Review Date
July 31, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Reviewed by: roadster ,  Cross Country Rider , from pittsburgh

Favorite Trail:
1 Year

Summary:
My first 29er ,with a short learning curve.This is a fast bike.It makes you more confient in your riding and climbing,I highly recommend going to a 29er ,would never go back to 26inch wheels.If the wheels were lighter this would be the perfect race and crosscountry bike.

Strengths:
Great lefty .fork and frame

Weaknesses:
seat clamp ,heavy wheels

Other recommended trails in the same area:
none

Review Date
May 8, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Review Date
March 19, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Reviewed by: arlovarri ,  Cross Country Rider , from portland, or

Favorite Trail:
Less than 1 month

Summary:
I have only had this bike for 3 days but I want to update this forum with 2009 info. This year the bike is moss green and is lighter than in years past. Mine is an XL and with regular double sided spd pedals it is only 24.95 pounds. The stock seat is comfortable enough. For the price this seems to be a great value. I'm 6'3" and 200 pounds and it fits great. I have been riding a light hardtail (Homegrown) for 8 years but this 29'er is a whole new experience. It is much much faster and cleans objects that have given me trouble on 26 inch wheels. Instead of looking 10-15 feet in front of me for the line, I look 30 feet down the trail and just keep the power on. Believe the hype, get a lightweight 29'er.

Strengths:
Light Weight 24.95 pounds XL size, solid frame, fast!!!! MADE IN AMERICA, people need jobs these days.

Weaknesses:
tires warped, perhaps from rim strip installed poorly, the strip was bunched up between the tire and the rim side in places. It is much better after I reinstalled the tires with the strip centered, this is not easy, the strip slides around too much. Still some warp but it may go away after more miles. Tires also not great in mud, but that is to be expected from this small block tread.

Review Date
January 1, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Reviewed by: samxbam8 ,  Racer , from Pennsylvania

Favorite Trail:
1 Year

Summary:
I've raced this bike in everything from XC races to 24 hour solo races, and it handles everything like a champ. The lefty is extremely light and stiff. I have this bike down around 22 pounds, but I know people who have it down to a little above twenty.

Strengths:
29er, with a few quick upgrades this bike can become very light. Carbon Lefty is top notch. Immediately improved my race results.

Weaknesses:
the WTB's it came with were heavy. Replaced with Stan's 355 and immediately dropped two pounds.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
other hardtails and 29ers

Review Date
November 8, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Reviewed by: frumthehills ,  Cross Country Rider , from emmitsburg,md

Favorite Trail:
6 months

Summary:
its a cool bike, but i'd probably say that about any 29er. i like what the 29er brings to the trail. i dig the lefty fork until i need to do something. if it was my only bike i probably wouldn't care, but the only time i really like it is when i'm already riding. the x-9 suck compared to my x-o, hell campared to my LX shifters too. it handles well, I don't buy into the cry babies that say 29er are slow handling, maybe in the tightest of stuff but really not a problem. having spent years now on a epic marathon its sucks to run a hardtail in the rough stuff, so I only ride the bike on fast, smoooth stuff. overall feeling is its a cool bike depending on where you ride.

Strengths:
its a 29er. it climbs well, it handles well, i dig the avid juicy 7, they are tight, lefty fork

Weaknesses:
sram x-9 blow! the strength in my hand has increased by 10%
seat post. I would like it better with a set back post for a little more room. lefty fork, tires not a fan of WTB

Other recommended trails in the same area:
gary fisher paragon