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Submitted by
John G
a Weekend Warrior
from Abilene, Tx
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Buck Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Momentum Cycles St. Peters, MO | | Strengths: | Strong frame, it's taken a great beating from me over the years. Parents got it for me as a commuter bike for school, but it found the trails. Great beginner bike. | | Weaknesses: | Conering could be better, stockseat post is wretched. | | Similar Products Used: | various other friends bikes | | Bike Setup: | stock except for shimano 520's and a Thomson elite on order | | Bottom Line: | Would recommend this bike to any beginner. Shimano components could be better. But bottom line, great beginner bike for the money, good entry level HT. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Stout
a Cross Country Rider
from Shawano, Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | mountain bay | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Joe Bikelers | | Strengths: | Very strong, lasted very long seeing though as i put 3000 miles on it. | | Weaknesses: | needs better components, too heavy, needs better front end, and a heck of a lot stronger brakes | | Similar Products Used: | M80, M600 | | Bike Setup: | Psylo fork, xtr disk brakes, xtr wheels, xtr crank, baisically all xtr, michellin wildgripper tires, jagwire cables and housing, carbonfiber seatpost and handlebar, kevlar/titanium seat | | Bottom Line: | good bike for beginers and people just getting into biking, the new 2003 M50 is a great improvment and i would purchase if you are a beginer | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Groleau
a
from Kenosha, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Elroy-Sparta | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Ski & Sports Chalet | | Strengths: | This bike was my plan to get back into more cycling after years of putzing around on my old beat-up road bikes. It's met that need very well. I bought it June 2001 and put 600 miles on it the rest of that year. In 2002 I put another 1300 miles on it. I've made some changes (see Bike Setup) but the stock components are decent components for the price point and I've found that Raleigh has a great frame warranty. | | Weaknesses: | Even though most of my riding is commuting on roads or rail-trails, the rear wheel didn't last long under someone my size (6'3", 250lbs). The tallest frame I could get was the XL-22" size and it needs a longer seat post. With post at maximum allowable extension, I have a good riding position, but there's a lot of stress at the joint of the seat tube and the top of the top tube. Mine cracked in February 2003 with just short of 2000 miles on the odometer. However, with a life-time frame warranty, it took just under 3 weeks for me to get it back with a brand-new 2003 frame. I think the new frame feels faster than the old one (or three weeks off the bike did wonders for my legs). I've also got a longer seat post on order. | | Similar Products Used: | 1991 Giant Sedonna (it was considered a mountain bike then), several old road sport-tourers. | | Bike Setup: | I immediately added bar-ends, water bottle cages, better pedals, and a cateye computer. Since then, the bars, bottom bracket, rear wheel, chain, and rear cassette have been upgraded and I've added a rack and panniers. I also changed to 26x1.5 street tires for my commute. | | Bottom Line: | The bike is a great deal for the price. For someone who wants to "get back into" riding or just wants a reasonably priced commuter, it's a great buy. While I'd certainly like to be able to afford something more "high end", I plan to keep this one around for a long time. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Van Nuys Ca., USA
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Balboa Lake; L.A. river | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Kelly's bikes | | Strengths: | Bomb-proof, trouble free bike, very nimble and capable; everything works as it should | | Weaknesses: | frame size is too small; had to replace handlebars; also replaced plastic pedals with alum. ones ( no clip-ons ) | | Similar Products Used: | tried other Raleighs, incl. 2002 M600 ( very nice, but cost $800 ) | | Bike Setup: | RockShox seatpost, riser bars, pedals, puncture-proof tubes AND Green Slime ( Finally ! no more flats ! ) | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up report. I've had the bike just over a year and it's help up fine. I don't do any dropoffs or high speed stuff, but this bike isn't intended for that.
What I do is wheel this thing through every kind of terrain and it just rolls right along. Shallow river crossings, way off-camber, rock embedded embankments, 45 deg. inclines, etc. . . this inexpensive little champ does it all. None of the components has failed me at all. There is a little damage on the #2 chainring of the Acera crankset, but that was from my clumsy shifting technique. I also have a Raliegh c500 with Deore drivetrain and I can say that the Acera stuff actually works better, and seems more durable.
This was the last of the made-in-USA Raleighs and it feels solid and durable. I hose the bike off after every ride and blast the deraileurs with WD40 to displace the H20 and that's all it takes. Even the cheapie elastomer fork is perfectly suited to the overall performance of the bike, and is still glass-smooth.
