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Submitted by
john b
a Downhiller
from england
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | rivington | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | strong as hell frame but still light. single pivot design makes servicing easy | | Weaknesses: | not very adjustable | | Bike Setup: | 150mm rear travel, 180mm white bros forks, hope m4 on bulb hubs, xt drivechain, mrp, lots of other nice touches | | Bottom Line: | this bike rules!!! strong to handle big drops and light enough to ride back up the hill. ideal for privateer racer with little service needed!! BRITISH MADE!!!! (cos were the best!!) nuff said | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl Baker
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle upon Tyne
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The roots at chopwell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1357.00 | | Purchased At: | Denton Cycles, Newcastle | | Strengths: | Handles perfectly, point where u want to go, easy to maintain with only 1 pivot, travel is plush soaks up all the hits, compresses very little under pedaling and has a nice high b/b height nice and light to so you can throw it around more, and it just looks great, love the monocoque look its reassuringly strong. | | Weaknesses: | hmmm, not really a weakness, mad sounds come from the frame when stones hit it, but once ur used to it and u know it aint mechanical u forget its there | | Similar Products Used: | Orange 222, Orange Ms Isle, Giant ATX 1 DH, | | Bike Setup: | Duel setup: medium (16) black 5 inch patriot, hope C2's, bomber drop offs, answer pro taper bars on a FUNN henchman stem, twentyfourseven 3 piece cranks and chainring on a slalom MRP chain device and DMR V12 pedals, XT pod, rear mech and cassette, D521's on hope sport hubs with Tioga 2.3 DH Tyres. | | Bottom Line: | Ive had this bike nearly a year now and its great, no heavy maintenance that u get with some multi linkage full sus. bikes, its strong, lite and smooth to ride, i got the 5 inch version cos it was all the travel i needed, no point getting more travel then u need 4 the uk, if i wanted 6 inches all u do is change the shock, if u want even more travel get the 222, its basically a patriot with 8 inches and adjustable geometry, i have a Ms Isle aswell and that handles great, the frames are super strong without the weight penalty, BUY BRITISH! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guy Harrington
a Downhiller
from Derbyshire, UK
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Avanlache cup course Morzine, les gets 2 , Tennis Court run......etc | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4100.00 | | Purchased At: | Stanley Fearns , Matlock | | Strengths: | FOR 2001 PATRIOT LONG TRAVEL
Strong, Fast, light, looks good. | | Weaknesses: | loads of people say noisy rear end but I just turned my shock other way up and it stopped. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Spooky Motorhead etc... | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Frame, Rockshox Psylo forks, Hope Pro discs, Mavic D321 Rims, Tioga 2.3's, 24/7 bars + stem, 24/7 Cranks, 24/7 C-ring, MRP Slalom Chain Device. SDG seat. Yeti Hardcore grips. Full XT. Basically a ideal UK bike. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the dogs nads. Its really nice to ride. Handles drops really well I have done 6' + on it and it has survived. Jumps well, Corners well. Does everything really well. But If you want more than 6" travel get the 222. If you need anymore info just Email me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keit wolff-moore
a Downhiller
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | as long as it goes down | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | bike scene,uk guisborough | | Weaknesses: | hey john sadler you are right about the pivots. just did a drop off, off a roof and some how both bolt´s de-threaded themselves and the clamps are kind of "bent". so I bent them back very carefully and put longer bolts in backwards and funky nuts from some old coda magic brakes on the front. that works weel until the bolts are "bent", takes about an hour of hard riding. so i called my faithfull people back in the north and the informed me to my dismay that a new swingarm would cost 600 quid! I paid 999. and no warranty. I am going to call orange myself in the morning and see if I can´t get a better price, but if they don´t budge I´ll have another nice garage decoration and me dad having a go at me at all the money I waste! It´s mine though. | | Bottom Line: | I really liked it for the time I had it, until now I though it was unbreakable. I really treated it well and did everything according to the book where as all my mates don´t give a s h i t and are still ridin´. Well I am going to go for a mountain cycles tremor now, and see how that does me. I thought of an Aeon Joker but it just doesn´t seem to fill me with confidence. C U | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a Downhiller
