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Submitted by
Will
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin Ireland
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ballinastoe Woods, County Wicklow | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Trip, Santa Cruz | | Strengths: | I bought the frame new in 2001 and it has moved with me from the US to the UK and now Dublin. It did two runs this weekend and is still as good as the day it was made. Strong and great for climbing. | | Weaknesses: | They don't make it anymore. But it has rarity value now. People invariably stop and comment on it. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Lots of changes: Fox RP23 rear Shock. Marzocchi Marathon Race forks, XT crankset and casette with XTR groupset and Shimano SPDs, Easton EC90 handle bar with EA70 stem and Chris King threadless HS, Thompson Elite seat post with Fizik Gobi saddle and Mavic Crossmax SX wheels and Maxxis UST 2.1 tyres. | | Bottom Line: | One day my Sugar will give up the ghost and I'll spend hours deciding between another GF frame or something from Santa Cruz or Ventana (the El Salt looks a beaut.) but until that day I am in no hurry. Okay, I'm still using V-brakes and the travel on my rear shock and front forks is unfashionably small but I wouldn't swap this frame for love nor money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Piedmont, NC
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Various | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight, responsive shifting | | Weaknesses: | Parts expensive and not readily available for this model | | Bottom Line: | I had the main pivot and a few bushings of the dual suspension replaced at local bike shop. Cost me $80.00+, and waited four weeks. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Micky Frye
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | PX / Veisbaden, GM | | Strengths: | Tough, Light. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap stock parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Only "true" XC bike Ive ever owned. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Bontrager stuff...XT rear wheel (upgrade) Avid Brakes (upgrade) Zocci EXR Pro fork (upgrade) | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike...I ride rough stuff and broke a 04 Trek Liquid 55 last month. My Sugar has outlasted it on the same trails. Ive raced it 5 times, and generally disregarded maintenence on the thing and it still rides great. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis G
a Cross Country Rider
from Stratford, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Trumbull, CT | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Strengths: | Great climbing, light, handling | | Weaknesses: | I bought the bike in Oct 2000. I just cracked my third rear triangle in the same spot. I am a cross country rider weighing under 200 pounds. The bike cannot handle multiple smaller hits, which are common on the east coast where I ride with roots and rocks. This bike was made for Cali hardpack. | | Bike Setup: | I have added a beefier sun mammoth rear double wall wheel. xtr crankset. time pedals. those are the major addons. | | Bottom Line: | I am not impressed with Fisher's customer service. The lifetime frame warranty is great but Fisher obviously issued a defective product for this model year and refuses to upgrade me to a newer/beefier Sugar frame or Trek bike. I will never buy another Fisher bike and nor would I recommend it. Too bad since the bike has many great qualities and I think the genesis geometry is smart. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Low cost full suspension bike, no bob on climbs. Fast Customer Service. | | Weaknesses: | Frame, Cane creek shock, Combo shifter/brake levers | | Similar Products Used: | First mountain bike | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 3 with 2002 Pslyo SL Forks, Shimano XT Cranks, Avid 3 brake levers, Avid Mag calipers, Shimano XT shifter levers, Shimano pedals, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires. The rest is stock. | | Bottom Line: | Frame withstood about 2,200 cross country miles (1.3 years) before crack appeared in rear triangle section. I'm a 170 lb x-country rider. Fisher replaced triangle section in 3 weeks. 2 months later the other portion of the frame broke next to a weld. Fisher upgraded me to a new 2002 Sugar 3+ frame within 3.5 weeks through LBS CycleWerks in Costa Mesa (Thanks Trever). Blew seals in cane creek shock after 9 months and then again after another 6 months. Cane creek sent two sets of seals for free the first time. Easy to replace seals. I think the Shimano XT cranks and the front fork upgrade are a must. You will have to by new shifters when the bushings in the brake levers go bad (all one piece). Have no regrets in buying this bike. Fisher has lifetime warranties and fast service. I do like the additional travel of the 3+ so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Bodine
a Weekend Warrior
