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Submitted by
tim
a Cross Country Rider
from idaho springs, CO USA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | monarch crest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | the bike shop | | Strengths: | this bike rides like a dream. It is more comfortable than any bike I have ridden to date. The suspension is smooth and easily adjusted. this bike climbs like a wild ape with the rear shock active or not. I actually prefer it active while climbing. I've rode the crap out of this bike and really have had no problems other than normal wear. I just purchased a 2000 from ebay and can't wait to get it. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first full suspension bike and I don't think I could have made a better choice. I rode a schwinn homegrown before and this bike is soooooooooo much better in every way. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | If you are lookin for an xc bike with full suspension, buy one of these bikes and you will not be disappointed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KG
a Cross Country Rider
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove Bikes | | Strengths: | High end part spec, quality of finish. | | Weaknesses: | Sid Race fork sucks. At least it doesn't work for this 170 lb guy riding mainly XC with some moderate North Shore descents thrown in. Had it rebuilt twice since getting the bike last May and just replaced it with a Fox Talus. Talus makes the bike about a pound heavier, but the variable travel and extra beef is well worth the weight. Split the underside of the FSA stem after a year, but it was warrenteed that day by a local shop. Lots of chain breaks, but that may just be me. Blew the rear shock this winter, but North Shore terrain can be pretty tough on equipment - that too was warranteed by a local shop. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Kikapu, Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | XTR / XT, FSA, Race Face, Ritchey Scuzzy Logic, Fox Talus. | | Bottom Line: | I'm not a seasoned racer but I do about 7 or 8 like the Test of Metal each year. This bike has made me better on technical descents and more efficient on bumpy climbs. Just a beatuiful bike, riding it pushed 2 of my friends into unplanned XC bike upgrades. More breaks and maintenance than I expected. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony Hope
a Downhiller
from Costa Mesa Ca/ Uk
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | A line / whistler.... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1699.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | Really strong climber, light agile and really easy to get used to.
Stands up to a lot of abuse on fast technical decents . | | Weaknesses: | A lot more flex than I am used to ..but I suppose comparing it to a Foes Mono is a tad unfair
Hit my knees on pivot points during technical decents
I currently have the SID forks set up for a 120 person n they still feel too hard.. I'm 175.. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Explosive
GT Zaskar | | Bike Setup: | Thompson Seat post / stem
Flite titanium seat
Maxxis Larson tubeless
Crossmax xl
monkey lites
| | Bottom Line: | have been riding dual salom and Dh bikes for the past few years, decided to get back in shape . Took a while to choose a new ride n the instinct was the best choice ...Not only price but ride quality. Straight out of the gate this bike is really good fun.. goes up hills like there's no tommorrow and smoother than anything I've ever ridden, eats up technical decents. Pretty much feel like I can pin it through everything ...have really put my XC friends through their paces ..
Although have crashed on numerous occassions, getting used to skinnies ..again ... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shane
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Strengths: | Great all around bike. Can really handle the long rides in the saddle. I suppose for FS it's fairly light. | | Weaknesses: | I'm fairly old-school, so the weight compared to a hard tail is noticeable, but then again so is the comfort! Stock Hutchinson Pythons were horrible, but that's personal preference. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing really close, lots of road, cyclocross, hardtail, rigid, this-n-that... | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR, Rock Shox SID Race, FSA, Race Face | | Bottom Line: | It's a great bike, and for what I paid, considering it was complete, I have nothing to complain about. The FS really does make a difference, I have gotten to the point where I leave the rear active on technical climbs and just motor over anything in my path, it's worth the extra weight in most cases. It feels a bit tall until you get used to it, once you are dialed in though you can rip. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The one that I am on! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | CyclePaths.com (Lk Tahoe) | | Strengths: | Design that RM has been using for years. Proven Performance. Sure there are are others that may have a better suspension design for this or that but RM has invested a lot of resurces in building quality--not just the latest fad.
Welds are perfect, fit and finish is smooth, nice hand-job paint, awesome geometry (for me). | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Ti Unicoi (2 years) | | Bike Setup: | Fox Vanilla 100 RL front, Fox Float RL rear. | | Bottom Line: | I waited a few hundred miles to put in my 2 cents worth.
I bought just the frame and swapped over all my old goodies and sold my previous frame on E-bay.
I ride aggressive cross country with lots of roots and ups and downs.
This bike is the bomb! Just love it. I do lock out the rear on medium climbs but I found on steep long fire roads I only lock out the front and I feel more comfortable than on my last Litespeed.
