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Submitted by
hallio7
a Downhiller
from San Clemente, CA US
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Telonix | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Craigslist | | Strengths: | Very Solid bike for downhill and freeride. 24" rear wheel is great for manuels, drops and getting through berms fast. Handles amazingly well in the air, still haven't crashed on a drop or dirt jump! Specialized strength and quality. Also, stock shock is great, with air and rebound adjustment along with 12 possible suspension combinations. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy frame, but not that hard to pedal around if you have two chain rings (included in stock) | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stinky, Intense M3, Kona Coiler, Devinci | | Bike Setup: | Lizzard skin, Marzocchi direct mount stem mated to 2004 Marzocchi Super-T's | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike! I bought it used for $700 3 months ago and I haven't had a problem. Amazing at freeride and great at downhill. Not a world cup DH racer, but I plan on racing it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pmc2020
a Weekend Warrior
from england
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | mars | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | off a friend | | Strengths: | frame | | Weaknesses: | havent found any yet | | Similar Products Used: | fsr xc comp | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this seams to be a awsome bike and handles everything you through at it... I reacently purchased a fsr 2008 xc comp and broke it within the first 3 months so while it was being repared i found this little gem what a bike nothing bad to report so far well recomended | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
callaghan
a Downhiller
from pitt meadows
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | sports junkies | | Strengths: | great beafy frame, amazing rear suspention (fox vanilla's) that can handle pretty much anything, i got bomber junior T's and they fit the bike perfectly. ive gone off everything i have seen so far and is till got no problems. | | Weaknesses: | Very heavy frame, hard for riding around in becasue the shocks absorb everything. | | Similar Products Used: | kona stab supreme, kona stinky,and some downhill race bike (giant). | | Bottom Line: | this bike is amazing if you are the kind of biker that goes off of anything you see and going off drops is a peace of cake on this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
downhill junkie
a Downhiller
from australia
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any with drops amd speed | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | rear shock set up...it can handle pretty much everything, its a good weight to gives you momentum going downhill | | Weaknesses: | just the dirt jumper forks...they are good if your not doing rocky trail ridding they are good with the drops but not with the trail sorry | | Similar Products Used: | norco shore vps...motor bike haha
| | Bike Setup: | manitou 6-way,pg990,blackspire big ring protector,THE mud gaurd,shimano dx pedals, | | Bottom Line: | it'a an awesome bike...you need skill to ride it probably you also need a fair bit of strength to ride it at its full capability...i did a 16 footer on to flat ground factured my ankle didn't fall off just when i got off the bike i couldn't stand up...the bike was perfect not a broken or damaged part in sight... well done specialized you have done it again | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
remy saunders
a Downhiller
from austrailia
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | very strong and laughs at drops, it comes stock with everything you need | | Weaknesses: | a little on the heavy side | | Similar Products Used: | none similar | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | it really it and awesome bike it can take alot but is heavy if your a person that jumps of everything you see and keep breacking your xc bike this is for you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew payne
a Downhiller
from kamloops b.c Canada
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | whistler all of it | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$632.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | every thing | | Weaknesses: | my gay forks drop offs | | Similar Products Used: | demo 8 9 | | Bike Setup: | dual mag 30 tubeless with dh tires and tubes mrp chain guide 50 50 pedals deity bars axiom stem manitou 3 way swinger gettin 66 rc2x or 88 rc2x hayes 9 8" axiom hubs getting industry nine | | Bottom Line: | peeeeerrrrrrfect smooth as heck on the ruff stuff smoth on the big jumps smooth on the drops i havent bottomed yet even of 25 stuff
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
walton brush
a Downhiller
from Portland, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | river city bikes | | Strengths: | the frame is a beast and most all other parts on this bike are decent, takes hits well and the 12 different shock positions make it perfect for anyone. Manuals and wheelies like a dream. | | Weaknesses: | the dirt jumper would be good for a hard tail and the rims are junk. | | Similar Products Used: | iron horse 7point7, cannondale gemini, banshee chaparel, kona stinky, norco 6, transition dirtbag, | | Bike Setup: | stock except for a front trailpimp and a maxxis mobster 2.7 on the front as well. | | Bottom Line: | I really like it it is my first full suspension bike and can handle everything that I throw at it. Whole bike is really sturdy from the components to the frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
austin
a Downhiller
from seattle washington
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | markees cycle center | | Strengths: | this is a really beefy bike. the rear shock obsorbs everything but the fork doest. | | Weaknesses: | the fork isnt good so im putting my white bros inverted double crown on it so if u get this bike change the fork to something good and durable for downhill. | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky, big hit expert, iron horse sgs | | Bottom Line: | bottom line this is a really nice bike for the money but a couple things can be changed 1st the fork and second the rear shock (you might want to get a 600 pound spring but depends on ur weight.