from Fullerton, California, USA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything with a good climb and fast descent | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | light,climbs like at hardtail,genesis geometry (comfortable)Bowlink suspension design (laterally stiff, progressive spring rate),reliable(no major mechanical failures),cheap(it outperforms many "monkey bobbers" and "squeakers" that cost twice the price) | | Weaknesses: | tires,seat,chainsuck(rarely),stickers peel,paint chips, quick release seatpost clamp not stock(special order from garyfisher), bontrager RE-1 pedals(difficult to release), seat(hard and painful on longer rides) | | Similar Products Used: | 88 Specialized hardrock,89 specialized rockhopper,90s specialized rockhopper A1
| | Bike Setup: | manitou mars elite, canecreek cloud-9,sram XO shifters/rear derailer,avid single digit 25,WTB Speed V race, gary fisher fishsticks,MythosXC 2.1F 1.95R | | Bottom Line: | This was my first full suspension, I was loyal hardtail fan until an injury left me wanting a more cushioned ride than my aluminum HT. Since my previous specialized bikes had been great, my first consideration was the FSR($1200 ouch). So I went to supergo, rode it, wasn't convinced it was worth the dent in my wallet. I asked the salesman about cheaper FS like the klien mantra on sale for $899, he suggested the Sugar 3(which was selling for $999). Still not conviced I should spend a grand,I did my homework researching full suspension designs. The more I read about the sugar, the more I believed the it had the qualities I was looking for:lightweight,great climbing ability, no pedal bob, low maintanence. About a week later, I was riding El Morro when two women rode up on brand new Sugars. I asked what they thought about thier bike. The were only too eager to preach, a little too long, about my how much they loved the bikes. Then, they informed me that supergo had lowered the price to $899 and if you mention seeing the advertisment on the web you get a free hydration pack, pump, and gloves. I was sold. After upgrading the shifters to gripshift and the brakes to avid the price when back up to about grand after tax. And that is the story of how I fell in love. From the first ride, I felt th bike allowed me to ride longer, climb better, and descent faster than on any other bike I have ever ridden. Upgrading the front and rear shocks made the ride even sweeter than it was. For the price, it was well worth the improvement to my riding abilities. To this day, I am still amazed when I clean a tough or impossible looking climb, decent or technical section that I don't expect to make. I just look down and thank the bike, for being the best $1000 I ever spent. only 4 chilis overall because of the seat, tires and pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex G.
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Forest Ridge (Austin) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun&Ski | | Strengths: | Genesis geometry, frame design, decent component group for the bucks, great customer service. Once you dial it in it rides like a hardtail... | | Weaknesses: | Stock crankset, original rear triangle flaw(design), stock tires, Cane Creek 5 inadjustability. The Bonty stem is a biatch to get pointing straight auuuughhhh! | | Similar Products Used: | Voodoo, GT, Raleigh, Santa Cruz... | | Bike Setup: | Bomber Z2 Atom 80mm, Kore 1.5 riser, Ritchey Zed and WTB tires, WTB Speed saddle (ahhhh) King headset, Avid AD20 | | Bottom Line: | Great handling bike once you get used to the built-in flex of the rear triangle. Cracked the original and upgraded to the carbon stays (less flex, ghostshifting etc..) The Bonty crankset will drive you crazy no matter how well you tune it, get a Shimano LX, XT etc... on this baby. If you slap on a new rear shock (AD12 or Cloud 9) as well as replacing the adequate but low-end Manitou SX it will totally transform the handling of this sweet ride. The Superlight still beats it in the rougher (rocky) terrain but for the bucks it slams the competition with its simple and effective single pivot design. The geometry feels just right once you get the stem/ bar thing tweaked. I'm 5-11 and ride a large with a 90mm stem. Happy trails! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan Sandoval
a Weekend Warrior
from Platteville, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Colorado Trail from Kenosha to Georgia Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Village | | Strengths: | This FS bike feels like a hardtail. No bobbing when climbing steeps. This bike is very fast and has great handling on fast descents. | | Weaknesses: | Chain suck on occassion but that's usually associated with dirty chain and rings. Stock tires suck for cross country but great for slick rock. | | Similar Products Used: | None....this is the first FS bike I've owned. | | Bike Setup: | stock except the crappy tires. I reaplace them with XC Panaracers. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a great deal for the $. I've improved my technical climbing immensely and fly down hill. I'm 150# and consider myself an intermediate to advanced rider. I haven't really put the bike to the test on extreme terrain but, for Colorado trails, it's prefect! It climbs and descends very nicely.
