Submitted by
RuggerTucker
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas TX Date Reviewed: August 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Grapevine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Excellent value...price to quality components. Incredibly light and nimble. Love the Sid Race fork and the Avid Juicy 7s.
Weaknesses:
Wheels, Tires and Seat. Note: I am a Clydesdale at appx 205#s.
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh M80, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Stock setup for the 2009 Fly Pro with the exception of the following: seat - WTB; wheel set - Mavic EX823 with XT hubs laced with straight 2.0 DT spokes; tires - Hutchinson UST Tubeless with the 2.3 Python on the front and the 2.0 Piranha on the back; Handlebars - SunLine graphite V-One OS riser bars; grips - Ergon GP1 SE.
Bottom Line:
This is a great machine for someone transitioning from a beginner / itermediate level of riding to a higher level. I ride XC and all mountain 3-4 days/week, and this bike has performed very well. The upgrades that I made to the bike are recommended, particularly for someone that is heavier and/or riding all mountain.
Service from Bikes Direct has been exceptional. On the procurement end, I had my bike in 4 days following a one-day diversion to ship the bike to my office instead of my house. On the warranty end, I did have a problem with the frame when the top bar broke at the weld to the head after 9 months of riding. A local distributor for Motobecane, Cycle Spectrum, handled the warranty claim, transferred my components to the new frame and did it all in about a week.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
EdJax
a Cross Country Rider
from Jacksonville, FL Date Reviewed: June 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Fernandina Beach (nothing better around)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1060.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Components, Weight, Price
Weaknesses:
Had the following issue - shifter needed to be double-clicked to shift (both ways). The store I purchased from after a week of work on found the following issue - on 2009 XT Shadow is not compatible with Ultegra cassette. The other new bike in the store had exactly the same issue.
Replaced with Shimano XLS cassette - works perfect now.
Chain was changed "just in case" to Shimano too.
Similar Products Used:
1999 Trek 930 (26 lbs unbreakable bike)
Bike Setup:
All stock except:
Cane Creek Thud Buster seat post
Kenda Super Lite replaced with Velociraptors
Flat bar replaced with Riser.
Chain was changed to HG73
All these added 2-3 lbs to the bike but still have 26.5 as a whole.
Bottom Line:
You can't find anything for this price with all it has.
With SID Race you will not find anything for twice this much.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
austin
a Racer
from NC Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
www.bikesdirect.com
Bike Setup:
the only thing i put on it were new grips and new tires
Bottom Line:
i am a racer and a weekend warrior i have done 3 years worth of racing on this bike and had no problem with it i even raced the US nationals with it for the price you can find no better deal!!!!!!!!i have put thousands of miles on it this is just a good bike there is nothing else to it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbkr
a Weekend Warrior
from dallas, tx Date Reviewed: April 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything at Grapevine Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect
Strengths:
Motobecane Fly XC - great price, awesome components, looks good(blue fork w/ white paint), very very light
Weaknesses:
Tires - immediately need to be thrown in the garbage.
Handlebar - I like mine bent not staight
Great bike for the money with no problems. Must change out the tires if planning on riding the bike on trails.
I was at a LBS picking out tires and handle grips and the people working could not stop talking about how nice the fork and components were.
If you want a very light, fast, well functioning mountain bike that isn't going to put a hole in your wallet than check this bike out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chip48532
a Cross Country Rider
from Flint, MI, USA Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
They all make me swear
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Light, Great components
Weaknesses:
Hard seat
Bottom Line:
This bike is well worth the money. LBS thought I paid $3000-$4000 for this bike based on components. Bike is very light and fast. I've read about bikesdirect having bad customer service....But I have had nothing but excellent service from them. Bottom line....Don't be scared to buy this bike. I did alot of research and couldn't find any big name bikes that could come close to comparing to this price. It is as advertised. So what if it isn't a big name brand. If you want to throw you're money away on a name....it's your money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonesy33
a Cross Country Rider
from Heidelberg, Germany Date Reviewed: December 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Weisserstein, Konigstuhl
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
Super Light, great componnents, fast and nimble, and... PRICE
Weaknesses:
Tires... Almost immediate upgrade needed.