from notts
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light weight, corners & tracks well, jumps very well, good orange warranty. | | Weaknesses: | week shox mounts on from frame, but the newer models have the mount welded to a plate first. Not very progressive travle bottems out easy & fast (thats how i cracked my first frame). | | Bike Setup: | patriot, x-vertDC's, hopes, D321's, Azonic bars/stem, MRP | | Bottom Line: | A good short travel DH bike but there are issues
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a Downhiller
from ilkeston
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | light, can be riden very fast, corners & tracks very well, jumps very well. but there are some issues | | Weaknesses: | week shock mount on front frame, newer models have the shock mount welded to a seprate plate first. not very progresive travel. bottems out very easy | | Bike Setup: | Patriot, X-vertDC's, Hopes, 321's, Azonic bars/stem/, MRP, Raceface headset | | Bottom Line: | overall very good short travel DH bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonathan coats
a Downhiller
from inverness scotland
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | hamsterly forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | denton cycles newcastle | | Strengths: | very nice ride, looks trick, realy plush ride, yhe best bike i have owned as it fits my riding style perfect the head angle is just right and the top tube length is sorted really good for dh duall and jump good on pedally bits without too much bobing | | Weaknesses: | needs a life time warrenty as i have just deformed my head tube with my agressive riding style | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullet | | Bike Setup: | boxxers hope enduros double wide rims twentyfour 7 pedals mrp hope hubs azonic bars proshift meck gazzalodi tyers | | Bottom Line: | top notch bike i want a better warrenty incase i break it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alastair Campbell
a Weekend Warrior
from Belfast
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cave Hill (Belfast) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2450.00 | | Purchased At: | A bike shop in Belfast | | Strengths: | Feels solid.
Screams to go faster even when your pants cant hold any more...
Absolutely no flex at all, only up and down
Patriot XC will suit anyone who wants to ride to their trail--ride up it--and then thrash down it keeping up with the best of them | | Weaknesses: | The Patriot XC has crappy WTB wheels and spokes---change these straight away.
Not the best technical climber---but then it is originally a DH bike | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS, Scott Tacana--built for freeride | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Partiot XC--Factory spec except for new Rigida wheels with DT spokes. Psylo race, SID lockout on rear, XT, Race Face, Hope Mini, Conti Explorers | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic!
A definate winner for an enduro bike. What it may loose on steep technical climbs it more that rewards on the downs--ooh baby!
Weight is good for the size of it but it feels as solid as hell and really does want you to keep going faster. Big bumps, wee bumps, the patriot loves them all and the downs that used to paralyse mt on my previous hardtails are not even noticed now.
As my first full bounce bike I am more than impressed and the SID lockout rear is v. nice on the roads and even on the odd climb--it's not needed only I was feeling rich the day I ordered the bike.
GO ON GET ONE--but change the wheels quick they ar poo--I bust two spokes on two different occassions doing a mainly XC run!
It may seem expensive but for a handbuilt frame you can see and feel the quality.
P.S. Orange do custom colours and black is better than that undercoat grey finish that is the standard colour.
