Sweet bike! This thing is so smooth- like a magic carpet. I went from a 5" trail bike and think this is just as comfortable. The tiny bump smoothness makes up for the big hits.
Its hard to describe this bike without being cliche'. Its super SMOOTH. I can't say anything else.
The wheels don't feel heavy. After my first ride I found that single track handling is perfect. THis thing hucks too! I can launch this just like my 5" trail bike with out worries.
So far- so good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mefistofeles
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowland Heights, CA. ,USA Date Reviewed: June 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hulda Crook
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
It was a demo
Strengths:
An incredible ability to run over stables.
Remarkable stability in turns.
A very comfortable frame that doesn't jar you when you hit obstacles
Weaknesses:
The BRAKES! The brakes aren't bad per see but simply can't handle the speeds this bike is capable of carrying into the corners.
Similar Products Used:
Giant XTC 2, Giant Trance X 1, Dahon Fuego, Custom Ti hardtail
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Despite its weaknesses this bike is a superb piece of kit. Sometimes an object is more than the sum of its parts and I would have to say that's certainly true in the case of the Rocky Mountain Hammer Geared.
The thing that I like the most about this bike its ability to just run over things without any fanfare. While testing this bike in a parking lot I had a chance to run over some concrete parking stops and it went over without any fanfare. The recoil was pretty minimal and it can go over things that would be jarring on a 26 incher. Not only is the recoil controllable but there is less drama with riding over concrete parking lot stops than would be associated with a 26 inch bike,I think this would probably be true with other obstacles as well. Although I haven't done extensive road or trail riding with this bike I suspect its frame would be quite comfortable on a long excursion.
Of course high speed stabiliy on this thing bike is incredible. Even at low speeds the bike is so stable during turn and simply begs to pushed harder. Its hard to imagine a 26 inch bike being so stable during turn in.
Like all things this bike is not without its deficienies, compared to other hardtails I've ridden I feel the brakes aren't as good. I had a chance to ride this bike down a hill in a parking lot that I tested a Giant XTC 2 on and a custom Ti frame hardtail on and I felt that's brakes simply weren't as good at stopping the bike. That's not to say the stopping capability was bad the brakes simply didn't stop the bike as abruptly or quickly as they would on an XTC 2. This could be an issue because this bike is very stable during turn in and wouldn't be slowed by obstalces as much as 26 inch bike would.
Despite the braking deficiency I feel that this is a very nice bike. Its comfortable and it can bypass obstacles with a minimum of fuss and effort. If I hadn't gotten a great deal on an XTC Advanced I probably would have bought this bike. The Rocky Mountain Geared is a bike with alot of soul its hard to go wrong with a machine like this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
turtlepaul
a Weekend Warrior
from Aaheim, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
USA
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
29er!
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Evolve, Gary Fisher HiFi
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
I wasn't sure whether to get hardtail or full suspension 29er. But since I have 26er with 6" suspension, I decided to get hardtail 29er to mix things up.
This is a nice bike. I like the balanced geometry. It rails corners, and added traction is fantastic. You can easily lift front end.
I am a pretty much full suspension guy, but the steel frame has nice feel to it, and I am really enjoying renewed hardtail experience - something that I would not have tried with 26er. To top it off, I think the bike just looks beautiful!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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