Cassette... 12-27 just doesn't cut it for the climbing I do (my daily trail climbs 500 meters across about 5.5 kilometers).
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6000, Scwinn Mesa, Jamis Dakota
Bike Setup:
Upgraded to 11-32 cassette. Upgraded (through trial and error) to Mibro tires. Added very small bar ends.
Bottom Line:
Awesome fast bike. It is super light and climbs almost effortlessly. The cockpit is very thight, and the steering is so responsive that it at first feels twitchy. Once you get used to it, however, it is great. The frame is so light as to almost feel flimsy, but this probably a perception brought on by reading one nightmare blog about a guy who's fly pro broke underneath him. Personally I love this bike and can definitely see myself racing on this bike and having a great time at it. The price is incredible for what you get for your money. I am a do it yourselfer so the build up and adjustment was part of the fun, but it wasn't easy and if you aren't pretty confident and don't have a good mechanical reference book, I'd recommend taking it to an LBS for assembly.
I would definietly recommend this for anyone wyho wants a race-worthy bike for under 1500$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lazar55
a Racer
from dripping springs Texas Date Reviewed: December 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
hill counrty
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1195.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect
Strengths:
This is the lightest XC race under $1500 and about 5 lbs lighter than most $3000 bikes. Fast as can be - insanely light
The bottom line is if you want a fast light hardtail at a great price you can not beat this bike. Bike looks great, rides great, and did I mention it is light? Plus the components are what you would expect on a $3000 rig - the fork and brakes alnoe are worth what I paid for the whole bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pbrady
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine Date Reviewed: November 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Sunday River
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1195.00
Purchased At:
Bikes Direct .com
Strengths:
Just got this bike in the mail. Its an 09. BD was great in shipping and ease of purchase, I don't know why they get aweful reviews.For the price the drivetrain of XT, SLX with FSA crankset rivals everything in the Shimano or SRAM category. Avid Juicy 7's hands down great brakes, Rock Shox SID fork with lockout seems sweet and handles nice. A lot of Ritchey up front (stem, handles bars, grips) SLX shifts sweet and the overall weight makes this bike super lite and fast. Tires and wheelset are super lite at 300+ grams a piece for tires and the vuelta rims are very nice and look good. Overall sweet bike
Weaknesses:
none yet it's only 2 days old going on a trail ride hopefully tomorrow, will update post after ride.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Trek 7000
Bike Setup:
Sweet ride out of the box, I did do some mods. Wellgo M3 clipless pedals they seem alright so far, might put on some Crank Bros Candy's. took off the foam grips and put on Lizard Skin Moabs, Cat Eye wirless computer, JUMBO LS chain stay protector, Titec shorty Hell bent bar ends. Panaracer XC Fire Pro 2.10 rear with a Dart up front.
Bottom Line:
For the money spent, hands down a race ready bike that is lite, fast, and VERY affordable. Needs some assembly out of the box but nothing major. I feel confident I can race this bike and not hold back. I have not ridden off road yet and will update when I do its only 2 days old. This bike just feels good and when you hop on it, it want to go and go fast (shake and bake BABY) AS for Bikesdirect.com I think everyone is bitter because they didn't order from them and paid way too much for their cannondale or trek, whatever. Any thing else I will update as needed. Seriously buy this bike if your looking for a sweet ride under $1500. Best recreational purchase to date. Hope this was helpful
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john garcia
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Texas, USA Date Reviewed: June 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
GreenBelt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1195.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
Super light, Hill climbing machine,Tight cornering, Great components for the money, Easy to throw around.
Weaknesses:
Almost too light. Kenda tires and tubes are like riding on eggshells. Vuelta wheels are light but not sure how they will hold up.