Change out the tires and you're ready for riding. I won't be upgrading too much on this ride. I give it a 4 for not putting good tires on such a good bike:) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Clark
a Cross Country Rider
from mililani
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mililani mango Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Go San Diego ( New) | | Strengths: | Frame, Off of the shelf components, Climbing. It climbs like a goat. Size., and stand over distance. Power transfer on the climb | | Weaknesses: | The stock tires suck | | Similar Products Used: | FSR, Trek I Drive and KHS | | Bike Setup: | Totally Stock, I have not changed a thing but the tires, and cables, added Lizard Skins to guard against chain slap and to keep rear shock cleaner. | | Bottom Line: | I have had this bike in some very rugged areas and it has just preformed. It has never let me down both in racing and on group rides. It climbs like a goat and has enough suspension to take the bite out of some pretty rough trails. I will putting on a new front fork soon as the stock one is about shot. Also any one that does not use Lizard Skins is an idiot. Put them on any thing that might damage the frame. Remember you are dealing with aluminum. All in all I am stoked with this bike. the only change that I made is getting rid of the stock tires. I run Hutchinson Mosquito Golds. 2.0 in the front and a 1.8 in the rear, that takes care of any mud build up from the frame. Buy this bike if you want a reliable, XC machine that can get you on the podium. Happy riding, be safe aloha | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Humberto Freire
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Planet OH! sorry !our EARTH | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bonthrone cycles | | Strengths: | underrated cross country bike,reliable well thought through design.Strenghts well four World Cups and two Olympic Gold Medals and gentlemen the two Golds was won by a certain Italian Lady! enough said I,m not going to bore with specs just go and test ride one . | | Weaknesses: | well the weaknesses are The handel bar could be a riser instead of a straight bar A individual colour choice could be a plan Mr Gary Fisher,Oh and a extra thing the pre cut Fork is non negotiable every rider has his or her preferance in stem length or height but an extra 5 centimeters or room for an extra stem spacer would be great.The head badge fell off my sweet sugar and it has taken me since November 2001 to get a replacement I FINALY GOT ONE TODAY THE 26th OF JULY 2002. other than that it remains the perfect bike for me but thats me . | | Similar Products Used: | FSR specailized, Cannondale m600, trek 4400. | | Bike Setup: | Factory go to gary fisher web sight | | Bottom Line: | well I took a long time in my research before I bought this bike and I am realy happy with it,s handeling , climbing descending and on straights I can kick arse! I,m flying next weekend in Cornwall England. Taking my Girlfriend,her Trek 4400, My sugar a tent doing Penzance to st.Ives 3 nights 4days of adventure! you want a good cross country bike But please you got be serrious other wise forget it this is a serrious mountain bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Comox
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything Fast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Quebec | | Strengths: | Light strong frame, good component spec, excellent geometry for climbing hills, a good rider can fly on this bike! Also a great bike for beginners. | | Weaknesses: | Paint/stickers scratch and nick easily. WTB stock tires and seat absolutely suck arse. Shifting problems with chain into small front cog. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Specialized FSR XC. | | Bike Setup: | Crowbar, Rokko XC Pro tires, Time ATAC pedals, Specialized BG seat - everything else stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for the money. The 2000 model has better components than the 2001. The only problem I've had is a common one with Sugars. When rear shock is under compression with simultaneous switching to front small cog, ther chain gets jammed in the frame pivot point. Very frustrating because it scratches the frame and damages the chain. The rear Cane Creek shock works well although it is very, very stiff - that's the idea for good XC riding. Frame is strong enough to take small hits and drops. Front fork - Manitou SX - works well but I'd like some rebound adjustments - SX R would be better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shaun
