Submitted by
rusak321
a Downhiller
from spokane, Wa, USA Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Ok some comments say the Specialized FSR Enduro Pro was worth paying for and some say its a great bike for beginners. Is it atleast better than the specialized hardrock comp? (discfile:///C:/Users/Mazhan/Desktop/New%20Folder/364-specialized-hardrock-comp-disc.jpg)
Bottom Line:
I'm planning to buy one of these bikes but don't know witch is better. if any one knows please help me out:)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Oswego, OR, USA Date Reviewed: June 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
craig's list
Strengths:
The suspension is killer. I was not expecting such ease on trails. Smooth shifting, the derailer counts more than you think.
Weaknesses:
Like many rear suspended bikes the pedal power decreases [except the GT i-drive] but for the money it's totally worth it.
Bottom Line:
I dig it. It's really light so when you crash and it lands on top of you it doesn't hurt as much. It made me bleed but thats part of being awesome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Jurado Jr.
a Downhiller
from Los Angeles, Ca. USA Date Reviewed: March 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Turnbul Canyon
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Supergo Bike Shop
Strengths:
This bikes durability is out of control. I beat the crap out of it, and it countinues to keep on ticking. I have not even changed the brake shoes.
Weaknesses:
I just wish my bike had more travel in the back, so I could get a little bit more crazier.
Bike Setup:
I put 2.35 Maxxis tires on the front and the rear. I have 150mm ZZZYX Heavy Duty forks, changed the grips, and put heavy duty bars with a higher rise.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend Specialize's FSR rear suspension linkage. I weigh a 190 lbs. and just kick the crap out of this bike. Once you try four bar linkage you wont ever go back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenton
a Weekend Warrior
from Cranbrook, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: March 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Spooner, Dew, Wheelchair (all at Christina Lake)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Gerrick's Sports
Strengths:
FSR design-excelent travel, good standover frame, decent weight, no pedal bob.
Weaknesses:
Stock cranks, low BB, extra wide hadlebar, the $135 Body Geometry seat is painfull!!, Mavic 139 rims too light even for light freeride 9I am 170 pounds). I pancaked the rims on a 6 foot launch. 9 Speed drive is not good for heavier riders.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Came with: Z3 Forks; stock shock(750 x 1.75); Shimano Deore LX drive (shifters, vee brakes and deraileurs, 9 speed). drive.
Bottom Line:
Good all round bike. I use it for freeride because we can't shuttle to the top of the trails here. Although it is not a terribly light bike it is lighter than other freeriders.I upgraded the brakes to Hayes HFX Comps, rims to Alex Super A Pro, Tires-Kenda Sticky 2.6 and crank to Shimano Deore LX. It is now a good freeride and can take the abuse much better-almost bullet proof but not intended for the truly sick stuff. The only upgrades I could possibly think of to make this a better freeride bike is upgrading forks to Junior T. I was totally diappointed with the stock crank-the pedal mounts rounded out and would not be covered by warranty only after a few months. I had to get the rear cassette and chain replaced because the crank kept skipping and throwing the chain. Specialized's customer service and attitude needs an adjustment as they took literally months to respond to my calls and e-mails. Anyone wanting to put larger rims and 2.6 tires needs to upgrade the seatstay (aftermarket available from BETD)or else the tire eats into the stay and weakens it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Kamloops, B.C. Canada Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
sugar/sweet one
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
Java Cycle
Strengths:
well balanced, decent climber, flows really well downhill when set-up right, good drivetrain and durability (3+ years)
Weaknesses:
Specialized house brands pretty crappy(seat,tires,stem etc.) would love another inch in the rear travel, low BB
Similar Products Used:
Giant Warp, Rocky Mtn. h/t's
Bike Setup:
Roox bar, Hope Enduro's 8&6's,Maxxis High roller's,Alex dh and ditch witch,Marzzochi Z1 MCR 5" Wellgo flats,artos stem
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike brand new in 2000, it was my first full-suspension after riding a Giant hardtail forever. It has been an amazing bike, no parts breaking or warranty issues. I did alot of upgrading overe the last couple of years, only to adjust the bike to a more freeride style. It handles just about anything I've thrown at it, and living where I do, it's exposed to steeps, roots, rocks and lift runs at the local ski hill. I could not have been luckier with my choice and would reccomend this bike to anyone, it rips!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from philly pa. Date Reviewed: January 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
wissahickon valley
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
guys bike shop
Strengths:
fsr suspension, good geometry for hard core trail riding and light freeriding. its heavy but it climbs great
Weaknesses:
low bottom bracket, handlebars and pedals suck, in fact most of the specialized components will have to be upgrated.
Similar Products Used:
my first full suspension,ill never ride another hardtail
Bike Setup:
hayes hydralics, ryhno lite xl, tioga 2.3 dh, psylo sl, easton bars, race face stem, all xt for shifting, shimono pedals, wtb seat, odi lock on grips, 4.6 travel, 69 degree head angle(i figure its about 68.5 w/5" fork)
Bottom Line:
its a great bike, but needs alot of upgrading. im about 6'2" 190lbs and i ride hard and fast. i trashed the wheels my first season, the pedals and bars i swapped immediately. oh yea, and the stock seat is torture. its feels alot better with the new fork, and it decends awesome. due a great suspension. the hayes are a must, but you have to buy an adapter for the back that is a pain to order and put on. but once its done it works great. other than that i love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KGB
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo Date Reviewed: October 18, 2002
This is a great all mountain bike for beginners and those looking to upgrade. As some of the others have mentioned. This bike is not for racing. It is not set up for disks. The Judy XC is adequate. Rear travel adjuster is useless.Tires were adequate. Seat and pedals had to go. Kept nailing trees, Had to cut the bars down. I compared this bike with an '01 stumpy. The Stumpy was a better climber, the Enduro was a better downhiller. However,at high speeds the frame and the Judy start to get a little shaky and the pedal strikes kill me I had to learn to wratchet the pedals more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Glens Falls, NY Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
every trail worth riding
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Rick's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Comes with great stock components. Great for just bangin' around on back country trails.