I did take a few rides to dial it in but now I enjoy riding much more. Having full suspension really allows one to ride longer and clear technical sections better.
I do not feel that this bike would help me a lot on the downhills since I set my own limits for myself regardless of the bike.
It is nice being able to drop stuff and not worry about slamming the seatpost up my ass.
THE BOTTOMLINE.....
For the riding I love like Skookum Flats, this bike is perfect. It has a high bottom bracket and great mild angles. Try one today, you may just need one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henry Jacobson
a Weekend Warrior
from Life, Hour, Peanut Butterville
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the trait(duh0 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$67000.00 | | Purchased At: | the bike selling unit (another duh) | | Strengths: | I think the main strength of this product would have to be the big v8 underneath the hood. This engine might be heavy but you gain it all back when you peddly the %&$^ out of this thing! It has amazing pick up and top speed, i have been 540 m.p.h. on this sweet modular device! Kick a$$! | | Weaknesses: | I think the main weakness is definatly the extra tire mount on the front of the car, i think that this gets in the way when you are going at high speeds(540m.p.h. for instance) and you can hit a rock or something that you don't see and loose control and scrap your elbow pretty bad. I did. Im still recovering? | | Similar Products Used: | I have owned a pawn shop before? | | Bike Setup: | The setup on this bike is that it has a front shock mounted on the rear and a rear shock mounted on the front. This is because the front shocks these days are just lame? | | Bottom Line: | the bottom line is that this boat is so fast that sometimes you dont even know you are alive? Man i love this horse and i wish it didn't have to be feed every five hours! man i hate coming home from the Mount Everest Trip just to feed this mo fo! But i guess that is what you get when you buy a house. Oh man, Remember to ride as hard a as a rock and have fun and don't forget to feed your horse! Sometimes it dies, but just feed it some rocks and then it will come back to life. OK. Bye. Love henry Jacobson | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodside, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | Sweet climbing, SWEET downhill, nice mix between hard-core full suspension and the wimpy stuff... | | Weaknesses: | Front forks blow (Rock Shox stock), stock tires are slippery, have significant rubbage on rear rotor. | | Similar Products Used: | First full suspension bike and my ass feels great. | | Bike Setup: | All stock except for front forks, which were really no good. Switched 'em out for some bomber Marzocchi. Saddle hard at first, but my arse likes it just fine now. | | Bottom Line: | Great ride. Really. Better each time I use it. Climbs really well, and the downhills are ragin'! Test ride it a good bit, though-- top tube length and reach is shorter than I thought originally.
Bottom line-- a good hybrid between the ridiculous hard core downhill bikes and the traditional two triangle setup. I do the long, technical climbs and the rear suspension really makes a difference.
It's a sweet ride. Jammin. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian Harding
a Racer
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Minnewaka Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1440.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike and Run Shop | | Strengths: | Extremely durable and light weight frame, great stock set-up, Canadian paint, handbuilt in a size specific jig so it doesn't get cold worked (bent to fit the size like slomst everyone else does) | | Weaknesses: | This bike has no major flaws. Little things like suspension deactivation under braking (which you get with just about any FS design before 2002) or bushing wear out are to be expected on any ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Element To, GT i-drive XCR1000, Gary Fischer Sugar, Specialized fsr xc comp | | Bike Setup: | In addition to stock mine has my own handbuilt DT champion spokes on X317 rims, XT casette, dura ace chain, kore/easton elite flatbar, wildgripper XLs meats, '03 959 pedals, custom machined Ti pivot tubes in suspension, '03 raceface signature FS BB | | Bottom Line: | I'm a shop wrench, my personal vanity and total lack of modesty says I should know what I'm talking about so give'er a listen and hopefully this honest opinion will help you out:
The whole thing down to the wheelset (from the factory) is HAND BUILT but the price is pretty darn close to a mass produced ride from other companies. A handbuilt bike (especially Rockies) feel incredible and the ultralite frameset actually facilitates a tiny bit of bending during riding so it feels even better while maintaining stiffness.
Look at the stock spec, the freakin' tires alone are $80 bucks a piece. XT/XTR, Float RL, ultralite frame, Ritchey scuzzy logic pro HS, RacefaceXC BB. Rocky doesn't chince out on any of the stuff you don't see at first glance.
