Mountain Bike Action Review of MKIII

JmZ · Oct 28, 2006

MBA had a trail bike shootout of several $2200 bikes. They chose the MKIII Comp as Iron Horse's entry.

They didn't seem to like it. I wonder if they got the setup right, they said right in the article that they didn't set the sag where it was suggested. I don't always trust what I read in the magazines.

To get to the point. Thinking of a 5 inch travel bike for next year. Iron Horse is on the list. (Like the standover, like the lower leverage on the shock, like that it's not a bigger co like Giant or Specy too...)

I don't know of any local dealers or would be checking it out locally myself instead of posting to the boards. Claimed it had good potential, but it was lacking on the climbs.

Thanks for any input...

JmZ

DirtDiggler · Oct 28, 2006

That doesn't suprise me, MBA completely blows.

Just curious which bike those fools chose as the best trail bike...wait let me guess: The Giant anthem ?

Mr.P · Oct 28, 2006

Well, MBA, is, well, interesting.

Here is a little story for ya. A buddy of mine used to work in marketing for an audio component business. If they needed some good press, they would buy some advertising in said magazine, and SHAZAAM! instant positive write-ups.

I have an 04 HollowPoint (4.5") and am on my second non-platform shock. I currently have a vanilla RC on it with compression set to minimum. So that is no platform and minimum compression - you can imagine how sweet it feels on the downs. But when I get on the pedals, the bike scoots, no wallows, no real bob, it just takes off. The linkage really works, on my set-up it is the linkage alone doing all the anti-bob work, not the shock.

BTW I singlespeed too, so I'm not just sitting and spinning.

Your best bet is to try one. The key is to set it at 30% sag.

P

JmZ · Oct 28, 2006

1) Specy Stumpjumper Comp (07)
2) Kona Dawg Primo
3) Mongoose Tecocali Super
4) Jamis Dakar XLT 2.0
5) Cannondale Rush 800
6) Iron Horse Mark III Comp

I'm happy to try and get one to ride... anyone ride around one South Bend, Indiana?

JmZ

micky · Oct 28, 2006

Some people just dont like each other

It is not possible for MBA to give a good review of an Iron Horse product. They will say it has potential but when compared to others, they get slammed due to either very bad gear ratios (cmon who rides in the big chainring when they are on trails) or bad shocks which they dont notice until after a review.

I am no expert but I have ridden a few different suspension designs and the dw link works. I have ridden sugars, schwinn rocket 88, and a unified triangle. The suspension design blows the other bikes away. The hollowpoint (2004 expert) that I have is probably outdated now, but it is a great design. It does not bob when I stand (and I do stand a lot) which is crazy because a third of its travel is eaten up by sag.

The suspension design is well copied by other companies and DW seems to have a very strong following, which speaks well of the bikes and designs he has.

Mr.P · Oct 28, 2006

JmZ said:
1) Specy Stumpjumper Comp (07)
2) Kona Dawg Primo
3) Mongoose Tecocali Super
4) Jamis Dakar XLT 2.0
5) Cannondale Rush 800
6) Iron Horse Mark III Comp

I'm happy to try and get one to ride... anyone ride around one South Bend, Indiana?

JmZ

Wow! Now that is interesting.

1) Specy Stumpjumper Comp (07) - an unknown, too new.
2) Kona Dawg Primo - suspension has been described as "wooden", I agree.
3) Mongoose Tecocali Super - unknown to me
4) Jamis Dakar XLT 2.0 - well known brake jack
5) Cannondale Rush 800 - single pivot and all that goes with it, tho the geo is supposed to be good on that bike
6) Iron Horse Mark III Comp

I came from a racy Trek Fuel and the Hollowpoint climbs better, and decends a thousand times better. Good times!

P

peanuts · Oct 28, 2006

no surprises there, they just don't like you I.H., maybee cannondale either!.

Mountain Bike Action Review of MKIII

JmZ

DirtDiggler

Mr.P

JmZ

micky

Mr.P

peanuts

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