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Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Farmington
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Strengths: | Feels light and relatively agile | | Weaknesses: | I think you could probably get better for the money. I dont like bontrager that much, and most Gary Fishers come stocked with their components because of Trek. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Klein Mantra | | Bottom Line: | Not bad if you are into Gary Fishers. Between that and the equivalent version of Trek Fuel, Id go with the fuel though. I like the rocker link on it better. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich McCoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Hill Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Northwest Cyclery | | Strengths: | The bike does just about everything really well. Climbs like a mountain goat! The 29" wheels and the suspension allow you to float over obstacles like they aren't there. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any yet...except for the seat. The Bontrager seats just don't seem to hold up as well as the Selle Italia or Specialized seats that I have replaced them with. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Rig (well, it's a 29er anyway. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for seat and the WTB Exiwolf on the front. | | Bottom Line: | I love the bike. I am firmly in the Clydesdale class and find that the bike handles my extra weight just fine.
Don't put too much stock in other reports about the failure of the carbon seat stays. They hold up just fine and I have fallen on rocks quite a bit. If you're really worried about it, go ahead and cover 'em with rubber. For my part, I'm not worried and I like to shoe 'em off.
Another reviewers comments about the value of the carbon fiber seat stays are without merit. Carbon fiber was chosen for the seat stays not for its increased flexibility in the vertical direction (the suspension takes care of that), but rather for the increased lateral stiffness. And it does it quite well.
Go out and get yourself one! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clydesdale Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Jersey
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Allamuchy | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Climbs better than my previous 26" Full Susp mtb, feels very comfortable for bigger guy (6'3" 215lbs, 32" inseam), nice components, incl Reba w/ remote lockout | | Weaknesses: | None noted in 6 months of hard riding, adv racing, off road tri's, 24hr mtb racing | | Similar Products Used: | GF Sugar Team. | | Bike Setup: | As sold | | Bottom Line: | Sweated over this purchase b/c its a big jump going to 29" from standard 26". Previous mtb was GF Sugar Team; yes I cracked my frame like many Sugar and Trek Fuel riders do. Still, had to try this one. I ride all NJ trails, plus MD/VA/PA. This is a sweet Clydesdale's bike. It feels like a big man's bike. The noticeable difference is I climb better and can climb in a bigger gear. I've put 1.50 tires on this and it can move well onroad for adv races, etc. I've read all the reviews and people have wildly different opinions. I'll say this -I did 4 loops at Moab 24hr this year and this biked ROCKED out there. Also saw many, many other riders on same bike (GF 29ers are not an East Coast thing, but all GF29" SS, HT and FS are out there). The SRAM components are top level, as are brakes. I love the fork w/ remote lockout, but to my surprise hardly use it and wouldn't seek it out again. I see from rvws that some folks have big problems w/ fork - I defy you to find a fork review and NOT see huge opinions since some forks just suck out of the box. Other stuff is purely personal preference, only complaint is Cane Creek headset seems tight, easily swapped out.
Bottom line - you only live once...there's no downside to trying a 29" bike, and b/t your LBS and online there are always forks, tires, wheels, tubes, etc. to get. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Francisco Chavez
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico City
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Desierto de los Leones | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Teknobike | | Strengths: | Climbs a 10, very fast and with a 100mm in front and 4" in the rear plus the 29 inch you can roll over a dog. | | Weaknesses: | The fork was defective from the factory and have been waiting for RockShox for a repair for over 3 months | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 2003 6700 | | Bike Setup: | Factory | | Bottom Line: | Great bike but has some limited fork options and I hate RockShox. I have a 3000 dls bike and I can not ride it around my block because of the fork.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Wright
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any without rocks, you'll see why | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Slippery Pig (a great shop!) | | Strengths: | 29 inch wheels! Full Suspension. Fun to ride but you have to worry about frame breaking if you fall over. | | Weaknesses: | Carbon Fiber seat stays, ridiculous on an off road bike. Why, the thing has full suspension? CF is for absorbing shock. I'm old enough to have known better (40-something) what was I thinking?. | | Similar Products Used: | None, first mountain bike in 15 years | | Bike Setup: | Mary bars, otherwise a stock 2005. | | Bottom Line: | WARNING, heed the warnings of others, I didn't and now I'm very concerned about frame failure. I tipped over at zero MPH, landed among rocks and gouged the stays. Not too many rock-less trails around these parts. Wrote to Fisher seeking a full metal rear triangle. They suggested WRAPPING THE STAY IN AN OLD INNER TUBE TO PROTECT IT! Right, a 2 thousand dollar high tech bike with old inner tubes for protection. Give me a break. That is some serious customer service there, don't you think?