a Weekend Warrior
from cincinnati
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | harbin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclesport | | Strengths: | light, stiff, cheaper than sugar 1 or 2 | | Weaknesses: | some house components, not great wheelset, cheapo stickers | | Similar Products Used: | a few treks, kleins, and rocky mountains | | Bike Setup: | mostly xt, shorty stem, xt/517 wheelset, flite seat | | Bottom Line: | I posted last year, and the bike just keeps getting better. Replaced the lx brake and shifter combo with seperate xt shifters and levers, new cables, new azonic shorty stem and flite seat. Also, replaced wheelset with xt/517 that you can get anywhere. It is a world of difference. Replace the bontrager crap with only a slight weight penalty, and this thing is stiff and responsive. Replaced the stem and rode it a few times, great. Then replaced wheelset and rode it a few times, great. Next I will get a 2001 Z2 Atom race to replace the crappy fork. This will be one still mofo. Still lighter than my friends fs bikes. Want to replace the crankset with xt, but it has not broken or caused to many problems, which is somewhat of a suprise after all the bad reviews that I have seen here. Buy one, ride it, upgrade it, it only gets better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from Healdsburg
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Shiloh, Foothils and Anadale parks | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | genesis geometry, low maintinance pivot, climbs good, light
fun to ride | | Weaknesses: | No disk brake tabs on the rear, all the stickers on the frame, | | Similar Products Used: | couple of hardtails Gt and Univega | | Bike Setup: | XC riser bar, Avid arch rival brakes, Ritchy V2 comp pedals,
Raceface Prodigy Isis drive cranks, pc69 chain, Yeti grips, the rest of stuff stock | | Bottom Line: | I really like this bike. I found a good deal on Ebay and snatched it up. I upgaded a few things and it works great. I had some chainsuck problems at first but the new cranks and the better I ride now have stopped that. It is a good XC bike. Have put about 700 miles on it and just did a complete strip down and clean on it this winter. Rides better now. 5 on value since I got it used 4 on overall since I dont have much to rate it against. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
emory ehrenfeld
a Cross Country Rider
from mechanicsburg, pa usa
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | any trail not closed | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | holmes cycle | | Strengths: | No bobbing on rear shock. Rides like hardtail, but smoothes out rearend on babyhead rocks. Haven't even replace pivit points elastmers (plastic bushings) yet. Geat standover height and top tube length | | Weaknesses: | Seat tube angle too shallow (73.5). Had to buy seats with 3.5 inches rails and move them all the way back. Rear seat stay doesn't have much clearance. I run 2.1 tires and the clearance is about 1/4 inch. Did some races this spring that was supper muddy and it packed up bad. I could had run a smaller tire, but I saw other racers run my tires, who weren't packing up as bad as me. I guess Gary wanted to beef up the stay and clearance wasn't a concern. The rear shock cane creek 5 lasted three rides before making a knocking noise. Road the shock until I blown it and upgraded to canecreek 10 ($125 upgrade from canecreek) and love the feel of the bike better now. | | Similar Products Used: | First full suspension bike, but rode 12 different hardtail bikes since 1990. Raced MTB for 11 years. | | Bike Setup: | LX groupo and now mazzochi MRC forks. | | Bottom Line: | Bike rides great for full suspension bike. Don't feel weight of bike verse the old hardtail. Took a few rides to get use to rear end and notice bike doesn't bob up hill like some specialize bikes.
Only get 2.5 inches travel, so new models should feel better with 4 inches travel. If you don't mind not replacing bushings on pivit points, this is the bike for you. I found this to be the easiest full suspension bike to maintain.
This bike has the best fit for the rider than any hardtail I ever rode. I always need long top tube bikes, but the standover clearance was close to my max height. This bike doesn't have a standover clearance or top tube being short issue. I like that the stem is 105mm and can get a longer stem.
