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Submitted by
bret underwood
a Downhiller
from costa mesa ca
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | elmorro | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | encenites ca. | | Strengths: | good | | Weaknesses: | soft rear suspention | | Similar Products Used: | gt | | Bottom Line: | its ok | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gearking6
a Cross Country Rider
from Malden
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Some Bike Shop NH | | Strengths: | Shimano parts and JR. T | | Weaknesses: | Who ever assembled the bike f*cked up. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | The moron that assembled my bike overtightened the crankset. Had to drill the bolts out to replace bad BB. My Hayes squilled like a pig, could not retract enough thus causing drag. While riding on an abandoned railroad track in VA, one of the rear torx bolt on the rotor came loose and wore down the dropout. Bobs like crazy. Sold most of the parts on Ebay to help pay for my new Intense Uzzi SL. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Tokyo, Japan
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ome, The Bowl, etc. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | from previous owner | | Strengths: | Light (for it's size), awesome fork, components, etc. | | Weaknesses: | It's not hotter than Pamela Anderson or Brittney Spears :) | | Similar Products Used: | GT 3.0 iDrive, Mongoose VRS 3.0 | | Bike Setup: | titec bar, xt shifters avid levers. Gt stem, ODIs, FSA headset, Jr. T, Cook Bros. cranks LX/XT | | Bottom Line: | For six bills, you can't beat it with a stick! I had to replace the seals (a pain) and buy a new shock (the previous owner messed up the first one). I'm actually the third owner, so all things considered, it kicks a$$! I use it for dirt/trail/urban jumping, so it's a great all-around bike. I've also bit the dirt a few times and am impressed with how well it's held up. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
burton1977 analog.com
a Downhiller
from belfast northern ireland
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the green | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | This bike rocks , dont listen to all them stupid people that tell you this is a xc bike, look at some of there set up, xc forks on a dh bike yeah its stupid cause xc riders are stupid and wear lycra, buy this bike if its good enough for palmer its good enough for you.
| | Weaknesses: | Yes that people dare to call this a FREERIDE bike | | Similar Products Used: | Intense M1 | | Bike Setup: | manitou dorados, azonic bars, race face cracks,fox shock, hope hubs, and brakes, and comp 16 tyres | | Bottom Line: | If its good enough for palmer its good enough for you, not a FREERIDE bike its a dh world cup bike that a number of people that have said they would rather sell there tuner for one .
PLEASE DONT PUT XC PARTS ON THIS BIKE IT LOOKS GAY | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Guiod
a Downhiller
from Walpole, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Walpole center | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | norwood bike depo | | Strengths: | FSR suspension, Fox shock | | Weaknesses: | Derailleur blasts into the frame, chainslap, e-type | | Bike Setup: | Specialized gave me this frame after i broke my rockhopper freeriding. Its worth AT LEAST twice as much. Thanks specialized! Planet X cockpit, Marzocchi Z.1, Sun rims, XT disc hubs + discs, XT rear, LX front (damn e-type), TruVativ cranks + bb, black spire bash gaurd, Tioga Factory DH 2.1 rear, 2.5 front, and those new pedros dice grips. So Cool | | Bottom Line: | As far as i can tell, this bike kicks ass, the e-type derailleur and the high chainstay make it a pain in the ass but a piece of old tire and a healthy rashion of zip ties is the solution to that problem. If you want a good freeride frame, this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Norton
a Downhiller
from Perth W.A. Australia
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mundaring DH | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Force Joondalup | | Strengths: | Really lite and strong I did jumped 13 stairs on it and soaked it up really well. | | Weaknesses: | needs more travel and disc brake adaptor | | Similar Products Used: | 02 bighit comp with stratios forks, 99 model | | Bike Setup: | Mozo XMO 5.5 forx, SMO rims, Avid brakes, Kujo DH tyres | | Bottom Line: | Good freeride bike also alrite for a bit of dh and xc. If you want a bomb proof bike that you can do any sort of riding on get this one | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
waldo
a Downhiller
from enumclaw
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | #3 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | bl bike | | Strengths: | great feel
srong as sh*t
not to heavy
looks | | Weaknesses: | bb hight
500 lbs spring
having to buy disc adaptor
| | Similar Products Used: | norco vps shore
kona stab
brodie devo | | Bike Setup: | '02 super t 7" qr 20 hub
sun mamoth big fat/xt disc hub
hope mini discs
xt cranks
xt f/r deralieurs
tomac tenacious d risers
azonic shorty
| | Bottom Line: | bought the bike compleat from a bike shop. it came with the '01 z3 qr 20 and lx vee brakes. put the super t on and hope discs. had to buy a disc adaptor from specialized for 50 bucks. over all this bike has been able to stand up to what ever i have given it (including a 60 ft fall of a chair lift). feels great when landing drops and bombing down the dh trails. great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete
a Downhiller
from yakima wa usa
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | takes berms awesome plush f + r suspension drops like a dream is very light for the srenghth. the warrenty and customer service!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | pivot bolts the metal grinds on the threads in the top two pivots they loosen even with lock tight! tire clearence | | Similar Products Used: | any fsr and many dh rigs | | Bike Setup: | 2001 jr t sweet, chris king, road bike derailer and cassete its the way to go! azonic (over rated) and ns race face crank sweeeeeeet! | | Bottom Line: | it rides awsome i love the fsr feel but pivots are just to low qualitie other then that i am very impressed with the ride and the customer service rocks! 5 days to get a frame warenteid and i got something waaaay better yay!!!
i love the ride very dependible 5 chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Busta-bus
a
from VA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | 4-bar rear linkage, adjustable geometry, Jr. T fork is ultra plush and reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough tire clearance in back. This bike is basically an XC bike with freeride/DH parts on it so you are limited to tire sizes (the largest I can fit is a Maxxis 2.5 and that's pushing it), also the rear end, is not too stiff. Once again this is an XC rear end. But it has held up so far, so I really shouldn't complain. | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 big hit(sweet!), Diamond back x-6, Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Race Face, XTR, MRP slalom 38tooth, Mavic 521's, Maxxis Highroller 2.5's, hutch tubes, Azonic bar, stem, pedals | | Bottom Line: | Overall I am happy with this bike. I have owned it for about a year with no major problems. It is Specialized's first attempt at a real "freeride bike" and I think they did a good job. The Jr. T fork has been awesome, and the rear has held up, even though I was skeptical at first. I haven't done any insane drops (only 8-footers) and I ride it DH, so it serves me well. The bike also jumps nicely and feels stable in the air.
Sweet bike, but I am thinking about checking into a new big hit, its a lot beefier. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ROBERT HOARE
a Weekend Warrior
from MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | MT BULLER, CANNONBALL RUN | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | LE TOUR CYCLES | | Strengths: | JR. T'S, HAYES, XTR/LX MIX, RHYNO LITES, FOX VANILLA R,
HANDLING | | Weaknesses: | SPECIALIZED PARTS (ESPECIALLY REAR SKEWER), TYRES, NO CLEARANCE ON REAR FOR FAT RUBBER | | Similar Products Used: | SINTESI BAZOOKA, FSR ENDURO, GT LTS1, KONA STINKY | | Bike Setup: | AZONIC BAR AND STEM, DMR V8, EVIL TWINS, 8 INCH ROTOR FRONT
SALSA SKEWERS | | Bottom Line: | LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT, THIS IS NOT A DOWNHILL BIKE.
FOR WHAT SPECIALIZED INTENDED THIS BIKE TO DO, IT RIPS!
NO PROBLEMS WITH THE FRAME, BUT ALL SPECIALIZED PARTS ARE LETS SAY 'LOSEABLE'. JR.T'S ARE PLUSH IF NOT A LITTLE SOFT OUT OF THE BOX, JUST UPGRADE SPRINGS AND ADJUST OIL WEIGHTS AND ALL WILL BE PURE BLISS. NAILED A 12 FOOTER LAST WEEK WITH TRAVEL TO SPARE. TYRE CLEARANCE ON REAR IS A BIT PISS WEAK, AN EVIL TWIN SC 2.2 WITH LOW PRESSURES ON THE REAR HAS BEEN ABOUT AS MUCH AS IT COULD HANDLE. 'HAYES', NEED I SAY MORE!
