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Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from BFE IL
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | whichever i'm on at the moment | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$335.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | frame, shifters, overall balance, light weight, quick single-track rig | | Weaknesses: | pedals, Jett shock, middle chainring bends too easy | | Similar Products Used: | way too many over the years to even recall | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock, changed the plastic pedals, and that's about it. | | Bottom Line: | This bike performs ALOT better than the spec sheet would lead you to believe. The components are mid-line, but with proper adjustment and maintenance, have lasted me several thousand miles. I've had a dozen or so bikes over the years (including custom builds) and overall, this is the best performing rig I've ever owned. And yes, I actually ride the thing on dirt.
Bang for the Buck? Heck, the 7005 frame was worth the $335 I paid for the complete bike. The only nitpicks I have are the too-soft shock, cheap pedals (everybody upgrades anyway), and a soft middle ring. One of these days I may upgrade to an ISIS bb, but I'm a clyde. Anyway, Bottom line is, I work in the bike industry and have owned some more "glamorous" rigs that spent more time on the stand than on the trail. This one is a keeper though. The only mechanicals I've suffered have been due to errors on my part. 5 stars for value, 4 for performance (deduct for shock and mid-ring). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin B
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento CA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Sweet Water(salmon falls) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$385.00 | | Purchased At: | Bob's Cycles | | Strengths: | Outstanding frame,strong and more importantly light | | Weaknesses: | cranks, and seat | | Similar Products Used: | trek | | Bike Setup: | stocked w\tru vativ 5d cranks,irc mythos xc, rock shocks jett, shimano acera components | | Bottom Line: | swap out seat,cranks(which went out first week),pedals and or shocks and look out!Basically your monies worth is in the frame and well spent at that.Put your favorite components on and you have a top of the line hardtail! Unbeatable value butif you ride hard 3 chilies for the almost necesary upgrades | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck
a Downhiller
from Chcago, Illinois
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Kozy's Cycle Center | | Strengths: | Light Frame, good respone and handling, durable stock products (e.g. bottom bracket, crank arms, sealed bearings and derailleurs). | | Weaknesses: | RST front fork not made for more aggresive off-road cycling, original rear wheel went out of true often. Brake arms were very weak and hard to replace. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Voodoo, Trek 700 | | Bike Setup: | After two years, replaced cables, housings, brake arms and pads, wheels, tires, upgraded to SPD clips, still looking for an decent priced refurbshed Manitou fork and wll also upgrade to 9-speed cassette this winter. | | Bottom Line: | This bicycle has been one of the best buys I've ever made. needed somethng cheap to futz around Kettle Moraine in Wsconsin as well as handle cross country rides like the AIDS RIDE and touring races. The frame and components are durable enough for that type of flexiblity. Bike has excellent pick-up for a mountain bike and light enough that I can bomb up a hill and not kill myself. After putting about 6,000 miles on the stock components in the first two years I owned the bike I've started to upgrade the components and have taken about two pounds off the bike weight. The frame is the selling point for this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Gov Dick | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Martin's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | lightweight frame, shimano alivio gears, sexy paint job | | Weaknesses: | altus front derailleur, single walled rims, rst 281R fork, crapy plastic pedals, seat is painfull and was not made for humans | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4500 | | Bike Setup: | stock, except manitou sx fork, upgraded clip pedals, and bar ends | | Bottom Line: | it's a great lightweight bike for the money. just have to upgrade a few things if your a serious rider, like the fork, pedals, and I still plan on geting a new seat and double walled rims. maybe even new tires since mine are two years old and alot of the tread is gone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lydia
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | It's all good. ;o) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | Good, strong, light frame. Great shifters. | | Weaknesses: | Shocks = so/so | | Bottom Line: | Easy to carry around and bushwack if needed. Pretty good for cross country. All-around great bike! Great for beginners - interm. - experts
