Submitted by
Komonoway
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Tx, US Date Reviewed: September 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dusty and Dry
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Bikesdirect.com
Strengths:
I'm 5'6" on the "Med" size and the geometry is perfect. The parts quality is deceptivly good, make sure to tighten the bolts before a ride and this beast instantly becomes bomb-proof. Adjustable pre-load, dampening and discbrakes for under $500?, oh yes, they're serious. I've had this bike for 2 years, ride it everyday and it's still got plenty of life and spring. Stock tires are perfect for loose rocks and gravel. Least punishing seating than other bikes in it's range.
Weaknesses:
The fork bottoms out easily, has no damper, the rear shock is klunky at best and the shifting is touch-and-go on a good day, but then you think......that's it?
Similar Products Used:
Upgraded from the Fuji Discovery 1 when it got stolen.
Bike Setup:
Stock, replaced tires with Kenda Komforts for mostly urban use now.
Bottom Line:
This bike is like the scrappy kid with beat up converse all-stars that shows up for practice on saturday and schools all the pros. I have never seen so much quality and durability put into so underappriciated a package. If you're a budding on/off-roader but don't have a cool 2 grand layin' around to drop on a bike, this Motobecane was born for you. You'll never have an excuse to buy a new bike because this one will never quit. It's better than the rest and cheaper than the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy
a Weekend Warrior
from Henrietta TX US Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$445.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Easy to adapt to as a beginner.
Weaknesses:
Deraillers that come with the bike need some attention, either teflon cables or new set up all together. The seat post is way to high. I'm 6-3, and I had to cut off 1 inch off the post.
Similar Products Used:
First MTB purchased.
Bike Setup:
All original except for clip-ins that I added.
Bottom Line:
Great beginner bike. It will help you learn the MTB mechanics by the little work that you have to do. At least I learned something. You don't need to take it to a bike shop for the adjustments, just read the manual and go online for the info. I will reccomend this bike to anyone starting out in the MTB sport.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Juan Jaramillo
a Weekend Warrior
from Mesa, Arizona, US of A Date Reviewed: April 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hawes
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$420.00
Purchased At:
cycle spectrum
Strengths:
Strong bike, handles the downhill desert landscape well. Solid componentry for the price.
Weaknesses:
Rear suspension on this bike is so/so
Similar Products Used:
Specialized HT, Columbia Trailhead HT, First DS I've owned
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This bike suits a weekend warrior great and for the price you can't go wrong. Buy it from Cycle Spectrum and they hook it up with free tune-ups for life, a nice perk if you have a busy schedule like me. The bike is a little on the heavy side so uphills are tough. Overall a great bike to get into the sport well equipped, with style, and with cash left in your account.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle Koontz
a Weekend Warrior
from Oklahoma City Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Syllamo
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
ebay - retailer in CA
Strengths:
Most advanced bike you can get for the price, unfortunately the price limits the quality. Frame is well constructed and riding position is excellent. I am 6'-0" @ 190 and ride a 20 in frame and love the stance. I like to be stretched out a little and use my stregnth to wrangle the bike. Single pivot rear suspension has really impressed me on the rough downhills and tech trails. No damping problems, quick repsonse and accurately adjsutable. Pretty fast on the downhills, and hugs the terrain well. With the right tire pressure and suspension adjustment, this bike will travel well over the roughest terrain. Great looking bike too, no one will beleive what it costs. Love the stock tires, really good traction even on damp surfaces. The saddle is awesome, love it. Will keep it on any new bike.
Weaknesses:
There are many, but keep in mind the cost. Driveline is weak. Shifting is erratic and slow, and ghost shifts often. Forget about gearing down quickly for a rough steep climb, it will leave you stranded. Cable frition causes some of this, switch to teflon cables and it helps. Front suspension is soft, and bottoms out during tight fast turns, recommend changing forks. Bike has a sluggish feel around turns and doesn't carve well, this is partly to the weight, this sucker is a beast stock. Long climbs will about kill you, and the pedal bob is really bad, because the supsenion is not seperated from the drive train, so the power gets sucked up by the coil and shock. Brakes are awful and the biggest complaint. These mech discs will not stop you on rough slow decents, they are mush. Most important upgrade needed. Wheel set is portly and slow, need new rims.
Similar Products Used:
Really nothing like it that I have seen, lot of technology for the price.