I strongly recommend you find another brand of 29er to buy. Many out there safer than this bike. Poor design? No, but I think it's a dangerous error including CF in a part subject to hard impacts. CF de-laminates under sharp impact and damage may not be visible. Someone is gonna end up getting seriously hurt riding after a crash involving the stays.
Looks like I'm going to have to find a custom frame builder to make up a non-carbon replacement rear triangle.
Don't say you weren't warned!!! Check out the photos posted in previous review, wish I had before I bought one. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Labick
a Cross Country Rider
from Ambler, PA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blue Marsh Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Very stable. Climbs great. Rolls over anything. | | Weaknesses: | Low bottom bracket. No disc brakes! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Superlight, GF Rig | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I absolutely love this bike. First, it fits me like a glove -- it must be the genesis geometry b/c my gary fisher rig also fits me great. Second, it climbs exceptionally well -- much better than my Superlight. Third - the 29" wheels just rock. The bike is stable and rolls over anything. If you have a long torso and feel like you are going to endo on your current bike, give this bike a try. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Climbs well, Descends and corners at speed very well. Big wheels smooth out obstickles. | | Weaknesses: | Not more 29er options out there! | | Similar Products Used: | Surly, Fisher Super Cal., | | Bike Setup: | Stock with XTR upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | If you are a big guy and you want full suspension this is your ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan Griebel
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hall Ranch, Lyons. Gold Bar Rim, Moab. Dakota Ridge, Golden | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle, Boulder | | Strengths: | This bike blasts down technical and bumpy terrain with ease.
Never had a pinch flat | | Weaknesses: | ***Manufacturing Defects*** The rear triangle is made of carbon fiber. In my mind, this is a manufacturing defect that Fisher refuses to warranty. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Sugar 2 (26") | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I love the way this bike handles and rolls over obstacles.
The first (minor) incident was when I took a small fall on the steps at Dakota ridge. The nose of my saddle lifted and it was impossible to get back on. GF did not warranty this, but Full Cycle came through and gave me a free seat of my choice in the $40 range.
The next (major) incident occured in Moab. I fell trying to go up some obstacles, and banged my rear triangle on a rock. This was not a spectacular crash, as I was going 0 mph (well, maybe -1 mph) when I actually fell. I rode about 30 more miles on the bike that day. The next day, I noticed the carbon fiber was sort of buckling, but I rode anyway. 5 miles into my ride, the carbon fiber became fatigued enough to fail, and it sheared completely through. (Here are some pictures: http://www.climbingdreams.net/broken_bike/)
Fisher will not cover this repair, and it is costing me $400 for a new rear triangle, even with Full Cycle doing the labor for free! Not to mention, that it is taking them over 6 weeks just to get me a new rear triangle. I will probably sell the frame, and get a Lenz Sport Leviathan, or a pricey Mooto-X YBB.
