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Haro Escape 8.2

MSRP $ 850.00
Weight
# of Reviews 25
Average Rating 4.52/5
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    Submitted by Derek Bednarski a Cross Country Rider from Mendenhall, PA
    Date Reviewed: September 26, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Middle Run, White Clay Creek
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $495.00
    Purchased At:Downingtown Bike Shop
    Strengths:One of the top 5 strongest frames I know of.
    A very good blend of components
    The Geometry and strength of parts(frame, wheels, fork,) are amazing besides the crank
    Weaknesses:The stock deraileurs and crank
    Similar Products Used:None Really, Maybe Jamis Eureka
    Bike Setup:Stock, planet bike seat pack, 2 water bottle cages, x.9f/r deraileur, soon to be new crank(FSA V Drive, Truvativ Stylo/FireX, Shimano Hollowtech, Bontrager Big Earl?) and chain.
    Bottom Line:No question the best bike you can by at this price point. My bike ccame with SX24 Rims, Kenda Nevegal Tires, Hussefelt risers(incredible), Sx4 rear deraileur and Alivio Front. I am incredibly happy with the bike. My dad has a Cannondale F300, and my bike feels in a different level(higher) than his bike. His bike feels jittery and jumpy in turns and over rocks and roots. The Haro's Hydroformed frame feels incredibly stiff, the fork is great for XC, and the bike has a ridiculously stable confidence inspiring, skill-building feel. I could have no higher praise for a bike of this price range. The only things I dislike are the shaky crank and deraileurs. The brakes are also phenomenal. If you buy this bike, you can not go wrong(I am a begginer and plan on keeping this bike for a LONG time)for anything less than a pro.

    PS- if you are looking for light weight, although this bike is by no means heavy(around 29 pounds?) and is great at climbing, you may want to look elsewhere.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jamey Hudson a Downhiller from Hickory NC
    Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006
    Favorite Trail:Any
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $700.00
    Purchased At:Clarks
    Strengths:The Biggest drop I have hit so far was a stair case that was about five feet during an urban session with a couple of buddies. I was impressed that nothing bent or broke landing that hard on flat concrete. The frame is awsome and will withstand being slamed agian and agian.
    Weaknesses:The front fork is to soft and doesnt have enough travel. I am hopeing to upgrade to bombers soon. I have also broken two spokes in the rear wheel already but thats no big deal, an easy fix.
    Similar Products Used:None
    Bike Setup:Kenda Nevegal 2.35 on the rear, and a Nevegal 2.50 on the front. Everything else is still stock.
    Bottom Line:This is a great all around bike. It's a little heavy for a hardcore cross country rider. But overall its a great bike for any situation, and will hold up to any thing you throw at it.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Will Tomlinson a from North Carolina
    Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006
    Favorite Trail:Spence Ridge
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $700.00
    Purchased At:Sadly, at the mall.
    Strengths:Sturdy frame, great geometry, strong wheelset w/excellent brakes, and it was a steal with the components it came with.
    Weaknesses:By far the worst cranks I have ever used. I bent them off of a 2' drop and I only weigh 165. Switch them out with a better pair right off the bat and save some trouble.
    Similar Products Used:All types of freeride hardtails.
    Bike Setup:Stock except for grips.
    Bottom Line:I loved this bike. It was fast, maneuverable and sturdy so you don't have to worry about the bike when you ride it off something. It comes with Sun HillRod rims which for the price were very hard to throw out of true. I rode this bike for the better part of a year and I have only had to true the rims once. I have ridden everything from raised trails to urban to dirt jumping and the bike has always been reliable. It's geometry made it really easy to manual and wheelies come as naturally as walking.

