|
|
Average Rating
|
4.79/5
|
|
# of Reviews
|
24
|
|
MSRP
|
$ 399.00
|
|
Weight
|
|
|
More Products from Cove Bikes
Submit a Review
|
|
|
Description: Making the world rise to attention year after year, the Stiffee has earned a reputation as one of the best aluminum hard tail bikes in creation. Melding a balance of strength and performance, our original hard tail proves you don’t need any blue pills to get it on. Built to finesse the world’s abundance of natural gap jumps, deep descents and trails to the honeypatch, the Stiffee takes oversized tires, comes stock with international standard disc mounts, uses Easton RAD tubing, and can handle long travel front forks.
TECH NOTES:
EASTON RAD TUBING
DUAL CROWN COMPATIBLE
HUGE TIRE CLEARANCE
FORGED HEAD TUBE AND DROPOUTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Preston
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress or Ae | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Geometry is amazing, you can do anything on this bike (jumps, drops, rocky downhill, berms and it even goes up the hills great)
the geometry is perfect mine is 17.5 inch size and it gives to confidence to go just a little faster and it just takes it all.
Colour options are great too (mines bright orange) | | Weaknesses: | i can't really think of anything bad other than when the rocks get loose and large (head size) then the rear wheel bounces around a little but any hardtail would do that on loose rocks that size | | Similar Products Used: | Santa cruz chameleon | | Bike Setup: | Fox 36 talas (110 - 150mm travel, i always have them on 150) Raveface, Mavic 321 rims, hope pro2 hubs, shimano XT gears, maxxis high roller 2.35 | | Bottom Line: | this bike is amazing for any trail rider that wants to do anything from cross country to freeride and it can take a wide range of forks from about 110 upto 150 or maybe 160 depending on what riding you want to do and whatever you do with it it can handle it, its especcially great for flowing downhill through berms and jumps and with good tires it grips round corners at any speed and you just fly out of them.
This bike is in my eyes the best all round all mountain / freeride hardtail that money can buy. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
liam forster
a Weekend Warrior
from stoke on trent
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | keele dirt jumps or hanchurch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | friends | | Strengths: | the arse end on the bike is awesome no matter wat u drop off that bike aint going nowhere | | Weaknesses: | stickers and paint is pants the paint is good colour though | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi bomber z1 drop off 2002 forks, xt front and back deralier, deore hydraulic rear disk, xtr v brake on front,mavic wheels, sram chainrings, middleburn crank arms with race face bash ring and blackspire downhill chainrings, | | Bottom Line: | this bike is ace it will do just about nething it realy does cut the mustard | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Burn
a Weekend Warrior
from Canterbury, Kent, UK
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bedgebury, Kent | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay uk | | Strengths: | Super strong; light; can do XC, jumping, anything!; looks fantastic (in grey with gold hope bits); rarity - random hoodies on BMX's always want to talk to me about it! | | Weaknesses: | Guess what...rubbish paint - used for three short blasts and it's got chips, scuffs, cable rub and half the stickers are falling off. No sh*t, the lacquer scratches just from washing it with wet cotton cloth. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing in the same league. | | Bike Setup: | Hope headset/seat clamp, RaceFace evolve crankset, Marzocchi MX Comp 105mm, FSA stem/bars/BB, Deore running gear, thomson elite post, Quad QHD-1 brakes (AWESOME), mach1 rims w/Bontrager jones mud tyres | | Bottom Line: | I bought this frame in 19" after riding a mate's 17.5" and loving every minute. Even with budget forks I have ridden technical singletrack, jumped and tried north shore (crashing lots) and it is great at all of them. It goes uphill brilliantly and it is very stable in the air. If I can afford it, i'll be sticking to Cove frames for a long time. PS better to look on ebay, as it's too expensive new, and it's unlikely anyone will have been able to weaken the frame so it should be a safe bet secondhand - mine was! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marce
a Downhiller
from North Shore
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Secret | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Cove | | Strengths: | Very strong. Great geo | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stiffee, Sliders, Hayes, Doubletracks, Race Face | | Bottom Line: | Just a quick follow up review. This will be my 5th year on this frame and it's still going strong. From the Shore two to three days a week and 4 or 5 days at Whistler a year, the frame is still perfect. If it ever fails, I'll just get another. The geo is great (67.5 head angle and 13.25 inch bb height) and perfect for steep shore riding. All my buddies ride fullies and I have no problem keeping up. Great product! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Second hand £500 + Fork | | Strengths: | It's a Cove and it instantly shows. | | Weaknesses: | Have found none yet, can't comment on the paint I had a custom paint job done when I bought it. | | Similar Products Used: | Various hardtails, Cove, Santa Cruz, Specialized.... | | Bike Setup: | Pike's, Avid, Race Face, Hope, Intense.
