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Average Rating
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4.38/5
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# of Reviews
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55
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MSRP
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$ 1099.99
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Weight
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More Products from Gary Fisher
Submit a Review
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Description:Frame
Platinum Series ZR9000 SS internally and externally butted aluminum w/ eccentric bottom bracket | Genesis 29" Geometry
Wheels
Bontrager Race 29 Disc SS wheelsystem | Bontrager Jones ACX K 29x2.2
Suspension
RockShox Reba SL Dual Air 29 / External rebound, internal floodgate, external compression and lock-out | Butted aluminum steerer | 80mm travel
Componentry
Bontrager Race Lite SS 32T crank | Avid BB 7 mechanical disc brakes w/6" rotor w/Avid FR-5 levers | Shimano M505 ATB clipless pedals
Sizes
SM (15.5") | MD (17.5") | LG (19") | XL (21") | (Sizing)
Color(s)
Pearl Black
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Submitted by
mark60amp
a Racer
from Menomonee Falls, Wi, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | John Muir/Connector/Emma | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Weaknesses: | Frame Strength | | Bike Setup: | Switchblade fork, XTR crank, American Classic wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Bike is fast as hell the way I got it set up.
Problem is, chainstay broke on drive side next to B.B.
I'm outta the game for the next week till I get a new one.
I race it every week so maybe its limits have been met.
175 lbs. 17.5 frame. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ocho_cervezas
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Kenosha Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1080.00 | | Purchased At: | University Bicycles | | Strengths: | Simplicity, climbs like a banshee, Fox F29 fork is great, price (best $1000 I've spent in a long time), lightweight, FUN factor | | Weaknesses: | Headset/handlebars creak when I'm standing and mashing on the pedals. Remote lockout for the fork would be a nice option. | | Similar Products Used: | Have only ridden a few friend's 26" single speed bikes, Yeti 575 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except riser bars. If you are a taller rider and raise the seatpost enough you probably won't like the riding position with the stock bars...too far forward. | | Bottom Line: | I have the 2008 model FYI. This bike is so much fun I just can't get enough. It has taken my riding to a whole new level and I'm riding a lot faster than I ever did on my fs bike (except on downhills when pedaling is pointless). It handles just as well as my Yeti and feels very stable. I'm not component expert but everything on the bike seems to be decent quality. If you haven't tried single speed yet, give it a shot...you might just love it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zunoto
a Racer
from Brooklyn
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Stillwell Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1025.00 | | Purchased At: | Roy"s Cycles | | Strengths: | Great for training between races.and low maintenance (no bent rear derailleur) | | Weaknesses: | The saddle railing broke already, and I am only 155 pounds.
Gary Fisher will replace it. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, with Shimano XT pedals, and the brown ODI Rogue grips to match the brown Bontrager saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I am already doing better at the xc races. More muscles in the legs and better cardio.
I am racing beginner at the Campmor H2h race serie.
Maybe next year I will try SS sport categorie with this bike.
The G2 is great, mostly in the descents, you don't have that feeling of diving down the steep hills.
I am short 5"5, and love that 29er.
If you are short like me, do not listen to people telling you that 29er is for tall riders only...
I am saving to get the Super Fly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dblspeed
a Cross Country Rider
from Bari
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | Fisher dealer | | Strengths: | Good price for a Reba and disc brake bike back in 2006. Light frame, good geometry, decent wheelset, fun bike. | | Weaknesses: | The Bontrager crankset is horrible, mine snapped at the crankarm, this was afer 1 year and while I was pedaling. The frame just broke on the seat tube, just like you read all the time, and you think maybe those are bug guys who do 5 ft drops to flat, except it happens to you and you're a 170 lbs cross country rider... | | Similar Products Used: | Vassago Jabberwocky | | Bike Setup: | Saint crankset, salsa pro moto bars, ti seatpost and wtb saddle, stock for the rest. | | Bottom Line: | Mine was a 2007 model, but I hear the 2008 supposedly sturdier frames are braking too. It's a shame but unless things change don't buy these Fisher hardtails because they will brake, even with the lifetime warranty (original owner and country of purchase only) it's still not worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey Zelek
a Racer
from Newington, CT USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | jzelek@cox.net | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | Does what 29ers do - eats up the rough stuff on the trail. | | Weaknesses: | Crank - Black Chrome is all flaking off.
