[schty006]

This is an Australian only Brand Bike with the following specs:

Malvern Star xcs 9.0
Frame: 6061 Alloy Double Butted Hydraform Tubing
Weight: 11.9kg
Fork: Rock Shox Recon Race, 100mm Travel with Pop Lock Remote Lockout
Brake Levers: Avid Juicy 7
Brakes: Avid Juicy 7 Hydraulic, 160mm Rotors
Shifters: Sram X-9 Trigger 27 Speed
Front Derailleur: Sram X-9 Top Pull 34.9mm
Rear Derailleur: Sram X-9
Bottom Bracket: TruVativ GXP Team 2 Piece Cartridge
Crankset: TruVativ Stylo 3.3 170mm
Chain Sram: PC-971
Pedals: Shimano PDM-520
Handlebar Stem: TruVativ ST Team
Handlebar: TruVativ Stylo Team
Hubs DT Swiss X1800 Disc 28hole
Cassette / Freewheel: Sram PG-970 11-32 9 Speed
Spokes: DT Swiss X1800
Rims / Wheelset: DT Swiss X1800 28hole
Tyres: Hutchinson Python Original Kevlar 26 x 2.0
Seat Post: TruVativ Team Double Clamp 30.9 x 350mm
Saddle: WTB Rocket 'V'
Sizes: XS,S,M,L,XL
Colours: Red

this bike is $1599 rrp in Australia so i imagine it would be around the $950 in the USA
There are only 2 or three left in the country as they were snapped up really quickly.

Any opinions on the components/ weight frame etc would be great!!!

Here is the link to the website. http://www.thelegendisback.com.au/

Thanks guys (and girls)!!!

 

[ash240]

Where are you?

In AU we wouldn't normally look at this brand unless we didn't know much about bikes.
A long time ago they were "ok" but then went downhill. Most likely the brand name was bought up and some asian frame bought to be badged and fitted out. I would take a long hard look. If there is only a few in the country, what about warranty?

 

[schty006]

There were 4000 across various specs and they have all been sold the XCS 9.0 apparently all went in the first few days (except for 2 i have found). Malvern have relaunched at the upper end of the market away from the wall mart/ k mart style bikes. They are also doing $6000 carbon frame roadbikes so they are aiming upscale with their marketing and product.

there are 60 dealerships australia wide and there is a good warranty on the bikes.

 

[ash240]

Taiwan frame or Chinese? Same Asian frames as everyone else?
How do you know the warranty is good? Tried it? Heard of anyone who has?
The brand is the under the same owners it has been for some time. so what has changed?
Same people who own "dunlop". Another quality brand you think?
Sorry, without knowing what the frames were I would stick to a real bike from a real bike maker. not a rebranding house. Take the risk if you want but try to see what the frame is first.

 

[schty006]

taiwanese frame, apparently from a supplier to giant
Lifetime warranty on frame. components as per sram, juicy rock shox etc
The company has not changed hands, has been around for decades, just relaunching a more premium product.
I dont really follow the Dunlop Q.

Thanks for the reply ash240.

Does anyone have any comments about the components specs and weight, i would love to hear what you think!

 

[tmonck]

sounds like a pretty decent setup.make sure you try before u buy. down here in oz its sorta known as one of the cheapy brands but if what you say is true go for it mate. make sure theres a warranty going on it though.

 

[ash240]

taiwanese frame, apparently from a supplier to giant
Lifetime warranty on frame. components as per sram, juicy rock shox etc
The company has not changed hands, has been around for decades, just relaunching a more premium product.
I dont really follow the Dunlop Q.

Thanks for the reply ash240.

Does anyone have any comments about the components specs and weight, i would love to hear what you think!

I thought Giant made there own frames? Are they not one of the biggest makers?
Does the frame look similar to any older giant product?
Yes, the brand name has been around for ages AND run into the ground by being used on low quality gear, like Dunlop.
Where are you getting the info? For the money, can't you get quite a nice bike from a known brand in the US? Quite likely it will fail to make it in the market over there. In which case you can expect warranty issues. How do you KNOW the warranty is good?

Who are you? Linked to the company?
Where are you?
A lot of what you are saying seems odd.

You CANNOT rebrand an asian frame and then call it a "premium" or top end product just like that. It's not going to work. IF as it seems "they" want to enter the US market then it's sure to fail

 

[schty006]

Ash240, this is in the newbie section because i dont know a huge amont about bikes, but this knowledge is accumulating quickly as i research my new bike.

I was looking at a giant talon or xtc 2 but the 20% jump in prices due to the aussie dollar dropping into the 60's agains the US it really seemed to drop there value for money. The price now puts it inline with a talon and it seems a lot better specced and weighs less just seems better value.

I am aware that they have been a kmart style bike for quite a while, but i am sure they can change!

What i have stated previously is what i have learnt from some aussie based bike forums mtbdirt and farkin etc as well as speaking to some of malverns dealers.

As far as i am aware they are an aussie only company and i doubt they would be trying to get into the us market although the aussie dollar would favour that! i am pretty happy to support australian industry and business so if i can buy an australian equivelant that is as good as a us owned bike i will every time.

As for me, I am a 25 year old post grad medical student living on the gold coast in south east QLD. No link to the company except thinking about buying one of their bikes.

I am just getting into mountain biking in the Nerang state forest 10k from where i live and have decided a decent bike is in order.

 

[cobba]

taiwanese frame, apparently from a supplier to giant

I thought Giant made there own frames?
Are they not one of the biggest makers?
Does the frame look similar to any older giant product?

The frame is possibly made by Giant, they do make their own frames as well as frames for other companies.
Giant is one of the largest frame manufacturers in the world.
Frames made by Giant for other companies don't always look Giants bikes, they make them to the other companies specs. A couple of well known companies that Giant make frames for are Trek and Specialized but there's plenty of others.

You CANNOT rebrand an asian frame and then call it a "premium" or top end product just like that. It's not going to work. IF as it seems "they" want to enter the US market then it's sure to fail

What do you call a 'Premium' or 'Top End' product?
Some companies in Asia, specifically Taiwan make very good quality frames, maybe this isn't what you'd call this a 'Premium' frame but it's probably good quality and comparable to similar frames on different brand bikes in the same price bracket. I'm not sure where this idea of entering the US market comes from I see no indications of it?

The Malvern Star XCS 9.0 looks like a good bike, it has good specs, if the price is comparable or better then other brands and the warranty is good then I see no reason why you shouldn't buy it, just make sure the frame is the right size. Test ride the bike to make sure it fits you properly and is comfortable.

 

[ash240]

Ash240, this is in the newbie section because i dont know a huge amont about bikes, but this knowledge is accumulating quickly as i research my new bike.

What i have stated previously is what i have learnt from some aussie based bike forums mtbdirt and farkin etc as well as speaking to some of malverns dealers.

As far as i am aware they are an aussie only company and i doubt they would be trying to get into the us market although the aussie dollar would favour that! i am pretty happy to support australian industry and business so if i can buy an australian equivelant that is as good as a us owned bike i will every time.

I am just getting into mountain biking in the Nerang state forest 10k from where i live and have decided a decent bike is in order.

Right, NOW we can help a bit more The stuff you posted before was marketing rubbish and nothing that was being said to you seemed to be able to get you to think.

I would take a long hard look at what else you can buy. Old stock. Last years models?
It might be ok but the points I've tried to make should be thought about.
When I buy I stick to known, decent brands.

It's an old Australian brand NAME, that's all. I wouldn't put a lot of value on spending money with a rebranding house. most of the cash goes OS anyway.

 

[ash240]

The frame is possibly made by Giant, they do make their own frames as well as frames for other companies.
Giant is one of the largest frame manufacturers in the world.
Frames made by Giant for other companies don't always look Giants bikes, they make them to the other companies specs. A couple of well known companies that Giant make frames for are Trek and Specialized but there's plenty of others.

yes ,yes, which is why I was trying to get him to think and see who he was. Some random starts posting marketing info on here. Should we take it a face value or dig a bit?
I am quite aware of the info you posted which is why I was asking what I was. Nice of you to repost it for others though.

What do you call a 'Premium' or 'Top End' product?
Some companies in Asia, specifically Taiwan make very good quality frames, maybe this isn't what you'd call this a 'Premium' frame but it's probably good quality and comparable to similar frames on different brand bikes in the same price bracket. I'm not sure where this idea of entering the US market comes from I see no indications of it?

Maybe you could read what he posted and try to work it out?
USD price, no info from him, no "wallmarts" in AU, odd comments ("Malvern have relaunched at the upper end of the market", "so they are aiming upscale with their marketing and product.") and a few other things.
He asked a specific question, from what I have seen there are no reliable comments on this (relaunched) brands frames. "Probably" does not cut it. Asian frames are made to a price and specs. Are they "probably" ok? HUGE variation between different frames. How do you know it's "probably" ok? Ridden one? Looked at one? Heard any long term comments? Why do you think the same OEM's have HAD to increase prices due to costs yet they can push out cheaper frames to other brands?

The Malvern Star XCS 9.0 looks like a good bike, it has good specs, if the price is comparable or better then other brands and the warranty is good then I see no reason why you shouldn't buy it, just make sure the frame is the right size. Test ride the bike to make sure it fits you properly and is comfortable.

Bzzzt, wrong! Without seeing and riding the frame plus having long term use you have no real idea and are basing it on specs only. You ASSUME the frame decent. Is it?
IS the warranty good? Ever heard of anyone making a claim? How do you know they stick to it?

An honest opinion would be that the specs look good (which he knows) but that he should have a good hard look and ride the thing. Then decide and take the risk. Is this not what I said? Plus added a few points that should be thought about?

Frames are quite important. Let's not ignore this It's cheaper with good specs. How?
Think

 

[jeffj]

Why the 170mm crankset?

Is the size you are getting small or extra small?

 

[schty006]

I am getting the 19" frame which is a medium, as a far as i was a ware that is a pretty standard crank length?