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Submitted by
Mashooque Ali
a Weekend Warrior
from Karachi
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Offraod and Uphill | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$95.00 | | Purchased At: | Roadside seller for | | Strengths: | Rigid frame & quick release shifter | | Weaknesses: | Heavy and low end bars | | Similar Products Used: | GT Tequesta | | Bottom Line: | Good for nothing! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve green
a Racer
from england oxford
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | long distance | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | friend next door | | Strengths: | strong fram very well made the v shift gears very good and as light as a sheet of paper | | Weaknesses: | very little | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | this bike is the best set up bike i have evey owned | | Bottom Line: | overall the bike is just brill i cant belive the price i got it for £10 $5 it needed some work but now it is like it came out of a show room | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a
from Brisbane Australia
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bush-Bashin' | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$265.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop | | Strengths: | $265US, it cost me $530 in Australia - anyway it has a really strong frame and is light enough - brakes are great it's almost perfect for everything (providing you do everything pretty well) | | Weaknesses: | gears are pretty cheap, and is prone to flipping ppl over the handlebars(or is that just me?) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Avanti and Raleigh - but I like this one best, It's why I bought it? | | Bike Setup: | not modified | | Bottom Line: | Its a great bike for starters, and the frame is indestructible, it is useable for pretty much anything, but be careful if you want to jump with it, the wheels get *fudged* really easily. Plus it looks great - even when you have bald tyres, and no grips, else the git who stole it today wouldnt have. Also it could be a bit cheaper, cos now I need a new one... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | City | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Strong, fairly light, good brakes and gears. | | Weaknesses: | Handle bars have a tendency to fall off. Wheel tend to warp with hard impacts. Short handle bar stem. | | Similar Products Used: | Various other bikes under | | Bike Setup: | Unmodified | | Bottom Line: | I use this bike for everything while at university. Getting groceries, going to campus, visiting people etc. Saskatoon can be a very snowly place, and only on one occasion was the snow so bad I couldn't bike.
The bike handled very well in the snow. The tire track actually grips ice better than my shoes. However, they did warp slightly after heavy impacts. The frame is still perfect though.
All the biking around, going over curbs and popping wheelies did take its toll. I have to fix the brakes, tighten the handle bars and adjust the gears every month or so.
Other than that this bike has performed extrememly well condidering the heavy use, harsh conditions and low price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
big cliffs
a Downhiller
from lake forest, illinois, usa
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | all ravines in lake forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | some place down the street | | Strengths: | frame is strong as hell, nice components, love the gears, cant scratch the paint, and frame is strong as hell. | | Weaknesses: | not compadible with anything, front shox are soft | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | tricked out | | Bottom Line: | it is a really good bike. i loveits reliability, but i have destroyd the wheels from dropping big cliffs, and overshooting jups. but overall it is a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Denis Fraser
a Cross Country Rider
from Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gatineau Parc | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | 250 | | Strengths: | Undestructible frame, just won't die no matter what you throw at it. Excelent beginner bike. Good looking. Very good value for the price. Very reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Frame is very heavy, but you can't destroy it because of this. Low end components. Stock fork has no adjustment. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Bought a stock 1999 GT Palomar with front suspension from my LBS. Now has a 1998 Rock Shox Judy XC fork, FSA Orbit XL II headset, Maxxis tires, 4mm tubes(can't remember the brand), full lenght front and rear fenders, V-brake and derailleur up-grades are comming soon... :-) | | Bottom Line: | Bought this bike new from my LBS in 1999 (from Sports Wrightville, now closed after more than 40 years of excelent service), it came with a front suspension that isn't adjustable and has only 63mm of travel (sigh!), added full lenght front/rear fenders (yes I know, my bike is butt ugly with the fenders, but no matter what the weather, I don't eat mud and water!) and I got a very cheap used 1998 Rock Shox Judy XC fork (that IS adjustable and great). I've been riding this heavy sucker ever since in the Gatineau Parc trails through alot of pretty rough terrain and mud and it still has to let me down. The only thing that broke on it are the brackets for the fenders??? (I blame bad/cheap design, but I made some new ones out of 304SS, I'm a machinist)
I tried to destroy the suspension and the frame, but after 4 years of abuse and almost no maintenance the bike still looks like new and performs like one. The only downfall of this bike is the weight and the low end components, but for the value and reliability it's great for a beginner/early novice bike or if you're on a tight budget like I was when I bough it.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase. If you don't mind the weight of the frame, up-grade the components and you'll have a very decent bike that can't be destroyed. If you want a light weight bike with better components and if you have the funds by all means, go with something else.