BB - Tru-Av Giga Pipe seized up on the trail and spun out the left BB cup. Chainring spun into the chain stay and cut into it. Not a trail side repair. Had to walk several miles out of the woods.
Big wheels are heavy and steep climbs are impossible.
Brakes - Avid Mechanical in the mud and rain will last about an 1/2 hour and the pads will be totally gone and the bike unstoppable. | | Similar Products Used: | You name it I've played with it. Gargage is full of bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | Great starting point but beware of the BB and Crank issues. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bmxronl
a
from Raleigh
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Price/value, simplicity, looks great, awesome fork | | Weaknesses: | Brakes, bars, stem, tires. | | Similar Products Used: | None, unless a Slayer 90 or vintage 1994 Klein Attitude are considered similar. Actually my BMX bike is probably the closest thing to the Rig! | | Bike Setup: | Pretty stock for now - added a computer, Eastern platform pedals and a Salsa QR seatpost clamp. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks!!! I've read a number of reviews that said "I'm a big guy and this bike fits me great"...well I'll add to that, although all my other bikes fit me fine too, including my 20". For reference I'm 6'3", 230lbs and went with a 19", just like my Slayer. Anyway, I am totally in love with this bike and haven't touched any other bike I own since I bought the Rig. As others have said, I'm actually a faster rider now - significantly! I do get winded a lot faster though - you're either movin pretty good or you're not. The bike climbs like a goat and mashes though everything with ease. I'm still getting used to the handling, though. When I really rail a turn I still tend to go wide - you REALLY have to commit to a superbike type of lean to nail it and on tight singletrack, that can be hard to do. Overall, the bike is a pure pleasure to ride. Fun, fast, simple. SS really is a pure ride - if you haven't tried one, you need to! BTW, I haven't had any tire rub under load as some people have had.
Complaints - the ebb has been a bit of a pain. I've had to adjust it after about every other ride so far, but it seems like it's settling in now - 3 rides, no adjustments BUT now under load it creaks. My bar/stem also has a creak when I'm pulling hard and mashing up a hill - kinda spooks me - and I'll probably replace those sometime soon. Tires are great until you need cornering grip. The front tire slides out pretty quick and when it goes, it GOES - there is no slip and catch like my Nevegals do. Lastly the Fox fork is awesome, but it's starting to knock a bit on the rebound.
Overall the bike is fantastic. I did list complaints, but they are all reasonable and nothing major. I've never spent so little on an MTB before, yet this is the most fun MTB I've ever had! Go buy one NOW!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin DaDogg
a Cross Country Rider
from Staffs UK
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Coedy Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Swinnerton Cycles | | Strengths: | Light frame (excluding Ebb),decent forks,Simplicity,Good tires,bought 1/2 price,a lot of fun to ride. | | Weaknesses: | Had a few problems with Ebb initially due to inexperience, Poor chain stretched in 6 rides, Rear free hub failed after 5 months possibly due to poor assembly from factory so a rebuild is under way. | | Similar Products Used: | None just took the plunge on both a single speed and 29er | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades: Bar ends, Avid juicy 3's 203mm front rotor, Sram SPC1 chain. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike to slow me down a bit as i was getting a bit quick on my full suss for my mates, unfortunatly i am now faster than ever as a single speed makes you or breaks you. The bike is a very fast rolling all black stealth machine with wheels like a monster truck. The front fork is good seeing as it retails at over £300 and i only paid £400 for the bike (then £100 for the brake updgrade). My plan this year is to build a lighter version of this so Mavic Xmas 29" wheels with a carbon post and new seat are for starters, i want a lighter Ebb the stock one weighs over 300g this is soething im having trouble sourcing.