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1099764/ | | Bottom Line: | Replaced my Intense 4" XC bike with the Stiffee after leaving the hardtail market since 2000 (rode a hardtail between 90-00). I got the Frame + Pike forks for £500 second hand.
I forgot how much fun you can have on a hardtail, but I do believe this is down to the Stiffee and not just all hardtails. Apart from no more mister bob when climbing it can make even flat trails fun because you can feel what’s going on with the back end. First day out I took it jumping and it's actually harder to keep it low than go high, very stable in the air. I have also had it out for long XC hacks and as much as it isn't as good a dedicated XC frame for this I would still give it 8/10 for this task (a big part of this is the short stem etc, I would normally have an 18" XC frame mine is 17.5")
However as soon as it points downhill it's un-stoppable, it loves the technical stuff it just eats it up and asks for more. I have also taken this on downhill tracks and it has held it's own. It has also reminded me my DH bike has 8.5" travel, what I mean by this is when you ride DH tracks on a big bike you forget how much work the suspension is doing for you, especially when going flat out. The Stiffee reminds you that you can have more fun riding your bike properly going slower!
Bottom line for me is this frame can do it all. Can't see myself getting a full sus XC/trail bike ever again.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Simmonds
a
from Preston
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Super strong, Can handle almost any fork you want to put on it between 110 and about 150 or 160. The Colours the frame is available in are awsome compared to any other bike manafactuer. It is a great frame for doning anything like Jumps, Climbing, Downhill, freeride pretty much anything u want it to do | | Weaknesses: | The paint quality isent the best as it can somtimes chip slightally where the seat clamp tightens round the frame but the colours are awsome ( mine is Orange ) but other than that its a GREAT frame. | | Similar Products Used: | All sorts of Hardtails (the Cove Stiffee is the best i have ever had) | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi 66rc (150mm) all Hope accesories (in gold), Shimano XT, Raceface etc | | Bottom Line: | This bike is GREAT for doing pretty much anything you want to do and can handle Smaller or Big forks - This frame is Great for anyone looking for a hardcore hardtail that can do anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Rai
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, U.K.
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | To be found, Wales is nice! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Pyscleworx Bristol | | Strengths: | This for the 69er limited edt in the U.K. Great angles, all rounder, great handling, lazer etched dics with 69er etched on them, do anything HT.
They were just getting a big name and I managed to snap one up (Cheers Alex & Tom).
Good enough for xc to free ride and have seen riders jump with them.
If you get this, get a decent fork! Had a fox talas rlc and it handled a dream and saved my neck...
Handbuilt quality hardtail. Maybe getting old due to full sussers? | | Weaknesses: | Crazy high price for frames considering they have been around for a few years, probably sell loads at £300-400.
Getting common and other manufacturers have caught on and copied it to death and even made a better version.
Other bike shops selling the old model as the new version?
Then again how different is the new version except shoddy paint.
New revamp has shoddy colours, I'd have to blast and repaint the frame.
Did I mention the new colours or colors for yanks ;)
| | Similar Products Used: | Std cove stiffee, Gt Zaskar(faster but not as sweet at freeride or as comfortable and forgiving handling).
Giant Trance 2, Spec Stumpy and some BMW bike which was naff.
