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Average Rating
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4.12/5
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# of Reviews
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66
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MSRP
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$ 850.00
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Weight
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More Products from Giant
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Description:mountain bike, front & rear suspension, Mountain Mix components, Rock Shox Judy XC, 2.5"-4.0" adjustable travel fork
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Submitted by
jake
a Downhiller
from naniamo b.c.
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | husler on mt. washington | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | west shore bikes | | Strengths: | frame and rims | | Weaknesses: | breaks and shocks | | Bike Setup: | kujo dh 2.35 tires
radicol handlebars dh | | Bottom Line: | kick ass bike!!!!!
i have abused this bike on so many rides
i took it off a 12 foot drop last month no problem!
never had any big problems with it
but the judy shocks need an upgrade!
other than that awesome bike!
grat downhill/bigginer bike!
my biggiest drop was on this bike 18 feet!
GOOD JOB GIANT!!!!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Shue
a Downhiller
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ur ass | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedal pushers !!!! | | Strengths: | Value. decent bike to thrash good x country bike u can do jumps and drops on. Decent all rounder | | Weaknesses: | i go the 2000 model im 13, brakes unreliable, shocks need stiffer spring rate, snapped the rear deralia drop out, broke deralier. got an Lx. Ive got a very squeky headset and BB, i think its gona snap!! Does the warranty cover that:? Email me if u know | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stinky deelux Big hit Santa cruz v 10 | | Bike Setup: | dh stem azonic, lx rear d, dmr v12 platform peds (rock), maxxis high rollers(rock) | | Bottom Line: | Im about 95 lbs, im 13 iv done 8 footers and bottem out the front and rear shock. I hate the squeky headset and BB.
Good bike to ride. I race yes race cross country (as little as possible) Do lots of jumps, from 4 to 8 foot drops, do fitness training on it and ride it to school every day.
NIce work giant | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mountain Goat
a Downhiller
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Natio's | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Some crap shop! | | Strengths: | Um,,,,,,,,,cant think of any! | | Weaknesses: | Same old story,,,,,,frame snapped on swing arm just above weld and cracks developed on main frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Huffy! | | Bike Setup: | Had to change everything within first year. | | Bottom Line: | The bike is a good for a freereide beginner but if you want to start doing a few 3 foot + drops than this thing is not going to last. The rear end flex's like a rubber band.
Couldnt get warranty because I had to change components eg, front fork. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manimal
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle WA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tolt MacDonald | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Strengths: | Dead reliable-Soaks up punishment-!!PRICE!! | | Weaknesses: | Brakes and Shock | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR's-Gary Fisher Sugar (a $4000 bike-ouch!)-K2 Animal | | Bike Setup: | Shimano Deore XT hydraulic disc brakes-170mm Cane Creek AD-10 rear shock-30.8mm seatpost (eliminates creaking from the OE shimmed 27.2 mm post)-shorty DH stem-lockjaw grips-OE Judy Hydracoil fork @ 100mm travel-Kenda Kinetics 2.35's | | Bottom Line: | This is my 3rd straight summer of pounding on this bike and *FOR THE PRICE*, it simply can not be beat-The money I saved on the initial purchase let me upgrade the only two weaknesses that this bike has and I ended up with a ride that I can't fault-I let many people ride it and everyone has the exact same comment "SMOOTH"-Don't believe any of the people slagging this bike off bcz they ALL eventually do mention the awesome warranty service (5yr warranty on the frame alone) that they got from Giant when/if the bike failed (look at the prev review, the bike ddnt even fail and they replaced the guys frame!)-How many other bike manufacturers stand behind their products with 'no questions asked', complete replacements of frames, brakes and shocks?? NONE! Don't get me wrong, this bike IS built down to a price but it's a pretty attractive price (the DS2 and DS3 are even cheaper but have the same frame) and the components really are very good for the money that you're paying-Anyway, if you don't like what you've got, at least you aren't flat broke from the initial purchase and you can just get what you want when you upgrade-I spent $300 on replacing the brakes and shock and now it's only regular maint expenses left to deal with (tires/chain/etc)-It's a great bike for beginners or intermediates that do XC, urban or free riding and even some light DH-This bike is the swiss army knife of bikes-It does it all and hasn't let me down even once since I bought it-I still even have the OE wheels on it-My message to all of the 220+ pound riders on these sites that whine about product failures is to LOSE SOME WEIGHT and stop crying about all the equipment that you break-The answer to your problems is no further away than the digits on the scale in your bathroom-Quit blaming the equipment manufacturers and start noticing the garbage that you knowingly push into your pie hole every morning, noon and night-I can't help but wonder how cheap these bikes could really be if Giant didn't have to constantly be replacing stuff that wilted under your immense bulk??Giant bikes rule!! Five flamin chili's for value and over all performance, without a doubt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Melb, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | Giant Came through on the warranty. They said that it wasnt really a crack, but they gave me a new fame anyways, 2002 DS2 frame at that.