Gathering up money for a nice Bomber to toss on it and add some lighter components. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Project Mayhem | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Wheels, shocks (SL's), stupid front derailler mounting(off b.b) | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Sun ryhno lite rims, with deore hubs, xt front derailler, manitou pro answer shocks, xt combo shift/brake levers, race face prodigy crank | | Bottom Line: | This bike has lasted through some pretty big drops for a basic xc hardtail, 5ft onto flat concrete hurt me more than the bike. Have to change front derailler if you decide to up grade to 44t chainring. Rims were crap, busted them pretty darn quick. One piece crank and chainring made from industrial grade steel was a little heavy. Have no problam keeping up with the rest of the group on the trials | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Janie K
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | frame, shimano components, good value | | Weaknesses: | weight of components, pedals, front der., shock | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Rockhopper, Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | Great for on-road, light off road riding without many upgrades. The weaknesses start showing up when you take this bike on more agressive trails. The shock was the first to go. Pedals were next when I bent one hitting a rock. Front derauiller is constantly "off" middle cog. Thinking of upgrading to a 9 speed with under the bar shifters. When I started messing around with components, I realized how heavy the stem and other things were. By replacing these with spare parts laying around the garage, I ended up pulling about 1 pound off the bike. Even with all the upgrades, I now have a bike I really like for a lot less than similar bikes on the market AND it rides well on my favorite stretch of singletrack. For overall rating, I am only giving 3 chilis because this is one bike you've got to be willing to wrench on to make it mountain ready. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
don h.
a Weekend Warrior
from beavercreek, ohio
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | lake hope | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$289.00 | | Purchased At: | Dick's Sporting Goods | | Strengths: | relatively light frame, comfortable fit, looks good. price was great for what you get. | | Weaknesses: | little to damn near no grease in my hubs at purchase. | | Similar Products Used: | older gt aggressor | | Bike Setup: | stock, except for a 2001 judy xc, and a p.o.s. transx seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | i was looking for a nice starter bike for my wife, and after some research on available models in my area, this was by far the best value. i rode it some when my wife wasn't with me, and have since kindof took it over. it seems to handle pretty well through twisty stuff, and like people have said before, i plan on keeping it a while, and upgrading components as i break them.
the rear wheel doesn't stay true, but it doesn't get that whacked out, either. the seat seems alright, and i might go to a straight bar instead of the riser bar soon. everything else, i'm leaving as is until it breaks. so far nothing has yet. i'm going to see what i can break at snowshoe this year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
george henley
a Weekend Warrior
from halifax,NS Canada
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The ravine | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle plus | | Strengths: | Nice looks,excellent frame,tires and overall ride. | | Weaknesses: | Seat,RST261 fork entry level - ok for light to moderate trails.Rear rim always out of true.Not a fan of the riser bar. | | Similar Products Used: | Velosport Vulcano | | Bike Setup: | Swapped out seat,replaced riser bar with Bontrager race ready 620 bar,replaced stock stem and seatpost with Bontrager product as well. Added Ritchie pedals.Profile bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | Got the bike on sale.Price was right.Good value.I found the riser bar and stock stem made climbing difficult - front tire kept lifting - swapped them out.Probably the rider more so than the bike. Never had a big problem with the RST shock although I never pushed it to hard.I knew it`s limits.Rear rim always out of true.Put semi slicks on her and used it for city commuting.Took the potholes and divits without a problem.Overall it`s a good reliable bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Excellent shifters, light and strong frame. | | Weaknesses: | Saddle sucks, my rims have already bent from easy to moderate trail riding. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded the seat, added a computer, and I'm gunna replace the rims tomorrow. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike, and you can get 'em cheap since it's an older model. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Griffith
