Submitted by
forest
a Cross Country Rider
from heath, TX USA Date Reviewed: November 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ruston
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2400.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
This bike is just awesome. Handles great and very comfortable to ride. I am in Texas and bought this bike because I am in between Specialized Med and Large. I had an 07 Stumpy FSR Expert and this bike is more comfortable and can handle it all. I also like the upright position because of comfort and handles better in the air. Very Satisfied!
Weaknesses:
A little heavy for trails in Texas but you do not notice when you are riding.
Similar Products Used:
Stumpy FSR, Fisher Rig 29er and FSR XC
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Great Bike!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rsandell
a Cross Country Rider
from Oviedo, FL, USA Date Reviewed: November 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Alafia/Boyette
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Huck and Roll
Strengths:
Amazing suspension design...this bike handles anything. I currently own a Specialized Stumpy and another FS bike... non compare. This bikes takes it all and likes to be thrown around in the air.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, KHS AM1000
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Amazing design for those looking for a true all mountain bike. The suspension rocks and can be super plush or rock solid depending on your preference. Climbs like a billy goat on steriods and flys downhill... the faster the better. I can't say enough about this bike. After 16 years of riding I didn't believe a bike could improve my riding skills...wrong. The confidence you gain will push you to excel to limits you didn't know you had...buy it and enjoy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
peispud
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: July 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mount 7
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop
Strengths:
Solid frame with nice geometry, great fork and shock, pretty good wheels...actually all around nice build for the price with all the raceface goodies and fox suspension...and of course, the cool Canadian paintjob
Weaknesses:
Bit heavy and don't like the seat (I'm used to all the specialized bg stuff)
Similar Products Used:
06 Specialized Enduro, 03 Santa Cruz Heckler, 07 Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Stock cept for the pedals and traded the big ring for a bashie
Bottom Line:
Had a 07 Stumpjumper with 5" all around but wanted something with a little more downhill ability...found the exact fit with the 08 Slayer 50. The bike is not light but at 31 ish pounds it's not a real pig either and actually climbs amazing...stay seated and keep cranking, this thing just climbs! Downhills feel awesome...totally controlled and the Fox 36 up front lets you get away with alot.
Keep in mind this is not a downhill/freeride bike, but is not out of place on the ski park...just remember what this bike is built for (not huckin 15 footers).
All round great bike for a rider who doesn't mind sweatin a little more on the way up to have more fun going down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
digitalman9
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore, MD, USA Date Reviewed: June 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Loch Raven Seminary
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Hudson Trail
Strengths:
The rear end is superb.
Weaknesses:
Stock fork, stock tires, a little heavy overall.
Similar Products Used:
Just lots of test rides of competing products.
Bike Setup:
2007 model. Replaced the stock Marzocchi AM1 fork with a Fox 32 Talas.
Bottom Line:
The rear suspension is very good. Bottomless and smooth. The only bob I've noticed is when shuttling to the trail on pavement, and even that is minimal. Once on the trail, even in climbs, I don't feel any bounce unless I really stand up and hammer. The only beef about the rear is that when you reach near full compression the tire rubs the wishbone where the seatstays come together. Not too bad a problem.
The component spec is mostly decent for this level. Mavic Crossride wheels are great, SRAM stuff has been reliable. The stock IRC Mibro tires are the pits. Replaced them with Nevegals.
The Marzocchi fork that was stock in '07 ruins this bike. Flexy like a noodle, and so much travel that combined with the slack head angle it is like riding a chopper. If you switch to the 130mm travel option, you end up with only 30mm of actual travel. Replaced this with a Fox Talas 32, and the bike just changed completely. I ride mostly in the 120mm setting, and the bike is very nimble and plush that way. I can switch to 140mm for descents, and have the 100mm option for climbs, but find it not worth the hassle of switching most of the time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
haavafje
a Weekend Warrior
from Asker, Akershus, Oslo Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Secret
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5573.00
Purchased At:
Raske Sykler, bought
Strengths:
The best about this bike is the way the LC2R supencion works, zero pedal bob, and i have yet to experiense brake jack. the RP23 shox is excellent. I can throw anything at it and it just resonds with bombing the downhills and the technical climbs.
Weaknesses:
The links is not as solid as i had hoped for. I have to change the bushings on the shock. but this is something you have to do on every full suss. The fork would have been better if it had high and low speed compression.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp, Trek 7000, and i have tried the Santa Cruz Nomad 08.
Bike Setup:
Original, except from th brakes, headset and the wheels.
I have now specked it with Juicy seven, Hadley Hubs (Bolt through in the back and 20mm in thefront) with DT supercomp spokes and Mavic 719 rims, and of course chris king headset.
Bottom Line:
The bottomline is that this bike kicks ass. It rides better than the Nomad and the stumjumper, and it handles anything you put your wheels on. this is probebly the best all mountain bike you can buy. I am stoked on every ride I have. And it loves technival trails. I Love my Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC 50. So if you are after a technical bike to hammer and bomb the local trails with, this is the one. Super speck.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
berko
a Weekend Warrior
from Roxborough, CO Date Reviewed: July 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Front Range, CO and Vail area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Singletrack Factory
Strengths:
Graduating to a 6" all around is amazing, with little impact to climbing. ProPedal on the RP23 when set right worked wonders on some tiring Front Range climbs.
Weaknesses:
tad heavy (32 lbs) but look to lighten it up (or stop drinking beer...nah, who am I kidding) in near future. Still a fan of Shimano over SRAM.
Similar Products Used:
(tested only) Yeti 575, RM ETSX, Ellsworth Truth,
Bike Setup:
swapped out for Smarty Pedals
Bottom Line:
If you are a strong XC rider who also likes to do some nice technical downhills (no freeriding here) this is THE bike. The travel will change the way you ride- and make you better. It handles the steeps and climbs with ease.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james
a Downhiller
from hull Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
dalby black or kona darkside in mabie
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
amazing downhill and climbs like a babe great sus flys on little drops and small tabletops
Weaknesses:
cnt handle big drops i twisted the rear wheel
Similar Products Used:
orange 5,scott g-zero
Bottom Line:
nice bike but not really that good for freeride
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Daugherty
a Downhiller
from Midway UT Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
tons!
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
suspension design is solid, for a 6+" bike it climbs very well, nice slacked feel for descending but w/ adjustable fork you can set HT angle for well for climbing.
Weaknesses:
component set, FORK!!!!! <- marzo am feels awful on this bike. I'm not a SRAM X.7/9/0 fan so i didn't like the drivetrain or shifters. I wasn't a big fan of the Juicy 5's either.
Bike Setup:
stoke
Bottom Line:
My favorite thing to do on a bike is descend, this bike felt real nice going down .. a couple changes would be a 2.5, chain guide, saint drivetrain + brakes and a 36 or lyrik and this bike would smoke going down. To get to the down I had to climb this bike... I was able to climb hills that i usually walk up (do to exhaustion.) in the hands of a seasoned climber this bike will fly up the hill.. I mostly had it on the middle ring an occasionally on the granny... it felt great .. i actually had fun riding up .. so i could go down.
If you are planning on getting a slayer SXC, do yourself a favor and opt for the 70 or 90 and then make a few custom changes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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