but this bike kicks ass especially if u are a bigginer to downhill | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Downhiller
from telluride,colorado,usa
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Strengths: | nice geometry, tough, good brakes | | Weaknesses: | pedaling is hard w/ the rear suspetion | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky,santa cruz vp3, intense m1, khs dh 2000,foes | | Bottom Line: | good for downhill
i recommend but get an intense or santa cruz | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Jamestown, NY,U.S.
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all of 'em | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Hollyloft Ski And Bike | | Strengths: | Frame in super beefy. The manitou three-way works great! For a fourty-three pound freeride bike it pedals suprisingly well. The travel and head tube adjusments via the rear link are a cool option. Most of the components are high-quality and strong. | | Weaknesses: | The fork (150mm travel dirt juumper II) is horrible!! This fork is worthless on a bike this. The fork is way to stiff and doesnt move. The pedals are cheap. The stock grips are cheap and uncomfortable. The hayes break levers reapedely pull in, and I constantly have to back them out and locktight the screws. The soft compound tires wear out fast. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC1 | | Bike Setup: | -Custom cut ODI BMX lock on grips
-Snafu bar ends
-I am ordering 05' Marzocchi 888 rc's and a pair of Hope hubs | | Bottom Line: | For $1500 it's a great bike. Overall this is a very beefy bike. Handles drops like a dream. I hit an 8 foot dock drop at 15 mph, over shot the landing by 18 feet and the rear end soaked it up very nicely. The fork didn't. The fork did nothing. Not that good of a trail bike if the ride is over three hours long, due to the weight of the bike. I highly recomend a new fork it ( like a 888). Since the fork always lacks to make any effort at moving the front end pushes and leaves you with a harsh ride. Very discomforting when doing 35 down a rutted technical downhill. This bike is awsome in the snow! I'd recomend this bike for anyone who likes to hit big drops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spaz
a Downhiller
from Bellingham, Washington
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | the one in my head... | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | This bike is awesome, straight out of the box. Everything on this bike is top notch, from the frame to the fork, shock, cranks, and drivetrain. Apart from the top quality componentry, I got this bike at a reasonable price: $1300. Since, I have replaced many parts, but the frame remains stable and reliable. Some parts I found especially intriguing include the Holzfeller crankset, downhill bottom bracket, and XT drivetrain; all the highest quality at the lowest price. | | Weaknesses: | This is a great bike, so do not become discouraged by my relentless attack on its suspension components.
Despite its strengths, I have also had many issues with this bicycle. First and foremost, the fork is a disgrace. A great component overall, it is meant for a dirt jumping bike, rather than a freeride/downhill rig. Since I have replaced the fork with something a little more my style, a 2005 888RC. Second, the Hayes HFX-9 brakes are merely technology at its value point. They work, but are not close to being the best. Specifically, the hydraulic brake hose was cut by a zip-tie, very disappointing while riding at Whistler. Later after rebleeding and rebuilding the brake, I found that not only was the hose cut by the zip-tie, but the problem was originally caused by poor cable routing under the bottom bracket. Chances are (if your bike is a 2004 or earlier) the disc brake cable is not long enough, and is being stretched and stressed when the FSR linkage cycles through its travel. To solve this problem, I manually rerouted the cables from under the bottom bracket shell to the seatstay swing-arm and linkage, and since, I haven't had any problems. Some other problems that I experienced had to do with pinch flats (from the single wall rear tire, easily fixed with a $60 Maxxis Highroller tire) and the rebound clicker on the Manitou Swinger 3-way shock. Ever since the change of tires, I haven't experienced any flats, but I have had a little more trouble with the shock. Apart from the rebound clicker becoming lodged in many occasions, I had numerous problems with the mounting hardware. The reducers and bushings became loose, and there was always play in the system. Through my experimentation, I figured the reducers had become worn and shrank, leaving space between where the shock fitted with the reducer. My solution to the problem: I bought a new, 2005 Progressive 5th Element, and made my own mounting hardware to fit extra tight. Other than these relatively large problems (I won't bother with the small nuances) from parts manufactured by other companies, it is a great bike. Oh, and it is heavy, but you wouldn't be looking at this review if you cared, right?
To review:
- bad fork, sell it to a dirt jumper
- shock is troublesome, buy a new one
- rear cable routing stinks, change it!
