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Submitted by
1Oldman
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Alamos, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pajaritio Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Well, I swapped the stock fork before purchasing and I have been pleased with the suspension. | | Weaknesses: | It is heavy and I've had a lot of problems with the chain getting sucked up behind the crank. I've probably gone through half a dozen chains in the 3 years I've been riding it. My current wrench suggests it might be a design flaw. Anybody heard anything about recalls. | | Similar Products Used: | None, this is the first full suspension I've owned. All hard tails and non suspension bikes before. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Marzocchi Bomber front suspension. | | Bottom Line: | Does anybody know if K2 has issued a recall? It's hard to have anything positive to say about a system that eats a chain nearly everytime (it seems) I need a power stroke to climb a steep. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | This bike came with good components, pretty much all around for the most part. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels, and it would be nice to have a rear shock that was more adjustable. Not a huge deal though. Also, the chain was junk. | | Similar Products Used: | Pile of a hardtail, and a K2 Attack 2.0 | | Bike Setup: | Loco wheelset, Campus peddals, new break levers, (all 3 are made by Forte) 2.4 WTB tires, thorn proof tubes, SRAM Chain, over sized Lizard Skin clamp ons, and Crowbars | | Bottom Line: | I have beat the hell out of this bike for 2 years. The stock wheels held up good for about a year, but I tacoed the front, bent my bars, broke my break lever, and did my collar bone in all a the same time, so I had to buy all new stuff. The way it is set up right now, it is pretty heavy, but I dont know any better, because this was my first real mountain bike. The fork and shock both allow 5 inches of wheel travel, and they handle drops up to about 5 feet pretty well. The rear end started squeeking about 6 months ago, and all I had to do to stop it was tighten a few things up. In stock form, it might be a pretty decent XC bike, but they way mine it set up now, probably not. It is a good all around bike that can take a good beating. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian
a Weekend Warrior
from Scituate, MA
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wompatuck | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | EMS | | Strengths: | Great bike for the money, decent components, has held up fairly well. | | Weaknesses: | Middle chain ring bent, not sure how. Brakes squeak, need to keep the rotors ultra clean. Make sure you zip tie the rear brake cable, or it will start to rub on the tire. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, Crank Bros Candy clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | I got this bike at a year end sale, and had a 20% off coupon, so I couldn't pass this up. My previous bike was a hardtail with regular brakes, it's nice to have a full suspension and disc brakes. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whiting Ranch, Orange County | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | Best Bang for your buck. Rear coilover works well both uphill & down hill with adjustment to desired give. Front suspension is adequate considering the price point. Frame is well built after the abuse it's taken. Disc brakes for a low cost bike. | | Weaknesses: | Out of the gate, the breaks squeal. Front suspension could have better adjustment capabilities. Rear derailer has given me a few problems, have spent multiple hours maintaining it for proper work (maybe time to upgrade). Front of bike is a bit low for my taste (gives me lower back pain). Chain sucks up over chainstay when going to smaller chainring (same as others). Mis-shifts of front derailer caused middle chainring to bend (Performance replaced free of charge). After hard trail portion/dropdown/jumping, rear cable would catch over seat height adjuster and caused braking problems (zip tied cable to frame). Wheel brackets came apart during hard use, Performance rebuilt one and replaced the other (free of charge). | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Crank was replaced via Performance. | | Bottom Line: | Went to my local "Supergo" store before they became "Performance" during their inventory liquidation of '05 models. I would highly recommend this approach. This is my first all suspension bike purchased, before this I had no suspension whatsoever. Went w/ the medium sized frame (I'm 5 ft 10).
Still have the squealing problem with the disc brakes, going to try some maintenance to avoid replacement. Also would need to upgrade to clip-in pedals. Not something I would expect standard in this price point.
All in all, I am very happy with the bike. It is a well-rounded unit & has performed fairly well, given the abuse I have put it through this past year & a half.
Real bottom line - I would buy it again. The price point more than makes up for the problems I have had with it. Happy hunting. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian C
a Cross Country Rider
from pheonix az
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Trail 100 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | go | | Strengths: | Rear shock and frame design. The moto raptor tires are excellent also, they lasted alot of miles and held up great
on rough AZ trails. | | Weaknesses: | Front shock could be a little better (manitou splice elite)
but it is still holding up after several trips down national trail! The wheels that came on this bike are not strong enough
for a 6 4 240lb rider. | | Similar Products Used: | All 5 inch travel bikes | | Bike Setup: | x7 rear,Fox coil over rear, x7 shifters,wtb moto raptors | | Bottom Line: | Nothing in this price range compare to this bike!! It rides as good as alot of $2500 bike I have ridden. Other then the weak wheels.This is a great bike for a clydesdale rider like myself
sure it is a little heavy but at my size I am more concerned with strength and this bike is strong!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felipe Neira
a Cross Country Rider
from Quito, PI, Ecuador
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | amazon/randall scott | | Strengths: | Light weight 32 lb, nice geometry, suspensions are great, it doesnt bounce at all on the way up... | | Weaknesses: | None seen till now | | Bike Setup: | rock shocks tora 302 and bar 2.1, kayes sole, sram x7//// this is k2 lithium 3.0 2006 model | | Bottom Line: | Incredible great bike!!! just love riding it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zero Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any singletrack! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | As an intermediate rider, this bike has been able to take anything I've thrown at it. | | Bike Setup: | *2005* Model | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike (medium frame) after doing a lot of bargain & comparison shopping. I wanted a quality full-suspension bike, but didn't want to break the bank to get one.
