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Submitted by
John L.
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Roswell Bikes | | Strengths: | Good price, Pretty good components in an entry bike, decent brakes, nice frame. | | Weaknesses: | Rims are weaker than most | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose ATB | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I dont know how people could give this bike bad reviews. ive had this bike for almost FIVE YEARS, and its given me nothing but close to 3,000 miles of great use. My parents bought me this bike as my first "good" mountain bike and ive rode it ever since. i LOVE this bike. Sure...its not a $1500 bike...but for the $500 price range, I am 100% completely satisfied with it. My giant has been more reliable and better perfoming than my friends bikes that cost around 6-9 hundred.
the ONLY problem i've had is the rear wheel warping more than I would like it to. The rock shocks Jett front shock is also at the lower end of the shock market, I find it bottoming out sometimes if im getting a little wild at riding.
As per the frame cracking, my friend has a top line Giant ranier that cracked its frame in a few days. But mine is still as strong as when I bought it. Also if you compare frames accross the giant line, especially with the ranier...they look...strangely...similar.
Per tire wear, the "cheng shin" tires that mine came with have been just fine for me opposed to some reviewers. They hold the road well, and are at least "decent" offroad. About wear... 3000 miles and im just rotating my tires... so that tells you about wear...very little, and I ride almost all road.
This is a great entry level bike that competes with bikes several hundred more than itself very well. Give it regular maintanace and it will give you years of great service.
Totally upgradable, add a front disk break, nicer wheels and tires, and a nicer front shock, and then you've got an even better bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood, Ohio, US
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | stinchcomb | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | century cycles | | Strengths: | nothing about this bike is "strong"
the shocks are durable that's about it. | | Weaknesses: | chainrings wore quick as did cassette. stock rims are very weak. | | Bike Setup: | alexrims dm24's with stock tires, shimano hubs. deore lx f/d + crank. bb, i don't know. stock (acera?) r/d. | | Bottom Line: | the frame on this bike snapped in half right under me
second season of riding it
and i was wondering what that creaking noise was...
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nitish
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Laguna Seca XC Race Course | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$370.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | Good begginer bike, not that heavy for the price. Good frame for price. | | Weaknesses: | Krappy fork (very very crappy), not solid drive train | | Similar Products Used: | Costco bikes, Jamis hardtails, Cannondale F700, | | Bottom Line: | This is a great begginers bike. Dont ever buy this if you are going to race or do any thing but ride once a week on easy fire roads. The geometery is not also that great. I wore out the drivetrain only after 8 months. I was really surprised by that. if you are going to commute as a city bike ar a lil weekend warrior then its a great bike that wont break the bank. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Denton, TX USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | J Branch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Shirars | | Strengths: | It is cheap. That's about it. | | Weaknesses: | The tires are horrible. Lots of rolling resistance and very soft outer knobs. The fork is very weak too. It only took a few weeks for it to give out. The entire front end feels very flexy. | | Similar Products Used: | RMB Flow | | Bike Setup: | Stock except BMX Pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I bought the bike to see if I would enjoy MTBing. I thought this bike could last me about 6 months until I could afford a better bike. After just a few weeks, the thing felt like it was going to fall apart. The fork is dead. The front headset seems to have some play in it. It was just getting painful to try and ride this bike. If I had paid anymore, I would be angry, but for the money, it would probably be ok for a beginner that is light and never leaves the ground. I have ony jumped off a few curbs and one 12" DJ and the bike is already screaming to be retired. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena, Ca
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Jones Bicycles | | Strengths: | Frame, Shifters. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels, wheels, wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Mamba, Specialized HardRock | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for a beginner. I ride about 70% road and 30% offroad so it doesn't get a whole lot of abuse. It needed a serious tune-up after the first time in the dirt. Wheels constantly need to be trued. Front fork is a little mushy and unpredictable. All in all it's great for the weekend warrior who's riding on groomed trails. Unbeatable for the money.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jj
a Cross Country Rider
from South Australia