Leary colours or basic? just sell me a primed frame, I'll do the rest... | | Bike Setup: | Well before I sold it (it was short for me), raceface kit, xt shifters and rear mech, deore front mech. Fox Talas RLC, Hope minis with 69'er discs and different saddle as the old one needed a cut out. Lurveeleeeeeeeeey! | | Bottom Line: | Great all rounder, with a decent kit can be light and tough, do it all hardtail. Sweet handling.
If you're on a budget don't bother.
Get this frame for a decent hardyail, get a decent finshing kit xt, big brakes and a dam good fork and yoiu won't regret it unless you're married haha!
Best hardtail I have rode.
if you're 6ft don't get the 17", go for the 19", too many people get the smaller size unless you plan to jump or 4x. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | A truely versitile all rounder. This bike can cope with everything. Possibly one of my best bike related puchases yet.
Comfortable with a mid travel fork, even a long travel suits. Steering slows down a little, but the fun element more than makes up for it! | | Weaknesses: | Paintjob! It's been said many times before, but it sucks!
| | Similar Products Used: | Various other mainstream... | | Bike Setup: | 36 Talas RC2,
Race face finishing kit
Race Face Atlas, E13, SRAM/XTR drivetrain
ProII/MTX wheelset
Magura Louise FR brakes | | Bottom Line: | This bike truely is awesome. Pefect hardtail compliment to my Nicolai.
It survives pretty much anything, is versitile, light, immensly strong and can be ridden all day.
The only downside is, for the value of the frame, the paintjob is appaling. However, I can live with that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zac
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | The ones with lifts | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensen | | Strengths: | Stiff, strong, laid back geometry, all-around capabilities. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to keep front down when climbing (lockdown fork helps) | | Similar Products Used: | various hardtails | | Bike Setup: | 21" frame. 125mm Z1 FR, XT, Hayes 6" hydros, Sun singlewides (sweet rims), short DH stem, fat tires. | | Bottom Line: | Great all around bike. I use it for everything from XC to hitting the ski lifts. Mine is on the heavy side (34lbs) due to beefy wheels/tires.
The 5" fork works well, but is a compromise: it steers a little slow for XC and is still a little steep for DH. I'd like to go to an adjustable travel fork. Between 4 and 6" would be ideal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vishna Gladdvolochivinta
a Cross Country Rider
from Russia
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | doom ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | jacksonbikes | | Strengths: | can handle forks from 110mm up to 170mm. Super f***ing strong, great paint job, corners really well, handles great drops, hits the burms really well too. | | Weaknesses: | need to make a size bigger like 22" | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz cameleon, kona hoss dee-lux (crap) | | Bike Setup: | two forks (pike race) and (boxxer ride) along with x0 kit, thomson front and rear, hope wheels, kenda tires, king headset, answer bar and other smoking kit. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Boyce
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | E BAY | | Strengths: | Great build quality (no problems with paint coming off on mine), very strong, great looking. Can take long travel fork. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough room for large disc rotor on rear, not much clearence for chain amd grannyring if 2.5 tyres fitted.