a Downhiller
from chestnut ridge, NY
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pick my ass | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Pearl River Shop | | Strengths: | everything except the shocks | | Weaknesses: | shocks | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | upgraded shocks to Judy SL | | Bottom Line: | get this bike if you want a storng frame but sucky shocks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Griffith
a Downhiller
from ny
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | none mount snow | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | frame,tire arent bad and evey thing esle i for got | | Weaknesses: | seat,rst shocks. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | I upgraded the seat and the rst shocks. I put on rockshox judy sl 01 and they are the best. | | Bottom Line: | good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew Miller
a Weekend Warrior
from sandy ut
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$470.00 | | Purchased At: | alta schwinn cyclery | | Strengths: | It's a dead Sexy bike | | Weaknesses: | the back wheel Withing a month a had bent the back tire a bit. | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn disc, specilized | | Bike Setup: | shimano | | Bottom Line: | This is one dead sexy bike. It is 10x better than my old bike. It kicks a$$. I love it. I've chipped the paint a bit and a few other scratches. I've also broke off the crank, broke off the deraulier guard. I took it up to the bike shope and they fixed those within five miniutes. I was talking to somebody who makes custom bikes. He works with parts from all the brands. He said the same bike just in the specilized brand name would cost 900 to 1000$. Reasonable price. Great bike for the beginner-moderate. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Racer
from Denver, Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Doesn't matter, the Mesa can't handle it | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Color isn't bad and the tires are quality | | Weaknesses: | Everything but the color and tires. The wheels are horrible, the go untrue just riding in down the street, the left crank arm bent after the fist 30 miles, the shock (ROCK SHOX Jett) is heavy, clumsy and close to worthless. It's heavy and the gearing isn't good for climbing | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6700, Fuel 80 | | Bike Setup: | Koobi saddle, speedplay frog pedals, Mesa GS | | Bottom Line: | If you every plan on actualy riding a trail, don't buy the Mesa. It wouldn't be bad for riding in the city, but it just doesn't perform on the trail. And don't ever try to race it, it's too heavy, the gearing is designed for city paths, and the suspension can't handle hits at high speeds. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester Hills, Michigan
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Orion | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Jerry's Schwinn | | Strengths: | Cheap,Best bang for your buck bike out there. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting can be slow some times | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche | | Bike Setup: | stock, just added a cage, saddle bag, and computer | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for moderate trails, campus riding, and commuting.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marcus
a Weekend Warrior
from gbg, sweden
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | snygg och välgjord ram. | | Weaknesses: | billiga trampor i plast!, | | Bike Setup: | original | | Bottom Line: | bra pris! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Racer
from Cumberland,MD,United States
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Great feel, light and strong, this bike wont let you down. | | Weaknesses: | Bad seat, could have better components | | Bike Setup: | Switch the seat to selle san marco | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great for the weekend warrior or an entry level racer, with minor adjustments its ready to really hit the trails. The bike is light and stong and keeps its composure during the rough terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff katz
a Weekend Warrior
from olympia wa
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | trail #20 @ capitol stste forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | rei | | Strengths: | The price freakin' rocks! You can ride it without thinking at any moment something is goona' break! | | Weaknesses: | I hate the seat.... | | Similar Products Used: | Novara Aspen AL.... Yuck! | | Bike Setup: | All stock.... | | Bottom Line: | You WONT beat the price unless you steal somebody's bike! I'll upgrade the seat when I can afford it. Great entry level bike that feels solid , even under my enormous arse! People with more disposable income will poo-poo the bike in favor of thier $1500 bicycle, but you will still be able to afford to buy beers at the end of the ride! So it's a winner in my book! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joshua powell