I LOVE MY BIKE
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keit wolff-moore
a Downhiller
from serra d´estrella
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | serra d´estrella | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | bike scene,uk guisborough | | Strengths: | it´s light, strong and I love it in orange. U can flick on to any line. The rear does what u expect it to do, so no nasty surprises. Low maintenance just two bearings! Hell even my mom likes it and that is good! | | Weaknesses: | Yeah with dual crowns the turning radious is f$#*@d! U can hardly carry it. Each little pebble that hits creates a new chime. The swing arm flexes quite a lot so the rear brake pads wear in all sorts of silly ways. Oh and uphill in mud such as in the good old UK is pure punishment! Uphill isn´t my thing anyway! | | Similar Products Used: | intense, ellsworth, sintesi, santa cruz bullit and super 8, trek vrx, marin, pace, schwinn, and I still want a go on a brooklynmachineworks tmx | | Bike Setup: | Z1 MCR 20mm, Taperlites, Hope C2s and Hubs (bulbs) Mavic D321, Nokian Gazza´s fr. and Fat Hakka r. XTR and Xt gears balhh blahh.... | | Bottom Line: | It´s great for doing almost anything yet it doesn´t excell in any specific area. It is too heavy for cross country and after 80 km/h it becomes really unstable even with more travel up front. I love it though it´s the bike I always wanted ´cause it just doesn´t break. Though when the money´s there I would be tempted by a TMX or Ellsworth Dare. But if anyone asks if they should get one, I´d be saying "don´t ask, buy" and you´ll know why within a week.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Slim AKA: Stavros
a Weekend Warrior
from Notts
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wharncliff | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | It wasn't mine | | Strengths: | Very plush, Very nippy, chuckable bike | | Weaknesses: | Didn't ride it long enough to tell..... | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, San Andreas, Stab dee-lux. | | Bike Setup: | Various, I've test ridden 3 | | Bottom Line: | Just like a bullit really, nice 6" plush arse, with a frame capable of running anything form Z1's to Boxxers.
Good weight, makes for a very good trail/UK DH bike. Bugger it, I bet its bloody good on any DH course.
It must be good, I saw at least 10 of the little blighters last Sunday at Wharncliff.......can all these riders be wrong? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ALLAN DOYLE
a Downhiller
from E K SCOTLAND
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | INNERLIETHEN | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | SECOND HAND | | Strengths: | STIFF AS A BOARD AND ACTIVE JUST ABOUT ALL THE TIME,LIGHT BUT STRONG AND FAST AS FECK!. BUY BRITISH!!!!!!!!
| | Weaknesses: | MAKES WEIRD ECHOING NOISES | | Similar Products Used: | BULLIT,(SAME SINGLE MID PIVOT DESIGN) BUT IT WAS TO LIGHT AND SKITTERY & DIDNT STEER OR TRACK HALF AS WELL (CRAP!) | | Bike Setup: | HOPE DH4,7"BOXXERS,AZONIC BARS,STEM,SEAT,ETC,BULBS,FOX SHOCK
MICH COMP 16,TITEC ETC ETC. | | Bottom Line: | CHAMPION!, FAST AS SH**T OFF A HOT CHROME SHOVEL!COULD I FIND A BETTER BIKE FOR THE MONEY < I DONT THINK SO.
OK SO ITS NOT A STRAIGHT EIGHT BUT ITS YOUR ALL TIME BEST UK BIKE TO DATE, 2 WEEKS IN MORZINE IN JULY WILL TEST IT OUT AND ILL WRITE AGAIN. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Essex UK
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | use it for trials..honest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | stif | | Strengths: | works well for uk d/h, jumping and was great in morzine and les gets | | Weaknesses: | sodding manitou xverts! | | Bike Setup: | risse trixxes, 24/7 cranks --all thats really needed to be changed (except bars, stem etc.) | | Bottom Line: | it holds together well. it feels more solid than most full sussers, and can (with difficulty) be ridden on long distance xc and roads. the only thing that lets my bike down at the moment is the forks, which are like rigids over small bumps, and wayy too soft for jumping | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roy Stewart
a Downhiller
from Cleveland, England
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Carlton Bank | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2750.00 | | Purchased At: | Maclaines Cycles Worcester | | Strengths: | Looks and feels really strong so gives you the confidence to do anything. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS, Kona Stinky Deelux | | Bike Setup: | Psylo XCs, Hope Enduro 4's etc | | Bottom Line: | Having only ridden the bike round towns (due to the foot and mouth thing happening over here) it is fantastic and beats the hell out my old hardtail. Feels solid and it made me a better rider first time out, those steps suddenly seemed no problem at all made me wonder what all my fussing about had been for. I used to work in a bike shop and never before have I seen something this beutiful made of metal for this price. Buy one now if you can, if not dream about one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CRAIG (REDNECK) B