Just to try the bike out, I took it to Griffith Park and blasted down a fire road that I used to hike years ago. This was the only time I've had the bike really moving, and it ate that up, too! That's lots of fun, but there's where you break things and have to upgrade constantly.
What I want to say is Ralieghs are by far the best value out there. They are very well balanced for what they offer and give you your full dollar's worth. They seem to be the persona-non-grata among the biking world, but if you don't need the very latest amd most expensive gear, a Raliegh will give your money's worth year after year.
Five flamers all around !
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from College Station, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | None | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Strengths: | Solid frame, solid components. Takes a beating! | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the beginner (me) and a great deal all around. This bike's so reliable I'd tell my grandma to get one if she was hardcore... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins, Co USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hewletts Gultch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Recycled Cycles | | Strengths: | Frame, Brakes OK, Shifters OK | | Weaknesses: | Acera components-Derailers, pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Various | | Bike Setup: | Deore LX Front and Rear derailers, SRAM PC-58 Chain, Softer brake pads, Stronger front rim, stronger rear hub,
Wellington pedals W/clips | | Bottom Line: | This is a good starter bike and also a great bike to upgrade because the frame is solid. The Acera derailers need to be the first thing to go if you ride very hard. They are loud and slow to change, and fall out of tune quiclky. A better chain also helps for harder riding. The brakes can get loud when used hard. IF poor like me, fix the parts as they break if you ride hard. I have made about 200$ in upgrades, and it is becoming a better bike that can now handle harder riding without and damage. You will not find a better bike for the money, just upgrade as you get better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabriel Seifert
a
from Stock-town, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | where ever | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Fun Sport Cycles, Stockton, CA | | Strengths: | Great warranty from Raleigh! It's reasonably light for its price--the frame weighs about 4.5" lbs when stripped. | | Weaknesses: | For the dollar, none really. | | Similar Products Used: | Similar $300-$400 bikes. | | Bike Setup: | (now new) M50 frame, suspension seatpost, AVID disc brakes front and rear, Deore hubs/Sun Rhinolite rims, new riser bar, headlights. | | Bottom Line: | This is my 3rd review for the M50 and I keep writing about it because I like it so much. For the price this is an excellent entry-level bike. I've upgraded everything I replaced, like the hubs/rims, and find that this bike is suitable for a growing rider.
Raleigh's warranty support is excellent! I brought my cracked frame to Fun Sport, where I bought it, and had a newly framed bike in ONE WEEK! Wow!!
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Submitted by
Gabe Seifert
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Fun Sport Bikes (Stockton, CA) | | Strengths: | VALUE, VALUE, VALUE
Great deal for the price! The parts are a good place to start (not XTR, but common the whole bike's less than $400!). | | Weaknesses: | Hmmm... I wish I had a 7000-series aluminum frame now. Did damage the stock single wall wheelset. Not enough product rep--the bike shops downplay the product line (not enough kick backs?). | | Bike Setup: | I've added a set of headlights, pedal clips, and a Deore disk hub wheelset (I'm going to put on disk brakes, ignore what I said in my previous posting). | | Bottom Line: | Look, I'm a big dude (6'4" and 250+ lbs) and I haven't killed this bike--that's impressive to me considering the 35+ miles I put on this bike each week.
The frame has a 5 year warranty (along with a year for the parts) and I've been riding the M50 with abandon because I figure the replacements are free. So far no problems other than damaging the original wheelset, so I'd recommend upgrading to double wall wheels right away (your dealer might cut you a deal).