Weaknesses:
handlebars too wide, however, they were easily cut down. Stock seat to hard.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock
Bike Setup:
Ritchey seat post, shimano XT drivetrain, strongarm2 cranks, upgraded to avid mechanical disc brakes, shimano XT disc hubs, and Mavic 317 Disc rims. Fox coil ver shock, Judy rockshox xc.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is...this bike rules!! It rides like a champ and will get me out of whatever i get into. It comes stock with great components, not the best but defanitly not the worst. If you're a xc rider looking to race and win than don't buy this bike. It weighs about 30 lbs. as opposed to 22 in the Specialized stumpjumper. This bike is a trail riders dream. its all the bike i could ever ask for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Glens Falls, NY Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
my own property(very Extreme)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Rick's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Shimano XT front and rear deralliers, great stock components. Not the best but definatly not the worst.
Weaknesses:
rear triangle does not have disc tabs. it needed an adapter.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock
Bike Setup:
Stock Cranks, rockshox judy xc, fox coil-over shock, shimano xt drivetrain, ritchey seatpost, stock seat(will get new one soon), mavic 317 disc rims, shimano xt disc hubs, avid disc mech 160mm.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is...this bike rules! It rides like a champ and will get me out of whatever i get into. Great trail riding bike and ok downhill. If you're thinking about racing and winning don't buy it, it weights about 30 lbs. Upgraded to avid mechanical disc brakes and shimano xt disc hubs and mavic 317 disc rims. This is all the bike i could ever ask for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Wilde
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah Date Reviewed: August 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Amasa back
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Spin Cycle
Strengths:
Four-bar, good if you don't mind up-grading, steel replacable derailer-hanger, good low-rise handle-bar.
Weaknesses:
Kinda flexy, terrible warranty, doesn't like the dual crown fork, Judy is crap, house brand parts suck(pedals, cranks, hubs, stem, seat, tires) crappy wheelset, no disk tabs, E-type front derailer, weak brakes, low bottom bracket.
Similar Products Used:
'99 fsr, '00 Trek Fuel 80 and 90
Bike Setup:
'99 dual crown X-vert (100mm), Cane Creek headset, Eggbeaters, short Bontrager stem, Chris King hubs, 517's, Continental Survival pro's (2.1), Selle Italia saddle. Keep her at 3.8" in the rear with 70.5 degree head angle.
Bottom Line:
Parts- Most of the stock parts suck. Got rid of the judy the first minute I had it, but the dual crown hits the housing stops and bends them. Getting Fox Forx Vannila R 125 soon. The stock tires are tiny and low volume, not good for weak 221's. Rear hub is sealed and unservicable. Wheelset lasted only 1/2 season and I don't do drops over 4 feet. Specialized pedals broke on Porcupine Rim, rendering one side un-usable. NOT GOOD! Crankset and BB are niether stiff nor light. Getting LX soon. Geometry- The 4.6" setting is unridable, in either head-angle and at 3.8" and 69 degrees also. It lowers the bottom bracket too much. Someone told me I could flip the link up-side-down and raise the bottom bracket to 12.5" instead of the 11 or 11.75", but I'm not sure what that will do to the leverage ratio on the rear shock. I can't get anyone at specialized to answer my e-mails. One day when I've got all the crappy parts replaced with good stuff it will be a good bike. Two toasty turds for value because of all the house crap specialized puts on their bikes. But it's a big production bike that's what you get, so really 3. Overall it's still a good bike. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BigNuts
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The one I ride
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Ok this is my 6 month update on this bike. So far this thing has been a pretty good bike.. Sometimes it feels like riding a coat hangar for a frame. I guess im used to a box frame. The forks take a beating and ask for more. JUDY XC Long travel. The Fox Vanilla coil over hit the bed but I had a float ready to take the place. So far so good .. I race on the weekends with this bike and I cant complain.. climbs like a 4x4 and decends like a Motocross bike well worth the 750
Weaknesses:
Frame feels wirey at times not as rigid as Id like. The weight can be an issue from time to time
Similar Products Used:
GF Joshua, Specialized Hard Rock
Bike Setup:
Stock , Fox Float, SPD, JUDY XC, WTB Raptor
Bottom Line:
The bike rocks at slow speed ... Uper speeds need caution
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J. Brouwers
a Weekend Warrior
from Wouw, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands Date Reviewed: July 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:
everything but holland
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Otto Groeneveld Tweewielers
Strengths:
This review is for the 2001 Enduro Sport
Manouvrebility, Steering, climbing, descending, front and rear suspension, bb height, front tire, frame
Weaknesses:
Stock brakes, stock seatpost which I bended (my weight is about 175 lbs), no rebound adjust on fork, stock hubs, seat collar
Sweet fork, plush and it's a zocchi :), The Enduro 2001 is THE best bike for descending and it ascends pretty good too. The Medium frame is too small for me, so I put my standard specialized seatpost to the max, and it bended, so i bought a thomson, which don't bend. I also do a little bit urban assault, so i bought a new wheelset with freeride rims and 36 spokes per wheel. Does anyone know the brand of the rearshock? Perfect allround bike!
5 flamin' chilis for this red rocket
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a
from Hickory, NC , USA Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
bill bikes
Strengths:
I guess you could say that the price was OK. The dealer obviously unloaded this one on me at this price ~ cause noone else would buy it! I'm unable to find any other strengths on this machine.
Weaknesses:
This bike is good if you're a wuss or weigh under 120lbs. I've never wasted so much money in my life. It is plastered with crappy Specialized components, it sqeaks, and thus the bearings constanly need cleaning. I've broken the frame in two areas, then Specialized gave me loads of crap about the warranty. To install disc brakes on the rear, you have to install this hunk of crap brace that fits on the post for your brake caliper. They invented some kind of "chip" that changes the frame geometry that is found at the rear shock mount ~ what a bunch of crap!
Similar Products Used:
The only thing that I've ever tried that is similar to this would be a Huffy or Murry
Bike Setup:
Stock with stock Specialied componetry all over it!