a Weekend Warrior
from WILD WEST BOURNEMOUTH
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | CYCLE PATHS | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | MAIL ORDER | | Strengths: | STRONG FRAME AND PRETTY GOOD COMPONENTS AS STANDARD,MAKES ME LOOK SEMI PROFESSIONAL! | | Weaknesses: | PIVOT BEARINGS,PERHAPS DUE TO ME GETTING TO EXCITED WITH THE NOVELTY OF FULL SUSPENSION AND CONTINOUSLY BOUNCING AROUND LIKE A DEMENTED POGO STICK | | Similar Products Used: | MY BELOVED VICARS BIKE/APOLLO GURU/AND SOME EMMELLE'S(VICARS BIKE AND EMMELLE'S,TOP NOTCH KIT!!!!) | | Bike Setup: | 1INCH TRAVEL, OOPS SORRY 6 OR SO INCH TRAVEL BOXERS AND TIOGA REMOULDS+ HOPE DISC BRAKE FROM LADA RIVA | | Bottom Line: | GOOD BIKE,THAT LOOKS GOOD WHEN PUSHING AROUND OR CLEANING IT (MORE TURTLE WAX PLEASE) HANDLES WELL BUT STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE OUTDATED COMPARED TO MORE MODERN BIKES AVAILABLE/TOMAC,SANTA CRUZ,222,APOLLO | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Downhiller
from oxford
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Strengths: | this bike is so light even with a full on dh build(well nearly),i still use it for jumping when all my mates use hardtails. | | Weaknesses: | the noisy back end,but that doesnt matter as the bike is so good anyway | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullit | | Bike Setup: | y2k Mr t's,hope DH 4's,rs 7 dh cranks,mrp world cup 1,d 521 cds,kore b-52,azonic pdw,giro saddle,xt throughout,titec post. | | Bottom Line: | this IS the ultimate uk dh bike and i would highly recommend it to any1 who cannot afford 2 run 2 bikes as one of the best all round bikes u will ever ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Stabler
a Downhiller
from the north of England
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | animal trails, they`re amazing!! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Ryan Out Cycles | | Strengths: | This bike is the best that I have ever had. It`s really strong and is sooo nice to ride......unt. I have been doing 15 foot drops on it and 20 foot doubles (which I occasionally mess up) and it has survived for just aver 3 years......nint!! | | Weaknesses: | It`s pretty heavy but and the pivot is not that strong, but I havent broken it yet!.....unt,nint. | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky, orange sub-zero. | | Bike Setup: | monster T`s, hope DH 4pot discs, x-lite rims,tioga,lots of xtr etc............................................................nint,........................................unt!!! | | Bottom Line: | This is a really great DH bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CRAIG BOYNS
a Downhiller
from BOURNEMOUTH DORSET ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | THE ANIMAL JUMP SITE | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | HALIFAX FACTORY | | Strengths: | A STRONG VERY LIGHT (compaired to some of the other downhillbikes) FAST AND STABLE AT SPEEDS, JUMPS LOVLY, VERY MANUVERABLE IN THE AIR, ALSO VERY QUICK OF THE MARK,AND SPRINTS EXSTREAMLY WELL, NO NEED TO SLOW DOWN MUCH FOR CORNERS. | | Weaknesses: | IT'S A REAL BUGGER TO CARRY | | Similar Products Used: | A NUMBER OF KONA'S (only good when you get them rolling fast and that seems to take fore ever) MARIN B17(snapped two jumps in to a ritherm section, need i say more). | | Bike Setup: | PRO SET UP WITH BOXXER 151'S, XT THROUGH-OUT DMR SPEED GLIDE CHAIN DEVICE, V12'S, TIOGA FAT66 2.3'S ON D521'S ON BULBS WITH HOPE DH4'S ORIGANAL SHORT CNC'D STEM WITH SUPERCROSS BARS. | | Bottom Line: | I'V HAD THE BIKE SINCE THEY FIRST COME OUT, YES I'V HAD TO CHANGE THE PIVOT BEARINGS A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT NOT AS MUCH AS ON OTHER BIKES, IT'S EXTREAMLY STRONG I'V HAD SOME VERY BIG IMPACTS ON IT WITH OUT A PROBLEM. AND BEING AN EX-MOTOCROSS RACER I KNOW HOW TO GIVE IT SH*T. IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST BIKES I'V EVER RIDDEN SO GO AND GET ONE NOW IF YOU LIKE TO RIDE SOFT-TAILS HARD!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Patel
a Weekend Warrior
from Chigwell,Essex, England
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Claybury wood | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Heales cycles | | Strengths: | Looks amazing, handles like a dream,light yet overbuilt. The box section looks like it can handle anything.
