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Submitted by
Greg Frost
a
from Agoura Hills
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | on line used | | Strengths: | Where to start the bike Rocks!!! The geometry is great for my DH/XC style riding 7" travel 130-170mm you choose. I'm 6"0 ride a Large. Strong never breaks rock gardens, small drop offs, water, dirt, Santa Monica MTNs, Big Bear,Mammoth No prob! | | Weaknesses: | If it were a little lighter? someone mentioned it being 31.5lbs pretty cool for 7" on 2.35 Minion Tires and stock parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Ready for this a "BUELL PARAMOUNT FULL SUSPENSION" The Grand Dad to all mountain bikes!! | | Bike Setup: | Shermin Manitou 7"130-170mm ,Fox Vanilla 130-170mm,321 Mavic stock(never bent),XT Rear Derailer,LX frnt,Hayes Nine 8", Riser Bars w/3 spacers. | | Bottom Line: | The bike came w/ 2 front chain rings added a 3rd big gear a few adjustment and WaLa..Climbs good always seated
corners good and DH really good. Remember its a Free Ride Bike!! its a cross between DH/XC. Super Strong as stock bike. I am so impressed its unbelievable. The bikes makes me a stronger rider just push ones self. Climbs are most challenging I have been thinking to try to lighten this up a bit but may cost to much 1k$, but as I review other bikes to buy another to loose 3lbs to cost me 2k-3k.
Highly Reccomend if you could find one!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrick Subrata
a Weekend Warrior
from Jakarta, Indonesia
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | Spot on geometry, light weight, rigidity, a bike that is very capable going downhill as well as uphill | | Weaknesses: | Hayes brakes are not so good. Manitou Sherman Breakout can fel a bit too flexy. Finding a fork with 1.5 headtube can be a problem. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for Marzoochi Bomber 66 RCV with 1.5 head tube, and THE head lock. | | Bottom Line: | A good bike that you can trust when the going gets tough and it sure is a head turner. I've been using it for more than 2 years and most of the components are still working properly, very happy with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a
from provo,ut
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | stewart falls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | light for what it is, 7 inches of travle, thru axels | | Weaknesses: | front fork is a little tough on the small stuff | | Bike Setup: | stock but easton seat post and tubeless | | Bottom Line: | First off, Im 5'11, and debated on getting a medium or large. If you are similiar sized, go medium. Buy this bike if you dont mind climbing a bit, but prefer to be shuttled and if you ride fast enough to justify 7 inches. Otherwise there are cheaper 5 inch bikes. I heard alot about it not climbing well, but with the swinger 4way set up I think it climbs as well as my xc bike, and is a hell of a lot more fun on the way down. I dont know much of the technical crap, but I ride almost every day on some pretty rough trails, and this is the best bike I have ever ridden. Tracks like a champ, gets you out of bad choices, brakes are amazing. I may switch out the fork to the marz 66 in a couple years, but the sherman is great on everything but the chatter. I will keep this frame until it dies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bacsi Bacsi
a Downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Scorpian Thunder at Blue Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Dukes | | Strengths: | It is a good bike for Ontario type of downhill. A lot of pedalling and it is light. It is also good probaly better for freeriding | | Weaknesses: | only 170mm of rear travel would have prefered 200mm, but it is still good. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for 5th element rear shox. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for freeriding. Pretty good for downhill, but I think it is better for freeriding. It is a light bike and can probaly be used for cross country. but I am not a cross country rider so I don't know! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tettabeta
a Weekend Warrior
from Somewhere in north Italy
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Unstoppable,unless you want it, and those Louise FR are very good at it. Zero trouble, 100% pleasure.
Raw finish is awesome.
Built like a tank yet light enough to pedal it.
A classic. Maybe the Porsche 911 of freeride rigs. | | Weaknesses: | Sherman a little too hard on small bumps. Resolved stripping out the SPV gizmo.
Makes you spend (or willing to) alot of time away from family (may not be a weakness for many :-D ) | | Bike Setup: | Gemini 2000 '04 + DMR V8 pedals | | Bottom Line: | Not many bushing as some latest designs, but who cares ?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
liron rabber
a Weekend Warrior
from tel aviv
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | manara cliff | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | second hand... | | Strengths: | it is good for everything from freeriding /DH/urban to trail riding xc stile | | Weaknesses: | It is hard to find for the one point five stems or handlebars to match for trail riding like a 80 mm stem there are only like 3 brands and they all make about the same products but it is not such a big deal... | | Similar Products Used: | jamis xlt 1 (2003),big hit comp,ellsworth id,and a few hardails.. | | Bike Setup: | stock except the weels are mavic ex721 still looking for the perffect tire for all mountain and dh all together | | Bottom Line: | this is a grat bike like i have said it is grat for freeriding and dh but that is expected from tham what really make tham shine is that they are a very good climber as well and that is hard to find maybe now with the new santa cruz nomad you can have the same abilities at the same weight but still the gemmini is more intended for DH and FR than the santa cruz so i think it is still a winner that can be compared only to elsworth joker wich is quit the same but the angles are mor for the DH side there so all in all i think it is a great choice if you want that one bike that can do it all more an the DH/FR side of the scale! i have done 30 mile rides on them with no problems but it you want regret and if you want to make it cheper buy the 900 and put on the manitou swinger it will give you all the benefits without the higher price...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Robinson
a Racer
from North Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Carlton Bank | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Westbrook cycles | | Strengths: | lite and easy to throw round on a challenging downhill cousse | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Orange 222 | | Bike Setup: | Race | | Bottom Line: | Amazing bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan Chismark
a Cross Country Rider
from Bedford, NH USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Shop Form | | Strengths: | Lots of different bikes rolled into one but overall a mean freeride rig. Easy to set up suspension and surprisingly light for this much travel. Performs best on hucks and drops and whatnot. | | Weaknesses: | Only a few--stock coil spring is meant for someone that weighs about 300 lbs. And the stock stem is chincey. Otherwise not too many. | | Similar Products Used: | Other FR stuff. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rips for just about any application. I had to put on a new coil-spring, and got a DH stem/bars set up cuz the stock set up is pretty beat. I also had some problems with the Truvativ crankset. BUT, Truvativ came through and hooked me up on short notice with some upgrade parts. This bike is best for freeriding but can definitely be ridden in DH settings. I actually rode this rig on a lot of x-c rides and kept up just fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dude man
a Cross Country Rider
from alaska
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | mine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | its neat | | Weaknesses: | doesnt match my super outfit | | Similar Products Used: | pogo stick | | Bike Setup: | really good with streamers, clickers, bells and a handle bar basket | | Bottom Line: | the guy from ojai is lame. he wears a pink helmet and rainbow shorts. im just saying... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
haydo dasman
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney nsw australia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | light weight with great handling on ond off the ground very good balance perfect example of a freeride bike.the spv on bothends gives good pedal platform,lets you dial in your riding style with ease,be it xc or freeride | | Weaknesses: | the rims are a bit weak for a freeride bike,hubs are not the greatest. | | Similar Products Used: | intense m1,kona coiler,norco a-line,cove peeler,santa cruz bullit | | Bike Setup: | 38 chain ring,cycle underground bash guard custom, intense mag 30 rims, dice hoo doo rear hub ,ringle abbah front hub truvativ box guide. | | Bottom Line: | great bike inspires you to go hard as you want,the bike that can let you do anything from xc to dh finally freedom. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Davy
a Downhiller
from Ojai
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Pinos | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1680.00 | | Purchased At: | Employee purchase | | Strengths: | Manitou Breakout Plus Fork, Manitou Swinger 4 Way Rear Shock, WTB Laser V Pro Saddle, SRAM X7 Thumb Shifters and X9 Rear Derailleur, Hayes Mag Disc Brakes and Levers | | Weaknesses: | Nothing on this bike is poor quality. | | Similar Products Used: | Weyless 67 freeride bike | | Bike Setup: | Stock from Cannondale | | Bottom Line: | This bike is incredible. It climbs great and flys on the downhill. It's super plush and very light. I have only had this bike for a short while and I am in awe of its capabilities. Its taken some strenuous abuse and will no doubt take all that I can throw at it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Downhiller
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | employee purchase | | Strengths: | OnePointFive Headtube, Manitou Sherman Breakout Plus, Hayes Disk Brakes, Pedals
| | Weaknesses: | None For Me | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Supreme, Kona Stab | | Bottom Line: | This is a really sweet bike for guys that want to rally, yet you can still add air to the shocks to stiffen them up for cross country biking. I have a medium size frame and it weighs only 37 pounds. It is a pretty light freeride bike,capable of anything you can throw at it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a
from Wheaton/Bloomington IL
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | an appendix to my previous review. Don't take this bike dirt jumping, or urban riding, the suspension takes all the challenge out of landing stuff. I've noticed its made pretty much any drop under 6 feet feel pretty tame. I think this bike will only be used for hardcore freeriding (8 foot plus drops) and north shore stuff. Get a chase 2 if you wanna do anything urban or or go DJ-ing. Also, replace the rear rim right away. The other day after only 3 weeks of 6 foot drops to flat concrete (very smooth thought), nearly a third of the spokes on the rear rim were almost completley loose. EEK! Get an intense mag 30 for the rear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan H
a
from Wheaton/Bloomington IL
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos, kickapoo, challenge park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1690.00 | | Purchased At: | Employee purchase | | Strengths: | Uber stiff and light. Sram drivetrain is tops. SPV front and rear, Super nimble on the ground and the air. Wouldn't believe the weight | | Weaknesses: | Husselfelt cranks, 321 rims | | Similar Products Used: | own and f600 and a chase | | Bike Setup: | Stock except new cranks (holzfeller) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best. It weighs about 6 or so pounds less than it should. With lighter tires (not 2.5's) could work on an XC trail. But this thing is the best for free riding. Ive been doing some urban riding with it, 5-6 foot drops to flat and such, thing hold up like a tank. The frame is unbelieveabley stiff. I question the strength of the breakout plus (i'm 6'6" 200ish lbs), but we'll see, so far so good, i'd rather have a lefty though. This thing handles really well on the ground and in the air, Its really stable. I can manual with ease (and i'm pretty bad at it)., I took it for a 10 mile ride on pavement today (my other bike had a flat that i was to lazy to repair). It wasn't easy, but it was definetley do-able. The only beef is the cranks and the rims. I've broken a set of both before hand. The 321 rims just look.....out of place. I expect to have to put new ones on there by the summer. The stock cranks just aren't up to par with the rest of the bike. Too heavy and weak for a gemini 2000. But if you are thinking about a hardcore freeride bike that can do urban, north shore, light dh, and xc, forget the prophet, or the demos or bighits, get this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chase Double-You
a Weekend Warrior
from Greensboro, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban/The "Zone" | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2350.00 | | Purchased At: | Paceline Bicycles | | Strengths: | Amazingly stiff frame, 12mm elliptical rear axle, raw "paint", OnePointFive headtube, and of course, SPV in both ends. | | Weaknesses: | Stock rims will not accept larger than a 2.30" tire nor are they the best for agressive freeriding, Cane Creek DoubleX headset is terrible! | | Similar Products Used: | C'Dale Gemini 900; C'Dale Prophet 600; Foes Fly; Specialized BigHit Comp; | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for an E.Thirteen Chainguide and Kenda K-Rad tires for urban assaults. | | Bottom Line: | Oh, about my statement about this bike not being able to take abuse from the "hardcore" crowd? FORGET IT!!! This bike will take anything you throw at it and beg for more. This is one of those bikes that gives you that itch to stay on for one more run, one more jump, one more gap. The Gemini soaks up every last root on the local XC trails and pedals like a dream. Add some compression damping nd hit all the drops and jumps you want, the bike will break you before you break it. Plus, it's comforting