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Average Rating
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4.22/5
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# of Reviews
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9
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MSRP
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Weight
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More Products from Gary Fisher
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Description:
- Main frame: True Temper OX Platinum 29
- Fork: RockShox Reba Race Air 29 | 80mm travel
- Headset: Aheadset semi-cartridge
- Crank: Bontrager Race Lite
- Pedals: Shimano M505 clipless
- Shifters: SRAM X.9
- Cassette: SRAM PG970 | 9 speed
- Handlebar: Bontrager Race Lite Big Sweep OS
- Stem: Bontrager Race OS | 7d
- Saddle: Bontrager Select
- Seatpost: Bontrager Select
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Submitted by
downhillbomber
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | I live in Colorado, too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | University Bikes | | Weaknesses: | The 3rd installment of the saga of the Ferrous 29er. Let's start from the beginning. After one month of riding the Reba shock broke a seal between the negative and positive chambers. Warrantied, sent to SRAM, rebuilt and back on the bike. One ride later, seal broke again. Warrantied, sent back to SRAM, rebuilt, refused to put back on the bike. 3 months after purchase crack found at the seat tube/ top tube/ seatstay junction of the frame. Warrantied, sent back to Trek, new frame, woohoo! Put my RS Reba SL from my Rig on the frame. Working well for 6 months. Then low and behold a CRACK found on the NEW frame in the EXACT same spot as the previous frame. Taken back to bike shop and guess what? They are working on another warranty for a GF Ferrous with CRACK in the exact spot as my other two frames! What a shame. Steel Is real? Tubing made in USA!!?!!? This is a major manufacturers defect! University bikes is now working on a new bike for me, the Hi-Fi 29er FS but guess what? Due to the G2 geometry I need to purchase a new fork for any one of their new frames unless it's a Ferrous, the only frame they didn't convert to G2 geometry! What a F@!*king mess. | | Bottom Line: | Clean your Ferrous often and assess for cracks near the seat tube/ top tube/ seatstay junction. 3 bikes with cracks in the same area is NOT a coincidence. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
felt
a Cross Country Rider
from Cottage Grove, MN
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lebanon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Penn Cycle | | Strengths: | Steel, 29er, versatility | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager | | Similar Products Used: | Rig, Paragon, | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Bontrager XXX light bar and soon to be carbon rigid fork | | Bottom Line: | I immediately converted it to single speed. I have a carbon fork on order. This is simply quite amazing. I am a bit of a weight guy. Currently at 25lbs and expect to drop another 2 on the fork. Power transfer of the bike is amazing and flex of the frame absorbs without being squishy and does not rob any power and torque. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, NV
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tahoe Rim Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1980.00 | | Purchased At: | Sierra Cyclesmith | | Strengths: | OX platinum steel frame w/ lifetime warranty, no problems with the fork so far | | Weaknesses: | Stock bontrager components, tires, weight if used for racing | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager RaceX carbon bar and seatpost, Easton E70 100mm stem, fizik seat, ergo grips.
| | Bottom Line: | Overall solid bike with upgrade to some of the bontrager components. Head tube is a bit on the steep side for decending. No noticeable frame flex. Works best in fat open terrain, tight single track is a challenge. Great value if your're looking for a 29er with a quality steel frame made in USA. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim B
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | John Muir @ Kettles | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Warranty for broken Rig | | Strengths: | The frame material and geometry. I keep coming back to steel frames and for good reason, they ride well. Fisher nailed the geometry as well. It rode well at 24hr Nat'ls and at shorter 10 mile time trials. Versatile as a Single Speed (my primary class) and as a multispeed (when I'm too lazy to get the gearing right for the trails). | | Weaknesses: | The seat stays and paint. The thin paint chips or scratches easily. Even though it is a MTB, Fisher could have used a more durable paint. Which brings me to the stays. The extra width of the stays results in heel rub. Every Ferrous I've seen has a bare spot from the heels of the rider wearing the paint off down to the bare metal | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Rig | | Bike Setup: | Single Speed... King rear, Hugi front, LX hydro brakes, Bontrager carbon fork and post, Mary bars, Eggbeater 2Ti's, Truvative carbon cranks, King HS | | Bottom Line: | While most Ferrous' will be run as multispeeds this one sees single speed duty 99% of the time. The steel is compliant but not noodley. I'd buy a second one for multispeed use if it wasn't so easy to switch the one I have. It won't allow the rider to use it as an excuse for not finishing a ride or race. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hall, Ned, CB | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | University Bikes | | Strengths: | This is a follow-up on my previous post. See strengths on previous post | | Weaknesses: | Frame cracked!!!!! Right at the seat tube, top tube, seat stay junction. Not sure if it went all the way through but surely an indication of a weak spot on the frame. I have read about Gary Fisher Genesis frames breaking at this spot because the seat post was too short but my seat post was positioned well below the top tube. It has been warrantied and sent back to Gary Fisher.
University Bikes has been great with all the issues I have had with the bike. The list of weaknesses grows: Cracked frame after 3 months of riding, blown Reba Race fork between negative and positive pressure chambers within 2 months (also warrantied and sent back by University Bikes), skewers replaced-came loose during every ride, headset replaced- came loose 3 times in 2 months | | Bottom Line: | I will still say that this bike has been great when it works but WTF????The two most expensive parts of the bike broken within 3 months? C'mon. I suppose I am a hard rider but in 7 years and 4 bikes I have never had a frame crack on me. I was pretty confident about steel but now am a bit more skeptical. Overall rating going down. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ty
a Cross Country Rider
from PHX,AZ,USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Slip Pig | | Strengths: | Geometry - I love the genesis geo. Steel rides AWESOME, this paired with Ti seatpost make an unbelievable ride. No need for suss in almost all situations. The frame is compliant but not flexy in the front triangle. Some steel frames squirm, this one does not. | | Weaknesses: | The baby blue color | | Similar Products Used: | SIR9, Paragon,Cobia,El REY, El Cap, Spider 29, | | Bike Setup: | Reba, King hubs/HS, Stans, GEAX Saguaros, | | Bottom Line: | This thing does it all right. It just feels good. I even like the EBB for fine tuning of the bike fit. Fisher did a good job here. My alum fisher cracked and I didn't want to wait for the replacement to ride so I bought this one and I'll not go back to the alum. I'm sticking to this one. 5 chilis all around baby. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ned, Hall, CB, Mtn Lion | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Uni Bikes | | Strengths: | All the benefits of a 29er. Rolls over everything. Climbs like a champ. Descends like a 4" and 4" boing boing. Steel is Real! Genesis Geometry rocks. Versatility with eccentric BB. Paint job is simple yet sharp. | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager components. Have had some issues with components i.e. headset has gotten loose twice, front skewer slips, and Reba Race shock has already sprung a leak between positive and negative chambers. Tires are lacking in grip. Rear triangle cannot accomodate a 2.35 if wheel is slightly out of true (tire rubs on front derailleur if in small chainring) | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Rig, Kona Unit | | Bike Setup: | Reba has been sent back to Rock Shox. Salsa skewers, Chris King Headset, Odi Grips, Panaracer Rampage front tire. Terry seat, salsa lip lock. Everything else stock | | Bottom Line: | As far as niche bikes go the Ferrous 29er is up there with the best of them. With the eccentric BB it has the versatility of running geared or SS. However it's not exactly a race bike. Stock, it weighed in at a whopping 29.5 lbs. But with Fishers, in general, you're getting a great frame but plan to customize it to your liking as the components go to s$*t. I'm not a weight snob (I still believe it's the rider not the bike) so the 29.5 lbs is not a major concern.
Fisher has been in the 29er business for awhile now and has really fine tuned it. Just like other 29ers you feel like you're on a small horse. It really shines on technical rocky sections, up and down. Turns rock gardens into gravel roads. There is a disadvantage in tight sections, though I have only once said to myself, "I could have cleared that if I was on a 26er." The benefits truly outweigh the costs.
Lastly, one of the coolest things is how incognito it is. The paint job is straight baby blue with only the Gary Fisher insignia, doesn't even have the model name on it. No gaudy paint job with advertising plastered all over it.
This bike rocks. If you want to get back to your roots with a 29er twist I highly recommend getting your hands on one if you can find it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from Lincoln , Alabama
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bump trail Oak Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Cahaba Cycles | | Strengths: | Great value for the price. Cant beat a lifetime warranty! | | Weaknesses: | could have used hydro brakes. The bontrager cranks are not my favorite! Grips could be better | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock,Trek Fuel 7 This is my first 29er | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This is my first 29er. It took some adjusting coming from riding a 26. Now I rail the trails with a huge grin. The bike has made riding even more enjoyable than I could have dreamed! Except for the problem with the crankset( the crank arm broke) I would highly recomend this bike to anyone looking for a great steel bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Bulger, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | rocky, twisty singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Trek of Pittsburgh | | Strengths: | Great all-around ride characteristics. Made in the US of A Nice component Spec. versitile frame. sharp handling. 29 inch wheels | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Needs stronger brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | GF Paragon, GF Rig, SC Superlight, Niner SIR 9, Niner Rip 9, Asylum OCD | | Bike Setup: | Bone stock | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this bike a few weeks ago and have out in many miles on my local and most familiar trails. I am comparing it to other bikes I have ridden for the same purpose. (i.e. not to gravity bikes/freeride bike, but all around XC/trail bikes)
This is a very nice bike. The debate rages on, but 29 inch wheels offer very real advantages to the singletrack rider in this part of the appalachians. Rock gardens are the norm here and the larger diameter wheels do a great job of rolling over fixed obstacles and maintaining momentum. they are a little slower to get rolling, but once rolling are virtually indistiguishable from a 26 inch wheel. That is to say that this bike feels like riding a great handling 26er steel hard tail, but it does make challenging terrain easier. This bike is fast and stable, and the steel frame material does take the edge off of the trail more so than the AL version of the bike. Fisher Genesis Race Day geometry is unconventional, but perfect for my size and style. I am 5'9" and ride a med (17.5"). REBA Forks seem pretty plush too.
I have been riding a SC superlight for the last 6 years, and plan on using this bike to replace the SL. Ridden on the exact same trails as the SC, the Fisher is faster and more responsive, but not as comfordable. I guess I am not as used to a hard tail. I found myself pushing a harder gear than on a dual susp bike, and charging more agressive lines than with the smaller wheels. The 29er has definate applications for the racer in this part of the country, but i am starting to see that this bike rides technical obstacles quite well. I cleaned several rock and log obstacles that I would normally struggle with.
On the downside, the Ferrous is heavy. needs to shed about 3 lbs. I am not that concerned. Hydro discs would be a definate upgrade, as the great BB7s just don't have the guts to handle all the Momentum of the larger wheel.
I chose the Ferrous after considering about every 29er out there. For the price, I was getting a US made, steel frame (Platinum XO Tubing) with the eccentric for free as compared to the boutique brands. a similarly spec'ed Niner brand bike was about $1000 more and I didn't feel that it was markedly better in any real way. I rode a Niner and thought it was nice, but did not handle as sharp as the fisher, and it is made over-seas. Fisher has the best warranty in the business as well.
I don't see this bike competing with dual susp 29ers, and the Asylum is still the leader of that pack, with the RIP not far behind.
In summary, 29er bikes have a place. This could very well be my only bike. I am still going to keep a 6 inch travel bike around for lift access runs, and super techy stuff. There is no question the Ferrous 29 is a good bike and a great Value when it comes to steel 29er complete bikes. If anything changes, I will re-review, but so far, this was a good purchase.
I am giving this 5 chilis as an XC Bike, and 5 for value as it cost about half what its competitors cost.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Pennington
a Cross Country Rider
from Haverford, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wissahickon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Human Zoom, Ardmore | | Strengths: | Comfortable steel frame, combination of Genesis geometry and 29 inch wheels, SRAM drivetrain | | Weaknesses: | None that I've noticed. The Reba fork is not as plush as the Fox I was used to but in fairness I haven't played with the air pressure much to dial in the Reba. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro, Schwinn Moab hardtail. This is my first 29er. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, 21 inch frame | | Bottom Line: | I don't know if it's the Genesis geometry, the 29 inch wheels or the combination of the two, but I've found this bike to be extremely responsive, comfortable, and a great climber. On my previous mountain bikes I always had to scoot forward on the seat and lean over to keep the front end down during steep climbs. With the Ferrous, I keep my normal position and can get great traction while still keeping the front steady.
I was a skeptic, but the pros of 29 inch wheels are true---better traction, stability, and it's easier to roll over obstacles (a rock garden that I used to get through about 50% of the time, I have gotten every time so far on the Ferrous). I know that some 29ers have the reputation as tanks, but I have not found the Ferrous to be sluggish or less responsive, even in tight singletrack. Plus, the steel frame and large wheels easily compensate for the lack of a rear shock.
Value rating based on comparision to other bikes in this price range--it seems like they are all very similarly equipped so I wouldn't say this is a bargain or a rip off. Compared to the semi-custom steel 29ers available, it seems like a great deal.
I'm 6'2", 185 pounds and the 21 inch frame fits me very well. I've been riding the bike on singletrack for over a month and have ridden it enough to be over the "new owner glow".
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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