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Submitted by
he who is called "j"
a Downhiller
from Las Vegas, NV
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Valencia Cyclery, San Francisco, CA | | Strengths: | Burly aluminum frame w/ smokin' geometry. It's a great compromise between a dirtjumper and an xc frame so it let's you do both very well. The welds on this puppy are sweeeet. It also came stock w/ LX parts all around. You can't beat that deal/value. | | Weaknesses: | Not much that I can see, especially at the price I payed for it. I guess if I had to same something bad about it, I would have to point my finger at the low end Rock Shock Judys. It's got about 2.5' travel and it needs alot more. | | Similar Products Used: | Mostly BMX bikes. This is my first true MTB. | | Bike Setup: | The frame was sanded and painted with a matte black finish. The wheels have been upgraded to XT hubs on Rhyno Lite rims. The stem has been replaced w/ a Primo BMX Stem and the hadlebars were replaced w/ an Azonix riser bar. Oh, and I swapped XT brakes in place of the LX. | | Bottom Line: | No other bike has ever had me riding as much as this one does. Great on the uphills and even better on the downhill runs, jumps and even the skatepark. All the kids laugh until I pull some sick Xups and tables on their precious box jump. Eat my XC/DH dust... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse
a
from Media, PA (USA)
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Fit of Delaware County | | Strengths: | 6061 aluminum frame, Shimano Mega 9 setup, adjustable Manitou Magnum front suspension, 26 X 2.10 Mythos XC tires, Deore LX rear cogset, and Shimano crank. | | Weaknesses: | Deore shifters, Pro Max v-brakes & brake levers, Deore front derailleur, Deore LX rear derailleur, toe clip pedals, standard bike seat. | | Similar Products Used: | Nishiki Alien, Trek 850, Specialized Rockhopper. | | Bike Setup: | Deore XT fr&rr derailleurs, Deore XT combo brake lever/shifters, XTR v-brakes, Femco heavy duty double walled disc brake-compatible rims, Selle San Marco Era racing seat, Icon clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Overall, this bike was a good value for the money, but most of the standard componentry did not hold up to rough riding. The front suspension, the crank, and the rear cogset are the only pieces left from when I bought the bike, as well as the handlebar stem, the handlebar, and the handlebar ends. I destroyed the standard rims in the first two months of ownership. I have not had to have the Femco rims trued since they were installed. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Graham, N. C. U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The ones I haven't ridden. (YET) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun & Ski 88 | | Strengths: | Great price. Excellent gearing. Overall component selection above average. Super cool Eldorado gold paint. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals must be replaced or at least stripped of the straps as soon as you buy it. Brakes stop the bike fine but the levers are junk. Judy TT undersprung for heavy riders. Suspention seatpost works loose and wobbles from side to side. Keep the collar tight and you won't have this problem. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first suspention bike. | | Bike Setup: | No major changes yet, although I have changed the pedals, brake levers, have removed the bar ends, and I have installed an EKO total air upgrade in the fork. I HIGHLY recommend this as a cheap alternative to a new fork. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike. No better deal going. Shimano 27 speed gearing. Sturdy double-wall wheels. WTB velociraptor tires. Stiff, strong, and light frame worthy of later upgrades. Overall, I don't think I could have made a better choice, at least not in this price range. Oh yeah, one of my friends liked mine so much, he bought a 2002. We'll give a review of it later. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michelle
a Weekend Warrior
from somewhere, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on!! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Century cycle | | Strengths: | Nice feel to the frame, bar ends, susp. seatpost, better components than the competition and more gears | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized hardrock | | Bike Setup: | 16" Eldorado gold frame w/Chris King headset (pink), Avid Arch Supreme brakes, Avid Ultimate L (purple levers), Shimano carbon brake boosters F&R, LX splined crank, Shimano XTR chain, Time atac pedals, Manitou Magnum fork (black), Hershey racing seatclamp (silver), Thomson stem 15x90mm (silver), Selle Italia lady Transam seat, Gary Fisher bar ends (silver), Geax blade tires, Schwinn SC-13 cyclocomputer w/cadence. | | Bottom Line: | The top of this page says the bike is Chromoly! Wrong!! 6061 oversized aluminum. AWESOME BIKE! VERY comfortable, may not be the lightest out there but she handles everything with grace, dignity and SPEED! My boyfriend who is 180lbs. actually likes the feel of this bike better than his Stumpjumper pro and GT team zaskar!! (so he tells me) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ant hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$460.00 | | Purchased At: | sun and ski | | Strengths: | light strong frame, bar ends, double wall rims, suspension seat post, disc mounts | | Weaknesses: | pedals suck!! | | Similar Products Used: | looked at comparable diamond back, same comp. shocks, wheels and raleigh was cheaper with more extras | | Bike Setup: | bone stock, removed reflectors for less weight and added spokie dokies, j/k | | Bottom Line: | for the price it cant be beat, I am 200 lb. the stock 120 lb. manitou spring seems to light am going to upgrade to 150lb.with the red membrane. seat sucked until I figured out how to adjust preload. this is my first suspension bike, I like it. Cant wait to hit the trails!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim LaPont
a Weekend Warrior
from Stoneham
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Middlesex Fells | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$470.00 | | Purchased At: | Ski Market | | Strengths: | Overall Quality
Deore Component group
Longer list of standard equip. | | Weaknesses: | I can't see any real weaknesses considering the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Looked at Trek 4300,4500,4900 Specialized Hardrock, a couple of Gary Fishers' in the 500 price range. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike's a steal.
