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Submitted by
Rodney
a Cross Country Rider
from The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | Frame geometry and suspension system, good Cane Creek shock | | Weaknesses: | Very poor Bontrager Race hubs. Bar way too wide for cross-country purposes, cut off 2cm from 62 to 60cm. Stock Bontrager tires are allright for me. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Big Sur | | Bike Setup: | L-size, SID XC, Selle Italia Flite, BBB bar ends, Schwalbe Hurricane GX Light semi-slick on the rear | | Bottom Line: | Great value. Needs better hubs. Dialin more towards cross-country. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Light, fast and smooth
Climbs great | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for SID up front and Time ATAC pedals | | Bottom Line: | This is a great XC bike. Going from a rigid frame/fork, I have instantly become a better rider. I am much quicker and comfortable going up and incredibly faster going down. I have experienced a bit of chain suck but found the way to minimize it is to not have so much torque on the crank when you're shifting. If you anticipate your shifts, you won't have any problems. I bought mine used from ebay and got a good deal. It was in almost new condition. I've avereraged 3-4 rides per week and haven't found any other problems. I haven't had any huge hits, but it's taken what I've thrown at is so far. I'm starting to see the 2000's come up on ebay pretty regularly for some pretty good prices. You could definitely race one of these things right out of the box. I highly recommend one | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Racer
from Lake Oswego, Oregon
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery | | Strengths: | This bike's long top tube "genesis" geometry and full suspension transformed me from a guy who used to lose lots of time on downhill sections of XC races, to someone who can now zorch past others. (In my first race on it I won...case closed a far as I was concerned) I'd say that my downhilling has improved at 100%! My concern was that rear suspension would compromise my uphill riding. No problems there! I can still climb like a mountain goat with no loss of tracking.Indeed, on cobbly rocky uphill climbs the rear tire gets back down into contact with the ground and provides traction faster than a hardtail's rear end. The ride is plush for an ex-hardtailer. SID-XC shocks have been maintenance free for over 18 months as has the cane creek rear shock. Great avid brakes. Light at 25.6 pounds w/ everything on. Great handling on single track. | | Weaknesses: | Stock tires are useless in the northwest. Took a week to dial in front deraileur. Some salesmen at other stores warned of limited clearance between rear tire and frame but I have raced and trained in extremely muddy conditions with no problems. I was sommewhat discouraged at first by the thought of LX components on an $1850 bike, but in actual use they have held up and performed extremely well. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky mountain element
KHS pro comp hardtail | | Bike Setup: | Panaracer smoke/dart combo, 747's, all other stock items are fine | | Bottom Line: | I was narrowing my bike choices down to the Sugar or the Specialized PRO FSR-XC. Bike Gallery gave me a weekend demo on a sugar. I rode every technical dropoff and climb I knew in two days. I was sold! Obviously this is not a freeride or DH bike, but for XC racing, the 2.5 inch travel Cane Creek rear shock is all you need. Any more travel and you are packing extra weight and/or going to lose on the climbs.I recommended this bike to all my friends and two have bought them and rave about them to this day. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
THE BRI-GUY
a Weekend Warrior
from Hill Spring AB CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | SLICKROCK@MOAB | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | copeland sports | | Strengths: | light weight, cane creek, time pedals, genious geometry | | Weaknesses: | the soft "nad pad" on the seat came all undone. It might not be poor quality, but rather my own manhood | | Similar Products Used: | GT I drive, cannondale jekyll | | Bike Setup: | all stock,with somestubby bar ends. A new seat, and some tires will be the next upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | Riding this bike is like driving a race car. It's so fast and it handles like a champ. Not only does it go fast and handle great but it can climb anything like a mountain goat.
The sugar is the best all around bike out there! it climbs better than my hardtail, It desends perfectly. Because of the light weight its fast in the flats and the slight grades.
I feel safe and compfortable on the suger, I'm like a super hero that can do anything. The design is awesome, I never seem to crash on this bike. I'm no longer a regular at the ER.
I like the tires on hard pack surfaces, however most of the trails I ride are not hard packed. Therefore; the tire got ot go.
I love the time pedals, they are the best mtb pedals I have ever used. The little bit of extra float has saved my bad knees from further destuction.
The sid xc has been a great fork for me. I have heard allot of complaints about the sid, but my experience has been nothing but good. Maintnence has been minimal and It functions just fine. I have really beat the crap out of the sid and so far it has taken the punishment with a smile.
