Submitted by
Lazar Bocvarov
a Weekend Warrior
from Macedonia Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
City streets, dirt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Vuchko bikes
Strengths:
Very low cost paid considering the high-end parts on this bike. High quality, smooth riding, precise shifting gears, great rims, dual disc(!!!) though mechanical. And it is aestetically appealing.
Weaknesses:
The discs can break good but they can easily be screwed up, if you do some jumps. They then squeak and make anoying noise but that can be settled if you go to your serviser.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing similar. I used to drive a very weak bike, with low-end parts.
Bike Setup:
Aluminium frame, dual disc brakes(Hayes MX2), SRAM x-7 gears and shifters, Manitou Six shocks, Truvativ pedals, Velociraptor tires, great rims etc.
Bottom Line:
Strong durable bike for very low price. I don`t regret buying it because for a short period of time i have driven it on many types of trails, and it provides smooth ride. This bike is most suitable for agressive, street riders and NOT for downhillers hence it has no 2 shocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dusty Rhodes
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Anything dry and fast
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
UK Bike Shop
Strengths:
Fantastic frame, solid and excellent geometry. You can throw this around and always know where you are. Well-balanced and easy to control. Great brakes and general 'confident' feeling ride.
Weaknesses:
I've read a lot of bad reviews about the Manitou Six supplied with this bike, but so far it's been great. Do we get a different spec in the UK I wonder? Frame a bit heavier than expected for its size.
Similar Products Used:
Mesa range.
Bike Setup:
As it came - see Schwinn website.
Bottom Line:
I can't fault this bike for the cost, and most importantly it's already got most of the stuff you need to spec it up (if that's what you want to do). I can whack a 'better-reviewed' fork on it for not too much if I ever find a real problem with the Six, but I have a bike with a top-grade frame, solid brakes and frankly what more do you need!? The components are already decent and won't cost much to replace even when they do wear out (in many years from now). I don't profess to be a downhill merchant, or a competition rider in any way, but I know how to have fun and I've thrown this around quite a bit on streets and trails and even found myself tearing down some steep agricultural slopes with no worries at all. Can't go wrong with this bike, honestly. If you have an uncontrollable urge to spend loads of cash then spend it on going to the gym to improve your strength and balance, coz a bike won't ever do that for you no matter how much it costs. They say a bad workman blames his tools.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Raymond
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago,IL,USA Date Reviewed: October 5, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Style, Cushiony suspension (Manitou Six Six), excellent pedaling smoothness, overall strong bike.
Weaknesses:
None really, just need more tunablity of the shocks. Only 4 rotations and the shock is at it's stiffess which isn't much. But, since i don't do 4 feet drops and all, and only a urban biker, the soft suspension is great.
Similar Products Used:
Mesa GSD, Mesa 03'
Bike Setup:
2 1/2 in suspension knob, Manitou Six Six, WTB Seat, Easton XC Carbon Bar, Dual Disc Brakes, Profile End Bars Boxer.
Bottom Line:
My Mesa was the LE version which was sold at selected stores and has slightly better parts than the GSD or basically similar to the LTD parts. It's painted Black to Silver which is nice so it won't look dirty after several passes through the dirt. I love the shocks and the weight of the bike. It's lite and I feel like I can pedal fast on it. The bike provides a soft landing which is great when your doig urban riding and curb jumping. =P
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Harvey
a Cross Country Rider
from Palmerton,P.a., Date Reviewed: July 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
dick's sporting goods
Strengths:
greeat frame geometry suprior shifting with the SRAM X7 bike handels and rides great
Weaknesses:
Shifters take some getting use to but its not hard to figure out after a few mins.
Similar Products Used:
Mesa GSD
Bottom Line:
Well worth the money for a bike with the componentry in its price catagory definatly my new Favorite TOY. would recomend it highly to anyone interested.Just a nicly rounded out bike/componet setup the Manatou Six Handels well in tight situations in squrily single track and the SRAM x7 shifts smothly in all conditions.
$ 600.00
Overall Rating:
