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Submitted by
michael delaney
a Weekend Warrior
from sale,victoria,austrailia
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere thats downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | mate frame only | | Strengths: | everthing! this bike is great! smooth rear traval feels endless this bike is the FR's dream strong!! if going big is what you do this bike is for you | | Weaknesses: | found it a bit slow DH used to own a norco vps team which was more suited for DH. | | Similar Products Used: | norco vps team 03 | | Bike Setup: | 02 shivers, race face cranks, mag 30's, fun head stem and bars | | Bottom Line: | I loved this bike makes you feel like you can do anything.. you can but!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom everill
a Downhiller
from england
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | astonhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Purchased At: | classifieds | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | nothing yet | | Similar Products Used: | bullit, v10, demo8, dh9 | | Bike Setup: | shivers, 5th element, saint, avid etc | | Bottom Line: | this bike is awsome, the other bikes i tried wer gd but this bike had something special about it when i rode it.
Ive done a 10ft drop 2 flat on this bike and it didnt bottom out!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
abby
a Weekend Warrior
from jakarta , tangerang ,indonesia
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | antyhting down | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | bagus bike, tangerang | | Strengths: | just like the names , it look like gonna hit everything and balance on all terrain...perfect for my freeriding style , need for speed to ride it , and it seems ready to abuse ! | | Weaknesses: | its hard to find 24" tires especially in here , indonesia | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky | | Bike Setup: | d boxxer , funn rims,hubs,pedals,headset,n bar , hussefelt 36 single cranks , thompson seatpost ... | | Bottom Line: | just because i'd use to go for all mountain and adventure biking , i'm gonna try it pedaling uphill soon...maybe all of my buddies will left me away , but i believe i will kick their ass at downhill session ! pray for me laaah... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Downhiller
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Private sale | | Strengths: | 8 inches of plush travel with the manitou 4way. easy to manouver, anodized black | | Weaknesses: | you can only have a 24 in the back, i love the 24, but wasnt to happy when i was building the bike and had to go buy andother wheel. | | Bike Setup: | o5 jrt's, hayes 9, double track, 729, novatec, manitou 4way, gazza's | | Bottom Line: | This bike is sick, flows through big rocks and roots with no problem, handles nice. well balanced. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Francois Lefebvre
a Weekend Warrior
from Varennes Québec Canada
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | boumrang bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | evrything this bike is amazing | | Weaknesses: | bit heavy
I have not reached the bottom yet but I fear that I will have no problem on a good drop | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic Eliminator,V10,demo 9,8
| | Bike Setup: | avalanche dhs,dorado dh, mag 30,hayes mag... | | Bottom Line: | This is any excellent bike THIS BIKE RULZ OVER ALL BIKES IVE EVER RIDDEN EVEN BIKES THAT ARE TWICE AS MUCH,YOU NEED TO GET THIS BIKE IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY WIN A RACE BEFOE YOU DIE, NOT JUST SHOW OF THE RED VERSACE PAINT ON AN M1 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | every trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Daug's | | Strengths: | every thing | | Weaknesses: | has none | | Similar Products Used: | giant team dh comp, big hit sport, kona stinky, giant ac, norco a-line | | Bike Setup: | shiver forks and every thing else is stock | | Bottom Line: | the bottom line is that the bike is amazing!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Downhiller
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anything DH | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Super smooth suspension, easy to switch and set up. Nice fit. Really sweet looking without stickers, all black is always a good thing. Can't bottom it out. Not too heavy. FSR suspension is the best bar none! | | Weaknesses: | I wish the stock setup had a bit better components and I wish I could run a 26" in the rear just to have more choices in rims and tires. (but atomic trail pimps and intense dh fro tires are as good as it gets) | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain RM9, Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi 66, Truvativ Hussefelt bars and stem-Holzfeller crankset and pedals-Giga Pipe DH bottom bracket, Intense DH FRO 3.0 rear and 2.7 front, 8" Avid Juicy brakes, Atomic Trail Pimp wheels laced to Hadley hubs,Titec El Norte saddle, Race Face Diabolus Headset, ODI grips, MRP guide. | | Bottom Line: | Sickest bike I have ever ridden. Bar None! I needed to customize a bit to get it the way I like it but it is well worth it. I am 6'3" and I ride a medium. That is great because it cuts weight and it is also much easier to throw this bike around on the trails. My old RM9 was a beast. There is no way I would stick with all the stock parts though. Marzocchi makes way better forks than Rock Shox and Avid brakes are by far a better brake than the Hayes and anything Truvativ makes kicks anus! Anyway, this bike is it. The real deal. It puts pretty much all other bikes I have ever ridden to shame. Nothing can even touch it. If you are serious about dh riding then get a big hit. You will never regret it. I know I don't! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Rawsthorn