You can also get it painted in ANY colour you want (I did!). Just ask your dealer nicely. | | Weaknesses: | Could do with Marzocchis instead of Manitou's (just a personal preference). Hope disks take damn long to bed in (Hope's fault rather then Orange's) | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Hope C2's. Pro transmission (XT) | | Bottom Line: | Great alrounder; capable for XC use but can handle DH, jumping and duel. Made in Britain, designed for Britain, mud and all! Buy one, even if you can't afford it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Kent
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Les Gets super Morzine(?) run | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Great ride handles well over all terrain, floats over the rough stuff. Very well balances in the air. | | Weaknesses: | Have broken two rear stays and one front triangle and been through 4 sets of bearings. The pivot point is simply not strong enough. Also dont try and fit 3 peice cranks and a roox rollercoaster, its not fun. | | Similar Products Used: | AXT 990 (also broken), AXT1, Rocket, Specalized FSR DH Pro. | | Bike Setup: | MR T's on the front, Hope Sport disks all round, Mavic 521 Disks, Tioga 2.3 rear 2.1 front, 24seven cranks | | Bottom Line: | Great bike just not strong enough to be abused for full time downhill racing and jumping. Mabey Im just a heavy rider! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Pope
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | delamere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | super plush | | Weaknesses: | steering lock noisy frame over the rocks but that is just nic picking | | Similar Products Used: | to many to list | | Bike Setup: | patriot LT x vert dc hope disks xt kit t.h.e fender blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | after testing this bike 2 months ago i decided i had to have one and since buying it i have had no problems. It is very plush and grips the trail like an f1 car on silverstone. The only gripe i have is with steering lock the only way you can sort this out is with a pair of monster ts | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Nelson
a Downhiller
from Northern Ireland
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tullymore 8 minute DH | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Frame virtually unbreakable(same front triangle as missle), super plush if you get the LT version with the vanilla RC, handles perfectly for UK trails, very good technical bike, lets you ride over anything and is actually very light even though it looks heavy (34lbs full bike.) | | Weaknesses: | Nothing really except maybe not much turning radius but you dont even notice that any way so who cares. | | Similar Products Used: | Saracen Addiction, GT Lobo, FSR, Kona Stab Dee Lux, Sunn Radical Plus. | | Bike Setup: | Manitou X Vert DC's, Hope Brakes, XT, Kore, 14in frame. | | Bottom Line: | If you live in the UK then this bike is perfect it amazes me more every time I push it hard as I have yet to push it past its limits and with my old full sus it done nothing but get pushed over its limits. Also if you like jumping this is a great jumping bike and is real easy to manovure in the air. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Pope
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | All that go down | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Looks amazing, well built | | Weaknesses: | non yet | | Similar Products Used: | DH LOBO, I Drive dh, Marin b17 | | Bike Setup: | Full on downhill 6" travel hope disks single chainring 3" tires | | Bottom Line: | This bike was made for british downhills, and as far as i can tell orange have pulled it off. With this setup the bike dragged a bit with the tires. And it bobbed more than any full suss I have ridden but it was setup for a lighter rider and the spring was too soft, but I was unable to bottom the rear out. I think this bike will win many allies with people who need a bike for dual downhill and a play in the woods. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Sheffield
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Devils Drop | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | Bearings, overpriced, heavy and bobs. | | Similar Products Used: | B17 | | Bike Setup: | 6'rear travel, monster t's, hopes, XT group set. | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden my mates b17 (Y2K) model and it is much better. Please don't write off the b17 because of its low price. You can use your spare cash to upgrade it and you will have a much better bike! I am selling my Patriot to buy a B17. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RIC BARKER