Go Giant | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything Off Road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Private, Pretty much new | | Strengths: | Great looking bike, Smooth ride, weight, | | Weaknesses: | The judys could do with a higher rate spring, front disc a bit squealy, FRAME CRACKED AT THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT ON MY 3rd RIDE. | | Bike Setup: | All factory execpt for clip in pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great bike execpt for the weak frame. I have only had the bike for about 2 or 3 months and it has never been bashed about. After my 3rd ride, on only mild XC the rear shock mount weld has started cracking.
Hopefully Giant will follow through with the warranty. I will let you know.
Great bike for the price, but really, really annoyed about the frame!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gwyn Evans
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rivington Pike | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Northern Exposure | | Strengths: | Not a lot when i baught it. It looked good with the triple crown forks and rear suspension. The frame is sturdy good tyres. | | Weaknesses: | The pedals (toe clips), forks (sr suntour triple clamps), wheels (formula on alexrims),brakes (formula md 1 mechanical, half pipe shifters | | Similar Products Used: | 99 specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | 27 speed 2001 junior t's racelines 24/7 bar/stem specialized clipless pedals tioga tires xt on d521 xtr rear mech deore shifters | | Bottom Line: | The bike looks good at first and when you first experience it, it gets better. however, after a while the brakes start to squeek the wheels feel weak and the forks need a lot of servicing when the money just isn't worth spending. Upgrade on the frame and then finally upgrade the frame. After all this you've finally got a bike worth shouting about. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Sulu
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tiger Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Loyal, dependable. | | Weaknesses: | Blind faith. | | Bottom Line: | I am your Giant Warp DS1. You complain about my braking ability and my weak frame. Well, Let me tell you a few things. I am a relatively light bike- because thats what you want. I am very strong for my weight, however, when your chalupa scarfing, hefeweizen sucking, non exercising for days on end blobbiness gets on me- I get a little stressed. Then, to top it off you smash me around with very little or no technique. You get on me, run me down hills and lock the brake levers, I want to stop, really I do. It's just a little hard with all that mass you've loaded on me pushing against my best efforts. Then, when you careen me off a four foot drop onto a hard flat surface or when you make a mistake and overshoot a corner- ramming me into a tree, you complain that I break? What do you expect? Before you convict me of being inferior why don't you consider taking a few simple steps to help me help you. Learn to ride and lose some weight. Fatazz. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a Weekend Warrior
from Northeast Pa. USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Price, Hayes Mech. discs. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom Bracket, Frame is too Flexy, pedals. | | Bike Setup: | All stock. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the 2001. Am upgrading ASAP the pedals to clipless, the cranks/ chain rings and the BB. Giant is replacing the BB as it has been unfixable (LBS) noisy and clicking from day one. The front brake had to be adjusted with a few washers to get the whole unit to line up correctly. I love the brakes now. I weigh 210 and the bike is a joy to ride otherwise. I ride hard enough but not severe(no big drops)This is my first full suspension and I am generally pleased. The bike climbs better than anticipated and coming down is amazing. I recommend for those on a budget but jonesing for full suspension, I do plan to upgrade component by component as budget allows and skills require. I would not recommend for those that are severe riders. But for me it works well.