a Racer
from England, UK
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort William DH track, Scotland | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Strengths: | Plush suspension, sturdy reliable steering, smooth pivots and little pedal feedback. Very strong and tracks like a dream. The rear 24" wheel enables corners to be taken at speed and also means acceleration is very good. | | Weaknesses: | No weaknesses altho the rear end is pretty heavy. However, this is a minor fault and for DH it does not bother me at all.Rear 24" wheel may not suit everyone, but replacement seat stays can be bought to up the wheel size to 26". | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC, Kona stinky and coiler and big hit comp | | Bike Setup: | Boxxer team (TF tuned)
5th element (TF tuned)
Hope M4's
ODI grips
Raceface diabolus bars and stem
Raceface prodigy DH cranks
Raceface evolve DH BB
24 seven saddle 88 delux
FSA headset
DMR V12 pedal
Front wheel: Mavic 321 on hope bulb hub
Rear wheel: Halo SAS with diatech hub
XT drivetrain
MRP WC chain device
| | Bottom Line: | For the money, i believe the Specialized Big Hit DH to be the very best. I race and this bike suits me fine. However, if you have a lot of money to spend and are after a very flashy DH race bike there may be others whioch would suit you better. On the other hand, the FSR suspension system is world renowned and other big name companies such as Norco have used this design for their bikes. I conclude by saying that this is a very good bike and what ever you do, however rich you are, you can not go wrong with this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie slight
a Weekend Warrior
from lancashire
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the lakes | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay,total bargin | | Strengths: | very strong,looks super cool.and a great price | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy,and i have a bike thats been fully upgreaded from stock. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | boxxer race .xtr mech and spds.hope m4s .hope bulb and chris king rear hub .mpr world cup chain device.middleburn crank.race face stem on azonic bars | | Bottom Line: | great ride .takes the hits with ease.looks the part. if looked after will last for ever.get one if money is tight,and upgrade to get a excellent bike !!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dommaggi Gusto
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DOOKIES | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | Almost limitless travel. Powers through all types of obstacles, esp. plush over stutter rocks. Will get you chicks. | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy, especially after applying some maccin' gold leaf. | | Similar Products Used: | Intense M1, Uzzi SLX, DH | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi 888. XTR 180 disc brakes, Stratos El Jefe shock w/ piggyback | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad bike, took some decent hucks and spring action is very smooth. FSR is hard to beat. Got gold leaf applied, now it's about 2 lb. heavier, but man does it look DOPE. I plan to install a MR. T. starter kit near the head tube, 24K, not that lame 14K goldplated sh1t. I mostly drive it around town on top of my car, and man do the ladies respond positively. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arnt Todnem
a Weekend Warrior
from Norway
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | As long as it's downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Don Skene England | | Strengths: | Rock solid!! Quality in every corner. Gives you more guts. Gives you bigger balls! | | Weaknesses: | None.
But it can cause you to harm yourself by doing things you are NOT ready for. | | Similar Products Used: | None at this level | | Bike Setup: | Marcozzhi Jr.T, Azonic 454 cranks, Bombshell fatboy rims, XT DH brakes, Maxxis DH tires. | | Bottom Line: | This frame is the best I've ever tried. And at the price it is the best there is!! I am a big guy, and have broken quite a few frames in my time. But this will do the trick.
You will break before this one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamie
a Downhiller
from ireland
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | ireland | | Strengths: | it's biggest strength is it's "BIG-HIT" capability.
with 8.1 inches travel, i have never come close to
bottoming it out. it's a very smooth bike an soaks up
tough terrain very well. it's not heavy, so it makes
downhilling agile and easy. with the 24 inch wheel,
it seems to pedal very easy, i.e, quick acceleration
and also because of this, it corners much quicker than
any other bike i've been on, great d.h and freeride bike, considering the price. best begginer/intermediate d.h'er bike. | | Weaknesses: | i have never found a problem with the bike but the
shock could do with a softer spring, as i am 12 stone
and i have never bottomed it out once, but this could
be just me. | | Similar Products Used: | intense m1, raleigh dho. | | Bike Setup: | fox rc, marz jr.t, hope m4, fsa drive-train, sun rims. | | Bottom Line: | great downhill and free-ride bike,
possibly, the greatest for it's price.