The factory components seem quite good considering the price (it's not XTR, don't expect it to be), so if something breaks just upgrade it later. Basically, it's more bike for the buck than many out there. Use your cash to pay for upgrades, not an advertising/racing overhead. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Worth, TX
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes USA | | Strengths: | Good componenets for the money. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap fork. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Specialized. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for GT seatpost, ControlTech stem, Profile Carbon Fiber bar, Velo Kevlar saddle. | | Bottom Line: | This bike makes a great budget xc racer for weekend warriors. I can't break it! I haven't been able to bottom out the fork, even though I weigh 195 lbs. The fork could be more plush though. My only complaint is what is with the springs being located outside the tube and under the rubber boots? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a
from Nashville, TN, Davidson
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Strengths: | nice shifting, great frame, nice components for the $$$ | | Weaknesses: | bad pedals, bit heavy, tires (not very good for commuting) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | I'm a college student, and I think every college student who wants to get cross-campus Fast should consider getting the M50. I was heavily thinking about getting the Specialized A1 FS, before I checked out the M50. The M50 has better parts than the specialized. Its a great ride, and bit heavier than I would like for an aluminum frame. A lot of ride for the buck. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabriel Seifert
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Fun Sport Bikes | | Strengths: | Great deal for the money!! For the price, this has been a great bike so far. I ride about 35 miles a week between commuting and weekend riding (same bike, diferent tires) and have really come to like it. It's nothing fancy, so bike snobs might not be impressed. But, for semi-normal people, this bike's worth looking into. The on-the-fly adjustable forks are sweet. The frame on the M50 is the same as all Raleighs higher end hardtails, so it's an easy way to get into a decent framed bike that's not going to be a waste of cas to upgrade later. | | Weaknesses: | It comes with these cheesy plastic peddals--bogus. Replaced them straight away. What's up with calling the disk-compatible setup a "feature"? Who puts disks on a sub-$400 bike? | | Similar Products Used: | Diamond Back, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Stock+normal add-ons (rack, bullbars, underseat bag, etc.). | | Bottom Line: | Totally worth checking into if your looking for a good quality mountain bike for less than $400. I think that Raleigh seems to be running a "best bike for the buck" campaign or something. Check it out against similar quality bikes and bet you'll be surprised with what you get. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Highland Il, USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All the trails at Winter Park and Snow MTN Ranch CO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$351.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedel Shop | | Strengths: | Awsome Frame
ok fork ( too soft)
brakes when not squiling something feirce | | Weaknesses: | Front derailler hits
weak rims | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 800 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I took this bike to Winter Park and Snow Mtn Ranch Colorado for a week and had a blast, didnt doubt it once on some hairy dhs thou a little tiring on long long Climbs (needs a bigger cog). Even thou my dealer told me not to me and a friend where jumping this huge dirt jump where one trail was higher than the other and they crossed. I took it to fast totally cleared the slop on the back side and slid on right side pretty hard bent the rim and its in the shop as we speak. Jumping and drop offs over 3ft is totally discouraged w/ a stock set up on this bike (weak weak rims). For a begginer thou this bike is a choice and is great for a lot city riding wich i mostly do 30+ miles a week. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Burian
a Weekend Warrior
from Van Nuys, Cal. USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Balboa Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$279.00 | | Purchased At: | Kelly's Bikes | | Strengths: | Light, solid frame, accurate drivetrain, smooth riding, excellent value for money | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't quite fit exactly, rear brake seems to be rubbing, | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | high rise stem and handlebars | | Bottom Line: | A very good bike for the money. I took it through so overgrown trails right after I got it and got twigs and weeds stuck in the derailures and the thing just kept rolling along. The aluminum frame alone seems worth the $279 I paid for the whole bike. The stock stem was way too low for me, so I'm trying out various combinations of bars and stems. The bike is very well made and seems like it will last for years. I was taking it places that would have destroyed other bikes I've owned. I may switch to easier rolling tires for better road riding, but I might also get a C500 for the street and just thrash this one off road.
Lots of fun ! ! !