Bottom Line:
Good for novices only. Even the frame is crap!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anders
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, Washington, USA Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Galbraith Mt. Ridge Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At:
Bike Cellar
Strengths:
-Good geometry [For 2001 Model (come on mtbr put it up)]
-Well ballenced -Climbs like a goat -Decends like a rocket -Excellent construction -Good stock components -Great trail bike -Great bb height -Maneouverable -Tottaly kick ass looking (much much better than 2000, you gotta see it in person to appreciate its greatness)
Weaknesses:
-Stock V-brakes kinda suck -Comes with clipless pedals
Similar Products Used:
Costco bike ugh
Bike Setup:
Stock: 100mm Z5 Air (awsome), Forearm II Cracks (not to bad), LX derailers/Deore Shifters and brake levers (supprisingly good), 117mm rear travel (a great rear shock, but what is it?! Doesnt have any brands or logos printed on it.), Mavic X-139 (great rims).
Changed: Front and rear Avid Disc brakes (tottaly awsome), Jet Black T.H.E Front Fender, 2.5 front Bighit tire, 2.3 WTB Tyranorapter rear tire. Sun-Rigle Zu-Zu pedals. XT Disc Hubs
Bottom Line:
I realy cant say enough great things about this bike. It does everything a trail rider could ever want. It gives you the freedom to do any time of riding you want. Want to get to the top faster than any of your buds, yet not sacrifice balls to the wall performance going down? Well this is the bike for you then.
Despite being a budget bike Specialized skimped little on the parts. Complete with a Marzocchi 100mm Z5 Air, LX/Deore and Specialized Forearm II drive train. Other components include a Ritchey seat post, Specialized riser handlebars and stem. As well as Specialized gel grips. All this combines to make a solid well-rounded bike. That can suit almost any rider. The coil-over rear shock can be adjusted from 3inches to 4.14inches of travel. You can also change the angle of the head-tube to suit either downhill or cross country centric riding. All this for a US price of $1,000 can seem almost a steal, when compared to the prices of many of today's major bike companies. Since getting the bike I have made several upgrades. First I traded out the standard clipless pedals for some platform Sun-Ringle Zu Zu's. Then I replaced the stock Specialized hubs with Shimano XT Disc hubs, and upgraded the Promax v-brakes to Avid Mechanicals. The Enduro Sport is a supreme trail bike. It can climb like few other full suspension bikes. Yet it can descend like the best of them. Its high bottom bracket allow it to clear obstacles on the climb, yet is not quite so high that it decreases maneuverability.
The bike weighs roughly 35lbs, which is light enough to make climbing a breeze, yet tough enough to keep the bike stable at high speeds. Too often does the trail toss around super light bikes. They are a few oversights that slipped into the Enduro Sport in order to meet its low price. First of all is the creaky seat post. It's hard to tell whether it's a sign of a weak seat post about to break, or a seat post that just creaks for the hell of it. Not a serious problem but it can be annoying. The second was the stock v-brakes, while the Pro-max performed fairly good the first couple of weeks after a while they just gave in. Becoming a headache as pad replacements, and alignments became frequent. Part of the reason I opted for some Avid Mechanicals, which despite a few just plain unlucky occurrences have been a godsend. I was lucky in the fact that the Enduro Sport is meant to have 2.1 and 1.8 Specialized Enduro Pro tires. It just so happened that when I walked into the shop that most happy day to pick up the bike that they had one with large 2.4 Bighits and 2.3 WTB Tyro's tires outfitted. The bike guy generously let me have them for free. The reason I have kept the 2.4 on the front is for better cornering. Specialized's Bighit has some mean cornering pegs, but the downside to the Bighit tires is their weak sidewall making them vulnerable to pinch flats. By keeping the tire on the front (where pinch flats are usually rare) I get a better cornering tire, and prevent pinch flats. While keeping the smaller 2.3 WTB Tyro in the back where is smaller profile, and tougher sidewall allow it to cut throw the mud to get to the surface where you get your traction, and help reduce pinch flats. The Enduro Sport is a well-built, superbly designed, and excellently balanced bike. Enduros are made to be a fun, all condition, go anywhere kinda' of bike. The Enduro Sport lives up to that goal and more. It climbs like a goat, and descends like a rocket. Highly adaptable, versatile, and maneuverable the 2001 Specialized Enduro Sport is the perfect trail riding bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BigNuts
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The one I ride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Light weight, Geometry, agility
Weaknesses:
Front forks not stiff, Low Low BB way to many pedal strikes, The Strong Arm II crank yes I chewed up the granny ring,
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Joshua,
Bike Setup:
Stock with Judy XC 100mm, Vanilla Coil, Spd 545, MAvic x221, WTB WildaRapors
Bottom Line:
The bottom best bang for the buck yet, Bought this used not one thing wrong with it.. I have abused it good in 3 months, Dont care for teh strong arm II crank though I chewed it up on a hill. The judy could be stiffer but Im upgrading to Psylo soon, all an all I have the most confidence on this bike to date. 4 ft drops are common place for me on this now. Racing on single track hasn't felt better!!! with the exception of the lack of stiffness from the fork and the ocassional pedal strike on the rocks this bike is solid and I wouldnt complain about it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Haq
a Weekend Warrior
from Coquitlam,BC,Canada Date Reviewed: March 11, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Eagle Bluff, Mel's
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Blak Dog Bikes
Strengths:
The ride. I have subjected this bike to moderate West Coast abuse and everything holds up. Front fork and rear shock are well matched. The FSR 4 bar rear end produces minimal bob and the bike climbs and descends like a dream. The frame is very strong and well (but not elegantly) built. This bike is a great choice for aggressive XC trail riders but freeriders and XC racers steer clear.
Weaknesses:
You will want to upgrade to disc brakes in the future, meaning you will have to buy new wheels as well. Also splined cranks and bottom bracket. However, I can't be too critical at this price point.
Similar Products Used:
Tried Brodie Zigzag, Kona Manomano, Rocky Mtn. Fanatik
Bike Setup:
This is actually a review of the 2001 Enduro Sport. The front fork is a 100mm Marzocchi Bomber Z.5 Air. Rear suspension is handled by a RockShox Deluxe Coil Spring Shock with Rebound Adjustment. Shimano Deore LX drivetrain. Promax SX-V232 brakes with Deore levers. Stock setup, added Axiom telescoping seatpost for an extra $80 Cdn. Really a necessary upgrade.