I'm giving it 4 chilis as i have had a few problems with some of the stock components but that is going to happen on any bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shannon Wyatt
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Worth, Tx, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Northshore, Grapevine Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Richardson Bike Mart @ White Rock Lake | | Strengths: | looks great,rolls fast and over everything, less effort used than on a 26" | | Weaknesses: | maybe the tires, i have the same tires on my hifi pro and they slide out in the corners. Everything else seems great | | Similar Products Used: | first ss and 29er | | Bike Setup: | all original equipment. will change tires and go to odi lock on grips, only cause my other bikes have them and the diameter of the grip is bigger and more comfortable to me. | | Bottom Line: | Every Tuesday evening, there is a group of guys that ride ss. They all burn up the trail and i was really impressed by them. Now i might stand a chance to keep up with them. I have a hifi pro 26" and a hardtail 26" and I wonder if I will even ride them anymore. I have not actually timed my regular route on the ss but it is so obvious that it is faster. If you are competitive and just aren't quite as fast as your buddy, this will push you passed him. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike29 | | Strengths: | Low maintenance, simple fun | | Weaknesses: | Uncomfortable saddle, eccentric bottom bracket creaks when dry | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Home Grown Race, Cannondale Super V M9000, Giant ATX 860 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Crank Mallet C, non-QR seatpost clamp, and seatbag with tire levers and tube patches | | Bottom Line: | I wanted a BMX-like bike for riding around town as an every day fun bike which I can use to commute and do errands on... basically a car-replacement and fun machine. Low maintenance and no need for special bike clothes a must.
I got this bike on sale used online (it was a demo bike). It came in good condition except for extra stickers everywhere which didn't come off too clean.
I used it to commute 5-6 miles to work everyday for a couple of months.
+ I love how it doesn't get my right pant leg all greasy.
+ I love being able to take various shortcuts.
+ I love how it looks.
+ I love the simplicity... no more gears.
- I hate the uncomfortable seat. I'm 135 lbs and I feel the shell and rails through the padding. I also always ride with a backpack, sometimes loaded with 15 lbs, but usually only 5, so it's worth looking into an upgrade. A Brooks B-17 maybe - seen it for $80 at Price Point.
- It's noisy when I'm pedaling, which is really noticeable when I'm going relatively slow (10-11 MPH), which is because of the eccentric BB getting dry.
- The gearing isn't so great for road riding (commuting around town). I cannot maintain 130+ RPM standing over a long distance and bounce considerably in the saddle maintaining enough RPM to go over 16 MPH. The gearing seems tuned for cruising at 12-15 MPH at 90 +/- 30 RPM. I should definitely look into getting a smaller cog in the back. There's no hills/mountains around here anyways and I can maintain 25-30 MPH on flats on my Schwinn racing traffic in town.
- I'm afraid it'll get stolen being in Orlando with it's high reported crime rate, so I carry a cable and a U-Lock in my backpack at all times.
The stock medium sized feels somewhat oversized for me. My Schwinn and Giant were both 18" and fit great. This one has me more upright with more of my weight on this crappy saddle. I don't feel quite as agile... might be the 29" wheels and riser bar combined with a short stem. It's also unstable at lower speeds... takes more effort to maintain a line riding hands free or with only 1 hand on the bar.
Overall, this bike has been working for me. It just needs a bit of customizing to get it "perfect" - a more comfortable saddle, a smaller cog in the back, and maybe a new stem and handlebar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joek9999
a Cross Country Rider
from San Hose
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | anything in a 300 mile radius | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel away | | Strengths: | REBA SL 29!, Paint, crank, brakes, frame stiffness, simplicity, bash ring | | Weaknesses: | Rear tire rub when climbing, esp. out of the saddle | | Similar Products Used: | Redline monocog, Bianchi GUSS and Gunnar Ruffian | | Bike Setup: | Stock: Aluminum frame, REBA SL 29, EBB, Bontrager Parts, etc.; 20 T Endless Bikes Cog, Oury grips, Pop-loc remote | | Bottom Line: | For first time twenty niners and single speeders, looking for a simple machine that can do it all pretty well. Be prepared to upgrade the rear cog and the seat. The pop-loc is not necessary, but it makes things better for keeping your eyes on the trail.
