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Submitted by
Raub
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Strengths: | genesis, handles awsome over all terrain
component group is good for the price | | Weaknesses: | seatpost will not stay in one position but otherwise none! | | Bike Setup: | uppgraded to xtr rear der., thompson stem, truvativ stylo team cranks w/ raceface prodigy bb, profile riser bar, new front shock next on the list. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. I have riden it over all kinds of terrain including some brutal downhill. The big sur is bomb proof, and handles great. Climbs even better. Never had a serious mechanical problem, this bike has made me a loyal fisher fan. If you like to ride hard and go fast this is a great bike to start with. HARDTAILS RULE!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phillip Piggins
a Cross Country Rider
from Elk Rapids Mi
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | vasa | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Brick Wheels/ TC Mi | | Strengths: | The Gary Fisher Big sur has a great frame i love the genisis geomotry, it also comes with very good stock components | | Weaknesses: | The big sur has a weak bottom bracket and they could have spent a little more mony on th paint job, i mean its a nice paint job but it dosent compare to the kliens. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek,Wheeler,Mongoose and light speed | | Bike Setup: | I just upgraded to all xt drive train/ rear derailer xt front derailer xt casset xt chain xt/ XC indy suspension and coming soon front xt shifters and brake levers and brakes.I also have a lx crank and lx hobs, sell itelia FLIGHT seat, yetti grips (red) and pana racer red walled tires, they look sweat ( great treds ). | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike just getting into the sport and than started getting up grades and now the bike is sweat. The genisis geomotry is great and if you road it and didnt think so there is something wrong. The big sur is i stiff bike with ok suspension and a great light and strong frame.The big sur is a great bike for u people who have mountian biked before but also good for thoes beginers who have the money to spend. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Ruhland
a Cross Country Rider
from Eden Valley, MN
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | lake upsilon singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$699.00 | | Purchased At: | scheels | | Strengths: | great geomoetry, stiff ride, cuts easily through tight singletrack, good stock wheels, light, strong, well built frame for the money... | | Weaknesses: | crank is weak, GF framed in my opinion seem to run a bit small-be cautious, paint on downtube and chainstays got chipped and trashed, indy C is scary (get a meaty marzzochi!) | | Similar Products Used: | various FS and hardies-schwinn, trek, kona, klien | | Bike Setup: | stolen after year of owning | | Bottom Line: | When I bought this bike I went for the frame and that seemed to be a good choice, however leaving the bike behind the house (1409) at college during an evening of drinking proved to be a poor choice. I miss that frame. In the college financial vise I would have bought the bike over again. I really don't know about all the trek-klien-fisher-bontrager unity going on but I guess that is a different issue. Anyway-the "genesis geometry" has proven itself for many, many miles both in trail application and in racing so I believe with this kind of price tag, and this kind of quality frame, this bike can certainly be upgraded for years of riding. If you are on a budget and plan to upgrade components this could be your ride. get off the computer and go ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from South Wales, NY
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | Mud, Sweat and Gears | | Strengths: | frame, genesis geometry | | Weaknesses: | components, i.e. shocks, seat-hard as a rock, crank, etc...
also have a lot of paint chipping. | | Similar Products Used: | Hoo Koo e Koo | | Bike Setup: | xt drive train, Marzochi Z.3 shocks, Mavic 519 rims w/xt hubs | | Bottom Line: | The frame is awesome and very uprgradable. I've had this bike for three years, going on four and have now upgraded everything but the seat post and brakes, coming soon. The ride is excellent and for a 225lb plus rider it has held up incredibly well. I know have an $1800 bike and built it pretty much myself. As long as the frame continues to hold, I don't see getting rid of it soon. I do need a new paint job though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DAN
a Cross Country Rider
from POWELL, WY USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ANY TRAIL | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | STRONG, FAST, RESPONSIVE, SIMPLE INDY FORK | | Weaknesses: | HANDLE BARS, CRANK, LX STX COMPONENTS | | Similar Products Used: | SCHWINN MOAB, SPECALIZED FSR EXTREAM | | Bike Setup: | MAVIC 121 RIMS, SPECIALIZED COMP, TIRES, XT COMPONENTS, FLITE SADDLE, AVID 2 V-BRAKES, GRIP SHIFT 800 X-RAY | | Bottom Line: | WELL ENGINEERED FRAME, SIMPLE FORK(WON'T LEAK OIL), BUY FOR FRAME! SWEET COLOR, FAST AND DANGEROUS, FUN TO RIDE. BIKE GOOD FOR WEEKENDERS AND INTERMEDIATE RIDERS. FRAME GOOD FOR ELITE RIDERS! HAPPY TRAILS! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yoAA