I PICKED THIS BIKE UP FOR $1300, SOMEONE RENEGED ON A LAY BUY, SO I PAID THE DIFFERENCE. IF YOU WANT TO CATCH LIFTS TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, POINT YOUR BIKE TO SEA LEVEL, THEN BUY A DOWNHILL BIKE, FOR SCREWING AROUND AND HAVING A SERIOUS BLAST, GET A BIG HIT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason L
a Weekend Warrior
from Snellville, GA USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugar - Boone NC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good suspension setup for flexibility between cross country and DH / Freeride. This bike is very comfortable to ride and handles well. It is also very stable while airborne. LX rapidfire shifters never miss and the Hayes Disk brakes are maintance free. For a big hit bike it actually climbs pretty easily. | | Weaknesses: | #1 Worst thing about this bike is that the way the cranks and the cassette line up. It is almost impossible to keep the chain on the proper chainring without a chainguide. On rough DH rides the chain will fall between the derailer mount and frame binding up the cranks. This will totally mess up your run!
#2 I have broke 3 of these frames. On the last one Specialized decided to beef up thier latest run of frames and I have not had a problem since. My dealer hates to see me coming!
#3 I have had no success in getting the headset 100% tight. No matter what I do it makes a bonking noise on the big hits.
#4 The largest tire that you can fit on the rear is a Tioga Factory DH 2.1. Anything else rubbs. The rear end needs to be bigger to handle at least a 2.3 inch tire.
#5 Just try to keep it squeak free!
#6 The bottom bracket is too low.
| | Bottom Line: | This bike is a blast to ride. I know that this sounds like a gripe email but these short comings are ones that I have found after riding the bikes for 1.5 years. Overall it is a great all around mountain bike and I love to ride it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john host
a Downhiller
from colorado, denver,usa
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | frame, rear suapension, | | Weaknesses: | it need a bigger frount fork like the Monster.T | | Bottom Line: | it is the best free ride bike with a bigger frount fork | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braden Hughes
a Weekend Warrior
from St.Albert AB (CANADA)
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban Stuff *THE ONLY STUFF* | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Revolution Cycle | | Strengths: | The JuniorT and VanillaR,Gotta love the plushness,Will never see the day they bottom out, DISCS RULE!!, mmmmargghhh XTR! | | Weaknesses: | Odd position of bottom bracket (I found it low), Stem is poopy | | Similar Products Used: | Other hardtail bikes and Scotts steed (GT i-drive carbon fiber) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for odessy twisted platform pedals | | Bottom Line: | SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEETSWEET | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Milde
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Crawford trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | gerics cycle | | Strengths: | beefy frame,great fork and shock combo, 8 inch hayes up front | | Weaknesses: | chianrings are super soft, tires dont inspire a whole lot of confidence,bottom bracket to low, with new tires its pushing 40 lbs | | Similar Products Used: | giant ac,diamond back | | Bike Setup: | stock,intense comp 60 tires odi handgrips | | Bottom Line: | awsome bike, I love it. it tracks and handles well. I found a guy who makes a linkage to increase the rear travel to a true 7 inches. A monster t with this linkage and youve got a killer bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from chico CA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | chico sports ltd. | | Weaknesses: | the frame | | Bike Setup: | all stock | | Bottom Line: | the first day a took it on a ride i was doing 3 and 4 foot jumps getting used to the bike and on one of the 3 footers the head tube and the seat mast both cracked i havent even had the bike a week i have always riden specialized and swore by them but i wont anymore not after what happen | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stiff
a Downhiller
from Seoul
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Seoul's many steeps | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | warranty | | Strengths: | versatile | | Weaknesses: | Not 5.2" travel--measure it.
Low BB
Very weak stays | | Similar Products Used: | see below | | Bike Setup: | see below | | Bottom Line: | This review supplements my review below from Sept 00. I cracked the swingarm, reported it to the local Specialized distributor in mid March. It's now May 23rd and I haven't heard anything--even after e-mails to the distributor and a call to Specialized USA! This is exactly the situation I was trying to avoid by staying with a global brand and living in Korea. So I'm adjusting my rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby Lordan
a Downhiller
from Tennasee. pPickle town
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Snow summit vermont | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Northbrook cyclery | | Strengths: | This bike is sweet. The frame is gigantic and the gussets are bigger than a dh bikes. It can be hucked off a 35 foot drop and not bottom, beleive me!!!!! Thgis thing has not bottomed yet and I way 150 pounds, with the preloadset at the softest setting. | | Weaknesses: | none!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Gti race,rm6,rm7,santa cruze super 8 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, marzochie qr20 z3,hayes hydrolic disc brakes, big arm cranks,fox vinilla r shock. specialized handle bars and stem. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that tis bike can do more than a DH bike. It is more versitile and therfore much more fun. The bike is plush as he-dubble hockysticks and I have yet to feel it bottom. The 35 foot drops are to easy now, I must find bigger ones!!! The bike just looks sweet and rides like an M1 with .5 of an inch less travel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeremy riggs
a
from pen argyl, pa
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | BIKE KING, CLINTON NJ | | Strengths: | i just bought the 2001 bh pro frame because i wanted something that could take bigger hits, and this bike eats them up. i have a mcr qr20 on the front and the frame came with a vanilla rc for the rear. ryno lite wheels with irc kujo dn tires(great tires) xt stuff except for the cranks. i kept the specialized big arms on the bike and they work pretty well. azonic shorty stem and kevlar dh seat. most of the stock specialized stuff(bars,seatpost,stem,etc) is junk. it would be ok for a xc bike, but not for freeriding or light downhill. the hayes eight inch rotor on the front is worth it, the bike is a little on the heavy side. other than that the bike rides like a dream and puts a grin on my face every time i look at it. the $2000 i spent on it was well worth it. there are still two left at the bike shop where i got mine, and i heard they were not sending anymore from the factory. so if you want one, buy it now! | | Weaknesses: | none so far other than the crappy specialized seatpost and bar | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullit with similiar specs | | Bike Setup: | marzzochi mcr qr20, fox vanilla rc, hayes hydro, some azonic stuff, irc kujo dh, xt stuff, etc etc etc | | Bottom Line: | if you are looking for a freeride/light downhill bike for around $2000, this is the bike to buy. lots of bike for the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tobias
a Downhiller
from Glendora
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | a trail at 45 degrees or more | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Incycle | | Strengths: | This is one beefy mamajama. The forks are great, eats up the small bumps, justs as good as the big. I've thrown maga drops, stairs, and everything on Gods green earth. | | Weaknesses: | The tires, umm, well, suck. The head set gets weak after hard riding and jump and drops. All the specialized stuff is crap. Take it off and burn it. | | Similar Products Used: | I have a schwinn S-30, but it doesn't compair to what the "Big-Hit" is. | | Bike Setup: | I put raceface turbine cranks, mr. drit gizmo chain guide, and thats all i can think of. | | Bottom Line: | ahhh, the bottom line. you have to ride it to believe it. you can even look at it to see the madness this bike packs for the denaro. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tattoos
a Weekend Warrior
from God's Country
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1999.00 | | Purchased At: | Wooden Wheels | | Strengths: | Beefy Baby! 3" tire clearance in the rear, 24" rear, Sealed bearings all through the rear, STRONG rear triangle, plush travel, Beauty of a frame, decent cranks this year, adjustable, Did I mention strong frame? Factory spec unbelievable at this price! Dual suspension w/ 6.5" travel, f/r full hydro disc brakes, all the shiznit for 2 grand? Whow!!! | | Weaknesses: | Stock: fork sux, pedals suck, bottom bracket too low, hmmm... that's about it.
Oh yeah, the tires. They grip, grip, grip, WHAM! no grip. | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | stock 2001 Big Hit + stratos S7 fork, snafu pedals, Azonic shorty stem, Arrow Primewide 3" tires a few other goodies, etc... | | Bottom Line: | This is for the 2001 model- no review catagory for this one yet, so I will review it later in said forum when available.
This bike rox! Best ride I have had yet, and have a total of less than 3 grand sunk into it! My '98 FSR was no match for this one, and I had 4 grand into that one!
There is no other bike on the market with so much for so little. I put a Stratos S7 on for a head angle of 66.5 degrees, turning this baby into a freeriding beast!
