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Average Rating
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4.5/5
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# of Reviews
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4
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MSRP
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$ 2859.99
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Weight
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More Products from Gary Fisher
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Description:Frame
Platinum Series ZR9000 double-butted aluminum | Genesis 29" Geometry | b*link suspension
Wheels
Bontrager Race Lite 29", disc specific wheelsystem w/OSB rear | Bontrager ACX 29x2.2 folding tires
Suspension
RockShox Reba Race Dual Air 29 | External rebound, external floodgate, external compression and lockout, Butted aluminum steerer | 100mm travel
Componentry
SRAM X.0 1:1 Alloy rear derailleur + SRAM X-9 Trigger 1:1 Alloy shifters + Shimano XT front derailleur | Bontrager Race Lite crank | Hayes HFX-9 hydraulic disc brakes w/Hayes levers | Shimano M520 clipless pedals
Sizes
SM (16") | MD (17.5") | LG (19") | XL (21") | (Sizing)
Color(s)
Red
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Submitted by
Michael Weisend
a Cross Country Rider
from Tijeras, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Turkey Trot | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1640.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | I replaced my Sugar 2 26" machine with this bike. I have gone up things I could never do on the old Sugar 2. I run away from people who are sticking with their 26" machines on the down hills. I demoed a Prophet, Jekyl, Blur, Fat Possum, Nomad, and Rock Hopper FS Pro before this purchase. No regrets. Excellent bike. My wife ran the thing under a rigid barrier while on a roof rack. The seat broke, the back wheel bent slightly, and the roof rack was destroyed. But I rode the bike about 2 hours later. | | Weaknesses: | Two weeks after purchase the cranks broke. I'm not sure who to blame on that. The original seat was wack. I have bent two set of handle bars on endos. Chain suck is a problem if you don't keep the small gear fresh. I replaced it with Ti. | | Similar Products Used: | Prophet, Jekyl, Blur, Fat Possum, Nomad, and Rock Hopper FS Pro, Sugar 2 26", Trek 9800 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for carbon fiber handlebars and Ti granny gear. | | Bottom Line: | Just an excellent machine. I haven't ridden other 29ers, but I out perform all of my younger friends on this bike. I am 43 and my main riding partners are 28 and 34. Love this bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ming
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR.com classifieds | | Strengths: | MOMENTUM! It's no joke, the 29ers just keep rollin' no matter what's in the way. Makes a rock garden feel like a gravel road! | | Weaknesses: | Stock components need upgrade. V brakes don't cut it on 29ers, Shimano dual action brake levers with rapid rise are awful! Geometry puts your butt directly above the bottom bracket (not necessarily a weakness, I just don't like it).
Slightly more difficult to squeeze in tight turns, but manageable | | Bike Setup: | Fully stock 2004 Sugar 292 | | Bottom Line: | Ok, this bike took a little while to adjust to after riding hardtails for the past 10+ years, but, I am now a convert! The 29er rolls over everything with ease with little downside. Climbs like a beast!
Complaints:
Geometry: The only real downside to the geometry is where the saddle puts you--directly above the bottom bracket. Personally, I'm used to being set back a bit. No problem, as I've got a new seatpost in the mail.
brakes: Plain and simple: V brakes don't cut it on 29ers. Fortunately, this bike comes ready for disc brakes.
Shifters/derailleurs: Personally, I just don't understand why rapid rise was invented. And now that there are dual action brake levers, my confusion has been confounded! WHY is it beneficial to be able to upshift while your fingers are on the brakes? I don't know about you, but most of the time I'm braking I need to downshift! Also, why do I need to be able to upshift several gears at a time, while downshifting one by one? Is that what's going to get me out of a jam? | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Outdoors
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Strengths: | Typical advantages of 29er: big wheels roll easily, fast even with stock weight. When you get is going it rolls for ever. This bike is very surefooted in the turns. Never had any problems sliding in turns or slipping uphill.... rides uphill much better than my 26er.... I guess that must be the 29 inch wheel. The best deal around for 29er full suspension if you can buy it.... used ones maybe. | | Weaknesses: | Frame, rear end could be stiffer, Fork could be more stiff. But that is really fork, not the bike... Some say the the White Brothers fork is better than reba- cannot testify to that as I did not ride WB fork. Reba is OK even for heavier guys, but you will feel the flex little bit, expecially when comparing to stiff Fox Forks from 26er world. As stock is too heavy if you plan to ride it fast. | | Similar Products Used: | GF hardtails 29er | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Reba 29er + some upgrades- weight 26 lb | | Bottom Line: | I like it and would recommend to anyone who is cought by 29er wave. This bike is excellent for epic rides, great as one and only bike, and also good for racing (endurance or shorter)- with some upgrades. For the money is the best deal around. For pure racing there are probably better choices- lighter, stiffer and far more expensive...
Buy it if you can find one around and do not have $5000 for more expansive brothers from full suspension world. Also the selection of full susp. 29ers is still very limited. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
2melow
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | 4" of true suspension travel, very fast descending bike, decent weight after some work, great looking bike | | Weaknesses: | Rear end has some flex, unusual amount of chain slap | | Bike Setup: | paste--> http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=113992 | | Bottom Line: | I got a really good deal on this complete bike. I took all the stock Bontrager components and sold them in the classifieds here. The bike (stock) was a hefty 29.5 pounds! I trimmed her down to 26.5 by putting FSA MegaExo intergrated carbon cranks, Magura Marta SL brakes, WTB ti saddle, carbon bits, etc to reduce some weight.
Some background: I have been racaing hardtail 26"ers un until 2000 when I got an Independent Fabrication 29"er which I still own. The IF is stiff, smooth, but a bit heavy at 27 pounds w/ suspension fork. I started doing some endurance (50-100 mile) races a few years ago and the hardtail was wearing my back out at around mile 50-60. So I jumped on the 292 to try the FS 29"er out for size.
I really like the 292 for doing long, 3-4 hour Saturday morning rides. I ride about 10 miles of pavement to my favorite trailhead and then a few hours of trails HARD then ride 10-12 miles home. I can pound a protein smoothie, mow the lawn, and still have energy left over at the end of the day.
The 292 mix of components is OK - but my suggestion is to find a 293 if you plan on swapping out stuff to lighten up the bike. The 292 is a very smooth and capable descending bike at 4" rear and Reba 100MM up front. Pick a line and hold on for the sweet ride down! There is a bit of chain slap - but I cured this by wrapping my chainstay in some of that clear plastic "bra" that new car hoods come with which protects the aluminum chainstay. I haven't gotten the dreaded "chainsuck" that others have, although the FSA cranks might have solved that issue.
The 292 is a very capable full suspension race bike when components are picked wisely. I have only one gripe: that is rear end flex. At 155 pounds, I am not a big guy putting down a lot of power...but I can feel the rear end "squirrel" a bit pounding over technical terrain. Also, if you are a racer type and like to get out of the saddle to sprint short, steep sections you will won't be doing this on the 292 with the stock setup. At least I can't...I've had to stay seated and power up really focusing on a nice pedal rotation to maximize efficiency.
Is the 292 the best race bike? No. Where this bike excels is if you ride a hard and want the cush a FS bike provides. If you do more riding than racing - want 4" of plush 29" travel - but do some racing than this bike is for you. If you race, have been around the block and really know suspension designs from riding 26" full squishy bikes - then a Titus 29" racer X, Lenz Leviathan, or even a Dos Niner might be for you. Want the best value on a do-everything full suspension 29"er? Then this bike is for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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