fork is great. rear suspension is incredible! rims are strong too
Cons:
the CRANKS!!! i have a chain slip when i go into 1...1. it slips and grinded my frame to the bear aluminim. im pissed. but the bike climbs great and it awesome.
Time Used:
1 Year
Comments:
the bike is a good beginner bike and i can say i am only 13 . the shifters are very nice and light weight. the brakes are AVID single digit 3's. love them. the front rim has less spokes that the rear?? thats weird. the bike has been flown off a 10 foot rock with me and my clipless shoes on. nothing bent!!!
Rating:
Recommendation:
Yes I would recommend it to a friend
Submitted by Brett - 10/9/2004 4:09:47 PM
Pros:
I like the feel of the geometry. It climbs and handles well. Comfortable for people with a long torso. When the shock is set properly there is very little bob.
Cons:
Not long after I purchased the bike I had 1 chain suck issue. I was able to force it out causing a minor scratch to the frame. My chain was poorly lubed at the time. I have kept my chain lubed and have not had any problems since.
It really has not been a problem.
Time Used:
1 Year
Comments:
This bike has been money well spent. I ride hard a usually at least 3 times a week and have had no major problems. I have had the bike over a year and a half. The rear suspension seems to be more effiecient than many of my friends bikes costing much more. Its nice not to have to lock out while climbing. I think there are some good advantages have an active rear while climbing.
Rating:
Recommendation:
Yes I would recommend it to a friend
Submitted by Kendo - 9/19/2002 4:25:18 PM
Pros:
Superior climbing, awesome Manitou Black Elite Shock. I bought the
Sugar 3+ DISC. So the hayes hydrolics are just outstanding. Bike w/ Disc weighs about 28lbs., Which is great. The adjustable travel 80mm-100mm up front and 3.8"-4.1" in back makes the bike WAY versatile. There is almost no pedal bob. Out of the saddle you will move your shock about 2mm.
Cons:
I admit it. There is a chainsuck problem. The Ogre guy that reviewed this bike had it a lot worse than I did. The problem is from a combination of factors.
1) poor meshing between small ring and chain, solution, replace Bontrager small ring with a Shimano.
2) bottom bracket too long, puts the crankset out to far. Solution - Shorter bottom bracket.
3) User error, your not supposed to shift under a tremendous amount of load. This is usually a newbie bike although its specd well. Learn how to shift properly.
JUST FYI-
My headset needed to get rebuilt, six months of heavy use.
and
The IRC backcountrys suck. Theres almost no cornering knobs on them. Get yourself another tire for the front and it'll keep it from washing out from under you. For a cheap fix I recommend Panaracer Fire (currently $16) or IRC Mythos(Currently $10)
Time Used:
6 Months
Comments:
There is some weakness with this bike but most of the fixes a bike shop will do for free for you. Most people will want to upgrade to a Splined XT or XTR anyway. With a shorter bottom bracket you won't have to worry about pulling the skewer from the shock to get your chain unstuck while riding, so thats a must. I bought the bike for $900.
Don't pay more than $1200. Honestly, if I had to spend more than that I would probably go with a Specialized Stumpjumper (about $1500). The Specialized four bar link and Fisher Sugar+ geometry feel very similiar while riding so don't get sold it one or the other.
Rating:
Recommendation:
Yes I would recommend it to a friend
Submitted by The Ogre - 9/19/2002 1:50:13 PM
Pros:
Light weight bike with a good feel.
Cons:
CHAIN Suck chain suck chain suck this bike sucks.
Upgraded to XT cranks and the bike still gets chain suck, worse, the middle and inner chainrings are so close the the chainstays that when the chain does get sucked up it tears into the chainstay and gets jammed in. I've tried keeping the chain cleen but as soon as it gets muddy I'm screwed.
Time Used:
1 Year
Comments:
This could be an awesome bike, it does bob a little when you are pedaling hard and but otherwise the geometry is awesome. I would not recomment to anyone though because the chain suck problems have haunted me. This bike was a warrantee replacement for a 2001 Sugar 3, I cracked the frame. Chain suck is worse this year than last. A couple that I ride with both ride sugar 2's and they don't seem to have near the problems with chain such as I do.