The suspension is super smooth and very efficient and the bushings feel great as long as you maintain them. Some people might take issue with the fork's tight seals but its always worked great for me. It does not suck up munchkin sized bumps but the front end doesn't get sloppy like some other forks that were designed for racers who are going to get new ones tomorrow or tech nerds with too much money.
I've banged this bike around and taken it on stuff it probably wasn't meant for. Never had a problem with it, it seems to me a lot of the problems people have talked about on this bike are b/c they're not maintaining their rides enough. You buy a race car, you marry a mechanic right? High end bikes almost always could use some tweaking, no matter what you buy.
The Instinct is the perfect blend of quality, weight, handling and components, I can definately say I'll be riding Rockies for the rest of my life. Bottom Line? IF YOU CAN, BUY ONE, they're fan-freakin-tastic!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Saturday Night Lake Loop - Jasper | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Built Up Myself (yay..ebay) | | Strengths: | Great Geometry, Great Climber, Predictable Compression on both shocks for downhill, Light For A Full-Suspension Bike, Great Looking Maple Leaf Fade Paint Job, Bomb-Proof Frame | | Weaknesses: | A bit beefier than my Blizzard with the same componentry. This bike weighs in at 24.8lbs where my blizzard was 22 pounds with these same components. Bushings wear out with heavy riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth, Specialized Epic, Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z2 Atom Race Front Shock, Fox Float RC Rear Shock, Chris King Headset, Chris King Front/Rear Hubs, Mavic 517 Rims, Marwi Titanium Spokes, XT Rear Casette, XT Rear Der., XT Front Der., XT Rapid-Fire Shifters, Thompson Elite Stem, Thompson Elite Seatpost, Race Face Next LP Cranks, Shimano 545 Pedals, Avid SD 2.0 Brakes, Race Face Low Riser Bar, Odi Lock Jaw Grips | | Bottom Line: | This bike is an all-around performer. I'm the type of rider that likes a bit of everything and this bike more than met my expectations. Before I bought this frame and built up this bike I had been a hard-core hardtail rider and swore that I'd never change. Now, I can honestly saw that I'd never go back. In the same ride this bike will see major climbing, technical rooty single track, a few 3-4 foot jumps, and some hair-raising high-speed downhills. This bike handles it all. I am so impressed with the overall response of the bike. It is a fantastic climber with almost no pedal bob at all. Its a very very nimble riding machine and I find that the bike follows wherever I point my hips. The compression is so damn buttery-smooth that I can ride through some horrific mistakes... (whoa...woops..LOG!) The compression remains predictable even after the shock takes a beating through a long downhill (where most air shocks will heat and lose performance).
This is the best bike I've ever ridden, bar none. If you're an all around rider that likes a bit of everything, this is the machine for you. Rocky does it again. Fantastic bike!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Edwards
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Commando | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | The Kind | | Strengths: | Just a flat out solid bike. Great climbing bike. Smooth. Aesthetics are cool. Components are terrific. If you tele ski, this bike is the equivalent of the Atomic TMEX - | | Weaknesses: | The stock tires were terrible. Some type of Hutchinson designed for mud - why RM would stock a bike like this with such a use-specific type of tire is beyond me. | | Similar Products Used: | Checked out Specialized, Kona, Marin and Gary Fischer | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Didn't want to spend this much $, but I road the bike and that was that. I would buy another one in a heart beat.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zach Alpern
a Weekend Warrior
from Crested Butte, CO
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Upper Lower Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | Alternative Sports | | Strengths: | Great frame, solid construction, beautiful setup. | | Weaknesses: | Only the cost of spec'ing your own custom bike, well worth it | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Hardtail, Gary Fisher Advance (turned into single speed) | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi MXR Fork, RaceFace crankset and BB, RaceFace XY Post, Easton Bar, Shimano Pedals, XTR shifters, derailleurs and cassette, Salsa stem, Chris King NoThreadSet, Avid Mech Disk Brakes, Avid levers, Mavic disk rims on Shimano hubs | | Bottom Line: | The money and effort to setup a custom bike were well worth the effort. I got some amazing components on a spectacular frame... The frame makes it all worthwhile. It performs beautifully on downhills, and isn't too much to haul up the hills, either. Sure, it ended up pricey, but with those components, who am I to complain? You won't regret purchasing one of these babies.
