Submitted by
joseph Strong
a Downhiller
from Bellows Falls Vt USA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
private sale
Strengths:
Extreemly solid..... Well made it makes you feel like you can do anything
Weaknesses:
The front fork isnt the greatest but if your just starting out it will serve you fine.
Bike Setup:
2005 black Big hit fsr 1 with fox vinilla r rear shoch and manitou stinger front shocks.
Bottom Line:
this is an awsome bike. It handles real well, many people complain about the 24' rear tire, but i personally like it. Its great for a beginner/ intermediate, downhiller/freerider The hayes disk breaks are awsome. Its bullet proof and yah
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonn Mummert
a Downhiller
from El Paso TX, US Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Roughrider park and cloudcroft race
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Crazy Cat on Redd Road
Strengths:
Handels everything Ive thron at it the fork right now is handeling good for my weight cause im 12!
Weaknesses:
Nothing, but when i get older im looking to put on a triple crown fork!
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock parts
Bottom Line:
Best bang for your buck for freeriding/downhill if you are a beginer i prefer this bike! Try roughriders in El Paso Tx wildest downhilling in Tx!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Corey Toepfer
a Downhiller
from Mount Vernon, WA Date Reviewed: October 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
My Backyard Bomber...behind my house
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1150.00
Purchased At:
Fairhaven Cycle Center, Bellingham
Strengths:
Strong frame,
Weaknesses:
Paint chips easily :( dropped on piece of metal and popped off a small piece of paint. Fork, go for an 888, add bashguard, lock-on grips, and more comfortable seat, easier on the ass...
Similar Products Used:
Kona Coiler, Ventana el Cuervo, Other Big Hits, not the Demo's...
Bike Setup:
Fsr 1, 05 888 bomber, MRP chain guide, ODI lock-ons, odyssey pedals, new rims soon....
Bottom Line:
Dope bike! Great for a beginner into the sport of freeride. Taken to a lot of really fast trails and she's been able to keep up with the best. Been dropped, thrown, flipped, it's seen a lot and its still moving. Here's the DL, Good for the price, spend a lil more and do some upgrading, then your set to mob tough!!! Get it... buy it dude... buy it... dude... buy it...
5 chili's for value 4 chili's for overall because there are better bikes, but not for this price
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie Brand
a Downhiller
from Fairmont, WV, USA Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
quickdraw ss
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
body progressions
Strengths:
Great all around bike It has handled every thing i've thrown at it takes big drops very well and handles the most technical trails with ease
Weaknesses:
Fork (of course) swapped for a 888, wheels, swapped for add wheelset, weak brakes,need replacing
Similar Products Used:
big hit fsr2, fsr3, giant faith, kona stab garbanzo, old school schwinn straight 6
Bike Setup:
888 and add wheels replacing brakes asap
Bottom Line:
great bike for the money, a go everywhere do anything bike. love it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom M
a
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: September 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
boyscout
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
go ride in redowood city
Strengths:
the price frame geometry travel tires
Weaknesses:
fork shock chain-guide
Similar Products Used:
kona coiler
Bike Setup:
bighit fsrI frame 888vf fork 5th element rear shock
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great first dh/fr bike, especially if you can get it for under one grand. Ok at pedaling. Nothing like a cross country or all-mountain bike, but if you gotta ride a fireroad or something to get to a trail, you can do it on this bike.
The forks and shock on the bike are pretty bad. Great to start with,but after a while, you'll realize that you wanna move up to something plusher.
Weight is ok for a downhill bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ry Guy
a Downhiller
from Vail CO Date Reviewed: September 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
craigslist
Strengths:
affordable, good frame,reliable drivetrain
Weaknesses:
fork performance is harsh. brakes are far too weak for a bike this heavy.
Similar Products Used:
ironhorse sgs
Bike Setup:
lock on grips, factory dh 2.5s, and juicy 7s. everything else stock
Bottom Line:
decent starter dh bike. get rid of the brakes hayes sole are not enough to slow down this bike. scary!
fork is harsh and tops out making an anoying pinging.
after replacing the brakes this bike is better but i still would like a little more plush fork. something with a thru axle.
ifyou can get a good deal on this bike go for it, plan on new brakes and fork. I would not recomend paying full price for this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
zac
a Downhiller
from san pedro Date Reviewed: August 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
p.v.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
wheel world
Strengths:
great frame can take anything. great rear suspension. some good componets. fair price. great frame to start on
Weaknesses:
brakes!!! while they fell fine on the test run on the trial two fingers are nessisary. forks could be alot better either too stiff or bottom out too easy.i broke a pivot bearing about 2 months of hard riding but i think that was just a defect.
