Description:Altus® enhances the performance and fun of the MTB-style city bike. While Altus is aimed at first time cyclists, its performance and full range of advanced Shimano functions are sure to please experienced cyclists as well.
Submitted by
James Balster
a Cross Country Rider
from Torrance,Calif Date Reviewed: October 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
strand hermosa/manhatten beach
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bikecolgy
Strengths:
nice looking bike, sturdy, weight good
Weaknesses:
Shimano Altus Derailoleur not so great , after first month a knocking noise began, now gears slip and will not go into 7th gear. I have a 24 speed and continues to worsen.
Similar Products Used:
I had a huffy mountain bike for over 7 years no problems.
Bike Setup:
I have a Raleigh Passage 3.0 with a Shimano Altus Derailleur, 21 speed 3 center gears and 7 rear.
Bottom Line:
Raleigh makes a sturdy bike I am 6 ft61/2 tall 260lbs, it has done well. The shifting is the problem, I could not recomend the Shimano gear system. I ride on the bike path every day about 15 miles no hard climbs or bumps. This gear system can not handel it. I will more than likly have to get tis fixed or look into a different bike.
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Submitted by
Aldric Lam
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: September 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Great shifter, durable and little maintanence
Weaknesses:
Rear Derailer does require adjusting after a while
Similar Products Used:
Few other shimano gear shifters (forgot which cuz other bikes are in Hong Kong/trashed)
Bike Setup:
Eclipse Rocky 300 Altus CT10 Group from 1993 Radical Alloy Riser Bar with Side bars TransX Suspension Stem Serfas Dual Gel Seat with Suspension Seat post WellGo Clipless All Terrain Pedals 2 Axiom Panniers (3 bags in total) and LED Headlights + Rearlights Sigma BC903 Computer Eagle 2 Kool-Aid Brake Pads
Bottom Line:
Bike was my dad's, now its mine and all modified Didn't buy a new bike for myself cuz I love the Altus gear shifter. This thing still looks like new and works really well 30km/h with mid range gears with all terrain tires
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Submitted by
Stupe
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Date Reviewed: August 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
A Lot
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$131.00
Purchased At:
Kuala Lumpur
Strengths:
I've been riding the same bike since 1993!
Weaknesses:
Recently, the rear deraiuler seems not to be very accurate in the shifting anymore...
Similar Products Used:
-
Bike Setup:
Full Altus groupset. RST 381 fork. Cheap V BRake.
Bottom Line:
I've been using this bike and setup since 1993. Did fairly bit of offroading and roading with it. Should had clocked up at about 10k Km since.
Tyre changed twice.
The Altus Groupset on my bike was the 1993 version. It last as long until now.
Crankset and rear cassete has not posed any problem.
Only complain is that the Rear Derailuer is not shifting properly now.
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Submitted by
Grant
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern Michigan Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
With Royce Union mountain bike
Strengths:
mid-quality function from shimano functions well within its limits
Weaknesses:
low quality product compared to other shimano lines not suitable for extreme ("real") mountain/off-road biking
Bike Setup:
Original bike came with a steel frame and Altus drivetrain and derailleurs. Have upgraded to Deore LX/XT.
Bottom Line:
If you are going to do recreational trail riding or light off-road, these will be fine. If you are going to ride in the true spirit of the mountain bike, you'll want something of a higher quality: these components will simply not last.
NOTE: Altus cranksets (the FC90 model number) were recalled in 1998. Check the FAQ on the Shimano website for details and the numbers for the other two cranksets that were recalled.
If you have one of these cranksets, Shimano will send you a brand NEW one for FREE (sweet!) through your local bike shop. This is worth checking into, especially if your chainrings are worn.
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Submitted by
Ethan
a Weekend Warrior
from Medford, NJ,USA Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
A lot
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came With Gary Fisher Marlin
Strengths:
Great brakes. Good rapidfire shifting
Weaknesses:
Very rough rear derailleur. The rear derailleur is worthless. Breaks offroad.
Bike Setup:
2000 Gary Fisher Marlin RockShox Judy XC
Bottom Line:
Decent Setup. Buy a Deore XT Rear Derailleur. Dont waste money on rear derailleur!
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Submitted by
Matt
a Racer
from Orleans, Canada Date Reviewed: December 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:
too many
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Manufacturer
Strengths:
Good shifts, nice shifting, chain linkage stanys on tracks
Weaknesses:
metal chips, breaks apart after awhile
Bike Setup:
Not Stock
Bottom Line:
Not a bad product for the money! If you are just getting into MTB'ing or are a novice I personally recommend it!
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Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from York, England Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:
God knows
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Stock on my bike (from halfords)
Strengths:
Cheap Fine for on-road
Weaknesses:
Inaccurate shifting Pretty weedy brakes Breaks quickly if you take it off-road a lot
Similar Products Used:
SIS (cringe) Gripshift
Bike Setup:
Mostly Stock Carrera Vulcan (*gasp*)
Bottom Line:
Fine if you just want to ride on flat roads, but just not solid enough to work well on the rough stuff. Price is right though.
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Submitted by
Var
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Date Reviewed: September 9, 2000
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Local shop
Strengths:
Cheap, moderate performance, all round functionability Great for the budget cyclist, Shimano quality
Weaknesses:
Breaks are weak, shifters wear out easiliy, lowest gear not low enough
Similar Products Used:
Altus, Sis
Bike Setup:
Lerun frame, Rock Shox front suspension
Bottom Line:
Get it if you want a value for money, cheap, on the budget gear set. Youd be surprised.
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Submitted by
Daniel Westerstal
a Cross Country Rider
from Kivik, Skane, Sweden Date Reviewed: July 4, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Cheap, very nice on tarmac. Pretty good quality if you don't take it offroad.
Weaknesses:
Not so very well offroad.
Similar Products Used:
SIS,Shimano Deodre, LX, XT.
Bike Setup:
Parkpre, Shimano Altus,
Bottom Line:
If you planning to go on tarmac in the city it's good and affordable. But if offroad more is your style you should look for something else.
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Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Leeds, UK Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Value for money, cheap to replace.
Weaknesses:
Breaks or wears out easily when given a bit of hammer off-road.
Similar Products Used:
Other low-end groupsets, SIS, Altus, Alivio. Oh and those really dodgy Sachs systems that came on Raleighs pre '92.
Bike Setup:
GT Timberline
Bottom Line:
This stuff is ok to start off with, as time goes on and things break or wear out they can be replaced cheaply with more Altus, or a bit more cash buys Alivio or Deore kit. Most importantly Altus gives value for money and will remain servicable for a long period on most bikes that don't take much of a thrashing. If you're a hammer-head, go for at least the Deore or even LX kit. It's better in the long run.
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Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississagua, CANADA Date Reviewed: March 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Kelso
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
I just myself a new bike and havent had a chance to test it off road, but so far all i can say is that its clean, no rattle, no shake, seens to have a lot of promise
Weaknesses:
it came stock, so it cant be the greatest, but then again its not SIS so its better already
Similar Products Used:
shamanio SIS and other lower grade stuff
Bike Setup:
Y2K GIANT 1020, with a RST 281 fork, nothing fancy
Bottom Line:
On the road its all good, off road, i dont know yet, but it seems to be promising
$
Overall Rating:
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