a Weekend Warrior
from alabama
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any that you throw at me | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | BOB's Bikes | | Strengths: | Good bike great for those weekend poeple that just like to go all out. Wicked in turns and and some good components. The yellow paint just makes people scared! | | Weaknesses: | that thing that they call a shock crap. the crank is a little week | | Bike Setup: | Bomber shock mavrick racing wheels and stuff like that
| | Bottom Line: | great bike i am going to get a 2001 in about 2 months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff diem
a Cross Country Rider
from michigan
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pontiac lake | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | bike usa | | Strengths: | great climber, wicked in turns, descneds ok | | Weaknesses: | indy xc fork, cranks, and hubs | | Similar Products Used: | umm none.. my first reall mtn bike | | Bike Setup: | xtr rear deralier, xt front deralier, xtr calipers on order, xt shifters, lx cranks, bontrager crowbar | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the dough... i wish the cranks and fork didnt suck, but i work at a biek shop and the frame is used on the supercaliber, so jsut 600 bux for that was worth it to me!! maybe puttin on a psylo fork turn it into a urban assult vehicle, geometry be damned!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nigel Bagge
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | South Downs | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Strengths: | Genesis frame helps on the climbs and suits tall riders. Very stable downhill. | | Weaknesses: | Poor Indy forks, rest okay for the money. Genesis does mean front wheel tends to lift on steep climbs. | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades inc SID forks,riser bars, USE seatpost, Tioga factory tyres. Still need new cranks - reckon Raceface | | Bottom Line: | Excellent value and with a suspension seatpost it gives high value/light full sus bikes a run for their money, with little maintenance needed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony Senger
a Cross Country Rider
from New Berlin, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Moraine South: John Muir | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Genesis Geometry w/ super stiff frame construction kicks serious butt! Wicked yellow paint (can spot another Big Sur a mile away!) Simple yet super effective Avid brakes!
Awesome Bang for the Buck... | | Weaknesses: | Flat bars will kill the top tube paint on big dumps!
Shifting has always been a problem, I believe it to be the cheaper Sugino Crank/Rings with less than stellar STX cassette and front deraileur. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000, K2 Razorback (FS) | | Bike Setup: | STX shifters, XT front & rear Derail., Power Post Moab, WTB kevlar seat, WTB Velociraptor tires, K2 Mag-C pedals | | Bottom Line: | Awesome Hungry bike that is only so slightly let down by some cost sutting stock components. After adding the suspension post I never had problems hanging with my buddy riding a FS K2 Razorback ($3000+)!!! I've had problems with the shifting and chain suck (actually just killed my granny gear on the Sugino cranks...). Tried upgrading the front Derailleur. This did not help, much. I'm looking forward to putting on lighter, stronger cranks, because I just love riding this bike!
Real bottom line is that the bike is so much more than what you get off the show room floor, but the grin factor is so there, and upgrading it has been fun too! So for $800 plus my upgrades, I'm ripping it like a mad man! 4 flamers for value because the bean counters got at some improtant components, but 5 for overall!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Forest Hills, NY
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Point, Ringwood | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Great pukey yellow frame!! | | Weaknesses: | The stock components had to go, but they're fairly decent. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher X-Calibur | | Bike Setup: | XTR everything, except for RaceFace crankset, and Spinergy SPOX in red, with red brake/shifting cables ;) Getting new front shocks (bleh). | | Bottom Line: | Get this bike for the frame.. I'll give it 5 flaming bananas! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Bridgeport
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Single Track of any kind | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Awsome ride, good geometry, excelent entry race bike. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have found yet for the price | | Similar Products Used: | Fuji Suncrest, Gary Fisher Hakoyaku | | Bike Setup: | Bontreager wheels, rims Wilderness Trail Bikes Tires, Saddle, Grips Shimano LX cranks and Bottom Braket, XT rear, And Avid Single digit V-brakes. Also comes with an awsome Judy Long Travel. It may be heavy but its got awsome travel and no sticktion. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a good bike for the money the 98 Big Sur is Awsome but I don't like the color skeam on the 99.