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Weight, nice and smooth when tuned right, looks pretty good too. | | Weaknesses: | Shocks, wheels, bars, tires. | | Similar Products Used: | atx870 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, apart from new seat. | | Bottom Line: | I got this bike as a bridge between having no bike and paying a grand on an atx890 or trek 8500. It's been OK but if you handle it without the right amount of delicacy it starts whining and falling apart. That means: no jumps, taking it easy down slopes, not too many stacks. The shocks were ready for the trash after about 2 weeks. They bottom out just rolling off a kerb onto the road - and that's wound all the way up! The rims are made of cheese, I have to ride with my spokes at serious tension to keep them round. The tires are crap - you may as well walk uphill. And one of the teeth on the chainwheel actually broke off. Apart from that it's been good. I admit to riding it hard, and that's not what it's made for. If you want to commute on a comfortable and sporty bike, or want a bit of light off-road action, this could be your bike. But if you're more serious, forget about it and pay some bigger money on something tuff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hotei
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun & Ski Sports | | Strengths: | Great frame; worthy of upgrades. decent components for the price. Color scheme makes for nice eye-candy | | Weaknesses: | cheap, cheap, cheap-ass wheels. If you make the mistake of keeping them, buy yourself a truing stand....you'll be seeing a lot of it. Don't particularly care for the stem and bar, either | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for starting out. If your outings are tame you can leave it stock, but if you prefer to mix it up a bit this bike is definitely worth upgrading. One thing though...if you get the bike, replace the wheelset (if you look at it funny, it goes out of true)
I've had mine for almost a year and it always fares better than I on my adventures. I've put about 2,600 miles on mine. Until recently, I've gotten by with only routine maintenance, but I finally have an excuse to upgrade the drivetrain. The 42 chainring is worn out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mat Reid
a Weekend Warrior
from Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Both urban and off road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Hammer & Cycle Queanbeyan | | Strengths: | Light frame, comfortable seat and ride, smooth gear changes, extrememly upgaradeable. | | Weaknesses: | Rock Shox could allow for more travel. | | Similar Products Used: | Nil | | Bike Setup: | Standard. Cat Eye lighting system. | | Bottom Line: | This bike gets me where I want to go. Whether riding to work or hitting the dirt. I'm 29 it has allowed me to pick where I left off from my last BMX. The Yukon se is an extremely capable bike for bush and fire trails offering great handling, of your not afraid to throw it around corners and tracks a little. This bike is great for the moderate dirt rider who enjoys getting out amongst it with out trying to kill themself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lake Johnson | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | Allstar Bikes | | Strengths: | Frame is very solid, most of the components are adaquate. I really like the seat. | | Weaknesses: | Front chainrings really suck, literaly. Developed chain suck in like 3 hours of riding. The rims pretty much suck, too. I have had to replace the rear already. Tires have no grip when wet. | | Similar Products Used: | none, tried a Giant Rincon, Trek 4500, and a Specialized Stumpjumper. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for rear rim is a Sun Rhyno Lite. | | Bottom Line: | Buy it if your looking for a starter bike, like I was. Buy it if you want to just get out and have some fun on a bike that can handle most trails. Dont buy it for hardcore drops. Be prepared to true the rims a lot and you have to learn how to shift it just right so you dont get chain suck. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garet
a Weekend Warrior
from Mephis TN
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | nywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | $300 | | Strengths: | Great Frame,it can take anything you give it! Shocks are good, they handle all sorts of smaller jumps and drop offs!
| | Weaknesses: | Crappy Chinese brand tires, and sometimes the gears click alot, but can be easily adjusted! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good bike to begin with. It is also good to keep on using! Very easy to upgrade parts! I just started riding mountain bikes, i bought mine in taiwan and use it for all sorts of uses(errands, trails, street, and just plain fun.) This is a very nice bike and can take alot of beatings and still continue to be a great bike! I would recommend this bike to anyone and everyone who is a beginner to an average rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stacy 'Sung Hee' Kim
a Weekend Warrior
from Seoul, South Korea
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeland, Seoul Korea | | Strengths: | Light and Strong Frame, Beautiful Color. | | Weaknesses: | Wheel set & Tire | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4300, and some Cromoly Bike. | | Bike Setup: | full Shimano Deore XT Drive Train | | Bottom Line: | It's not bad for the money. Giant bikes are awesome with great geometry for women. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything new... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Garage Indy (bgindy.com) | | Strengths: | One tough frame (I've fliped the thing more than a few times, and it just takes it). comfortable feel, good handling, decent shifting. | | Weaknesses: | Stock tires are enough for you to get by with, until you see what else is out there... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500 (just didn't like the feel of this) | | Bike Setup: | Stock, other than the tires. I put on a pair of semi-slicks for the light trails and paths. I'm still looking for a good pure off-road tire. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the cost and it is easy to upgrade, so it can grow with you. It has been great on the hills and the trails for a entry level rider who likes to push it. I've put on close to 500 miles so far and it handles the road and the trails very well... It has got me riding all over the place: to work, to run erands, for fun. I have nothing bad to say about this bike (ok maybe the tires, but that is very minor!!!) So if you are looking for a quality bike that will last, check this one out!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keeper