    Bottom Line: Get this bike if you are a beginner and want a good bike to learn on, or if you just want to save some money. It won't dissapoint.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by mike b a Weekend Warrior from pembroke,ma usa
    Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005
    Favorite Trail:settlers marsh (duxbury)
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $560.00
    Purchased At:bike barn whitman,ma
    Strengths:Brakes have great power and feel.Strong beefy frame.Feels relativly nimble and easy to control. Very sturdy and predictable at high speeds and technical sections. Great looking bike.
    Weaknesses:Forks are decent but feel a little squishy even after proper settings. I have had crank problems since the first month i had this. Also chainrings seem to be cheesier than normal. Notchy shifting.
    Bike Setup:nothing special, bar adjustment etc
    Bottom Line:Great bike for aggresive trail riding. Deff. a true downhill bike! Feels Great on intense downhills! This bike is not at all intended to be on the road. If you want to do alot of road riding along with trails than look somewhere else. Other than that this is a awesome bike. Experts will not appreciate the stock fork
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Tony a Weekend Warrior from Willis, TX
    Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005
    Favorite Trail:Wherever
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $600.00
    Purchased At:Sun & Ski Sports
    Strengths:Incredible frame. I wish bikes like this were available back in '98; I wouldn't have bought my former Trek XC bike.
    Good components for the most part: bars, stem, brakes. This thing is great for wheelies. Very solid feeling, great steering. Despite what other's have stated, I haven't had any problems with the cranks. Yet, at least.
    Weaknesses:Okay, here we go. The fork, while it works great for riding, is a bad spec on this type of bike. If you're a "Clydesdale" and just ride around on it, then it shouldn't be a problem. Not much adjustability, though. I have the '04 version of this bike, and it came with a Marzocchi EXR Pro Coil fork (105mm travel). I dropped off a bleacher to flat ground, and it put cracks in the lowers. Oil would drip out of the bottom of both legs. This drop was only about 18 inches, and I only did it once. I'm not really that heavy, about 170lbs.

    That's the problem; you have an XC fork on a freeride-type bike. Marzocchi replaced it with a 2005 version of the fork and told me not to do anything like that again with this fork. Which I haven't.

    The tires are another poor choice. While they seem to be great tires, the rear tire rubs the frame everytime you turn hard or stand up and sprint hard. 2.1" tires are a better choice for the rear, at least.

    The wheelset itself wasn't particularly impressive, but it worked. I replaced the stock wheels and tires with XT hubs, RynoliteXL rims, and Specialized Compound ATB Pro urban tires. The 2.2" tires are a great fit because of the rounded profile. Everyone should have a set of these tires; they're incredible.

