Description:A bike that feels as comfortable on the race course as it does on your favorite mountain trail.
Infinite custom sizing options, seven stock sizes and more outright speed than your competition can handle. This is the bike to own if you want your friends to be green with envy at both the start and the finish line. You can choose your weapon in multiple flavors: Titanium or Exogrid/Titanium front ends with 26" or 29" wheels. The Racer-X sets the standard for cross-country full suspension and now it just got better. New for 2006, our 26" wheel options receive an ultral-trick carbon seat-stay assembly for increased stiffness and lighter weight. Combined with the Racer-X's all new cutting edge hydro-formed and tapered lower swing-arm, we shaved 130 grams out of the frame (Yes, that's over ¼ pound!). Losing weight and going fast has never been this much fun.
Submitted by
Phil
a
from Ontario Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
4 Corners
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Laterally rigid, snappy full suspension yet supple on small stuff. Not a super plush bike, this is a X country racer, no noticable pedal bob with Fox RP23, rolls right through and eats up roots, limestone rocks and ruts. Climbs like a billy goat!
Maxm Stem + Riser Bar (660mm), XT crank, shifters, fr + r ders, DT Onyx wheelset with DT 7.1 rims, Nevegals 2.3, Martha SLs, Thompson Setback Seatpost, Ergon grips, Spec'd saddle. I am considering getting a set of I'9s for racing though and keeping the DT's for training.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike in January and it arrived while there was a fresh 4 inch dump of snow. So I took it out.. damn it just laughed at snow. Cars had trouble and I just waltzed through. With spring here I have trail rode twice and it is a dream. The lower rolling resistance of the 29rs is readily apparent to me as I am a clyde. I blasted through rocky rooty sections of my favourite trail that I had to really work through with my Hard Tail Oryx. I wanted a x country/endurance bike for Adventure Races and Exterras. The RX 29r does not disappoint! I find it turns as easily as my Oryx but does everything else better with no flex in the frame and no bob while seated -standing I have to engage propedal but Iam 215 so Im not sure if anything out there would stand up to that pounding- . I am riding with 170lbs in the rear shock with the blue knob set on 2 for trails. Climbing is a dream, especially technical loose sections. The rear end simply rolls over small stuff while not loosing momentum and giving me traction. I climbed two sections that are always a challenge. One lengthy climb I make about 80% of the time. The other steeper section with a switchback I've only made once. With the RX 29r I smoked both. No more spinning out.. no more loosing momentum hitting small stuff. This is the bike I have wanted for a long.. long time! Lastly, I've read a number of posts that speak of being "between the wheels" on a 29r rather than on top on a 26r. I have to say that for a bigger guy this is readily apparent. Not once have I felt the forward push and potential endo. Going downhill was the hardest adaptation to my riding style because I was always had to be a bit conservative now I just point and shoot.
I researched this bike extensively (and others) and greatly appreciated the info the MTBR community posts on these boards. I credit my purchase to proper bike fit (done online) and the knowledge gained from all sources. Due to my location in Canada I was not able to ride this bike.. so you can understand it was a leap of faith! I have absolutely no regrets and I cant wait to race with this rig. This is not an inexpensive bike and it is a significant investment. Weighed as a whole though I have given it 5 and 5.
My thanks to the MTBR community as a whole. I hope that this review helps someone else out!
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Submitted by
Tony Clemente
a Weekend Warrior
from Sierra Vista, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Kentucky Camp
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Mt Jeffs
Strengths:
Super light and rides like a hard tail. Climbs very well-rarely have to use the pro-pedal on the RP23. Ti is sexy and only flexy where you need it. Super fast and stable.
Weaknesses:
A bit on the expensive side-but worth it. If you want super plush-look for another bike. Not a tight turning bike in switchbacks.
Similar Products Used:
Niner SIR9, Intense Spyder 29er
Bike Setup:
Jones Bars, SS with a Melvin, CK hubs with DT Swiss TK 7.1 Disc rims, Magura Marts SLs, Dirty Dog Rotors, Thompson elite Seatpost and Specilaized Rival seat.
Bottom Line:
I am kind of the odd bird running this bike as a SS-but it is awesome!!!! When I rode it as a geared bike, I loved it as a pure XC machine that ignored Babyheads and other small obstacles.