Mine had to sit in the shop for a solid month until I could pick it up, and everyone wanted to buy it right there. Be the envy of.. everyone. I demoed other bikes, but this one's my baby. Anyone who rides western singletrack and craves dual suspension will love this bike. I'm on a 19" frame, and I'm 6' 170lbs | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Nordland, WA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Devil's Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Purchased At: | Fat Tire Farm | | Strengths: | Light stiff frame, great paint job and lockout | | Weaknesses: | Jacks a little under hard braking with v-brakes. I just gotta quit braking so much. Also disappointed in RM customer service on website. E-mailed them twice with no response. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab-hardtail, Diamondback XCR w/sids, Giant XTC AC1 | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi MXC-ECC, Chris King Headset, Thompson post and stem, XT drivetrain except XTR rear der. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first (and probably last) dedicated XC racing bike. I bought it specifically for racing and enjoyed it the whole season. It made me a better rider all around, especially climbing. This bike feels more nimble on the road than my road bike. It has kinda ruined my Giant AC1 for me. Now that bike feels loose, heavy and sloppy. My only other complaint is that I have marred the beautiful finish on both sides of the top tube from ramming brake levers when crashing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Vilvoorde
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Strengths: | Probably the stiffest full suspension XC frame around right now. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. But Rocky should make an intermediate frame size between 16.5" and 18". 16.5" was too small for me but 18" just a very little bit too large. A 17.5" would have been the top. | | Bike Setup: | Marzo Marathon S 2002, Hope Mini disc, XT front/rear, SRAM Rocket shifters, Shimano 575 disc wheelset, rest is all Race Face (goof stuff). | | Bottom Line: | I have owned this bike for almost a year now and have made 5500 km on it. It's pretty light for a full suspension (12kg). It feels very light when riding, especially uphill. Great climber. Extremely stiff full suspension frame.It came with a Fox Float RL which has been great for me. Rather expensive though, especially here in Belgium, Europe. No troubles so far. Normal yearly maintenance of front/rear shock. If you are looking for a strong, light full suspension bike but you don't dare to buy one because you've always ridden a hardtail, then go for the Rocky Instinct!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Marquette
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Your Mom (really a trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | LakeShore Bike | | Strengths: | Awesome bike, will take as much abuse as you can handle to throw at it. I've beat on mine for almost a year now, and not one major breakdown. All things that were my fault, and not Rocky's. | | Weaknesses: | Magura Disk Brakes | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky ETS X-70
Specialized S-works | | Bike Setup: | Switch the brakes to XT hydraulic disks
New F517 mavic rear rim | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I have ever owned. Rocky is one of the best bike manufacturers around. They may be a little on the pricey side, but it is well worth it for quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T Man
a Downhiller
from allover
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | direct | | Strengths: | Fairly light frame, decent standover hight, very versatile. Despite its light weight, the ability to absorb reasonable amounts of punishment is there. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough travel, noticeable flex around the bb when you are really leaning into it. The geometry is a little too aggresive for some. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Karrakoram, | | Bike Setup: | Z1 Bombers, Race Face Bars, Stem, Seatpost & BB. XT parts all around | | Bottom Line: | I've had this bike for close to 2 years now and its been good to me. For a first FS bike it was great and allowed me to take my riding to new levels. In order to keep a movin' on up I need something with more travel that can take more punishment. I still want to keep this ride so I can use it on those nice easy type rides or long distance type stuff. All in all another great product from RM, highly recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alessandro Kohler
a Cross Country Rider
from Zurich, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the swiss alps | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The best quality frame I have ever owned !!! its beautiful, its superlight, with the SID fork I can lock out both front and rear. Eextremely stiff rear end. I have never put my ass on anything smoother coming down the trails.
Rocky Mountain support were very helpful answering my questions before and during setup. | | Weaknesses: | Nope. none. | | Similar Products Used: | previous was a hardtail, Merida Matt Race. Nothing really to be compared with the Rocky. | | Bike Setup: | black instinct frame, XT discs, SRAM x.o, ChrisKing headset, DTSwiss Hügi240 hubs, Mavic317 rims, RockShox SIDsl, RaceFace SignatureXS bb, RaceFace Turbine cranks. | | Bottom Line: | I bought the frame and built the bike with all the components from my wishlist. The result weighs in at 11Kg, which for a fully w/discs I find friggin' amazing, considering its strength. I hardly have to pedal to get up the hills :-)... and it rides down the trail as smooth as silk, I just can't wait to get back on the track! I'm on the lightweight side at 59kg so I was looking for something reeally responsive. The Instinct-SIDsl-FoxFloatRL combination swallows up absolutely everything from dust to roots and any single trail up here in the alps.