This complete bike is good for the money. To me the frame felt light and stiff when climbing or carrying the bike. It descends over bumbs well and behaves like a 29er should, rolling over everything with ease. 29ers are hard to catch air with, and you hit the ground rolling a lot faster. The low rise OS bars give it OK cornering, but I think a switch to flat bars would give even snappier handling especially at low speeds. BB7's are great stoppers. Stock rear cog is an 18. Tough going there. Switched to a 20T and it still is a grinder.
The EBB gives extra weight where you don't want it, although the BB is very stiff and gives a great feel while descending on the pedals. Easy to adjust, and also easy to over tighten. Had to learn to be gentle with that thing. The wedge action is enough, you barely have to torque the bolts at all.
The seat is junk. The seat post has adequate flex and is easy to swap saddles.
I needed to run a smaller than stock tire in the rear because the Bontrager Jones 2.2 kept rubbing ever so slightly on the right chainstay, only when climbing out of the saddle. It was a combination of the rim flexing and the narrow spacing. I ran a 2.0 and everything is fine now. I knock down to four chillis because of this aspect, and the fact that the Pop-loc Remote switch was an extra 100 bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Friedman
a Cross Country Rider
from Davis, CA
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mr Toads or Foresthill Divide Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Tour Of Nevada City Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Simplicity is beautiful. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing to complain about | | Similar Products Used: | My other bike is a Trek 6500, but I only use it on days with heavy climbing | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, can't go wrong. Buy this bike if you want your bike to work when you're ready to ride. No shifting problems, brakes are simple to adjust, no frills, just a bike. It's ready to go when you are.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fergus
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland,OR
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Superfund site | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | CL | | Strengths: | Fun Bike! I just raced it Cat C cyclocross with 35mm wide knobbies. The mud was no problem. It barreled though puddles and up hills without complaining. I used the stock 32/18 gearing and it was the right call. I hope to be able to push the 16 soon. By the middle of the race I had forgotten about being on a SS (except for the flats). The season is over and I just put on Big Apple street tires. | | Weaknesses: | The dia compe /cane creek stock headset is cheap and needs to be replaced. | | Similar Products Used: | first ss, first 29r. some other 26rs which I stare at and wonder if I'll ride again. | | Bike Setup: | Panaracer Cinder X | | Bottom Line: | I have yet to commute more than 6 miles on it. The street tires are at 70 psi (10 pounds more than recommended). I look forward to jumping on it. We'll see how it does on the street and on more trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from Chattanooga
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Light, fast, perfect geometry for my size. | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | raleigh xxix | | Bike Setup: | completely custom | | Bottom Line: | Perfect, and light. Built up under 22 lbs. Get one and enjoy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CB
a Racer
from Flagstaff
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Singletrack Bikes | | Strengths: | Bombproof design, and outstanding genesis geometry | | Weaknesses: | Finicky Eccentric Bottom Bracket | | Similar Products Used: | Brodie Unibomber, Bianchi S.A.S.S | | Bike Setup: | Straight stock except for I scrapped the lame Bontrager saddle and swapped the equally lame seatpost for a Thompson Elite | | Bottom Line: | In 12 months, I have put over 1,500 miles of rough/steep singletrack on this pig. I say pig because it isn't light, and it isn't bling-bling looking. What it is - FUN, near zero maintenance, surprisingly agile, and it has made my Scalpel only available for race days. Why ride gears when you can train like a champ on this fun machine? In short - the Rig is the best bike I have owned. If you enjoy singlespeeding, and you want a big, tough bike that will make you stronger on race days then don't look past the rig. Yes - Soulcrafts and Sycips are ultra sweet, but I've ridden them both and this Rig is right there....don't let the price/value fool you.