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike if:
-you like riding rough technical XC trails -you want a good FS bike for less than $2000 CDN., and don't mind shelling out for component upgrades later. -climbing and descending performance are equally important to you
Don't buy it if:
-you plan to do drops bigger than 4' on a regular basis -you want a lightweight race bike (Enduro is roughly 31 lbs)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from LA, CA Date Reviewed: March 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Inexpensive, strong, upgradeable (very cool).
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket height. Paint job is ugly and the # of times it says "Specialized" on it.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Wahoo
Bike Setup:
I've upgraded every component except the crankset so far. CK Headset, Float R rear shock, XT Discs, Thomson stems, SRAM SL 9.0 shifters, XTR front derail, XTR cassette, X-Vert super '01 fork.
Bottom Line:
I weigh 230lbs. and have ridden this frame for over a year and a half pretty hard. I ride at least once a week usually twice a week. The bottom bracket height was a problem for me for sure. I was actually thinking about buying a new frame but then I opted for the BETD link upgrade. Huge difference. Raised bottom bracket at least an inch while also adding 4-6" inches of travel. This bike without a rear upgrade is pretty good, but with the travel upgrade and BB height it is great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Lanan
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington DE USA Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
woodlawn
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
$ cheap full suspension $ it survived me for a year!wow!
Weaknesses:
no disk mounts, dangerously weak linkage piece near shock, toomany spelialized brand components
Similar Products Used:
specialized rockhopper
Bike Setup:
formula disk brakes, xt crank/bb,anything but specialized tires,time pedals, wtb sadle
Bottom Line:
I would highly recomend this bike if you are a wussy to intermediate rider under 120 pounds. now i start to complain. specialized pedals are bullsh!t, the crank sucks, the stem istoo long, specialized tire have 0 traction in mud, it's heavy(30-31 pounds),no warrenty that is of any use, the rear linkage that attaches to the shock will break, the fork and rear suspension bob like mad, and oh yeah the specialized brand seat is torture for guys and the icing on the cake is that you have to cut the seatpost to leanth which means if you want different seat hieghts for freeridng and xc racing than you need to invest in several seatposts. *i beat the sh!t out of what specialized calls a freeride bike, i only weight 130, and the biggest drop i took was7 feet which should be chiken scratch for even a hardtail.
*i went off a jump and got about 3 feet up, i puled one of the most perfect landings of the day. uppon landing I heard a loud pop and the back end stayed bottomed out. That pretty ajustable linkage peice that people like so much had broken and in doing so badly damage my rear shock. I was pissed because not only was my bike out of commision for a mounth but specialized did not cover it under their pothetic warrenty. Fortunately my dad has some connections at his work and the fine people at saturn car manufacturing plant were able to fix what would have been aanother $150 fee for me to add to a repair bill that alredy cost $50
* I bent and stripped both of the specialized brand crank arms on several occassions without even crashing. I had to spend $216 to buy the xt crank/bb and havent had any trouble with that yet.
!!!!this bike appears to have good value only because specialized hides all of their super cr@ppy components on the tje already unreliable frame!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacob
a Downhiller
from Hillsborough, NC, USA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001
Handlebars as wide as Jack's mom, that's fixed easily. ummmm.... nothing else?
Similar Products Used:
Chili Pepper Frame's Phatty 3. various hardtails, bruiser, Specialized hardrock.
Bike Setup:
Manitou X-Vert Super, Fox Air w/ lockout (4.6 inches) XT derailluer, tioga rear tire, Specialized strongarm 2 cranks. no lame fenders.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, it's kickass, bought used from a private seller and it rocks. haven't used it on trails yet. Bobs like a mofo going up hills but that's probably because I set it on max suspension with air pressure at 140psi nicely adjustable. I'm a freerider, urban warrior, cross country rider and I try to get in as much downhill as possible. this bike rules. i upgraded from a hardtail and it owns. Definetly get this bike, it's awsome. and the 2000 model looks so sweet, 2001 looks bad, haven't ridden one yet but it looks like it's gone downhill some. just like the norco 125cc and the 250cc. 5 flamin turds for whoever created this machine of a bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Tucson, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001
Killer value. Can't beat the frame and brakes. Low BB height takes some getting used to. I folded over a few big hain rings. The stock fork was flexy and prone to bottoming. Specialized pedals suck and the cranks are flexy. I have beaten on my 2000 for a year and have no complaints. I will upgrade the shock and components soon though. Should last me a long time
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Hatch
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001
Heavy, so-so fork, very short top tube (good for some), seatpost won't hold angle adjustment, bb mount front derailler, overly stiff rear shock spring in smaller frame sizes, ridiculously wide handlebars, no rear disc mounts, bad seat post quick release, seat is more appropriate for XC racing than all around riding.
Similar Products Used:
Mt. Cycle Mojo CXS, 2000
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for a Race Face seatpost and cutting down the bar by 1/2" per side.
Bottom Line:
Kudos to Specialized for putting together a completely trail worthy bike so inexpensively. (On sale at least.)
It's pretty heavy, mainly because of the fork and crank/BB. Suspension is smooth and nicely balanced with the front fork, lets you get away with bad lines. The handling is a little slow, not set up for tight singletrack.
The suspension is remarkably neutral when climbing, but this is not a raceable bike. Haven't tried the slacker head tube angles for downhilling, I don't trust the fork enough to try any really aggressive riding. Mostly this bike just works for rides where you see a bit of everything. Climbs ok, descends well, keeps you from feeling beat up after hours in the saddle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol CT USA Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
FRAME.....Mmmmmmmm......
Weaknesses:
Low BB ( I took care of it..) Wheels, seat..
Bike Setup:
Changed A LOT of stuff.. Just went crazy with changes..Marzocchi z2 Atom 80, Rearspeed Spring for Vanilla shock, Mavic disc wheels, avis disc brakes, Thompson seatpost,selle italia seat, chris king headset, XT front derailluer, Race Face cranks and rings.