Kids keep asking to take photos of it.:-) | | Similar Products Used: | specialized stump jumper | | Bike Setup: | xt shifters and derailers, hope discs, halo rims on diatech hubs, race face crankset, bars,stem etc. marzocchi z1 bomber forks but about to upgrade to fox talas rcl | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, i am 220 pounds but still take this bike off drops my mate on his full suss kona thinks twice about. I have also had quite a few spills and seen the bike bounce 15 yards down the trail ahead of me and not have a scratch or dent on it.I swap the tioga dh tyres for slicks during the week and ride this bike to and from work everyday. It is as fast and responsive off road as it is on the road.I originally bought this bike as an all rounder to build up my skill level on before swapping to a full suss, but now i am not going to bother changing. i am already looking for a 2nd stiffe frame for the right price on ebay should this frame ever fail (though i doubt it will.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mickey mouse
a Weekend Warrior
from derby
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | samways ,derby | | Strengths: | strong. very bloody strong. stiff. very bloody stiffe. Agile, very bloody agile. its a cove. up, down around , over , through , you name it it, it does it all superbly.. | | Weaknesses: | crap stickers ( is that so bad ?) big you go big all the time ( is that so bad also ?) | | Similar Products Used: | kona hardtail. mates bikes | | Bike Setup: | sherman firefly, hope, mavic, hone,xt, wtb, custom cut disk rotors | | Bottom Line: | after a 6 week break from biking im right back into it. This bike just rules. My friends own handjobs and hummers but when they ride a stiffee ( f'narr f'narr!) they want one ! Ive had this bike for two solid years of thrashing an bashing and it just ROCKS! I'm six foot one and i bought the 17'5 and thgought it would be a bit small. After 40 mile cross country rides it hurts a wee bit but fun bits i blasted dude ! I've looked around and tried all sortsa types of full susspension but after a stiffe all susspension bikes feel like they're broken and sh1t in comparison. i love this bike. it really is the bomb. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove | | Strengths: | Strong, stiff, fun to ride. | | Weaknesses: | I can't think of any... If you really want to be nit-picky, the stickers are annoying. I had mine custom painted, so I only have the down-tube stickers now. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz chameleon; Trek 8000, 9800, 8700 | | Bike Setup: | 04 Marzocchi Z1 FR QR20, XT shifters and triggers, Avid Mechanical Disks, Chris King hubs with Sun singletrack rims, Race Face most else | | Bottom Line: | I love this hardtail. It's by far the best hardtail I've ever ridden. I weigh 220 and this frame is awesome for not flexing. When I first built it and went out and rode it, it was like sitting in my favorite chair right away. I just felt at home. It's perfection. It rides great, handles great, and makes you feel good. If you're a gram-counter, don't buy it. If you want a very solid hardtail that will last, it's your frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Harris
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$475.00 | | Purchased At: | Somerset Bike Centre | | Strengths: | I have a 19.5" frame, and so it's a brilliant all-rounder. The frame is amazingly versatile and strong. The slack back end makes the frame easy to move in the air and on the climbs and downhills. Added to which, the frame i have is pink - SASSY PINK! brilliant!!
i would say that this frame is suited best to the rider that wants to do anything and everything. The frame seems to able to handle everything. Being so versatile, a small change in set-up has the bike and frame ready for anything - i know because i've done it! | | Weaknesses: | The stickers and qr seat clamp that come with the frame are pants for how much you pay for it | | Similar Products Used: | my old bike was a custom built specialized hardrock, i loved it, but is was much too heavy and no comparison to my current cove custom build | | Bike Setup: | RockShox psylo race 125mm forks
Halo combat wheels
2.1 panaracers
deore groupset
hope mini mono hydraulic disc brakes
mix and match for the rest! | | Bottom Line: | Buy it (in orange or pink!)
if a hardtail is what you want, the cove stiffee fr is the frame the one. The frame will suit anyone with the right set-up and will handle everything in it's stride.
i love it! :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from preston
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | mabie dark side | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | leisure lakes bikes | | Strengths: | this is the best hardtail money can buy! it is brilliant for doing drop off's and downhill but it's also great at climbing. the frame looks great, no problems with paintwork. I highly recomend cove stiffee's for north shore riding and any type of freeriding! | | Weaknesses: | non | | Similar Products Used: | too many to list! | | Bike Setup: | xt gears,dirt jumper 1's,easton bars+stem, custom paint job,formula 4 pots,panaracers,halo's. | | Bottom Line: | this is the ultimate bike for whatever type of riding. It is capable of anything. I would rather have my cove than my old cannondale jekyll(full susser). It is most definately the best bike iv'e ever ridden. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marce