- get a dual wall rear tire (Maxxis Highroller)
- hubs become contaminated quickly, but who cares? | | Similar Products Used: | '06 Specialized Enduro Expert, Kona Stinky Supreme, VP-Free, Demo, Gracia, et cetera. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Specialized Bighit Comp with all those spiffy parts you wish you could afford:
- '05 888RC
- 5th Element
- e.thirteen SRS 40 tooth
- Maxxis High Roller rear
- Maxxis Minion rear (on the front-best set up ever)
- Ruffian Lock-On
- Sun Double Track DH rims
the rest is stock, except my secret inventions... | | Bottom Line: | This is absolutely an awesome bike, especially for modifying, since it is less expensive than building up from scratch. Apart from the weaknesses mentioned above (go and look slacker, I know you didn't read it all), it can be used for all aspects of mountain biking in experienced hands. Yes, it is heavy, but allows you to be more stable in the air...I do hope you will become airborne? Being heavy also allows you to become stronger; with a 40 tooth front chainring, I am able to pass up cross country freaks riding up our local mountain. Now I am no softie either, I learned to drop a 16 foot road gap on the stock bike, and have been riding hard ever since.
So no complaining, this is a great bike and an awesome vehicle for learning the ropes of extreme freeriding and downhilling. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Renton
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | used..... | | Strengths: | very nice bike ive road just about everything there is to ride on a bike handeled all the drops ive thrown at it. its very well balenced has good stopping power,dose good in the air. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | bigger roter in the back new marorze bomber dualcrown fork, race face crank. | | Bottom Line: | this was a great bike, it was my first nice bike, ive done everything from drops and hucks to some crosscountry, i like it a lot, the back tire is smaller then the front it could make it hard to find one. thisis a great bike if you like to do drops or downhill ive heard bad things about the stalk front forks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Calgary AB Canada
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Bottom Line: | The best bike I have ever used!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Tallahassee
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Tom Brown | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | OrangeCycleOrlando.com | | Strengths: | Its tough as nails. I'm 6'3 230 so the weight of the bike is no problem for me. Mine has the DJ2 which isn't my first choice for a fork, but it has held up good so far. | | Weaknesses: | It's pretty heavy, unless your big or strong or dont want to do anything but bomb down hills, get something lighter. I threw a pair of lock on grips on it, factory ones were horrible. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Factory = DJ 2 up front, Swinger 3 way in back, and Sun Single Track Rims, +lock on grips. | | Bottom Line: | I paid $1300 brand new, for an '04, and it was a steal. For the money I dont think much can beat it. If you find one cheap buy it! I don't know about paying the $1900 sticker price. It could definitely use a better fork, but the DJ2 handles pretty well for my riding, it has handled 6'+ drops without problem. It's an excellent intermediate freeride or downhill bike. Rims aren't the best but they have held up. Seat is tough, but who uses it much, and who doesn't put their own on? I say buy it! 5 flaming poops all the way!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LB Barnes
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | NA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Great component setup. This is my first DH/FR bike, I didn't think that it would be this heavy. This bike looks great! It's not a high-end name, but it can hold its own. | | Weaknesses: | The weight. I can't fit it on my Yakima hitch rack, since there is no top tube. Now I have to buy a diff rack. This is getting to be an expensive proposition. The rebound is way too fast on the stock Junior T. | | Similar Products Used: | None.. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except, 2.7" Kenda front tire and a 2.7" Specialized rear tire. Oh yeah, rebound cartridge for the Junior T, it's a must have! | | Bottom Line: | I'm heading to Keystone CO in a few weeks and I'll update this review. I can't wait!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a
from new york
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | the bike look very good .
FSR | | Weaknesses: | frame - strong , but feel sucks !
the geometry bad for freeride !
just for downhill ..
| | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky , norco aline and atomic | | Bike Setup: | i sell the bike and buy kona stinky | | Bottom Line: | nice bike fo downhill , but in this price u can get better frame (stinky , atomic)
try stinky before u buy ..! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Los Alamos New Mexico, US
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1045.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Great bike for downhill and freeriding. FSR is increadible from riding a hard tail. Very responsive bike. Great for anyone wanting to go big, or planning on it. Great bike for upgrading. Just a plain awesome bike in general | | Weaknesses: | Needs to have a stiffer back spring in my mind, i havnt used it enough to know well. Kinda hard to luge up hill, but thats what you get with a Downhill/Freeride bike. Thats all. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock '02, Big Hit SPEC '04 | | Bike Setup: | Basic Stock. | | Bottom Line: | An awesome bike! even though with shipping i have had a few problems, but its been great. I love this bike so much and i know its going to help me progress as a freerider. I suggest this bike to anyone wanting to go big, progressing very fast into going big, or wanitng to upgrade. People who are wanting a bike that isn't heavy and hard to lug around i wouldnt get this bike. Specialized did a great job on this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Swindon, UK
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Everything really, the 24 inch wheel sticks to the ground whatever, acceleration is awesome, hayes brakes are good even though they rub like hell, frame looks well beefy!!! | | Weaknesses: | The Dirt Jumper 2 are a bad fork choice, good for dirt jumping and one off big hits but not responsive and too stiff on the downhill trails and technical sections, i dont know how the singletrack rims will hold, the grips suck, but thats all really | | Similar Products Used: | Just had a Specialized P1 with 110mm 2004 DJ2, hope mono mini, dmr v8, hope seat clamp, raceface grips | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike, as this is my first ever downhill/freeridde bike i think its awesome, its light i am 15, the shock so responsive, soaks up the jumps and drops really well, has a wide range of adjustibility, handling is superb!!! I love this bike soooo much, probably in near future will get fork upgrade to sumthing like boxxers on junior t but apart from the fork letdown this bike rocks!!! Definetly reccomend buying if you can find any more in the country brand new that is!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Downhiller
from Marin, CA, US
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Tenderfoot | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Mikes Bikes | | Strengths: | Very burly, smooth rear suspension, good feel over ruff trails, confident jumper, somewhat versatile, fun to ride, good value. | | Weaknesses: | The Hayes Brakes are not good, and the Dirt Jumper is a bad choice for the bike, it is meant for, as the name applies, Dirt Jumping, it is very firm and heavy. The main frame detail is a sticker (the big black thing on the top and down tubes). | | Similar Products Used: | First big dualie. | | Bike Setup: | Maxxis rubber, Jr. T, a chrome bell. | | Bottom Line: | A good overall bike. Is comfortable to ride on ruff trails, and at speed. The Hayes Brakes have no modulation, and the screw backs out so the levers get loose, but Hayes has a new part that fixes it. The weight is not fun but whatever. The suspension is smooth, although the rear shock had more adjustmets, but to its credit it is smooth even under heavy hits. The bike drops well and is confidence inspiring. This bike is perfect for a freerider on a budjet who rides lots of technical trails, and does lots of drops. If you do a lot of climbing, the bike doesn't bob at all while seated, but if you stand up it bobs considerably. But the weight is bad for climbing, and yo will not get anywhere very quickly heading uphill. If you do big climbs before your big downhills, would get something lighter. I am glad I got this bike, and it rips. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matty patterson
a Downhiller
from Guisborough/ UK
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any without uphill init | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$912.00 | | Purchased At: | off a mate | | Strengths: | its strong, plush, very adjustable, deffinatley gives you bigger balls!! im 16 and did a 15ft drop straight off it didnt come anywhere near bottoming out | | Weaknesses: | absolutly none | | Similar Products Used: | none as good as this | | Bike Setup: | stock apart from tioga dh front tyre, dmr saturn ring (38t), truvativ box guide. | | Bottom Line: | this is an amazing bike! might be a bit small for some riders, im 6ft1 and i think its a little bit small but i dont care, it corners amazingly and drops so nicely, since ive got it ive done drops i would never of thought about doing and im still getting bigger. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick kygar
a Downhiller
from santa cruz CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | dead campers/magic carpet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | it is nice so far it handels anything i have hit so far witch is not to mush but it took a couple of 10 foot drops really nice and i like the way it launches you when doing jumps. | | Weaknesses: | umm well i dont know about stock i dont like it stock so other then that it makes a couple of weird noises hear and there but nothing you cant find and fix. | | Similar Products Used: | giant atx dh, norco vps 1, intense m1(just nicer) | | Bike Setup: | 04 specialized big hit comp with 04 shiver dc manitou 3 way rear shock sun single wide rims hayes hfx 9 brakes race face seat post michellin 2.8 front tire and 2.3 specialized rear tire every thing else is stock i guess o and kona grips | | Bottom Line: | this bike is very nice it can handel basicly any thing you can probaly and will be a nice over all bike to ride depending on how you set it up | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Downhiller
from Layton, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Binghams | | Strengths: | 7.5" rear travel. FSR suspension pedals great. Very strong frame. | | Weaknesses: | Fork. Swap out the DJ fork ASAP; they hold the bike back. | | Bike Setup: | '04 Jr. T fork. | | Bottom Line: | If you don't have the $ for a Demo, this bike is a great start.
Freeriders/downhillers on a budget should consider this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Romain
a Weekend Warrior
from reims
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Wherever I can ride | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | over time | | Strengths: | The whole bike | | Weaknesses: | the sotck frame | | Similar Products Used: | My bro's stinky deelux | | Bike Setup: | Stock, aside from 42 teeth chain ring + chain guide ans 2003 monster T's | | Bottom Line: | Well i left a review a year ago or so about this bike.
What do I think of it one year later?
Exactly the same or maybe I like it even more.
I up graded to monster T's. Although I am not Josh Bender i just love these forks. it turned this perfect bike into a more than perfact bike. I can't think of anything that could get me off this bike. it is huge and heavy but who REALLY cares?
I did some street sessions with it, but it was too heavy so I got my self a STP.
The only question is : "will I ever find a bike that good if I ever break this one (which I seriously doubt)?" the answer is most probably no.
The only thing I want to change is a 36 teeth ring to amke it more fast to accelerate, more nervous.
Stick monster T's on that bike and nothing is too big!!!! (at least for the bike...)
That bike rules if you like going big or getting all the looks. Monster T's are not too heavy they are freaking great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Muz
a Downhiller
from Wellington
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridgeline & Big Tom's Wheelie - Makara Peak | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Strength, predictable handling, very confidence inspiring, good components, reliability | | Weaknesses: | Weight - I've weighed mine on airport scales and it comes in a 43 Lbs! A Demo 9 weights around the 47 to 48 mark (with a typical component mix), so the BigHit is no light-weight, but it's built like a tank and loves abuse, so I'll forgive it. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried: Rocky Mtn RM6, Foes DHS & Weasel, Keewee DH, GT XCR3000 & LTS, numerous hard-tails, plus loads of others tested and sampled | | Bike Setup: | Stock except:
Tyres: Nokian Gazzaloddi 2.3 on the Front, Maxxis High Roller 2.7 rear
Crain-rings: large = 34T (stock 32)
Grips: ODI Lock-Ons
Seat: WTB Shadow Titanium (I found the original uncomfortable, but the new one's not much better really)
Suspension:
Forks: Air Preload set to 0 PSI, rebound damping increased
Rear: spring changed to 550 LB from 400 (I weigh 75 Kgs), air and spring pre-loads set to minimum, rebound damping set to 1/2 turn off max.
Stainless steel brake hoses and better pads, road cluster and a fork replacement are planned to finish it off properly. | | Bottom Line: | The BigHit is so much fun to ride it's stunning. It makes me want to ride more and when I do, it encourages me to try new things and provides a huge safety margin before things turn nasty. It slides beautifully, jumps and bunny-hops with ease and wheelies at will, making it v. easy to clear obstacles and leap over things on the trail. I can't say enough about it and I have no intention of changing bikes for at least a couple of years. They're also highly tunable and can be easily upgraded to allow more travel. The build quality is on par with my (hand built) RM6 - and the frame is bomb-proof. I think the only bike I'd kinda like more, would be a Demo 9. One happy customer :)
If you're strong, then you can get away with using the BigHit for pretty much anything, but it's really aimed at the Freeride / DH crowd. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
drew wajer
a Downhiller
from great falls, mt, usa
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | the frame itself, the truvativ componets, and shimano shifters | | Weaknesses: | sun ringle single track rims, marrzocchi dj2 fork, and the hayes brakes | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky, santa cruz bullet, and foes m4 | | Bike Setup: | truvativ crank, bottom bracket, stem, and handlebars, shimano xt shifters, hayes hydraulic brakes, sun ringle single track rims | | Bottom Line: | this bike has an awesome feel to it as soon as u jump on it. u sink right into this bike. after i switched some of the parts like the dj2's with super t's, the stock pedels with primo tenderizers, the single tracks with double wides and the hayes brakes with a hope m6 and m4, this bike became much sterdier. the componets it came with weren't very strong at all, but now that its beefed up, this thing is almost unstopable. the 24" inch wheel in the back is amazing, it gives the bike a better feel then a regular 26"inch. it makes it easier to wheelie and bunny hop over things. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nic Luscier
a Downhiller
from ORLANDO
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | freeride | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | narly componts,built proof frame nectar componets,have had this bike for a year and done some tubeular jump and still runs like it is new A++ | | Weaknesses: | heavy,forks are a little small but for 1600 bucks what do you expect. | | Similar Products Used: | mong |
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$ 1950.00
