ROAD ride and the price.
Got the bike from bikesdirect.com..They sent the bike via UPS Ground. As soon received and evaluated the bike start doing some upgrades on components not good for me. The stem and handlebar are garbage.If you plan to do a OFF ROAD rides you need to replace the chainring to 33T. The stock chainring is 44T. I upgrade the bike with a good components that were on my garage from a long time. Install a new XT Lever,Easton Stem. The tires are good (KENDA Nevegal) but too heavy and soon will upgrade to KENDA Small Block 8.TEKTRO V-brakes are acceptable. The wheels are not the best ones but you can ride. Fork is a little heavy but is acceptable.On general recommend the bike to try a 29er Single Speed,Full rigid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
calboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Point Pleasant WV Date Reviewed: March 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
bob evans farm
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
PRICE. Comes a wtb seat,kenda nevegals and truvativ cranks. I love the matte copper paint and oh yeah.......ITS A 29ER!!!!
Weaknesses:
The wheels are track hubs. But I knew that when I bought the bike.
Similar Products Used:
2006 salsa dos niner and a 2003 supergo access. Both are setup as xc racers.
Bike Setup:
Pretty much stock with the exception of carbon bars and a 32 front chainring.
Bottom Line:
Some say that the bike isn't a serious mountain bike but I think they are wrong. I have ridden this bike on some of the best singletrack that West Virginia has to offer and the bike is still here and so am I. I bought the bike because I wanted to get stronger. It sure was the right bike for me because I still have some money left over for upgrades and training was never more fun. The bike tracks very well on twisty sections and just blows through rocks and roots. And just like a typical 29er I find myself having to coast alot when I'm behind someone on a 26 inch! My overall rating of 4 chillis is because of the track hubs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Douglas Vlad
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte,NC USA Date Reviewed: March 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Itusi trail at Lake Norman State park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Nice Color
Weaknesses:
Heavy Frame, dropouts uneven, Bike uses same size components for all sizes i.e.170mm crank & 110mm stem is standard on 16" and the same on 21". No QR. Touring Saddle, 42x18 gear. Narrow Handlebars, 300mm seatpost
Similar Products Used:
numourous mountain ,road,track,cyclocross bikes since 1987
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
I would say if you could get this bike at under $150,it may be a good deal if you plan on adding a basket and riding to the corner store. I don't think it could be used for any serious trail use
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kim
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa, FL Date Reviewed: February 27, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
sprtymama on ebay
Strengths:
decent quality bike at a rock bottom price
Weaknesses:
budget components
Similar Products Used:
Giant ATX760
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
t it comes with a smaller chainring that is perfect for general use. I have ridden it on the pavement and on the trails and it is a blast. In my opinion, 29 inches rules. The simplicity and lack of maintenance of the single speed is pretty sweet as well. I liked the 29er size and the overall bike so much I just ordered a Motobecane Fantom29 Pro.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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