Never heard of the bike, never met anyone who has. I read all the reviews and took the chance. Couldn't have made a better choice (so far). Tires are very light but useless unless you never plan on hitting a rock or root. That aside the bike is well worth the money and geometry compared to comparable Specialized or Trek is just as efficient if not more so. The bike climbs like no other I've tried and handling is effortless. Jury is still out on the integrity of the wheel set though. Beginner to Advanced riders and conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Oviedo, FL USA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Snowhill (Flagler South)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$695.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Spectrum (Waterford Lakes)
Strengths:
Weight! It's super light. Value!! I got this bike for $695 since it was their last 2006 in a medium size. Lifetime warranty on the frame and free service for life! Nice components (LX and LT) and it switches gears very quickly. Avid brakes have been great thus far as well and the sealed hubs and BB are a plus.
Weaknesses:
The bolt from the crankset keeps coming loose. Saw this in other reviews as well. Going to try lock tight to see if that does the trick. Would have preferred the SID shock that comes with the 2007s instead of the Pilot SL that's on it.
Similar Products Used:
GT Banshee (from 1993)
Bike Setup:
Changed out the tires for Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 for better grip on the "rooty" trails and areas of loose sand. Changed the saddle out for a WTB SpeedV (more cushion) and swapped out the stem for a Ritchey (more style). Added VP-X83 pedals which are single sided so I can choose clipless or platform. Overall, I added about 2.3 lbs with these modifications, but just weighed the bike and it's still only 25.8 lbs. Incredible!!
Bottom Line:
This 2006 model bike has done me justice so far. It does take some getting used to since my old bike weighed almost 33 lbs. I have found myself way more likely to go over the handlebars when my front tire finds just the right spot on a thick root (succeeded in doing so once already). I'm 5'9" and 205 lbs and I can really move on this bike. It's great for tight trails as well. I'd recommend it highly to anyone looking to get a lot for their money and can accept that it's not a Trek or Specialized or any other well known brand.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brad
a Cross Country Rider
from buffalo,ny Date Reviewed: July 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
some website
Strengths:
Really light, kinesium frame is amazing and absorbs bumps like scandium. Very fast.
Weaknesses:
Rock Shox Tora is pretty soft, I wish it had a lockout. The bike looks better when the silver parts are switched out.......black on black baby!
Rear tire has slipped out a couple times, due to misalignment of dropouts or crappy skewer. Too lazy to look into it.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 8000........lasted forever.
Bike Setup:
All stock except: carbon handlebar and seat post, stem, skewers, grips.
Bottom Line:
When Motobecane had their special, this bike was 50% off. That deal is impossible to beat. This frame is really sweet...curved chainstays and top stays! Disc brake compatible of course. Crank is great, pedals are nice. Really light and a lot of fun.
I recommend narrow tires (1.95) or sturdy sidewalls, these rims seem skinny. The shock is soft so a suspension upgrade would complete this beauty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Desert Hills, Az Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$895.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct - retail store
Strengths:
Well equipt, extreemely light and very responsive, frame is comparable to the feel my last steel frame. SID Race! Price!!!
Weaknesses:
Funky grips, kinda hold odor if you know what I mean.
Similar Products Used:
KHS Team softtail Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I looked long and hard for the best bike under $1000. There is no doubt now that this is it. Probably the best cross country/race bike under $1200. This is definately a race ready bike. Very happy so far, great climber. Tires were suprisingly good, at least here in the desert. Bought the bike at a Bikes Direct retail store, so there are lifetime tune ups included (just another plus). I am sure if there were more retail stores people would be more apt to buy this bike. It is, afterall, a bike and to ride it first is really helpful. Read the reviews, you really can't go wrong. If you live in the Phoenix area, the store is in Desert Ridge by the 101 & Tatum.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Vail Arizona USA Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Arizona Trail - Rincon Valley
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$895.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Quality frame (check the Kinesis site if you're not convinced), great spec, Overall value for money
Weaknesses:
OK the 11-27 Ultegra cassette is not going to get me up the steepest of climbs so that had to go. I can always use another cassette for the road bike so no loss there. So far that's all the criticism I can muster. Even the tires surprised me. They are not as sketchy as you think they're going to be on moderate XC.