It's a XC bike. If that's what you're out for, stop looking around. I personally didn't like the components on the Rocky setup, so I decided to build my dream machine around the frame. It's that frame ... it's soooo awsome. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T Lawson
a Cross Country Rider
from Vail, Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | The Kind Cyclist | | Strengths: | Everything. Light. Great groupo. Takes a beating with a smile. Nothing loose or rattling on the downhills. Rear lockout a bonus on access roads. Brakes are mindblowing. Super plush front end. | | Weaknesses: | ZIPPO! | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin Harris
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Rocky Mountain Cycles (Wales) | | Strengths: | Lightweight, Climbs well, descends awesomely, excellant build quality, comes with the trimmings of a truly custom machine. | | Weaknesses: | Stinkbugs under braking. | | Similar Products Used: | First full susser. | | Bike Setup: | Marathons, Hope minis, all Race Face, Sram ESP, | | Bottom Line: | I finished building the bike yesterday and have only ridden it once but thought I'd give an initial impression. I had never ridden an f/s bike untill this and was a little worried about getting used to it, however I can honestly say that it seems totaly natural. I rode a bigger gear uphill, and downhill it is amazing. I'm off riding now and will post another review in a few months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Munno
a Cross Country Rider
from Telluride, co
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Eider creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Paragon Sports | | Strengths: | A great all around crosscountry bike. Super smooth rear suspention and the Marzoochi Mxr fork is very sweet. good componenty for the price. The frame seems strong enough and has a buitiful paint job. | | Weaknesses: | The shimono deor hydrolic breaks make a horrible noise when they get hot. It would be nice if it had a front shock lockout. | | Similar Products Used: | Sugar 3
| | Bike Setup: | Stock except for time atac pedals and a chris king headset | | Bottom Line: | A great bike. It climbs very well with the shock on or off. Goes downhill like a bat out of hell. Compared to my old sugar 3 the instict beats it in every way. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Clearwater
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | relatively light, stiff rear end - the rear swingarm doesn't move side to side like my old POS sugar. | | Weaknesses: | none that I know of yet | | Similar Products Used: | GF sugar | | Bike Setup: | race face, xtr everything | | Bottom Line: | Excellent so far, I bought the frame then built it up. Handles great and the lockout is nice for fireroads. Much more stable than my old Sugar, (which cracked). I'll post another review in a few months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Doyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicopee Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Link | | Strengths: | Weight (25lbs. as built), climbing, rear lock out, nimble, paint job looks better than in pictures | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Bike Setup: | XT components, v-brakes, Sid XC 80, Bontrager Race front wheel, Mavic 531 old xt 32 hub rear wheel, IRC Mythos XC tires | | Bottom Line: | Great XC bike. I bought the frame and built it up myself. Climbs and handles single track very well. The lock out is helpful on long, fire road climbs and sprints to the finish line. The lock out is worth the extra money and you can adjust the rebound as well. It climbed a little better with a 63 mm travel fork, but I adjusted the fork to 80 mm which smoothed out and balanced the ride a little better - you just have to push your weight forward a little bit more. Disc brakes would probably slow it down more efficiently, but would add weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Horacek
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Overseas | | Strengths: | (An addition to my previous review)
I know everyone says "great off road" but nothing rougher.... well I'm 210lb's and I've jumped stairs on my Instinct so although its a great XC bike its also ok for the odd rough ride | | Weaknesses: | . | | Similar Products Used: | . | | Bike Setup: | . | | Bottom Line: | . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Horacek
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | NY | | Strengths: | Its the only 2002 Instinct in the UK, has a very high quality paint job, rides like a dream and goes through rough terrain like a frickin' bullet! | | Weaknesses: | Its just too darn beautiful | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Vertex, Rocky Mountain RM9, Giant, Scott G-Zero Pro | | Bike Setup: | Raceface, CT2 monkeybars, Psylo Race 2002, Hope Minis, Crossroc/hutchinsons, XTR rear mech etc | | Bottom Line: | Its a totally rigid bike for getting between A-B then turn off the Fox's lockout and off you go at speed! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly Graham
a Racer
from Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Collingwood - 3 stage | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Duke's Cycle Toronto | | Strengths: | Awsome components at a good price. Very light for a cross country racing bike. Suspension is top notch, with very little frame flex at the back end when pumping up hill hard. Rear lock-out on the Fox shock is good for hill climbing. | | Weaknesses: | Have not found anything yet. I think the bushing on the frame, for the rear suspension, may be expensive to change. | | Similar Products Used: | I have alway had a hard-tail. After riding this bike, I would never go back to a hard-tail. | | Bike Setup: | Right now it is the same as when I bought it. I can't think of anything that I would change, yet. | | Bottom Line: | This is the bike to get for the money. It is light and fast. Exactly what I was looking for to race with every couple of weeks. I was very hesitant to get a full suspension, I always had hard-tails, but now I am sold, I would never go back. I am trying to get all my friends to go full suspension now. The hydraulic brakes are awsome as well, I had not used these before and will never go back to V-brakes. I have only had this bike for one month, but I have been on it almost every day. Loving it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Weekend Warrior
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Light, efficient XC bike which is very comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Marathon S 100, Shimano 575 disc wheels, Hope Mini Disc hydraulic brakes, Shimano XT front/rear, Race Face Prodigy cranks, Race Face headset/pen/bar/seatpost, Fox Float RL, SPD 515 pedals, Schwalbe Jimmi Light tires. | | Bottom Line: | This is really a fantastic XC bike. Its ride is very light and efficient. Climbing is so easy. The combination with the Marzocchi Marathon S 100 fork is great although this fork requires some experimentation to get the right air pressure adjustments. The total weight of the bike is only 11.5 kg, not to bad for an XC full suspension.