a Downhiller
from North Shore
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Very strong. Great geometry for the north shore. Great service from Cove. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Brodie Evolution | | Bike Setup: | 17.5 Stiffee w/ 2003 Sherman Slider, Race Face cranks, bb, stem, headset, seatpost, bars, XT drivetrain, Doubletrack rims, Kenda tires. | | Bottom Line: | I can't be happier with this frame. I wanted to buy a tough hardtail that would last me many years. The Cove Stiffee is perfect and never lets me down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | jenson USA | | Strengths: | Bomb proof frame. Can take just about any fork. Can set the bike up for any style of riding. Light and strong...what more do you want ! | | Weaknesses: | Paint Job and Stickers | | Similar Products Used: | Kona NuNu and Coiler , Kinesis XC, Specialised stumpy. | | Bike Setup: | Magura brakes, XT drive train, Tioga XC tyres, Marzocchi MX comp 120mm fork....nothing too flash just solid stuff | | Bottom Line: | Cant get this bike in Ireland but after reading reviews I just had to have one. Gives you lots of confidence knowing the bike can take savage abuse. Its great knowing you can set this bike up for any type of riding. All day all mountain spins to jumps and hucking. I would advice anyone to buy it if they were looking for an all round machine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Jaikaran
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | The "S" bend | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | It is super light and can take drops. It can handle a big tire in the back and a hige fork in the front | | Weaknesses: | back rotor barely fits | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4300 | | Bottom Line: | This frame is good for anyone who wants to freeride or dirtjump, but still wants to hit the trails. If you need a frame that can take a beating and don't want to scarefice weight you should definantly buy this frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reymond Singson
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Tagaytay | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa | | Strengths: | Great Geometry, Stable in the air, bombproof, feels like a big bmx bike, low standover, no flex | | Weaknesses: | Stickers are peeling off even when new. came with a crappy QR clamp. Small dent on the headtube when I got it. | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Torrent | | Bike Setup: | 15.5 stiffee. Z1 QR20, Raceface Parts, XT/LX drive, Ringle Abbah FR hubs on 521's, Maxxis Bling bling's, avid 185's | | Bottom Line: | Although I have some small gripes, this is still the favorite bike in my stable. Its geometry feels spot on. I can bomb down some trails with as much aggression as my full sus bike. The front end is easy to pick up and you could whip it in the air. Props to the Deep Cove shop for sending me new stickers once I complained to them about the peeling decals on my frame. they sent it halfway around the world :) but for the price we paid for the frame, I think they should invest in better decals or at least paint it with clearcoat or something... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KT
a Weekend Warrior
from HK
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | cove bikes | | Strengths: | Lightweight for some I guess. | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips like a motha, too many lame graphic stickers (the chainstays are the only tubes without their dumb ass stickers), rear derailleur tab bent easily. Outside of bottem bracket shell wore away easily from occasional chain skipping off the lowest front sprocket. Poor value for money. | | Bike Setup: | '03 Z1 FR, race face cranks, stem and bars, hayes disc brakes, high rollers, XT hubs, derailleurs and shifters. | | Bottom Line: | Not impressed at all for the money spent. Most disappointing was how easily the rear dropout bent for the derailleur hanger. This piece of cheese is more suited for XC than FR. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from So cal
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Chutes | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$599.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Nice stiff frame, well built and light. It will handle anything you thrown at it, and is light enough to race if you wanted to. Plenty of room to stick big tires on the rear. | | Weaknesses: | Paint scratches very easily, stickers everywhere. When the front der. is in the granny ring you can have clearance issues with the tire/der. cage if you run a large rear tire. | | Bike Setup: | Set up as a trail bike: '03 Z1 FR SL, Stylo Team cranks, XTR rr der/XT fr der, XT shifters/cassette, ProTaper carbon bar, Thomson stem/seatpost, XT/Mavic321 rr, King/317 front w/7" Avid mech discs. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this frame and used a lot of spare parts I had laying around. I wanted a nice light bike for the rides where I didn't need my FS rigs. Took some getting used to the stiffness of the hardtail, I was afraid of how it would handle the technical downhills. Once I made my first descent I was really amazed at how well the bike handled and inspired confidence. The Z1 feels right at home on the bike, cranked down for the climbs and at full travel for the descents the geometry feels perfect. Haven't weighed the bike, but I'm guessing it is around 27 pounds. I wouldn't mind trying out a 150mm sc fork on this thing just for fun, the bike just begs to be ridden hard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