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Submitted by
crazy Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Kamloops
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gords trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | somewhat ridable, red paint, fork feels great, doesnt cost as much as a car! | | Weaknesses: | the rear shock, those #%$@ fomula brakes!, | | Similar Products Used: | tested a VPS-4 no comparison | | Bike Setup: | pretty much stock, put a envy rock ring on and took those stupid toe clips off! | | Bottom Line: | If you are at all a off road rider look else where I have broken two frames (one being a manufaters defect) and have blown 3 shocks ( a new shock comes with the frame) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AL
a Weekend Warrior
from Chico, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Live Oak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle shop (Paradise) | | Strengths: | Good value. Decent components for the price. Hayes mech disk brakes, Marzocci z.5, 2.5 inch tires, comes with a pretty beefy rear spring. SRAM cassette and rear der. work good. | | Weaknesses: | weight, SRAM half-pipes. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | All stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is the 2001 DS1. This bike is a lot of fun to ride. I ride most anywhere, dirt roads, trails and single tracks. I am just a beginner, but this bike has been problem free and easy to work on. The hayes brakes stick like glue once they break in. The rear shock has a lot of adjustability, I have it preloaded about 1/2 inch and it is plenty stiff. The dampener is not there for looks, it performs well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Williams
a Racer
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Majura Pines | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | ACT Bicycle Warehouse | | Strengths: | Frame, Forks & Wheel Set. | | Weaknesses: | Cranks, Shifters & Shifter Cable's. | | Bike Setup: | Dual Compressor | | Bottom Line: | A great entry level bike that I cannot complain about for the price. The mechanical disks a OK and any disk is better than rim pinchers. Great dual compressor bike that I have crashed heavily several times with the only damage being the cheap suntour cranks that come with the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Weekend Warrior
from cave creek
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike store | | Strengths: | price, good entry level components, great warranty service by Giant | | Weaknesses: | original disc brakes were dangerous, cracked frame after a year and a half--but Giant was quick to replace with 2001 model--no questions asked... | | Similar Products Used: | gt xcr4000, trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | replaced disc brakes with more reliable v-brakes (which also requires replacing the wheels :^(, added clipless pedals, beyond that everything is original equipment. | | Bottom Line: | i love my bike. The disc brakes should be replaced (by Giant, in my opinion) since they don't seem to work very well. The bike is a bit heavy, but so am I--still, I climb and descend with no problem. You could certainly upgrade some components to lose weight (or give up cheeseburgers--you decide). This is not a racing bike, but if you wnat something that's fast and fun, this is a good choice at a good price.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Steinmetz
a Cross Country Rider
from Bethlehem PA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | South Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Strengths: | Price for what you get | | Weaknesses: | Frame | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Muirwoods | | Bike Setup: | Xt cranks/bottom bracket,Titec stem,Monkeylite riser,Easton CT seatpost,Xt hubs on Mavic 223 rims | | Bottom Line: | Ive only got 400 miles on this bike and the frame craked at the welds.A friend has the DS2 and is on his 2nd frame. I do only mild freestlye and downhill, so its not like im abusing the bike Giant is Awsome with their warranty and is giving me the xtc AC1 frame for only 400 more!! I cant wait to try out this frame. Hopefully the frame is strong enough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brooks
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1050.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclepath | | Strengths: | This is the 2001 model. Price, fantastic! I was originally looking for a hardtail in this price range because of componentry, but decided to go for the full suspension as I already have a road bike, and this fit in my price range... | | Weaknesses: | Nothing so far, Ive only ridden it one day, Ill update this again in a week or so after Ive put some K on it... i ve also noticed that rear end slap that some other have said... Ill try to pad it with something... | | Similar Products Used: | I rode a few bikes, just demo mind you, but Ive ridden a brodie quantum a few clicks, (Friend) and my current road bike is an old norco bush pilot frame with upgraded everything. I still prefer it for road use i think... | | Bike Setup: | Stock, follow the link -> http://www.giant-bicycle.com/cn/bikes/030.000.000.asp?bikes=cataloguestep4&bikeid=9507 | | Bottom Line: | Wicked pricing, I hit about every shop in town (about 10) with a friend, and looked at everything, specialized brodie, canondale, gary fisher, trek etc etc, and this was the best deal... I wanted a sturdy frame as I am around 235 lbs, and dont want to be messing with this bike for a few years... If you want a decent bike that will take you thorugh a couple seasons of riding, and survie a couple years of upgrades I think this is it. At, least thats what Im banking on... (shrug) :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason S.