Similar Products Used:
Diamondback Ascent EX, Giant NRS2, Giant TCR composite (OK so it's a road bike, but it's not 'that' much lighter than this thing)!
Bike Setup:
Completely stock other than changing to a SRAM 980 11-34 cassette.
Bottom Line:
I thought about this bike for a long long time before finally purchasing. I've been on an NRS2 for the last couple of years and I've loved that bike. I sold that too my brother for cheap since his bike was ready to die.
I went through a month of seller's regret as I searched in vain for a suitable replacement. I was torn between going with a 'trail' bike with a little more travel, and sticking with a XC full-suspension. I ended up brooding over NRS's all over again on e-bay but couldn't quite find the perfect sale. My probelm? I love to climb! I just kept relecting on the fact that I enjoy 'cleaning' a good climb as I do coming down the other side. Maybe I'm just a rodie at heart, but I just couldn't come to terms with 30lb bikes.
Enter Motobecane. I'm not quite sure how I first found the site, but it was love at first site. Lean, matt black, super sexy. It screams "FAST"! Week after week I kept coming back to it. I compared the specs and read all the reviews. I read the motobecane anti-hype. Once you get past the fact that most of us are really too concerned about 'being taken seriously' by other cyclists, there's nothing too this at all. (Face it, you think others will think you're a better rider if your frame say's Ellsworth.)
It arrived yesterday. Perfectly boxed and protected. Everything is exactly as expected and it's absolutely gorgeous. Put 20 miles on it off-road this morning before work and it has surpassed all my expectations. The NRS was fast and efficient, but this thing makes it feel slugish. I thought I was in for a real awakening going back to a HT. I really expected to find it uncomfortable at first as it's been more than two years since I've been on one. Not at all. This bike is incredibly comfortable. Every ounce of effort seems to contribute to forward momentum and it holds its lines around the corners with amazing speed.
I'll be posting again in around six months because obviously this is not a long term opinion at this point. I cant imagine I'm going to break this thing, Kinesis know what they're doing as well as anyone in the business.
Personally, I'm convinced this is one of the best value for money deals to be had. You could spend more on e-bay for a used bike and not get this much bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
muck
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: March 10, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$895.00
Purchased At:
bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
Weight, components, bang for the buck.
Weaknesses:
Distributor
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F500, Giant Boulder and ATX760
Bike Setup:
So far its stock, SID race fork, Vuelta XRP pro rims, LX front, XT rear, Ritchey post/neck/bar, FSA crank and headsets.
Bottom Line:
Following a 8 year sabbatical from riding, I decided to get back in it. Following a lot of shopping around, I bit the bait on a bargain. This thing is so light I sometimes wonder if it is fragile. I dont plan on any hucking, but love to jump, so that remains to be seen. Otherwise, its excellent. So light, nice components, amazing value for the money. I ordered it from Bikesdirect.com, and it had to be dialed in, such as no pressure on the right shock piston and a loose rear derailleur cable, but that was easy enough to remedy. Great handling. Time will tell the extended value, but I would rate the intial value as remarkable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
bikesfirect.com
Strengths:
Quality frame, great rims, a well balanced combination of parts that equals a light trail bike
Weaknesses:
You can't take it back to the shop when you have a problem. Bottom bracket broken after about 12 rides. rear wheel skewer toast after one ride.
Bike Setup:
Wider 2.35 Kenda tires, Answer protaper bars, Salsa moto SUL stem, Salsa qr ti skewers.
Bottom Line:
You get what you pay for with the Fly Pro. The frame was heavier than advertised (3.9 lbs, not 2.9) and some of the components are pretty cheap, including the RockShox fork. I actually like the seat, which is a Velo with titanium rails. I had a problem with the BB bearing, and when I pulled it out I found a Truvative Gigapipe inside...supposedly a better BB bearing than what bikesdirect lists on their website. If you are thinking about buying this bike then you are not a real bike mechanic. And since you're not a real bike mechanic, buy your next XC bike from your LBS where they can actually take care of your problems. Because all mountain bikes break.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Calvin
a Cross Country Rider
from Redding, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Boulder Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
BIKESDIRECT.COM
Strengths:
Looks hot. good geom. great front fork for staying alive over rocks. lx shifters=ok ; xt rd=awesome ; single digit 5 v brakes work like a charm (dry conditions); motobecane=good conversation starter. Did i mention ITS LIGHT?