drew
a Downhiller
from armstrong
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Jims | | Strengths: | good solid frame, extremly light and tight. feels good with 26/24s | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | iron horse, azonic elinator, brodie, zig-zag, devo, and norco something or other | | Bike Setup: | dj 3 on the front, ryno lights, avid 8" and 6". | | Bottom Line: | if you get the chance to buy this bike and you like free riding, and slight DS and DH buy this bike. its a sweet ride. personally I like the gun metal grey color. looks sweet. feels good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Downhiller
from London UK
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Aston Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Wades Cycles | | Strengths: | very stiff frame, great all rounder, can fit big tires and long travel forks, light weight | | Weaknesses: | paint, price | | Similar Products Used: | Jack Flash,LeToy III various other hardtails | | Bike Setup: | Red 17.5" frame,'03 Z1 drop offs, XT groupset, RF Prodigy double ring with bash gard, Planet X golith hubs with D321 & Maxxis High Rollers. Xero bars and Intense lock ons, hope mini's, seat clamp qr skewers etc | | Bottom Line: | This is one of the best if not the best hard tail I have every ridden. I used it for all types of riding. The bike rides very well with 5" forks and is ight enough to ride all day. Jumping it is a pleasure and it can cope with dh riding too.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
C J
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Casltegar trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cove Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Based here in the frame breaking, mountainous kootenays, I needed a bike that had to ride up well and take a beating on the downs. Geometry, Strength and weight were all an issue. The Stiffee filled the position. It comes in a good size range, isnt too over built thus keeping the weight down, and as the name suggests, has a stiff alloy frame yet it felt a little more resiliant than other "overly stiff" aluminum frames on the market - probably due to the smaller seat tube (26.8) and and rounder chanistay diametres. Coming off of a beloved cro-mo brodie frame made me please this. I was leery about going to aluminum and pretty mucgh had the cro-mo cove hand job picked out but didnt want to repeat another broken frame. The stiffee takes abuse well, has great numbers in the geometry by not going to the extreme of things like so many other companies. I needed a smart + tuff bike frame, not a bomb proof military weapon. | | Weaknesses: | Paint scratch concious? avoid Cove. I had to suck it up when I realised how easy the paint peels off of this thing. And for the price I payed? Oh well. Bikes get beat around here. I am use to it now. If anything, get the silver frame and avoid this prob. As well, their derailleur dropouts are prone to cracking when you try to straighten even the smallest of bends. Pick up a few extra if you buy a frame. And check your frame alignment before building! I had to send my first frame back (uggggggg). I was not impressed! Turns out the frame was slighlty used but repainted and stickered, just witing for someone to unknowingly purchase. Good thing I work in a bike shop. At least Cove's frame decals peel off easily. I was no longer as impressed with having the cove name all over my new bike. No everyone asks me what kind of bike I have... I say a decent enough one. | | Similar Products Used: | Brodie frames (alloy and cro-mo). | | Bike Setup: | 5" Z.1 Qr-20 (possibly going to the Z150 this spring), RaceFace h/s, post, and north shore cranks. 36h 321's on hugi hubs, IRC Kujo DH - 2.65 front, 2.35 rear. Titec ringleader bar (knock rated my ass...), Beserker seat and blackspire stem. Shimano 8spd XT drive w. sram chain (The best combo). Avid mech discs, 8"f 6"r (wicked brakes! I keep riding while you keep fixing those hydros). Primo - Ian Morris grips (love the num-chucks!). | | Bottom Line: | A Clean, sturdy frame. Rides really well. A definative all mountain, up and down and off the drops bike (did I mention all the 8'- 12' drops this thing has landed? I couldnt do that with confidence on my old cro-mo friend).
Crappy paint, decals and quality control. Is Cove over hyped as they lay claim to the "North Shore"? probably (check out Hillside Bikes, the orginal "shore-inspired" parents of the ti, Cove Hummer and all out shore riding demands). Is this bike a decent result of the demands of todays hard-er tail riding styles? foresure. Would I get another if and when this frame fails? (lifetime crash replacement) Possibly? Do I like the term "North Shore"? it is wearing thin. How about "BC Bred"? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
