Submitted by
Zachary Hutchings
a Racer
from Broken Arrow , Ok, USA Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
riverside trail
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
I bought it from a friend
Strengths:
I love the suspension. The breaks are heavy duty.
Weaknesses:
I had to repaint it. Now the front and back arms are yellow, is that bad?
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I need new tires, but you know how the sizes go, it is going to be quite a trip to find a pair that i like that fits.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
casey lambert
a Downhiller
from merritt island, fl, usa Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004
Favorite Trail:
santos
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
adventure cycles
Strengths:
i loved everything about the bike.
Weaknesses:
trek wont back their lifetime warranty on my broken frame.
Bottom Line:
i loved this bike to death. i am still trying to find a replacement for it. if any one knows where i can find a swingarm for one, please let me know. sk8ercasey84@yahoo.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Rothberg
a Cross Country Rider
from Holland, PA Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
I have to pick ONE?!
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Guy's Feasterville, PA
Strengths:
I didn't die on it, but it did get a lot of looks and compliments on its radical appearance...
Weaknesses:
Swingarm and weight. Very few Disk brakes match the setup.
Similar Products Used:
Spec. Rock Hopper, GT Timberline, Ells Truth, Christini (Sigh), a number of others less memorable.
Bike Setup:
VRX 300 with Judy Forks and Shim XT or less, Icon crankset
Bottom Line:
Trek missed the mark with this one. My problems started immediately with a bent crankset on my first run at Blue Marsh, Pa. Limped the bike home and upgraded to all Shim Lx stuff. Later a Hayes disk in rear. The weight was a negative in climbing and the geometry made racking (Rhode Gear Tailrack) a nightmare. Later, after MAYBE 1000 miles (doubt it) the swingarm became loose in a range-of-motion aspect and a lateral aspect (Pivot wore out and the frame around it loosened if you can believe it). All around poor performance. The judy forks never quit and never wore but were heavy. I moved on as soon as I could afford to. The Frame remains in my garage (stripped) as a monument to impulsiveness.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh
a Cross Country Rider
from houston, tx, usa Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
ant-hills
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
spring valley bikes
Strengths:
good componets, realtivley stiff frame
Weaknesses:
not good for jumps, as soon as i got it i replaced the front fork with a 2001 psylo fork, weight. seatpost strips out, also replaced stem and handle bars when i bought it. e-type front shifter, cannot get to shift right
Similar Products Used:
other xc bikes
Bike Setup:
vrx with psylo front fork,xt brakes, specialized bg seat, bontager seatpost, platform pedals
Bottom Line:
good cross country bike, have taken it to alke tahoe and done downhill and held up good. good overall bike, i bout it after it had been sitting in a bike shop for two years as a parts bike, got a good deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Pirkkanen
a Weekend Warrior
from salisbury VT Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
rear suspension, weight
Similar Products Used:
other treks
Bike Setup:
stock with bombers, new pedals and getting easton bar
Bottom Line:
i really like this bike, its great for trail riding, it takes most of the bumps through the suspension. if you upgrade the front shocks you will be set with a great durable bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jon
a Weekend Warrior
from wau wi usa Date Reviewed: September 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
ski hill
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
The bike is a pretty good bike for the price you pay. Rear suspension configuration is really nice havne't really had too much problems with it. Just the feel of the bike is nice wheather your going from some sick downhilling to some trail riding it can handle it. I like the fork it has but it could be beefier. The fork is nice and stiff. The bike can climb hills which is a plus.
Weaknesses:
The biggestest weakness about the bike would have to be the frame. My swingarm waas twisted so the wheel was tilted slightly to the right side. The swingarm has too many stress points on it and isn't reinforced enough. I've have broken a swingarm. The swingarm broke at teh pivoit point and had a super huge crack going down the whole swingarm. The rims on the bike are a weakness. I bent the rims. The icon crank that came with the bike broke which was a pretty weak crank. Im already on my third crank and second wheelst. It can't really hold up to some things.
Similar Products Used:
other y frames
Bike Setup:
sun rhyno lite rims w/ xt disc hubs, avid mechanical disc brakes, sun zuzu pedals, xt bottom bracket, new swingarm linkage, pivot points, fender
Bottom Line:
The bike is a pretty good bike for all purpose use. I really like the bike because you can use it from downhill-freeride-cross country. The bike can hold up to drops, jumps. It even held up to a 15 footer and numerous stair sets. The only thing i would recommend for the bike is a new wheelset, brakes, fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eric shawn
a Weekend Warrior
from scotland Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
largs
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
frame only
Strengths:
its a bike
Weaknesses:
its a really crap bike. a bit too beefy for xc, knocks the sh!t out of you on a dh, crappy shock, bottoms out like mad. gay paintwork on swingarm chips off in big pieces.
