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Submitted by
ryanbullard
a Downhiller
from Rochester NY **USA**
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dryer State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$610.00 | | Purchased At: | Craigslist.com | | Strengths: | Extremely durrable!! Is very adjustable. Can take 2.7 tires! They are with-in 1/8 inch of hitting. | | Weaknesses: | I can't find the right type of kickstand. None of them will fit around the disk breaks. If anyone has some thing that fits let me know!! | | Bike Setup: | 2.7 Maxxis minion downhill tires, tubless, 17", hayes 9 disk breaks, fox floater w/ talas, Rockshock front fork, bontrager everything! | | Bottom Line: | Very outstanding. You could drop it of a 3 stoy building and it woul be fine. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dae hyun kim
a Weekend Warrior
from suwon
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | rocky, single track | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | used market | | Strengths: | very plush 5" travel, super stiff, good geometry for all mountain(small jump, drop, gap) | | Weaknesses: | heavy, heavy, hard to ride long xc cource or onroad.
low bb position(pedal and crank arm hits the obstacles.) | | Similar Products Used: | giant nrs | | Bike Setup: | THE PIKE SL, hayes, sram rocket, shimano mech, atomlab+magura wheelset | | Bottom Line: | For true all mountain ride, my set up is too heavy, my bike is 16~17kg. But for local dh racing or 4 cross, it is a good bike. And relatively light bike. This bike can 3m drop, 10m gap jump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Faiz Khan
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Schwarzwald,Germany | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Beeline,Oxford | | Strengths: | Goes anywhere with confidence and stablity - slower than others on long hard climbs | | Weaknesses: | Very heavy ! | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Rift Zone - lighter and faster - not as good or stable downhill - | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for downhill and difficult trails
Too heavy for XC and all day trekking with a lot of climbing however. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Strengths: | Plush suspension, good geometry | | Weaknesses: | Fork, weight, tires | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a good bike for trail riding and that is about the only kind of riding that should be done with this bike. I was forced to do a few XC races with this thing, it is comfortable but the weight penalty for racing this bike can be felt over the distance of the race. But it is nice to decend the short steep sections a lot faster than the other people around you who are riding their brakes down the hill. The fork could stand to be upgraded to shed a little extra weight. I am thinking of getting a Manitou Minute 2 fork for this thing. Talking about weight this thing stock weighs 35 pounds. Don't get me wrong I knew it was heavier when I bought it but I didn't think it was going to weigh that much. IRC tires are crap knobs ripping off after < 100 miles on the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike m
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Noble Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | trek san diego | | Strengths: | Mash over every thing that is in your path and be able to cimb very respectably. great parts pick for the money. cross-country geometry with downhill-fun | | Weaknesses: | if this bike had stable platform(newer ones do) it would be almost perfect. tall standover height(newer ones dont). I needed a stiffer spring i my phsylo fork. | | Similar Products Used: | titus moto-lite, santa cruz, super lite, stumpjumper, ect.. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this is the bike that got me hooked on mtn bikeing. the thing that i like about this bike the most is that it climbs better and better the more technical the situation. it can feel a little heavy when your goin up those long grindy fire roads with your hardtail buddies but if you are a stud it won't matter. i've seen dudes on liquids race sport class events and almost win. and this one guy on the super d had one and he one the whole thing. this bike just sucks up anything you put in front of it although with the fork i had, it did sometimes dive under hard steep braking, but i am also comparing this bike to $5000 bike that i have now so you can't get too picky. with that said the tall stance of this bike in the full travel mode(rear) was a little tall, and the low end(rear) was prone to low clearance, but i always rode it around the middle setting(just right). bottom line for the money you will not find a more fun trailbike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis vd Vlugt
a Cross Country Rider
from Wieringerwerf (Netherlands)
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | So far Great Glenn (Scotland) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | All American Bikes (Hoorn) | | Strengths: | All Round bike, Very nice braking, Nice rear shock with the geometry adjuster, You can juse the bike for rough XC to light Freeride whatever you want. | | Weaknesses: | Don't like the Bontrager wheel's, slappie sping in fork. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for the pedals | | Bottom Line: | Very very nice alround bike, handles not only good on hilly tracks but is also very fast on more technical XC single tracks thanks to the variable geometry. It's a bit heavy for real XC but that's not where it's made for. With it's 14.5 kg you can get uphill pretty quick and downhill is just great fun. Especially when you use the rear schock adjustment for the geometry on the fly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Hayes hydraulic brakes, Fox rear shock, slick wheel set, pretty good components | | Weaknesses: | Nothing found yet. I like the front shock unlike most. I am 5'11 at 160 lbs. That might be why...not sure. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock setup | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for hitting up single track, ripping down hills, or even some urban assult. The bike is comfortable to ride, good at climbing, and loves to go down hill. No more worrying about what line to take. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glynn
