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Submitted by
Ian Wills
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | O'reileys | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | I spent quite a bit of time looking for a bike that could be moulded to fit my needs! I'm 6'2" 200lbs. Strong Frame little flex. Great base to build upon! Perfect brakes!
Oh and RAGE what a name! | | Weaknesses: | Front forks were flexy and too heavy. Did the best job they could considering, but they just had to go! Replaced with FOX TALAS RLC which cleaned up the front end perfectly. It came with cyclone cranks which sucked. Replaced with XT which cleaned up the engine! Alivio components got junked straight away. Replaced with SRAM components, which cleaned up the gearbox! | | Similar Products Used: | '06 Scott Genius MC 30. Giant Reign 0 | | Bike Setup: | Tioga tires, Alex MX 22 Rims (std) Hayes mech disc brakes MX1 (std) Shimano V brake levers (better leverage or something because they transformed the brakes), SRAM X9 triggers (great for being able to shift under brakes) SRAM X9 rear derailleur, SRAM X7 front derailleur, SRAM 9 spd Cassette and SRAM chain. (SRAM stuff is awesome) Shimano XT Crankset, DMN rear shock (std) with 900lbs spring, Fox TALAS RLC forks. | | Bottom Line: | Far from perfect but given I got the base for $600Aus and got the upgrade components from ebay at a good rate I've built a great all rounder that can handle my weight and size far cheaper than I could have bought a Scott or Giant like the guys i ride with. This bike gives up nothing to either of these bikes in the real world.
Although truth be known the Frame is a little small at 18.5" and I needed to go for a uncut 400mm seat post to get my leg angles right for XC work. Having said that, it is easy to drop the seat to make for a nimble snotty trail bike.
Best upgrade was the SRAM group and the TALAS forks. Smooth on both counts!
The TALAS forks turned it from an horrendous hill climber to a mobile escalator.
While it will never be a XC winner, for my type of all round riding it is a total dream.
Happy Trails!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brent whitenect
a Racer
from gb
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | mt everest drop | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70000.00 | | Purchased At: | the dunces | | Strengths: | 50 feet of travel worrk good | | Weaknesses: | i cant reach the petals | | Similar Products Used: | tricycle | | Bike Setup: | full xtr and wall mart extreme | | Bottom Line: | it has huge suspension to drop off my everest | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack sims
a Downhiller
from dorset
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | shill freeride park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reactions & ebay | | Strengths: | solid frame | | Weaknesses: | very squeekey | | Similar Products Used: | bighit (lots beta) | | Bike Setup: | xt, jr T's, fsa cranks, v8's, dnm rear shok ect | | Bottom Line: | not enuf travvel 4 big drops but would b nice 4 quick single trak useless uphills | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
big steeze tehe
a Weekend Warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | shyzer | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | willy wonka | | Strengths: | looks pretty, and smells nice | | Weaknesses: | it has a nasty accent | | Similar Products Used: | walmart extreme bikes | | Bike Setup: | 17 bar linkage system | | Bottom Line: | it smells pretty | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Rizzo
a Weekend Warrior
from innisfill ontario canada
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | hardwood hills, barrie | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | norco dealer | | Strengths: | solid frame, fork and shock. lots of travel, 4 front 6 back. rims just dont want to warp. suspension is smooth, and supple, very little flex. good compnents for price. 1600 in canada, 1400 with tax on sale. bike is great for light freeriding and hard trail use. can easily handle drops and jumps. you can quicly lock out the rear shock by reaching down and turning the rebound nob to full. this makes damping so much that it compresses a bit on first bump and doesnt come back out. good if you know you have a lot of climbing ahead. with a little practice doing this and then putting it back to normal becomes very easy. | | Weaknesses: | you cant say wieght 'cause its not ment to be a XC racer. it weighs what it does so it can do what it's supposed to. i can still make it up all the hills i could on my charger. my brakes are still not worked in fully i think, my old V brakes worked better than the mechanical dics so far, i think they will continue to get better. the short stem makes going slow and straight a little tricky for the north shore stuff | | Similar Products Used: | norco charger | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | great bike for anything but road and XC racing. i use it for XC trails, urban, and small north shore type stuff. 5 chilis all around 'cause its got the most travel(and quality of travel) for the price, and it does exactly what it's meant to do. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
huck fin
a Cross Country Rider
from louisville, ky
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | cave run trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | extremely solid frame. nice fork, decent drivetrain for the price. The price, cheap, cheap, cheap. I don't think you can find a bike spec like this one for the same price. Great all around aggressive trail bike. | | Weaknesses: | Well, for xc it is alittle heavy. But I also do some light freeride so the weight isn't a huge deal. alivio shifters (nuff said). If you drop the seatpost too low it will hit your rebound knob of the rear shock. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale super v, giant ac, jamis dakar. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for titec handlebars, avid disc, lock on grips. | | Bottom Line: | This is the ultimate aggressive trail bike. Good xc/freerider. I haven't owned it long but put it through some fairly hairy situations. 4 foot drops feel like curbs. Great jumper. Slow on the climbs but that is expected with a larger bike like this. Just get into better shape. My only con I guess is the alivio components. If you are going to ride seriously it will need some upgrades, but the foundation, (frame, fork, wheels) couldn't get any better for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john paton
a Weekend Warrior
from australia
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | im a pansi | | Strengths: | ya that right a mommas boy | | Bottom Line: | lesmurdie falls, victoria damn
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $1000
Purchased At: norco dealer
Strengths: the frame is nice and stong with minimal flex. dm shock at the rear is tough and it soaks up all the bumps. forks have good travel and are also tough with a very small amount of lateral flex. hayes have maintained...so far.