Bottom Line:
FINALLY happy with the bike.. All those pedal strikes sheesh!!! Just flip the lower shock mount link UPSIDE DOWN, it actually WORKS!! HOWEVER, you have to make your rear derailluer and brake cable longer, no biggie, because the swingarm will drop a LOT(and BB will go UP) depending on your new hole location.. this does change the headtube angle (fork angle) as well, making the bike much more responsive , and quicker turning, it shortens the wheelbase slightly. My original BB height couldn't get over 11.25" on center. Now I can run it close to 13"!!! I am using a slightly lower hole, so it is no so high and the headtube angle not to severe. It took a lot of money to get it the way I like it, but no more changes for a while. Gonna ride the heck out of it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen
a Weekend Warrior
from Cerritos, CA, USA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Mourning Glory (SLO)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Front Fork is very plush, rear is nice and supple, geometry on frame is nice,Great value
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket, the saddle,
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Stock, except geax beumont rear tire, alternate between clipless and flats
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, i ride very rocky trails and the bike eats them up. awesome bang for the buck. also handles free riding well. the only probs i have is that my cranks seem to hit all the time. great all around bike. i take it DH-in, XC, Freeridin, and even to BMX parks. It hadles them all nicely.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a
from Riverside Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Lots of travel, easy on the eyes, likes downhills,layout.
Weaknesses:
Seat,front derailer,shifts terrible,keep adjusting,Bobs, yes it does but new that when I bought it,notice it more on flat land..
Similar Products Used:
trek fuel 80,specialized stumpjumper fsr, gary fischer sugar,gt io 3. 10 year old Schwinn Mirada..
Bike Setup:
switched seat,xtr front derailer,shorter upright stem,platform peddales with straps.
Bottom Line:
Fun bike, will go over just about anything. Hard time keeping the front end down going uphills,changed the stem. fairly new to the sport so my riding postion has a bit to do with it..switching from motocross to mtb riding similar but with differences. Bought new at Supergo for 750, nice components for the price. Couldnt pass it up. Rear shock a bit soft for flat rides, great downhill and will soak up most things you can throw at it. Only weigh 185 but still to heavy for rear spring,have preload cranked up, may switch to stiffer spring or buy new fox shock with lock out or air fox. Anyone buy a new shox for this thing? Would like the lock out on fire road rides and such. Do like the bike so far with exception of the front derailer. Wouldnt stay adjusted, hard shifting. Rated 5 chilis for value,price was too good to pass up. 4 chilis for problems, minor as they may be. Who should buy it? Too new to the sport for me to say,but this beginner loves it so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Heather Walton
a Weekend Warrior
from Chico, CA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bidwell Park (upper)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Chico Sports LTD.
Strengths:
Excellent Suspension! The beautiful polished Silver finish! I've never seen such a pretty bike. It is very smooth and perfect for all terrains. Loves big tree stumps and rocks!
Weaknesses:
So far the seat post. My seat keeps tipping up! I tightened it really tight too. I will have to bring it in for a look.
Similar Products Used:
I hve had the 1999 Specialized FSR for over a year. Very simular to this one, except the sealed bearing in the rear make this one have a much smoother rear suspension.
Bike Setup:
Stock, except Body Geomerty Comfort saddle, Cut down handle bars to 23 inches. Added bar ends. I traded the tired for Specialized 2001 Ground Controls with Flax Jacket- Don't want a flat high up in the hills! Perfect tires too.
Bottom Line:
A wonderful bike for the price! It is the handsomest bike ever made, and it is also very smooth and FUN to ride! My other choice was the 2001 Stumpjunper FSR XC but she was much less fun to ride and when I hit the pot holes, Ouch! This one just glides over anything in it's path. Bottom Bracket height has not been a problem for me. I love my new bike Polly! Someone who is looking for a bike to ride off road fast, but also cares about having fun riding their bike, should buy this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$899.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Lots of suspension travel Great frame
Weaknesses:
NONE YET
Bike Setup:
Modified bit by bit, avid mechanical brakes, Selle Italia seat, mavic 317 disc wheels, avid flak jacket cables, chainstay protector, TIME ATAC carbon pedals
Bottom Line:
Absolutely great bike for the price. Probably real hard to find a leftover now, but the 2001 are about the same and slightly higher BB.. Yes, plenty of pedal strikes, but what do you expect in the New England woods.. It's a bit heavy, I finally ditched the fenders (heheh, they were useful when it was wet), and I am getting stronger ( This is my first bike in 7 years!! ).. Loving it on downhills, and learning to climb better. Next bike, I am going to spring for the Enduro Pro, because it will come with most of the upgrades I have done..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Price Date Reviewed: May 3, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Gold Bar Rim
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1060.00
Purchased At:
The Rim
Strengths:
Comfort, control, fun, climbing, versatility
Weaknesses:
speed, weight
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper hard tail
Bike Setup:
Changed to a longer stem and lowered stem height. Changed front tire from Team Control to Geax Blade. Lowered the Stem height. Changed pedals (Nashbar). Got rid of the terrible saddle.
Bottom Line:
This is a tough one to rate. It's a fine bike, but at first I had reservations. Compared to my hardtail Stumpjumper, I had less front end stability at speed, especially in dry, hard conditions and in gravel with the Enduro. The very upright position of the Enduro also seemed unstable on single track. Under some conditions, especially in soft stuff, I felt like I was dragging an anchor. But I climb steep, loose, rocky terrain better on the Enduro. It is extremely plush and fun to ride, and bobs very little under hard pedaling. The Enduro has very good parts except for the saddle (replaced it) and the post. I would have given it 3 flamin chilis. I changed the front tire to a Geax Blade, spread out and lowered the position (longer, lower stem, rotated HBs forward, and put seat back). Now in addition to good climbing and comfort, it also descends and corners well. Just goes to show how important bike setup is. It also rolls faster in soft conditions, thanks again to the Geax Blade. The Ritchey post was slipping, but a bike shop knurled it. No more problems. Regarding the low bottom bracket issue, stay with narrow clip-in pedals. I tried wide platforms and hit rocks too often. Not a problem with low profile, narrow pedals. The way the Enduro rides now, I would give it five flamin chilis, but because I had to make so many changes, I give it four.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Brinker
a Cross Country Rider
from Villa HIlls Ky. Date Reviewed: February 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1285.00
Purchased At:
Montgomery Cyclery
Strengths:
This is bike is the best. I've had my FSR Enduro Sport since christmas and i love it. the bike in engineered perfectly. everything work perfectly. The fenders.....sweet. the ront and rear shocks are pretty good. The front shocks are soft and are really good. The Fox racing shox in the back is adjustible and everything. it is sweet. this bike has so many options so it will ride how u want it to ride. this bike will fit everyones needs. this bike is also very fast. itll rol forever. the ball bearings are perfect and the gears are very smooth. the frame is strong and is very good loking. this si my first full suspension and i am glad i picked this bike. if u want a full suspension. pick this one
Weaknesses:
none!