I was looking to upgrade from my Univega Rover 305 so this would be my first suspension bike. I was basically looking for a light hardtail bike for around $400-600 with a descent front shock, the best shifting components I could get, pedals with straps or clips, pull-up bars, and a shock seatpost. I ride 2 times a week on intermediate cross coutry terrain and want a smooth ride.
After looking for 2 months, the M80 seemed to fit the bill better than all of the other bikes I looked at. The Trek series and Hardrock I felt (might) have a better frame for upgrades but no straps, pullup bars or shockpost and they didn't feel any lighter. They also didn't have the higher end Shimano parts. So for what I wanted and after reading the reviews, the Raleigh had a lot more value.
As far as who should buy this bike, if you're planning on jumping off cliffs, I'd say no. If you're trying to get the most out of $500-$600 in a hardtail, the M80 is probably it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Wichita, Ks, USA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Camp Horizon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Continental Cyclery | | Strengths: | frame, drive-drain is by far the best in this price range | | Weaknesses: | brake levers are junk, pedals are horrendous, suspension seat-post is probably history too, also not a huge fan of the Judy TT fork, it doesn't handle big hits very well in my opinion and I'm around 165 lbs. People seem to either love or hate the gold paint job. Personally, I think it's hideous so I went with the blue. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900, Giant Rainier, Schwinn Moab,Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | Stock but not for long | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a solid, entry-level suspension bike to tackle the trails without spending a fortune and I think I found the best option. I rode several different brands and models and for the money, the M80 had the best components in the areas that really count. This bike can be a pretty kick-ass ride with a few upgrades. If you're like me and don't want to wait around until you can scrape together 1,200 bucks for a bike, then I highly recommend the M80. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KRIS TACHNA
a Cross Country Rider
from MIDLAND,MICH
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | PINEHAVEN | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | COLEMAN | | Strengths: | FRAME STIFFNESS JUDYTT FORK | | Weaknesses: | PAINT CHIPS EASILY FACTORY M440CRANK HAS ALL STEEL CHAINRINGS | | Similar Products Used: | GIANT,TREK,HARO | | Bike Setup: | KOREBAR,STEM,SEATPOST,TIOGASADDLE,LXCRANK,LXBRAKES,TIMEPEDALMAVIC221WHEELS,TIOGAXCSLICKS | | Bottom Line: | I HAVE PUT OVER 1000MILES ON THIS BIKE IHAVE REPLACED EVERY THING ON IT THE FRAME IS LIGHT AND STIFF THE FORK IS STRONG AND NEEDS NO MAINTANCE ITS FAIRLY PLUSH HOWEVER I WILL BE REPLACING THAT TO WITH A DUKE XC THIS WAS MY FIRST REAL MOUNTAINBIKE IT SERVED ITS PURPOSE I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BIKE TO ANY ONE ITS CHEAPPRICE AND GOOD COMPONENTS MAKE IT FUN AND EASY TO UPGRADE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Lowell
a
from Fort Bragg NC
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | smith lake | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Hawleys | | Strengths: | LX Rear D, Deore Front D, Deore cranks, Bar ends, aluminum frame, Good tires, inexpensive, no bull#^&*$## name, excellent componenet group to start off with | | Weaknesses: | sh%$#ty seatpost, heavy seat, sh&%$#ty brakes, sucky front shox, stem too high, sh&%$$#ty rims | | Similar Products Used: | gary fisher mamba | | Bike Setup: | new seat and post, new deore rear rim, lx brakes | | Bottom Line: | this is a wonderful bike, I have been striken by upgrade fever. I love my bike and I ride it to work all the time. It is an urban warrior. Buy this bike if you want to make an investment that will last a while. I traded in my GF mamba and one very ancient raleigh 10 speed for this bike (me and my wife got matching M80's) and i figure if raleigh lasted that long, why not stay loyal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Bayside, NY
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$399.00 | | Purchased At: | MetroBikes | | Strengths: | Price, Aluminum frame, Manitou Magnum shock, great looking gold paint job. Real smooth shifting and nice comfortable riding bike. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes seems a bit light, but not enough to outweight its strenghts. | | Similar Products Used: | Have a Diamondback, Sorrento. This is my first suspension bike.
| | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Was shopping for the last month or so and could not pass the deal up. After seeing the many positive reviews, it was a no brainer. Was perfect for a novice like myself, who is not looking to stay a novice long or come up with more $$$ for a new bike anytime soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fawnpack
a
from Amesbury Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | killers trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | skate and sport | | Strengths: | nice frame, derailers except when the front is screwed up,
crank, shifters are awsome. overall it is a nice bike | | Weaknesses: | brake levers are crappy and cheap, after 2 days of riding i have already bent the rim and popped a tire, pedals are horrible, shocks rebound wierd downhill at high speeds, the seatpost is just horrible try to make a deal with your dealer to trade it for a normal one for a discount on the bike because all it does is wobble back and forth. i weigh 110 pounds and after 2 days i need new crap if you are heavier be carefull | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn mesa, this bike is much better | | Bike Setup: | stock except for, easton ct2 seatpost, ultralight atb peadls, serfas rx seat wich is the $hi* , avid speed dial 7 levers, and xtr chain | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike for it's price but if your going to go hardcore riding it will cost a few hundreed in upgrades.
The shocks feel cheap | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Florin
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Taylor's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Good frame, and excellent derailers. | | Weaknesses: | Extremely bad pedals. Grips melted after 3 mo. Brakes are not very good. It feels somehow cheap. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried Trek and Schwinn before I decided to buy this one. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Factory setup + New back rim (Sun Mammoth) | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this bike mainly because of the reviews on this web site. Overall the bike is OK, however after 3 mo of riding it I would probably recommend my friends to look for a different brand. This is mainly because some components feel very cheap and don't perform to the task. My pedals are dead already, the gel-grips melted, the brakes are not very good and the Manitou shocks are soft. The upgrades you need for this bike will put it in the same price range with the brand-name bikes.
I think is fair to say that with all these flaws, I still enjoy riding this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, Ne U.S.A
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Strengths: | Awesome Frame! Light and strong. I am 6'2 and 210 lbs and this bike takes the punishment my bigger body frame gives it.Excellent components for the money. Full Shimano drive train.Lx rear derailer with deore everything else.Rockshox Judy TT is a good fork for all around x-country riding.If anything thise bike is overbuilt for the money.This bike proves also that I am not paying for a name. I am paying for a great bike from a company who would rather not advertise and make their bikes $200 less than other companies who have to pump up their prices to pay for ad's.Buy this bike if you want to get into a good, tough bike for less moo-lah. | | Weaknesses: | Factory suspension seat post. Makes alot of creeking noise and has a lot of side to side play. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher that had the same exact component set up..Only it was $750. | | Bike Setup: | Large aluminum frame. Rockshox Judy TT.Full Shimano drivetrain. Lx rear derailer, deore everything else. Rapid fire shifting. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a "good" bike, you need to spend at least $600.If you want more bike for your money, start with Raleigh or Univega folks!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from S. Windsor, CT
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Judy TT front fork, front and rear drivetrain components, replaceable individual front cogs, rear cassette velociraptor tires, suspension seatpost, and 6061 aluminum frame | | Weaknesses: | brakes are a little weak | | Similar Products Used: | did not ride any other bikes but compared to Trek 4900, Specialized top Hardrock, Giant Iguana, Gary Fisher, GT, Schwinn, and others. | | Bike Setup: | Bone Stock | | Bottom Line: | As far as components and features no other bike compared. This is my first mountain bike. I quit racing motocross as of last August after a major knee injury. The reason I jumped in at this price was because I didn't know if I could even ride and didn't want to spend alot of money. Eventually, if my knee can take it, I will buy a FS XC/FREERIDE bike. With that said, I have found this bike is great for the price. It shifts great and has some nice extras like bar ends, and suspension seatpost. The pedals aren't the greatest but are ok for me right now. The only thing I will upgrade soon, as I get to be better and faster, will be the brakes. I do like the ergos with the 25 degree stem. It's good for descending but not quite as good ascending. I've only ridden about six times, with the last outing relatively intense, and the bike was flawless. You can't do better than the M80 for the price, from what Ive seen. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Kearney, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$525.00 | | Purchased At: | Biscari Bros. | | Strengths: | My last bike purchase was 10 years ago (a Nishiki that I ended up almost completely retooling) and bikes today are MUCH better than a decade ago. The shifters on the M-80 perform flawlessly and the front shock smooths out many of the bumps fairly well. After reading reviews on the M-80 from previos years, I was scared to sit on the saddle, but after some adjustments I found it to be comfortable and quickly got used to the suspension post. I thought I might want to trade out but after giving it a chance decided to stick with the stock post and saddle. As former everyday rider who now must rely on cars most of my transportation, I could not rationalize spending $900-1200 for a bike. However for the price the M-80 is loaded with quality accessories and I won't break the bank upgrading. I bought the bigger frame and the bike seems to handle my 6'4", 280-pound frame well. The M-80 has impressed me so much that I'm trying to talk my wife into taking a look at buying a Raleigh. | | Weaknesses: | The pedals are junk. Resin and alloy and their much too small for my feet. I had problems adjusting the front brake after removing the front rim. That's about it. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek | | Bottom Line: | The reviews I read before purchasing the M-80 were correct. It's a lot of bike for around $500 and well worth upgrading components. If you are shopping, at least give one a spin before ruling it out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from York, PA.