Similar Products Used:
other ppls bikes
Bike Setup:
forks, wheels, brakes, and other parts
Bottom Line:
dont buy it. i will laugh at you if you buy this bike. im gonna try and sell mine soon. ill be lucky to get 50 bucks for it. why can i select ZERO chillis??
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paul newbold
a Weekend Warrior
from sheffield, UK Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hound Kirk 'Road'(!), nr Fox House pub
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
evan's cycles
Strengths:
Very tough bike for the price, especially the frame (nice welds). Great downhill.
Weaknesses:
bushes wear quickly and screw the rest of the power train if not replaced fast. Swinging arm decals fell off within a month (who cares!). Overweight, can be heavy going uphill.
Bike Setup:
standard mostly
Bottom Line:
A good bike - I've done 1-1.5 thousand miles in 2 years+ of very mixed riding and only now is major stuff starting to wear; it needed new chain, chainsets, rear cassette and derraileur, and bushes, and the wheels are on their way out to. However, no major mechanical failures, only wear and tear (and I've riden on gritstone trails in the Peak District which are v abrasive).
I'd get a lighter bike if my budget ran to it but my cycling partners have bikes 300% more expensive that are maybe 30% 'better' (mostly uphill).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Hesketh
a
from Merritt Island, FL USA Date Reviewed: January 12, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Adventure Cycles
Strengths:
Everything.
Weaknesses:
Nothing
Similar Products Used:
NO other Full suspension to compare it to.
Bike Setup:
99 Trek VRX 300 w/2001 Rock Shox Psylo, Xt,LX Drivetrain including bb and crank. XT cassette, sun rhino lite rims, continental tires, kore stem and skewers, titec hellbent handlebars, arch rival 50 brakes, and more.
Bottom Line:
I originally wrote a review three years ago when I first bought this bike. Obviously I've made some upgrades from the original equipment, but I have put this bike through hell and back, and it has NEVER let me down. I know there are a lot of great bikes out there, but if Trek was still building these VRX's like they did in 99, it would be the bike to have.
Downhills, tight singletrack, urban assault, launching off 5' loading docks, this bike does it all. If you can find one BUY IT. I'll keep this frame around for a long time, just add new parts when they wear out, or when I feel the need to buy the latest and greatest shocks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon Ballantyne
a Downhiller
from Edinburgh, UK Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Alpine bikes
Strengths:
Superior handling, responsiveness to big bumps, smooth travel, no pedal feedback, must I continue...
Weaknesses:
Keep the seatpost short or out of the way of the linkage plate-one hit will break it. Other than that, none.
Similar Products Used:
Cheap crappy rigid bike, various hardtails and this bike in its original form
Bike Setup:
Hope front bulb with 20mm axle on 521 rims (deore hub rear) Marzocchi Super T 6 inch travel downhill forks (ex team DRB), Tioga factory 2.1 tyres, thick downhill tubes, hope C2 pro front brake, XTR V-brake rear, AC chain device, wellgo flat pedals, Azonix bars, XT right hand shifter.
Bottom Line:
Since my last review, I have added a few more components to the bike to make it a beautiful downhill machine. It's scary fast on downhills and sucks up bumps amazingly. Looking back, it would've been better to buy the frame on its own and build it up, but then I wouldn't have appreciated the upgrades as much.
On another note, I feel that Trek didn't exploit these bikes to the full. Whilst the '99 bikes were great, the 2000 VRX's had crappy X-country components on them whilst still having a heavy-ish frame. Trek then surpassed themselves by not manufacturing the VRX's at all in their 2001 range, making it crap. However, their new DH bike, the Diesel, should make up for this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
TC's Bike Barr
Strengths:
Strong frame, great for all day freeriding and downhilling. The Fox Vanilla R rear shock takes in the hard hits on the landings. Adjustable geometry allows rider to change the bike's setup on the go. Bike's design is for the serious freerider or the weekend downhiller. Takes huge drops and jumps smootly without a hitch. Fast on downhill sections, and climbs like a goat up the hill (which I was amazed about myself, since this is a dual suspension bike. Faster than my previous Hardtail Cannondale's!). Corners smoothly, and no annoying rear end flex from the swingarm. This is one of the best Downhill/All day Freeride bikes ever made at a very good price. I'll never look back into getting a Cannondale or GT or Specialised or Kona for a freeride bike again~! Also, the bike doesn't burn a huge hole in your pocket like the Cannondale bikes!
Weaknesses:
None, unless you decided to race this bike xc. Then the weight issue will become a problem for you. Otherwise, this bike is one hell of a downhill beast and a hell of a nice freeride bike. Trek should have advertised this bike as a freeride/dh bike.
If you're a xc rider - opt for something such as a Trek "Fuel" series bike instead of this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale (F500,F700,F900sx,Super V 700 sx,Super V 2000,Raven 4000 SL), GT (Zaskar,Avanalche), Specialised Stumpjumper, Kona Stuff, Giant (ATX 1,ATX 2,Warp,ATX 980).
Bike Setup:
Trek VRX 300 frame, Marzocchi Z2 Atom front shocks, Fox Vanilla R rear shock. XT rear de and LX front de. XTR brakes F/R. Sella Italia Flite Gel Ti, XT BB, LX rapidfire shifters, DX levers, Mavic 517 rims with Shimano LX hubs, IRC tires, Cateye speedo.
Bottom Line:
SWEETEST freeride bike I have ever ridden. This bike beats Cannondale's freeride bikes and also beats Kona's freeride bikes. Frame is light for a freeride/dh bike. Strong and stiff frame, without annoying bobs which are very evident on the Super V's. SMOOTH travel from front and rear suspensions. Superior handling from frame geometry and also it's adjustablility. If you can get one like mine, GET IT~! You will NOT be DISPPOINTED. This bike is better than ANY of the bikes I have ridden in my life mentioned in the above section. Perfect for the urban assualt or the weekend freeride madness in the mountains. Frame is awesome if you have to RIDE UP the mountain!
I recommend this frame to anyone who is a pure gravity and speed gromet like myself. You will NOT regret paying for it. If you're a heavier or serious downhiller, I recommend you also invest the extra money for a pair of long travel forks. For example: (Boxxer's, X-Vert Triple, Shiver(if you can afford it), or something like a Supernova...
If you're a light and small rider like myself, I doubt you would require the large triple clamp forks, but just a nice smooth and plush marzocchi will do the trick perfectly to make EVERY one of your rides, a pleasant memorable one.
Special thanks to Tony Carson (TC), for his help kind and friendly advice and building of this absolute beauty. Thanks Tony - you're a legend~!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Cape Town, South Africa Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Private Sale
Strengths:
Link thingy, wicked colour, outrageous handling. I love the funky swing-arm design which should minimise the chain catching between swing-arm and the rear tyre.
Weaknesses:
Creaking from everything!
Bike Setup:
Standard but for the addition of a Rock Shox Judy XLC triple clamp front fork and mechanical disk brake on the front.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike. I shopped around, read gazillions of reviews on this site and decided that I needed a VRX. I was right! I've done some off-roading with it, played at the local BMX track (to the puzzlement of two 11 year old boys who were putting in some track time) and even done a 20km road ride, just because I could. So far I haven't been able to find anything that the bike can't do, and I don't think I ever will. Every time I go for a ride I come back with a bug-catching grin. These bikes are no longer being made; if you find one for sale second hand, buy it without a second thought.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Stout
a Weekend Warrior
from Warwickshire Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sherwood
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
D-Zone
Strengths:
Frame
Weaknesses:
Decals,Brakes
Similar Products Used:
cheap full sus
Bike Setup:
Hope C2's front and rear Pro Levers(Rear using a Haynes adaptor from Hope)Raceface air aloy bars,hope ti Skewers,xtr rear mech,Sid XC front forks,Mavic 317 wheels,Hope Sport Hubs front and Rear,Raceface XY Seat post,Selle Ti seat,LX shifters (haven't upgraded them yet)Shimano Crank Rings,Icon Head stem,x-lite stem stackers,
Bottom Line:
This is my second review since February 2001 and as you can see I've upgraded my bike a little. The best upgrade is still the disc's if you need control get the hope's. I broke my seat post at the top where the knurled part is so I went for the Raceface post because of the looks of it.I'm 203 lbs which isn't that heavy i don't think but the trails I go on are very tough and the orginal Icon seat post couldn't take it.I'm slowly changing all the shimano stock stuff to xtr so at the year it should be quite finished.At the end of the day all bikes out there have there good and bad points so just get out there and ride. :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lance armstrong
a Racer
from usa,altantla,ga Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
mackclyces
Strengths:
tough fast built great
Weaknesses:
crankset
Similar Products Used:
lot of suff
Bike Setup:
sock
Bottom Line:
great bike the best in the world if you can find it you should get it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Max Foster
a Weekend Warrior
from Elk River, MN Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
stealth
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
schwinn cycling and fitness
Strengths:
strong frame, good components
Weaknesses:
fork travel too low
Similar Products Used:
ellsworth truth
Bike Setup:
easton monkey lites, hayes discs, mavic crossroc UST, xtr everything
Bottom Line:
good bike for the money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Down Hill
a Downhiller
from Flekkefjord, Vest Agder, Norway Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Nøddeknekkeren (The Ballbreaker)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2055.00
Strengths:
It is a good downhill bike.