for a begginer, buy a second-hand one,
for intermediate, buy a new one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
k w-m
a Downhiller
from everywhere
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | it still moves. but doing the aftermath i'm still stuck on the service issue and my experience with companies such as orange has been better than with big companies like specialized trying to cover not a niche market; but one that has been held a little out of the spotlight=it don't work boy's. oh yeah youre company is going for the chop as well or at least it looks that way.
however 4 bars are a smoother ride, but single pivot withe the likes of 5th ele take more of a beating in my opinion. | | Bottom Line: | go for it if the budget is tight, but for not a lot more there are better rides (not intense or the likes) like a 223 or look at cortina's steel frame, haven't had my hands on one yet, but i'm going to... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Downhiller
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Everything, takes drops really really well. I can't bottom it out, niether can my friends. | | Weaknesses: | chain slap, but every bike has that! | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic Eliminator, Tomac 204, V10 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike absolutely rocks! I'm fourteen and on my first drop of 8ft. with this bike went as smooth as any other bike I have ever tried, I'm actually buying one before the year is over, I suggest you do the same. ITS AWESOME! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keit wolff-moore
a
from s h i t h o l e
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | ride is o.k. asides that the frame is quite soft in some spots. | | Weaknesses: | i think in general the service you get, not just specialized here in europe is s h i t! the special price for a main frame is 600 euros! I sell bikes for a living; and i ain´t a b i t c h so don´t try to f u c k me! cheers back there in holland.
enough complaints. but seriously it can´t be that one has to wait two months for a set of hope brakes or some spare seals for the pistons. in general all of them can´t even commit to their mistakes. manitou here in europe is top. sort it out, please...
if you do actually want to do something about it write me and e mail and send me a serious job offer and i´ll sort it out! i have and international business degree and speak five languages fluently. i´m quite serious. | | Similar Products Used: | orange intense brooklyn machine wworks banshee | | Bike Setup: | same all | | Bottom Line: | not a happy chappy | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Niklas Svensson
a Downhiller
from Ullared, Sweden
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | air | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$875.00 | | Purchased At: | grahns | | Strengths: | evrything | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | my furst DH bike | | Bike Setup: | superT pro 03, atomlab trail pimp, Gazza 2.6", hfx-9,
odi Ruffian.... | | Bottom Line: | nise bike greate for hard Freeride, DH and Nort Chore
I ride mine in the "D" hole for freeride and the "A" hole for DH
its nise in the air and every where else, i love this bike!!
and it pedals prity good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn CA U.S.A
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | south rim trail ESSJ | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3999.00 | | Purchased At: | CBE | | Strengths: | stiff as a dead guy I have yet to run out of gear on the hills around here. | | Weaknesses: | rear shock needs more spring for us big guys.
I have not reached the bottom yet but I fear that I will have no problem on a good drop | | Similar Products Used: | I have always been with specialized bikes fsr and a bighit xc | | Bike Setup: | in stock trim | | Bottom Line: | I like it I like it a lot sir!
not much more to say than that a test ride says it all | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Downhiller
from canada
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | i dont know | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome. There is no better downhiller than this for what you should get it for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
happy rider
a Downhiller
from adelaide south australia
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | mark2 belair | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | JT Cycles adelaide | | Strengths: | Unbeatable strength, top quality, dont listen to people who tell yoy the 24" is stupid but try before you buy. The whole bike runs smoothly and easily takes 15" foot drops and asks for more. Once you get used to having a bit of weight oon board it isn't even that hard to ride on the flat or that little up hill section before the run. | | Weaknesses: | Perhaps for a smaller rider a little bit heavy however you get used to it. The bike is a beast for anyone who hasn't had a dh rig before though. Apart from the weight the bike is fine. Be careful to make sure the rear shock can take your weight plus a lot more if u want to do large drops as i have found it to soft sometimes | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullitt, craftworks 208, big hit pro 02 | | Bike Setup: | double tracks, fox rc 8.1 inch, boxxer teams, hayes magnesiums | | Bottom Line: | This is any excellent bike. Best suited to downhill rather than freeride. But well made for either. Buy it if u want a very solid bike that works well, and is easy to get parts for | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ali Gillespie
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Les Gets/Morzine, France | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$749.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles | | Strengths: | Emm, everything!! Don't listen to the ball bags who whine on about the 24" wheel - Try it before you comment. Build quality is superb, especially at the price. Smokin' matt black finish. Loads of adjustment. Oh and price!! (£749 can't be bad). Looks the doggies danglies!! | | Weaknesses: | Emm - Don't think so. Have you seen it??
Only thing is that I like to have three rings at the front and I am struggling to find a chain guide that will fit when I have the bottom bracket mounted derailleur on. Any help will be much appreciated. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR XCPro. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Jr T's. Hope big 'uns. Sun Dbl wide rear and Mavic 321 up front. Hope M4's. XTR derailleurs and chainset (3 rings). Nokian Gazzaloddi tyres (3" rear!) | | Bottom Line: | Used to race cross country. Then got fat and developed a taste for freeride/downhill. Killed my old bike in France after hitting a rain gully on a ski piste and bending the fork backwards under the frame - ovalising the bottom of the head tube!! No fault of the bike. I was using it for downhill instead of for what it was designed.
The Big Hit is a whole different kettle of fish. This thing is absolutely nails - get one! You will not be disappointed. I have three front rings which with the e-type front derailleur allows me to climb stuff too - not too quickly though - it is a big heavy booger!!
Can't give enough chillis for value.
One lad mentioned that his suspension linkage is dark grey, rather than silver as in the Specialized pic's. Mine too chief! - doesn't make any odds though.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from UT
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | AstroGlide | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4300.00 | | Purchased At: | Choose To Ride | | Strengths: | This bike is better than any bike I've ridden. Of course they all pretty much suck in comparison. It has increased my confidence and I am realizing that I will probably never push this bike beyond its limits. | | Weaknesses: | In a perfect world this bike would weigh sub-30 pounds. Actually, I am getting used to the weight. I actually get a little nervous riding anything that weights less. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback X-6, XR4, V6, Marin FS, Ells Joker, Kona Stinky Five. | | Bike Setup: | Stock accept for NoTubes, RF crank, front Der, 90mm stem for "XC", Oury lock-on grips, Avid BBDB. | | Bottom Line: | I would consider myself more of a backcountry free rider, but lately I have been hitting some dirt jumps just to see what this thing can do. I recently did a ride that included about 4 miles of STEEP climbing. I just geared down and pedaled away. Having a road bike helps to keep me in shape for hauling this beast up the hill. I seriously LOVE the adjustability this thing has. I can get a pretty good climbing postion with a slightly longer stem and raising the BB to get the steeper head angle. Swap one bolt into a different postion and I am ready to RIP! I had no problem on Porcupine Rim. I was passing other riders on the infamous climb. I only had to push up one hill that I missed a gear shift at the start. The black anno is stealth and the whole bike just looks cool. My friends think I'm weird but this bike does everything without a wimper. Just couldn't see settling for less travel and strength.
The back end climbs like a goat! I was running my buddy with his ID off the trail. The wheel stays on the ground over the studder bumps. I havn't heard much on these tires but I like them so far. Running NoTubes definitely helps lighten them up. The casing is a little thin but I wouldn't be riding them if they were as thick and the Rhino skinned Gazza DHs.
This is a great bike for the money. WAY better than those single pivot wanna-be DH bikes. Once you have it, as a frame build or out-of-the-box, you won't want to let it go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from Adelaide, S.A. , Australia
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Marc 2 and 3 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Jt Cycles | | Strengths: | Bomb proof, handels bighits easy, 24in wheel is a dream and Dirt Cheap!!! | | Weaknesses: | Noisy with the chain hitting nothing an old tube can't fix | | Similar Products Used: | Kone Stab Primo, BigHit Comp, Kona Stinky, Norco VPS Shore, Giant DH Team | | Bike Setup: | Frame, (2003) Super T's, Aireal Industries Stem and Chain Guide | | Bottom Line: | Some of you other guys putting in reviews that say this bike has given you bigger balls are completly wrong. Only just stepping up to 13ft. drops on it? You should be ashamed. My friends and I where doing 13ft. drops when we only had 2002 bighit comp's with all standard parts and Kona skinkys, all standard. You really should be looking at twenty to twenty five foot monster drops like the one at the moon hear in Adelaide, Australia. Buy this frame or bike if you intend or love massive drops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keit wolff-moore
a Downhiller
from everywhere
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | i like ridin´ | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | radschlag x | | Strengths: | price fsr, it works out of the box! | | Weaknesses: | the anodized finish rubbed off on my carped just having it lying around. no torque indications anywhere; but as of yet nothing really bad to be said | | Similar Products Used: | orange patriot, 222, brooklynmachineworks tmx, intense m1, azonic sh$t, santa cruz bullit, marin dh, mountain cycle shock wave, san andreas, gt idrive dh, | | Bike Setup: | super t, hope bulbs + c2´s, answer pro tapers, xt, mrp bones dmr 38t, sun mag 20 24 inch + gazza´s 2.6 | | Bottom Line: | it´s really slick, and i like it more than the intense even with the vanila rc, somehow i think it´s the overworked fsr linkage for 2003; definatley better than the prior models and of course when i drop this it won´t three grand dented to f$ck. it does bottom a little easier than for say the tmx, yet nothing a harder spring from eibach couldn´t fix.
well c u soon i need to be ridin´ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ric Barker
a Weekend Warrior
from South Manchester, England
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | MFDH | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | North West MTB Centre | | Strengths: | 8.1" of travel - At this price, they're giving it away.
