Submitted by
Manicmtbr
a Racer
from Newark, DE, USA Date Reviewed: November 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fair Hill Trail System
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Henrys Bikes
Strengths:
The One 9 frame is full efficiency, no wasted energy. I can run 1 full gear harder on this frame and not feel the difference at all. This is the fastest frame I have ever ridden and the SS aspect of it makes it even faster.
Weaknesses:
The welds on a scandium frame are so big and ugly compared to a nice steel frame, but what can you do about that? All scandium frames are like this. I got the raw frame because that is all that was available. Would have preferred red or orange, but those colors are discontinued. Blue will be nice when it comes out this winter.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Rig, Niner Air 9, Niner Sir 9, Gunnar Ruffian 29er, many 26 inch singlespeeds.
Bike Setup:
Niner One 9 frame, Origin 8 fork, King Headset, ENO cranks, WTB hubs on Stans 355 rims, Bonti tires, King headset, Avid BB7 brakes, light and Ffast!
Bottom Line:
Great riding bike. So comfortable for a rigid bike. I just cannot believe how efficient this bike is. I can run a larger gear and just not feel the difference. Climbs are easy, and technical riding is so easy (as it is on any good 29er). Point and click. Buy one, you will not regret it at all. The new blue one glows in the dark!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
curtis newkirk
a Racer
from wilmington,nc Date Reviewed: October 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Black Moutain run in Pisgah National forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
cannot say
Strengths:
this bike does everything I want it to without having to think about it. The single speed eliminates fussing with gears. I can totally focus on the ride. The 29 wheels really roll through tight single track. I have heard some people experience the front wheel trying to roll in on them in tight turns but i have not encountered this. I ride some really tight and technical trails on the east coast. Rough and rooty but this bike eats it up.
Weaknesses:
None that I have found
Similar Products Used:
Was riding an older specialized M4
Bike Setup:
one frame, thompson seat post, cane creek headset,Alpha carbon fiber bar,Zipp stem,Avid juicy ultimate brakes,Fox F29 RLC fork, Surly cranks and chainring,American Classic ZTRARCH wheelset and Stan's no tube tires. total weight with pedals. 20.10 pounds
Bottom Line:
You cannot go wrong with this frame. it will take you wherever you want to go.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CC
a Cross Country Rider
from Roanoke Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
used frame
Strengths:
Geometry is perfect! The bike just feels right. I'm a little over six feet and the size large frame fits me perfectly! Frame material is extremely lightweight and compliant. The Hot Tamale paint looks cool. It may chip a little but no big deal.
Weaknesses:
None!
Similar Products Used:
Rig, Older Bianchi ss
Bike Setup:
Thompson post and stem, Stan's Arch rims, Hope Pro II hubs, Easton Monkey bar, Niner rigid fork, Cane Creek headset
Bottom Line:
The folks at Niner have designed the perfect bike! The bike craves to go fast on singletrack. The 29 inch wheels eat up just about anything in sight. Downhills feel stable on this bike. I ride mostly eastern singletrack, this bike seems to want to go much faster than I can. I was very skeptical about the singlespeed thing, but with a 32 X 20 gear setup on this bike I can do just about everything I did on my geared bike. With this bike I will not be riding a geared bike anytime soon!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Too Many
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Big Kahuna Bicycles (Littleton)
Strengths:
Rides like my AIR9 and its a Niner. I love the Godzilla Green color.
Weaknesses:
Like all Painted Niners...the paint is fragile
Similar Products Used:
S.I.R.9
Bike Setup:
Reba SL, 180mm XT cranks, Carbon Bars and seat post, Am Classic 29 wheels, King HS and a mixture of 2.1 tires.
Bottom Line:
I had a SIR9 but I didn't like the fact that it weighed as much as my AIR9 and the geometry was slightly different...SO...I got my ONE9 and did a parts swap w/ the SIR9. It is light and fast and is basically a SS version of my AIR9. Mine is not flexy...how big are some of these reveiwers? My EBB does not make noise...try some grease! When I'm riding my ONE9, I am in complete harmony w/ the trail...The bike rides so well that it becomes part of me and together we fly. How's that for sappy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Larson
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lewis & Clark
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light weight, decent customer service, nice paint...(only when new)
Weaknesses:
Paint chips easily, somewhat flexy, odd sizing, mine had a defective weld that went bad and the eccentric bb makes alot of noise. Expensive for an overseas made single speed.
Similar Products Used:
Bianchi and felt ss. Salsa Mamasita 1x9, and a host of 26in. bikes
Bike Setup:
DT 240 hubs, Stans 355 rims, middleburn R7 crank, formula oro puro brakes, Pace RC 29 rigid fork
Bottom Line:
This bike was a complete nightmare from the start. Nothing seemed to work well with the frame and for me the geometry never felt right. I think I was in between sizes of medium and large. The paint chipped and peeled off almost overnight, and there was always a loosening of the eccentric bb. Finally I was able to shed most of the noise by using only Ti prep. Besided developing a crack in the seat/top tube joint weld I noticed that 29er single speeds selling for a fraction of the cost rode as well or better than the highly vaulted Niner Bike. I know there has been a band wagon movement promoting how great Niner bike are, but I sure did not have that experience. Check out the other 29er options before purchasing a Niner Bike and most importantly if you do, be sure to buy the bike as a complete package from niner or any of the many mass market dealers like Colorado Cyclist instead of building up a frame. You will save a ton.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Boss
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo, CA USA Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
B17 Tamarancho
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light weight, handles single-track superbly!
Weaknesses:
A little flexy, but that's to be expected from a super light frame.
Wow, I love this bike! I ride primarily singletrack and the Niner One 9 handles it better than my 26" Redline Monocog.
A lot of people talk about the big wheels being a problem with switchbacks. Maybe it's the geometry of this frame that makes gliding through switchbacks easy. The extra stability from the bigger wheels helps too.
There is some talk about the initial momentum being slower until you build up speed. Since riding a 29er I have discovered that this phenomenon happens within the first few seconds of starting to ride, making it almost undistinguishable.
The big benefits include a smoother, faster ride over rough sections and more stability over slippery stuff when riding in wet weather.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Namken
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: January 22, 2006
Reba 29 100mm, Avid Juicy Carbons, DT hubs, Boone Ti chainring and cog,Stans 29r Olympic rims, Thompson bar and stem, FSA K-Force bb and crank. 22 lbs
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. If you want a very light singlespeed 29r , this is the best. You can spend alot more for an exotic ti frame, if you want to, but no reason to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron Whisenand
a Cross Country Rider
from Templeton, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Dairy Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Direct with local build
Strengths:
This bikes climbs much better than my 26" single speed. It didn't feel flexy at all when riding out of the saddle. The bike also handles like a dream on smooth downhill runs. Even in tight switch backs, it corners just like my road bikes. Despite it being a hard tail, it rolled over rocky sections of the trail with a lot more ease and less bounce.
Weaknesses:
I encountered a little mud on my first ride. 2.3 tires didn't provide enough clearance where the chain stays meet the bottom bracket or at the fork. Smaller tires or waiting for dryer conditions would have been wise.
Similar Products Used:
26" DEAN Jester converted to a single speed. Now with the Niner being the only single speed that I'll ever need, the DEAN is going to receive its next transformation into my commuter bike.
Bike Setup:
XL Tang (absolutly beautiful orange paint job), Easton stem and Monkey Lite bars, Avid Juicy brakes, Chris King head set, TruVativ Stylo Single Speed Cranks with 32/19 gear combo, American Classic wheels with WTB Exiwolf 2.3 tires, 100 mm Rockshock Reba Race fork, Thompson seat post, and WTB Rocket V saddle.
Bottom Line:
Great customer service. They promptly answered email questions before purchase. I ordered the bike on a Monday and it arrived Thursday that same week.
I have had it three days and taken it out every day for a new challenge. I am still in search of an ideal gear combo for our hilly and rocky terrain, but I'm sure I'll find it soon.
After flying down a long twisty single track run yesterday, I couldn't stop smiling. It sort of reminded me of the feeling I had riding my Schwinn Stingray that I found under the tree oh so many Christmases ago.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mitch
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Louis,Mo. Date Reviewed: January 19, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Berryman/Ozark Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Niner Direct
Strengths:
Clean, well executed design. Lots of thought went into the small details like cable routing. Eccentric is light years ahead of any other I've seen.
Weaknesses:
Could use a little more tire clearance.
Similar Products Used:
Bianchi SASS, Salsa Jaun Solo
Bike Setup:
Two perfectly sized wheels with one gear.
Bottom Line:
A blast to ride when you are fit and fast. Your best friend on an all day'er. I did just under 100 miles in a 12 hr with my geared full squishy bike at the ready to take over if the Niner wore me out, but I never gave it a thougt. Easily as compliant as a short travel 26" suspended frame, the Niner allowed me to finish without the feeling of near death even after an additional 13 mile lap over last year. EBB is as easy to set up as it gets and rear wheel removal is a snap. Buy one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Illinois Date Reviewed: January 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
It's All Good!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Direct From Niner
Strengths:
Purpose-designed from the ground up as a 29" frame. Nice & light but so far tough & strong. The owners of the company are fully into the 29" bike. It's not just another frame in their line-up. I also happen to prefer the EBB design and have had no problems with the EBB slipping in spite of my 240 pound girth :) I have about 500 miles on this frame in five months of off & on riding (due to the midwest weather)
Weaknesses:
Paint on the chain stay rubbed off on the first ride, but what the heck, it IS a mountain bike, right? I don't worry too much about paint.
Similar Products Used:
This is my first 29er and only my second single speed so I can't say I am well versed in either. I did ride a Bianchi SASS for a few months before buying this frame and I can say that the Niner Scandium frame seems at least as smooth as the steel SASS. I sure don't miss riding my Ventana Pantera as much as I thought I might and that's not taking anything away from the Ventana, it's a great machine.
Bike Setup:
XL frame REBA fork with Pop-loc Thomson stem & post Brooks Saddle Avid Mechanical disk brakes Avid brake levers Surly disk hubs laced to Salsa Delgado 36 hole rims Easton EA-70 bar
Bottom Line:
This frame has been a great purchase for me and has improved my riding skills as well as my fitness level. I like to get out & ride a challenging XC trail and get my heart rate up & keep it there for a while. I am really not into the freeride thing........not that there's anything wrong with that, some of my best friends are freeriders ;)
29er's are great fun for many reasons that have already been discussed by far more accomplished riders than myself. I won't say that they're the only way to go but if you're a large person like me (6'2") these bikes are something you need to check out and Niner has done a fine job with this frame. I am now trying to decide which Niner will be my next bike. Great job with this frame!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FoShizzle
a Cross Country Rider
from Camarillo, CA Date Reviewed: January 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Mike's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Geometry, Light Weight, Build quality, attention to detail, Customer Service, looks of frame
Weaknesses:
None worth noting
Similar Products Used:
On-One Inbred 29er, Phil Wood 26" Single Speed
Bike Setup:
Large One 9 frame, Thomson stem/post, Easton EA70 bars, King headset, ENO Cranks w/ Phil Wood bb, American Classic wheelset, WTB Exi front/Nano rear, WTB saddle, Hope M2 brakes, Karate Monkey & Reba Race fork, Shimano 540 pedals, KMC Z610HX chain, Surly cog, Salsa skewers, ODI lock grips
Bottom Line:
The bike literally fits like a glove and see no reason to even consider custom. The weight of this frame is killer such that if you want suspension, you can slap on a Reba or whatever and still have a lighter bike than others with rigid forks.
I LOVE the geometry. The wheelbase and for that matter all dimension are perfect. This has got to be the XC race weapon of choice. Geometry kicks arse for both going up or down.
Given the weight and tight geometry, this is one 29er I simply dont notice any lack of acceleration issues with.
My 26er is steel. While my 26er is steel and I absolutely love it, I am blown away with how comfortable this 29er is. It is in no way harsh. The frame is a large and weighs 3.6 pounds and that is with an EBB so even if it was a bit more harsh, which I am not even sure it is, it was worth the tradeoff on this build and could not be happier.
Last but definitely not least, Ninerbikes has kick asss customer service. These guys are truly passionate about their business and it shows in all they do.
I HIGHLY recommend this bike to anybody looking at single speeds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gearless
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterford, mich. U.S.A. Date Reviewed: January 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Pont. lk.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
direct
Strengths:
fit, weight, quality.
Weaknesses:
color choices
Similar Products Used:
26" SS
Bike Setup:
King hubs and headset, avid brakes, XTR cranks.
Bottom Line:
I have owned too many high-end bikes and My Niner rivals the best of Them. I highly reccomend it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Nicholson
a Cross Country Rider
from Friendsville, TN Date Reviewed: January 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anything in Pisgah
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Direct
Strengths:
Excellent ride quality, hard to believe an aluminum bike could ride so smooth. Great design and proportion, a very well thought out bike. Tire clearance is great. The frame is a really good value.
Weaknesses:
Paint is thin and comes off easily. EBB bolts are small and feel as if they could strip.
Similar Products Used:
Custom Wily, Fisher 29ers, Karate Monkey
Bike Setup:
Large frame- 100mm Reba, King, Thomson, Jones Bars, Hope Brakes, King/Ryno Wheels, Race Face cranks
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. This is my third 29er and 4th single speed. The fit is perfect for me. Geometry works well at 80mm for a racy quick bike or (as I prefer it) put a 100 mm fork on it and it’s a stable trail machine. Niner customer service is great I had a problem with my original frame and they took care of me with a replacement very quickly. I’ve owned a ton of bikes over the years and this one is at the top of my list of favorites.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chuckc71
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville, KY USA Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
light, responsive, snappy, very fast, surprisingly easy on me when compared to a Karate Monkey, gorgeous frame.
Weaknesses:
paint rub/scratches, EBB creak occassionally, rear tire clearance not adequate for Bontrager ACX tire with any dirt whatsoever.
Similar Products Used:
Surly Karate Monkey Lenz Sport Leviathan
Bike Setup:
WB BW 0.8 fork, American Classic wheelset, White Eno crankset, Phil Wood Bottom bracket. Boone chainring and cog, Thomson post and stem, WTB saddle, Jones H Bar, Avid Carbon Brakes, flavor of the month tires, Time ATAC pedals.
Bottom Line:
Weather has been really foul around here for me to get many rides in. This bike is far quicker, more nimble and surprisingly more comfy than my Karate Monkey (which I absolutely loved). I guess it helps it weighs about 22.5 lbs for an XL makes it the lightest bike I've ever owned and leads to the quickness quotient.
I echo other posters that Niner has the best service I've ever seen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Devin Flynn
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Oregon Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Various in American Fork Utah
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Niner
Strengths:
very light, climbs really well, good looking, clean welds, I like the EBB style single speed bikes. It was great with regard to power transfer. No flex in the frame. I am 200-210 lbs too.
Weaknesses:
EBB would never stay in the exact spot I set it at. It always would slide a bit to a point where the tension on the chain was not a tight as I liked it. This never affected the ride, it just bugged me. I even had made sure the the torque specs were exactly as suggested. I turned the the EBB to a different spot and the EBB still moved.
Paint chipped very easy, but I guess they can't powdercoat because of the scandium.
Going down was not a good as Fishers or a custom Curtlo I had built up. It was too twitchy for my style of riding. I got used to it though. It was only when I switched bike with a friend during a ride did I realize this.
Similar Products Used:
29ers: Curtlo, Fisher 293, Dean Colonel Single speed: Cannondale 1FG (I liked this better for handling than the Niner, but the niner was better overall mainly because of the bigger wheels and lighter frame.
Bike Setup:
AMerican Classic wheels, Reba, Avid disc brakes, Kenda Klaw tires
Bottom Line:
I give it 4 out of 5 because of my EBB problems, bad paint, and the handling was not what I liked.
They guys at Niner are really great though, so it pains me to a bit to only give 4, the customer service was the best I have had by a manufacturer in a long time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Woody Deutsch
a Cross Country Rider
from Winchester, TN 37398 Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Perimeter Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Woody's Bicycles
Strengths:
This bike (frame) has great balance and ride incredibley well. It is light and has great clearence. There is good attention to detail with a nice head badge, good welds and an excellant paint job. They seem attentive to strength and durability with a gussetted head tube/down tube.
Weaknesses:
None so far except that it takes a 31.6, 400mm seatpost which limits the choices. (Bontrager makes a Carbon in that diameter and length.)
Similar Products Used:
Airborne B-29 (29er) singlespeed. Willets New Sherrif (multi-speed).
Bike Setup:
I have set this up with a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14. Bontrager rims with a Surley frt. hub; WTB Nano Raptor on the front, and Conti Vapor Pro on the rear.It has Bontrager cranks & seatpost, Speedplay Frogs, C. King headset, Easton Monkeylite bars, Titec stem , Avid Juicy 7's, and a R.Shox Reba.
Bottom Line:
The only thing I will say about the Rohloff is that I like it and it makes for a great all round winter bike. The Niner frame itself is top-notch. It climbs great and corners exceptionally well. I have a Scandium Voodoo (26 'er) as well and it shows through both bikes what a great frame building material Scandium really is. It makes for an extremely light, stiff, and strong frame that does not rattle your fillings. If you don't want to fork out the big bucks for a ti frame, the Niner brand is the way to go. Oh yes, I am assuming if you are looking into this frame there is no need to get into the superior ride quality of the 29" wheel over it's dinky 26" little brother.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Carbondale, CO, US Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Super light singlespeed disc specific frame. Good geometry and low standover for a fairly long toptube. Nice colors.
Weaknesses:
Eccentric could fit a bit tighter, paint is a little thin, easy to scratch, rub through...
Similar Products Used:
Jericho SS, Cannondale 1FG
Bike Setup:
King pink hubs/headset, HFX 9 carbons, Thompson, Stan's 29er rims
Bottom Line:
A really great singlespeed, really light and a good overall handler. I love the long top tube and short standover. The Scandium is very comfy, stiffer than my steel frame but nicer to ride than the aluminum. I didn't think the eccentric tolerance was that great, but it has never slipped and seems to be just fine, maybe I'm just picky... I rode it alot this summer, raced it at the singlespeed world's, and the 29 format really rolls. These guys are making a great product at a very good price. Highly recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Locust
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio Tx Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Flat Rock Ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Niner
Strengths:
weight,responsiveness.
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Niner build kit. Xl tang, AC wheels, Reba fork, Avid mechs Thompson stem and post, Sella Italia seat, LX cranks, Easton Carbon bars, and Kenda Klaws.
Bottom Line:
Not much I can say that Rain Man didn't already say, plus I broke some bones in my hand so typing is a chore. This was supposed to just be a novelty bike for me but it's quickly becoming my favorite. This is truly a great bike. The guys at Niner are great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rain Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Local singletracks.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
Light weight and state of the art construction. Excellent paint and finish with beautiful attention to the small details.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Lots of different bikes, but this is only my second 29'er and my first real state_of_the_art 29'er.
Bike Setup:
Jeff Jones Ti H-bars with Avid Juicy Seven disc brakes, Reba forks with Pop-loc, Chris King headset, AC wheels, Brooks leather saddle, K-Force Mega Exo carbon cranks, DMR Magnesium platform pedals, Shimano chain, Hope Qr's, Boone Ti cogs and chainwheel, WCS stem, Thomson seatpost, WTB Exiwolf tires.
Bottom Line:
This is an incredibly good bike. It is fast, very light and carves singletrack like a hot knife through butter.
The whole package that was sent to me from NinerBikes was first-class. Assembly was made easier because of the details like machined EBB and headset, the paint is gorgeous and shines in the sun. The Scandium frame is softer than a plain alloy one, and quite compliant.
Riding this bike is a pleasure. It really does a great job in making you feel like you can tackle just about anything.
The guys at NinerBikes did their homework on this frame.
There is ample clearance for the Reba forks Poploc under the downtube, the top tube is a little bit longer than normal, but it makes for a sweet, sweet ride. I just love riding this bike up steep climbs. It goes up hills like a mountain goat. The longer top tube makes the front end feel so stable and comfortable. I never feel cramped in the cockpit, yet it steers fast and predictably.
Riding fast turns through the trees on singletrack is a whole new ballgame. This bike just flat-out handles. You can go really hard through the turns and it just tracks like it's on rails.
These frames are tested by NinerBikes and pass the very high standards required by the German Din Plus tests ... how many lightweight bikes can do that???
Ask any one who owns one of these bikes and you get the same answers...they are very good value and the guys at NinerBikes look after you.
I give my One Niner heaps of hard riding, and I ride every day. It have never let me down, I am as happy with the product after six months of hard riding as I was with it when brand new. Everything on this bike works for the rider. It makes you feel confident and willing to tackle new things and push yourself to new levels.
I have mine set up as a single speed, but have also run it with a Rohloff SpeedHub which makes it into a geared HT that eats up just about everything you throw it at.
The Rohloff conversion is straightforward and easy, and goes on without any hassles.
As a simple singlespeed it feels ultra light and "flicky" and very very responsive to rider input. The big 29'er wheels are stable and just roll right over stuff that would stop a 26 inch wheel dead. Drops are waaay easier, and endo's are almost a non-event.
Even though I have ridden this bike hard over six months of riding every day, it has shown no signs of it apart from a few minor scratches which I have covered with the OneNiner supplied touch-up paint that comes with every frame.
The bottom line :
This is a really good bike. Everything works as it was designed to. It makes you feel like a better rider than you are. It looks great, and the geometry is absolutely spot-on.