to know that this bike has been punished to no end by 2003 Rampage champ, Cedric Gracia, and has withstood every blow. 10 stars out of 5, the Gemini has no equal. Ride it if you don't believe me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Brooklyn Park, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Lebanon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cannot Say (dealer insider) | | Strengths: | Light for the type of bike it is. S.P.V. on both ends (7-inches of no-bob suspension). Has held up to an aggressive rider weighing 200lbs and several drops of 5' onto flat landings. | | Weaknesses: | Two bolt face plate stem slips with big hits. Hubs loosened up after a month of riding. Cannondale replaced the wheelset with a Gemini 3000 set. | | Similar Products Used: | None this hardcore. Specialized Enduro's for my other bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with FSA DH300stem and Holsfeller OS bar. Also now has Ringle' hubset and D321 rims (tougher than original x321's). | | Bottom Line: | This is a bike that I'll never sell. I'm looking foreward to the chance to get this thing out on some real freeriding trails someday. At 36lbs for an extra large bike this thing climbs nicely and rockets down the gnarliest hills. Other than transporting a bike with thru-axle hubs and the above weaknesses I love my Cannondale. If you are looking for a great lightweight freeride bike (most are 45+lbs) the Gemini 2000 is well worth considering. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Nicholls
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Morzine French Alps | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Rental Bike | | Strengths: | This bike rocks, the 7" travel gets you out of trouble before you realise you are in it! No need to choose lines, just aim downhill go. Feels completely bombproof but is not too heavy to ride on long XC rides, even climbs fine when you are used to it.
| | Weaknesses: | Grub screw in brake levers kept coming undone during the 3 days that I had this bike. Apparently "that is what Hayes do". When working though, the brakes were very powerful. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Switch, Proflex (is that similar???) | | Bike Setup: | Standard set-up, seatpost has plenty of adjustment so equally suitable for long XC rides and mad steep descents. | | Bottom Line: | Thinking of remortgaging to buy one...! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lach - 3
a Cross Country Rider
from dover , Vt , Usa
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | suspention, brakes, frame | | Weaknesses: | no paint to protect the aluminum from small scratches, looks great though! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this bike rules! I climbs as good or better then my gary fisher sugar 2 bike did. even without switching the rapid travel ajustment to climbing mode it can still climb good. It goes down the roughest and steepest decents with ease and it eats up the trail. the 8 " disc brakes provide awsome stoping power in every condition. my second ride was all in the rain and the trail was soaked but I was makeing it over rock and root sections that my other bike couldn't even handle on dry days. as far as drops, I haven't hit anything over 4 feet. but you can land It on the roughest terrian and it will suck it up.In conclusion , buy this bike, you'll enjoy riding 100% more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michal Grau
a Weekend Warrior
from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Sheltowee trace London KY | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Relatively light weight, engineering, thru axle stiffness f/r, manitou SPV suspension f/r, DT HUGI hubs, XT reverse action rear der., Hayes 8" hydraulic brakes, truvativ hozfeller cranks, Maxxis High Roller tires. 1.5 steerer! | | Weaknesses: | Mavic 321 rimset | | Similar Products Used: | n/a this is my first FR bike proper! | | Bike Setup: | Azonic 2.5 worldforce bars, WTB Power-v DH seat, THE front fender, other than that Stock Spec (which is very good) | | Bottom Line: | I had spent the past three years asking my Jekyll to step up to my riding demands, and had to hold back at times, with this bike, I have no limits and total confidence in attacking any terrain. This bike is rock solid relatively and not that much heavier feel or actual weight(36 lbs). The suspension (SPV) works so well that it pedals at least as good (if not better) as my 4 inch bike and it has 7 inches f/r! The long swingarm provides plush bump absorbsion, and bit hits are not an issue. I had to up the stock spring rates for my weight, but other than that the bike works great out of the box. I am not feeling much flex in the new Breakout Plus SC 1.5 fork, it sucks up te terrain and steers well. This bike rocks and I look forward to trail riding it as well as heading to Snowshoe with it for some lift served. I will write another review in the following months as it is broken in. I am happy so far. This bike seems very versatile and the adjustible travel is great for adapting to climbs or tighter terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RickyB
