Description:Classic Mountain is the Wiley Cycles bread and butter hardtail. Light, strong, can do a bit of everything. It has that nice supple ride that only a high quality steel frame can offer. The thin-walled True Temper seatstays provide just that little bit of flex to take the edge off, and the chainstays are butted and tapered just right to provide good power transfer while tracking smoothly.
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Gainesville, Fl. USA Date Reviewed: November 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Pinhoti trail N. Georgia
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Dean Cycles (took over Wily)
Strengths:
Custom frame, beautiful and simple, superb paint, fits like a glove, my back feels better after riding this bike then when I got on.
Weaknesses:
None, however if you go custom its best to make your order and then forget about it until its ready. John and the guys at Dean know exactly what they are doing, but its best not to get into waiting for your frame cause they take a good amount of time to work their magic.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Raven, Litespeed Toccoa, Dean Colonel Ti SS, Santa Cruz blur, Titus Racer x
Bike Setup:
Custom Wily Steel 29er SS, White Bros Magic 80 IMV, CK headset, Phil Wood SS hubs, White industries freewheel, DT Swiss TK 7.1 rims, WTB exiwolf's, XTR cranks, bb and pedals, Avid Single Digit SL brakes, Thomson X4 stem, Jones bars, Moots laid back ti post, Fizik Aliante seat
Bottom Line:
This is the most comfortable and enjoyable bike I have ever owned, the custom sizing is invaluable. The ride is smooth and snappy. The 29er wheels just roll (once you get them up to speed) and the cornering is amazing. I am having John build me a custom ti rigid fork to take off a bit of weight and possibly help the bike climb easier. I may also build up a lighter wheelset eventually as well. I have a Moots Mooto x 29er which I will review shortly as well, but I must say the Wily is the bike I wake up thinking about. I will have the Wily until I drop dead or my son rides off on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a
from Colorado Date Reviewed: August 2, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Incredible personal attention and customization in the purchasing process. Attention to details and craftsmanship exceed anything you'll find in a mass-produced bike. Great paint job.
Weaknesses:
29ers aren't for everyone. Bottom bracket is a little on the low side.
Similar Products Used:
My first 29er.
Bike Setup:
Mostly nice, light Bontrager racer-type stuff.
Bottom Line:
There's a lot to like about this bike. It's from a small, independent company that connects strongly with the counter-culture of singlespeeds and 29ers. Wily frames are unique, stylish, and most important, fun to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathan
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowlett, TX USA Date Reviewed: December 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Custom Geometry, Amazing powdercoat/paint, Very light weight, exceptional customer service,
Weaknesses:
Maybe someday I'll come up with something.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Dakota, GT Karakoram, Dirt Research Bandalier, Voodoo Dambala
Bike Setup:
29" wheels, swap between Wily rigid and BW .8, lots of good high end components
Bottom Line:
I got exactly what I asked for and couldn't be more pleased. Brad was great to work with. I had a few minor problems which were addressed completely. The paint job from spectrum is beautiful and very tough. No decals, all paint. My frame is supposedly beefed up for my size, but still is just 4.4 pounds. It rides wonderfully as one would expect from a quality steel hardtail. I also bought the fork and would recommend it, even if you plan to use suspension. I had no idea a rigid fork could ride so nice. I bought it just to have as a spare to use if I ever had problems with my BW .8. Instead, I have been using the rigid fork more than the BW .8.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from denver Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Fall Season Single Track; Single Track Lonewolf; Single Track with Jimmy or Fred
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Wilycycles.com
Strengths:
Steel. 29 inches. 'Nuff Said.
Weaknesses:
I don't have two in my stable.
Similar Products Used:
First 29er.
Bike Setup:
SS; Eno; Thomson; Marta; Bonty Race Lites; White Bros 0.8
Bottom Line:
Once you go 29 INCH STEEL, you won't go back. Brad nailed the custom geometry. My baseline for steel hardtails is the Classic Mojo (circa '95). One of the toughest decisions one faces is when one departs from a loved one -- I subsidized the purchase/build of my Wily by the sale of my Mojo. Tears did flow; BUT - the Wily has wildly exceeded by expectations. I smile when I climb; I laugh when I descend. Buy a Wily. Period.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Wily Cycles
Strengths:
Rides fantastic. True Temper Platinum throughout. 29" wheels are real. Ride one on a rooty trail and you will understand.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
1994 Kona Hot, borrowed other high end steel frmaes
Bike Setup:
4" travel White Brothers BW 1.0, 4" travel adjusted geometry, custom FSA Megatech Bottom Bracket (oversize BB Shell with massive industrial bearing- I have the ultimate bottom bracket- forget about taper/ISIS/external bearing, they are all less than ideal due to a BB shell that is too freakin' small), sliding rear dropouts, disk only. Brad made this bike so clean. the sliding rear dropouts are the most elegant way I've seen to date of running a disk only SS. Similar to the Kona/Voddo designs but prettier.
Bottom Line:
The dropouts sold me on Wily as a builder. Brad was also cool about getting the tools necessary to use the Megatech bottom bracket. The fit is superb and Brad nailed the geometry (I ride DH agressively and do a lot of 12/24 hour racing so I do not care for twitch race bike handling). Absolutely superb frame. GREAT hook-up from Brad on parts and especially the White Brothers fork...
I can not say enough how easy Brad was to work with and he answered both phone calls and emails promptly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Migz
a
from CO Date Reviewed: April 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
custom fit, great ride, durable/beautiful paint, rolling artwork
Weaknesses:
makes you want another, face hurts from smiling, chapped hiney from too much riding
Bottom Line:
I love my bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sslos
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, Ca Date Reviewed: January 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
the mossy one in Harrisonburg
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
www.wilycycles.com
Strengths:
Excellent workmanship, custom fit, great powdercoat, reasonable price.
Weaknesses:
I can't afford to have a matching fixie road bike!
Similar Products Used:
Surly Karate Monkey, Ibis Mojo and various other high-end steel 26" hardtails.
Bike Setup:
Wily frame and fork (duh) King hs, pink! Race Face Prodigy stem Easton Moneylit carbon bar, 660mm Shimano XT disc brake (ft only) Brooks Swift, aged Honey Brown Ritchey WCS post Suntour XC Pro cranks Shimano UN-73 bb Crank Bros. Eggbeaters Sun CR-18 rims Ft hub: Quando TX (product review in progress) Rr hub: Surly New fixed/free DT 14g spokes, 3x, brass nips WTB Nanoraptors
Submitted by
Fred
a Racer
from CO Date Reviewed: January 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
wilycycles.com
Strengths:
great craftsman ship and paint. Full custom platinum OX steel 29er. Built with a EBB and rear D hanger, so that I can use is as a SS and occasionally gears.
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
various 26er FS and hard tails
Bike Setup:
Big wheels, avid v-brakes, WB bw 0.8 fork or wily ridig fork, etc
Bottom Line:
Fantastic frame and rigid fork, beautil welds and custom paint. Rides great and fits perfect, it should since it's full custom. The bottom line with this bike is that it makes riding really fun and simple.
$ 925.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