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, Co
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in the 'Springs! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Traded for my hardtail! | | Strengths: | All-around great bike! Frame geometry and rear suspension are perfect for a little more aggressive downhilling than my NRS. Decent component package for the price (except the fork). | | Weaknesses: | Psylo XC. It pretty much sucks on this bike. Waaayy too soft and flexy. | | Similar Products Used: | DBR V6, NRS Air | | Bike Setup: | Fox Vanilla 125, Thomson 410mm seatpost, Thomson 120 stem, Monkelite Carbon low-rise, LX Hollowtech BB & Cranks. | | Bottom Line: | Other than the stock Psylo XC fork (trust me, if you ride this bike like it's supposed to be ridden, just figure a new fork into the price), this is a really nice bike for a XC rider who wants to be more aggressive on the downhills and air. Fits nicely between XC and freeride. It weighs a couple pounds more, but to be honest, I hardly notice it, even on the climbs. I still ride with the same group and have actually moved up in the pack since I started riding the Liquid. The frame seems to run large. I'm 5'11" and run the 16.5" comfortably (although I did buy a longer seatpost). Only bad part since I put the new fork on is my lonely, dusty NRS Air. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry Shepherd
a Weekend Warrior
from Bowie, MD USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Patapsco Avelon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Doctor | | Strengths: | Robust frame, built strong, bearings are greatly oversized and work extremely well, came with a combination of brand and different type parts as do all off the shelf bikes (LX front Derailler, XT rear, SRAM Casette, Bontrager crank, Truitive BB, stem, seat post, seat, hubs, Hayes Discs) to cut price. | | Weaknesses: | weight but a slight weakness rides much lighter. RS Psylo XC orginal spring weight set up for riders between 50 - 100 pounds, original groupo combination guys stay with a groupo package componants are designed to work together SRAM - Bontrager - Shimano are not! | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain cycles MG, | | Bike Setup: | I immediatly replaced numerous parts:XTR front Derailer, XTR rear, XT crank and BB, Hope M6 Ti Discs, Hope Hubs, Sella seat, XT trigger Shifters, Easton Monkey light XC bars, Raceface stem, Easton EC 70 post, Panracer Cinder 26 x 2.25, RS Pyslo Race w/spring upgrade, would estimate at $4,000.00 after | | Bottom Line: | Love this bike, at first I was dissapointed with the weight (prior to riding on a real trail). If you can crain it off the bike rack you are in great shape, bike losses 20 pounds once you start peddeling. This thing is indistructable, just wish I was! Buy a size smaller than you normally do everything is adjustable, ride, travel, rebound, compression, and your ego and attitude once you start riding it! Would recommend this to everyone! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a Cross Country Rider
from westminster co usa
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | little bob from pedaling, great response off road, and quick enough to use on the street. the adjustability is completly infinite, and not really to heavy for what you get out of the bike | | Weaknesses: | front shock almost completly useless to a guy my size ( 6'3" and 260 lbs) even with the shock upgraded to extra stiff, a lot better than at begining where i could stand in front of it and with just arm strength bottom it out also had a lot of noise out of rear end that took having the entire rear triangle rebuilt three times because they used the wrong type of loc tite in the joints i also bought this model because i was told that it would be great for a guy my size and i still can't get the rear shock hard enough for what i'd like somtimes but for any technical riding it still works well front fork i think just need to be replaced still the upgrade was enough to get me to keep it but for another few years of use i'll have to get rid of it also have drag that comes from front brake, but mine tends to rather consistant | | Similar Products Used: | raliegh m80 y22 fuel 90 haro x3 | | Bike Setup: | upgraded front spring, haro bmx pedals | | Bottom Line: | aside from noted problems that really weren't all that bad in the long run, it really probably wasn't meant to handle a guy my size for hardcore riding, technical stuff yeah but i worry about hopping around and doing too much at speed except hopping curbs and some jumps at speed. if you are a big dude and you want something for climbing and a LITTLE downhill than this would be a great bike personnaly i wish i had gone with the x3 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Brodsky
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | noble canyon in San Diego | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | mission cyclery | | Strengths: | This is to update my review from before: Stregths are that the bike does handle the bumbs and jumps great. | | Weaknesses: | Well in addition to the other weaknesses I metioned before. The swingarm behind the rear pedles broke in half. I was not riding too aggressivly at the time it broke and it just broke right in half. I took the bike to a local bike shop and Trek honered thier warrenty and is replacing the whole rear end of the bike. I would suggest inspecting the connection where the 2 parts of the tube on the rear swingarm connect for any cracks or wear because it might happen to you. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro, Kona Dawg, Turner 5 spot | | Bike Setup: | stock except bigger sping in front fork | | Bottom Line: | I would now suggest aginst buying this bike because it is prone to problems and now that it actually broke in half, it is a dangerous bike to ride. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mattman
a Weekend Warrior
from North OC, CA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1499.00 | | Strengths: | Good all round trail bike, lots of adjustability, sharp looks, Trek warranty, made in USA | | Weaknesses: | Psylo fork too soft even with the extra firm spring, it got scrapped quick. Noisey. Ghost shifting until longer shift cable housing was added. Brakes have been a constant pain the front one has needed to be adjusted constantly to remedy drag. Stock Trailbear tires were scarey when cornering fast on hardpack. Paint was pretty but had poor coverage in the areas where the shock mounts. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first FS bike though I've demoed or rented several others including Kona Bear/Dawg, Specialized Enduro, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Sram XO shifters and rear derailler, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires, WTB Rocket Ti saddle, Marzocchi Z1-FR SL ECC fork. XT chainrings, Easton setback seatpost, Titec stem | | Bottom Line: | I like the bike overall, but I was really bummed to have to replace the fork right away, especially since I chose this bike specifically because my LBS said "it will be a great bike for a big guy like you" There were several little glitches that I had to work out over the first few months. The first time I took the bike back to the shop I had a punch list of about seven seperate issues. The Hayes brakes have definately caused me grief, but to be fair after talking to Hayes and doing some work on them myself they have been OK on the last few rides. Little by little I've manage to eliminate many of the noises the bike made at first.When I bought this bike it was intended to be my one do it all bike, for that it is well suited. I would not want to try to race it. It handles decents well, but not like a DH bike. It climbs well, but not like an XC bike. I would recommend this bike to a tall, but not too heavy rider who wanted one bike that he could ride all day and take into some pretty rough terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Weiss
a Racer
from Kamloops, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | sun peaks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | spoke 'n motion | | Strengths: | so much fun on downhills, the perfect all around bike | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy, but I am used to race bikes (around 23 lbs) | | Similar Products Used: | rocky mountain pipeline, rocky mountain rm6 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | I can climb anything on this that I can on my race bike. It is so fast on the downhills and I am sure that I could huck it some more and it would take it. I love being able to change the front and rear travel and feel that this is the perfect bike for anyone. It's bombproof and will go anywhere. The only thing is that it will feel a little sluggish on uphills if you're really trying to motor. This is not bad just a fact. It'll get there though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a
from Queens,NY, U.S.A
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Central Park/resevoirs in Westchester County | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Northern Cyclery | | Strengths: | This bike is absolutely fantastic. The paint finish and craftsmanship is excellent, people often stop me and comment on the blue paint. The adjustable rear Fox shock works well, especially since the terrain in the NYC area, varies from pavement in Manhattan, to dirt trails in the outterboroughs, to vast mountanous woodlands of the surrounding suberbs. I am former NYC Police Officer and am now a bike Cop in Westchester County and understand the need for a bike that is strong and can multitask without being too heavy-this bike can do it with a flip of the switch. My department uses hardtail Treks but I would love to get them to OK a full suspension Liquids on patrol. | | Weaknesses: | It was a little hard to size. I am 6'1 205 lbs and usually ride a 19inch frame. The 19inch version of this bike was too big, the 17.5 version fit perfectly-seems as if the bike frame runs a bit large. The front Psylo shock works great only when outfitted with a stiffer spring-cheap upgrade. I recommend upgrading from LX to at least XT components to reduce weight a bit. This bike should have came stock with full XT parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900, Gary Fisher Sugar 3. | | Bike Setup: | All stock except, a stiffer front spring. XTR front shifter and derailler on order. | | Bottom Line: | Outstanding quality bike at a good price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryce
a Cross Country Rider
from Ogden Utah
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Wellers Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$405.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This bike is light enough to climb any hill and has good enough suspension to scream down the other side | | Weaknesses: | Bottom Braket makes noises | | Similar Products Used: | Trek y-33 | | Bike Setup: | Sherman firefly front shock, Mavic wheels, stylo team sl crank, FSA pro headset and bottom bracket, Thompson elite seat post, WTB Laser saddle and shimano xt components | | Bottom Line: | This bike totally rocks. I can keep up with the downhill bikes and I can climb with the cross country bikes. I love the 5" front and back suspension and the way my bike is set up. I would recommend the Sherman firelfy to anyone with a liquid that wants a upgrade from theur Physlo, it is a major improvement. I built this frame up from scratch and I love the way it handles. Overall awesome bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegas, Nevada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | cottonwood trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | The adjustable geometry/Travel is nice. If you keep a good amount of pressure in the rear shock (about equal to your weight) you don't get much in the way of pedal bob. | | Weaknesses: | Brake fade on the rear brake is pretty bad. Front fork is too soft for a rider of average weight. I weigh 170 and bottom out. Currently getting that remedied with a stiffer coil. A lot of ghost shifting at first, but the 30 day tune up has taken care of that. The low bottom bracket is a bit of a pain on technical rocky stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for some wellgo m3 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is a wonderful ride. Albeit heavy and with a more free ride geometry, this bike handles cross country epic rides gracefully and will only make you stronger. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L. Hamlin
a Weekend Warrior
from OKC, Ok.
