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Submitted by
TIGER
a Downhiller
from ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | love um all on a good day | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | awsome tool, does it all well and more, got the 05 frame in black. The bike's more capable than me to be honest. feels better than my 06 norco, fast. | | Weaknesses: | weak shock works ok. to much to play with so hard to set up. | | Similar Products Used: | NORCO / STAB / SCOTT / | | Bike Setup: | CUSTOM BUILD. 888'S UP FRONT, HOPE HUBS, MTX RIMS, 2.5DH KENDA'S, SRAM GEARS, TRIVUTIV HUSS ECT, MAGURA STOPERS. | | Bottom Line: | TOP BIT OF KIT | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nicolas Wood
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mark 2 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | frikin awesome bike, best handeling and shock absorption i have ever had, great for learning how to ride as it bassicly rides the trails all on its own. amazing bike, giant is my hero | | Weaknesses: | ......weakness?? dosnt seem to apear in this bikes vocab | | Similar Products Used: | norco,giant stp 2,spcialized hardrock, ironhorse yakuza chimpira,ironhorse yukza kumicho | | Bike Setup: | absolutely stock | | Bottom Line: | great...if u got the cash to get one brand new then go for it but u can usually get it cheap off of ebay like i did | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Lopez
a Downhiller
from Phoenix AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | any one I can find. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Completely insane! | | Weaknesses: | None... | | Similar Products Used: | Foes, Norco..bla bla bla | | Bike Setup: | Fox 40, manitou 6 way, hayes.., atom lab, bla bla bla. | | Bottom Line: | I can't even begin to describe how great this bike is, its by far superior to even the most up to date bike for 06. It is a legond...plain and simple.. the best DH bike I have ever riden...PERIOD!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
i r
a Cross Country Rider
from pro
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | the wheels are quite robust | | Weaknesses: | the frame is rather weak cracked in several places during my xc ride, also i found that the Gaint Faith 1 rides so much better. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Faith 1 | | Bike Setup: | Custom dh rig for racing dh. | | Bottom Line: | The Giant Faith 1 is a much better option due to its maestro suspension. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John D
a Downhiller
from Enumclaw, WA, US
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Kirby's Deathbed | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Pinkbike | | Strengths: | Super plush in the back, sprints like a bat out of hell, sharp handling, very predictable in the air, great downhill bike | | Weaknesses: | Shock adjustment is a pain to get to but after it's dailed in it's good | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Demo 9 and BigHit, Brodie demon, Cove Peeler | | Bike Setup: | 05 DC Shivers,Raceface Diabolus Cranks, MRP chain guide, Sun Ringles Doublewide rims, Manitou 6-way swinger | | Bottom Line: | overall it's a great bike meant for going downhill fast, and thats about it. it's super plush, super smooth, has laser sharp handling, sprints very well for a bike with this much travel, and feels very predictable in the air. don't get it for a freeride bike cos you'll be disapointed with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keefe Carvelli
a Racer
from Aspen Co
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | bonzai dh | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | My aunt has links to Giant pro team so she got this bike and sold it to me for CHEAP | | Strengths: | very plush soaks up bumps like nothing great for dh a great race machine, like a big bro to the dh comp which is rated a great dh racer. sprints like crazy, drops are smooth, doesnt bottom out easily just a great bike i would suggest buying it for anyone that is into dh racing from beginners to the pros. | | Weaknesses: | the shock is a pain in the but to get to but who caes, the pros use it. Also, you can get the external thingey now that extends onto the frame. | | Similar Products Used: | i had a haro dh bike but not quite as good. | | Bike Setup: | dorado,manitou swinger 6-way shock, singletrack rims, minion tires,hayes brakes mrp chinguide. | | Bottom Line: | great DH racer bike, buy it if you are into downhilling, racing or riding for fun. If you dont downhill, dont get it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Masters
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay City Michigan USA!!
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Marquette Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | From a friend | | Strengths: | Big burly frame perfect for DH and freeriding, Nice clearcoat, and paint scheme,Great Ringle hubs | | Weaknesses: | Accessibility of being able to make adjustments to the shock..but WTF who cares..It's a pro-race DH bike?