a
from fayetteville
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | devils den | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | fayetteville bicycle co. | | Strengths: | awesome frame very light. just as good as moab, great value | | Weaknesses: | rst shock , bad seat, could use better rims, and componets | | Similar Products Used: | i own a trek zx 7000 & tried a specialized rockhopper comp | | Bike Setup: | matrix guru rims, rock shox judy used stx rc front and back
specialized body geometry seat | | Bottom Line: | i spent 350 one the bike 200 on parts and have a bike that is just as good as my 850 dollar trek awesome frame with asome good components makes a rad bike thats easy on the wallet if you have decent components buy it and swap em | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck
a Downhiller
from Chicago, Illinois, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lutsen Mountain, Minnesota | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Kozy's Cycle Center | | Strengths: | The frame, for starters. It's one of the lightest aluminum frames I've ever ridden on and comparable to some titanium frames (serious). The Mythos-X IRC tires are stock, but very sturdy. I've yet to have a flat on these tires, and I've done both serious mountain biking and the AIDS RIDE on these tires. Rapid fire shifters are always a plus. When properly adjusted, they shift on a dime. Brake action is excellent and gear ratio is good for the price I paid for the bike. Wheels are stock, but have very good spin. | | Weaknesses: | Front fork is a stock RST 221 fork, but hasn't bottomed out yet. I will put a Manitou XC on this bike over the summer. Pedals are very cheap, so I switched to SPD clipless. The rims go out of true very easily, so upgrade them if you're looking to do some serious trail riding. The seat takes awhile to break in. Either replace it with a gel seat or stock up on butt butter and padded pants. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000, Kona, Fisher, Specialized, Cannondale, Raleigh | | Bike Setup: | stock except for Shimano SPD clipless pedals, Avocet flight computer, Scwhinn bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is so underpriced that it isn't funny. The frame is the same as the MOAB but without the better components as the MOAB. Everything is easily upgradeable. I've put almost three thousand miles on my bike in the year that I've owned it and it still asks for more. One of the best investments I've ever done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ROBERT
a Weekend Warrior
from CHULA VISTA CA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | CUYAMACA MTS | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes USA | | Strengths: | This bike has a great frame, well structured, light and strong. It'll take whatever you can dish out with no problems. Usually bikes with a frame this good cost a lot more, so that makes the Mesa a bargain. | | Weaknesses: | Fork is the most obvious. The RST, though not a bad performer, doesn't do this bike justice. I put a Manitou XC on mine, which is about right. The cranks,stem, wheels and pedals arn't anything to scream about, but they are easily upgraded. Shifters and brakes are adequate. | | Similar Products Used: | Feels like a Moab. | | Bike Setup: | 20" Yellow, all factory stock. | | Bottom Line: | No way to go wrong here. For the money, it's a great bike. With a few upgrades, it's an awsome bike. Glad I have one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Culpeper,VA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hollywood Farm | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Works | | Strengths: | Awsome bike!Rad seat!Nice deralliers,gears shift smoothly.Just an all around good begginner racer.Yellow is rad.Nice handlebars,awsome brakes.Wish I could say more. | | Weaknesses: | No comments. | | Similar Products Used: | None
| | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Mesa Gs | | Bottom Line: | RAD!!!!Get it.Great bike,excellent price.Rad paint jobs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan "MTB KING" Dow
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Snow Mt. Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$429.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Excellent frame for a bike under $500, the whole reason I bought it. | | Weaknesses: | Crap components and shock. A little better than a Huffy, but barely. | | Similar Products Used: | Pacific | | Bike Setup: | I took all the parts off and swapped from my other bike.....
DEORE crank, Lx/Xt components, Bontrager wheelset, clipless pedals, and Manitou SX-R shock. | | Bottom Line: | This makes a great first bike, but don't expect the components to last long and if you weigh 225# like me, the shock must go!!!