Weaknesses: none that i can really think of. haven't had it for long so i haven't run it through the mill yet.
Similar Products Tried: none that i have ridden. closest that i have ridden is the avanti moto. completely different though.
Bike Setup: good ol' shimano front and rear deralures. marzachoni forks. sram chain. put a new seat on it. i don't like those hard ones that give you blisters on your bum.
Bottom Line: it's all good. great for cross country and it can be used for soft downhill trails too. pretty high clearance so i haven't mashed up the cogs. all round good cross country bike. but i wouldn't use it as an extreme free riding bike. i got it for around $2000 aussie dollars.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marshall
a Downhiller
from victoria,bc,canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mount work park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Strengths: | Disk are awesome although they have to break in before the screeching stops. But over all this is a f-ing awesome bike | | Weaknesses: | NO The hayes hyrdo's Disk are awesome although they have to break in before the screeching stops. But over all this is a f-ing awesome bike | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE ROCKS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel lyons
a Cross Country Rider
from perth, australia
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | lesmurdie falls the goat farm and victoria resivua | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | some norco dealer place | | Strengths: | well this is my second review and because i have had it for a longer period i can now tell you a better description. i have used the bike for xc racing and for a bit of downhill. i will tell you that the bike is very good on the downhills but slow on the uphills. all the components are fine and i thought there could be a lot of horizontal flex in the rear shock but there is barly any at all. both shocks i haven't managed to bottom out and i have done some four foot drops on it. the hayes can be operated by a pinkie finger once the pads are worn in. the bike is pretty heavy but it is built very strong. | | Weaknesses: | the only weakness is the breaks because they take a long time to break in. mine still sqeak a little but generally they are good for slowing you down. the only real weakness is the weight because it is such an anoying poo to climb with. and i will tell you now that if there is some road involved in your race or whatever, buy some good slicks cause the tires are as chunky as all whatever. also the front brake bolts that go into the hub came loose so i put some locktight on them and they work fine now. | | Similar Products Used: | um the scorpion one and some avanti bikes. | | Bike Setup: | hayes hmx-1 or whatever disk calipers, exr marzocchi fork, dmn torch rear shock, deore rear and acera front?, chucked the seat off and slapped on a cushy one, truvative fiveD cranks and drive train, kmc chain, some weird tubes that popped on a double g, some weird brand tires, formula hubs and mx-22 alex rims. | | Bottom Line: | great for downhill and freeriding but is poor for road and going uphill. you may need to put it on a diet if racing is your style but for downhill it is sweeeeeeeet. don't do any drops bigger that 5 foot on it because i have tried and you get shot off the back if the damping is off. the forks are great but they weigh a bit but all round it is exelent for going on a casual ride through the bush and it is a comfy one at that if you get a softer seat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joel lyons
a Downhiller
from perth, australia
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | lesmurdie falls, the goat farm!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | norco dealer | | Strengths: | everything that i can think of which is on the bike. it isn't built for downhill but it holds together | | Weaknesses: | none, none and none. except the rims. but then again i treat it like crap. | | Similar Products Used: | scorpion...something | | Bike Setup: | shimano front and rear. hayes discs. rst coil over spring rear and marzocchi exr fork. | | Bottom Line: | very good all purpose bike. an excellent buy for 2000 aussie dollars. about 1630 canadian and about 1000 american. bloody brilliant bike for it's price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john paton
a Cross Country Rider
from australia
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | lesmurdie falls, victoria damn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | norco dealer | | Strengths: | the frame is nice and stong with minimal flex. dm shock at the rear is tough and it soaks up all the bumps. forks have good travel and are also tough with a very small amount of lateral flex. hayes have maintained...so far. | | Weaknesses: | none that i can really think of. haven't had it for long so i haven't run it through the mill yet. | | Similar Products Used: | none that i have ridden. closest that i have ridden is the avanti moto. completely different though. | | Bike Setup: | good ol' shimano front and rear deralures. marzachoni forks. sram chain. put a new seat on it. i don't like those hard ones that give you blisters on your bum. | | Bottom Line: | it's all good. great for cross country and it can be used for soft downhill trails too. pretty high clearance so i haven't mashed up the cogs. all round good cross country bike. but i wouldn't use it as an extreme free riding bike. i got it for around $2000 aussie dollars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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