Weaknesses:
well, the tires of course. change is a must. not alot of confidence in the xt cassette, still holding up though. Rear hub is the m-wings, after a week it started making noises=not good
Similar Products Used:
more comfortable than trek 6700, better geom than specialized rockhop, lighter than ANY hardtail under 1500 big ones. maybe more.
Bike Setup:
2.8 lbs frame, Rock shox tora 302 solo air. xt rd, lx fd, lx shifters, avid 5 brakes, alex xt16 wheels, xt cassette, fsa orbit headset, truvativ fire x crankset
Bottom Line:
buy if your concerned about having a nice ride. period. all the guys from the LBS came out and checked out this bike when i brought it in to have it set up properly. They wanted to know the story behind it, i just had to chuckle and say i bought it for a heck of alot less than i should have.
***don't buy this if you: jump, fly, or huck off anything higher than 4 feet***
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad e
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston Salem, NC Date Reviewed: May 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
still looking
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
bikes direct
Strengths:
The frame. Really light and best of all not too stiff. Doesn't feel like an aluminum frame, perfect ride. The rear triangle has bent chainstays which help absorb the shock, awesome!!! The Tora replaced the Pilot, bigger stanctions!!!
Weaknesses:
The grips are too thin and useless, the huge stem is goofy but works (needs to be black), the seat is ok so far. Pretty much perfect!
Similar Products Used:
various
Bike Setup:
stock Fly Pro, except grips and will change stem and seatpost. The Rock Shox Tora is decent, will update next year. The hollow Truvativ crank is nice!
Bottom Line:
This bike is way better than I hoped. No joke, it is so comfortable. When you buy a bike you mostly are paying more for a brand name. The thing that really makes a bike is the frame. XT is XT, so you know it rocks. Components can always be changed, the frame is what matters and this one is 2.9 lbs and so comfortable you don't want to get off the damn thing. Get it, trust me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tricky
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006
No-name post, stem and handlebar are a little suspect and the Kenda tires are too thin.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
18" Factory setup (for now).
Bottom Line:
This Moto has a great component set for the price and better geometry than any Specialized I have ridden. As mentioned above, the seatpost, stem and bars are in-house components (M-Wings) and could stand an upgrade, but they seem to hold up just fine and are definitely light weight (and they look good for those that care). I will probably replace the bars for something slightly more comfortable and I definitely need to replace the factory saddle (uncomfortable and mostly made of plastic).
As for the tires, they are light and they track very well, but are too thin for true off-road use and I will probably drop a little $ on some Panaracer Fire XC in the near future. One of the Alex wheels seemed to be bent out of the box, but the shop trued it for me by simply adjusting the spokes and I have had no problems since.
The Rock Shox Pilot SL fork is very responsive and seems to take a beating better than any I have tried, but as on most forks, the "lockout" does slip a little (which may not be a bad thing).
As for everything else, I have nothing but praise for this bike...and did I mention it's LIGHT? How light? Check this out...
Moto Fly Pro = 22.5 lbs Box it came in = 26.4 lbs
And yes, I'm serious. I did put her together myself out of the box, but had a LBS tune her up to ensure I did it right (and to fix the wheel). When I brought the bike into the shop, the guy kinda laughed when he saw it and said I should have bought one of their bikes instead. But when he picked it up to take it to the back, he stopped laughing real quick and literally said "HOLY S**T!!" I told him what I paid and when I asked him how much it would cost for a bike that light in his store, he actually said about the same price...but pointed to a ROAD BIKE!!! It appears that none of the Marin or Gary Fisher he carried were even sub 25 lbs...