Weaknesses:
Trek could have put on a downhill fork, Seat
Bike Setup:
All the orignal stuff
Bottom Line:
I was lucky that I got this bike on a sale. But you better change the frontsuspension. I will recomend this bike for medium experienced downhillers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Fort Dodge, IA Date Reviewed: May 8, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Leif Erickson
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Scheels All-Sport
Strengths:
Fast downhiller.
Weaknesses:
Where to begin? The frame is WAY too heavy for anything besides going down, the three position linkage is nearly useless, and single pivot suspension leaves me feeling like I'm riding a horse!
Similar Products Used:
Giant Warp, GIANT XTC NRS 1!
Bike Setup:
I slapped on a Marzzochi Jr. T, set of Rolf Dolomite Disk wheels, and a pair of Grimeca System 8 brakes in order to get this beast to behave!
Bottom Line:
If you're into down hilling I suppose this beast is for you, but it's not built well enough to last at serious down hilling and not light enough for cross country. Free Ride? I tried to make this into a free ride bike because that's really the only niche it even remotely fits into.....There is a reason this bike made Mountian Biking's Top 10 WORST BIKES OF ALL TIME list! I finally got rid of her for a Giant XTC NRS, much much much much nicer! Wow, what a difference a rear suspension that actually works correctly makes!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mitch Chandler
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001
Favorite Trail:
don't worry about it
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Guthrie's
Strengths:
It sure is green.
Weaknesses:
Brakes suck. Squeaky.
Similar Products Used:
87 Huffy
Bike Setup:
2 wheels, seat, pedals, mucus
Bottom Line:
I suck. I fall down a lot. But for spending this kind of dough, I didn't think it would be this high-maintainance. I get a lot of pinch flats, the brake cables had to be replaced and the brakes in general are frightening. The rear shock is cumbersome and the swingarm is noisy like my old Huffy of yesteryear. And it hasn't stopped me from wrecking, how hard could it be to make me not suck? I still like it though. I have to, since I'll probably die on it. If you get it for $600-700, you'll have a good deal, otherwise look around some more. As for these guys who keep talking about how it performs on the drops...nickabocka please. Last time I checked, any trail worth a damn has always had drops.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Teddy Deljanovan
a Cross Country Rider
from DuBoistown,PA,USA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all of the one around here
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Center
Strengths:
Strenght,Fork, components, wheels, and tires
Weaknesses:
its heavy, brakes, rear shock,
Similar Products Used:
none
Bottom Line:
Nice all around free rider leaned more twords a downhill rig with the weight. I raced three cross country races with it and got 4,2,and 1st. This is a good bike for ne one wantin to start downhillin and wants a nice bike that will take what u throw at it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Stout
a Weekend Warrior
from Atherstone,Warwickshire ,UK Date Reviewed: February 14, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Canock Chase
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
D-Zone,Nuneaton
Strengths:
Colour ,Frame ,the Looks
Weaknesses:
Decals on the Swingarm,Chain, Seat
Similar Products Used:
Cheap Full suspension bikes
Bike Setup:
Hope C2 Disc brakes with pro levers,Kore lite 3 head stem,Selle Ti seat,Remaider from stock
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, b4 the disc's were fitted I wasn't happy about the brakes but since the disc's have been fitted the bike is great. The first thing I changed on the bike was the seat the orginal isn't great and the yellow parts on the sides get very dirty. I changed the stem for a shorter one the orginal was ok I just wanted to changed it. The colour of this bike is a real eye catcher alot of people glance at it as they walk by alot more than the boring blacks out there. Today my chain broke god's knows y, it just happens, but other than this the bike very good. I would recommend any one with one of these bikes get some disc's on it and go pure hardcore. :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jon curtin
a
from Vancouver, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: February 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
WD 40
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Sun coast cycles
Strengths:
good balance due to the tires, which i found quite fatty even though its not all out free ride. The components are decent, not too racey but they hold out and do the job just great. the front fork is pretty good for the price that you pay for it, i was impresed, judy XC special editions are nice plush shocks.