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Strengths: | ft and rr derailers
wtb velociraptor tires
wheels have taken a lot of punishment and stayed in true
9spd rr cassette
| | Weaknesses: | manitou magnum way too soft for hard riding
brakes
seat post and seat | | Similar Products Used: | gt aggressor | | Bike Setup: | OE except seat | | Bottom Line: | from reading everyone elses reviews of this bike, i realized that bikes in york, Pa must cost $50-$100 MORE than every place else in the continental U.S. i overpaid but am very sastisfied w/ this bike. i plan to get rid of the seatpost and upgrade the stem. the front fork is gone as soon as i can wear it out, which probably won't be too long. it's junk. the bike was WELL worth the money. it's reliable in every aspect, but needs upgraded in the fork for better performance. the brakes are OK. i think raleigh cut costs here. this bike would be good for novices and intermediates alike. i love my M80 and have no problem keeping up with the Kleins and treks my friends own. when i upgrade maybe i'll be passing them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EFREN
a Weekend Warrior
from EL PASO TX
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | MONKS/GILBERT'S/FRANKLIN MTN. ST. PARK | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$559.00 | | Purchased At: | BIKE WORKS PLUS | | Strengths: | MANITOU MAGNUM FORKS, SEATPOST, BARENDS AND VELOCIRAPTOR TIRES. I HAVE THE ELDORADO GOLD PAINT SCHEME IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND REALLY STANDS OUT. | | Weaknesses: | SEAT | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | STOCK EXCEPT FOR GEL SEAT(BELL) | | Bottom Line: | I SHOPPED AROUND AND COMPARED COMPONENTS AND PRICES LISTED IN COMPANY BROCHURES AND LOCAL BIKE SHOPS AND THE RALEIGH, TO ME SEEMED LIKE A KILLER DEAL. I WAS SHOOTING FOR NO MORE THAN 600 DOLLARS AFTER TAXES AND COMPARED TO GT,GIANT,DIAMONDBACK AND TREK THIS BABY WON HANDS DOWN. THE LX REAR/DEORE FRONT ALONG WITH THE BARENDS AND SUSPENSION SEATPOST SEALED THE DEAL. I'M NO EXPERT,JUST A BEGINNER BUT FROM WHAT I READ IN THE MTB MAG REVIEWS, I GET THE FEELING THIS IS PROBABLY A GREAT ENTRY LEVEL BIKE FOR ANYONE. ANOTHER THING I WANT TO ADD IS THE GREAT PAINT JOB. ALL OTHERS SEEM TO HAVE THE USUAL RED,WHITE,BLUE COLOR SCHEMES, THIS ELDORADO GOLD REALLY STANDS OUT!