All in all this is the best bike purchase I have EVER made and I will recommend this bike to anyone!
Happy Riding! And Go Moto!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Hamilton, NJ USA Date Reviewed: February 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Clayton Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
$795.00 at Bikes Direct
Strengths:
Light weight, nice looking, good parts spec
Weaknesses:
FRAME - Crakced the Bottom Brakcet in less than 3 months. Really dissapointed.
Similar Products Used:
Haro MTB, circa 1999
Bike Setup:
18", XT-LX Mix, upgraded to FSA Post, Stem, Bars
Bottom Line:
The bike is light, fast and fun....until the frame craks after 90 miles on light single track with some roots and hills. Trying to get a replacement frame, bikes direct is being difficult, moto becane won't get back to me. Nice. spend the extra 500 bucks and get a reputable bike, esp. if you ride hard and fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crank it Up
a Cross Country Rider
from So Cal. Date Reviewed: September 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any dirt mtn. trail.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect
Strengths:
Awesome bang for the buck. Better Rock Shox Pilot SL on the newer 2005s.
Weaknesses:
Poorly built factory wheels. Buy at a brick and mortar shop if one is not mechanically adept.
Similar Products Used:
Old steel MTB
Bike Setup:
Stock, added new rim tapes and wireless cyclocomputer.
Bottom Line:
After 3 months of highly enjoyable trail and local riding, I have NO complaints. The wheels have stayed true since I properly tensioned the spokes during buildup. The Rock Shox Pilot SL's have performed quited admirably after I set the correct pressure with a shock pump. The lockout works just fine for occasional pavement rides (contrary to what some prior reviews said about the RST Aerosa and Judy SL forks). Never had ANY problems with ISIS cranksets/BB.....and just tighten the crank bolts after a few rides (duh!). I'm NOT a racer but the best fun I've had on trails was dropping so called RACER/posers who think they're fast......think again. Bring it on!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john g
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: August 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Walnut Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$820.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Spectrum
Strengths:
it is a light bike, about 23.4 lbs with clipless pedals. I thought about getting this bike at bikesdirect.com, then realized that the person who owns bikesdirect is related with cycle spectrum. I checked bikesdirect.com on the bbb, and it gave a cycle spectrum name. since i did not really how to setup a bike, i thought it was best to have a shop do it, since my Girl's family is from houston, i decided to get it in houston.
I paid 795+tax-40 for pedals, about 820.
now the bike has a judy sl fork, which is actually better than i thought. it had lockout( the u-turn) and rebound and psi adjustments. the frame is about 2.8 lbs from bikesdirect and Kinesium is a great from. The bikes comes with LX from and XT rear and the avid 5 breaks stop better than my old STX RC. I never heard of m-wings but it is light, looks nice and seems strong.
the best parts about this bike:
price, weight, components, and shock( yes shock, it is pretty nice, a bit heavey but nice). Looks VERY VERY SHARP
Weaknesses:
Everyone complains about the rims/tires, but these are light rims and light tires, so you give weight for durability. I think they will manage. I will be putting slime tubes in them so I get less flats.
After I upgrade to the slime tubes and add my odometer and stuff, the bike will be about 24lbs..not bad at all.
the bad about this bike:
the name, it does not get much street credit, but the bike is nice
Similar Products Used:
i was thinking of getting the Giant XTC, which MSRP for 1000, but the LBS was selling for 1100 or so and would not drop the price. this giant is about 26.9 lbs and the frame is 3.1 lbs. the components are deore front and sram 7's on the back, they are pretty similar to LX. the shock is a Duke XC, which worth about $100 more and is a bit better, and lighter. breakes are the same and shifter are sram 7 vs LX, so equilivants. I think the rims on the giant are a bit stronger, but heavier.
so i think the motobecane and giant are pretty close, with the motobecane being a better deal by about $200 or so, but these bikes are by far the best deals out there. I choose the motobecane because I was only willing to spend about 800 on a bike and they are very comparable, only one is cheaper.