Stays active under braking - Explained later.
Nice weight balance fornt/rear with a good set of forks.
ISCG (International Standard Chain Guide) mounts are a great idea.
| | Weaknesses: | No biggies - see "The Bottom Line" | | Similar Products Used: | Orange Patriot LT | | Bike Setup: | '03 BigHit DH frame -/- Marzocchi Monster T -/- Hope M4 205mm rotors -/- "24/7" 48-spoke 24" wheels -/- Nokian Gazaloddi 3" tyres -/- Profile 160mm BMX steel splined cranks -/- Atomlabs pedals -/- Tioga Cube stem and bar combo -/- Home made chain device (ISCG) | | Bottom Line: | ///First - this is not a review for the full bike, just the frame. I paid 750 pounds for it ($1200US)///
I've not had this bike long, but already I'm in love. I used to ride an Orange Patriot, which I loved because it was so simple, and the bearings were easy to keep on top of. Eventually I decided I needed more travel, and the cheapest option was the BigHit. I was a little worried at first that the multi-link rear end would be a nightmare once the mud got into the bearings, but I was wrong.
The rear end on this bike is SOLID. All the pivots are fully sealed cartridge bearings, and they seem to be high quality. No play yet. A full replacement bearing kit is about forty quid, so it's cheap to run too.
The frames are quite large - be warned. I'm 6'2", and a small is perfect for me. Also, something to bear in mind is, if you get anyting other than a small, make sure you have enough height adjustment in your fork crowns, my Monsters *only just* fit, and I'm running a low-profile headset. The small has great reach with a 35mm stem, just right for me.
The whole feel of this bike is a revalation over my Orange. The bike is a lot shorter in the wheelbase, and as such, it feels alive under you, low and lithe. The best way I can desribe it is you feel like you sit *in* the bike, rather than on it.
The quality of the travel is really good, I've used a FOX Vanilla RC before, and I recommend them to everyone. There is alot of adjustment built into this bike - BB height, head angle, travel and "progressiveness". By progressivenss I mean the way in which the shock rate changes throughout it's stroke.
The bike is a little less active on the very small stuff due to the higher inertia of all that un-sprung weight out back, but you can compensate for this by letting a couple of PSI out of the rear tyre. Where this bike really come into it's own is on the big hits (get it?).
This bike really has the ability to eat the big stuff, the kind of hits that hurt your ankles on your 6" bike. Normally where I had to hold the bars just that little bit tighter and think to myself "please hold please hold" expecting the back end to do something naughty, it just tracks true.
Something else I have noticed is that with the Horst link, the back end stays active under braking, no lock out at all. I didn't even realise my Orange was doing it until I felt the back end stay planted on this.
My only complaints about this bike are as follows:
It can be a bugger to carry up a steep slope, there are no natural shapes to hold it by, in fact I usually end up dragging it by the shock.
Noise, or lack of it. With the set up I'm running (home made chain device 6061 T6 ally, a bugger to cut!) this bike it totally silent. I mean really really quiet. It may sound stupid, but it's very strange when your rushing between the trees, and you can hear nothing from your bike. Odd.
So who should buy this bike? If your still reading now, then you have answered that already! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stinkin' Rich
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | tantra "mtb" park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Used... | | Strengths: | Sick-nozz. Everything is nice. 24" feels real nice... | | Weaknesses: | Only that they use the same frame for the BigHit comp, but just with a different link and rear shock. This enables you to only use a 24" wheel... | | Bike Setup: | XTR. 8" hayes front and back. Mr. Dirt Gizmo. 2002 so it has Marzocchi Shiver DC (sick). Intense tires. Sun Ringle Single Track rims... | | Bottom Line: | Jumps real nice and adjustable geometry is cool so you can race or go big. Similar to M-1 in design and great price-point... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D LO
a Downhiller
from AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL DH | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5600.00 | | Purchased At: | THE BIKE ENTREPRENEUR | | Strengths: | THE WHOLE BIKE IS A STRENGTH, NOT ONE COMPLAINT EXCEPT THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN IS COPIED BY OTHER WEAK MANUFACTERERS,WHO NEED A WINNING DESIGN. |
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$ 4340.00