N.B. I based my overall rating with a beginner's point of view, but to someone who has experience with riding, it would be a 2 Flamin'Chilis. The value rating remains the same. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fatman
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney,Australia
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Red Hill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclesport Thornleigh(where else?) | | Strengths: | Great Beginners bike.Looks pretty good,at least it must have to the guy that stole mine! | | Weaknesses: | Components aren't the best and it is bloody heavy but you only get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | Giants,other GTs,Cannondales,Avantis,Sintessi,Merida,Litespeed,I spend too much time at the local bike shop. | | Bike Setup: | Stock for the first year and then replaced almost everything for better parts as my bike addiction grew.RST 381's ,Riser bars,stronger rims,suspension seatpost,threadless headset and spd's,V-Brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this as my first bike and it didn't disappoint.In hindsight I would have gone for a better GT to start with but you have to learn the hard and expensive way.The frame was really strong and components are lineball with other bikes of this price range.If you think you might get into serious riding this machine is not worth the upgrades to do so.Accept it for what it is and you will be happy,it can take some serious punishment and will look after you but the components will let you down over time.It's a great value bike for beginners but obviously not a huge performer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Quesnel
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | K1 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Starting Line | | Strengths: | strong frame | | Weaknesses: | components, shox | | Bike Setup: | new shimano lx derialeur, tru-vativ crank,welgo platform pedals,amebia riser bars,and schwin saddle,sync shox(gotta get new ones bad) | | Bottom Line: | more for beginer bikers. this bike has a strong frame but comes with crapy components. i have had this bike 2 years and by the first year my deraileur had bent into my spokes and my crank fell off. so if u do decide to buy this bike i advise u to buy new componens for it right away(like the day you buy it then have sombody put them on right away). im giving this bike a good rating for its price ONLY!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pierce
a Downhiller
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Moraine State Park, PA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Strengths: | STRONG FRAME...did anybody else say that already (hehe)? Great product for the money. Strong brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy...no front shocks. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek | | Bike Setup: | Stock...don't want to replace anything because I am replacing it soon (d@mn thing does not die) | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike when I was a freshman in college with very little money. Nevertheless, I was able to do what my friends did on their middle-end GTs with front shocks. I have been meaning to replace it with a higher-end GT but I feel guilty because the d@mn this will not die. I have fallen off it...easily 20 times and all but one time I would get up (bleeding) and continue riding. The one exception it screwd up my back wheel. But, for those looking for a good, startup bike, this thing is mean mother. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anne
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wilder Ranch Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Family Cycle Center, Capitola | | Strengths: | Very strong and durable bike. I've got over 6000 miles on it so far (road and Mountain)!! The frame is STRONG! | | Weaknesses: | Never really shifted properly, you sit kinda high up, and I've had some difficulty replacing parts especially the crankset. It seems like it's almost cheaper to just get a new bike than to replace worn-out parts on this one! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Mongoose | | Bike Setup: | Stock: grip-shift, v-pull brakes and no shocks | | Bottom Line: | This is a GREAT bike for the price and a great bike for the beginner. I've actually worn the points off the gears, replaced the crankset and the cluster, and I'm still riding it!! The addition of shocks and a different shifting system make this a great bike for only $250!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BeerBoyOne
a Weekend Warrior
from Lindley, ny
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Hillside Bike | | Strengths: | The frame is strong as hell. I took a bad spill. Ripped my face open, folded the front rim over, bent a rear axel even busted the saddle but the frame and stock fork were still in perfect alignment. | | Weaknesses: | The components aren't really up to par. the derailer had to be adjusted after every ride. and the bottom bracket wore out prertty quick. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | It's a great beginners bike. It's especially good to learn how to trouble shoot problems. i learned a hell of a lot about maintaining and fixing bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Pokorra
a Cross Country Rider
from Bathurst, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mount Panorama | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Steve's Recycled City | | Strengths: | Tough as nails, hangs in tight and doesn't buck as much as last few bikes | | Weaknesses: | NFI, this one seems to have been heavily modified before I swapped it. Right now, no sealed bottom bracket, scummy ratio's, bottom routed cables | | Similar Products Used: | Colorado Trail Blazer, Avanti GT Pro, Haro XTreme Full Suspension | | Bike Setup: | Avid RapidFire Shifters & levers, XT Cantilevers, Avid Derailures, no-name alloy crank, stock wheels & headset. O`neil Azonic handle bars, Kore ChainReactor, Velo Watchdog seat, Tioga bottle racks, RST Team Series front shocks, alloy seat post & bar ends | | Bottom Line: | I swapped this for a Mongoose BMX. Would appear mine was a lot more modified past stock than I'd assumed. Love it how it is, thinking of getting something a lot lighter and full suspended and using this as a road bike instead | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie
a Cross Country Rider
from Colombia
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Strong Frame. | | Weaknesses: | Components suck. Very heavy. | | Bottom Line: | Can't get much for the money. Only good thing is the frame. If you are a weekeend, paved road, soft rider, this bike will do; if you're looking for something to go off-road, save some more money and buy a better bike. This was the first MTB I owned (about 4 years ago) and completely wrecked it after a couple of months; had to set up the gears after each ride, changed the brakes for Dia Compe 737 V-Brakes, put on a suspension fork, and then I realized it would just be cheaper to buy a new bike. I also got the rims bent pretty bad after attempting a 4 foot jump. If you are a begginer but plan to go off-road, get some more money and buy a better bike from the start, otherwise you might get dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince
a Weekend Warrior
from Oak Creek, WI US of A
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything sick | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | The frame is strong as all hell broken loose!!!!! I loved this bike. I just bought it because the wicked frame. great for the money. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy | | Bike Setup: | (When bought)- STX-Alivio group, rigid 21 speed (now)- LX crankset with un-72 BB, STX-RC rapid fire shifters, Rock Shox Jett T2, Bontrager RE-1 clipless, Onza dave fr. Onza rip Rr., mavic 221 GT hub Fr., Velocity Deep V Rr LX hub Rr., STX-RC Rr+Fr derailers, Selle-italia flite saddle w/post moderne shock seat post, and more stuff!!! | | Bottom Line: | whem i bought it was a sick ride now it's an all black off-road crotch-rocket!!!! I LOVE THIS BIKE, IF YOU HAVE ONE UPGRADE IT TO SIMILAR STUFF LIKE I DID!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Strome
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Floodway | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Basically everything about the bike is good. It also has a nice finish to the paint. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | none. | | Bottom Line: | Overall high quality bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Clark
a Downhiller
from Fayetteville, NC, US
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | in the woods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The bike has a good drive terrain, Gripshift-7 speed shamino Acera rear derailleur 21 speed. | | Weaknesses: | On this bike the paint seems to chip easily. Maybe its just my module or cause i like to ride in the snow. The bike should have front shocks but for this price who cares. i really dont have any serious complaints about it. iv had it for a year and had about 3 tune ups. after 2 months the gears start pluckin up but i had that fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose | | Bike Setup: | I like the bike setup | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike to race with a small group in my town. We ride 10 miles ones a week threw the woods. I didnt have much money but i wanted a brand name bike worthy to ride with my trail friends. I went to the GT bicycle shop and was amazed i found a bike below 300$ and brand new and not used with the brand name GT. I was quite excited cause there was no way i was going to buy a sears bike or walmart bike. they suck and i rely on the proof sitting in the garage. Bottom Line is the bike is not the greatest but it has a few high points. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Kentucky
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
In our woods | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
PriceBetter Shimano components than most newer and more expensive bikesExcellent in snow and pretty decent uphill. | | Weaknesses: |
After two years the derailers are junk. Not bad though for under $300.Brakes suck, front ones are unusable and rear do not stop me especially downhillDownhill is scary because you sit so high. It's time for fs. | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek, Schwinn, Diamondback and Mongoose in similar price range. | | Bike Setup: |
Stock = gripshift, v-pull style brakes, no shocks | | Bottom Line: | It's an ok bike for under $300. Don't expect much except an all around style bike. Brakes suck the big one but it's suited me fine for two years. Downhill is a bit frightening but uphill is alright. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yomomma
a Weekend Warrior
from yomomma's city and state
Date Reviewed: November 30, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
yellow river | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
frame and brakes | | Weaknesses: |
fork(just bent last week) | | Similar Products Used: |
anything under $300 | | Bike Setup: |
stock palomor(except for a new fork) | | Bottom Line: | this is a good bike for the money. it may be heavy but it works. if you're like me and have bills to pay then go for this bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross-Country Rider
from Japan
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
The 2000 Model has shocks and handles
well. Stops on a dime. Good bike for the
money | | Weaknesses: |
Factory handlebar stem was too short. Gear shift setup took some getting used to. | | Similar Products Used: |
Diamond Back Topanga was my last bike. It lasted nine years. | | Bike Setup: |
The Topanga had no shocks (they were'nt on the market yet) | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line- I like it. Could've spent more money, but it'll suffice for 30+ miles a week. I'm looking forward to trying it out in the snow. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from N,Y
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Strong,Nice Looking,good enough components for the price, the brakes are mint | | Weaknesses: |
No Shocks, Heavy, and Heavy again | | Bottom Line: | Its a good bike, just too heavy an d no shocks, after putting on shocks its really cool | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Not much . . . then again, what do you expect for this price? | | Weaknesses: |
Hi-Ten frame, cheap components, low end shifters, heavy as all hell | | Similar Products Used: |
None in this price range | | Bottom Line: | I got it as a gift, decided immediately it was a p.o.s., took it back to the shop, and they agreed to give me full trade-in on it, I'm picking up my new Cannondale F500 next Wednesday. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedford
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Strong frame, looks great, rugged and durable. | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy, lower end components. | | Similar Products Used: |
Nothing in this price range | | Bike Setup: |
Stock | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike for my son and he has yet to trash it. Minimal maintanence and this thing just keep on working. I don't think there is much better in this price range. | | Overall Rating: |
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