Get one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david friesen
a Downhiller
from edmonton,CANADA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | one with big drops | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Revelution cycle | | Strengths: | The bike is strong and can handle anything. I did a 15 footer last weekend. | | Weaknesses: | Some of the components, and it can only fit a 2.4 at the very most and it wears the frame a bit. | | Similar Products Used: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | Stratos s7, double wide rims, race face north shore cranks,and big tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you change a few of the components this bike is sweet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
francois
a Downhiller
from montreal
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | bromont all trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | abc cycle and sport | | Strengths: | rear suspension
new frame
24 rear wheel
good adjustability travel and angle
3 inch rear tire clearance
marzocchi in front
8 inch hayes rotor in front
| | Weaknesses: | too much specialized cheap products ( bar stem hub)
z3 insteed of super t
TIRE (give them to your worst friend)
424 pedal(plastic cage) | | Similar Products Used: | norco shore dh
rm6 | | Bottom Line: | the bike work very well very plush
so much better tthan next year big hit
i will review it later in the year
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
foreign loren
a Weekend Warrior
from connecticut
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | holy sh*t | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | great all a round freerider,8ft drops a breeze. | | Weaknesses: | jr-t springs to soft,replaced with mountainspeed springs.all so replaced rear shock with mountianspeed bigger hit kit. | | Similar Products Used: | intense uzzi-dh and tracer | | Bike Setup: | maxis tires,mrp front springs and bigger hit kit. | | Bottom Line: | first off no problems with my cranks!( 2nd) Change your front springs to your own body weight .It will make a big difference on your landings.(3rd) Go for the bigger hit kit if you plan on doing 6ft or more drop ins.I broke my shock pivit the 2nd week of riding.(4th) who cares about the big chain ring I use it to protect my smaller ones.(5th) Have fun riding and beat it up!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Repack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Travel, travel, & more travel. Brakes, frame, shocks, forks, wheels. | | Weaknesses: | chain rings, cranks, BB, seat, seat post | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Monkey lites, ODC grips, Raceface Cranks & rings, Body Geometry seat, Raceface seat post, lizard skins, | | Bottom Line: | I reviewed this last May. Since then, I've re-located to SoCal from NoCal. I miss the quality rides in NoCal, but I've found real challenges in SoCal as well. The bike just gets better! I bent the middle chain ring, so I put in an FSA BB, and Raceface cranks/rings. I switch from Time Atac's to platforms and back depending on what I'm doing. If you're a Clydesdale, get a 2000 Big Hit, or better yet, look what they've done to it for 2001 - a TruVativ splined BB yet! My wife would kill me if I tried for a trade-in... oh well, net, net - coil-over, Jr T's, just the best! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan chapman
a Downhiller
from denver
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | creek side, steamboat | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150000.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle village | | Strengths: | best deal on a freeride bike. jr.t, hayes disc, rino lite rims what the he!L else could u ask for, it is a dope ride | | Weaknesses: | rear chainstays, bottom bracket, and thats it also dosent climb very well and is a little heavy, but what the hell who cares | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale sv 1000 fr | | Bike Setup: | titec hellbent bar, azonic hammer stem, panaracer dh tires, raceface north shore crank set w/ mrp chainguide, xt casette, xt shifter, azonic platform pedals, raceface headset and i think thats it | | Bottom Line: | this bike kicks a$$ and it does awsome on big drops, stairs and other stuff that u throw in its way. this bike is probably the best deal out there for only 2200.00 $. i got it for 1500 because i work at a bike store. the jr t is awsome and same with all the other stuff. if your looking for a good freeride bike, this is your answer, it has it all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stiff
a Downhiller
from Seoul, Korea
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Whitetail 4(a) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | warranty | | Strengths: | Affordable 5" of decent travel.
Can be ridden uphill, just in case you have no car and no lifts (like me).
Widely adjustable geometry.
It's not a 'real' DH bike. | | Weaknesses: | BB too low, even w/ MX6! ('98 FSR Extreme didn't have this problem).
Rear stays only accept a 26x2.35 at most. | | Similar Products Used: | Stinky, '98 FSR Extreme/MRP6", GTi, M1, gaggle of XC and FR HTs, Mantis Pro-floater | | Bike Setup: | Stratos MX6 20mm, XT disc front, v rear, 26" wheels w/ XC and/or DH tires (2.35r,2.6f), 2000lx triple crankset, Monkeylite riser, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I'll only review the frame here, since I didn't buy the whole bike, just got the frame from Specialized as warranty.
For those reviewers who complain it's not a real DH bike, no duh! Get a real DH bike if that's what you want. This will do for all-around serious riding, though, and if you do break it, Specialized will probably take care of you. I live in Korea, so that's a big issue for me--I needed an approachable company with a global presence b/c I will break everything eventually. I actually thought the FSRs I have would suck, but actually they turned out to be quite nice (except the low BB on the y2k models). There is no obstacle that this frame can't overcome with a competent rider, it's just that you might not be able to do it as fast as on a full-on DH race rig, some of which have twice the travel as the Big Hit. But it's also not a XC bike at all. Some might say it's got the worst of both worlds, but Specialized got much of it right, with the major exceptions of the painfully low BB, and the inability to put a bigger 26" meat on the rear. Those are serious concerns that preclude the 5th and last flaming pile of dooky. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AL'S FATTY
a
from 3R
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | BEST F**KIN' VALUE OUT THERE, PERIOD!!
JR. T'S AND HAYES DISKS ON A BIKE FOR $2000, HOLY $HIT BATMAN!! | | Weaknesses: | SOME CHEAP COMPONENTS, BUT HEY, THAT'S WHAT MAKES MTN. BIKING FUN; UPGRADING!!! | | Similar Products Used: | FSR ELITE, ENDURO COMP | | Bike Setup: | ALL HOPPED UP NOW. A FREERIDING DREAM. IT EVEN HAS NITROUS OXIDE BOOSTERS. BRAAAHHHHP!! | | Bottom Line: | UNLESS YOUR AN IDIOT, YOU NEED NOT LOOK ANY FURTHER FOR A FULL BLOW FREERIDE BIKE FOR A KILLER PRICE. CHECK IT OUT: JR. T'S, SUN RHINO LITE'S, SEALED BEARING HUBS, SEALED BEARING PIVOTS, LX/XTR GROUP, 2.2 TIRES, HAYES HYDRAULIC DISKS F/R, 1.5" RISER BARS, STRONGARM 2 CRANKS, NEED I CONTINUE?.... SURE, SOME THINGS NEED TO BE UPGRADED, LIKE THE HEADSET, SEAT AND MAYBE THE TIRES, BUT OUT OF THE BOX YOU'RE READY FOR SOME SERIOUS FUN IN THE SUN. THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER BIKE FOR THIS PRICE THAT WILL GIVE YOU A STIFFY LIKE THIS ONE WILL, I PROMISE YOU! SO TAKE YOUR HAND OFF OF YOUR MOUSE RIGHT NOW AND GO OUT AND BUY ONE!!! AND IF ANY ONE KNOCKS IT, JUST REMEMBER THIS, THEY WOULDN'T KNOW A GOOD BUY IF IT WERE TATOOED INTO THEIR A$$. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from seattle
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The Hayes disc brakes, Jr T fork , Fox Vanilla R | | Weaknesses: | Everything else on the bike has bent,broken, or cracked | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain RM-6, Intense M1 | | Bike Setup: | sunn mammoth and BFR 24 " rims, profile cranks , JR T , Hayes , azonic shorty stem, profile bars , wellgo platforms | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden this bike for 8 months very consistantly. I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. I have ridden this bike on the North Shore, ski resorts , local and national DH races. I enjoy the way the bike handles steeps , drops big and small as well as urban riding
In my opinion this is a bike that over time will break itself down. I have broken my swingarm, the linkage plate, and now the front triagle of the frame. If you own one of these bikes pay very close attention to these areas when you`re are cleaning and maintaining your bike. Specialized has been very good about replacing the broken parts. That being said if you really want to go big and ride shore style this might not be a good bike for you.
I think it`s a good bike for hard agressive cross country style riding. It climbed very well for a bike that weighs around 38 pounds with a 24 inch rear wheel in the rear. It definitely not a bike for the gram counters.
Please keep in mind that these are my experiences if you `re seriously considering this bike do some research and ask around your local area if anyone has one, feel free to E-mail with any questions about the bike
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
camel clutch tactics
a Downhiller
from Vicotia B.C.