The sugar has made me into a better rider. I always look forward to getting on it and going crazy. It's no wonder why the Fisher xc team visit the podium so consistently on the sugar bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Casey Nak
a Cross Country Rider
from Cupertino
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any trail at Skeggs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Pacific Bicycles | | Strengths: | RaceLite rims, Manitou Mars Super fork, Ride quality for the minimalist enough travel for cross-country racing. Great WTB Saddle. Fairly light for a full suspension bike 25 lbs. | | Weaknesses: | I don't know yet haven't riden it long enough. 20 cm more travel on the front shock would be nice. This is just being nit picky, but please a LX Cassette! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler & Gary Fisher Y bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike out of the box. Climbs like a hard tail on steriods. Rides easy and easy on the body. I can easily ride 20 miles on the trail and not be as sore as riding my hard tail Just happens to a Stumpjumper w/4.5" travel forks. A couple of things that can be upgrades would be the rear cassette ( LX weak! ) to a XT or XTR. Cranks ; even though these are great cranks. There are others out there that are lighter. The last would be the Pedals. Maybe to 747's.
This Bike would be for someone looking to get a bike for all around riding. I would would even say with a few tweeks you'll be able to race this bike.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Swami
a Racer
from boise
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fast Guy to Corralls to Bobs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | World Cycle | | Strengths: | Frame Geometry and componant package. The "No Bob" front fork provides amazing climbing power. The rear suspension is tight and does not bob on hard climbs. | | Weaknesses: | Cables | | Similar Products Used: | Full Suspension bikes with similar suspension set ups, but with slightly different frame styles: Rocky Mountain, Santa Cruz, Treck, etc... | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Sugar 2: Large Frame/ XT Brakes/ XTR derailers/ Bontrager race cranks and hubs. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is built for the racer. You must be an advanced rider to understand how the design variables promote control on pro-level trails. For the price, the package is solid. XT/XTR/Bontrager upgrades are extras on other lines of similar price. The Sugar 1 is a bit excessive, but worth it, if you feel you can benefit from the extras. Sugar 1 and 2 have the same frame, the componant differences are a matter of choice and green. Genisis geometry ushers in the future, and total control brings the rider to an unexpected level of performance. Sugars dominate in the local race series. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Kranepool
a Cross Country Rider
from Melfort, SK, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | The rocks at Flin Flon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | store in Flin Flon, Manitoba | | Strengths: | Comes with tremendous components built for riding, not show (do you hear my Cannondale!). Atomic proof frame geometry. Super comfortable - 8 hour trips are no big deal and I can climb steeper hills with better technique due to the angles on this bike. | | Weaknesses: | Small gap between rear wheel and frame can clog with mud. This is a weakness of all bikes except custom made mudders. | | Similar Products Used: | Hard Tails (owned and ridden): Giant, GT, Cannondale, Kona, 1990 Fisher.
Full: Raven Cannondale (hated it - not a serious bike), GT, Schwinn, Fisher. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. I'm 6'1" and got the large and have been riding it out of the crate with no component upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | Hard tail vs. full? I like the Sugar 2 because I get probably the best full without the uphill bob. I've ridden this in 4 provinces and 12 US states and the only complaint I have is that the tires it came with are no match for Texas thorns. No bike is best for all riders due to geometry, but the Sugar is a near perfect riding machine with no weak components. You actually get $1600US value for your money. From babyhead rocks in New England to knife sharp rocks in Texas to hard pack dirt of Minnesota to the boulders of Manitoba and Saskachewan, this bike has helped me become the best rider in Melfort! I love the Time pedals and all the Bontrager stuff. I didn't have to upgrade anything. My friend, Allan, rides a 2000 GT, but he's trying to sell it on eBay to buy a new Sugar2. BTW, I couldn't justify the Sugar1 and the Sugar 3 would need some comp upgrades. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NORTHEASTRIDER
a Racer
from SCRANTON,PA
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | NORTHEASTPA STUFF | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | LOCAL BIKESHOP | | Strengths: | THE WEIGHT WASN'T BAD | | Weaknesses: | HMMM, THE WHOLE BIKE DESIGN | | Similar Products Used: | GT HARDTAILS | | Bottom Line: | Well after riding GT's my whole life i too got snagged into the Gary Fisher cult. I thought, hey lots of ppl are talking great things about this bike,,,,but the bottom line is that Gary Fisher could put his name on a moped and the things will sell. After riding this thing i thought , ok, this is alright, it feels like my hardtail but thats ok....then i rode a GT hcr le.....a real full suspension bike,,,,,wow! It did everything the sugar did plus some and it was way more comfortable so I used to ride longer.