a Downhiller
from MACCLESFIELD, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | LUDLOW | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | LIGHT, STRONG, BUILD QUALITY | | Weaknesses: | NONE YET | | Similar Products Used: | SINTESSI BAZOOKA, SPOOKY METALHEAD | | Bike Setup: | MONSTER T'S, HOPE'S, DMR, AZONIC, 24/7 | | Bottom Line: | FAST, FAST, FAST. BLITZES EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH ONCE UP TO SPEED. BUY ONE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Rhodes
a Cross Country Rider
from Bexleyheath,London
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | old coach road north of Keswick, Cumbria | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Strong,Durable,Well built, True quality bike | | Weaknesses: | Hard to carry | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale super v2000, orange sub5 | | Bottom Line: | excellent bike thrill to ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Clarke
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, UK
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | A big, long, dry, rough, downhill one | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Stiffness
Strength
Looks
Build quality
simplicity
All round suitabillity | | Weaknesses: | Not the easiest bike to carry....
| | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | Manitou X vert Rs, Magura Gustav front disk, HS22 rear, XT gears, A wide selection of tyres, and some other bits | | Bottom Line: | Not exactly a long term test but so far its been jumped fairly hard (and crashed very hard!) with no ill effects.
Its a really natural bike to ride - no odd handling charateristics or other such foibles. Dispite its lardiness (Not too bad really) it rides really well - I've done 2 long rides on it so far, one through really heavy snow and it was fine - no pogoing, and you really dont notice a couple of extra ponds when riding along. Compared to the S.C. its much stiffer giving excellent confidence 'round berms and over the rough stuff. Its dead nimble - you really can chuck it around with toal confidence. The back end is super smooth (I've got the 5" version cos I'm tight) - the leverage ratio seems to suit the fox shock better than on the Heckler - the rebound damping adjust ment goes all the way from pogo stick to lock out wheras the Heckler allways seemd a tad over damped.
The strength of the frame gives you huge confidence over silly jumps etc. it just isn't going to break! Big bikes rule!!
This year should see my Patriot getting ridden over the toughest trails Scotland has to offer and I'm sure it'll cope fine - Overcome your weight predudices and buy one!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hamsterly Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | plush, flex free travel for a decent price | | Weaknesses: | non so far, maybee a water bottle mount would be nice.... | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS 2 , Marin B17, Giant ATX 1, Kona Stab | | Bike Setup: | Stratos MX6 forx, fox RC shock, Hope O2s, Deore stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Nice bike for a good price. Get the 6 inch shock version with disks if you can afford it as it is major plush. Light enough for BSX and nocking around the woods, but stiff and strong enough for UK DH.
Oh dont get the LT version Orange offer, get a build up on the cheaper Deore spec bike, but pay the £80 for the longer travel, and invest in Hopes. Sling on a pair of MX6s (which are so much better than the Manitous) and you will be able to get if for under £2K (if ya shop around). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben F
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
knicker trail | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Bomb proof frame with 5 rear travel (upgradeable to 6) and looks like the dogs danglies. | | Weaknesses: |
36lb (OK my old bike is a light Kona kilauea) | | Similar Products Used: |
Kona Stab-Delux, stinky, Marin B17 and others; all briefly | | Bike Setup: |
From the stock LX/XT equiped bike I've added Z1 bombers to the front and a Hope Disc. And dumped the richey pedals for flaties | | Bottom Line: | I've spent the last 9 years doing the XC thing, and I thought it about time I gave this DH style bike a proper go. Any one will be amazed at how a decent full sus bike makes DHing so easy.
But what impressed me is that the Patriot is a good all rounder (I've even done an XC race on it). This seems to be because Orange designed the bike with British DHs in mind where there is a fair amount of sprinting. The bike is well speced through out and rides like a dream. | | Overall Rating: |
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