Have you seen the 2008 version? Damn - Gary F. has it goin' on. Get one before they hit $1,500 and start to become expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Frazee
a Racer
from The Wild West
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The long singletrack one | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Gary got it right with the Genesis Geometry: I'm a gorilla on a bike: 6'3" with long arms and legs and this bike has fit me better than any other. The top tube is longer than most frames but it is a positive for me. Light weight, 1lb less than my double butted steel 29er. I was honestly surprised at the ride quality of an aluminum frame in rigid fork configuration after riding on a steel 29er steed. This thing rails! Makes me long for sweet ales! I was sceptical to the EBB concept after riding on sliding dropout frames but I have to say the EBB is the way to go. It's so easy to adjust chain length | | Weaknesses: | EBB if you don't know how to adjust. I had some trial and error issues but most of the problems were operator error. Yes I admit to being a Jackass. Aluminum tubing is always a second to good old hard steel in my opinion but I have to say as a steel rider I'm pleasantly surprised with the ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Voodoo Dambala Steel 29er, Salsa Dos niner Scandium 29er, Many 26ers but they are has-beens! | | Bike Setup: | 05' Gary Fisher Purple Rig with Rigid Surly Fork, American Classic hubs with Bontrager Race light rims hand laced by your's truly, Stans no-tubes set up with WTB 2.3 Exiwolf tires. Old school Kooka cranks, Avid mech disk brakes | | Bottom Line: | Like I said above I have been very impressed with this aluminum butted frame. It is light, compliant, quick steering, stable and pretty stiff, with a nice long wheel base for big dudes like me. I've read complaints of riders having problems with rear wheel rub at the chain/seat stay under effort. Let me tell you I am 6'3" and weigh around 200lbs and I used to squat 400+lbs and I've never had any flex/tire rub issues. I've raced this thing to success and it gives everything I ask of it. I was once a Fisher skeptic but Gary got it right on this one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Wydizzle
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Cubb, Tom's is pretty close | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Route 66 Bicycles | | Strengths: | Great bike from a great manufacturer. Solid construction. Awesome shock. Comes with some killer components: Cane Creek Headset, Great Bontreger wheels and tires. Eccentric Bottom Bracket. 29" of wheel. LIGHT! Killer mean looking paint job. | | Weaknesses: | Creeky bottom bracket. No deraileur hanger, shes strickly a SS bike, although they fixed this for the 2008 model. | | Similar Products Used: | nope. I had a homejobbed diamond back single speed before this.
| | Bike Setup: | Stock...Planet Bike Alias light, i guess. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line, this is a great bike! I really love it. It was like rediscovering mountain biking again. The big wheels are amazing. This bike a durable to. I have really been hard on it, 4ft drops, jumps, getting limbs of downed trees caught in the spokes, water, sand and other crud...you name it. The bike is still true and in top condition. The bottom bracket will creek, but if you're riding hard enough on rough enough trails, you wont even notice it, its only on the pavement i notice the creeking, but this bike was not made to cruze on pavement, but it does that well too. The eccentric bottom bracket may be some of the reason for the squeeking but it sure is handy. I have two cogs on the back, the stock 18 tooth and a 14 tooth for commuting and 'Rails to trails' type riding. Making the switch is as simple as removing a masterlink and retensioning the chain with an allen wrench. Takes maybe 3 minutes. This bike is worth the money and a great product! 5 chills all the way, if i could give it 6 i would. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, Ut, USA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Helen's Cycles | | Strengths: | Great specs for the price. No gears. 29". Frame fits like a glove. | | Weaknesses: | EBB creaking. Grrrr. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of bikes but this is my first 29er | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except maybe the saddle. Running a WTB Rocket. Oh, and Cane Creek bar ends, which are the ticket (these should come standard on all ss) | | Bottom Line: | The first time I rode my friend's Rig my first reaction was that it was the first mtb that's truly fit me. I think it's due to the 29" wheels and my size, 6'1". Anyway, bought one and now I've sold my 26" bikes except for one hardtail that I'm turing into a 69er. The only time I don't prefer 29" is when I'm out of shape because they do require more power, but even going slower it's more fun, so maybe scratch that comment. Also, tight turns take some getting used to. I've become one of those "I hate to shift" people and prefer the ss even for my epic rides.