    Similar Products Used:'98 Trek 7000
    Bike Setup:Stock except for the wheelset, tires, and grips.
    Bottom Line:It ain't light. If you're looking for an light XC bike, look elsewhere. Think of this bike as a Hummer H-1, where an XC bike would be a regular SUV. It's a jack of all traits, but a master of none. Don't worry about counting grams with this one. Just ride the damn thing, and it will remind you of how riding just for the sake of riding is still fun.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Bryce a Weekend Warrior from Brewster
    Date Reviewed: September 28, 2005
    Favorite Trail:Ninham
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $860.00
    Purchased At:Village Bikes, Carmel NY
    Strengths:This is the single most solid stock freeride hardtail on the market. The Frame is Huge, and i cannot stress that enough, it is massive, and really stiff, and really nice geometry for me (im 5'11" and 240lbs, riding a medium)The stock components are also really really nice, included in the package are sram x7 shifters and deraileur in the back, and a deore up front, it came with a bash guard, and 18 speeds, whichwas fine for me. Also, it has avid BB5 mech disc brakes with an 8 up front and a 6 in back, and they have some serious stopping power. The Kenda nevegal and blue groove tires, int the rear and front respectively, are great,. and grip in most conditions, the only one i have had trouble with thus far is sandy stuff, but not much round here. Truvativ cranks are not that bad, could be upgraded, and the handle bars are also truvativs, hussefelts, and theyre oversized, which are really stiff and handle great. finally, the fork isnt bad at all, the manitou splice comp, though they are a budget item, but their 130 mm holds its own, the only thing they realy lack really is adjustments
    Weaknesses:The fork could be better, but is fine for me. also, the paint kinda sucks, it chips pretty easily, but its only cosmetic, and since its an aluminum frame, no worries for rust. also, the stock rear tire is a 2.35, and i super knobby, and they rub the rear triangle quite a bit, but again, not a huge deal. theres nothing to complain about on this bike though, its super solid
    Similar Products Used:none, maybe a marin b-17
    Bike Setup:Stock, but i am upgrading the 6 inch rear rotor to an 8, and i am putting a short road cage on the back and taking off the big ring up front, but thats nothing huge, the only big thing i would do is maybe put a 24 inch wheel on the back, and if i do hurt the fork beyond comprehensible repair, i would upgrade it to a marzocchi drop off z1 fr3
    Bottom Line:This bike is great, theyre is absolutely nothing wrong with its inistial set up, i freeride with this bike, do cross country and a little urban, as well as hit my big ass kickers. this bike will do it all, no problem, but it is a little slow on the climbs, and has some issues with tight turns, but nothing to totally reject it for. i love this bike, and aside from the upgrades i wish to make, most of which will be made within the next month or so, and is all just personal preference i dont really need a big ring, and the short cage is preventitive of slapping, this bike is a killer value, i mean ridiculous, nothing better, buy this bike, i love haro bikes, and have always ridden them
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Ben a Weekend Warrior from sydney, NSW, Australia
    Date Reviewed: September 7, 2005
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $1200.00
    Purchased At:Manly Cycles
    Strengths:Great overall bike, strong frame with good parts. Great forks for things like DJ's
    Weaknesses:Not much, rear mech broke quite easily, was gonna upgrade anyway
    Similar Products Used:Kona stuff
    Bike Setup:maxxis highrollers 26x2.5, sram x.9 rear mech with x.0 shifters, 8" rear rotor
    Bottom Line:Its a really good bike. strong frame with very good parts. bought the bike for $1200 Australian (normally worth $1700), really good value. Upgraded rear deraileur and tyres, i seamed to be getting a lot of flats with the stock tyres.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Cliff Roberts a Downhiller from HPeasy NC
    Date Reviewed: August 25, 2005
    Favorite Trail:Northwood
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $600.00
    Purchased At:Sun and Ski Sports
    Strengths:Burly frame with dialed geometry, amazing brakes, decent components for the price...
    Weaknesses:Needs upgrades on cranks, fork, grips and other small items.
    Similar Products Used:These are my previous bikes: Schwinn Predator, GT Show, Schwinn Frontier, Trek 8000
    Bike Setup:Stock except grips, and cranks.
    Bottom Line:It is critical that everyone reading this review understands how big an understatement I am making when I say that this frame is spectacular. This bike corners like it was specifically engineered for every turn you take. It is perfectly balanced in the air, making it great for jumping and dropping. It has a very wide balance point making it easy to manual and wheelie (I love to ride wheelies and I can ride from my house to class without dropping the front end once). But the best part about this bike is its versatility. It performs as well going up a big hill as it does going down, making it an effective XC bike as well as a maneuverable and blazingly fast downhill monster.

    The components are also worth mentioning. The bike comes stock with Hussefelt bars, Shimano derailleurs, Sun rims and Hayes brakes. And even though these are not top of the line components, they do the job, and they do it well. I am especially a fan of the brakes. At 160lbs I can go from 35mph to 0 in a little over a bike length on dry asphalt. Try that one next time you are in your car.

    There is however one item that cannot be ignored: the cranks. These things are pure garbage, like a toy you would find in the bottom of a Happy Meal covered in fry grease. I bent mine dropping off of a curb and was so suprised that I actually thought I had broken my ankle before I realized that the right arm was bent like a putter from a cheap minigolf course.

    Bottom Line:
    This bike is well worth the money, especially if you plan to upgrade some of the components.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by john a Downhiller from seattle
    Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005
    Favorite Trail:any trail with jumps
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $740.00
    Purchased At:etiel
    Strengths:frame fork tires spokes hubs and almost everything else
    Weaknesses:rim saddle head set and crank
    Bottom Line:hell of a bike for dirt jumping street and some freeride
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Ryan a Racer from vail aria, colorado, usa
    Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005
    Favorite Trail:theres to many
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $48.00
    Purchased At:ebay
    Strengths:bomb proof frame verry solid a bit heavy but its worth the durabuility.(i got the frame by itself with the stock fork)
    Weaknesses:none at all
    Similar Products Used:theres nothin like it.(at least not that ive used)
    Bike Setup:i upgraided to the marzocchi mx comp w/eta this fork is lighter and better than a dirt jumper just get the 120mm sram x9 rear derailur and trigger shifters, cane creek zs z9 head set, avid mech ball baring discs, shimano xt hubs sun rhyno rims, Race Face Diabolus X Type Crankset, and crank bros stainless egg beaters
    Bottom Line:this frame takes it all powers up hill with that awsome marzocchi mx comp w/eta(btw the best fork iv ever ownd and only 250 bux)itl take 10 foot drops without too much worry but is better sueted for 6 footers taks em no sweat itl ceep up with some dh bikes and is sturdy none of that creeking its got a nice big dent on the bottom from sliding into a tree but hasnt effected strength(at least i havnt noticed) so if u can get ur hands on this bike its a must buy i give it five tasty chillys for the most bomb proof frame out there
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Erik a from Pittsburgh, PA
    Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005
    Favorite Trail:Riverview
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:650
    Strengths:frame, brakes, shifters
    Weaknesses:tires
    Similar Products Used:Specialized P2, GT Chucker
    Bike Setup:stock
    Bottom Line:I love this bike. I have been riding it hard in all different situations almost daily since April and it still feels brand new. The bike is really solid. It is also very versatile. I ride it for miles on technical single track to get to my favorite downhill spots and then use it to get everywhere in the city doing drops and stairs all along the way. I even take it when I go with my XC friends. I am not the fastest (but not the slowest) on the climbs, but blow everybody away on the way back down.
    The only things I don't care for are the tires and grips. The fork could probably use heavier springs for really big drops, but is fine otherwise.
    If you are looking for a really fun, versatile bike this is the way to go.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by will lehnert a Cross Country Rider from columbus, oh
    Date Reviewed: May 16, 2005
    Favorite Trail:Downtown Columbus
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $350.00
    Purchased At:Galyans
    Strengths:Good shifting, good crank, good headset
    Weaknesses:This is my Second 8.2, and both bikes rear triangle have bent. The spacing between the frame and the tire is way too close!!! If you turn hard, it will rub...if you pedal hard, it will rub. I am about to trash the frame and keep the parts.
    Similar Products Used:Haro 8.2 from 2003...the one i have now is a 2005
    Bike Setup:what came with it
    Bottom Line:I like this bike, Excellent Geometry, but it is quite heavy. The Frame design in the rear needs to be wider in order to fit a large diameter tire. I believe that you can order a tougher spring for the fork to make it less prone to bottoming out. The rest of the bike works out for what i use it for. (urban riding)
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by duncan clark a Weekend Warrior from old greenwhich connecticut USA
    Date Reviewed: November 15, 2004
    Favorite Trail:green lake
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $850.00
    Purchased At:recycled cycles
    Strengths:strong, strongest there is. It has a good feal with a lot of controle. its a tank but still manuverable and light.
    Weaknesses:the stock fork is a peice of crap i bottomed mine out the first day i had it.
    Similar Products Used:kona stuff
    Bike Setup:stock
    Bottom Line:its a great overall bike for the money. itll hold up to anything you throw at it and has great components for the most part. my only complaint would be the fork because its not quite as strong as the rest of the bike and brings it down a bit. besides that its perfect.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by rob a Weekend Warrior from monument, colorado
    Date Reviewed: October 23, 2004
    Favorite Trail:north shore in my backyard
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $600.00
    Purchased At:velo swap in denver (new)
    Strengths:Talk about a beefy headset and top tube, square chainstays and seatstays. this thing rocks and ive only had it a week. handles great, and i heard the frame has a lifetime warranty. Fairly good components... LX drivetrain. 8" rotor up front is real nice.
    Weaknesses:kinda heavy... but who cares.
    fork sucks if you go all out, but its decent.
    Similar Products Used:comparaitvely... p.1(tested)