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | DHin in Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Jr.T's and hayes disc brakes and overall price | | Weaknesses: | Cranks sucks, they sound like the ones one my $100 ten speed with the handle bars turned up. Bigger spring on rear 800lber feels better.The stem, tires and seat removed right away and replaced with a roox danny jr stem, 2.6 gazzie on the front and a 2.35 kujo on the back and a nrg dh seat. The big ring was replaced with a envy rock ring.The specialized cranks would not stay tight and bent out so they were replaced with Kooka freeride cranks which rule. the biggest baddest things made period, check them out. Waiting since March for a new crank arm from specialized | | Similar Products Used: | vps 2 and 3 pipeline and a stinky | | Bike Setup: | The set up is listed above with the weaknesses. | | Bottom Line: | Aside from the cheap specialed parts the bike feels great the geometry feels good and the front end pops up nicely. The bike is not a bad climber and rips on the downhills.I love it more and more everyride. I give it 4 big ones and 5 if specialized would get rid of the cheap components. If you like to ride up or downhill and want a good bike for your buck. Buy it you can always up grade the parts later as you get the cash. If you live in Victoria, Russ Hayes does not sell specialized, but they have the parts you need to dial in your ride and the staff to look after you. Trust me!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Leonard
a Downhiller
from Montreal, Qc, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont World Cup | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Specialized Warranty | | Strengths: | New bearings
Adjustable suspension
Soft and hard at the same time | | Weaknesses: | Not suited for downhill... What kind of guy can say he's a downhiller when he as a front e-type derailleur that allows only 42-touth chainrings??? | | Similar Products Used: | FSR Elite last year... | | Bike Setup: | I jammed all of my last years good stuff onto my super 8 so my FSR has the Manitou X-Vert R, Deore derailleurs and V-brake, Race Face cranks (cause you CAN'T trust specialized cranks) and many other nice stuff | | Bottom Line: | This bike is my XC/Freeride bike, i also use it to go to work... It's a lot better than last year but it's a XC bike more than a DH... The suspension is good even when hitting the road to work... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Barnett
a Downhiller
from Whistler, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | CrackAddict | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Hayes, XTR rear, SUN rims, Jr.T's, DX pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Tires, Cranks, rings. | | Similar Products Used: | Stab Deelux, Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Intense 2.7 on front, Rokko 2.4 on rear, get rid of those stock tires, fast! | | Bottom Line: | Good stuff, I'm a big kid, so I have to get heavier spring put in the back, (800 lbs), and lots more oil in the front. One that's done it's killer. Had the BigHit for a month and a half now, gone though a few parts (mostly stock specialized stuff. Great setup for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Aliso Viejo,CA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ones that make me grin | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Tough frame, Jr.T fork, FSR linkage(pedaling efficiency),DX646 pedals, Vanilla R(adjustability), Hayes Disc Brakes, XTR rear deraileur, Sun Rims(I haven't had any probs yet), And, It looks Like it wants to kick your ass!! | | Weaknesses: | CHAINRINGS!!! The big one is like it's made of butter(warped and ground off teeth way to easily), LX front der. & shifters(work well enough but could be better), SADDLE(piece O'$#!+), tires(not too nifty),Freewheel Hub(noisy) | | Similar Products Used: | '99 FSR Pro(SID) | | Bike Setup: | Pretty much stock except for IRC Kujo DH 2.35 tires, Body Geometry seat, and I'm getting new chainrings real soon(Shimano XT,XTR combo) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is just plain fun to ride! Uphill... kinda sucks, but what do you expect from a 33lbs.pig? The gearing makes it easier and the FSR linkage really does work amazingly well,so just sit and spin as they say. Downhill.... let me just say one thing... Ear to Ear my friends. You'll be pickin' bugs from your teeth due to the intense grin factor that this bike produces on descents. If you don't already know this, Marzocchi means PLUSH in Italian. The bike does it all, which is what I was looking for. I can't afford multiple bikes, so I had to find the most versatile rig I could get my hands on for a very reasonable amount of cash. I think the Big Hit fits the bill. If the weight scares you, don't let it, it will just make you a stronger rider in the long run right? Anyway I recommend it to anyone who likes to go downhill but needs to ride to the top too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mathias
a Downhiller
from Austria
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Garda (Italy) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Suspension, Hayes brakes, Rims, Frame(handling) | | Weaknesses: | Tires, Tubes, Weight (mine weights 16.5 Kilo) | | Similar Products Used: | Heavy Tools & Hi Tec Hardtail, 99 Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Sun Doublewide front rim, Tioga Factory DH 2.3 Tires, Panaracer DH tubes, Time Pedals, Sram 9.0SL Woody rear derailleur | | Bottom Line: | I have got 1500 kilometers on the bike now and there are no troubles, Ok, I killed the front rim when I thougt the bike can fly like a plane and the tires are sh**t but wit better tires there is nothing that can stop a Big Hit rider on his bike!!
It's not the lightest Bike but if you wana ride cross country then buy a enduro or stumpjumper!
And if you wana ride ass kickin' downhill trails but need to get on the top of the hill first the Big Hit is the Ideal bike for you, climbed up a 2000 meter high Mountain without troubles!
If you want to buy a Big Hit and have some questions you can send me an E- Mail to bighit@bikerider.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Urban Dynamo
a Downhiller
from Layton UT USA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | +High performance Marzocchi JR. T fork
+XTR rear derailleur
+Fox Vanilla R rear shock
+Price | | Weaknesses: | -Specialized Strongarm II crankset
-Skinny Tires
-High seat post
-Rims
-Headset
-Thin swing arms | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR Elite
K2 Disco Monkey | | Bottom Line: | Specialized didn't try very hard to make this a good DH bike, I dont even think the Big Hit is a downhill bike! Look at the skinny tires, the presta valved tubes, the thin swing arm, and really high seat post. I would rather reffer to the Big Hit as a extra long travel XC bike. Things I liked were the suspension, Marzocchi JR. T (5 inch travel) and Fox Vanilla R, which had a smooth smooth feel. Both front and rear suspension are equally adjustable. The frame handled alright even though I experienced slight cracking on the head tube. The Price is alright for the Big Hit even though it should have been at least $1900. I totally hated the tires, rims crankset, and headset because they cant handle downhill riding. After doing serious downhilling on that bike 3 times, those components above were starting to fall apart. I also think the rear suspension swing arm should have been thicker.
((((((((((((((((((((Bottom Line))))))))))))))))))))))))))
:) Ideal buyer- Extreme XC rider looking for a lot of travel.
:( Non Ideal buyer- DH rider who expects alot of performance from any so called DH bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Frame, Hayes, Jr't, adjustable geometry, Sun rims | | Weaknesses: | Cranks, sun rims, BB | | Similar Products Used: | Kona U'hu | | Bike Setup: | Maxxis 2.5 front, Maxxis 2.35 rear | | Bottom Line: | Had the bike for a few months, done some downhills with it, the cranks suck, they flex much too much for any kind of serious riding. I scratched the slider on the fork and spewing oil on the front disk brake and caliper. The frame is holding up but the rear linkage comes loose on fast downhills (not too comforting). Overall the bike is still good, I may get the rear wheel hand built with better spokes. Change those tires to something bigger, the bike likes speed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bing
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Hayes Disk Brakes, Sun Ryno Rims, JrT forks and Fox rear Shock | | Weaknesses: | LX shifters, chainring, stock tyres | | Similar Products Used: | Earlier model FSR duallies. | | Bike Setup: | Maxxis Mobster 2.7 up front, 2.3 Michelin on the rear. SDG bigboy saddle | | Bottom Line: | Having owned earlier models of the FSR, all i can say is that they get better every year.
The bike will just about go anywhere and is best suited for bombing downhill runs.
and it's not as heavy as most people make out. compared to other bikes priced in this
range. If you are after a bike that can be ridden all day long whether it be XC or DH
you definately can't go wrong with this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
STINGING nettle
a Downhiller
from seattle
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | the fork and rims | | Weaknesses: | most of the parts such as cranks and BB | | Similar Products Used: | rocky RM6 | | Bike Setup: | stock except changed seat, profile cranks and bar, azonic shorty and, 2.7 and 2.35 tires | | Bottom Line: | I thought I`d write an update about the bike. It has continued to perform well but I did crack the frame near the BB pivot on the rear chainstay. It didn`t break on the weld. I would like to point out that it took one phone call and 3 days to have a new frame. I couldn`t ask for better customer service. I feel that all bikes out there will eventually fail it`s just figuring out who will give you the best service when it comes time to replace it. This is definitely a consideration to think about if you plan to really ride the bike hard. I don`t think it can be beat for the price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Weara Cup
a Cross Country Rider
from Your back yard, USA
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Cajones | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | doesn't break in the store. This bike is great for anyone who is tired of having sex. | | Weaknesses: | Breaks on the trail. Requires the use of a cup -- yes, the kind they use in baseball. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing this cheap | | Bike Setup: | low-end, sweat shop, taiwanese (maybe chinese)gizmos | | Bottom Line: | Personally I don't own this bike. My friend, however, had owned his for less than a month when the seat tower broke off, sending him onto his back wheel, reaming out his sphincter and nearly ripping his nut sac from his body.
Anyone who rides a light weight, interrupted seat-tube frame runs the risk of sudden castrastion. So to all of you Big Hit riders -- Happy Trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raven
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | North Shore Vancouver BC Canada | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Hayes brakes. Jr and Vanilla shocks. The whole thing is amazing | | Weaknesses: | It is on the heavy side but who cares? | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Hey, have you been to vancouver? The riding up here is 2-3 years ahead of its time. I am considered an old guy at 25. There are 14 year olds droping 10 feet on the fly. Its crazy!!! This months mountain bike magazine writes about. I suggest the North Shore of Vancouver for your next mountain bike trip!
Oh yeah, the bike is sweet too | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tobias
a Downhiller
from Glendora, Ca. good ol U.S. of A
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any good dirt trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Marzocchi Jr. T's, need I say more? Hayes disc brakes. Fox vanilla shock. Sun Rhyno Lite. | | Weaknesses: | Well, the first thing I replaced before I bought the bike was the seat and the peddles. The tubes are like plasitc, the cranks are sh-t. And thats all I can see wrong with this bike.
| | Similar Products Used: | I have a Shwinn S-30, but that doesn't even get close to the Big Hit. | | Bike Setup: | Race Face Turbine cranks, Gizmo chain guide, stiffy stem, Mishlin Hot-S frnt-bck, Coda seat. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is this is a great bike fore the money. I got mine used for $1650, only been ridden once and thats a steal for this bike. The Jr. T's have held up aganst anything I've thrown at them. The brakes work wonders, even in the mud and rain. The Sun rims are bullit proof. They've stood up against things I didn't think rims could withstand. Anyway, this is a great bike for it's money. Thats why I'm givin' it 5 of everything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D UDE
a Cross Country Rider
from South Jordan, UT
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good suspension package, good brakes, strong frame, all for a reasonable price. The Junior T up front is my best insurance policy- it soaks up all my mistakes and keeps me rolling! | | Weaknesses: | S-parts, but how else can you get all you get for this price? The bottom bracket is junk, tubes are weak, look at them the wrong way and they go flat. Almost not enough clearance for a 2.3 tire on the back, with a capable bike like this I can't see using smaller tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Hardtails- It's a whole different world on a DS bike | | Bike Setup: | Shorty stem, Answer Pro Taper bar, Tioga DH 2.3 front & rear. Tioga multi control saddle, | | Bottom Line: | This bike gives you the most bang for the buck if you want a "freeride" machine. I didn't have to look any further than the Hayes disc brakes, Junior T fork, and the 5.3" travel Fox coil-over FSR rear end. This bike has given a new face to my favorite trails, it feels sweet on the jumps, likes to ride wheelies, and it has saved my bacon numerous times when I've gotten a little over-zealous on the downhill. I give it four chillies over-all because I think key parts like the bottom bracket should work well no matter what- and mine is a piece of bleep. It's getting replaced tonight at the LBS with something solid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stinging nettle
a Downhiller
from seattle
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Jr T fork , Sunn rhyno lites , fox shock , | | Weaknesses: | bottom bracket , tires and tubes , fenders | | Similar Products Used: | similar freeride style bikes, Rocky Mountain , Kona | | Bike Setup: | It was stock until I began to bend and break certain items. I replaced the cranks,seat, tires & tubes | | Bottom Line: | This bike is an excellent bike for the money. I think people will always find faults no matter who made the bike. I've broken my linkage plate and bottom bracket. I don't fault Specialized for this it was due to the nature of the riding that I choose to do. I will say that I had a new linkage plate from Specialized in 3 days with no questions asked. I was very impressed with their warranty service. I've put this bike through hell and back and it's surviving very well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Sausalito, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | fork, shock, rims, frame | | Weaknesses: | seat, handlebars, tires | | Similar Products Used: | looked at Kona Mokomoko, Enduro Pro | | Bike Setup: | monkeylite high riser, body geometry seat, ODI grips, 800# spring on rear, HD springs in front, Ritchey ZEDs front and back. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a Clydesdale, 225#, I need coil-over, heavy duty springs, and a good downhill run. This thing goes up hills righteously, and then, you put your ears back, and drop in... Say it after me, "Gravity is my friend". This bike rocks! Technical section, no problem, rocky section, no problem. End of ride, major problem! Buy this bike, if you, like me, are over 6' and over 200#. It doesn't get any better than this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Burning Indica
a Racer
from Grass Valley, CA,
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cardiac Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Bike goes FAST downhill
JUNOR T! BOMB PROOF!
Rear suspention bombs downhill- goes uphill well (in the saddle)
Sun rims can take a beating and survive.
got a year free tune ups at the shop (big for me because i hate wrenching on my bikes- but love to trash them)
| | Weaknesses: | Heavy! but who cares
bottom bracket sucks- mine lasted one week
Stock tires suck- and flatted the tubes right away.
Broke one of the petals (the outer cage) kinda heavy too and are not any more stable than lighter versions.
Headset will not stay tight- think i broke something in it.
All S! brand parts.
Crank arms and rings are heavy- and not that stiff (but i new this when i bought the bike.
Hayes arent that great. they work- but im not that impressed with them.
Oh ya- busted the bolt that holds the crank rings and arms on right on half- came off during a ride and caused a nasty wreck. Didnt cost much to fix the bike but took me a week to heal up.
| | Similar Products Used: | Swin 4 banger- one of those ugly cannondale things- GT I-Drive- Rocky Mountain RM6, Ventana El Chicio. | | Bike Setup: | Stock (not for long!) | | Bottom Line: | Cool bike. I love it. Fun to ride. I ride hard and was looking for a bike that was a bit more fun to ride than my hardtail. I bought this bike just for Freeriding fun thinking that i would ride my hardtail (20 pound Ventana) the rest of the time, since i commute to work on my bike. But i like this bike so much that i use it instead of the ventana. Sure its a bit heavy- but that can only help my endurance later- plus one of my goals is to make this bike lighter. My only complaints are the parts i keep breakin- maybe i just push it a bit too much but my hardtail seems more durable- this is mainly due to the S! brand parts- which is no big shock- and i new I'd be replacing stuff that broke- but a bottom bracket in a week? - and what about breaking the crank in half while riding? - sure i was riding a bit too extreme but i broke the bolt that holds the rings and the crank arms in half- and the end result of that part failure was not pretty. Other than that the rest of the bike is solid. I love the Junior T, the suspention is just so plush, the rims really are tough- ive stuffed them into rocks that would have bent my other bikes rims in half and the suns are still true as the day i bought them, and the bike descends like its possesed. The Hayes work better than vbrakes- but they are loud and take constant maintainence (it could be that the bike is ready for its first good tune up- and everything is just getting lose- but the humming is getting old quick), they stop well enough but i see room for improvement (Read: Hope 04 discs)the bottom line is once i get it lighter and stronger this is my dream bike- but until then it lacks just a bit. But for the price- its exactly what i expected. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bevan Erickson
a Downhiller
from Provo, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | gooseberry mesa | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Bomber triple clamp fork in front, fox in back, hayes brakes. Plush, plush, plush. FOR 2,000!!!!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Still looking for some. Took the recommendation of others here and bought another seat, yet haven't had a problem with the stock. Heard that teeth on the crank were weak, but haven't seen anything. Plan on flatting out the stock tubes on your first or second ride, if you are riding hard or have any chance of thorns. (they are THIN!!!) | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Super V 900, Schwinn High Sierra (first production mountain bike) | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | I can't believe I've gone this long without this kind of travel. I've wiped out pretty bad and the bike has held up well. Taken some nice drop offs and some beefy bolders at high speeds. This bike is a tank. Feels sturdy, feels fine in the singletrack. I'm blowing by everyone on the downhill. I hate the complaints about climbing ability with Full Suspension. I heard it when I picked up my Cannondale in 92' and had ZERO problems in keeping up and staying AHEAD of hardtails. The Big Hit, although VERY PLUSH, still climbs well. STAY IN YOUR STINKING SEAT AND PUMP EVENLY!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Downhiller
from Aliso Viejo
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Direct Dial | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The fork and rear end. | | Weaknesses: | All S-brand stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | I was looking at the bullit and the RM6 but after spending $5500.00 on a RM9 I was put on a budget. | | Bike Setup: | Stock so far... 'cept the gay ass fenders. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is actually VERY nice. Aside from all the crappy s-brand stuff this bike rocks. I swore that I would NEVER buy a specialized but being put on a budget forces you to open your eyes. I like the suspension and going from 9 inches to a little over 5 is a big difference but I really do like the feel of the bike. Ignore the s-brand stuff and get the bike... replace the stuff as it breaks, you'll be happy with the ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara CA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | tunnel or anything | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | brakes fork and rearend -pretty bomb proof | | Weaknesses: | chainrings, handle bar -broke teeth and too flexy ,made foriegn ,seat | | Similar Products Used: | stinky dee lux -but too expensive sc bullit -but too much too | | Bike Setup: | switched to nokian gazzaloddi 2.6 front and irc kujo 2.35 r will soo be changing seat and cranks /rings and handlebar | | Bottom Line: | overall this is an exceptional bike i got it for cost from a friend who owns a bike shop in SLO so that was a major deciding factor in my purchase i have ridden both the stinky and the bullit but i think that this bike is as good as or better for 1/2 the cost (if you have the hook up)but even at sticker it is a good deal. this bike has taken some major beatings and has held up great . the tire switch has made this bike so much better too (for downhill and jumping that is) but that is what it is made for, xc that is what hardtails are for...i have to say that the s brand stuff kinda stinks but you get what you pay for same goes for that bad saddle which is different on some bikes some have a black and some that red one but both stink i managed to find a happy med with the seatpost too which i originally was concerned about .... to sum up this bike is truely great and i am pleased buy it if you want to do every typew of ride with confidence i give it 4 chiliews for overall because of the s brand stuff but it is still a good deal even if you switch out those parts ........ my advice ride everything and buy what you like dont believe hype | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | MO | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Jr T fork is great, rear end nice and plush. Frame geometry is great for climbing, jumping and bombing. Hayes rule. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom bracket sucks, creaks and pops when climbing, Jr T's need more oil and stiffer springs. Needs some real tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona U'hu with Marzocchi Drop-off | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for tires, 2.35 Maxxis Mofo up front, Hutchinson On the Rocks II 2.0 on rear (wide) | | Bottom Line: | Bike handles great, the frame is awsome. For big guys like me (250lbs), the stock shock setup is too weak. Waiting for new rear spring, an 850lbs Fox and changed oil in Jr T to 15 weight, with heavy springs but thinking about changing to Mountain Speed X-heavy springs and 15 weight oil. Hayes brakes work really well as well the Sun rims are great, already landed a 1.5 meter jump and rims were fine. You gotta change the tires to some bigger meats if you want to have fun. Think of the bike weight as extra downhill fun. The bike climbs steep loose ground like a mountain goat. The drivetrain works well in mud and sand also. Seat feels good so far, but I will invest in a short seat post for the fun stuff. Overall, a kick butt bike. I give it 5 flame'in dead rats | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Novak
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Jr. T fork rocks, a little loose for me though. I might put a stiffer spring in one leg and see how it goes. The Hayes brakes are incredible. The ability to adjust the rear shock and the front pitch is nice. The sun rims are strong, still straight after some hard hits. | | Weaknesses: | Crank has creaked since day one. Now along with creak, after 3 months, getting a popping noise when pumping on right crank, maybe the BB. Chain rings are easy to chew up, even from just normal ridding, the chain has deformed some of the teeth already. The rear brake needs adjustment almost every ride. Is it me or is this rear tire wearing awfully fast? | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except rock ring. Soon to get stiffer springs for the JR.T fork. Might swap crank and rings later. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks! I'm a fan of the JR. T fork, and the Hayes brakes for sure. I have no problem with the seat, it fits my butt fine and its held up pretty good.
The bike may seems a little heavy going up, but who cares when you can rip it up big time on the way down. "There ain't a hill I can't push it up!"
This bike climbs pretty good and kicks A$$ on the downhill. Its the best bike out there for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Racer
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sheoak Rd | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bike Setup: | Stock, thinking about a shorter stem and some XT shifters. | | Bottom Line: | This is an update to an earlier review, now that Ive done a heap of riding on the bike. I am still extremely happy with the bike, it is just so much fun bombong down hills, and its still possible to ride up big hills making it a bike for all occasions. A lot of pepople have commented about the seat being, poor, Ive ragged a few times but the seat is still perfect, the sides are a little scuffed, but the material is still fully intact, and the rails are still perfectly straight. The "troublesome" Specialized bottom bracket is still powering, without slop or noise. (unlike the Specialized BB in my 98 Stumpjumer which blew up early on- maybe Specialized have got it right?) I have found that ive bucked both wheels more than once in 3 months of riding, I do ride pretty hard but I never buckle the custom built Mavic X517's on my Stumpy. The true up okay nonethe less. Forks are still as plusho as the day I got it, Bombers are now my fork of choice. The Hayes disks just got better and better as they bedded in! Also I am quite happy with the performace with the Specialised hubs/cranks, the cranks have had a bit of a beating on rocks/logs but still fine.
Guess I am just saying this bike is great the first ride, and once it's worn in, and loses that 'new feel' is still rides like a champion. If you dont ride one of these, you're missing out! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fast Bacon Mojo
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All over the gnarly planet dude!!!! | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Perfect, solid design; gorgeous linkage for the rear suspension; nice forks; nice geometry; "Phat" railed saddle; and overall, GREAT performance! | | Weaknesses: | MIJ - Made In Japan; assembly fronted welds; bad stickers (what, one wet day?!?!?!); sub-quality components for the money; weight factor...tsk, tsk, tsk. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain RM6; Rocky Mountain Pipeline; Trek VRX series; Kona S-D-Lux | | Bike Setup: | 2 - RM Element Race with full-on free-ride upgrades; and an RM RM6 - getting it this coming weekend, 4 days way (slobber slobber, gasp, slobber). | | Bottom Line: | Really, it came down to "comfort and logic" with this bike - it was seriously an AWESOME feeling ride; great action; and great "squish-factor". And, to boot, a GREAT price. Buy it if you're wondering...it's a nice ride folks. My only concern was its "heritage". The bike is assembled and created in Japan - sure, apparently they have strict codes of tolerance, but for me???? Hmmmmmmmmmmm, Rocky Mountain is a 2 hour drive away, and they are AMPED about C.S. (Customer Service).
Truly, it was a tight,TIGHT decision between the BigHit and the RM6. They are truly comparable in riding characteristics, but quality, engineering, and assembly play a big part in the personality and assurance of the RM6. If you have the coin, go nuts on the BigHit, it's a nice ride (pardoning the slam of the dual crowns against the body's "fuselage"); and that the bike has LX crap on it for that price (WHAAAAA?!?!?!?!?!). Try it, try to KILL it, it's a tough call....buy it if you're ready. Buy the Rocky Mountan RM6 if you're past that stage *grin* | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JD
a Weekend Warrior
from Bremerton, Wa
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Green mtn/Beaver pond | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is my 2nd review and I have nothing but good to say about this bike.(with a few exceptions). 1. Solid frame and plush suspension, need i say more. 2. Outstanding brakes and rims. 3. decent mix of quality and house brand compponents. Ive read the complaints about the S brand seat, but i seem to like it, ive been on worse S brand saddles. | | Weaknesses: | Crappy chainrings(i've lost 3 teeht soo far. very low end for a bike of this price range), S brand stem too short, really light but nonetheless too short for me, LX e type der sucks (wont stay adjusted)S brand hubs are below average. decals started to bubble up after the 2nd ride, what happened to clear coating over them as on my 97 comp. (cost cutting i guess) | | Similar Products Used: | 97 FSR comp, gt rts 2, | | Bike Setup: | First ive made a few changes to suit my ridding style by adding xtr pods, xt rear cassette, race face stem(120mm/15 degree rise), headset, and seat post. Soon race face north shores w/rings with a ring guard, xt BB, xt or xtr front der depending on if i go with a standard or campact cranks. Nonetheless, all of my upgrades are due to Specialize's cost cutting measures to make this bike affordable. | | Bottom Line: | The few flaws this bike has can be easily fixed with a few green backs on pay day. The enjoyment i get out of blazing down sections of my local trails with ease, where's before i'd have to slow way down validates my purchase as being a good one. The geometry set up is pretty damn near perfect for me and it handles pretty well on tight twisty single track and on loose rocky decents. The special riser bar at first seemed a little tall and wide but they seem to play a major role in the added control i have come to enjoy. As for my 97 comp it sits in my closet waiting to be ridden. (hummm, sorta reminds me of woody from the toy story. sorry, i've got kids that have seen it 100 times). Bottom line, you can ride it to the sheer edges of out of control and walk away to talk about it. Nuff Said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Dale City, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Gambrill State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This bike is a beast. When this bike is set up properly its the best deal going on a rugged trail bike. I'm a big guy (6' 2" 275) so I needed to change a couple of things. I upgraded the spring on the rear shock to a 1050 lb. I also put 20 weight oil in the shock. Cutting the seatpost is also neccesary but you can get a happy medium between almost downhilling low-ness and cross country height. I'm just going to get another seat and seatpost for downhilling so I can cut one extra short. I guess i'm the only person reviewing this bike who actually had no problem with the seat. I dig the extra thick rails. I'll tell you one thing...It's lasted longer than my Titec Bezerker K/DH that collaped when I was riding with my 3 year old brother. The Jr. T is awesome. I happen to have the Z1 BAM on my hardtail so I was used to the plush awesome ride. The 5 inches in the front matches the rear suspension beautifully. The Fox shock dampening in awesomely adjustable. If you have the proper spring you can dial the shock in with almost no preload. If you want a more even mix between climbing and decending then get whichever Enduro you can afford...but if you want to decend "like the man" buy this bike....If you can find one. | | Weaknesses: | I couldn't beleive that Specialized put 1.5-1.8 Superlight tubes in my 2.2 tires. This bike deserved better or thicker at least. I ferreted out the tubes with a pinch-flat in like a half hour. The rear tire also got a rip in the sidewall after like 2 rides. The original set of chainrings bent like tin foil. I called Nick at Specialized(x2271.....Thanks Nick.. you rock!!) and he sent me a new crank and told me that they had started using nicer chainrings. I installed a Toothfairy and have had no problem since. The E-type front der. is a pain...it keeps my chain from dropping but its a pain to adjust. Zip tie your Hayes brake cables to keep them from flopping about. If you are going to do some seroius downhilling a beefier stem will come in handy. Use some sort of protection for your chainstay or it will get thrashed....I just wrapped foam handlebar tape (Profile) around it....worked great. I'm undecided about the Shimano platfroms. I'm a Time ATAC devotee but I've kept them on the bike because of the big platform surface...I must say though that they are nowhere in the same galaxy as the Times' when its muddy. Other than that they work just great. | | Similar Products Used: | FSR Enduro, K2 1000 | | Bike Setup: | 1050 lb Fox Spring no preload...dampening half way, 20 weight oil in Jr.T., Profile Maniac DH bars, Zoom DH stem, IRC Kujo 2.25-front, Tyrannoraptor 2.25(seems wider)-rear, Yeti Hard Core locking grips, Tooth Fairy 44 tooth | | Bottom Line: | If you aren't going to have to "balls" to go off the drop off no matter what bike you're on then stay on your Litespeed with full XTR....and continue whipping me up the hills. But we'll see what's up when its time to go down the other side.