Weaknesses:
The seat hurts, thats all i have to say about it, the way that there it exposed foam on the sides makes it not such a sweet ride when it starts sucking in every drop of moisture that it comes across. The only other thing that is wrong with the bike is the ajustable travel, it should be quick release but it is not, and the difference from DH to XC is not that much, only about 2 inches. It seems like alot but its not seeeing on the effort you have to put in to change it.
Bottom Line:
well the bottom line is, this bike is very all round. for the amount of rear travel it climbs well. It can be easly used as a free ride or urban bike, but just as easly can be changed to a cross country machine. It also is quite strong, i used it almost only for urban, stairs, drops, even trials and it held out very well. I recomend this bike to any body. Just one hint though, when you go to buy it i recomend changng the seat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Galbraith Mtn
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Strong Frame, decent components, good rear shock
Weaknesses:
Front derailer, Judy (for me), the decals on swing arm
For what I paid, this is a great bike to build up. The Judy is OK for XC riding, but off jumps and drops, its really harsh. The 100 or 130mm Marzocchi is much better with the rear suspension. Within 6 months the swingarm stickers started to come off, so I stripped off all the paint so it's now polished aluminum. I don't know why Trek tried to sell this bike as XC. Much better as long travel. It handles 7 ft. drops just fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Stout
a Weekend Warrior
from Atherstone,Warwickshire ,UK Date Reviewed: December 31, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Grendon Wood,Ridge Lane
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
DZone,Nuneaton
Strengths:
Colour Frame
Weaknesses:
None of yet
Similar Products Used:
Various suspension bikes
Bike Setup:
as orginal other than a replacement seat
Bottom Line:
Ok I've rode this bike now quite alot and think its great. I choose the xc setting on it for going on the roads in the week and for pure hardcore stuff drop the setting down to the DH setting. After reading some of the reviews of this bike and paying 850 sterling for it I think its a good buy.
The bike weighs 29lbs 10oz which I think is a great weight if you need a lighter bike, just loose some weight :). I've thought about disc brakes for it but at present don't need them, and the extra weight isn't worth it. The paint work of this bike really sets it apart from any of the run of the mill bikes.(like the blues and red and boring black) The only thing I would like to change is a quick way to change the bike settings on the F.I.L a quick release bolt would be nice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Downhiller
from la mirada Date Reviewed: December 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
any trail i ride
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Strengths:
good platform to build off of.at the time the price was very good.
Weaknesses:
bontrager tires are weak,more travel in the front end,trek's service is very up and down e.g.cracked a weld on the swing arm replaced in 2 days,teflon bushings 4 weeks to replace(be careful not to over tighten bolts on the bushings they'll squezze out like butter)
had minor problems with noisy linkage,proper torque on bolts will eliminate creaking(especially on anchor bolts of shock)handles everything i throw at it!!even with the 5"travel fork the bike climbs great its an excelent bash bike. ride on brothers and sisters
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon Ballantyne
a Downhiller
from Edinburgh, Scotland Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Alpine Bikes
Strengths:
Solid frame, good shock, can handle anything, good components for the price.
Weaknesses:
Weak wheels, tyres wear fast, the tubes it comes with are paper thin, there is nothing to stop the seatpost hitting the linkage and breaking it(which happened to me).
Similar Products Used:
Cheap rigid bikes and a cheap hardtail
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Specialized evil twin SC tyres, Hope Sport hub on 521 rim, front Hope C2 disc, rear xtr v-brake, wellgo flat pedals.
Bottom Line:
I originally bought this bike for cross crountry, but ince I realised what it was capable of, I gave up cross country and now do downhill. The bike can handle anything, is comfortable to ride and easy to control. I keep the shock in the downhill position all the time, and after some fiddling, it performs amazingly. If you are buying this bike then make sure that the seatpost is kept well away from the linkage - I had to wait two weeks for a replacement.
The bottom line is, this bike is amazing, the frame is its main strength, buy it!! (Only four chillis for the crappy tyres and tubes)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, Canada Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000
$ 1499.99
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating: