I work at a performance and they made very few of those. We joke about them only making one to take a picture of and put on the website. The reality of it is a tiny inventory (waaay limited sizing) and the Access line is slated to be discontinued. If you can find one, power to you.

 

I work at a performance and they made very few of those. We joke about them only making one to take a picture of and put on the website. The reality of it is a tiny inventory (waaay limited sizing) and the Access line is slated to be discontinued. If you can find one, power to you.

WHAT?!?!?!??! The Access 29er is one of the best and most underrated aluminum frames out there (imho - I loved mine!). Wtf is wrong with them?!?!?!?

OP - sorry for the interruption. Disappointing news. (if it's true)

 

I've been eying this up for the last week or two and the extra 15% off really has me thinking now. I've been wanting to give the whole carbon fiber thing a try and these seem like a better option than the chinese carbon frames. Haven't really been able to find any feedback on them so I don't know whether it's worth buying or not??

 

Try them out. With their great 100% satisfaction guarantee, you could always return it no question asked if its not a good fit with you or trails you ride.

 

And first join their club for $30 per year, then buy the bike and use your points for gear and supplements or replacement parts. :thumbsup: Too bad about the Access, they upped the price too much and dropped the mid-grade 9.7 model (what I have)...so they kinda killed the deal themselves. The newer Stealth and Prowler are all waaaay over priced until the recent price cuts, PB needs to realize they are not name brand and the price should reflect such while still being nicely built. I love mine but would not pay the newer prices until this recent reduction...the extra 15% sale just makes it even better.

Go ride it around the parking lot, at least you'll know if it's a possible fit for you. I changed to shorter stem, different saddle, grips and tires that's it to get it trailworthy. I have now gone 2x9 with bashguard and swapped my bars to some lighter Eastons too. :thumbsup:

 

I was working relatively close to a Performance store today so I figured I would stop buy and check this bike out. Of course there wasn't any there and when I asked the salesman about the bike he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. His reply was "Access is our brand so we should have it soon"

I prob would have brought one home or ordered one if they had something there to check out or if the salesman at least had a clue.

 

FYI, I just saw the silver anodized 2011 Access 9.7 in a size 19" in stock at one of the Performance Bikes and on clearance for $899 (you might get the additional 15% sale too), if you are interested let me know and I'll give you the address of the store.

 

Another healthy round of price cuts on the Access line, including the carbon models, at performancebike.com has these things at a nice price point. I bought the Access Stealth Carbon 4.0 in July when it dropped to $1399, suspecting that it would go lower and that I could use the 90 day price protection to get the difference credited back to my card. Sure enough, after about 6 weeks of use, I see the price dropped to $1199 and so I just called and got the $200 refunded to my card. I can't believe I was able to enjoy this thing all summer and get another $200 off. I'm very happy with the ride and the overall construction of the frame, it's a very good deal in the sub $1200 range.

The worst part about this bike is the paint job (I hate the red lettering), otherwise, for a Deore equipped carbon bike, $1199 is a very good deal. I know I could do better building my own bike, but I dont have time for that any more.

 

Well I ended up picking up one of the Stealth 4.0's up when there were on sale on Monday for $1099. I purchased my team performance membership so I got 10% back, seems like a pretty good deal for a complete carbon bike with some decent components on it. This bike will allow me to be done with 26" wheels finally!

The bike weighed in right at 27lbs out of the box, not too bad for the components that came on it. I already sold the TK fork and the Reba off my Canzo is going on it once my chainlove marzocchi comes in to replace it. I have to shift some parts around between bikes but hopefully I'll be able to get it out for a ride within the next week or so.

I was torn between this and doing a chinese carbon build or sette carbon build, but for price and from everything I read about performances customer service this seemed to be the way to go!

 

I got a Stealth 3.0 this weekend and the first thing I did was convert the Stans to tubeless (they shipped with tubes in them), I swapped my Forte CTR carbon bar to the Stealth from another bike since the bars that come on the stealth are pitiful. I set up the fork for my weight and tweaked the controls and hit the trails!!!

ITS AWESOME! I LOVE this bike! From what I read most all the ACCESS frames are underrated and really good frames if your not a "label whore" and HAVE to have a certain brand plastered on your frame. I got FULL Shimano SLX, including the brakes and a FOX fork and Stans tubeless wheels! sure there are a few parts that need to be upgraded (seat post, stem, and bars) but they work just fine!

Lovin mine, and riding it with extra loot in my pocket!!

 

Well I got my stealth 4.0 built to my liking now I just have to ride it. I stripped it down to the frame before I built it and the frame came in at 2.95lbs for the large with the derailleur hanger and water cage bolts. Switched out a few parts and put a Reba fork, slx cranks, X7 shifter, X9 rear derailleur, wtb devo saddle and went tubeless and the bike came in at 24.90lbs. Hopefully getting some time this afternoon to test it out!

 

Very nice! We're looking at one this afternoon. The 90 day price refund and 100% return option is a good selling point. Hope it fits her; everything else in the price range is aluminum and with lesser build spec.

 

wheels

So how are the wheels? I see they have good stans rims with cheap joy tech hubs. what do they use for spokes, straight or butted?
thanks

 

I am considering buying the 2011 Stealth Access 3.0 anyone else can offer some input on this bike? I test rode it in the parking lot at a performance bicycle and I must say I was hooked. Bike weight in at 26.32 when the sales guy weighed it on the scale.

I am looking for a 29er and this bike felt just perfect for me. Unfortunately cannot find many reviews on it online.

 

I was down in Tuscon at the beginning of October and they had one Stealth complete for $1299. Had they made a small, I would have bought it immediately for my girl using a 10% off coupon on top of that price. Overall, I think that is a pretty good deal, and probably won't be a huge measurable difference between other carbon frames out there. I think its a wise investment!

 

Love mine and will not return it. They are great bikes, for the price you can't beat them IMO. Bought mine on double point weekend, over 400.00 in store credit.

 

My first ride I had a tension problem with the rear wheel and the hub seems noisy to me. Performance tensioned and trued the wheel but wouldn't acknowledge any noises. Only rode it one time since.

Otherwise so far I got to say I enjoy the bike. It def is a solid value for the price, especially if you can pick it up with an extra discount or double points. Unless a tapered steerer, bottom bracket options and internal cable routing are important to you buy it, you won't get more bike for the money!

 

I made the purchase today couldn't resist the bike anymore. I upgraded the tires before I even left the store I could not see myself riding on those oem tires specially where I ride here is always muddy. I switched my tires to the Kenda Tomac Nevegal DTC 29er

Can't wait to take it out this weekend. Thanks for the input and advice to everyone on here.

 

You won't regret it, congrats and great looking bike..

 

Anybody know what derailleur hanger these bikes take? I broke one already and need some spares.

 

Man I have upgraded some of the "sore" points of this bike with better components and this bike is as solid or more so than others than twice the price!

Handlebar: I replaced it with the Forte CTR carbon bar I was running on my SS.

Stem, stem top cap/seat post, collar: All got replaced with Tompson goodies for Christmas!

Crap Joytech Hubs: I learned to build my own wheels and bought XT centerlock hubs, XT Icetec rotors, DT Swiss DB spokes. I laced them all up to the Stan's Flow rims that came with the bike and they ride and brake BEAUTIFUL!!! I stuck a red and white spoke in right at the valve stem, looks really good with the graphics on the wheels! This was so worth the time and investment!

My Fiancée got me some Nevengal tires for the winter/wet season. Now the bike is really rideable in anything other than perfectly dry conditions.

Maybe this Christmas I'll send the fork into Push, maybe change the saddle just for comfort reasons, now it's time to add the details, Ti bolts and stuff.....just because!