Similar Products Used:
i had a 1997 giant sadonna with forck shox indy s's. this is a great upgrade and i love it
Bike Setup:
lots of good things. good brakes shifters and everything.
Bottom Line:
this is bike is the best. i recomend it to anyone. it is a little big for me right nwo but i still love it. you might have a little prblem finding it cause its a year old. but specialized has the exact same 2001 bike line just in different colors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J.W. Hackett
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America Date Reviewed: February 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
goosebury mesa
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
great bike, absorbs anything the trail throughs at you. great design and balance, great suspension. good componets, they havent givin me any troubble and peform excellent.
Weaknesses:
tires, the seat is good if you don't like sitting down at first but you get used to it. the bb is low so you hit often alittle peadle power lost on uphills but is can only make you stronger.
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
this is an excellent bike, especially for the price, it has everything that you would need, peforms well on any terrain and rides smooth. if you are looking for a bike that can handle anything and is affordable, then i strongly suggest that you give this bike some consideration.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a
from seal beach Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
aliso-woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$889.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Price! Excellent buy for your money. Nice on descents. OK climber.
Weaknesses:
Toss the seat unless you like your privates numb. Tires are garbage too. Specialized should setup the suspension to correspond to frame size. I'm 6', 185 lbs riding the large frame and the fork and rear coil is too soft. Bob, bob, bob, on hills. Tightening the adjusting ring on the rear coil only used up the travel. Top tube also a little short. Steep climbs with switchbacks made it difficult to keep the front end on track. Rear shock needed warranty work after three months. Nothing major though. Word of warning, I you can wait, don't send your parts in for warranty work during the holidays. Some places close down for X-mas, so it took almost a month for my shock to be fixed.
After swapping the springs for firmer ones, I was able to climb a lot better and hammer on the flats. While not as plush on the rough sections, at least I wasn't as frustrated on the climbs to get to the downhills. This is my first full-suspension and I definetly recommend it to any entry-level to intermediate rider or anyone on a budget. I rode my hardtail for five years with Rockshox Mag 21 and 65mm of travel to a full-suspension with 100mm of travel and the difference between my old and current bike is incredible. Rocky, technical sections, stutter bumps, drop-offs, jumps, I can ride though instead of finding easier lines.
If you're strictly a XC rider, this probably isn't for you. The suspension robs too much power and the geometry puts you in a more upright position. But if you still like to mix it up with hill climbs and rough, fast descents this is a good choice, your a** will thank you.
This is a great bike and with my minimal upgrades, it performs as good as some higher end bikes at 1/2 the price. Get out and ride this one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Free Rider
a Downhiller
from Aliso Viejo CA USA Date Reviewed: December 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Car Wreck
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$889.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Excellent suspension. Sealed bearings at all pivot points provides a no sticktion, solid ride. Handles downhills easily. The fork works great for the level it is. The bike is well balanced, with a good component selection.
Weaknesses:
Bottom Bracket height is a major problem if you ride rocky technical sections. I get major pedal strikes all the time. I'm have a BETD linkage on order to raise the BB. The 69 degree shock setting is worthless because it drops the BB below 11". The tires are crappy. The seat is good for a birth control device.
Excellent bike for the money. Handles downhills with confidence. Doesn't penalize you on the uphills. The sealed bearing rear end makes the bike feel more rigid and the suspension more plush. There are very few components that need to be swapped out. The bottom bracket height is a drawback. I'm still looking for a cure. I've been told that you can flip the linkage upside down to increase the bottom bracket height. I haven't tried this. I would probably need a longer travel fork to balance out the geometry again. Would have got a five if it had at least one more inch on the BB.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Downhiller
from Reno, Nevada Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Toad's
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$899.00
Purchased At:
Cambria_the best bike $ on the planet!
Strengths:
Where do I start. 4.6" in the rear combined with the 4-bar linkage in unbeatable!!! Bike is well balanced and can descend nearly anything.
Weaknesses:
Many low end, heavy parts.Rims not really able to take severe punishment. Ritchy Seat post sucks a** and rapidfire shifters are woefully inadaquate.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Y11,Specialized Ground Control FSR, Cannondale SuperV
Bike Setup:
If you want an exceelent setup check this out. I was able to drop about 5lbs off the bike by upgrading to the following: SID 100 front shock, Sun Rhino Lites with Chris King hubs, Easton EA-70 Bar, neck & post, XTR brakes & Ti Cassete, Body geometry saddle, Gripshift levers and shifters, Race Face cranks. Basicly, all light and strong componenets.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. The frame design, 4bar linkage and long travel are unbeatable! The only issue is weight. Buy the basic bike, strip it down, replacing the stock parts with high efficency, lightweight parts. You won't be dissapointed!
I have abused this bike on nearly every major trail in the Sierra's including Lockleven lakes, Toad's, Eagle Lakes, Rubicon, General Creek and a myriad of local, Reno trails.All of these trails include wicked, technical climbs and steep, rocky and often highly technical descents--this is where the long travel really shines.
2' wheelie-offs, 3-4' launches and long descents of steep stairs are frequent and easily absorbed by this bike. Throw any terrain at this bike and it will eat it up. Chances are that you will run out of skill before you run out of performance.
If you have ridden for a few years (and broken a bike or two)and your idea of a great ride is an all day excursion filled with huge rocks, ruts, roots, mud, water and of course a lengthy downhill look no further as this is the ultimate DH/XC machine!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a
from Newport Beach, California, USA Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:
El Morro Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Sea Schwinn
Strengths:
Climing ability, agility, great components, love the handlebars, rear shock is great for the price, bulletproof frame.
Weaknesses:
Bottom Bracket is LOW, very LOW. Took a while to adjust. Tires are a bit wussy.