Must be doing something right because Klein, Trek, and some other bike companies are using Gary Fisher design. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Dog
a Cross Country Rider
from Clearwater
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | climbed great, light | | Weaknesses: | weak frame, cracked after a year of riding | | Similar Products Used: | hardtails | | Bike Setup: | rf isis turbine lp's - mavic crossroc tubeless - rf stem and seatpost, xtr everything else. | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 190#, don't do any major drops, and the rear swingarm cracked in 3 places right behind the bottom bracket. I'm switching to Rocky Mountain because I don't want to wait 20 years to get another frame from fisher that might break again. I'm still sending it back so I will post another review when I find out what Fisher is going to do about it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from South Australia
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Strengths: | Agile, great climbing and light for the $ | | Weaknesses: | Should have been sold with a better choice of tyres | | Similar Products Used: | None, i always had hardtails before | | Bike Setup: | Standard except XT crank and BB, Ritchy seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I instantly loved this bike, i came from a hardtail (which was a bit big for me) to the Sugar and found it was really easy to throw around on anything i tried it on. Had some big crashes initially because it made me feel overconfident and was way more sensitive than my previous bike (i have a small frame when i could probably be on a small or med). Once i got in some solid riding on it i really tuned into it and now ride way better especially on technical stuff and tight tracks.
I read what people said about chain suck and didnt even try the bontrager crank, just put on the xt from my old bike. No probs with that although i think the chainline could be better. Also had to get a longer seat pole which was difficult because the top tube is so low and so i needed a pretty long one. The tyres were a crap choice for this kind of bike and i ditched them pretty quick.
Overall, great ride and it runs sweet all the time, i have done very little tinkering, although it hasnt had to deal with too much wet weather and mud yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ranger Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Bothell Ski n Bike | | Strengths: | Climbing, Abuse factor | | Weaknesses: | NO REAR DISC BRAKE MOUNT!!! Crappy Bontrager components | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to Race Face Turbine LP cranks, Race Face Rings, Time Atac Pedals, Hayes Hydraulic Disc in front, Hayes/Hugi hubs, Sun Rims, LX shifter pods, Avid rear brake lever | | Bottom Line: | This is a pretty awesome cross country bike. I love it. I've beaten the hell out of it and it keeps coming back for more. As you can see I've upgrade A LOT of stuff. The only knock on this bike is that Gary didn't design the 2000 model with a rear disc mount. Come on Gary! And also that he uses crappy Bontrager components. I hate Bontrager. Cheap, cheap, cheap components. Once that's all upgraded, this is a smokin' ride. I can't say enough about how much abuse this bike can take.
I'm only giving this 4 Chilis b/c of the Bontrager and rear disc mount problems. If you can buy just the frame and upgrade everything yourself, you will not be disappointed with this ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Gillett
a Cross Country Rider
from Wiltshire, England
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 3 standard except for wellgo flat pedals and velociraptor tyres. | | Bottom Line: | This 2nd opinion follows my much earlier review which praised the bike.
Since my last review I'm now on my 3rd sugar frame and all within 6 months, the 1st original frame cracked on the weld just below the front mech, this was replaced after numerous calls and about 6 weeks with a 2001 sugar 1 front tri-angle, this lasted just over 2 months when the paintwork started degrading losing it's sheen and resembled sand paper.
Paul's cycles of Norfolk, England and bikes of boards of Devizes were tremendous in helping me sort this problem out and it's thanks to Paul's cycle's that I now have a complete 2002 sugar 1 frame. Only time will tell if this lasts as long as the other frames did.