The Fox Float RL lockout feature is a gadget. If you turn it on, then you suddently get to appreciate the rear shock! I think that I will always leave it on, as I think that pedaling is less efficient when the shock is locked. I am currently putting 170 psi in the rear shock which works great for my weight (85 kg). Successive small bumps are easily absorbed.
The combination with the hydraulic Hope Mini disc brakes works great. These brakes are very light and have excellent well modulated stopping power. Also the CNCed calipers look absolutely marvellous.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Desolation Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Great feel, front/rear suspension integration, composed, confident ride, fab handling; Stick with Marzocchi coil/oil if you want to reap this frame's best virtues. In my opinion the best XC suspension frame out there. | | Weaknesses: | Only if you mistake it for a freeride bike. It's got awesome feel on drops and descents, but don't forget this is an XC bike. | | Similar Products Used: | IMO, the only bikes that I haven't tested that might stand a chance: Ellsworth Truth, Kona, and we'll have to see how the new Maverik design does (I'm skeptical). | | Bike Setup: | 2000 frame (basically identical) with Z-2 Atom-80, King hubs/headset, Precision Billet brakes/derailleurs, RF-NEXT ISIS, Thompson stem/seatpost, XTR shifters/XT cassette, and some other cool stuff. | | Bottom Line: | I wrote a couple overly-enthusiastic reviews when I first bought this. It's kind of funny, but my enthusiasm hasn't really changed much. You'll really appreciate this bike's virtues, especially if you're coming off another full-suspension (and know what good suspension means and how to ride it). It just has fabulous poise and control, particularly in the technical stuff. Sure, you can ride just as fast on any other half-decent FS, but this one feels better doing it.
My setup experience: I weigh 157 and keep my shock pressure at about 170. That setup is a bit firm, but when you're really blazing you'll want it that way to avoid bottoming the suspension. If you're coming off a hardtail a somewhat harder setting may transition you better into the FS world. I'll do 4-footers pretty routinely, but as a rule of thumb I don't exceed that because any more starts to qualify as freeriding. So, I'm saving up for an RM7. In for a penny in for a pound, I guess. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buck Shaw
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Salmon falls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | River Rat Cycles | | Strengths: | Well made and strong frameset, solid componentry, energetic ride, Good all around bike | | Weaknesses: | Not really a weakness, but I am going froma free ride bike to a true CC bike w/ 3.75 inches of travel, it is stiff and rides a little like a hard tail, climbs like a mtn goat though. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Cannondale Jekyl, specialized Enduro, | | Bike Setup: | Changed out seat otherwise its stock | | Bottom Line: | Im 6'4" 240 and pretty hard on my gear, I was riding a free ride bike (Giant AC-1)great bike but a bit heavy as I am really riding single track and local trails. This bike is beefy enough for my size and still is an awesome all around CC bike. It has a very stiff and energetic feel, it climbs like a mtn goat and still feeels very solid on declines. I am really happy with the bike so far as well as the service at River Rat in Sacramento. The stock components seem very solid so far. I think for a guy my size who wants to ride CC but still be agressive this was a great chioce for me. I wouldnt ride it off the roof though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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