Similar Products Used:
Giant Warp DS2, Amp B5
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money. I plan to replace the front springs in the fork with the heavy duty ones, since I'm 6'6 235 that fork is a mushy as the oatmeal i ate this morning. I terrorize this bike with big drops, relentless downhills and gear shredding uphills, and i haven't been able to defeat it yet. Great all-around bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JC Varo
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Trail 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Looks, quality of components, flexibility, price
Weaknesses:
BB Height . . . yes it's true, lots of pedal strikes. Nothing that can't be overcome with a change in riding style and an enhanced skill level. Don't let it stop you from buying this bike.
To many DECALS, stickers, etc. What am I a rolling billboard ? A big "S" underneath the bottombracket, are you kidding me ?
Similar Products Used:
Diamondback,Trek,Cannondale
Bike Setup:
All stock with the exception of tires, seat, bars, grips and gear selector levers (broke the LX's in a crash).
Bottom Line:
As you can see by the enhnacements I've made most are of a personal preference nature. A more suitable tire selection for varied riding conditions, a more comfortable seat, flat bars and gel grips.
"Everything" else is fine !
Don't let "whomever" tell you this isn't good enough or that broke in 3 hours riding time, they're full of it ! These people are those who have been influenced by the clever marketing of many of the larger component manufacturers. If things break, fine, replace them with the newest gizmo, but break it first(if you can), then replace.
I can tell you as an x-Motocross racer I ride this bike like I did my Honda XR 250 and it comes back for more each and every time.
Take some time to dial it in, if your anything other what seems to be MTB generic in size 5'7" 140#,(spring rate, oil, tires, etc.) in to suite your weight, riding skill and terrain and go fins some dirt, mud, sand, logs, etc.
I down hill in Flagstaff, do xc'ing in the desert and climb the toughest hills everyone else does with their "custom made" bikes on my "shelf bike" and I've yet to be ridiculed by some tight shorted, jersey wear'in, yellow-glasses wear'in pretty boy on a fancy bike.
The bike doesn't make the rider. An oz. here or a lb. there isn't going to make you any faster. It'll only make you lighter (in the wallet that is).
Work on your skill/weight/strength or your lungs if you get passed a lot, believe me it isn't the equipment, nor is it the extra couple of pounds your carrying on this $999.00 bike.
It's you.
Unless you're bike is making you a living it isn't worth the extra cash.
This bike is fine, as are the other $1000 area bikes. The lower end bikes are in my opinion only good for the casual dirt road rider they just weren't built for serious pounding, grinding and the like.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GOUNIN Didier
a Weekend Warrior
from France Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1270.00
Strengths:
Pretty to look at, comfortable, nice fenders, equipment, variable geometry
Weaknesses:
Brakes, weight but it not really a problem. I am 220 lbs and 1m95... i'll never be a Mtb world champion and don't matter!!! The Judy XC forks needs to adjust with stronger springs.
Similar Products Used:
None, it's my first fully!!! It's very closed to the GT XCR 3000 i rent last hollidays...
Bike Setup:
Avid Arch Rival 5.0 + Avid SD Mag lever front & rear.
Bottom Line:
It's a fully and needs to be used as one. By this way it's a very good bike. If you don't stand up on pedals and drive softly, it's maybe one of the best bike for its price.
In just one word: "varied" is its main quality!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from RSM Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000
I upgraded most parts and still came up as a $1200 bike, saving $ is one way to compete with other Enduro lines. I raced other downhillers with their Enduro Comps, Expert, Big Hit & Enduro Pro, but my Enduro Sport with all the XTR parts came up as the leader. Remember, I paid $889 and most of them paid around $1300 to $1900 for their Enduros. This bike rocks, It's very light and very responsive. I have no problem controlling it. Most of the parts that I upgraded, I bought on sale. I saved a lot and still have the performance of the Shimano XTR. Buy the bike and try it yourself, you will not be dissapointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from folsom, CA, US Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
northstar
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$960.00
Purchased At:
Java Summit Sports
Strengths:
Price-$960 you cant go wrong
Weaknesses:
cranks, weight, pedals
Bike Setup:
judy xc-4" xt rear derailer, richey pedals, fox vanilla-4.6"
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE even for 1600$. but by mail order and Java Summit Sports(Soda Springs CA) you cant go wrong for 960$. a few weaknesses like cranks are all that you really need to worry about. Great set up. It performs great for Dhing and cross country. but free riding is perfect with this. Adjustable rear/front travel and head angle allows you to adjust for the type of riding you'll be doing. If you are looking at an expensive hard tail then you should Seriously reconsider You’ll be glad you did. Or if you don't want to spend a lot on a FSR then this bike is for you. that is if you can find one still.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Santa Margarita Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$889.00
Purchased At:
Jax
Strengths:
FSR Frame, Rock Shox Judy XC, XT rear derailleur, Ritchey seatpost, Mavic rims, Fox vanilla etc.
Weaknesses:
Specialized Comp tires, Handlebars, & Saddle.
Similar Products Used:
Intense, Haro, Trek
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the $, I paid $889.00 and It's an excellent downhiller and occasional trail rides. I cut one inch on each side of the handlebars to get more front feedback, changed the saddle to Specialized Body Geometry and upgraded the tires to Team Armadillo 2.10 Kevlar. This bike rocks for the money, I tried all the enduro lines and saving a few bucks and upgrade the bike with parts I wanted, is the wise thing to do. Buy the bike and use it for a long time. Specialized makes an excellent FSR bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, Colorado Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Matthew Winters Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Wow! This is a great set of wheels for a fairly low cost. Love the frame and geometry. If your going to go with full suspension you can't beat the FSR within this price range ($1000). I'm no expert but for a weekend warrior this bike is everything I could ask for. The Judy XC upfront soaks up everything and the fox rear shock rides like a Cadallac compared to a hardtale. You can just keep riding over obstacles without getting jostled to death. Most of the components seem to work great.
Weaknesses:
The seat is terrible, the bars are a little wide for XC but the biggest weakness is the crankset. What a piece of junk. I bent the middle front sprocket while shifting after 3 miles. Read the reviews on the Specialized StrongArm crank for more info. Specialized replaced it for free but I have already ordered an XT crankset to replace it for good.