Similar Products Used:
giant fiath
Bike Setup:
azonic pedals for now
Bottom Line:
would buy this bike agin. will recomend it to anyone. great place to start.buy it!!.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Downhiller
from Colorado Date Reviewed: July 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
BIKe village
Strengths:
price everything but shifters and fork
Weaknesses:
fork is weak and shifters do not hold up 2 rest of spec heavey
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
good value and performance
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
teresa green
a Downhiller
from BC,Canada Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere thats got a DH spot
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Very strong bike, soaks up the hits real good. Great first bike
Weaknesses:
Bit to heavy for my liking. The brakes are a bit tight to start
Similar Products Used:
Kona stinky.
Bike Setup:
Al stock
Bottom Line:
Good bike for a newer biker like me.. but if u read the review below even the pros use it!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darren Berrecloth
a Downhiller
from B.C, Canada Date Reviewed: July 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whistler
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Can absorb 50ft drop in my backyard
Weaknesses:
Snapped 5 This year..
Similar Products Used:
My Custom demo 7
Bike Setup:
avid code, fox 40
Bottom Line:
good bike if your EXTREME like me.
SPIN TO WIN
PIN IT TO WIN IT
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
luke isaacson
a Downhiller
from barrington ,illinois, united states of america Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
diablo freeride park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1150.00
Purchased At:
the bike connection
Strengths:
good frame and componets i really like the frame it is bullet proof the fork is ok i am gonna put a marzocchi 66 or rockshox domain on it later, the rear shock is good i just need a stronger spring cause of my weight i weigh around 160 if that i lik
Weaknesses:
the fork bottoms out easily even with 40 psi on a 5 stair and the grips are uncomfortable and it is real heavy but keep in mind its a freeride bike and the chain stay is pretty weak
Similar Products Used:
kona stinkey, ironhorse ojiki, kona coiler
Bike Setup:
stock exept for sram x-7 drivetrain and soon to be rockshox vivid in rear and domain or 66 in front
Bottom Line:
its a great freeride bike i recomend it it is really upgradeable and perfect for a first freeride bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big D
a Downhiller
from Christchurch, NZ Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
All DH on port hills
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
John Bull Cycles
Strengths:
Great suspension and rear shock setup. Soaks everything up real nice. Also the lifetime frame warranty is a bonus.
Weaknesses:
Hard to pedal uphill. Very heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky, Gt Idrive7 2.0, Kona Coiler.
Bike Setup:
Hayes Sole and Hozfeller stem. Everything else is stock.
Bottom Line:
if you like a bike you can pedal uphill easily this bike probably isnt suitable. Best bike ive ever own awesome setup.*****
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jerome
a Weekend Warrior
from Christchurch Date Reviewed: May 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
so far, the last bit of gwydyr forest, but it keeps on changing...
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
excellent frame: can't fault the suspension or pedalling setup. good brakes, can't go wrong with juicy's. sweet red hubs, and the gearing (X7) seems ok, maybe a little slow, but better then shimano i've tried.
Weaknesses:
the fork is bloody hard to set up right: the pressures on the website are too hard. and it is 160mm while the back is 190mm, so it doesn't quite balance
Similar Products Used:
bionicon ironwood, kona stinky
Bike Setup:
stock 07
Bottom Line:
i like. alot. the forks will be upgraded at some point, but they do the job for me at the moment: i'm justing getting into some dh and freeride. i got it at 20% off, but even at the full price, it is a steal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Downhiller
from Somerset Date Reviewed: May 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
local woods
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
www.evanscycles.co.uk
Strengths:
Great value some decent parts great frame handling
Weaknesses:
brakes-dont stop you, i was hospitilised because of them!! forks-bottom out
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky
Bike Setup:
stock apart from 888 and hayes hfx 9
Bottom Line:
buy it if you find a good deal. Then upgrade at least forks and brakes, then you have an amazing downhill. especially considering the price
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
maxximus lyman
a Racer
from langley, b.c. , canada Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
freight train
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
velocity cycles
Strengths:
everything its perfect
Weaknesses:
none what so ever
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
2006 888vf fork, mag 30 rim in back and supra d in front
Bottom Line:
ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ramadam sabire
a Racer
from bagdad Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
smith field
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
eilish bikes
Strengths:
good for big lips
Weaknesses:
spots,fat
Similar Products Used:
barracuda thriller
Bike Setup:
bumpy face due to spots
Bottom Line:
dont but becuse u will get big lips or just a spotty face ps. fat dole
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Konstantinos Charizanis
a
from Gainesville, FL, US Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Realy nice frame, strong, a little bit heavy but overall gives you a feeling that will not break. For the price I paid I think the whole bike was worth it. Some small drops I've done (up to 10ft) were easy to handle, and the bike did show it's limits.