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | Full suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Frame is flawed (and Giant admits it and has corrected it for 2001) and broke in half!!!!
Also had a VERY insufficient fork!!! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock, but replaced shock with '99 RS judy xc | | Bottom Line: | Unless you're light, and don't really ride hard AT ALL, don't get this year of bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon
a
from Moncton
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | anyone | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1657.00 | | Purchased At: | Mikes | | Strengths: | Forks and setup | | Weaknesses: | Rear fork makes noise | | Similar Products Used: | crapy minelli | | Bike Setup: | factory parts | | Bottom Line: | This review is on the 2001.
This bike is great for the price (oh ya its in canadian dollars) The bike is medium weight and the forks are great (marsocchi bomber z.5 coil) the bike feals light when your riding it. Its just a great bike for the price. Oh ya the rear for (gtm 7) makes clinging noises on and bump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Didier
a Racer
from Portland Or
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hagg lake | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$849.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike and Hike | | Weaknesses: | 8 months into this bike, and now about 2100 miles later.
The frame has cracked in 3 places. I admit that I'm not your average rider, but I don't think I've ridden as hard as I could have. Giant will hopefully honor thier warranty and give me a new frame.
The Brakes were upgraded, a cost that i had hoped Giant would have paid for. Nothing but praise for the Hayes mechanical disks. Stopping power is amazing.
| | Bottom Line: | For the money, this is one heck of a deal! The 2001 model is an even better deal than the 2000. It looks like they worked out most of the bugs.
If other Warp DS1 owners read this, check your frame! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim UNHAPPY
a Weekend Warrior
from Torquay Australia
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything dirty | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | ......... | | Weaknesses: | frame, wheels, groupset, forks, need i go on? | | Similar Products Used: | ?? anything else cheap | | Bike Setup: | standard, except titec stem to suit my height | | Bottom Line: | This bike is not designed for anything other than a cushy gravel walking track bike,
mine has not been raced, or ridden very hard.
in one year, the frame has broken 2 times, the rims are toast the forks are flexy and slow. the chain rings have stripped and been replaced, the brakes i have changed the spring position to the higest setting, and they are satisfactory now...
its rooted and it has lasted me a year...
if you are going to take it anywhere near a track or mild trail, hope yours lasts longer than mine!
Good Luck! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Teddy
a Weekend Warrior
from staten island
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | greenbelt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | arc de triomphe bikes queens NY | | Strengths: | light frame for fs $250.00 for a fs frame can't be beat. | | Weaknesses: | the frame seems a little noisey nothing a little pad here or there can't cure | | Similar Products Used: | fisher hard tail | | Bike Setup: | panaracer xc fire pro tires, xt rear, lx front easton monkey carbon riser bars,lx v brakes, xt shifters, lx brake levers, yeti grips titec big al stem 10 rise 120mm, selle italia gel pro link saddle, hg 92 chain, deore hollow tec crank set manitou mag fork | | Bottom Line: | I got the bike down to 28lbs and on the trails it climbs very good. i don't notice a loss in climbing preformance between the warp and my hard tail. the rear suspension is very close to the cannondales jeckels. for about a 1/4 of the cost.you can rip down the trails because the bumps, rocks and roots just seam to just disapearinto the bikes suspension.the stearing in a little could be a little better in tight coners but i might just need to slow down a bit for better conering.if your looking for a good fs bike for a great price this is the bike for you. this is a bike that could keep up with the big dogs and not break the bank. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Costa Mesa,CA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | sart | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | orange cycle | | Strengths: | Strong,stiff frame,forks,geometry,single pivot,low maintenence,great value | | Weaknesses: | stock weight over 33lbs,heavy wheels,crankset | | Similar Products Used: | specialized enduro,Intense tracer,loco moto,jekyll, | | Bike Setup: |
marzocchi z5 coil 100,truvativ stylo team crankset,sram drivetrain,hayes disc brakes,thomson seatpost,easton monkey lite carbon risers,sun ds1 rims,ws butted 14 spokes,hayes disc hubs,panaracer fire xc pro tires 2.1 | | Bottom Line: | As purchased bike is great for price.With researched upgrades weight of bike brought down to 29 lbs for total investment of $1500.00.Bike climbs great,rear wheel pulls down in granny.Bombs downhill,tracks true.Stiff precise steering.Takes a beating,handles 4 ft drops with aplomb.Suspension is plush on both ends and is very balanced.Bobbing is only felt on the road.Very active suspension with no suspension chatter over braking bumps at high speeds.Overall a tremendous bike as set up that rivals $3000.00+ bikes as a trail bike.This is not a race bike.It is a do it all trail bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mar Rizal
a Downhiller
from Ampang, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Second hand | | Strengths: | Good frame, shock and fork for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Some weak component and the poor brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized fsr | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for FSA PowerPro crankset, LX level Shimano bottom bracket, Primo pedals, Velo saddle, Oury grip, Intense XC 2.1" front tyre and Intense DH 2.3" rear tyre.