Bike Setup:
Stock for a while. Upgrade to Specialized wheel set, teflon cables, Easton hanldebars, Shimano clipless pedals. Plan to add Avid Mech brakes, and some carbon replacements to shed weight.
Bottom Line:
This is a great beginner bike or low end full susp bike, but if you are athletic and ride aggressive, you outgrow it fast. Won't win any races, but will let you keep up with all of your buddies on Specs, for a quarter of the price. I think it would be worth the $150 to upgrade to the 700DS, better components. Trade out posts, clamps and whatever you can for carbon to shed weight and upgrade the brakes and wheel set, and you will have a pretty good trail bike. Stock it does well for the weekend trails and even over the advanced stuff has proven very durable (nothing broke). It got me into to the sport and I am gonna make some minor upgrades and ride another year before buyig a Blur LT. Overall very satisifed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from USA Date Reviewed: August 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Quality frame, features in relation to cost, will get you on the trail and having fun for cheap.
Weaknesses:
Low cost is due to many cheap components. Be prepared to "pimp your ride" over time to replace parts as they wear or lose their luster. Front shock is horrible, bottoms out with a 200lb rider, near useless adjustability.
Similar Products Used:
My 1st DS bike, so nothing to really compare it to.
Bike Setup:
Upgraded F&R deraileurs to Deore, added Continental Contact Security tires for street riding. Deore LX crank and BB and Marzocchi All Mtn 2 fork are on order.
Bottom Line:
A tinkerer might be able to build a better bike for the money from a parts bin, but for the average joe you are hard pressed to beat this for the money. Its a good bike for someone who wants to ride around on granny paths and will never need to upgrade it, or for someone who wants to get on the trail now and can do upgrades later.
My rating is based on the actual functionality for price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle Leeper
a Weekend Warrior
from CT USA Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Diamond Ledge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$427.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Solid Frame & Suspension, great components.
Weaknesses:
Needs a little tighter gearing
Similar Products Used:
Trek - hard tail
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Best value out there for the price, very solid platform.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J Guerrero
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Ana Date Reviewed: March 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$397.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Excellent frame. Rear suspension is great. Bike is about 30 pounds. Built well. Strong welds. Nice, but very bright, red finish. Shifters are good quality. Disc brakes are a vast improvement over V-brakes. Stops well on downhills.
Weaknesses:
Drive train full of weak parts. Shimano Alivio 8 speed RD is very slow to shift and will shift when not expected, even after tune-up at local bike shop. Sun race cassette prone to ghost shifting. Front somewhat shock soft.
Similar Products Used:
Upgraded to dual suspension from old Diamondback Topanga Hardtail with Shimano LX and XT drivetrain.
Bike Setup:
Currently, as supplied by Motobecane. Swapped out tires for some Maxxis Mimo for better running on hard pack trails.
Bottom Line:
For the price, the frame is excellent and the drive train is OK. However, if you plan to go up steep hills, you'll need to upgrade the drivetrain. I plan to do this as my budget allows. You get a great foundation with the frame. It tracks great on the single track and feels solid over bumps. The rear suspension is tight and strong. The front RST shock is well built, but is soft and has a lot of motion. But, I yet to bottom it out and does not effect the steering of the bike. For my taste, I would prefer a tighter front shock but I am satisfied. I ride mostly bike trails and some XC and have found the bike enjoyable. Looks expensive, costs little.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Wint
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vernon, IN USA Date Reviewed: January 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
muscatituk
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
offline
Strengths:
Great pricing, is a really good product. holds up really well.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Motobecane 600DS Stock
Bottom Line:
Is a wonderful bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ Date Reviewed: September 27, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Chimney Rock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Ridiculously Great Bike/Setup..especially for price..Tektro disc brakes work great..RST rear and front shocks are quite good, good adjustment on the rear shock..shimano shifters and derailleur are clean shifting..Awesome seat...looks great..Oh and great tires (Velociraptors)
Weaknesses:
Not exactly a weakness, but only comes in Red...I wanted silver, but now that I have red I really ended up liking it
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
If you are or are not on a budget, I highly reccommend this bike..especially makes sense for someone just entering the sport, so you don't spend too much on first bike..I have been riding it hard, huge jumps/drops and it has taken it all with ease..great bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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