Moral of the story: the sugar series are well hard kick ass bikes with a great component spec, they are fast, agile and superb for cross country, that's providing the bike does'nt fall apart first;
Ride Quality and spec : Superb
Reliabilty and build quality: 2nd rate (in my opinion and
experience)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Roanoke, VA
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Clown Head | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Price, climbing | | Weaknesses: | None that you wouldn't expect from the price. | | Similar Products Used: | First full suspension bike, always have ridden hardtails | | Bike Setup: | Chris king Hubs, Mavic 517 ceramic rims, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires, XTR rear derailleur, Time ATAC Carbon Pedals | | Bottom Line: | The Virginia and West Virginia mountains beat a bike up with all of the roots and rocks, but so far no real serious problems. This is a great step from a hardtail to a full suspension. The bike climbs great and really smoothes out the rocky decents. I have made a few upgrades to the bike, but none were because the equipment was not operating correctly. So far the only things that have broken were the pedals and the rear derailleur and that was from the rocks that kept getting in my way. The stock Manitou SX was a little soft for me, but at the Snowshoe NORBA race the fine folks at Manitou replaced my spring with an x-tra stiff one and it solved my problem. I was told when I first got the bike that I may have some problems with the cranks, but so far no problems except a few bent chain rings from log crossings. I plan on giving the bike to my wife soon and getting a new ride for myself. I am looking at the Santa Cruz Superlight. After riding one the other day I realized that there is a good reason to spend $3,000 on a bicycle. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a
from Phoenix, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | Follow up from last review: Gary Fisher came through with flying colors on their warranty. Can't complain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Racer
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pemberton | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | Like the other guy a few reviews down, I'm skipping the other stuff too. I submitted a review about 8 months ago after I bought the bike. I agree with most reviews. Great bike for the price, also agree that some components were lacking but I replaced crank (to Shimano XT), front shock (to a Mars)and used a lighter wheelset for racing. So I have been quite satisfied....except, last week, I too cracked my frame in the same place - right above the bottom bracket at the weld. The bike shop said others had been brought back with the crack at the same place. So now I'm waiting to see if Gary Fisher will honor their lifetime frame warranty. I had a dent in the big tube which the guys at the shop said Fisher may use as an excuse to say the warranty is voided because I crashed the bike. Well, I didn't crash the bike when I cracked the frame - just took a gulley a bit hard. I picked up the dent months ago with no effect on performance. In fact, when the frame cracked, I didn't realize it at first because it was still going. I did notice some lateral movement which I thought was a flat or spoke. Anyway, my feeling is since this is a known manufacturing defect, they ought to own up to their warranty and give me a new frame. The bike shop guy also said that the warranty is voided if you use the bike to race which I didn't know as I had not read all the fine print. He said (and I believe him) that all bike manufacturers have the same provision in their warrantys. Since a lot of us race and a lot of the marketing of mountain bikes is aimed to racers, this stinks. I would remind anyone whoever faces such a response that practically all states have laws that state that a product should be fit for its intended purpose. Since all the bike manufacturers promote their bikes as race worthy machines, I don't think this argument would ever hold up if you took the trouble to sue, but who wants to do that? Looks like they've got us.
Anyway, check that bottom weld above the bottom bracket before you ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a
from CA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Genesis geometry. Not too heavy. Responsive. Lean, racy look. | | Weaknesses: | A bit too responsive with short stem. Saddle not very comfortable. Manitou SX shocks could be more durable. Gary Fisher stickers on the bike...which I solved by peeling them off (bike actually looks great without). | | Similar Products Used: | This and that. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for upgrades; longer stem (105mm), 1" riser bars, Selle Trans Am saddle, XT @ cranks & chainrings, cassette, front derailleur, shifter and brakes, IRC Mythos. | | Bottom Line: | As a newbie, I tested several bikes and finally settled with the Sugar. The price at the time was just right and the fact that it felt as if it was an extension of my body made the choice easy.
On paper, the Genesis geometry makes sense and on the trail, it makes for a more comfortable and confidence inspiring ride. Even the switch to a longer stem did not change that part of the geometry very much. It did however, ease the climbing ability of the bike. The shorter stem forced me to be a bit more attentive to my body positioning, etc. while climbing...not that it is a bad thing. But with the longer stem, I don't have to be as attentive while climbing. It also, together with the riser bar, slowed down the overall responsiveness of the bike. It was a bit too quick/responsive for my liking.
The stock Nanoraptors, though capable, were a little short in the grip department but one can sense/feel the tires breaking away before washing out. After throwing a pair of 2.1 IRC Mythos tires, handling and grip improved considerably. I noticed that I was riding faster and harder, especially into and out of turns.
Bike is a good one for a newbie or any rider not wanting to spend a lot...especially when buying previous season's models. The Genesis geometry throws some people off when they first get on the bike but after a few spins on the cranks and a couple of steeps, they realize that they don't have to move back as much as compared to their own bikes. Which I will assume that it works...at least for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Soquel Demonstration Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Start to Finish (now 'Finished') | | Bike Setup: | Stock except: Thompson elite seatpost, Float RC rear shock, SID Race, Propels | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up from my previous review on 2/9/01 when I had had the bike for a couple months.