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any/All | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bike 63rd & Macarthur | | Strengths: | Does it all, can be adjusted to suit any rider or ride with realitive ease. | | Weaknesses: | Very sensitive set up required on shifters (rear) and I have some problems with the adjustment with the brake levers. They simply will not stay put, maybe some loc-tight would fix this but the lever appears to need lots of adjustment as altitude, and temperatures change. | | Similar Products Used: | None, tested a Klien Palamino, and a fuel. | | Bike Setup: | Changed only the shifters, don't know why but I like the grip shift best. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line for me was value, not cheap, I mean if I had to spend more for what I wanted or to get the job done I would have, however I just didn't think it was neccessary, and proved not to be.
You can ride flat trails with your crew on this bike, then load up and ride Monarch Pass, it is that diverse. Is it heavy...yes, but not so much that it hinders, if your fitness is not suspect.
Another plus is you will learn to adjust brakes, and shifters if you ride often and hard, I'm considering replacing the fluid in the Haynes brake system with some performance fluid I use in my Moto Crosses, hopefully that will help with the (heavy) fade.
Oh, and that nasty, bothersome noise you will sware is the forks, well its the seat post.
Oh, (again) why would anyone build a 21.5" bike, then equip it with a set of forks that are sprung for a 130 pounder?
At 185 the heavy hitter (black) in this fork is barely enough. Lastly, what you save on the bike can be spent on beer, and road trips. (*yes, I am a huge advocate of the designated driver!!!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Canyon Bicycles | | Strengths: | Travel for the $$ is excellent. Agree that the front Pyslo shock needs stiffer spring. Only $20 to upgrade. Road the Bobsled trail in Salt Lake avenues. Was impressed with the realitive ease in climbing. Downhill portion of the boblsed is technical with a few rocky areas. Best control I've had to date on this trail versus last bike. Easy to hop over virtually anything in reason on the trail. Love the Hayes disk brakes. Everyone should own disk brakes. All in all great deal for the money. | | Weaknesses: | Every bike has problems. Think too many people on this site forget that we're beating the crap out of these bikes. If you don't think cables are going to loosen, parts will squeak, rims will bend, and bodies will break, THEN your NOT riding hard enough. I say live it up and for $1500 you can afford to buy another bike a few years down the line. | | Similar Products Used: | K2 900 full suspension, Specialized Rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | Standard with stiffer spring on order. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the money. If your into lightweight XC bikes than this Freedride bike is not for you. However, if you like XC with a focus on the technical downhills, this is a great bike. Since I've bought it (2/04) I've beat the crap out of it. No squeaks, problems or whining. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff H
a Cross Country Rider
from NW IL
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Adjustable travel. Rear suspension soaks up big stuff. | | Weaknesses: | Weak fork spring. Not enough ground clearance. Bontrager Crank. | | Similar Products Used: | Fuel 90. | | Bike Setup: | Ex firm fork spring. | | Bottom Line: | Great all round bike. Don't buy it if you intend to race it. You can crank the fork down to climb and back out for the decent. I wish it had a half inch less travel in the rear and a half inch more ground clearance. No large size bike chould have fork a spring for a 130 lb rider. Bontrager stuff is what you get at this price point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff bell
a Cross Country Rider
from mcdonough
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | yellow river | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | bike center | | Strengths: | adjustable suspension,disc brakes,frame geometry | | Weaknesses: | Lx shifters had to go becuase they are only indexed when down shifting,brake levers clatter going down hill,rear hub makes a clicking noise when torquing down on pedals ,brake pads squeak,stock pedals,and some serious cable stretch had to get them adjusted 5 times (I think it may be the cable routing) and it seems a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | gt timberline,gary fisher mamba,trek 6500 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for xtr shifters,upgraded bottom bracket, tubeless tires and some descent pedals. | | Bottom Line: | With the exception of the weaknesses I listed above I have really enjoyed riding the bike.This is my first full suspension bike and WOW what a difference it is from my hardtail.I got tired of my eyeballs shaking out of my head going down hill.It actually climbs well with very little pedal bob.I ride with the suspension maxed out and I have climbed some very technical hills with no problem and drop offs are a breeze ,of course I only weigh 150 pounds so the bike doesnt have to work very hard to support me.I recommend this bike to any cross country rider that doesnt plan on racing it and has the money to buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Olympia 888
