Submitted by
Sorcerer
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area
Date Reviewed: 5/5/2008 12:10:42 PM
|
| FavoriteTrail: |
Coe |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$715 |
| Strengths: |
Efficient suspension design. Nimble short wheelbase. Cross-country oriented steep head-angle. Light and strong for what it does. Climbs great. Descends great. Two bolt seatpost clamp (strong, but a negative if you want to drop the post during the ride, however I don't.) |
| Weaknesses: |
The worst thing is that the top shock bushing wears out too fast, and I don't know why. This was bought as frame only, without shock and maybe the set-up I have is wrong. I put a Fox RP3 on it, and the suspension action is excellent, with almost 5" of travel, but the looseness of that bushing comes back quickly after replacement. Front derailleur seat-tube cable stop not in optimal location. Pivot bolts needed to be loc-tited (I think this should be done at the factory), and re-torqued. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
FSR type bikes |
| Bike Setup: |
It is 2006 parts mix, XTR cranks, XT integrated brifters-hydraulics, XTR derailleurs, Ritchey comp post,pro bar, and older dh stem (stem looks right as is thick as down-tube). The older dial-adjust FOX Talas, which suits this bike really well, allowing really precise adjustment for terrain and riding style. When locked out, with pro-pedal on firm, the ride hammers like a ridgid fork hardtail. Velo Pronto perforated leather covered saddle provides good grip on climbs, and whose long base enhances fore and aft weight postioning.ODI lockon Ruffian grips, 36 spoke Sun Rhynolite-XT wheels, XT centerlock rotors, organic resin pads, IRC 2.35 Trail Bear rear, and IRC 2.35 V-Claw front. Xpedo cro/mag SPD pedals. Frame is the 15 inch small size. |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike really shined on it's first major outing on a vacation in Oregon, doing the Umpqua River trail amongst other trails. At first I set the shifters up as high-normal, but then realized that the shifters would work better with rapid-rise stuff, so I switched over, and do not regret that, except that I need to change the cables much more frquently as rapid rise turns into rapid-disappointment if the cables are dirty. My bike is a Swiss company design made in Taiwan ROC, with the extended travel links, and maybe rare. I have yet to see another one. It has not broken down yet. Without the top shock mount bushing problem I have I would have to say it was perfect for my tastes. I am 5'8.5" tall and the 15" frame fits perfect. While I need to have a 400mm post to make this work, the standover height is just enough for me, and no more, which would seem weird given the steeply sloping top-tube, except that the high bottom-bracket (great for rock-gardens), and the Talas, push things up so much. This is definitely an XC oriented bike, and the big tires and sturdy wheels I choose are there for traction and durability on long epic rides, not for shredding stunts and drops. The frame is really strange looking and unconventional due to BMC genius ideas. Strange to note, though, that the new 08'BMC models abandon many of the design elements we see in the Four Stroke series, which may be an indication that they learned something from a mistake made on the frame I ride. Seems suspicious to me anyway.
Don't buy it for stunts and dh, get the Super Stroke for that. This is for an epic all day rider on rugged trails.
Despite qualifying remarks above, this bike is a huge improvement over what I have ridden regularly in the past. It delivers amazingly efficient bob-free propulsion, nimble traits handy in tight situations, straight and stable at high speeds, and does everything I ask it to, and saves me when I ask for something stupid.
This bike has cleared me up some climbs that eluded me for years. It is a superior climber. I like riding up steep stuff.
5 chilis for value since it was more than half cheaper than the warranty replacement of my cracked old Intense Tracer. Four overall chilis, because of the FOX RP3 bushing wear. |
Value Rating: 
Overall Rating: 
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