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Submitted by
T
a
from PHX, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: February 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
laterally rigid, efficient, adjustability, good tire clearance ('08 version)
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Niner RIP 9 (owned), Ventana El Rey (demo), Fisher sugar 29ers (owned), Moots Mooto X YBB (Owned)
Bike Setup:
King/Stans, RST fork 80mm, juicy 7
Bottom Line:
All the FS 29ers I've ridden todate never felt quite "right." There was always some degree of flex that was bothersome, lack of efficiency, not enough travel etc. I feel like i've hit the motherload. This bike is an absolute pleasure to ride each time I get on it. It doesn't hurt that I got a screamin deal for it but having known what I know about it now, I'd pay retail in a heartbeat. The travel is just enough and with the RP23 its got plenty of adjustability. There's not a hint of flex in the rear end. The Horst link sus is all that and a hunk of cheese - stays active while climbing or braking (i've never felt this before). This is the 08 version and thetire clearance is huge, I'm running a GEAX which is a pretty fat tire and there is still 1/2" on each side left. The handling feels spot on. 4" fork is recommended but I like the handling with 80mm. The RIP was OK but there was some frame flex noticeable which bugs. The thing weighed as much as the titus, the sus bolts backed out while riding on a trail, I could not get my cable routing to work out (sounds like a minor issue I know but annoying) and the chain was like a buzzsaw on the atomic blue paint/aluminum on the front R chainstay. Ventana's El Rey was very, very nice as far as workmanship goes but LOOONG chainstays and slack geo made it feel like a downhill rig. Had a very plush 4" out back. This thing was a NICE bike, but the Titus is better for me. I don't need the 4" on a 29er. I'll take the efficiency. The Fisher are just WAY too squirelly. Nuff said. They are light though. I don't see any bike beating this one for me for a long time. Rumor has it Cocalis may be creating a Pivot 29er. If he can match the rigidity, shorten the chainstays and figur a way out to beat the beefy horst linkage of the RX, he may have somehting. But I'm not holding my breath. This bike kicks ass. I'm gratelful to have it. I just wish I'd have purchased one three years ago before wasting my money on the other products!!!!
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Submitted by
Robert Dimino
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Wasatch Crest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Revolution Cycles
Strengths:
Simple and efficient suspension (arguably the best) mated to a quality spec and Ti frame. This provides for a strong and stiff platform seated or while standing under power. There is little need to use any of the settings in either shock or fork. The design, spec and materials used give this bike top shelf control and handling capability. With some nice ribber the end result is an other-worldy grippy feel that seems to suck you into trail.
The new light MavicCMX29 wheelsts reduce rotational weight allowing me to navigate with zen like handling and excelleration.
Weaknesses:
The Ti version and spec is expensive! However, I was able to demo the aluminum version of the Racer X 29 before I made the purchase of a Ti model. The aluminum version was about 3+lbs heavier with moslty XT spec.
My point is, the aluminum version possessed all of the performance qualities that sold me on the bike in the first place.
Similar Products Used:
ML7.2 with XTR, DUC front fork and Avid J-7. Voodoo Azian 29 with XTR, SC32 front squish and Avid J-7. I like the all around XC ride quality of the ML7.2 and I also loved the big wheel mojo of the Voodoo Azian. The Racer X 29 seems to have blended the stuff I liked about both bikes into a single highly competent machine.
Bike Setup:
Ti RacerX 29, XO shifters and derailure, XTR cranks, cog and front derailure. New Mavic Crossmax29 wheelsets running Maxxis Ignitors, Avid Juicy Ulitiate hydrolic brakes, Reba Race 29, Fox RP23
Bottom Line:
At 46, I have ridden a few bikes and owned some very nice ones, recently.
A Maverick ML7.2/DUC combination. This bike is different than most however, like it or not, the ML7.2 climbed like a monkey on crack and could decend with confidence inspiring aplomb
The Voodoo Azian allowed me to become more appreciative of the 29er ride charecteristics. I noticed right away the differences in ride quality and I began to ride the ML7 much less. Over time I knew I wanted to have these big wheels mated with some rear suspension, so.
The Ti Racer X 29 is strong and stiff. It allows tight control in the cockpit under extreme conditions. The light and stiff Mavic wheelset reduces rotational weight enough that I feel quicker and more capable in the tight and during excelleration. I ride the suspension front and back and in all conditions set to fully active. The efficient Titus design mated to the Reba 29 front and Fox RP23 provides machine that is limited only by strength and technique.
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Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Aviemore, Inverness-shire, Scotland Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
At the moment on this bike the Inshriach moor
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Dem'd from Fat Tread Bikes
Strengths:
Big wheels combined with Titus suspension, geometry and quality.
Weaknesses:
For me - none, well maybe not as quick out of slow corners as a 26er and big wheel weight (that could be sorted though).
It really works for me! I use a Truth and an ML8 and neither are as good as the 29er. The Truth is a light nimble race bike that I like to grab for a quick blast, but it has it's limitations on the rockier terrain, so I use the ML8, but with it's bigger tyres and flawed riding position - that slack seat angle and my long legs - I wouldn't use it for fast work. So onto the 29er, first off, as I said, I have long legs for my 5'10" and therefore the whole big frame / wheel thing felt spot on for me. On the loose, gravelly track ride out the first impression was of effortless speed, well far less effort than the ML8. Cornering on the loose fast corners I felt far more confident and carried more speed without "washing-out". The climbing ability on rocky, rooty, bumpy terrain was superior to the ML8 for traction and to the Truth for speed. Downhill and again the rooty and rocky terrain was all rolled over with far less drama than the 26" bikes, it's as if the suspension doesn't have to work too hard as the wheels have already "ironed out" the bumps. Even rocky drop offs were tackled that I would never feel happy with on the Truth. On very twisty stuff I found I carved round the corners rather than steered round them, I was using a flat bar set low so I wonder if this speeded up the steering or whether it was the head angle? anyway I didn't feel the big wheels sluggish on the tight stuff. So what I feel is that I have found a bike that fits me perfectly is racer quick like the Truth, yet can handle far worse terrain, climbs superbly, never wants for traction - even on "slickish" tyres and descends as confidently as an ML8 with loads of travel and big burly tyres! For someone who likes to ride quickly over proper mtb terrain rather than mince around in "funparks" I think its my perfect bike. I can only say if you fit one give it a go - then form your own opinion - don't be put off by the whole 29er "thing". All I need to do now is sell the Truth and ML8!
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sisters, Oregon USA Date Reviewed: September 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
local singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Cyclist
Strengths:
Smooth 29er ride, great climbing, sure handling and cornering. Great all-round XC epic/marathon type trail bike.
Weaknesses:
none that I am aware of if you can forget about the price
Similar Products Used:
Previous ride was also racer-x, 26". Rode the 29" Gary Fisher 293 and the Niner rigid ss before purchase
Bike Setup:
Reba Race, Shimano 970 xtr, DT Swiss w. Stan's rims, WTB Moto front and Kenda Klaw rear, Thompson post and stem, eggbeaters, FSA carbon flat bar, Ergon grips.
Bottom Line:
Got it Friday 23rd, rode it 55 mi Saturday and 25 more Sunday, over a little bit of everything. Perfect September weekend. Loved the 26" version, this is even better. Very high confidence at speed and over rough terrain, climbs with aplomb, and oddly steady in steep switchback descents, which I did not expect. Like the difference between my 170 Rossi slalom skis and my 182 Fischer GS. Both great solid skis, only one pair goes faster. 970 drivetrain has quicker and more positive shifting than the Dura-ace stuff on my road bike. Maybe my last bike...thought I'd never drop the other one. Can't say enough about the confidence that comes with the larger wheel size for bigger guys (6'3"). That along with whatever Titus does to make a bike feel like it's part of your body. Special thanks to Craig at Competetive Cyclist for a patient professional process from first call to last minute pre-ride set-up advice.
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Submitted by
Robin Brown
a Racer
from Las Vegas, NV Date Reviewed: July 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3400.00
Purchased At:
Pro Cyclery
Strengths:
Light, stable at any speed, easy to maintain. Love that 29er roll. Suspension works well, great all around bike.
Weaknesses:
Has less suspension travel than the 26" even though it works well would like to see an inch or two more.
Similar Products Used:
Surley 29er, Gary Fisher 29er, Titus eleven 29er
Bike Setup:
XC Monkey lite bars, SRAM X.O shifters/derailers, XTR crank, Chris King head, White Industries hubs on Velocity rims with Juicy 7 brakes on 7" rotor's
Bottom Line:
Was my race and everything bike 2005, with my Titus Eleven as race bike the Racer X is my everything else bike. So so so much fun to ride and makes everything much nicer to ride through, on, or around.
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Submitted by
Jason Gardner
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim (Moab)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Revolution
Strengths:
Titanium (light, never wears out), great suspension design, 29er (that says it all)
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Surley 29er, Moots YBB 29er (looked a buying the Asylum)
Bike Setup:
(Custom Build) Titus Ti frame, Reba "Race" fork, King HS, Easton CNT bars, SRAM 9.0 drive train, XT cranks, disc brakes, 2.3 WTB tires
Bottom Line:
One word pretty much sums it all up... WOW!!!
I expected great things from this bike, based on the reviews that I'd read and online research. I'm a bigger rider (6'3" 220pds), this bike is a size Large the 29er sized bikes just make sense for my riding style and size. I'd ridden a few different 29er bikes and knew that I need one. I got a great deal on the frame, thanks to the boys at Revolution (Ryan & Matt) and decided to pick it up. I'm so glad that I did! This bike looks, climbs, decends, jumps and turns with all the handling of a exotic sports car. I did notice any lag from the larger tires or any other negative effects... just all positive! This bike has seriously made me a better rider. With the larger than normal wheel base and higher front end, I was hesitant on the handling of this bike. No need to worry... Titus designed it just right. Get rid of conventional 26" bike thinking, this bike is in a realm all it own. I have never ridden a bike that could climb so well and then it's even more fun on the downhill. I don't think I'll ever need another bike again... a little spendy, but worth every penny.
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Submitted by
Gavin Rossouw
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, South Africa Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Pat's Track
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
Bowmans
Strengths:
This thing rolls forever, climbs easier and is just plain faster.
Weaknesses:
The front fork White Brothers BW1.0 air, I seem to be having continous hassles with this front fork, open it up once a month, minimum.
$
Overall Rating:
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