| | Bottom Line: | I bought the bike after it was used for three months by a guy who used it as training ride for his motocrossing.
The brakes SUCKS. I've got the Formula MD1 brakes. It just never seem to work properly. I've used LX V brakes Before and those are more powerful than the Formula Disk brakes. The benefits of the brakes are when it gets wet or you buckled your rim. The other parts that I've had changed was due to breakage. I don't blame the parts, I weight around 170 pounds my height is around 1.75 metre and I did a lot of jumps and drops on those parts before they broke on me. Same thing goes for the frame
This is my second Warp DS 1 frame. The one I origininally purchased crack at the weld that joins the down tube and the seat tower. As I am not the original owner, Giant cut me a great deal for the new frame. And it is still going strong. I know this frame won't last forever, but its better to break cheaper frame after it has taken a lot of abuse rather than breaking the more expensive ones. If you like to go fast on the downhill, do a few drops catch some air and still be able to pedal up some hills (not those super steep ones)and on a BUDGET, this is the bike for you. Overall this is a good bike for the money. If I'm buying a new bike it will most probably be another Giant, maybe the new Xtc AC bike or the some old warp ds frame again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan Consolazio
a Weekend Warrior
from NY
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | rough singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeway bikes | | Strengths: | stiff lightweight frame, good fork, good powder coated finish,lightweight rims-nice, tires hook-up really sweet, and the HV shock is fully adjustable-also sweet. | | Weaknesses: | fork makes squishy sound, it can get annoying, pedals are crap, i have a pair of azonic clipless on it now. im gonna go to azonic platform/clipless pedals soon. disc brakes have no power. they locked up on me once and i almost busted my dome-that would have sucked. i am upgrading to shimano xt hydraulic discs. | | Similar Products Used: | a diamondback zetec comp. its my freinds, its pretty nice | | Bike Setup: | all stock right now. im gettin a bombshell bad betty 6" and those disc brakes too. | | Bottom Line: | this is a sweet bike capable of freeride,XC, or dual slolom- hence the name DS/1. it is quick and fast. its kinda sucky for big climbs, only caus of the suspension. i plan to race dual slolom next season thats why im upgrading the parts. this is a great bike and its CHEAP for what you get. i plan to have this bike until im fartin dust. i give her 5 red-hot flamers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad J.
a Downhiller
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything Downhill and fast | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Out of town BS | | Strengths: | Good Rigidity
Good geometry-Great for manualing
| | Weaknesses: | Rear shock-isn't as smooth as fox shocks
Weight | | Similar Products Used: | vrx 200 | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager Corvair Rims
Michelin Wild Grippers
Judy XC w/ long travel kit
Profile Desing Stiffy Stem 40mm
Bontrager Crow Bars
Ritchey Seat
ICON Graphite Crank
9 Speed LX - XT
Avid Brakes w/ Shimano LX levers | | Bottom Line: | I bought just the frame.