This bike will add girth to your hairy bean bag. You will believe that you are invincible. You will yell "hell yeah" at the top of your lungs and you will skid at the end of the rocky downhill and look back watch you buds decending slowly and carefully on their hardtails and short travel fs bikes and you will smile. I'm racing beginner downhill on this bike this summer so I'll keep you posted. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gwaeilo
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chitral - Gilgit, N Pakistan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Update No. 1
Have now spent a few hours in the saddle and am still very happy with this bike. Forks are working well, brakes are strong and show no real signs of rubbing. Had a bit of a mudfest at the w/e which resulted in some squeaking from the rear end but nothing too bad. | | Weaknesses: | Crankset is pretty yukky, not well findised and the rings are pretty weak. The bike has a very low bottom bracket and I have bent the big ring pretty badly already. Will invest in a rock ring and a set of XT cranks soon. | | Similar Products Used: | Y33, SV1000, STS DS | | Bike Setup: | standard | | Bottom Line: | It's fun and can be ridden on long cross country rides quite happily | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Haas
a Downhiller
from Salinas
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | log cabin, wilder natl. park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Marchochi plushness teamed up with the fox coil over vanilla make for a confident feeling ride. Hayes leads the industry and after you try these in 6" you can appreciate the 8" however the 6" has yet to fade even on the longest drops I've bombed down. adjustable head angle is nifty. lawill design rear ends track under power and on the brakes, try that on a canondale raven, or santa cruz heckler. | | Weaknesses: | fork needs external rebound and preload adjustments. the seat, what a piece of &*$#*&$(*, replace before your first ride, better yet have your dealer keep it and credit you with the value towards a real seat.) the suspencion needs to be a little easier to service, why the hell don't these things have mini zert fittings? the Decals will look like crap after your first couple rides, lucky thing they come right off. bottom bracket will be toast in the first hours of use if you ride this bike like it is designed. | | Similar Products Used: | you kidding? there really ain't any. the FSR enduro's I recon' | | Bike Setup: | heavier springs from Marzochi to compensate for my 195 lb gerth. Beserker D/H saddle. | | Bottom Line: | the truth is if they had chairlifts where I ride this wouldn't be my first choice. However I have to peddle up what I ride down. this bike ain't bad to grind on. it is a blast to show off on. It wheelies, does a good job of bombing off anything. and it keeps you riding when alot of other bikes will have you walking. I have bottomed out but only after a serious miscalculation of a ledge drop. most of the stuff I hit have been sucked up and the Sun rims are tough, this bike ain't light. it ain't a Downhill rig, it is a pretty good allrounder with a better hand at going verticle. it will never win a race, but it will get ridden more than any bike in my quiver. wish it was available in a different color. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Leonard
a Cross Country Rider
from Snellville, GA USA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | JR. T is very plush which allows great control on downhills and jump landings. The front and rear suspension works very well together. The ride is very plush. The Hayes brakes are always right on the money. The riding position is very nice, frame set up allows for great control of the bike. Rear suspension soaks up most bumps in the trail for great comfort climbing and blistering speed on the decents. This bike gives the rider MUCH more control than you can find on any hardtail. Once you get used to the geometry of the bike it is an effecient climber. The specialized tires hook up very well in all conditions. The fenders my look funny but they are wonderful. They work! | | Weaknesses: | Hayes brakes are difficult to keep in adjustment, they tend to be noisy and drag is very difficult to eliminate. Check bolt tension in all of the rear suspension linkage upon arrival. I had several parts come loose on the trail. If the rear skewer does not have A LOT of pressure on it the wheel my come loose under hard climbing. This has happened to me twice. I changed out the rear spring for a 800# spring and even with considerable preload the bike wants to "bob" on steep climbs. I have about 200 miles on the bike so far and have had to true the sun rims twice. The hayes hydrolic cables will munch whatever they rub against so watch for rub points and correct with lizard skins or tape. My hydrolic housings wore a groove on the crown of the front fork and on the rear part of the frame. The freewheel is noisy. The seat is very very bad remove it and replace upon delivery! | | Bottom Line: | This is a great buy for anyone who is looking for an affordable "freeride" bike. The big hit does well in most mountan biking areas. Don't worry about all of the extra weight, just ride this bike and you will have a huge grin. It is very fast on the downhills and friendly on the climbs. A great all mountain bike. Five stars on the grin factor! Is this a light XC bike? NO. Is this a 35 pound downhill machine? No. This is a true FREERIDE bike, get on one and you will have a great time! Just ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Theo
a Downhiller
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Hill (Mt Beauty) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Forks. Hayes brakes, but change those rotors!!!! 6' SUCK!! | | Weaknesses: | Fenders.. Great to use, but whats up with that rear one???? | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Deelux, Specialized S-Works, Mountain Cycle shockworks | | Bike Setup: | Mavic 321 rims with Shimano hubs, 8' rotors on my hayes brakes, SDG Bel-Air seat, Hutchinson Jumbo 2.45 tyres, Azonic bars, Shorty stem, LX cranks, Odyssey Twisted pedals | | Bottom Line: | Well I guess you could say for the money the bike is damn good. But PLEASE change those damn rotors!!! I hate 6'.. Theres no big "grab" on the brakes.. Try the 8' and then you'll see what I mean.. Jr T's work ok I guess. Getting some new DNM's soon. Rear end is ok.. Want more travel though.. Overall a pretty cool ride.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gwaielo
a Cross Country Rider
from sydney, australia
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | dai mo shan, hong kong | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Always loved those mazocchis, its pretty cheap, brakes are good so far. THEY MAKE IT IN XL. | | Weaknesses: | Steep climbing ability, tyres a little lightweight | | Similar Products Used: | GT STS, Trek Y33, C'dale sv1000 | | Bike Setup: | Stock minus fenders | | Bottom Line: | Recent purchase, rode it 60km last w/e. Wanted a cross country bike with some d/h potential, this fulfills requirements very well, managed a new best time on a long singletrack ride. Don't really notice the extra 10lbs over my hardtail but it does get pretty bouncy on Vsteep granny climbs, but they all do, don't they? Not much choice available for xl suspension bikes, just this and cannondale.