Anyone who wants a quality mountain bike should look at this one. They are usually discounted and Raleigh is a well established, world-wide company. You won't find a better value for the dough ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Cross Country Rider
from Amarillo TX
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | GSL at Palo Duro Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Korner (local) | | Strengths: | Super nice and sturdy frame, I think the frame is worth most of what I paid. The frame I think will last me a long time. | | Weaknesses: | Unajustable suspension with low travel, cheap tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Mamba | | Bike Setup: | Everything is stock except for a Manitou SX-R fork, kore gass clipless pedals, and some Panaracer Pro XC tires. | | Bottom Line: | I know that everyone says this, but this bike really is a wonderful bike for the money. Good luck trying to find a bike in the same price range that is 8 speed. The frame is great and I really don't think that I will ever get rid of it. I am probably going to get some new parts for the drive train and maybe some new wheels, but thats just because I am getting pretty serious about mtbing. If you are not riding more than once a week or so, most of these upgrades probably aren't neccessary. Bottom line is that this bike is a great deal and preforms well. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle Source - Baton Rouge, LA | | Strengths: | Beefy Aluminum Frame; Paint Job; price | | Weaknesses: | Fork bottoms out easily, and no adjustments; mediocre components overall | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades: ROCK SHOX JUDY SL FORK; ROCK SHOX SEAT POST; SHIMANO XT BOTTOM BRACKET; TIME ATAC ALIUM PEDALS; AVENIR "MANLY" SADDLE | | Bottom Line: | Exept for the frame, the RALEIGH M50 is no mountain bike, but they really don't claim it to be one. This bike is the top one in their "Mountain Trail" series, and is more suited for nature trails and cobblestone streets than for serious mtb'n. To date, I have spent an additional $370 (good deals too) on upgrades with more to come. This brings the total costs of my bike to over $700, but who's complaining? I like what this bike is becoming! The bottom line is: If your serious about this sport, I recommend you go ahead and spend at least a grand up front on a real mountain bike rather than upgrading a good frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Pembroke Pines, FL
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | markham | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Big Wheel | | Strengths: | Frame..rigid and light | | Weaknesses: | Tires, pedals, seat, and fork. | | Similar Products Used: | Basically everyhting in that price range. | | Bike Setup: | Ritchey clipless pedals, continental atlanta tires, rock shock judy sl fork, bontrager seatpost handelbars and seat. | | Bottom Line: | You will not find a better bike for the buck. I had to upgrade as things broke on the bike. i race this bike and ride it pretty hard. I have only been riding for 8 months so you can imagine what kind of abuse the bike has taken. If you are looking for a super light $1000+ racing machine then this is not the bike for you, but if you want something that is going to help you learn without falling apart then this is your bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J D
a Downhiller
from Panama City, Fl, USA
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Toe | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$369.00 | | Purchased At: | Steves Bike Shop | | Strengths: | The 6061 Frame of the bike is very rigid. The rapid fire shifter works like a charm, and the crankset is better than I thought it would be for the price. The front fork (2001) is a huge improvement over last years model(2000). | | Weaknesses: | The SR7700 could use a big more travel. It is too soft for the riding I do, but is better than the RST and the Jett XC. The Brakes Suck bad, and the Acera derailleurs are horrible and loud. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Raleigh M50, Marzocchi Z2 front suspension. Upraged to Deore XT front and rear derailleur, brakes, crank, bottom braket, pedals, cassette, and break boosters. CODA suspension seat post, CODA Stem, CODA handle bars, and Bonti saddle. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Raleigh M50, Marzocchi Z2 front suspension. Upraged to Deore XT front and rear derailleur, brakes, crank, bottom braket, pedals, cassette, and break boosters. CODA suspension seat post, CODA Stem, XTR Clipless Pedals, XTR Disk brakes, CODA handle bars, and Bonti saddle. | | Bottom Line: | The Frame is the stronge point of this bike, so i bought the bike. Everything on the bike is great and far better than anything else out there for the price. I had a Cannondale SuperV full suspension, but i got tired of the lost energy going up hill. This is a great hardtail and for the price upgrading it is pretty cheap. I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants TOP quality and a great price, it IS the BEST for the BUCK bike out there By FAR! PEACE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Elfwizard
a Cross Country Rider
from WA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikestand | | Strengths: | Frame, Seat, Color | | Weaknesses: | Acera derailers, pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Walmart mongoose | | Bike Setup: | Added Alluminum pedals, and Cycle computer | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for what i wanted to spend, nothing even comes close for the money. Will be fun to upgrade, because the frame is great! If you have $400 or less buy this bike
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Submitted by
Jerry
a
from Middletown, MD
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Gambrill, Greenbrier | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$370.00 | | Purchased At: | Frederick Bicycles | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, 6061 Aluminum Frame | | Weaknesses: | Shimano Acera components are noisy. Alex Y2000 rims. | | Bike Setup: | Added Wellgo clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Good bike for the money. After several months at Gambrill, nothing has broken. I don't know much about Suntour products but the Suntour SR7700 fork seems to hold up well on logs and rocks. I don't do any high drop-offs or anything to really push the bike to it's breaking limit but I do ride on some fairly technical rocky trails. The Acera front derailleur is a bit noisy and clunky. For under $400 I think that it is hard to find a better deal. Good for newbies wanting to hit the technical trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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