P.S. I INADVERTENTLY POSTED THIS IN THE 99' MODEL YEAR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Island, NY
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Carl Hart Bycycles, Middle Island, NY | | Strengths: | Seat post shock, bar ends, smooth 27 gear shifting, comfortable saddle, cool paint job (I have the gold M80, the color appealed to me a lot more than Lava Lamp Blue, the bike looks SWEET!) Frame is also upgradable to disc brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Chain broke after riding 2 miles, probably my fault as being a rookie I cross shifted. Bike isnt that light (its not that heavy either) but hey.. I didnt go out and break the bank either! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900, Gary Fisher Kassahara, Specialized Hard Rock | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum frame, Manitou Magnum shocks, velociraptor tires, 27 speed LX/Deore performance drivetrain, Selle Stratos Generation 2000 saddle. I added a quick release seat post clamp and an under the saddle pack to store spare tube, patch kit, allen key, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to spend $500 on a Mt Bike and get the best product out there for my money. I test rode several other bikes in the same price range and always kept coming back to the M80. The seat post suspension is nice.. takes the edge off some bumps w/o losing peddling efficiency associated with full suspension bikes. The bar ends are nice when you are on long rides and need to change hand position, the bike also comes with toe clips... None of the other bikes I test rode in the same price range came with these features. In fact, my girlfriend also bought a Raleigh (M60), their bikes seemed to be much nicer than others in the price range in general. If you are new to the sport (As I was) and want a great bike for an affordable price, this is it. In the future, depending on how much I ride, I may upgrade certain components for a lighter bike. All in all I would say spend $500 and go have a ball! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BILL BUCKHANNON
a Cross Country Rider
from COLTS NECK, NJ
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$525.00 | | Purchased At: | BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | GREAT ENTRY LEVEL BIKE. GOOD COMPONETS FOR THE MONEY. | | Weaknesses: | NO SO FAR | | Similar Products Used: | TREK 4300-4500-4900, SCHWINN MESA GS-GSX, GIANT INGUANA, MONGOOSE DX 4.0, AND JAMIS DURGANO SX. | | Bike Setup: | STOCK EXCEPT FOR THE PEDAL. CHANGE TO WELGO CLIPLESS | | Bottom Line: | GREAT BIKE FOR THE MONEY. THIS BIKE HAS
SHIMANO LX (BACK DERAILLEUR)
SHIMANO DEORE (FRONT DERAILLEUR)
TIRES (WTB VELOCIRAPTOR)
SHOCK (JUDY TT 80MM TRAVEL)
ALL OTHER BIKE DID NOT MEET THIS LIST FOR THE MONEY. I SHOPPED AND READ REVIEW FOR AROUND 2 MONTHS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Sandy, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | gotta be Slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Highlander Cyclery | | Strengths: | Great components for the price. This one has a Manitou Magnum, which seems a little smoother than the Jetts I tried. LX rear/rapid fire combination shifts perfectly every time. The suspension seat post seems to take just enough of the edge off the bumps. The rims have stayed true through some pretty rough use. The Velociraptor tires have great grip on slickrock and in dirt. They work well on the trails we ride. It came with bar ends, which I like. | | Weaknesses: | The brakes are poor. Everytime I remove the front wheel, I have to adjust the centering of the front brakes (meaning, everytime I take it off the car rack). The paint is beautiful, blue metallic that fades to black on the chain and seat stays. But it scratches easily. I guess Raleigh had to cut costs somewhere to get this much stuff for $500. | | Similar Products Used: | Older Raleigh M80. GT Agressor. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. The bike description at the top of this section is wrong. It is an aluminum frame, LX rear, Deore front, 27 speed. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price. The brakes are not great but overall it's a great ride for $500. Buy it if you ride for fun and exercise and you don't want to have to fix it after every ride. This is a sturdy, reliable, great ride. Forget it if you need the latest big name bike just to look cool. No one stops you on the trail and says, "Wow! an M80". But, no one will pass you and ask if you need to borrow a wrench, either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Douglas Mc
a Weekend Warrior
from G. P. Texas
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ceder Hill State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$512.00 | | Strengths: | Decent bike for the price. Pretty light. Nice components for the price. Very sturdy. The Deore stuff is the bomb. Overall a very nice bike. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | I had a Specialized Hard Rock before some dumb ass stole it. Too bad I didnt catch him because the owner is a shooter. | | Bike Setup: | The bike is stock. I did add shimano disc hubs and the second set of rims are shimano and I added Hayes disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | More than likly I will upgrade some day soon. But I am very pleased with this bike. I heard that the bike was very sturdy and had nice components and thats why I bought it. I am 6'6" and weigh 315...This bike has done well with me on its back going up and down hill. I put the bike through its paces everyday I go to the trail and everything is still everything. I am very pleased! If you want a good bike with quality components that can be taken to the trail everyday and you don't want to spend $1000.00 this is the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Harp
a Weekend Warrior
from Mansfield, OH USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mohican Wilderness | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$549.00 | | Purchased At: | Y Not Schwinn Cyclery | | Strengths: | Seat suspension, pretty light, quick shift, all around very stable bike. | | Weaknesses: | No disc brakes, could be a little lighter. | | Bottom Line: | Good beginning bike, very fun to ride. If you are new to MTB this is a great bike because of the price and the features that it does have. I have enjoyed this bike much and hope to get much more enjoyment out of it over the course of the next year or so. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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