The frame is nice enough to just buy the bike instead of buying an expensive frame only.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Leavitt
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | old spanish trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | Copeland's | | Strengths: | Great bike at a great price. Tested more expensive bikes and liked this one just as much. perfect bike for weekend warriors who don't want to put a big hurt in their wallet. Sturdy frame, that is great for climbing. Shifts smoothly | | Weaknesses: | could upgrade the fork, but i think it's just fine | | Similar Products Used: | trek 7000, diamondback, cannondale | | Bike Setup: | all stock, but will upgrade saddle first | | Bottom Line: | I say go for it. Perfect bike for the budget minded rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Jarvis
a
from Lake Forest, CA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pick one in SoCal | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$425.00 | | Strengths: | Frame is a solid performer similar to the more expensive Moab frame- great value- great climbing bike. I clear mountains on this thing that other more accomplished riders can't. The Mesa GS is a workhorse for the weekend rider or someone like me who enjoys going up even more than riding down (OK, maybe not more, but close.) | | Weaknesses: | Crank is kind of cheap and the seat is a pain in the ass literally- gel pants a must! It could use an upgrade on the front fork, but until I wear it out I'll keep it. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Agressor, Schwinn Moab | | Bike Setup: | Except for the SPD pedals and IRC Mythos XC tires I added aftermarket, the whole thing is stock - Rapidfire shifters, Altus front derailer and crank, Acera rear derailer, RST front fork. | | Bottom Line: | I haven't found a bike that gives so much for the money. As I "upgrade" to a full suspension, I'll still keep this as my primary hardtail simply because it is so reliable and rideable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Moore
a Cross Country Rider
from Truro,nova scotia, canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | VIBERT TRAIL | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | BICYCLES PLUS | | Strengths: | THIS BIKE IS AWSOME. ITS GOT A REALLY GOOD FRAME AWSOME PAINT JOB GOOD TIRES GOOD DERAILUR AND BASICALY EVERY THING.............IT IS A REALLY GOOD BIKE THATS THAT | | Weaknesses: | WHEELS ARE KINDA WEAK AND THE RST'S ARENT GREAT BUT THERE OKAY | | Similar Products Used: | VELO SPORT, | | Bike Setup: | SCHWINN MESA GS RST 281 R, ORANGE 24 SPEED RAPID FIRE SHIFTERS | | Bottom Line: | tHIS BIKE IS REALLY AWSOME IT IS WORTH BUYING. I WOULD SAY IF YA PUT A NEW FORK{ITS NOT TO BAD ANY WAYS BUT IT COULD BE BETTER} IT WOULD AWSOME. AND THE WHEELS COULD BE A LITTLE BETTER BUT IF YOUR NOT TO HARD ON EM THERE FINE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Moore
a Weekend Warrior
from Truro,nova scotia, canada
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycles plus | | Strengths: | Awsome bike....paint job rules...every thing is awsome on it cept the stuff below.. | | Weaknesses: | wheels are kinda crapy.. thats all.... | | Similar Products Used: | velo access | | Bike Setup: | shimano everything......rst 281r's orange.24 speed rapidfire shifters | | Bottom Line: | THis bike rules....very tuff bike.....can take alot cept for the wheels....shocks are okay.....can live with them anyways......replace wheels and this bike is the bomb | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Nashville, TN
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sewanee Mont Eagle | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$269.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Price couldn't be beaten, nice tires and RST front Suspension hasn't bottomed out yet. I like the rapid fires and brake setup. Seems to have pretty good components throughout, but pedals suck. (wife says they don't suck.) | | Weaknesses: | Haven't had any bad experiences yet. Saddle, pedals will be first upgrades, along with Cateye, so wife can monitor her progress. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Hawk Hill, Kona Hahana, Gary Fisher Tassajara, GT aggresor, Giant Rincon | | Bike Setup: | RST front suspension, alivo rapid fires, v brakes, mythos sc 2.1 tires with alex 606 rims. | | Bottom Line: | Bought this bike for the wife, to introduce her to mtnbiking. Cannot beat the sale price I paid at REI. Nice color scheme, light aluminum bike with more than adequate suspension. All around a great bike, even without the great price. She has been riding a chromoly Giant Rincon, and notices a world of difference. Great bike, buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Thoennes
a Weekend Warrior
from Tualatin, Oregon, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mrazek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Randall's Family Bike Shop | | Strengths: | This bike is great for the $$. Very strong frame and nice tires. This is my first mountain bike and so far its held up great.It can take alot and keep going. This is a great beginner bike and nice paint job too! | | Weaknesses: | Weak rims and hard saddle, but thats about it. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Trek, GT. | | Bike Setup: | Everything Shimano. Rock Shox Jett XC fork | | Bottom Line: | This is one of the nicest 1,000$ n' under hardtails I've seen. Jumps great and the fork never bottoms(but it sounds like it usually comes with RST's). I'll probably put an Koobi saddle on it later but besides that I like it just the way it is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Durkin
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen Park
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | City | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Schwinn | | Strengths: | It is quite light and very inexpensive. The shifters a lovely and the colors are Great! | | Weaknesses: | The crank creaks after a lot of hard riding. Comes with a cheap seat and a weak crank and lame pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | All Schimano stuff. | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike because it has a great price and performs very nicely, It has great durability and its weight is spectacular. The crank bothers me though, and the suspension is a little stiff for my weight. This bike is Great. It really performs well on jumps though cause it got harder front suspension. Just dont land funny or you'll be sorry! If your light, and not too aggressive, this is the bike for you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ty Fidler
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Girardeau, MO; U.S.
