the bike has good handling and shifting. It shifts better then any bike I have ever had. It is also very durable

the handle bars are a little easy to rust because of the material. I would prefer a more durable brand.

This is one of the best bikes I have ever rode. Myself and any body else that has ridden it agree that it is a very nice bike. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am a 14 year old male and this bike is perfect for me

The M-50 is a great bike! I just got mine and I've had a chance to do some light downhilling and trail riding. the shifting was easy and the steering was good. I intend to try some beginers racing events and will update my report.

Many Thanks for a quality product at a fair price!!!

Excellent handling, smooth shifting (what else would you expect from Shimano?), excellent braking (again, thanks to Shimano).

None that I have found.

Basically, I feel that this bike is an EXCELLENT deal for the money.(Especially from Sun & Ski Sports in Houston. If you go, gotta ask for Mark!) Got mine for $319 (new '99 model). It came with the RST 260 shocks, Shimano V-Brakes & a Shimano deraileur. Rides great!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

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Had a Diamond Back Sorrento. The Raleigh blows it away! Far more intense bike!

It is an easy to research for yourself FACT that no matter what you want to spend, you will always get a better bike with higher model components if you get a Raleigh over ANY other brand bike out there! The last few years, every model has gotten better in the Raleigh line too! I bought an M-200 entry level aluminum bike in 96, and this year you can go way down to the M-80 model (which is now aluminum this year) and has better parts on it (including handlebars) than my 96 M-200! My girlfriend has the M-40, and is finaly able to keep up with me on the trails. I invite everyone out there who is hesitant in buying the M-50 (or any Raleigh) to go to the bike stores in your area and check out every other bike that goes for the same price as the Raleigh you are interested in, and see how they have used derailers and other components of a few levels down from what is on the Raleigh! Raleigh is probably the oldest bike manufacturer around. They made the first steel bike back when everyone else was making them out of cast iron! (a long time ago!) I had to get my first Raleigh sent over seas from England where they were made, but now they also make them in the USA! I still have my Raleigh from the 70's and it still rides great, although the bikes made today are MUCH lighter and contain more aluminum rust-free parts! Don't get me wrong, Trek and the others make great bikes too, but you have to pay more for them to get a model that is comparable with the same components as the lower priced Raleigh. Check it out for yourself!

Bought this bike for my wife. It is a bit heavy and comes with basic
components. But having said that - I would have to rate it as an exceptional value.
We paid $225 for a 96 close out. The price included Bar ends, water bottle cage, and water bottle.
She LOVES the bike and it performs well for for her needs. The Bomber fork (Very Basic)is not much -
but performes it's job and works well enough for someone of her size. Brakes do a good job and she has
had no problems with shifting. Overall - I would have to say that the M50 is a good bike with a shock fork and adiquate
components. Considering what we paid I would rate it as an execptional value.
b

I got mine close-out, too. It's a bit heavy, and it's rigid. I've replaced the rigid fork with a nice suspension model. The components were not notable, but I've put on an XT derailleur and clipless pedals. For the money, you probably couldn't do much better if you don't mind the weight.

Seems to have more positive reviews then negitive ones.

None! I just think she's the best!

In Sacramento a few times a year the county comes by and hauls away shrubs and just about anything you concider junk that you pile in front of your house on the street.
It started out with just a set of wheels. Then the next time it was time to dump I came across a M-50 frame in a pile of junk on my way home from work. She still had the crank, handlebars and fork. So I picked her up, brushed the dust off her and hauled her home. Scouting the piles of trash along the streets in my neighborhood I found a "Eagle" derailer for the rear on a bike buried under a ton of trash. The chain,from some old Magna up the street from my home.
With the exception of the front derailer the whole bike costed nothing but time. When I first got her together and took her on her first ride I did "the test". I removed my hands from the handlebar and......
She was as true as can be. The gears worked, the breaks stopped and the best thing, was her price. I prefer the M-50 I built more then the Specialized I bought brand new. She's a smooth ride and handles great. I ride to work almost everyday, (10 miles one-way.)and I always mount the M-50. The Raleigh M-50 is a great piece of trash if you ask me. Everyone should find one!

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Brand new Specailzed Crossroad hybrid.

Upleval Components, Stiff frame, crisp overall

Tires and Seat wore out quickly(yet it was kept outdoors)

My parents bought me this bike when I was 10, in May of 1998 as a 97 model. I didn't know much about bikes then but my parents knew that I loved riding and thought...Why go through 12 cheap walmart bikes when I could have one of the best? I had already worked my way through one walmart bike that had gone to the dump and was well on my way to breaking another. So they bought it. I loved it, it was perfect for where I lived which was an island community in Savannah that was being developed. It being developed there were many trails available and I rode them relentlessly. Jumps. Bumps. Wreaks. You name it. After a year(my next BDay), while I was gone on a ski trip i came back and found RockShock T2's newly fitted. It had taken a while to get the right size and fit ordered for my bike and I still believe it was not installed properly by the local bike shop. Had I taken it to the Raleigh Authorized Dealer this probably would not have happened. Anyway, the bike has been great for all my needs, and I believe anybody who has any problem with the bike just expects too much for the money or didn't have it serviced regularly enough or at all. Bikes dont stay adjusted you know. All the components are tough and this year, instead of upgrading to 9sp. I decided just to replace my cassete and chain because it had been slipping. Also the new michelin tires are great...although thier rolling resistance on pavement is somewhat worse than the AT Kenda's that came stock. This is not that much of a compromise when I get out on the trail. The bike will be five years old this May and it will probably not be replaced for a long while. Awesome buy. Sharp looking. Durable. FAST.

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Walmart Junk

hmn, lets see, well it roles,
that pretty well covers it

oh, where to begin...

Alright, it is seemingly impossible to even begin to describe the crap I've had to go through because of this bike. It is not a good choice, even if you have $300 to blow, 75 pounds of candy would work out better for you. It is a heavy ride, at a feathery 32+ pounds getting it up hills sucks just about as much as the RST shocks, which for me bottom out at a plush 1/4 of an inch, good ol' RST. As for the tires; grade A crap all the way, never been able to grip with them. Shifting was smooth for the first month or so but started to reak once the new bike shine wore off. The only good thing I can think of about this bike would have to be the bar grips, man are those things squishy, but that is just about it, and $300 for a pair of decent bar grips really is not that great of a deal. My bottom line; if you really want to add misery and regret to your biking experience, Raleigh M50 all the way. Otherwise go ahead and hang on to that $300, save up, buy a Cannondale, and be happy.

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lot-o-testing afterward and regretting
let's just leave it at that

It's the best Value well.......ever

none worth every penny, seriously don't listen to any bull**** that other people write in they're reviews

the best entry level bike there is.If you've been riding some really cheap piece of crap bike and you're getting nowhere buy this, I used to think I sucked and now I'm sooo into mountain biking and I love it. I've bent wheels but who the hell doesn't bend wheels? Also the seat is very comfortable but not very durable and if it gets wet it doesn't dry for like three days. Big pain in the ass if it's cold. Also I broke the axle on one of the pedals and broke the plastic away from the axle on the other. this is an awesome bike though, esecially now that it's alluminum for the 2000 models. Definitly a must buy if you want to start mountain biking or already do and aren't happy with your low end bike. This bike blows anything else away that you'll see for 400 or less for sure, even most bikes you'll see for even more