    Bike Setup:All stock. except after velo swap I added kujo dh tires, marzocchi z1 130 mil QR 20, and 20 mill thru axle, mavic rim up front.
    Bottom Line:Sweet bike definately worth the 600 bills I payed! Takes anything and everything you dish out. It was between this and a kona stuff... haro cost less and had better components.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Henry Green a Weekend Warrior from Boulder, CO USA
    Date Reviewed: October 3, 2004
    Favorite Trail:maverick jumps, A-line @ maverick, not the whistler ones
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $850.00
    Purchased At:The Fix, Boulder CO (www.rhythmcycles.com)
    Strengths:very solid, poppy on lips, takes all kinds of hits and the frame stays strong, great geometry, sturdy and absolutely exstatically fun to ride (spelling?)
    Weaknesses:seat post creaks some times, stock tires are s***, derailleur is slow
    Similar Products Used:maybe the Azonic DS-1 (rode my friend's around), not really any comparison
    Bike Setup:stock except for new upgraded FSA cranks, Hussefelt stem, MRP system 2 slolom guide (excellent, but you'll have to grind down the rollers because of chain line), Arrow DJ tires, new seat, and get some ODI lock on grips
    Bottom Line:this bike is awesome. totally solid, it's like riding a cynderblock with handlebars. and that's in a good way; this bike will never break or let you down, and takes a lot of drops and techy sections like a fs bike. solid and burly enough for heavy dirt jumping, and light and maneuverable enough for high-speed 4-cross racing. LOVE THIS BIKE!!!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Josh Blenx a Weekend Warrior from Reading, PA US of A
    Date Reviewed: September 10, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Blue Marsh, French Creek, Wissahickon
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $850.00
    Purchased At:Spokes Bike Shop
    Strengths:Solid Frame. Awesome mechanical disc brakes. The Kenda Kinetics stick to everything.
    Weaknesses:Yes, it is a bit heavy. Front end gets light in rough climbing but tilting the riser bars forward slightly remedies this.
    Similar Products Used:Mongoose (cheap starter bike) Giant Iguana Disc (test ride)
    Bike Setup:Stock. Lizard Skins Accessories here and there, Sintered brake pads. Future upgrades include: Crank Bros. Mallet C pedals, Hayes HMX brake levers. I like the Kendas but im thinking of trying some WTB Moto Raptors. Havent decided about a fork upgrade.
    Bottom Line:I havent been riding long but I get out whenever I possibly can. I throw everything that my skills will allow at this bike and it askes for more. I couldn't ask for a better hardtail. I feel totally confidant on steep descents.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by stuart rice a Racer from stirling scotland
    Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004
    Favorite Trail:cambusbarn quarry and mine woods
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $550.00
    Purchased At:highpeak cycles
    Strengths:a great bike strong frame great brakes solid bars and comes with a splined bb and looks smart if you get it in black
    Weaknesses:the sem is rubbish it is to long and should come with a chain device
    Similar Products Used:specilized p2
    Bike Setup:haro escape 8.2
    Bottom Line:a great bike but needs alot of upgrades
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Chris a Weekend Warrior from Reno, NV
    Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Strengths:Turning, durability, brakes
    Weaknesses:seat
    Similar Products Used:lots of different bikes, hardtails from Rocky Mountian and Specialized and others.
    Bike Setup:stock but will stiffen up front fork with bigger spring, because my weight is exceptional.
    Bottom Line:This is an awesome bike. It has everthing you need and nothing you don't. I like its geometry, climbing and decending abilities. The brakes are responsive although a little tricky to set up just right. Overall a great looking bike. I am pretty big 280lbs and I feel confident in this frame's integrity.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Evan a Weekend Warrior from Syracuse, NY
    Date Reviewed: June 28, 2004
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $850.00
    Purchased At:Bicycle Alley
    Strengths:Awsome frame, great components for the price. Excellent all around value.
    Weaknesses:For the price it's hard to complain about anything. If you're going to take on some big drops then you might want to upgrade the fork. Everything else is rock solid in my opinion.
    Similar Products Used:GT Timberline, Specialized Rock Hopper, Haro Escape 8.3
    Bike Setup:Stock for now
    Bottom Line:Don't take my word for it, this bike has won several awards. I did a lot of research before I purchased this bike as I do with every purchase of this magnatude. Usualy it comes down to several products and I have to make a really difficult decision... Purchasing the Haro Escape was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Dr. Jay a Downhiller from Saint John
    Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Connaught Woods
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $1100.00
    Purchased At:Bike Works
    Strengths:Beefy frame, strong rims, cushy forks, heavy-duty brakes great components overall, best bike for the money I have seen in a long, long time.
    Weaknesses:A little heavy for a hard tail, not the best climber on the trail; but that's not what she's made for!
    Similar Products Used:Oryx desert dueller, Norco Rampage; Specialized FSR comp
    Bike Setup:Dual slalom, hard-tail freeride
