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Submitted by
D. W. Zombie
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | rattling creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | waltworks.com | | Strengths: | clean craftsmanship, tailor made fit, excellent handling, superior customer service, reasonable price. | | Weaknesses: | Four month wait for the happy ending. | | Similar Products Used: | Geared Kona Unit 29 (Bike and Bean day rental), parking lot spins on other major manufacturers’ 29rs. | | Bike Setup: | Std. El Jefe w/ 3x9 X9-XT-LX drivetrain, F29, Juicy7s, LaceMine29 DT wheelset. My bathroom scale (take it for what its worth) weighs it at under 26lbs. | | Bottom Line: | Shopped around for my first 29r and test rides on prod bikes left me wanting more. Saw the affordability of a WW. Took the leap and told Walt what I liked about my current 26rs on the fit form. Walt delivered the fit and geometry I desired.
I feel very confident on the bike (much more confident then on previous bikes) and haven’t changed anything on the bike since the build. And I can’t think of anything about the bike I would want to change. Nice!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
albert
a
from Albany, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | waltworks | | Strengths: | solid frame
| | Weaknesses: | Only real grip is same for many builders. Rear track ends are not angled so you must adjust the brakes when ever you change gearing (wheel position for / aft). Minor gripe | | Similar Products Used: | voodoo dambala setup singlespeed | | Bike Setup: | single speed fixed/free. Mullet brakes, Disc up front V in the back. 34 20 gearing, little tough on some east bay climbs but OK overall. | | Bottom Line: | Purchased used bike from Walt along with a new fork. I lucked out in that I'm pretty close to his size and weight so it fit well.
Bike and fork have a good feel. Bit more stable than the Dambala but not sluggish at all.
Noce basic singlespeed 29er. No fuss no muss I just ride it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Lynch
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | waltworks.com | | Strengths: | PERFECT fit, reasonably light (esp since i cheeped on components), climbs like a champ and handles easily and confidently. great fun to open up and just let run on the dh, too. this guy (walt) knows what he's doing. | | Weaknesses: | None come to mind. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first 29er, AND my first custom bike. honestly don't see needing another one, except maybe to go single-speed or something. | | Bike Setup: | geared with a hodgepodge of shimano (deore,lx and xt) and sram (x9). disc. rockshox reba race. | | Bottom Line: | Walt is keen on getting anyone interested on a bike that they will enjoy for the money they can afford. His emphasis is on getting the frame and fork just right for rider build and style, and this is something he's VERY good at. Lots of interaction in the building process. Friendly, funny, and all those things -- most importantly very knowledgeable and capable, and flexible. Check out his blog: waltworks.blogspot.com for an entertaining and educational look into his frame building and racing.
My basis for comparison might lack some, but suffice it to say that every time I ride this bike I enjoy it more. It almost gives the impression that the bike is learning how I ride ... spooky cool.
i wouldn't discourage anyone from getting one of these bikes. if you can't afford it just yet, hold off on buying a lesser bike and save those pennies till you can. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Second Hand | | Strengths: | Nice neat welds, simple clean looking frame, good value, strong robust frame | | Weaknesses: | None I can see | | Bike Setup: | Reba, BB5's, XT hubs, thudbuster, 3x9 shimano | | Bottom Line: | Very nice bike, love the way it rides, Walt's 29er has opened up a whole new world of cycling. Don't think I will have another 26er or full sus bike for quite a while. I look at alloy frames now and they don't interest me at all, and I didn't think I would become a steel frame zealot. Would highly recommend a Walt frame and a 29er. I ride this frame and think I will still be riding it in 10 years, it's that solid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keith
a Cross Country Rider
from HB CA.
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | santa monica range | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | WaltWorks | | Strengths: | Light, fast, strong, and resposive. Best handling bike yet. Perfect fit. Walt has great customer service and a nice warrenty. | | Weaknesses: | Some of the powdercoat was removed on the inside of the chainstays from a muddy ride this winter. A little clear nail polish keeps the pitting and corrosion away. | | Similar Products Used: | Bianchi C.U.S.S. Bontrager Privateer | | Bike Setup: | Rigid non suspension corrected singlespeed (horizontal dropouts). Chris King hs and hubs laced to delgado rims, race face turbine cranks, phil wood bb, thomson post and stem, SLR saddle, WTB nanoraptor (front) and Motoraptor (rear) tires, a bit of carbon for steering, XTR V-brakes, Paul levers. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best fitting and best handling bicycle I have had yet, but this is the first custom fabricated bicycle I own. Walt has clean welds, proportional tubing to my weight and riding, no fancy flare to this frame.
I was initially interested in having a Nor Cal fabricator build a 29er singlespeed for me, but after talking to a handful of builders I realized they were out of budget. Basically, Walt built a custom frame and fork for less than a stock frame alone from a majority of other fabricators I was initially interested in. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Single | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Walt's garage | | Strengths: | It works. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | semi-similar but not life-altering - Seven Sola, steel, geared, Fox fork, 26". | | Bike Setup: | Rigid, 29", ss, v-brake. | | Bottom Line: | Changed my riding life! Thank you Walt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Isaac
a Cross Country Rider
from Bugtussle, MN
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Memorial | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | waltworks.com from Walt | | Strengths: | Let's see. Everything. Climbs well. Handles well. Fun to go through the whole ordering process. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing really. Maybe could use a nicer headbadge? | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher 29er (nice but not steel), various smaller wheeled bikes (nice but not a 29er) | | Bike Setup: | Currently V-brake front and back, rigid fork, singled with a Singleator. | | Bottom Line: | I'm not really sure that custom frames should be listed here. If they don't fit perfect and ride great, then there is a problem. My frame looks great, climbs great, handles great etc. etc. In fact I blew through a couple of cassettes last spring/summer I was riding so much so decided that I'd try singlespeeding. Well. I am now considering sending the frame in to get horizontal dropouts or something.
Walt is a pleasure to do business with. He is very quick to respond to whatever dumb question you have. Sense of humor. Can weld like a banshee. Forward thinking. I'd buy another frame from him in the future (though why would I need another one?). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a
from Asheville
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Waltworks | | Strengths: | Affordable custom steel frame.29er!! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Basic XT build. Geared, rigid fork. | | Bottom Line: | Expectations fully met. Good bang for the buck and a quality built frame.Excellent service. Walt is sraight up to deal with.
My first 29er and I am hooked.
Enjoy, Doug | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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