Bike Setup:
Specifications:
Sub-23 Pounds. Shimano XT 27 Speed, LX Shifters / FR Derailleur Kinesium 6000 Series Double-butted Aluminum frame, RockShox Judy SL LongTravel Suspension Fork External Adjust, Avid SD5 Brakes and Levers, M-Wings Team Issue Wheelset (Alex XT16 Double Wall rims with Machined Sidewalls, Stainless Double Butted Spokes 32fr/32r, Alloy Nipples), Stylo FireX SL Cranks/Splined BB, M-Wings Team Issue 6061 Aluminum 160g Bar, 147g Stem and 270g Seatpost,Kenda Klimax Lite Kevlar Tires.
Bottom Line:
if you are worried about name, get the Giant XTC. If you wanna save a few hunderd dollars, get this. You cannot beat it. Very light and overall a good value.
4 chilis for value, since XTC is a close second in value and 5 for overall rating
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will Bev
a Racer
from Chattanooga Date Reviewed: August 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Chattbike2@aol.com
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
bikedirect
Strengths:
Super bike..I love it..it flies as a racer...THIS is a RACE bike..not a bang around goof off curb jumper. If you mean business and want a race bike for low $$..this is it. I have kicked some serious butt with it for two summers now. I have two of them because I race really hard and try seriously to win whenever I can. I race all over the south East...you may have been passed by me on the trail. Santa Cruz and some other really nice bikes are outside my price range for as much of a setup as I have for traveling and racing as I do with the Fly. Fork is both best and worst.
Weaknesses:
The fork was a challenge to get right, but I love it..the RST Aerosa...once I figured it out it is better than anything I have ever had...stiffer and as light as anyhting out there..period..lots of travel, but you will have to get it right.***Also the cranks kept getting loose until I figured out how to solve that problem...ISIS drive has some work to be as good as octalink.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz, Cannondale F1
Bike Setup:
Straight from the factory...I liked it just perfect...for RACING!
Bottom Line:
You can't go wrong for a good race machine...You could trail ride it too I guess..never tried...always been in the race mood. It is light!..maybe heavier tires and wheels for the big epic stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
ANYWHERE with no pouncing mtn. lions!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect
Strengths:
PRICE! Light weight and strong kinesium frame. XT and LX drivetrain with Avid Single Digit 5 brakes.
Weaknesses:
Delicate Kenda Klimax Lite tires that don't run true. Out of true wheelset with "rounded" alloy spoke nipples from the factory. Crappy rubber/nylon rim strips. Drivetrain and brake cables and housings too long. Derailleur cables not installed properly from the factory. Buy online at your own risk.
Similar Products Used:
1984 Raleigh Elkhorn MTB with Sugino and SunTour. 35lbs. urban assault vehicle.
Bike Setup:
Added Performance cloth rim tapes and some old platform MTB pedals until I get used to the stock Wellgo Spd pedals. Performance wireless cyclocomputer.
Bottom Line:
I decided to buy something more contemporary for light XC riding and just jumping curbs around the neighborhood. My LBS have some nice Cannondale, Specialized, and Trek MTBs but all a bit beyond my price range for the equipment that I wanted. Yup....went for an internet search and found the Motobecane Fly Pro on bikesdirect: LX, XT gruppo with some house brand stem/hb/sp saddle, etc.
I know ordering bikes online is somewhat risky. When the bike arrived via UPS, the box had two big holes. Luckily it was just the front hub axle and rear QR wearing through....no damage but bikesdirect should have covered/padded those parts. Now a LBS could assemble the bike for $100-150 but I enjoy putting a bike together.