Bottom Line: Carbon Fiber does *NOT* belong on mountain bikes! If you buy this bike, you better get a kickstand for it so you don't "accidentally" lay it down wrong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Ellert
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | bike doctor, maryland | | Strengths: | the 29 inch wheels are killer, I was hooked after I demo'ed the bike for the first time, went right out and got me one. | | Weaknesses: | I SO REGRET buying a Fisher Sugar, after I showed up at rides everybody warned me about cracking the carbon fiber seat stay on the swing arm, sure enough I cracked mine and fisher/trek won't cover it under warrenty.
Low bottom bracket is going to ruin my cranks. doesn't clear much of anything which is suprising with the big wheels. | | Bike Setup: | full XTR, built on the "easy to crack" sugar frame | | Bottom Line: | STAY AWAY from these frames. they work great in ideal conditions... ie. not ever falling. a side impact to the seat stay on the swingarm the carbon cracks and you are S.O.L.
Be prepaired to shell out another $600 for fisher to sell you another swingarm. buy them bulk if you can!
low bottom bracket clearence really shouldn't be that way.
I give it two chilis for overall because the bike with the 29 inch wheels changes everything.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JS Reilly
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | memorial park east end | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Area | | Strengths: | Incredible stability, smooth, light for its size. | | Weaknesses: | Great stability might be regarded by some as lack of "feel", but if this is muted feel - i like it. not many fork choices - but growing options as these 29ers catch on. | | Similar Products Used: | surly karate monkey, santa cruz blur, santa cruz heckler, gt i-drive team, gunnar rockhound ... others i cannot remember. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 293 frame/shock, 2005 rock shox reba, sram xo rear der, x-9 shifters, maxm bar & post, stan's tubeless rims on hugi 240s disc, hope mono m4 brakes, truvativ stylo team cranks w/ gigapipe bb, crank bros ti beaters, sram cassette and chain, xtr front der. | | Bottom Line: | the best mtn bike i have ever owned - and i have owned a lot of them. i have absolutely no complaints. as a note, i am 6'4 so i am on the xl model. i am unsure how well the 29er idea works on a smaller frame - it sure looks bizarre. the xl frame looks at home with the large wheels. the ride is really beyond description. all i can say is that it rides over roots like they are not there, it climbs great, it's light for its size. it is manageable around technical stuff - something that other told me it would not be. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
YR
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything I failed on a 26" | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | I demoed (and reviewed) a 2003 292 so the followings are mostly w.r.t that model.
* ProPedal shock - an important upgrade
* 100mm in front (was 80) which helps a bit with crank clearence
* much better overall components
* very stiff bike with the xt crank.
* all the other thnigs I mentiobed in the 2003 review. | | Weaknesses: | * 2004 still without disks - fixed in 2005 but GF put a 6"
rather then a 7" to offset for the larger wheel.
* frame needs a special adapter for disks.
* water bottle location.
* Bike magazine lost their allure - I used to drool over the pages of MBA analyzing every little difference trying to imagine my next bike. Now all these differences seem
negligible after moving to a 29er. | | Bike Setup: | Avid mech 7", egg beaters, koobi. | | Bottom Line: | I am not just happy with my choise, I am elated. There is a permanent smile on my face and it is worth more than some
deep analysis on behaviour etc. But overall the
bike is stiff and climbs impresively well. It overcomes obstacles in a remarkable way, inspire confidence and decent so fast and stable that I wish none of the other guys around will get one;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabe
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, Co, USA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Amasaback | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Telluride Sports | | Strengths: | Awesome bike, I can't get enough of it. It doesn't downhill as well as my big hit but that goes without saying. I love being able to just roll on. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes, the bigger wheels = faster = needs more breaking power. | | Similar Products Used: | Cake, Specialized Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | Factory | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver Colorado
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bergen Peak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2350.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheatridge Cyclery | | Strengths: | This is an extremely well made and very well designed 29'er for this 6'7" Clydesdale. Excellent std. gear- Hayes Disks, Reba Shock with lock-out...nice touch. Rear has lock out as well, and both are easy to access on the run. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy with all the gear, and the 29'er size. don't care for the red color. Pricey. | | Similar Products Used: | Came off an XL Homegrown hardtail at about 23 lbs. That bike was great, but took a toll on my back. Tried the '04 292 and the '05 is a HUGE step forward as far as the componets go...Disks and Front shock in particular. | | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for a 29'er, that is relatively light, very well made, can support a clydesdale, and has 90% of the gear already on it that you would want...I can't think of anything that is nearly as good as this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Bain
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Beach, VA
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Am moving to Hawaii, will have to get back to you. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | HDK Cycles Virginia Beach | | Strengths: | I have a 2005 Sugar 292 with SRAM X.0 and Hayes 9 disc brakes. This bikes strenth is in its ability to maintain momentum. Riding on a trail with rolling terrain is easier with 29" wheels since less speed is lost on the descent and more speed is maintained since the larger wheel rolls over obstacles easier. The full suspension along with the larger contact patch of the tires allows better control on off-camber trails with tree roots. Handlebar mounted controls for the Rockshock Reba fork allow for lock-out on the fly. The component selection is good and has worked well. The X.0 rear derailleur is easy to clean and mechanically simple. I opted out of the shimano pedals and am riding Crank Bros Candy pedals which work well. Overall fit and finish are good. | | Weaknesses: | I expected a better saddle than the Bontrager model it came with. The SRAM thumb actuated shifters are hard to use and are the cause of many inadvertant shifts especially during jarring descents. I plan on shifting over to grip shift in the near future. I also would have expected a better crankset than the Bontrager. The crankarms were scratched up after one ride. Probably will go XT or FSA in the future. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first mountain bike in many years. I was originally a mtb rider in the late 80s and started riding road to gain fitness. I live in a flat area with no challenging trails. I am moving to Hawaii and plan on exploring as much as I can. | | Bike Setup: | Stock setup with SRAM and XT components. Reba shock with Hayes hydraulic disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | The 29" wheel concept is solid. The only problems I ever had were tight technical sections that had to be ridden at low speed. The wheelbase of this bike is very long. With the seat post height set for proper leg extension, my foot will not reach the ground while seated. As I adjust to the bike and improve my riding, I am sure my bike handling will improve and the low speed stuff will come along. I would recommend this bike to anyone of above average height. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego, ca
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | big laguna | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | the trek store | | Strengths: | fast, stable, and super comfortable! | | Weaknesses: | lacks stock disc brakes, steering not as responsive in the tight stuff. | | Bike Setup: | cake 292 with carbon bar and eggbeater pedals | | Bottom Line: | I really wanted to like the Cake more than the 292 (came with more stuff) but after test riding both bikes a couple of times I had to go with the 292...just felt better. I definitely recommend the carbon handlebars but I chose to go with the shorter handlebars to make the steering more responsive (worked great). thanks Gary! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martan
a Cross Country Rider
from Clifton Park
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Skidmore | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Strengths: | 29 inch wheelset, lx crank, shifter, and derailer. Very light frame for an xl. Amazing climbing ablitiy. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes are very weak for this ride. I am going to get Hayes as soon as I can. For a bike this fast, you need disc brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that if you're over 6 foot, you should give a 29er a ride. This is the first bike that I feel truly 'fit' to. It is so fast and smooth that I couldn't stop grinning for the entire first ride. We'll see in a year how it holds up to constant use but I know that I'll be using it in races and off road triathalons simply because it provides such an unfair advantage over the competition. The LX shifters are awesome. Rapid rise took some getting used to but I think Fisher hit a home run when producing this bike. This is not a free ride bike by any standard. It is a cross country racing machine. Sugar is Sweet!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Berg
a Racer
from Wisconsin Ya Der!
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Budget Bicycles in Madison | | Strengths: | -Rolls over rocks and roots easily.
-Point and shoot Climbing on rough rutted climbs.