    Bottom Line:This is the funnest mountain bike I have ever owned/ridden. I have been biking for 11 years, and I have never felt so confident on a rig in my life....it makes drops and jumps a snap....you have total control (at least it feels like it) over the trail. I did a big North Shore style drop (about 6 ft) and it felt smoother than my old full suspension did.
    If you want a really fun bike get this. If you want to get your money's worth get this.Anyone looking to get into some hard core trail riding/mid-weight freeriding should check this bad boy out. If you ride wearing spandex and shaved legs, and live for the NORBA circuit, this ain't for you!!!!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Joe Coppolino a Cross Country Rider from San Diego, California
    Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Penasquitos Canyon
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $850.00
    Purchased At:Action Cyclery
    Strengths:The frame is virtually indestructable. Capable of tons of abuse. Brakes give good stopping power. Really sweet color pattern.
    Weaknesses:Fork is a little weak. Might want to upgrade to a Marzocchi Dirt Jumper. Slightly heavy, but you get used to it. Seat is literally a pain in the ass.
    Similar Products Used:None. This is my first rig.
    Bike Setup:Haro Escape 8.2
    Bottom Line:I just got in to mountain biking and I wanted a versatile bike that can handle a wide range of conditions. This was the right bike for the job. It rides great on the street as well as on dirt paths and downhill. The bike looks awesome. The fork will work for now, but I am going to upgrade to a Marzocchi Dirt Jumper I as soon as I have the cash. The tires work good, but when they are ready to be replaced, I am going to go with the Maxxis Minion 26 x 2.50's. Then my bike will be complete. I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants a good lookin versatile bike.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by ryan * a Weekend Warrior from ***fgfgdgdfg dd
    Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004
    Favorite Trail:mmmm donut
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $715.00
    Purchased At:a barn
    Strengths:(follow up review)
    Everything,there isnt one thing ive broken on this bike its just a rock solid hard tail. But if i did want to get picky the brake levers are a lil odd but not a problem at all. The tires that came wit mine are Kenda Kinetics 2.35 which are really nice and grippy also good for mud. The steering on this is different from regular bikes and feels like u really got alot of control (which u do).Rims havent came outta true.Bars ....dont worry U WONT break.Fork is very springy which i like for jumps and ive bottomed it out only bout 5-6 times wit preload all the way up crank em down and its much harder to bottom em out(but if u run outta preload get stiffer springs which ill probly do (30$))the whole drive train is sick for this bike and with the ISIS cartridge there shouldnt ever be creaking. Now the frame ....stiff and burrly the rear dropout is the first of its kind ive seen should bring u a life time of fun and if it dosent its got a lifetime warranty.
    Weaknesses:Umm not a bigge but the brake pads are semi mettalic (they have a bit of metal in em)semi metallics like have great braking power some times then other time they squeak. So just get non metallic brake pads which will cost less and give much better braking power
    Similar Products Used:nope
    Bike Setup:blue dice
    Bottom Line:A ton of bike for "little" money
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jesse a from Burltington,VT
    Date Reviewed: April 16, 2004
    Duration Product Used:Tested or demo'ed only
    Strengths:affordable yet valuable and feature-full!
    Weaknesses:as it is versitile mtb/bmx/road or trail it is not %100 perfect for any one of those things, but it's damn good for all of them! (which is actually a plus)
    Similar Products Used:comparable Giants, Specialized, Trek
    Bottom Line:This is a damn good bike. It may not be the best for any one catagory, but it is the most versitile yet affordable bike out there. Shifting is smooth and accurate, brakes work, impact off a 5 foot drop is... what impact? bike control is stupendous and it even comes equipped with excellent pedals.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Horse a Weekend Warrior from Provo Utah
    Date Reviewed: April 5, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Whatever, Whenever
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $680.00
    Purchased At:Copelands Sports
    Strengths:Great bike for what I payed.
    Weaknesses:A might heavy - but im also out of shape so who cares.
    Similar Products Used:Most of the others
    Bike Setup:Stock is cheap, stock is good!
    Bottom Line:Great bike and it was nicely priced. I couldnt find a bike that had this good of components for this cheap. Its hot the God-All-Mighty of mtb's but it does its job very well. Brakes are really good stock tires are great for dirt (so so on downhill snow) climbs well enough (would be better if I was more in shape) and is in its element coming down the backside. I usually last up the hill (weight is my enemy! =) ) but im always first coming down!

    Get this bike if you have less than a grand to spend on a tough good looking good performing bike!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by zach goings a Downhiller from cherokee nc usa
    Date Reviewed: March 9, 2004
    Favorite Trail:None
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $800.00
    Purchased At: