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Iron Horse
Hollowpoint RL Expert
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Submitted by
Wesley Pomeroy
a Cross Country Rider
from Watertown, Ct. USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | RS Cycles | | Strengths: | Parts spec versus cost. Incredible value. Climbs better than my hardtail. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. Based on reviews, I am concerned about the progressive 5th element rear shock giving up the ghost prematurely | | Similar Products Used: | None. I have a hardtail that i've used for years. This is my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, other than changing the riser to one that' s an inch & 1/2 shorter than the stock one. This shortened my reach to the handlebars. Reiews of this bike & it's sister, the hollowpoint expert, have said the top tube is long. I have to agree that in stock form it's long. I have 120 psi in the front fork, 90 psi in the small chamber of the 5th element, & 120 in the large chamber. Tire pressure is 38 psi in both tires. | | Bottom Line: | This bicycle has made a huge difference on my riding ability. I am able to ride up trails that I had to push my other bike up, and riding up those trails on this bike seems effortless. Riding this thing is unbelievable. I sense no difference between this & my hardtail when going up hills, except this bike does not bounce me out of the saddle, or suffer "bump" steer. Picking a line, while still important, is not as critical. The only time I lost traction going up a hill was on some ice (I counld'nt kick out fast enough & ended on my side laughing at myself). My friend who has ridden with me for 4 years, cannot believe that a bike can make that much difference, and neither can I . He has a high end hardtail, and I can climb hills he cannot. The Hayes 9 brakes are outstanding. I set up the brakes using the two business card trick I read about in the MTBR.com forums, and there has been no squeaking, no squealing, just outstanding braking performance. My value rating of this bike is 5 flaming chili's because the parts alone, if purchased separately, cost more than I paid for the entire bike. The made in Taiwan thing might be a turn-off for some, however, the quality of the weld joints on the frame are exceptional, as are the components, and this bike just rides over most anything. If you are looking for an outstanding do everything, go just about anywhere, cross country bike, look no furthur. I will write an update when I have ridden the bike for a few months | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mergen Waxman
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Strawberry Peak | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 1450 | | Strengths: | Good quality components. Fairly lightweight. Very good climber. | | Weaknesses: | 5th Element Air needs to be pumped up every hour or so. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding mountain bikes for 12 years. I live in Southern California, and the riding here invariably involves lots of climbing. I held out with my hardtail much longer than most of the other riders I encounter on the trails, believing that my speed on the climbs would be compromised if went to a full suspension. I bought this bike because I heard it was an efficient climber. Having ridden a few trails on it, I can't believe just how fast I can climb. It is just as fast as a hardtail, the only possible exception to this being when riding on the granny ring, but even then the loss of power is so small you'd barely notice it. This bike really blasts through technical singletrack, and flies on the hard-pack. The suspension works beautifully, although I have found I need to take a shock pump with me on the trail to re-inflate the 5th Element Air, which loses pressure somewhat quicker than I would like. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB., Canada
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | SportChek | | Strengths: | DW Link rear end combo'd with 5th Element air shock, and Skareb elite SPV, great geometry, cockpit and component groupo. Very fast, EXCELLENT climber! | | Weaknesses: | None yet, swapped saddle with WTB Lazer off old bike | | Similar Products Used: | '03 HP Expert, Giant NRS | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Time pedals and saddle mentioned above | | Bottom Line: | So far I'm extremely satisfied with this bike! The stock set-up is extraordinary for price paid. I've been able to climb trails that I couldn't do before and descend faster with confidence, thanks to the Hayes Nine brakes, also have increased average speed 1-2 kms/hour! The EA50 riser came 27" wide, bucked half inch off either side. LOVE how solid the rear end is when it needs to be, and it soaks up the bumps and small drops with no bottoming. I 6'1" and 190 lbs so cranked in the air volume on the fork and haven't bottomed it either.
This bike is great for the X-country racer and even more aggressive trail riders who are looking to get into a stable-platform bike for an incredible value.
So far I've got to give 5 flamin' chillis all-around, I will submit another review after a couple thousand k at the end of the season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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