Don't buy this bike if you are one of them XC weight weenies! I switched the original GiantPOS chainguide out for an E-13 38 tooth set-up, because it didn't justify bashing into concrete,rocks and other objects and had poor chainline compared to an E-13 | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic DS-1 Azonic Saber | | Bike Setup: | 04 super t pro fork. singletrack wheels. maxxis minions. full race face Diabolus components and Azonic parts, avid 203mm mechs. estimated around 48-50 pounds | | Bottom Line: | If you are into serious freeride and downhill, buy this bike, it will own your ass.!!! I did a 13 foot drop onto a sweet tranny with the swinger ran soft as possible with the resistance knob all the way out..and it still never bottomed out.
The shock can be a pain in the neck to get at..but all you have to do is take out both bolts that mount through the shock eyelets..let the swingarm drop all the way down..and pull it out carefully as not to scratch the sh#T out of the reservoir..then their ya go.! download the manual from Answer/Manitou's website and set it up according to your riding style and weight..and this bike will pedal almost as good as a hardtail on steroids, with the ability to take ' Josh Bender Size'drops 8-)
ohh and be sure to Keep all the bolts that are in the linkage, with lots of loctite. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Broz
a Downhiller
from Perth, WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Welli Mill's | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Second Hand Over Net | | Strengths: | Sucks onto berms like a plunger on a sink | | Weaknesses: | Requires a Hi-Ab crane to lift it onto the back of a ute | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC | | Bike Setup: | 01 Boxxers
02 Rock Shox Pro-Delux
Mavic 321
Michelin DH Comp (Front 2.5" and Rear 2.2")
02 Shimano 4 Pot Caliper Brakes with 8" rotors | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike as just a frame with the intention of building a pure DH race rig. Coming from a FreeRide back ground my first impression was that this wasn't the type of rig that could be easily thrown around. This original perception I had was met once I had assembled the bike and taken it for its first ride (up and down the street). Bunny hops and Mono’s were hard work. I feel that this was a combination of a tall gear set (44T Raceface up front and 9 speed Shimano XT cluster out back) and a heavy front rim and fork setup.
When the real test came the next day on one of my favourite trails I was pleasantly surprised. Although being a bit on the fat side once the DH Team got up to speed it really began to show its potential, through its ability to suck up hits and track really nicely through berms. The control of this bike was incredible its stability through technical sections and its forgivingness were unsurpassed by anything I had ridden before. In sections where my AC would skip the DH Team maintained full wheel to ground contact and traction. I felt that on this ride the limits of the DH Team were never met, or were they insight. I feel that once my abilities improve at high speed on this bike I should be able to comfortably throw this it around like the AC.
I don’t think this rig would be suitable for North Shore rides or mucking about on the weekend with the boys, but in saying this if you want a cheap entry level DH to get into racing this could be your bike…
Big thumbs up!!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | PORC | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Corners really well because of low centre of gravity.Manitou Dorado's rides like a dream. No suspension bob and sprints like a hardtail. Simplely the best downhill bike I have ever ridden. Buy it!!!. | | Weaknesses: | The rear shock is a pain to get to, but who cares it's a professional Downhill bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Bighit DH | | Bike Setup: | Complete stock | | Bottom Line: |
This bike has given me so much confidence over the bighit and made me faster at races. I did 11ft pancake landing and didn't even bottom out. The frame is bombproof and I am really please with it.It's worth five flammim chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Everett, WA
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Center | | Strengths: | Bike rides like a rocket, super quick and responsive. Comes ready to go besides the break in period for the Dorado. | | Weaknesses: | The rear shock is hard to get to for adjustmens but its a downhill bike. Chain guide is loud will most likely change out. | | Similar Products Used: | Rotec DH pro and Kona | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Built to race and owns the trail. Corners on rails and jumps really good. The bike demands to be pushed further it will be a long time before I tap the potential of the bike. Looking forward to racing the bike after the 4 DH runs on the bike. :-)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bevan
a Downhiller
from South Australia
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | local store | | Strengths: | SOlid as a house, Manitou dorado forks and swinger rear shock, Vet spec, ultra adjustable, killer good looks | | Weaknesses: | Set up and bed-in time, shock accessability | | Similar Products Used: | Craftyfarter DH205, Friends GT Idrive DH race, Specialized big hit, santa cruz super 8 | | Bike Setup: | Titec, Maxis super tacky, manitou, hayes mag, ringle hubs, mavic 321s, easton flatboys | | Bottom Line: | After one run I felt faster and smoother with less pedalling effort than ever before - I cant wait untill the bike is bedded in and set up properly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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