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Exceptional price, it has a great appearance, the rapid fire shifters are the best that I have ever used, all around great beginner bike that handles just about everything. | | Weaknesses: | I wish Schwinn would have put a better fork on the bike. | | Bike Setup: | RST 281 fork, rapid fire shifters, 19 inch frame, | | Bottom Line: | This is a fantastic bike for the price. I looked at several different bikes, and the Mesa GS is definitely my favorite. Granted, some of the more expensive bikes are probably a bit better, but for the price the Mesa GS is the best way to go. I would recommend to find a Mesa GS that is a closeout and upgrade it with a little better fork with the money you save. I think that with a good fork, the Mesa GS would be just as good if not better than some of the bikes that sell for around $800. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric cook
a Downhiller
from sacromento,california,united states
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | sly park chimney trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | the shifters are sweet for the price, the forks never bottom out. the frame is light and sturdy. | | Weaknesses: | the main weakness is the seat it sux. the rails bend easy at 135 lbs.the pedals are weak,the back rim bent easily. | | Similar Products Used: | trek | | Bike Setup: | new 5 inch travel forks, new pedals,new stem,and double wall back rim. | | Bottom Line: | this bike is good for its price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Zyskowski
a Weekend Warrior
from Vestal, N.Y., U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The old Innsbruck Ski Slopes | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | For the price everything is fine. Shifters are tight and accurate. At 250 lbs. the shocks never bottomed. | | Weaknesses: | The seat was the first to go as I opted for a gel. The pedals went next and were replaced with some old but good Campys. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized | | Bike Setup: | All stock, 24 speeds, nothing extra except the change in seat, pedals and a saddlebag. | | Bottom Line: | After looking at the local Dicks Sporting Goods and not having any luck with the snotty clerk, I went down the road to BC-Bicycles and got all the help I needed. I reviewed prices on a few simliar makes and models and settled on the GS. The shop tweaked everything to perfection and was evident on the ride home. On a few local jaunts into the woods the heavily root laden trail was smoothed out with no bottoming. The frame seems rock solid and I believe it to be one of the best rides for the money. For someone just getting into Mtn Bikes or if you need a low geared climber for the weekends you can't beat this value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny Malavenda Malavenda
a Cross Country Rider
from Flowery Branch, Ga USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Gainsville College trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Value!!! Nice paint job(especially orange) Good components for price. Very tough. Fork does good job for being low end. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap crank and plastic peddles.Low end fork might need replacement in 1-2 years. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Iguana, Trek 830, Mesa Gsx | | Bike Setup: | Orange.Everything stock except Shimano LX upraded onto rear and front deraileur,freehub,levers,shifters,chain,and cassette. AVID 20 brakes, Green Michellin Wildgrippers,SPD 515 pedals, and CODA barends. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome, especially for the price. My friend rides a $1100 Gary Fisher Paragon, and he loves my bike. The only reason I upgraded some of the components, was because I got a really good deal! This bike is a must have for some one who needs a kick ass bike and doesn't want to spend too much cash. Might not be suitable for someone that doesn't appreciate good value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Meg
a Weekend Warrior
from Canton, MI
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Poto, Pinkney | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Great suspension. Smooth ride. Bike is light and trigger shifts make riding it easy. | | Weaknesses: | Seat. | | Bottom Line: | The Schwinn is a step down from my cannondale that was stolen. Didn't think it would fare as well. I actually like it better because it isn't as high maintenence.