Will post again in a couple of months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Freefall
a Downhiller
from Salinas, California
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any verticle one (steeper is better) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | brakes by hayes need I say more, fork is plush lots of stroke, bit soft and flexy on the big drops, it ain't no monster T but it don't cost a grand either. price is way out front in this catagory, bike drops in like bikes with 3 times this price. | | Weaknesses: | seat is bagged, replace instantly, bottom bracket started squackin, first ride, total failure second ride, replaced with xt. steel chainwheels, what the *^$$$($($%(%$@@}{*_ is up with that, cable and brake line routing sucks, hangs up in ever brush pile I go through, ( it's easier than going 'round 'em) little tie wrap work and it is fine. | | Similar Products Used: | nada, there ain't any. own an intence and a foes pro. this thing is my "little " downhiller, it gets more peddle time than my big buck rides | | Bike Setup: | Beserker seat, with ti rails natch, Fork mods; heavier springs and raised oil hight. cut down seat post. | | Bottom Line: | picked this bike up thinking it would be a great loaner for my non bike owning friends, they ride My Intence instead. this thing is fun to play on, It wheelies and carves like a xc bike, sort of. It has enough suspension to roll over most rocks and fallen buddies, it still requires a little peddling. it is the lightest bike in my group of hardware and is the easiest to load on the truck, I am thinking about bagging the front derailer and converting to a nice roller guide single chainwheel set up, that's it. see you on the chairlift | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan G.
a Downhiller
from Laguna Niguel CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Telonics & P.G. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Everything. The Fork(Jr. T), wheels(Sun Ryno Lights), and brakes(Hayes disk) especially kick ass. This bike halls down hills and surprisingly it climbs well too. | | Weaknesses: | The fenders are stupid and you can't lower the seat. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stikky, Rockey Mountain Pipeline, Santa Cruz Bullit, and the GT i-drive (The Big Hit by far the best) | | Bike Setup: | Stock w/o the fenders | | Bottom Line: | The FSR Big Hit is the best freeride/downhill bike on the market and at $2000 it's a great deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Zipper | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I'm not, or was not, a gravity freak, but after buying the BigHit I just rail on desents. The feel is very neutral and balanced, and extreamly forgiving. Wheels are built strong and stiff, the fork rocks, and everthing else just fits right into place. Where my biggest suprise was is how well it climbs, I figured I'd be pushing it alot but instead I'm pulling a few gears above the lowest. Just keep seated and if you stand keep those knees away from the upper fork crown. | | Weaknesses: | The seat sucks, bad. I replaced it after one ride. I had to change the pedals to Time, the big "S" just don't cut it in the mud. | | Similar Products Used: | None
My other ride is a Litespeed Owl Hollow (rigid) with XT, Z1, and a RS seatpost. (It's still my main ride) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for seat and pedals | | Bottom Line: | Rim folding drops on my hardtail are now mearly speed bumps on the BigHit. Long climbs are done seated in the granny, rather than standing in the middle or big ring like my O.H.. Exellent value for the purpose intended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kersbrook | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Jr T Forks
Shimano Pedals
Hayes Brakes
Overall a good downhill package
Price | | Weaknesses: | Mud Guards are practical but not fashionable
Heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose NX 9.7
Specialized 98 FSR Extreme | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | The bike is brilliant! Going downhill there is no hesitation, the forksa and rear end work together beautifully. Bombers are definently the best fork out there I have ever tried. The brakes stop brilliantly, great feel. The bike is setup ready to race, and the colour scheme is a nice finishing touch. This bike gets 'wows' straight out of the box! I found it very heavy but dont mind carting a bit extra up for the rewards down are more than worth it! Great value considering the forks/brakes.If you're after an entry level downhill race bike or just a weekend banger, this is the bike for you. I'ts going to be hard getting back on my Hardtail (Specialized stumpjumper).
Just another great bike from Specialized!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
speedster
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great on the way down. | | Weaknesses: | Lackluster performance on the way up but you can get up the climbs despite the weight. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is sweet if you are in no hurry to get to the top of the hill and it is awsome on the way down. The Jr. T rocks in front, while the spring fox is easy to adjust in back. I can't wait for the summer gtondolas to open so I don't have to ride it up hill any more. The fun is on the way down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jackstraw
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | up-n-down | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Front shock can't be beat unless your Mr. T or is that Monster T. It would take a jackhammer to bend these rims, SUN has been a winner for years. Shimano 646's love to grab a hold on my shoes. | | Weaknesses: | A lot of Specialized parts, but we should be use to this on a Specialized bike. Seems to be a little on the heavy side, but damn I work my ass off on the way up on my hard tail(acording to my scale: Trek 8000(1999) weighs in at 24lbs, Specialized Big Hit(2000)hits a beefy 33.5lbs don't know where the last guy came up with 29.5 we can only wish. FENDERS need I say more. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro Pro, Rocky Mountain Pipeline(what no disc brakes), Kona Stinky(if only I could afford the Stinky Deluxe) | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now, but the seat will have to go! Want to replace crazy specialized chain rings with a nice set of raceface rings. Cranks and hubs will do until the cash flow is elavated. | | Bottom Line: | If I was made of money a better bike I would ride, but bar none this is the plushest ride for under 2grand a guy can click into and fly down the side of any steep hill. I do mean fly!!!!!!!!! This is my first bike with disk brakes they stop like a grasshopper hitting the window of my truck as 65mph. They are a little noisey(eeeehhhh) I'm told this will not last. Bottom line: This is what mountain biking was meant to be like!!! I'll post back later this summer after I've really tested her out! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ROBERT HAAS
a Weekend Warrior
from SALINAS
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fenceline,Fort Ord | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | PRECISE STEERING, INCREDIBLE FORK. BIG HIT LIVES UP TO IT'S NAME ON BIG HIT ABSORTION. FENDERS LOOK DORKY WORK GREAT, REALLY GREAT. STRONG RIMS, SUN IS A OLD AND TRUSTED NAME, NOT THAT LIGHT BUT NOT BENDY. HAYES BRAKES ARE AMAZING NEVER SQUEAL. BITE LIKE A PIT BULL, NO FADE EVER. SHIMANO 636'S VERY NICE | | Weaknesses: | HUBS ARE LOW COST AND WEIGH LIKE THEY OUGHT TO BE FREE. BIKE COULD BE LIGHTER, STOCK SEAT BLOWS REPLACE BEFORE YOU TAKE DELIVERY. BIKE DESERVES A BETTER FRONT DERAILER. STEEL CHAIN WHEELS AT THIS COST??? TOO MANY SPECIALIZED PARTS, CRANKS ARE BETTER THAN THEIR OLD ONES NOT AS GOOD AS THE XTR'S THEY IMITATE. MARZOCHI FORK NEEDS EXTERNAL REBOUND ADJUSTORS | | Similar Products Used: | TEST RODE HECKLERS, CANONDALE RAVEN, FSR ENDURO. OWN M2 HARDTAIL FULL XTR. | | Bike Setup: | BEZERKER D/H TI SADDLE SET UP WITH THE STEEPER HEAD GEOMETRY AND 4.6" TRAVEL BIKE CARVES AND JUMPS LIKE MC GRATH | | Bottom Line: | IF YOU DON'T MIND THE 29.6 LB HEFT AND LOVE TO RIP DOWN HILLS THAT YOU COULDN'T WALK DOWN THIS RIG WAS MADE FOR YOU. THIS IS WHAT THE FREERIDE BIKES SHOT AT BUT NEVER QUITE GOT THERE. THIS IS A PLAY IN THE MUD AND ACT LIKE AN 8 YEAR OLD KINDA BIKE. IT AIN'T LIGHT,. AND YOU WILL FEEL THE SUSPENSION BOB WHEN YOU STAND UP AND HAMMER. BUT IT LOVES TO BE SPUN AND YOU WILL GIGGLE OUT LOUD AT HOW EASY THIS THING DROPS INTO THOSE GNARLY SINGLE TRACKS THAT YOU WOULD RIDE AROUND BEFORE. THIS IS A COOL BIKE. I THOUGHT I WANTED A COMPANION FOR MY HARDTAIL, NOW MY HARDTAIL IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO RIDE IT. WOULD GIVE IT 7 CHILI'S | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JD
a Weekend Warrior
from Bremerton, Wa
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Green Mtn/Beaver Pond | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
super plush suspension, the marzo jr t kicks ass, the hell with rock shox!!! | | Weaknesses: |
crappy Lx e type derailler, who came up with this thing?!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
currently own a 97 fsr comp with a mountain spd Lt conversion f/r, gt rts2, giant cadex, speclzd stmp jmp fs | | Bike Setup: |
stock, except for xtr shifter pods. | | Bottom Line: | I got this bike for a steal from my local speclzd shop here in town for $1799.00 as a xmas gift (for my self of course) and a replacement for my aging 97 fsr comp freeride bike. well xmas didnt come soon enough. this is the best affordable dualpurpose/freeride bike on the mkt. i wont buy anything else but specialized, they once again hit the mark. with sone minor changes to suit my ridding style this bike will kick much ass. not too heavy for xc riding, super lt weight minded riders go for the fsr enduro pro. it was a tough decision but the bighit won out. more info later as i log some more hours on my new rig. | | Overall Rating: |
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