The assembly: The Alex XT16 are like 26" "road rims": very narrow and light. The wheelset needed some truing. I was going to rebuild the rear wheel because the spoke pattern is "asymetrical" like the front wheels. I like my rear wheels with the "drive" spokes exiting both hub flanges on the outside but I noticed that some of the alloy nipples were already stripped/rounded straight from the factory (the rebuild can wait). Toss the crappy rubber.rim tapes and put on some cloth rim tapes. Hmmm....the 345g Kenda Klimax lights don't run too true upon inflation; definitely too fragile for any real trails. Online specs stated Z9000 chain but I got DA....no complaints but had to clean off the heavy factory grease. Flat and narrow handlebar....thanks. "Titanium" SLR-copy saddle weighs 315g. but has gel padding. The derailleur cables were not secured correctly from the factory. I had to cut all brake and derailleur housings and cables to correct lengths. The SIS housings remain smooth but the Avid Single Digit 5's housings had some slight roughness to it even after trimming all sharp edges and lubing the cables. The "free" spd Wellgo pedals are functional but I decided to use some old platforms until I get used to the bike. Finally, fine tune the brakes and derailleurs. Coming from old friction shift Suntour to LX front and XT rear is "night and day". :eek:
Initial ride: going from my old 35lb. Raleigh MTB to this 23.6lb. (with pedals) bike is incredible. Kind of like riding a cross bike because it's so light. Time will tell about frame durability.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: May 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Spectrum
Strengths:
Super light and awesome components for the money.
Weaknesses:
Tires (Kenda Klimax Lites) to thin for any type of rough trails. I would suggest switching out the tires when you purchase the bike.
Bike Setup:
Stock except Panaracer Fire XC Pros
Bottom Line:
Go ahead and spec other bikes and you will not find a bike like this for the price. Also, Cycle Spectrum includes lifetime adjustments for life.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Houston Date Reviewed: May 10, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Spectrum
Strengths:
Light weight, good components, less expensive than most comparable bikes
Weaknesses:
wimpy treads, low quality crank
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the price. You'll want to upgrade the tire treads ASAP. To save money, I just changed out the front tread - this way I get the stability from a better tread in the front and the lightweight and speed from the skinny tread in the back. This works in Houston and Lubbock, but probably wouldn't be great for climbing. Also, I intend to upgrade the crank set from Truvativ FireX to Shimano LX or XT. This should make the bike even quicker.
Its been my experience that Motobecane gets a pretty bad rap, but I don't have any complaints. The only problem that I've had so far was when my rear tire locked up at high speed due to the axle coming loose from the frame - this happended despite the fact that the tire was firmly attached. However, this has happened only once - maybe the tire just wasn't properly clamped down.
Buy this bike if you're looking for a lightweight bike with pretty good components. Don't buy it if you must have a bike that is seen by others as "hardcore" - In my experience, Motobecane just doesn't have that reputation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Speedy Gonzales
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodruff, SC, USA Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
South Side
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$795.00
Purchased At:
BikesDirect.com
Strengths:
light weight, components, geometry, overall value
Weaknesses:
are you kidding me.. of course not
Similar Products Used:
k2 Zed
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
When it comes to buying a new bike price, components, and overall value are a big part of buying decision. When i noticed this bike on the internet i was blown away in each category. Some things that i didnt like on the bike on my first ride like the seat and the tires are now on my recommended list. I completely recommend buying this bike. I promise you that you will not be disappointed especially when you reach for your checkbook. Buy the bike if you are looking for a nice compact hard tail bike with plush front suspension with plenty of ajustability. Dont buy this bike if you are looking for a light weight ride to handle some urban riding. The bike is clearly an XC racer and excels at what it was made for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gecko
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando Date Reviewed: August 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Spectrum
Strengths:
Super light. Very strong. Awesome components for the cash. I really like the geometry, this thing rails.
Weaknesses:
The Kenda Klimax Lites are thin. Pinch flats are too common, got sick of replacing rear tubes. Went with Panaracer Fire XC Pros mucho better. However, they did add some unwanted ozs.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Hope bar-end protectors, Hope seat-post clamp, Panaracer Fire XC Pro's 127 TPI made in Japan, XT front derailluer.
Bottom Line:
Do not make a mistake a buy a brand-name bike. I assure you that this bike is the real deal. Go and ride one for yourself. Its light, geometry rocks, and looks great. I am extremely pleased. Especially since the bike has a lifetime warranty, I also have lifetime service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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