I traded my sugar in and bought the GT hcr le...and i never looked back......to all you ppl on the bubble, test drive different bikes before you buy,,,and never let a person who rides a sugar talk you into it like I did. If you like the sugar then buy it,,but get some real comparisons in first because Fisher buyers are cult like and will never be able to be honest. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris king (not THAT one)
a Weekend Warrior
from dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | just moved here | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1285.00 | | Purchased At: | ski & skate or something | | Strengths: | just bought it today. very quick and responsive. feels lighter than it is. "firm flex" comes to mind. | | Weaknesses: | not aware of any yet, except no seat stem Q.R......if any, maybe just the tradeoff of not having big time plushness & a tad less travel. but that's not a "weakness" per se. yooze can't have it all.
p.s. bike came w/VelociRaptors :) | | Similar Products Used: | tried 2000 SCR 3000 and had one on hold. plusher, a bit heavier but still nice. lime green and white--kewl bike. also rode 2000 rocket 88. didn't feel that lively to me. | | Bike Setup: | stock w/kool stop brakes. | | Bottom Line: | i am out riding this !@#%%&*!! at 4:30 a.m. and stopped at kinko's to give a shout. that sez it all, folks. i ride several times a week, play tennis and rollerblade. i get low to moderate air. i like a good technical woods ride as much as tight hardpack trails w/jumps and city bashing.
last bike: '92 rockhopper rigid.
BTW, it is a 2001 but there's no section for that yet. price did NOT include tax. will report back after i have it on the trails.
--ck
5 chiles all 'round. i can tell this bike will LOVE all trails except radical downhills--which i'm not really about, anyway. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburg,KS,US
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Adventurs | | Strengths: | I only bought the frame so...
Light (my previous hardtail barely weighed less.) No rear triangle flex. No pedal induced bob. Lots of adjustibility on the shock. Great geometry. | | Weaknesses: | Ha, your'e joking, right? | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS, GT I-drive, Schwinn S-10, Schwinn Rocket 88 | | Bike Setup: | Frame. | | Bottom Line: | There is no pedal bob or stay-flex. It's light. Perfect geometry. What more could you ask for in a bike? Great bike for anyon who likes to ride comfortably. Bad ride for people who are still stuck in the 90's and think hardtails are best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Nashua, NH - USA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Guerrilla Loop / Beaver Brook Trainer | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Light frame compared to current ride, great hanling and tossability, great non-disc brakes, good shifting, overall very comfortable bike to go FAST on! | | Weaknesses: | No disc brake or as an option | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback DBR X-6 (current ride), Giant Xtc DS-1 & DS-2 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Compared to the DBR, this bike just rocks. I loved the handling, low weight (my DBR is 35 lbs), to comfort and control I felt on the bike on my favorite trials. The bike allowed my to tackle familar terrian faster than the DBR. I made it up hills that I would have to bail or struggle to get up with in the DBR. I tested the Giant Xtc in both flavors as a comparison and they had too much suspension bob. I'm looking to buy the 2001 Sugar 3 Disc, the Xtc DS-1 had Hayes hydralic dics and I fell in love with them. Some people complained about the tires on this bike, but I found they stuck no matter were I put them. For the terrian and trails here in New England, this is the bike to have under you. Yes it will be more comfortable with more travel, but it will also cost you in weight and/or price. For racing, I feel this is the "secret weapon" for me to have a more successful second year racing. For the value vs. price, I gave it the five flamming chilli's because I have looked and noone else has a set up this sweet. Since this bike is great to ride fast on single track, across roots, on fire roads, it gets another five chilli's. Go to your local bike shop and check it out. See you on the trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashburn, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | Tight, smooth, light, plenty of adjustments on front and rear shock for those "techie" folks out there. Stock tires are surprisingly responsive, even though tread appears "wimpy". comes with convenient portable pressure pump w/guage that fits front/rear shocks for changing pressure on the run. | | Weaknesses: | Grips for little hands. Funny knock in rear shock with each compression. Seems to go away with lower pressures. | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic light ride. Limited bobs on the uphills. Time pedals make it easy to stay in pedals during agressive driving. It's too much bike for just gravel road riding, although sometimes I crank up the pressure on rear shock if gravel is my only choice for that day's ride. Test it hard and it will perform! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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