I still absolutely love the bike. I ride fairly hard, and do alot of bouncing around on the bike, and haven't had any problems with wear and tear. A couple of people have broken the frame just doing light riding? Wow. I don't do enormous scary drop offs, but I pound the bike fairly aggressively, and my bike has been completely solid for 11 months now.
I weigh 150 lbs, am 5'7" and ride a small with a little longer seat post. I've switched the rear shock for a Float RC which I love - SO much smoother than the AD-5. I'm using a SID race which is flexy, but gets the job done. I'm using Propel tubeless tires and a Thompson elite seatpost. Total weight is down to 24.5 pounds on a regularly calibrated scale here at the hospital where I work.
The AD-5 is light, but was pretty jarring compared to my Float RC. The Float RC can be locked out, but I almost NEVER use it, because the bike really doesn't bob much at all, though I almost always climb seated - can't vouch for what it might be like standing on steep climbs.
At first, I had problems with chain suck, but haven't had any problems for at least 6 months - though I continue to be very careful about shifting from the middle chainring to the granny gear.
As others have written, the rear wheel has too little wheel clearance to be suitable for mud riding at all. I've heard that the 2002 Sugars have more clearance.
Lastly, I took off all the stickers on the bike after a kind soul sent me an email to let me know that there is some clear coat under the stickers, as well as over them. I also took the stickers off of my red sid fork, and it looks great now. No more of the NASCAR/Malboro/Penzoil etc kind of feel to it.
I still LOVE my Sugar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Summers
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything within 1 hour drive | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunshine Bicycles | | Strengths: | Overall quality and ride. | | Weaknesses: | rear mud clearance, SC red clay mud buildup can stop rear tire | | Similar Products Used: | proflex 857 XCFS, old Schwinn rigid beater | | Bike Setup: | Easton riser bars, junk saver, stiff fork spring kit(I'm 215+ lbs), IRC Mythos knobs, TIME ATAC | | Bottom Line: | This is my first XCFS bike. I've ridden it 1-2 times a week for a year now. Overall, this bike is sweet! Some days I want a hardtail or a 4" travel bike, but overall I'm happy. No maintenance or quality problems. It climbs pretty eficiently, descends faster than I want to, and looks good. Good bike for old fat men who don't want to stand on the pedals all day. My riding buddies envy the ZERO maintenance pivots. Chuck the Bontrager/SPD pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Fulton
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Petersburg, FL
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Santos\TOS | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | The frame is very solid and the rear pivot is suh-weet. Price is very good. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Super V 400, Cannondale Jeckel, Some full-suspension Kona | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 3 Frame, Race Face Crank, Rocket Chain Rings, XT Deraileurs, Cane Creek: C2 headset, saddle, direct curve brake levers, direct curve 2 brakes, AD-5 shock, Mavic 221 rims, Titec Hellbent bar, etc. | | Bottom Line: | First I owned a bottom of the line Fisher, soon realized I needed full-suspension. Found a very cheap, brand new, frame and fork on EBay for $350.00 so I went for it. Took me about 6 months to get it built up to what I want, but I love it. This bike can take a beating on the trails (even when I get upset and toss it). I don't know how anyone could break this frame, because I have dropped mine from 15 feet at TOS trail in Ocala, FL, and it survived. I also use this bike as my work transportation every day. This bike rides smooth even on my 6 mile commute. I haven't noticed any "bucking" or "bobbing" ont he rear end. The Manitou fork is decent as well, although I may upgrade to a Rock Shox Psylo so that I can lock it out for the street.
Highly recommended frame! (I give it 4 chili's 'cause it aint a Sant Cruz!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodstock, GA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything in Pisgah, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1190.00 | | Purchased At: | AJ Barnes | | Strengths: | Value, climbing, weight, active tracking. | | Weaknesses: | Dude, I busted my frame right at the pivot weld last weekend, and now I'm without a ride for a month! The guy who posted 2 back is diluted though. A Giant XTC??? C'mon. Now, the Specialized FSR XC is an awesome bike, but a friend's rear triangle locked up due to cartridge bearing failure in a race on his $3,000 S-Works ride.