Weaknesses:
The front fork has no good control, it's not accurate,it's not a 20mm through axle, and you cannot adjust anything, just more air. After a good crash it bented a little bit at the steer tube and marzocchi said that they could not press a new one, I had to go for an upgrade...which shows the low quality of the fork. Also brakes need a lot of work,
Similar Products Used:
nothing else. First freeride/dh bike
Bike Setup:
Stock with time attack pedals
Bottom Line:
If you get a good deal on it, just buy it. Save some money for the necessary upgrades, cause you will need them after 6 months when you understand that the setup of the bike is not the one you like. You will have to get rid of the cheap accessories (brakes and fork), but that's the reason you buy such a bike so cheap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington Date Reviewed: December 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Makara
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
On Yer Bike
Strengths:
Well priced and good set of components on the bike. Good history behind the design ie it works. Can ride this uphill - for a wee way atleast :)
Weaknesses:
Limitation to upgrade to 200mm + forks Brakes Would be good to have a bash guard
Similar Products Used:
Trek, Giant, Scott and Cannondale
Bike Setup:
Factory standard -SRAM x-7, Truvativ crank & B/B, Fox Vanilla R, Marzochhi Drop Off IV SL, 26 Chunder tyres, Sun single track rims, Avids Juicy 3
Bottom Line:
Only faults would be to have bigger brakes (although they could still be embedding). Good dimensions to the frame, makes you feel comfortable on different trails. Suspension also works well on the different trails I have ridden from rocky to clay I purchased this over the other bikes tested because I felt comfortable on it straight away. Shocks are noisy but I couldn't care less, they work and that is what counts. I am not an extreme DH or freerider but do the odd 5 ft drop offs and this bike loves it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christophe Marin
a Downhiller
from Ottawa, Ontario, canada Date Reviewed: December 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
???
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1316.00
Purchased At:
Intersport
Strengths:
components (the x-7 is great even under lots of torque), handling and weight around 30 lbs, bomproof frame, can pedal up to go down but a dhx 0.4 (propedal)could ease things up a bit but no need to upgrade it right away(I would if I had the money but for now its perfect).
Weaknesses:
brakes need more power, fork and shock are somewhat limited in adjusting option and travel but they are ok for light downhill and freeride and the chain guide keeps lowering on my chain after every drop and finally the frame cant fit a +200mm fork
Similar Products Used:
n/a
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Great gravity machine but somewhat limited on some aspect(travel and brakes),the rest is perfect (with a propedal it could go anywhere)great for anybody looking for a all around garavity machine, best bang for your bucks. Wont go wrong buying this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Howell
a Weekend Warrior
from Swindon Date Reviewed: November 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
C2C - if I have to choose
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Total Bike Swindon
Strengths:
Frame suspension design, tyres, abilty to convert into XC bike in minutes, brakes (hayes sole) very easy to set perfectly.
Weaknesses:
noisey shock - turn up your ipod, brakes take a while to bed in but 30 hours has done it. Forks are bit stiff certainly very capable freeride bike with 150mm forks but they are not downhill capable - well you can use it on some downhill courses, but it is not a true downhill bike.
Bottom Line:
Forks are bit stiff certainly, however, very capable in freeride category with 150mm. I would say they are not downhill capable - well you can use it on some downhill courses, but it is not a true downhill bike. Ideally one would have the demo or big hit 3 too. I am using mine to commute 10 miles off road, I have put a 100mm stem on and 410mm Thompspon Elite, and with tires at 50psi its pretty fast, certainly a good bike for pumping your legs up, the wheels are very heavy. then at weekends I switch it back to slack and short stem and hey presto its a down hill bike again. the pro pedal might be factory set but it works fine. for £1000 its a bargain, I love it and am now saving up for a demo or BH3
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil
a Downhiller
from The WOod Date Reviewed: October 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Evolution
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1077.00
Purchased At:
skagit cycle center
Strengths:
Stout Frame, good design great componets from box.
Weaknesses:
Lamo pedels. and tires.
Bike Setup:
medium frame, drop off IV SL, Fox vanilla R, sram X-7 derailer and shifter, Hayes Sole's 8" F/R, Truvativ Howitzer cranks and Guide, Truvativ hussefelt stem, aheadset,Sun rims single tracks, Specialized Stout hugs 20mm axles, Bontrager Big Earl's 26x 2.7, and Toiga pedals.
Bottom Line:
Great bike right out of the box no need for urgent upgrades, just buy and ride......well i did yard off the tires right away. 2.3's are just tiny. and the pedels where plastic i think.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob clarke
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne vic aus Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
ne were
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
very strong
Weaknesses:
forks and rear shox suck
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky giant faith 2 giant glory
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
very good for begging freeride or down hill but if you have the money upgrade the forks to boxxers and rear shox to fox coil piggy
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cam rich
a Downhiller
from canada Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
panorama crazy train
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
realy durable great feel after riding norcos all my life i felt right at home with the fsr i loved this bike i rode it for a week in panorama it was awesome
Weaknesses:
the fork is ok but its easily pushed to its limits
Similar Products Used:
atomik team north shore stinky
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
great bike i was thinkin about buying one after but i lust bought a coilair wich is also a great bike but i really recomend this bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
maxwell bayman
a Downhiller
from kamloops Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
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