The Rig comes spec'd better than anything else. It's not really close, though the Raleigh seems nice for the money too. Friends who've upgraded to custom steel frames have said that they aren't sure they are better. So, for everything other than ultimate cool factor, the Rig is a great bike.
The stock parts have been great for me. I just swapped out the rubber (to Maxis) and actually prefer the Bontragers. Weird. Anyway, I thought they were pretty damn fine tires. I see they now make Panaracer Fire XCs in 29, which is all I used to ride on my 26ers, so I'll probably try those next.
The EBB creaks and needs a lot of service to stay quiet. This is irritating but what can you do? Other n' that it's a great design. I've heard that all bottom brackets creak on single speeds so maybe it's not just do to its design.
Anyway, I will probably change to something more personal someday, but I couldn't be happier with this choice. The bike has actually paid me to own since I've been able to sell all my bouncy geared high tech machines. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Emile Smith
a Racer
from Canaan, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Knob @ Burke, VT | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bethel Cycle Fitness | | Strengths: | Good geometry, Reba Fork, Avid Mechanicals. | | Weaknesses: | Rear wheel would rub on inside of chain stay, stock components are heavy. Seat is less than desirable. | | Similar Products Used: | None, riden soft-tales all 26er's | | Bike Setup: | FSA stem and low rise handlebars, Avid Juicey Carbons, American Classic Wheels w/ IRC Mythos, Thompson set back seatpost, Tru-Ativ Stylo Giga Pipe single speed cranks, Reba SL. | | Bottom Line: | I certainley added some upgrades. I have been very happy with how the bike handles. It climbs great, and descends well. I typicaly run a 33/18 in the woods and have had great results with that gearing. I think the frame is worth building up with better components as the stock items wear-out or create too much frustration. I have had all the same problems everyone else has mentioned; BB creaking, eccentric noise, as for the rear tire rub I trimmed the stock Bontrager rear tire with a ravor blade and had no more rub. I'm glad that worked because I like the tires. The up-grades and giving the set-up time to settle in or seat properly seemed to make a difference. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Tew
a Cross Country Rider
from Dearborn, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Pontiac Lake Rec Area | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | second hand | | Strengths: | Great ride - corners really well, those wheels pick up mad speed on the downhills and roll over every thing in the way. This bike was my first SS and 29". I ride all 29 now. I was worried about frame clearance when I put some fatter tires on it - not a problem. Fork is great. Mech disc's are trusty and effective. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom bracket is a little noisy - not to the point of distraction tho. Saddle is just okay, stock Jones AC'c just okay, stock grips are awful | | Similar Products Used: | GF Paragon, NRS | | Bike Setup: | straight up stock except either panaracer rampage or small block 8 tires, Lizard Skins Moab lock on grips. Saddle change is coming. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first single speed so I can't compare it to another SS product. Many of the trails here are well suited for SS riding (great flow, short steep hills, not a lot of grinder climbs). I can say that it has been a really positive intro to the world of SS riding and has changed my outlook on mtb riding in general. I bought it with a 20 tooth cog and put the 18 back on last week - we'll see how that goes. I am 6'1" and 170 - no problems with flex - the frame is technically small for me (17.5) but suits my riding style really well. Love the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Fribance
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterford CT
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tom Arcadia | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Mystic Cylce Centre | | Strengths: | This is a follow up to a review I posted in January. When I first began riding the bike I noticed that if I was giving a hard effort out of the saddle on climbs that the wheel would rub on the inside of the right chain stay. Originally I thought this might be because of the low quality wheels but that is not the case. The fault lies in the frame itself which is simply to flexy for a larger rider. That said I would not call 6' 220lbs that large. The rear triangle is simply poorly designed with little to no stiffening reinforcements. To cap things off when I contacted Gary Fisher about the problem all they told me was “Yeah that’ll happen.” Needless to say this will be the last product I ever buy from them. I'f you are a bigger guy like me do yourself a favor and buy something else. I'll post a review of my Kula 2-9 when I have finished building it. | | Weaknesses: | The above mentioned issue with the frame and the quality of the bottom bracket is laughable. I also ended up breaking two teeth off the rear cog. | | Bottom Line: | If you are over 200 lbs I wouldn't get this bike; save yourself the time, money, and frustration. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a
from surry, va
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | whichever one i'm currently riding | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | East Coast Bikes | | Strengths: | geometry and fork
| | Weaknesses: | stock cog, had chain slip issues almost immediately and wasn't fond of gear ratio/gear inch, i switched to surly 20 tooth.
bb creaking/slipping. i've cleaned and thoroughly lubed it, only to have it slip and creak. perhaps it's a weight issue, i'm 5'10 and 225 (no im not fat a$$, i just got big legs from mothers side of the family!)
stock grips and bar. i'm a fan of ourys..i have them on all my other bikes. stock bar doesn't have quite enough rise/sweep for me. i am seriously considering switching to the big earl like the one i have on my session 77. its a 710 with a 2" rise (i think) and not sure of the sweep but damn i LOVE that bar. the jury is still out on the tires. i like the size/foot print, but i've not been a fan of bontrager's stock tire fare in the past. the saddle was also a joke, that bent within the first couple of rides, but i'm a sit down rider so the rails take a lot of abuse on any bike i irde. | | Similar Products Used: | my first SS was a Klein Rascal with the old school horizontal drop outs | | Bike Setup: | bone stock except for the saddle (wtb), use suspension seat post (i run that on any hardtail i ride), and time dh clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | the bike is money, but trek really needs to step up on touch points (saddle/grips/pedals) but i realize its a price point issue so that will most likely never happen.
i thought the cornering my be an issue as i ride some tight, technical, swoopy trails, but once you learn to commit to the lean, it actually corners really well. i can't imagine how good its going to be with after market tires and a bigger bar.
overall, well worth the money and i dig the stealth, minimalist graphics look. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Buff Creek CO tr, Maverick white ranch, above Broken thumb | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | preowned but new | | Strengths: | The fork! is Great, I love the lockout feature. I feel more grip in the loose stuff and the bike feels very tall, demanding a highly commital lean, like a motocross bike The bike seems to get sucked along flowy trail sections, where my geared 26er friends need to pedal. Eccentric BB makes packing the bike into a hatchback, changing a flat and disc brake alignment a snatch, or a snap (compared with track dropouts and bolt on hubs. Smart full length cable housing to bakes. Handlebars seem to be just right stiffness and width. As a well postured human I appreciate the very tall height of the handlebars. The bike seems to be more balanced (longer wheelbase) on those steep short cilmbs I used to wheelie out of with my SS 26er. This is noticeable even with my handlebar height a full 5" taller than my former 26er. Tight Bontragger tires work well for ghetto stanz tubeless conversions (if you remember to reapply the goo) The moto like tread bites and clears well. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom Bracket creaking is there but doesn't seem to bother me much. I consider it a normal part of single speeding abuse to the bike. Somewhere along a long ride over the divide, my Aluminum downtube got a massive silver dollar sized dent just above the bashring...a very strange place to dent a frame. Have no idea when, where, how. I figure a perfect rock trajectory from my front tire? Almost instantly I found out a fellow is ditching his zero mile, my size Raleigh steel 29er SS frame for cheap. Maybe with a raleigh d-hanger I can upgrade to a 3 speed, brake the deraileur, and reconvert to SS along the trail. My handlebar grips got wet and very slippery, a bit of motorcycle adhesive cured them well. I just noticed that my front rim is offset to one side, and I don't know what to make of it. The bike is not well suited for quick turns in rocky sections, but who wants to ride 30+ miles of XC on a trials bike anyways? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000 SingleSpeed conversion with disc brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock, except time alium pedals, stanz, and handlebar grip glue. | | Bottom Line: | As an exclusive SS mountain biker, I am very well satisfied with this setup. I would recommend this bike for pure singletrack on short climb eastern trails or for those with slower heart rates. This is a single speed MTB, not a fun bike for city use and occasional single track. The bike does handle well in the city, but only when you don't feel like shoveling your car out of snow. A great value for a suspended single speed 29er. The frame is Aluminum, and stiff, but the chain stays are long enough to bend and eat some of the bad vibrations. I love the frame, Large is a touch too long for average sized me, and after a large airborne rock dented my downtube, I don't think aluminum is durable enough for my needs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Mastaglio
a Cross Country Rider
from Petoskey, Mi
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Out West | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Touring gear | | Strengths: | Almost nothing to break on a single speed, was a little nervous dropping the gears. Best choice i ever made, riding is a lot more fun!!!! | | Weaknesses: | I find the 29er a little slow in the corners, crank a lil noisey, someone else posted similar problem, guess i will lube it | | Similar Products Used: | G.F. Big sur, g.f. hookooekoo | | Bike Setup: | stock, just got it. waiting to break something | | Bottom Line: | Single speed is very freeing, no more b.s. to worry about, i find it makes me a faster rider, but i don' know if its the tires or not having any gears and worrying about getting stuck going up a hill. either way i'm a happier rider | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from Sag Harbor, Ny
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Jax's Bicycle / Long Beach, Ca | | Strengths: | Light weight, no gear shifting! Just oil the chain and go. Love the 29" wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Crank creeked. Had mine lubed and now it's fine. Can I say that? | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler, Trek 8500, etc. | | Bike Setup: | It's all stock except, I had a Rock Shock lock out switch installed and went to a 20 tooth cog. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike to ride. No hassle shifting gears, great workout. I have a Santa Cruz Heckler and a Trek 8500 and they just sit in the garage for the time being. I'm using the Rig for back East riding in the Hamptons. Great fat burner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason McMackin
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula, Montuckey, U.S. of America!
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Fishsticks and Bacon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | from my dawg in Colorado | | Strengths: | Geometry, Most of the componentry, Paint | | Weaknesses: | Seat, The clickity-clackin' BB. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Chute, Trek 930, Specialized Rockhoppers and Stumpjumpers, GT Backwoods (purple) | | Bike Setup: | stock, plus a bell and a toothier rear cog | | Bottom Line: | I am 6' 4" 280 lbs. I should not enjoy this bike, but I sure as heck do. Yeah, I swapped in a 20 toother in the rear, for now. The bottom bracket racket is frustrating. I get that the bike wasn't necesarily designed for me, but at this price point I'm not happy about it. However, the adjustability of the chain is good and pretty straight forward. The fork is easy to work with and seems to work well even for my fat ass. For the money, this is probably the best deal in SS country. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Twin Cities, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Lebanon Hills, Eagan, MN | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | Scheels | | Strengths: | - Lightweight
- Solid OEM components (REBA fork is sweet)
- Competitively priced
- Minimal graphics
- Nice pearl black paint | | Weaknesses: | - Seat needs breaking in. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a first SS/ 29er/ disc brake set up.
I'd say the Salsa Dos-Niner | | Bike Setup: | OEM | | Bottom Line: |
This is the bike I've been dreaming about. Gary fisher have done their homework on the Rig. I love the SS setup....pedal or die! It |
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