Excellent beginner bike. Great price for what you get, worth every penny. I got an upgrade on the seat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
C Walker
a Weekend Warrior
from Humid - I mean Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the path of wisdom | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Price - got mine for $379, shifters, fork better than I expected,
mmm light....paint job better than my car's | | Weaknesses: | quality of the shifters surpasses quality or the derailleurs, couldn't Schwinn ship this thing with front and rear reflectors?
| | Similar Products Used: | roadmaster accelerate from a pawn shop | | Bike Setup: | RST 281 R, Altus front/ Alivio rear...you know, stock
Continental Country Tires, Avenir suspension saddle (until I
get a shocked seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | Wow, now I know why the world worships AL. This bike is hella light compared to the bike I had before. Love the feel of the Alivio Rapid Fires, don't know if it's the shifters or the altus front der, but I have to finesse the chain onto the second ring just right or I'm freewheeling it. I'm starting to like the alivio out back more now that it's breaking in (& I'm not riding like I'm 300 pounds - part of why I need the post).
If you just want a bike that looks great and has fork on it, this would do - though you'd be wasting a really strong frame. The paint is absolutley lustrous. I refuse to ever upgrade the front fork unless I can find one that matches the blue of the frame the way the RST does. Bottom line - get it and either have a bike that fills the needs of the occasional trailrider or of the budget buyer that can't break 500 bones on a bicycle but sees the value of a good frame that worthy later on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hooper road trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Every thing. PRICE. | | Weaknesses: | If anything the tektro levers have about 1/2 inch of up and down play. plenty strong though. | | Similar Products Used: | gt aggressor | | Bike Setup: | XT front and rear deraillieurs. otherwise stock. Has 24 speed rapid fires. rst 281 fork. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a big guy (250 plus pounds). This $379 bike took everything I could dish out and kept going. Srong frame, manuverable. Climbs as well as any bike with 250+ on it can be expected to. Soaks up bumps, yet has no sag on fork. I don't know what all the stink about rst forks are, mine work just fine. Only complaint after a full day of trail-riding is the saddle. and that's probably my fault with my weight. If you're a beginer, or a large fellow on a budget, give this bike a shot. you wont be dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Mainville
a Weekend Warrior
from Timmins,ON,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hersey Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light Frame, Good Value for $$, Decent Suspension Fork, good warranty. | | Weaknesses: | Crank, Shifters, Front Derailleur | | Similar Products Used: | GT Karakoram | | Bike Setup: | 21 Spd, Shimano MTN. Mix, RST 261 Susp. Fork, Alum. Frame | | Bottom Line: | Nice Ride, some upgrades needed. I purchased a RaceFace Crank right from the get go. Good Bike for weekend warriors, and sport class racers.
Thumbs up to Schwinn, on the improvements made on their 2000Mesa GS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu, HI
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Aiea Loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very good bike overall for the price | | Weaknesses: | May be a little heavy compared other bikes it's size, but not by much | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh, Specialized | | Bottom Line: | Well, this is the first mountain bike i've owned in about 7 years, and I have to say that I'm very impressed so far. I took it out on a pretty rough trail in the mountains of Hawaii this weekend, and it performed very well. The trail was covered with roots and rocks, and I don't think the RST suspension ever bottomed out, and I always felt in control. I didn't get it much below the MSRP, that's probably a disadvantage of living in Hawaii (nothing is ever cheap!), but i still think it was well worth it. If you have the money I would probably suggest going up to the GSX model with ROX SHOCKS. I can't imagine there is a better bike out there for under $400 though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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