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh hardtale
Bike Setup:
Stock. I would recommend trimming down the handle bars they come a bit wide. Soon to swap the crankset for Shimano XT.
Bottom Line:
I am extremely pleased with everything but the crankset. That aside, this is a excellent bike for many different types of terrain. If you don't have a big budget and want something that you can use for cross country and for downhilling at the nearest ski resort this is a great choice. My recommendation would be to swap out the crankset before leaving the bike shop to avoid lost time on the trail. Also, if you remove the fenders you lose about a pound of extra weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Hole in The Ground
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$960.00
Purchased At:
Java Summit Sports Soda Springs
Strengths:
For the cash it has awsome components, fork, 4.6 inches of rear travel.
Weaknesses:
Does not seam to cornes as well as a hard tail(it could be just me), weight but you cant complain with 4.6 inches of travel.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Timberline, Specialized Hardrock Comp
Bike Setup:
White Industries cranks, Ritchy cliples peddles, Michelin Wild Gripper Lites
Bottom Line:
This bike is awsome. For the price ($960) you are getting the component packege of a $1600 bike. I have taken this bike DHing and it did great. I have yet to try xc with it but I think it will do great. The bike is very easy to set up and it comes with a nice bar and wheel set. If you can find one BUY IT!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a
from Junction City, KS Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
suspension, brake, weight.
Weaknesses:
inner tubes, shifting
Similar Products Used:
None, this is my first mountain bike
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
It's a great bike, except i get a lot of flats, I live in Kansas, guess there is alot of sticker bushes, but thats no excuse, I think they need to have more durable tubes, I have 5 patches on front tire, and 2 on rear with in one month,It's my first bike and its great except when you 5 miles from home and get a flat, never knew about this swedish valve stem till I needed air, ended up buting a pump at walmart to air up tire, but does 'nt get them full enough of air, weak pump,But I will iron out problems as I come to them, any suggestions would be appreciated
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, B.C. Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Ladies Only
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Suspension, everything else
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket and other than that this bike rules!!!
Similar Products Used:
None. This is my bike.
Bike Setup:
Everything on my bike is stock.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best bike I have ever ridden. This bike repeatedly goes off ten foot dropoffs without a whimper. And you can get this bike cheap at $975. that is one heck of a deal. If you are looking for a new bike definitly give this one a try. You will not forget it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robby
a Weekend Warrior
from ASHBURNHAM, Massachusetts-U.S.A Date Reviewed: August 8, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Anything with dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great components, suspension, adjustable suspension and gnarly fenders. This bike is a heck of a value.
Weaknesses:
This bike has absolutly no weaknesses what so ever.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Mesa GSX
Bike Setup:
Judy XC, Fox Vanilla, Shimano XT rd, LX ft/shifters, mavic 221 rims, Avid 10 brakes/1.0 levers . Specialized stem, Handlebar, grips, tires, fenders, seat, pedals, crankset. Ritchey seatpost. The only thing I added was a specialized Team cycle computer
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome. My friend has a schwinn Mesa and my bike totally destroys it. this bike is a keeper.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt P
a Downhiller
from Chapel Hill Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:
anywhere offroad
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Excellent front shocks Rock shoc judy's, best buy for the money got mine $1000, rear shocks okay,frame worth the money alone, gears great
Weaknesses:
Brakes should have added disc brakes and it would be fully complete
Similar Products Used:
Trek 830, trek 8000 , specialized enduro comp
Bike Setup:
Stock, added Fox air float rear suspension
Bottom Line:
Great Bike for the money, don't buy another bike, definetly stick with specialized best bang for the buck, really extreme bike, great for freeriders or mountaineers(off-road/downhill)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from South Windsor CT. Date Reviewed: July 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:
MT Snow DH
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Suspention chip Allows bike to be changed from a true XC machine to a very capable DH'er in 1 min.
Nice wheels (Mavic 221's)
Bike looks like a million bucks. The Polished Alumnium, Red graphics and black fenders make this bike look like a piece of art.
Weaknesses:
Specialized tires (Espically front) do not give as much traction as I would have liked.
Low BB causes pedals/chainring to occationally hit ground.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhopper FSR, Marin east peak,GT 4000, Giant Warp DS1
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for Cat Eye mity 3
Bottom Line:
I got mine for an unbelievable price of $975, and nothing in that price range comes close. This is the same frame as other Enduros, so think of the frame as a long term investment. It is NOT worth it to trade up a few $100 to the others for discs. The Avid rim brakes work just as well as the Hayes Hydros, even in mud. Yesterday (7/29) I went DHing At Mt Snow. By the first run, my rims were totally covered in mud. I did constant runs down the mountain, and for the last 2 hours it was raining. Not once in my 15 runs did I experience fade, power loss, or brake failure. My friend, who was riding a bike with formula MD-1's (cable discs) lost his rear brake when mud fouled the mechanism. The low BB makes the Enduro extremely stable down steep terrain. Buy a Rock Ring and be careful about where your pedals are.
BUY THIS BIKE- IT WILL AMAZE YOU!!!!
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Submitted by
G-Daemon
a Downhiller
from Atlantic Highlands, NJ Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Hartshorne Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Plenty of bike for a modest price (are available at some mailorders for $1000)
Weaknesses:
Tires, Front Fork, Brakes, components in general were not up to some more serious freeriding
Similar Products Used:
Is my first bike
Bike Setup:
I upgraded to Marzocchi Jr.T, Hayes Hydraulic brakes, and Sun Mammoth rims on Hayes/Hugi Hubs, with 2.35"/2.25" IRC Kujo DH tires
Bottom Line:
This is a great XC bike for the money. Since I decided to go in the direction of "freeride" or "recreational DH", I needed an all around component upgrade. Base price of bike allows the assembly of a pretty kick-arse bike, if I say so myself.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Cepeda
a Weekend Warrior
from Junction City, KS Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Wieght,handling,ease to ride
Weaknesses:
Changing gears
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
I'm new at this just got the bike sofar so good, used to race Moto Cross, now ride Personal watercraft, bike is sweet except it shifting, probably just me, to many gears, LOL.
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