On my Sugar 3, I have had to replace the small chainring for hooking, the chain, and cables in the first 700 miles on the bike (in addition to the broken frame). | | Bike Setup: | XTR/XR drivetrain, AR50 brakes, EA70 seatpost and bar, everything else is stock. | | Bottom Line: | Light-weight FSXC racing bikes are going to have some failures. They're going to save you weight at the expense of durability. I still love my Sugar 3 and would recommend it to anyone buying a new FSXC racer -- great value & performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | I skipped all the other stuff since this is my second review of this bike. The only reason I'm reviewing it is becuase of the previous reviewer and his total dump on the bike. I understand how much of a pain a broken frame can be, but don't go slamming the whole line because of your problem. I've had my Sugar and beat the hell out of it riding here in Southern Ontario. My main stomping grounds for riding is full of exposed rock and I'm bashing around on that stuff at least 3 times a week. The bike has also been through 3 races this season where I pushed the bike to it's limits. Again, no problems and no cracked frame. Your frame cracked because of a production defect and that's it. Everyone else is not a bunch of pansies, they just have gotten frames that did not have that production defect. Plus, I'm pretty sure that if I had the same problem as you that my LBS would be putting together a new ride for me and taking the warranty frame when it came in.
Overall that bike is more then worth the coin if you are into serious XC riding...Not freeriding, downhilling...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant P
a Weekend Warrior
from lake Mary, FL
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anywhere with Dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | The suspension does work. And it does minimize the bobbing.
Handles well for open moderately fast trails. Rides nice
on paved Rail-Trails and bike paths. If you ride easy and
don't expect much of frame strength it's o.k. | | Weaknesses: | The frames break to easily. The genesis geometry is not for
tight trails or screaming descents. What is it good for?
Entire component package is a Joke. Should have been on a much cheper bike. I thought I was really buying the frame.
Kind of ironic and bitter. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC(should've bought), Schwinn Rocket88(HA!),
GT iDrive(what were the GT eng. thinking), and the
Specialized FSR(should've bought). | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Riser bar and Tires. Waiting to upgrade
as parts required, which is scary for this bike.
My previous ride was a good old Chromoly Trek 930 frame. Lasted for eight years of serious abuse,the before children happened. I will not be purchasing any Trek poducts or endorsing them to others I talk to about bikes. Doesn't sound like a big deal to lose me as a supporter. But wait, it just takes a little time. | | Bottom Line: | I have had the bike for a year and have not really ridden
more than 10+ miles a week. Very little since the family
started growing. And I am not a big guy. About 5'11" and
175lbs. max. So why would this frame crack on such wimpy
florida trails? If you read any of the other Sugar1, 2 or
3 reveiws, and wonder how could this bike get such praise.
Well I think these GF worshippers are either on CRACK or just ride like pansies. Or maybe they work for Trek/Fisher and want to pad the reviews to help keep their jobs.
To cynical? Think about it. Anyway I was annoyed that a frame would break within a year. And on some wimpy Florida trails. The trails here should not have cracked a frame of
this high acclaim. And now the Trek/Fisher customer service isn't to customer or service oriented towards me.
I made a very simple request at the beginning of my contact with them (7 weeks and counting now). I made a request by
e-mail(with RGA from shop) that could they send me back a
Med. size frame instead of a Large. I want to give the bike
to my wife since she could benefit from the suspension and
she would not fit a Large frame. The chance she would ever
break this frame is so remote, impossible really. So they
would never hear from me again. Done deal. Customer happy and the next frame would last forever. Well at first it seemd to be do able. Now many weeks later I had the LBS call and they said they didn't have a Med. available. And they would have to take and unpainted Lg. and paint it red for me. I don't care about color. Now if they send back a Lg. I will have to ride this frame. And yes the next one will break as well. I have looked carefully |
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