a Weekend Warrior
from Albany, NY USA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Stables in Saratoga | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR | | Strengths: | Versatile and fun, very comfortable for long rides. Very lightweight for a 7" x 7" bike, right there at XC weights. Ultra-efficient pedaling, Manitou Swinger and Sherman are incredible, you must ride them to believe it. | | Weaknesses: | nada | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky, Giant AC | | Bike Setup: | SRAM XO shifters and rear derailleur, XTR cranks, Monkey Lite Riser, Easton Seat Post, Stans No-Tubes with Maxis High Roller Stick-E 2.35's. | | Bottom Line: | The bike came set up nicely with XC components and weighed in at 32.5 pounds. With a wide XC type tire (Kenda Blue Groove 2.3) the bike should come in right around 31 pounds. This makes the Gemini incredibly flexible. No problem hammering on a 2 hour cross country ride, just rode it last night for a 14 mile XC ride that had about 800 feet of climbing, and likewise, 800' of descent. The bike flows incredibly over anything you point it at. Took it to Mt Snow and rode the downhill course, and the bike crushed on it. If you are into lift access, and still need to pedal up hill, this bike is it. The Sherman Breakout Plus feels just as stiff as a regular triple crown. I'm sure the Dorado is completely different, but we are also talking about a sub 6 lb front fork. The Manitou suspension, all SPV, is awesome. Out of the seat hammering is no problem, no bobbing. Actually has less bob than my Fisher Cake DLX 1. I never even switch the shock settings, always go 7" x 7". I still ride the Fisher for big climbs, but otherwise the Gemini is quick, way more fun to ride, and goes over anything you put in its way. Great for jumping and drops, better at it than I am currently, but this is the kind of bike that DEFINATELY will make you a better rider. Just an awesome, singletrack, freeriding, epic kind of bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
noel loughrey
a Weekend Warrior
from london
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | devils soup bowl | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Purchased At: | bonthrone bikes | | Strengths: | just one look at it tells u ur goin to have one hell of a ride built like a tank but gos like a jet,iv only had mine 3 days and only been on it once, tryin to get over last crash, but cant wait to take it to hell and back | | Weaknesses: | none only me ,so far so good | | Similar Products Used: | never had a bike like it ,my other bike is a rocky ridge | | Bike Setup: | still workin it out | | Bottom Line: | im just getin in to freerideing and lovein the buzz,,payed £1950,which was down from £2650 wot a deal ,only been out on it once doin few jumps just to test out and wot a dream this bike is landing feels like landin on a row of beds even with leg in plaster,,,,will b back to review it better when plaster is off next week,,lol | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Downhiller
from Cumbria
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | this is a fantastic bike it has DH ability with almost XC weight the rear end hardly bobs with the propedal shock and the breakouts are awsome. where i live i have to ride up the hills to come back down them and this is the prefect bike for the job because its not too heavy but hads loads of travel to soak up big drops and steep rocky sections. | | Weaknesses: | dont be fooled by the size if you buy one thats too big you will regret it cos you'll be limited by how steep you can go down, as the head angle is quite steep which is great for control but if the bike is too big you will not be able to go steep. | | Similar Products Used: | stinky dee-lux, yeti asx, cove g-spot, spec big hit and a host of others. | | Bike Setup: | stock except i have a vanilla RC which i prefered in the shop (simple swap) | | Bottom Line: | the other bikes mentioned are all awsome and have very similar features (long travel, similar groupsets and price) however there is one major difference and that is the weight. the cannondale is hand built to a very high quality and so does not require extra welds on spacific joints to be as strong as is required, if you look at the frames of the other bikes they have extra bits because they are machine weleded. this makes the dale much lighter and therefore a better "freeride" bike because it can do more different types of riding from long trails to big drops to going very fast down world cup venues (fort william) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martyn nash
a Weekend Warrior
from Whitland
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Llanddowror | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure lakes Cheltenham | | Strengths: | Toughness, finish. fork, shock.
Climbs well, nimble on the singletrack, and faster than me going down. | | Weaknesses: | Faster than me going down ;-) | | Similar Products Used: | ?Specialized Enduro 04 S-works? not really similar | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except soon to be Thomson post, Easton EA70 bar, Continental vertical Protection tyres, and WTB saddle. | | Bottom Line: | Well I had an 04 enduro s-works for 6 months, then realised that it wasnt quite strong enough and I wanted something burlier with less maintenence, which could climb as good but descend way way better. Well I didn't expect it to climb as well but it does, even with the higher front end a diferent style is required, I thought I would notice the weight but I dont, my rides aqre 3-4 hours hard runs. I am also way more confident on this bike and its far more comfortable. I know I wont win any races on it but with that last few bikes I have had something was missing. I now know what it was, a more comfortable riding position. The frame finish is different I have the raw finish, and you dont have to worry about scratching the paint so much. The breakout fork is to me and 146 lbs way superior to the Talas RL that I had, it was never what I had expected of it. Another reason I bought it was of the way Cedric Gracia rides, I know I'll never be able to do what he does but there's no harm in trying. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
armando vidales
a Racer
from bonita ca, usa
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anderson | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | pedals like a cross country bike decends like a full blown downhill rig. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | v10,heckler,bullit,giant ac. | | Bike Setup: | grip shift xo, minion front and rear, fsa everything else. | | Bottom Line: | this bike is great. i rode it cross country for 2.5 hours on a loop i normally do on my x/c bike and then shuddled the next day on some big d/h stuff. the ability to slam the seat down from full extention and adjust travel from 5 to 7 is why i went with this bike. its a little heavy for all day rides but not so much that you wont try. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chase
a Weekend Warrior
from Greensboro USA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Relatively lightweight frame, 12mm Thru-Axle, Sherman Breakout Plus SPV fork, Manitou Swinger 4-Way SPV rear shock, adjustable travel, EXTREMELY VERSATILE, | | Weaknesses: | Frame not built to handle the "super-big" stuff, except for suspension, the components are a little dull, price/benifit ratio not very good | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, Specialized Bighit SPEC, Ventane El Camucho, Turner Rail, Specialized Bighit Comp, Kona Stinky, | | Bike Setup: | Size Large, Manitou Suspension, Truvativ Hussefelt cranks and rings, Shimano Deore XT/LX drivetrain, Cannondale rear hub/seatpost/stem, | | Bottom Line: | I rode this bike two ways, one set for full-leg extension and then dropped the seat for freeriding. Let me tell you, both ways just showed immediately how versatile this bike is. It pedals EXTREMELY WELL!!! FAR BETTER than my Specialized FSR XC and a lot of other XC and trailbikies i've ridden. The rear end of this bike remains firm until you hit a bump, whether it be a twig or an 8 ft. drop, this bike almosts knows exactly what kind of suspension it needs at any moment. Without a doubt the best riding and pedaling FS freeride bike i've ridden. I would recommend this bike to anyone looking for a bike to search for their limits and learn to push themselves, or even just want to use as an agressive trailbike! If you're a bighit freerider doing repatative 10-15ft. drops and hardcore riding, this probably isn't the one for you. If you're that kind, step it up to a Bullit, Stinky, or Bighit Comp. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 2799.99