I haven't had much time to play around with it, It's pretty good for the price, Plan to upgrade to Fox Float RC. All i did with this was take my old Trek 7000 And Ploped the parts on this FS frame. Much niv=cer because of the drops i do - 5-10 foot drops. The shock isn't as stiff as i'd like it to be but hey i'm now broke so i don't see fixing that. Anyways this isn't bad for the $400 w/ new cable for brakes etc. I would recommend it to anyone! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stewart
a
from Lake Havasu City, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Beer Bottle Trail/ Sara's Crack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | MBK Bikes | | Strengths: | 2001 model is a far better model/vlaue than the 2000. The Marzocchi Z5's and Giant HV suspension work great! The SRAM ESP halfpipe shifters/9 speed shifts very smoothly. The bike handles incredible, stays hooked up through transistions like from hard pack to a sandy wash to a rocky climb. The rear suspension keeps the tires hooked up. My first FS bike and it is living up to my expectations!!! | | Weaknesses: | Didn't like the saddle. Also, Suntour put a plastic guard over the front sprocket, totally bad idea, broke in first 5 minutes on bike. Dealer is ordering an aluminum one. | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh M8000, FSR | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for seat | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the money. I liked it so much that I bought my wife one too!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john taylor
a Downhiller
from Kelowna
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | NORTH SHORE | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Strengths: | Everything! this is a great bike for hte money, i have tried lots of other bikes and they suck compared ot the power this baby has! My friend got a 2000 stinky and we compared, his bike is nothing compared to this! | | Weaknesses: | The formula disc brakes really suck, upgrade to avid mechs, they kick all azz | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky, Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | Stock except i upgraded to a bomber Z3 fork and brakes to avid mechs and pedals to Shimano DX Clipless | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is this bike will take a beating and keep on going, it is way better than most fs bikes in its class (i.e. all the kona crap) and you pay much less for it, if you are looking for a great north shore style bike get the warp, its cheap and if you dont liekt he components you can upgrade witht he money you save, its either 900 for this and customized upgrades or like 2 grand for a stinky and you get stuck with stock, if you are getting a fs seriously you should look into the Giants they are great, GO GIANT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Trumbull, CT | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | New Canaan | | Strengths: | Full Susp. bike with descent components for $800. Tough as nails | | Weaknesses: | Formula Brakes | | Bottom Line: | This bike gives you alot of bang for the buck. I upgraded to clipless pedals after a week. After 3 weeks I could no longer stand the squeeling from the brakes, plus the front one was sticking. I read some reviews on MTBR and talked with some bike mechanics and decided the best thing to do was to throw them in the trash and replace them. I got a set of Shimano XT hydraulics for $279 and they are awesome. I ride mostly XC but I also do alot of downhilling at ski mountains. I have abused this bike and it has held up great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron Connelly
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Therapy | | Strengths: | Handels great. Cost. Disk brakes. | | Weaknesses: | The Seat. The weight and the breaks did make noise for three months. | | Similar Products Used: | FSR, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Stock for 4 months. Surfas seat, XTR post, XT drive train. | | Bottom Line: |
It handles everything. My confidence and riding ability has improved to the point I will try almost anything. But this has lead to some great crashes. After four months I had bent the large chain ring and rear derailer.(No fault of the bike) I upgraded to XT 9spd, carbon fiber bars and an XTR seat post. The breaks made noise for over two months. I am not sure when or why they stopped but they make almost none now. This is my second FS and the best bike I've ridden. I almost past this by because of the components, but after several test rides I went for it and have been glad I did. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Didier
a Racer
from Portland, Oregon
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Powell butte | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$849.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike and Hike | | Strengths: | Great looks, nice frame (cut out is great for when you need to dismount in a hurry), decent paint job. | | Weaknesses: | BRAKES!!!Brakes!!!Brakes!!! My bike has spent 3 days in the shop because of the brakes. 1st time, the front caliper failed, 2nd time, the front caliper locked up, 3rd time, the front caliper failed. It's just a matter of time before Giant gets slapped with the huge lawsuit. | | Bike Setup: | stock, changed pedals to BMX style and added Michelin wild gripper lites.
| | Bottom Line: | Good value for the money, get giant to replace those pesky Formula disk brakes, they suck. Did I mention the crappy brakes? Yeah, they really suck. And one more thing, bus drivers are envious of my brake squeal. No need for a bell on this bike, heck, it should come with ear plugs.
I hope Giant reads this... (replace my brakes!!!!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SPO
a Racer
from RI
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | East Prov cycles | | Strengths: | Tough frame, disc compatible, great suspension | | Weaknesses: | Formula brakes | | Similar Products Used: | KHS FXT sport | | Bike Setup: | |
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