-Wheels
-New XT cranks
-Tires AcX from bontrager hook up in everything excluding the greasy stuff.
-Paint, understated name on bike.
-5 mins faster on a 1:15 loop over my 21lb hardtail.
-Fisher left a ton of stearer tube which is a great help find to fit on the bike.
-Same BB height as my hardtail | | Weaknesses: | -Brakes are Cheesy, Namely the brake pads. At this price point $25 next to bottom of the line linear pulls are laughable a best.
-New XT 760 Shift brake combo
-Snappy acceration in the tight stuff
-Longer Wheel base
-Heaver than 26er FS Bikes
| | Similar Products Used: | NRS, Scapel, Fuel, Blur, Racer X, Sugar 26er. | | Bike Setup: | Great build Quality at Budget Bicycles! The Service there is great. Make the trip to Madison, I did and was happy with the guys and gals there.
Stock + Gore Ride on cables
Changing to:
XTR 952 Shifter/brake
Avid Ultimate Brakes
38c tires in the back for hard pack coarses.
Stans
Rotor cranks(maybe)
| | Bottom Line: | 29er wheels make sense. Look at lawn mowers as an analolgy. If anyone has to mow a rough piece of land they know that they want the mower with the big wheels. If you dont belive me go mow a 3 acre plot with a smaller wheeled mower, then switch over to a larger wheel.
Speed on this bike is deseptive, running a 26er for my entire life I have been accostomed visually to the faster rotation to the tires. Moving over to 29er wheel, although the wheel is moving with the same linear speed, it is not spinning as fast as a 26er....mind games.
Buy a 29er if you want to go Faster. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, Az
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | The geometry of the bike is very comfortable and the bike is much more stable on the rough stuff than my 29 inch hardtail. There was no noticeable bobbing on the road on the way to trail head. Rode this bike on trail that had rocky tecnical places, smooth trac, patches of mud,ice and snow as well as several miles of dirt road. This bike stayed hooked up on the steep climbs was able to easily clear places I have difficulty with on other bikes. In my estimation this is the perfect all purpose mountain bike. There is no comparison to the santa cruz I rode the same day or the other 26 inch bikes I have owned. I would purchase a 292 today if I had the bucks. The bike is light and just flys if you let it. | | Weaknesses: | Don't care too much for the new Shimano XT combo brake lever-shifter system. The bike could use disc brakes instead of the rim brakes it comes with. The paint job is a little busy. | | Similar Products Used: | GF 29 inch hard tail for thousands of miles in all conditions. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike if you can afford it. The previous reviewer stated that the wheel set does not stay true. I have ridden 29 inch bontrager superstocks for thousands of miles and have never had to have them trued. Bontrager makes a 29 inch disc specific super stock that would handle the 265 lb rider with no trouble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rafael
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, Florida
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Razorback | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Gator Cycle | | Strengths: | Wheel Size, Suspention, 2004 XT shifters | | Weaknesses: | Back Wheel | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is my first full suspention bike. I have been mountain biking for about a year and enjoy it so much I decided to upgrade. Hardtails are a bit jolty. I looked at at various brands of full suspention bikes(Trek Fuel, Fisher Cake) I had the chance to demo a 292. It was an instant match. The huge 29 inch wheels roll over anything with ease. This bike climbs like a billy goat. I climbed with comfort and ease hills that I had always had to hike my bike up. Going over obstacles left me waiting for the jolt that never came. This bike is so comfortable and fast.I was the first to demo the bike and bought it at demo price.
Now for the downside. The bike comes with stock race lite wheels from Bontrager. My rear wheel keeps getting warped on every ride. I never had this problem with my 26 inch hardtail. The rear suspention is not set hard. I am overweight (265 lbs). The LBS replaced this with a rear Bontrager Race wheel which warps less, but it is a pain in the neck to take the bike to the shop after every ride for an alignment. Fortunately, I have a great LBS who is going to build me a stronger rear wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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