Submitted by
oldschooldirt
a Weekend Warrior
from Elizabeth Date Reviewed: November 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The Face
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
evil-bay
Strengths:
Nicely built, reasonably light, wheelie machine, EBB allows for a variety of set ups. Nobody else has one.
Weaknesses:
Paint "looks" thin, but has been durable. Still looks wierd w/big wheel in front.
Similar Products Used:
Does a Hutch cruiser with a 20" in the back (in the 80's)count? NO?... then no.
Bike Setup:
XTR, mis-matched Mavis w/Nevegals, Reba
Bottom Line:
Very fun bike to ride. Bought frame on whim and have had a blast riding it. Big wheel gives the feeling of more front travel. Goes fast in the twisties, handles technical stuff beter than any hard tail I have ridden. Goes down hill better than any HT I've ridden, too. Uphill... pretty much like anything else, which is to say it climbs better than I do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Max
a Racer
from Springdale, AR, USA Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hobb's Hidden Diversity
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Bikeman.com
Strengths:
Very stiff BB, perfect 96er geometry, inexpensive, can easily be set up geared or SS, fast/stable handling.
Hands down best XC race bike that I have ever ridden. Tried 29ers but have yet to ride one that feels like a race bike. On the flip side I really liked the stability and roll over anything ability of the front wheel. The Carver 96er platform gives me the best of both worlds. The rear wheel accelerates faster "with less effort" than the 29er and the front wheel has more cornering traction and absorbs bumps way better than the front of a 26". The shorter wheelbase also makes the bike more flickable than any 29er that I have ridden. Riders mix and match their tires all of the time because the front and rear are doing different jobs. Carver has taken that concept even further, and IT WORKS like a dream. I cannot say enough positive things about this bike. Everyone who has taken a spin on it has been literally blown away by how easy it is to go fast on this bike. Including hardcore 29er riders. Buy one and try it for yourself. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nod
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM Date Reviewed: June 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Cedro
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bikeman.com
Strengths:
Unique Design that has been praised by lots of mags, a real head turner on the trail. Can be run single speed or geared - very cool for a 4 hundred dollar frme, weighs 3.7 lbs w/ EBB
Weaknesses:
If you are anti-social, don't ride this bike because EVERYONE will stop and ask you questions. Oh, the paint chips too easily, so go with the ball-burnished or upgrade to titanium (which is what I did)
Similar Products Used:
Trek 69er, some homemade 96er's
Bike Setup:
Full XT with Juicy brakes and CKing wheels and head set
Bottom Line:
A great blue collar value bike that is built very well, can take hard CC riding, doesn't transfer the trail like alot of aluminum hardtails do. All the benefits of 29er's without the slow uphill accelleration I was getting on the full 29er. I've raced it geared and SS, the bike performs well with either type of set-up. EBB is one of the better styles out there, although you will need to adjust it once or twice after it wears in. At this price, you can't afford not to try it out. Davis and the gang at bikeman.com will take good care of you too!
$
Overall Rating:
