Submitted by
doru
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, US Date Reviewed: April 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
El cheapo. Strong enough only if you don't ride extreme (but then why did you buy it, I'd ask).
Weaknesses:
The frame has an incomplete welding (near the headset). 2 noisy cracks developped there. It's normal for Haro to replace a deffective product. However, they said they can't do anything because I have a big dual-crown fork (!?). Shame.
An in-betweener. Cheap, but weak. If you are not an extreme rider, it can make you happy. If you are, it will make you loose some money. Normally this frame deserves 3 points out of 5. However, I give it 1 because of the risk to buy a deffective product and not being able to replace it because of Haro's lack of responsibility.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from alaska Date Reviewed: December 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
homemade ramp
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
stable, inexpensive (for me), strong. i kind of like the two tone paint. (blue/white)
Weaknesses:
made in taiwan, a little heavy? paint nicks/chips very easilly
Similar Products Used:
none, i didn't win the specialist frame auction
Bike Setup:
MEDIUM FRAME SIZE, avid mech disc brakes, lx shift, xt der, rhynoliteXL rims, xt hubs, hookworm 2.5 tyres (and wtb 2.4 moto & mutanoraptors for snow & dirt) 2002 psylo sl, ea50 bar, weyless 45mm dh stem, crap bontrager seat post (came with it), fsa PIG headset, raceface prodigy DH crank, isis evolve FR bb, weyless magnesium plats, odi lockgrips
Bottom Line:
this is a nice bike. got the frame real cheap but unfortunately it cost me around 1200 bucks total to build it up from scratch, which sucks because i'm thinking of selling it to go FS but i probably couldn't get more than 500 bucks at the most out of it i would guess. but nonetheless the bike is great. it's very stable and well balanced but i still can't get the catwalk down... if you're looking for a good quality slalon/urban/whatever bike this should work well for you.
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Submitted by
Da5id
a Downhiller
from Park Ridge, IL, USA Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
Amling's cycle & Fitness
Strengths:
sweet geometry, absolutely rails at speed with a 6 inch fork, looks nice, absorbs just enough shock to be confidence inspiring, without feeling all flexy
Weaknesses:
head tube too thin, won't work with hope rotors on back, hardtail not conducive to comfort in raock gardens :o)
Similar Products Used:
gt ruckus, planet x jack flash classic and rad
Bike Setup:
risse trixxxy 6" fork, planet x bmf/goliath wheelset, hope mini brakes (hope rotor in front, shimano xt disc rotor rear), planet x meteor stem, yeti dh comp bars, truvative hussefelt cranks, truvative sealex xr-dh isis bb, fsa pigdh pro headset, tioga factory dh tires, sachs power grip wavey shifter, xtr rear der, xt 8spd cassette, go-ride fork guards
Bottom Line:
i posted the first review of this, when i first got the frame. i'm still impressed with it, but while in colorado i ovalized the head tube. to the point that the top headset cup ovalized as well. haro gave me another one at just below cost, so i'm happy, considering ovalization isn't covered under warranty. i'm running a 6" fork now, and it' made a world of difference. the bike is useless at low speeds (where it used to be a dream,) but it's become a dream at medium to high speeds! the slacker head angle afforded by the longer fork just makes the bike perfect for ripping through the roughs. but remember, you NEED a chainguide! you WILL drop chain without one in the rough. i was able to keep my speed easily through rock gardens in keystone, matching speed with guys on bullits and a one guy on a yeti dh9. enjoy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey BC Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all of them - paved and dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$440.00
Purchased At:
mtbr.com used frames section
Strengths:
perfect geometry for jumping, slaloming and it likes those downhills too. Stiff bottom bracket shell, nice boxed yoked stays and huge dropouts. Standard replaceable derailleur hanger is always a bonus.
Weaknesses:
During braking, the rear brake will vibrate throughout the boxed stays travelling towards your seat and other unmentionable areas. Cant ride it for too long w/o your back hurting... could be my setup tho.
As a note, the price I paid was for the frame, a King headset, xt bb and a hayes rear brake.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Chute - '99 and '00 Norco 250cc
Bike Setup:
24" double wide in the back, 26" in the front both w/ XT disc hubs and 2.35 Kujo's. 6" Hayes Hydro's soon to be 8". RaceFace DH headset, realseal bb, forged cranks and chainrings w/ a damage control bashgaurd. Rear XT Rapidfire shifter w/ XT Rear Der. ClubRoost XT Gofast Downhill bars w/ cross brace, BlackSpire Cameltoe shorty stem. '98 RS Judy XLC's long travel (4-4.5") w/ heavier springs. Completely raked out.
Bottom Line:
If you read the review I gave my '99 Kona Chute and consider that I'm riding this instead of my replacement Kona, that should speak for itself really. In case you havent:
This is a really fun all around play bike. Its definately a twitchy setup the way I have it right now but it does what I want and does it good. As the two other reviewers mentioned, its great for trials or even XC use. It climbs awesome considering how raked out I have right now. It can also handle urbans (it loves stairs!) as well the built up shore stunts. There is no flex in the BB whatsoever so it jumps to life when you hammer on the pedals. Its easy to lift or bunny hop while riding w/speed considering it weighs 36 pounds. Overall, if you're looking for a beefed up roid monkey of a frame that can handle sick stuff, either call Haro up or stick w/ the Chute or the 250cc. Otherwise, go shave your legs and count how many grams your bike weighs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy
a Cross Country Rider
from Lowell Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
every trail that I have been on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Atlas Sports
Strengths:
i only bought the frame and instlled my own selected parts. I have been riding the bike for about six months and the bike feels very stiff with no noticable flex when sprinting or climbing. The tubes are all easton.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Haro escap v1
Bike Setup:
Marzzoci z3light fork, Go fast bars, Attack shifters, Sram Neos front and rear derailers, Real titanium bottom bracket, vaulta freeride rim, avid machnichal disc brake, Thomson seat post,Ringle zooka stem, Uvalta firex crank, rockworks pedals,Rock rim in the front.
Bottom Line:
The bike originally set up as a dual slalom bike but I set the frame up for xc use. So far preformance is great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Da5id
a
from Park Ridge, IL Date Reviewed: September 11, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Amling's Cycle & Fitness, Niles, IL
Strengths:
geometry is perfect, bombproof, very nice welds, great paint job (from a distance), low standover, can take long(ish) travel forks, hose guides big enough to accept shimano hoses
Weaknesses:
no large size available, little bit on the heavy side, sh---y paint job (up close, little bubbles, decals not quite lined up under down tube), no canti mounts
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn factory homegrown limited (amazingly, the smallest size is quite good for trials, if a little weak), lots and piles of BMX (S&M, dk, schwinn(suck), gt, haro), gt aggressor (tho the parts are junk, the small size frame is quite beefy, and it makes a perfect entry level ds/trials bike if set up right)
BUY IT!!! well, let me amend that. if you can afford the hope trials disc brakes, this is a perfect frame for trials (get the 13.5in frame), but, if you want to run magura rim brakes, fuhgeddaboutit! maguras hs33's are superior to any disc brake, except the hope trials, for trialsin. even the teensy frame can handle the 'zokes 5" travel fork, so i'm using it for dirtjumping/trials, with light (and i do mean light!! there aren't many hills in northeastern illinois!!) dual slalom/downhill use thrown into the mix. Enjoy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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