a Weekend Warrior
from Oly
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Capitol Forest, WA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1349.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Value, KILLER all around trail bike | | Weaknesses: | Lateral flex in seat stays | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS, Specialized FSR, Pro Flex | | Bike Setup: | Not stock. The only thing stock now is wheels and frame...Hayes old school, PSYLO SL, Easton bars, Thomson stem, Kenda/WTB tubeless tires and more | | Bottom Line: | Great trailbike. Reasonable XC weight. Psylo SL upgrade, good trail fork, had to rebuild it once, but great now. Pedals very efficiently for 5" of travel. The "one bike quiver". I'm very happy with mine. There is noticeable lateral flex in the seat stays when going fast down gravel roads (very squirly), but just fine at 30 MPH on single track. Killer value, bottom line. (Ignore the spelling mistakes). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shigeo Uno
a
from Yokohama, Japan
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Karuizawa, Japan | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Greggs cycle Seattle | | Strengths: | Great suspension for downhill. The rear shock is really nice to be adjustable when you want to take the offroads where you expect all kinds of road condition. | | Weaknesses: | This bike a bit heavy for me. Difficult to carry. There is hardly no place to hold firmly. The front fork is difficult to change the travel. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyl, Specialized Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great if you want to go offroad especially downhill. The suspension really absorbs the shocks!
It might be better if you change the front fork but other than that it is really great! The bike was a great deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Brodsky
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, Ca
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | nobel canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | mission cyclerly | | Strengths: | The bike has a great ride over all, the breaks were great at first and the rear shock is amazing. | | Weaknesses: | well it is getting worst every ride now. first the ghost shifting, but that was fixed with adjustment, then the brakes were messed up because the factory blead them the wrong way, and now the front shock is messed up. I have bought the bigger spring so I am really pissed. | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4900 | | Bike Setup: | stock except for bigger front spring. | | Bottom Line: | Its a great bike that I wish Trek would have spent a little more time and money to make more effecient. I would deffinatly test it before you get it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nik
a Weekend Warrior
from Iron Mountain, MI
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Mortl's Sports Center | | Strengths: | The adjustable Fox shock with the changing geometry is a dream. Rather light bike for a full suspension. The tires are great for the terrian I ride on. The Hayes hydraulic disc brakes are the best I've had yet. | | Weaknesses: | The Psylo shock sucks. After the first hour of riding the U-Turn was stripped (I only adjusted it twice) and needed to be replaced. The spring inside is too light and it feels like you're going to bottom out every time you hit a drop. Not much clearance with the crankset. The rear derailleur is hard to adjust because of the changing geometry I believe. It's very touchy to get it to run smoothly in every gear. A little chain suck in the first two weeks, but nothing since. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing comparable. | | Bike Setup: | Stock so far. | | Bottom Line: | If you want to go big without spending $3000 get this bike. I will never go back to a hardtail and if i ever get another full suspension it will be an updated liquid. When you get this bike going 20+ mph on a downhill you don't feel a thing. I thought the adjustable travel and changing geometry was a gimmick, but this bike can climb hills if you have the strength to keep up with it. I took this bike to college with me where we have a lot more diverse terrian to ride and it has handled it all. Just drop the suspension down and you can ride logs, bridges, and anything else with ease. Bring it back up and you can ride technical single track and barely feel a thing.
In case anyone is having problems they can't solve, here is what I found out about the bike so far. The creaking noise comes from the seatpost. The clanking noise in the rear hub which sounds like a little rock or spoke nipple is actually a piece of metal and it is a manufacturer's defect. I got a brand new hub two weeks ago.
I give this bike a value rating of 4 only because the front fork could be better, but overall this bike rocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 2199.99