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bull Mountain, Dahlonega, GA | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | Rock Shox Judy TT front suspension, fairly light but tough frame, very responsive braking, rapid shifting, easily upgradable components | | Weaknesses: | Horrible seat, tires could be a little better | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4900, Giant Rincon SE | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great mountain bike for those who are just starting out or ride just a few times a week. The shocks can really take a beating without bottoming out on some pretty tough drops. I also like the fact that this bike is easy to upgrade... I quickly changed out the seat and plan on getting better tires. For now, this is just a wonderful bike that gives a clean ride and makes mountain biking enjoyable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything off-road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Andre Lalonde Sports | | Strengths: | Great bike for the price, it has an amazingly light and strong frame, it has the coolest Blue Mirror/Black color, and it shifts really well. | | Weaknesses: | The RockShox Jetts are horrable, but other than that the bike rocks. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Rincon and Giant ATX 840. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike for the price, it'll handle the punishment that you give it, handles great in forests and in rocky areas, its even great for small drops. If you do huge drops all the time then your better off with a full suspension bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne,Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$615.00 | | Strengths: | Price,Light Frame, Worth upgrading | | Weaknesses: | Front derailleur, Crappy Crankset | | Similar Products Used: | GT Agressor 3 ,Giant rincon se, Giant Iguana se | | Bike Setup: | Stock Standard | | Bottom Line: | Great Bike for a great price $US300, Goes Forward and around corners. Shocks could be better, bottom out easy. Check out www.rockshox.com cause there was a recall of the jett shocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Local Canyons | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$470.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bicycle | | Strengths: | Great value for money. Review is for the Preformance Bicycle 'LE' version which is a slightly upgraded SE (Judy TT Shocks, Deore rear deraillieur, Alvio Shifters/brake levers etc). Seems tough, dependable, looks good. | | Weaknesses: | Poor Chinese generic tires, heavy steel riser bars. | | Similar Products Used: | None, first mountain bike. | | Bike Setup: | Kore Lite Stem, Panaracer Fire XT Pro Tires, Race Face Air Alloy Bar | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, Performance Bike sale price and upgraded components a good deal. Junk the stock tires, they are awful, no uphill grip and unstable downhill. Tektro brakes work very well. Some initial problems with the cheap Acera front deraillieur but adjustment cleared it up. Must get full marks for value. Overall rating would be 5 chilis if the bike came with better tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Sideroff
a Weekend Warrior
from Coquitlam, B.C, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | All of West Wood Plateau | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | High Gear | | Strengths: | Supper light and strong frame. The comondents are pretty good. The shocks i think rock!!!! | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | ...... | | Bike Setup: | Stalk | | Bottom Line: | Over all i think that this bike just rocks. You cant beat the price for the bike that u are getting. If i could i would give it more than 5 chilies! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gogo
a
from Austin, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whatever | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | University Cyclery | | Strengths: | Excellent entry level mountain bike. The Aluminum frame is very strong and worthy of upgrades. The stock parts aren't the best but are very decent for the price tag this bike carries. Sweet Mirror blue/black color. | | Weaknesses: | Stock Rock Shox Jett fork and EZ-fire shifters. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Palomar, Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to 9 speed. LX shifter/levers, lx splined crank, xt front/rear derailleur, rock shox supspension seat post, selle royale saddle, and titec hellbent handle bars. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is totally sweet! I've owned a few bikes in the last few years and haven't been able to find anything in my price range that I was happy with. I don't ride hard all the time but when I do this bike handles the punishment. This is the most comfortable XC mountain bike I've ever owned. With all the money I saved with the purchase I was able to upgrade some parts(got most of them @ 30-60% off retail). My next plan is to ditch the Jett for a Judy. However, it will do for now. The Jett tends to be a little soft. I guess more so if you're a heavier rider. The thing that bugs me the most is that it tops out sometimes. The EZ-Fire shifters were alright and did the job but I much prefer rapid-fire. Bottom line is that this bike is great!. If you're thinking about getting one, do it! You won't regret it. It's perfect for light XC and trail riding. It also handles small drops very well. If you plan on doing big drops all the time or downhill...this isn't the ride for you, go with a full-suspension. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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