Its a good bike for someone wanting to go from the weekend warrior to competitive racing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross-Country Rider
from Noble
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
3 Stage | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
climbing descending genesis colour | | Weaknesses: |
cranks indy that came with it rims | | Similar Products Used: |
brc | | Bike Setup: |
manitou sxe
xt derailleur
thudbuster
avocet titanium saddle | | Bottom Line: | awesome bike totally upgradable, a must if you don't have the coin, i give er' 5 flamers i'd give it 20 if i could | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Sur
a Cross-Country Rider
from Norman, Ok
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Great Components, rite price, and Just as good as any other hard tail | | Weaknesses: |
Doesnt pedal it self | | Similar Products Used: |
GF Zigerat, Tiki, and Balance FS 450 | | Bike Setup: |
RS Long Travel kit, LX rapid fire shifter, XT Front derailer, XT Bottom Bracket, Cane Creek Headset, Slim Tubes and Liners, Kool Stop BP, | | Bottom Line: | unless you plan on riding around the world the big sur is the bike for you. I have had mine for a year and I love it. I know guys with $6,000 joshua's and I still kick there asses on the trail. I spend less time in the repair stand and I ride twice as hard. I looked long and hard and road many test miles and this is the bike I picked.Enough said now go buy a big sur and get muddy!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Orland
a Downhiller
from Kamloops
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Northeast | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
None | | Weaknesses: |
Components, everything on the bike, | | Similar Products Used: |
Gary FIsher Kaitai
Brodie Expresso
Cannondale
Trek VRX 500 | | Bike Setup: |
Hydraulic Brakes
Marzocchi Z1 Dropoffs
XTR components
Kooka Cranks
Easton Monkey-Lite handelbars | | Bottom Line: | if you're still reading this, uh-oh
| Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Spokane WA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
beacon hill | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
genesis geometry, its yellow for gods sake | | Weaknesses: |
sh*tty shock, too heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
POS Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: |
Mantou SX Ti
XT drivetrain
Time ATAC pedals | | Bottom Line: | sweet ass bike for the price. i've done a few upgrades, like the shock, but all in all it is an excellent bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Brooklyn, NY
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Rocky Point, L.I. | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Rock solid | | Weaknesses: |
Getting the chain on and off the front big gear. | | Similar Products Used: |
'97 Big Sur (it was stolen!) | | Bike Setup: |
Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, rock solid! My only problem is the above mentioned shifting; but who uses the big ring on the trails anyway? My '97 never had that problem, and all the tweaking in the world doesn't seem to help. But who uses the big ring on the trails anyway? Indestructable, even for a big rider like myself. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M Cyr
a Weekend Warrior
from Binghamton,NY
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Great simple package for the price. The frame is a keeper, and the bike will upgrade nicely. | | Weaknesses: |
The Sugino Crank torques. This will need to be replaced.
The Icon pedals are a sin. They look sharp, but weigh a lot and require unique cleats. Do I need to own another pair of shoes to ride my other bikes? | | Similar Products Used: |
Klein
Giant
Specialized
Trek | | Bottom Line: | This bike was a steal. Because it was a 98 model, I got a great price on a real pretty bike. The 99's are as ugly as sin and basically the same bike. This is a good bike for an intermediate rider. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamie Molitor
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Cloud, Minnesota
Date Reviewed: June 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Milaca trail (Minn)/Ice Age trail (Wisc) | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Genesis geometry is one of the greatest things GF has ever has implemented. It feels so great on descents and yes it does climb like a mountain goat.
It is the most upgradable aluminum-framed bike GF makes. Thus far I've only upgraded the inner chain ring (see weaknesses) but that's about it. Though it will be upgraded. | | Weaknesses: |
I've had problems with the four-bolt pattern on the front chainring by Sagino. I have no idea why they decided to go with the four-bolt pattern but I know when my inner chain ring snapped in half (yep..clean in half) it took about 2 1/2 months or so for them to order a new one from the parts dealer. And the dealer is in frickin Minneapolis (only an hr away).
My only complaint though | | Similar Products Used: |
19?? GF Advance
1998 GF Aquilla
1998 Specialized StumpJumper | | Bike Setup: |
Set up is factory stock with the exception of the inner chain ring. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike.
For the cash you fork over (I paid $750) and the frame you get its excellent. It may not be the best components..but its sooo upgradable that its not even funny. As one of the other reviews said you can easily have a bike that is better than more expensive rides. The Genisis geometry feels like heaven.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Miller
a Racer
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Indian Creek/Noble Canyon | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
The long top tube/short stem combo of the Genesis geometry reall works. It gives me a lot more confidence on steep, rocky descents. Climbs like a goat too. This is the same frame that comes on the high-end Fisher models so it's very upgrade worthy. | | Weaknesses: |
Some of the parts like the handlebar, bottom bracket, and saddle are pretty heavy, but it's a relatively inexpensive bike so that's acceptable to me. | | Similar Products Used: |
Kona Kileaua
Litespeed Obed
GT LTS | | Bike Setup: |
I swapped the stock Indy XC fork for a Judy XC with Englund air cartridges and an alloy steerer that I had. I also swapped the Sugino cranks for some XT cranks that I took off another bike. I also use Time ATAC Alium pedals instead of the Wellgo clones that it came with. This setup is really improved the overall bike a lot. | | Bottom Line: | Originally I was just going to get a Gary Fisher frame because I wanted to try out the Genesis geometry. I was able to find a Big Sur at a closeout price that allowed me to get a complete bike for not much more than the frame would have cost. The Genesis geometry frame is everything I hoped it would be, if not better, and is a great platform for future upgrades. I'll give it 5 stars for the frame and the great price I got which made it a great value. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross-Country Rider
from Onalaska, WI
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Holtzinger Climbs | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Where do I start? | | Weaknesses: |
None, unless you are a prideful yuppie | | Similar Products Used: |
GT Talera '93 | | Bottom Line: | Great bke, especially for the money. You are a getting a top of-the-line Supercaliber frame. The beefy Ginzu Team Suspension hub keeps the Indy rigid even under my heavy weight and aggressive riding style. The wheels are tougher than any non freeride/downhill wheel. With some XT shifters, brake bosters and Englung total air cartridges, and possibly a long trtavel kit thisbike will be a million tomes better than bikes five times as much | | Overall Rating: |
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