Before I started looking, I didn't even know K2 made bikes... I wanted a Cannondale or maybe some other major name brand.
I was leery of buying a brand I hadn't heard of ("K2 makes skis, not bikes!", I thought), but I ultimately settled on this one because 1) It was a good deal (the price was right), 2) The bike looked cool, 3) The components and frame looked like they were put together well 4) I really liked the way it felt when I test-road it 5) Nothing else in this price range could match it on any level (IMO).
I got this bike on clearance (2005 model) from my local Supergo just before they became Performance Bikes. It retails for around $1200, and I got it for $700. Well worth every penny.
I convinced my girlfriend 2 weeks later to pick up the same bike (small frame) after I got a special coupon on the clearance item (she got hers for $600).
I'm not a stunt rider, but I ride pretty hard and fall occasionally. This bike has been able to take everything I've thrown at it. It is now muddy and scratched, but it rides well and I love it.
My girlfriend, with the same bike, feels the same way. We're both very happy with the purchase.
Please note, this is my first full-suspension bike. Although I test-road other bikes, I really don't have much to compare it with.
Still, I don't think any intermediate rider can go wrong with this bike if they're looking for a good general all-purpose mountain bike.
And when a component breaks, you always have the option of upgrading to something more expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Killer B
a Racer
from Horse Shoe, NC
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$510.00 | | Purchased At: | eBAY | | Strengths: | Good quality, weight=32lbs, NO rear suspension bob, even while standing & pedalling | | Weaknesses: | none so far, unless it's the Hayes MX2 brakes. They're even working fine for now. | | Similar Products Used: | Haro Xtreme X2, K2 Flyin' Monkey, others I own.... | | Bike Setup: | Already changed the tires for some light weight P'racer Fire Mud Pro's, and added the custom front fender & Lizard SkinZ fork boots. Also my clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | @ $510 I couldn't lose. I would recommend this bike to anyone wanting a great deal from a great bike company.
I've owned 3 K2 bikes now, and all of them have been great bikes!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Wolmarans
a Weekend Warrior
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Los Robles or Saratoga Gap | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$790.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Cheap, nice sizing in the L | | Weaknesses: | weight, rear shock | | Similar Products Used: | nothing this cheap | | Bike Setup: | exr fork, fox vannilla spring 700 pounds | | Bottom Line: | The fox spring is simple and effective but very heavy, at leas the 700 pounds spring is. This spring seemed too heavy for my weight, 220 pounds. I bunnyhopped off a 1 foot drop and probably got 4 inches out of the 5 inch travel. And I wouldn't want to drop anything bigger on this frame anyway. The XL size of this bike was built the 800 pounds spring, I'm 220 and I couldn't get that to move even an inch bunnyhopping. We hung the L size on the scale and it came to 34 pounds. Yup, the shop guy couldn't believe it either. On the plus side, in my demo ride the sram 7 shifters, front and rear de'rs were surpsingly smooth and fast.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eman
a Weekend Warrior
from cali
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | fullerton loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$770.00 | | Purchased At: | go | | Strengths: | price, rear shock, geometry( personal prefrence), great handling | | Weaknesses: | seems to be a little loose, it almost jitters | | Similar Products Used: | i had a giant rincon for a month before i upgraded to this | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | i like it a lot over the rincon, but theyre 1000$ MSRP diffrence. after i bought this i saw that costco carries a brand called Fezzari, and at $850 it has better parts that this. but still,its decent,im happy for now | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leslie Perry
a Weekend Warrior
from Keaau, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Hilo Bike Hub | | Strengths: | Bike suspension geometry,little pedal bob even though I am a large rider, the Fox shock works great for a simple design. I also like The Hayes dics brakes. Love the K2 pipeclamp grips. | | Weaknesses: | The Marzocchi fork is not adjustable enough for my tastes. Deore shifters (should at least come with LX). Rear der. should also be LX. | | Similar Products Used: | I rode my friend's Giant NRS 1. The K2 wasn't as good as the NRS, but for $700 more in price than the K2 it better be. | | Bike Setup: | The only things I changed on the bike was the shifters to LX and the front and back der. to XT. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first full suspension bike after riding a hardtail for the past seven years and this bike just rides great. It soaks up bumps pretty good and I didn't feel any loss of pedal power through the suspension. There are better bikes out there but this bike performs well for the price. It is a good all around performer. The only things more that I would change would be the fork to a more adjustable fork and the crank to a Race Face crank. I think this bike would be good for anyone who is looking for a first full suspension bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from HIllsboro, Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ryders | | Strengths: | rear shock (fox vanilla R), Grips (K2 Pipeclamp)and the brakes (Hayes MX2 mechanical disc) | | Weaknesses: | the marzocchi EXR pro fork feels a little spongey. It works as advertised and soakes up bumps but I would like to have a little stiffer front suspension on a bike as tall as the lithium. | | Similar Products Used: | trek liquid, gary fisher cake dlx 3 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike can do a little of everything pretty well but nothing really really well. It feels a little tall on steep or sustained climbs. At 30 pounds its to heavy to race. It has to much travel for you hardcore cross country rider and not enough for downhill buddies. Now that being said if your like almost everyone else on the planet, and just like to have fun this bike will take a beating all day long. The K2 lithium 3.0 is easy on the back and easy on the wallet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dano
a
from colchester, vt
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Rear suspension, frame design, tires, componentry, saddle(personal preferance) | | Weaknesses: | tall front end, can be fixed easily by flipping stem, for super tight trails head angle is a bit high. Chain sucks up over chainstay when shifting to smaller chainring, this is after plenty of oil | | Similar Products Used: | everything in the 4 or 5 inch full suspension category | | Bike Setup: | swapped out brakes for avids, I will not include their performance in this review | | Bottom Line: | I have only had this bike for about a month, but I have taken it on just about every terrain I could. It has performed great over everything. The fork which I blasted before has not given me any real problems, but I would still like something with less rebound and more adjustability. The wheels are ok, but I need something stronger, I had them trued and tightend and they are out of true again. Shifts are snapped out without issue aside from the chainsuck. Bike is stable through everything, very very confidence inspiring. Rear suspension does not lock out pedal movements, however it keeps movement down a little while allowing the rear wheel to stay active, oddly returns energy into ground when pounding out of the saddle, I love the way this thing pedals. The tires are perfect! Not sure how a tire can grip loose sand, deep mud, gravel, hardpack, pavement, wet rock, basically almost anything. They slip like ice on wet roots, but what doesnt?
I would give it 4 chili's overall, but the 5 will balance out the 3 before, still a 5chili value | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dano
a
from vt
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1139.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine shop | | Strengths: | the geometry of this bike is perfect for aggressive trail riding. The tires grip real nicely. The rear suspension is very much adjustable, it can be set really soft for control over hairy terrain, or so stiff I cant move it(and I weigh 215lbs) for amazing efficiency. The drivetrain is not high end but shifts smooth and fast. I havent found any side flex in the rear suspension yet | | Weaknesses: | Fork: not enough rebound damping, I find this fork rockets me back balisticly, like there was no damping at all, this might just be a slow speed damping circuit failure, but considering I am told its an air damped fork, I doubt it. On the plus side the fork has a great range of spring adjustment.
Wheels: K2 spec'd a 5" travel agressive all-mountain trailbike with wussy CR-18 rims. I spent one day trying to figure out how to dirt jump with my new baby and I tweaked out the rear. I cant fault this too bad cause, well, I am heavier than your average rider and I was dirt jumping, not something this bike is designed for. I would like to see some strong rims, though I think these will do well unless things get airborne(if you buy a bike with 5" front and rear, you will probably be getting airborne)
Frame: I'd like to see more standover clearance, I am 6'2" and have a 34" inseam and this bike almost cradles my boys when I straddle it, bike is a 19" | | Similar Products Used: | just about every 3-6" travel bike that is on this site, and yes many are better than this bike, but damn they cost a lot | | Bike Setup: | mtbr is wrong, bike comes with intense sys4 tires and the fork is 120mm, also the brakes are hayes MX2's, but I switched mine to avid mech's | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, the current rims dont give me confidence for letting the tires leave the ground, but that will be fixed with a set of mavic 321 equip'd wheels for those type of rides. When its XC time these rimes should do well though, and if you dont happen to be a clydsdale like me then you probably wont tweak them so easily. The travel set in either position can be set to not move unless you hit a bump. However this does take away from a lot of the small bump sensitivity it seems. Fox's propedal works amazing, although I think the rear end would work much better if I had a slightly softer spring (something I NEVER thought I would say) because the current spring loves to keep me topped out. Pedals great though, this is by far the best trailbike I have ridden under $1800. I think I will be upgrading the fork though, the unimpeded rebound is not confidence inspiring and I think that marzocchi's MX comp w/ eta will add some nice features to the climbing and descending abilities of this bike, 5" travel forks really stick the front end up in the air.
REAL BOTTOM LINE: this bike will do everything, well. It wont do anything perfect, but its designed to, and does, do everything well, buy this bike if you only want one mountain bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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