hopeless police (lack of) effort against stolen bikes
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The first time I got on this bike (Mount Vision Pro version), I cycled some 30 yards and I was immediately struck by how fast it was. How? Why?
This bike is wierd in that its so good. The frame is completely stiff and just magnifies your muscle power. The rear suspension is so precise that its really fun jumping over bumps and down hills and climbs. Its so fun.
You think this thing with its springs and pivots would be very noisy but it isn't - no rattles or 'slack' noises to spoil your cross country confidence. There is always the associated extra weight, argument, too but this is so light at 26.6lbs (frame just 6lbs). The frame was designed with input from someone who designs F1 race cars but it works really well much better than the new Specialized brain suspension that is being pushed at the moment.
The 6061 T6 alloy aluminum monocoque frame doesn't flex at all. The wheels are mavic 517 rims which have been the best XC wheel rims around for some time now.
There is no discernible lateral shaking and flexing associated with fast downhill in a full-suspension bike.
During repetitive bumps on climbs there are some bouncies during some long, grinding, out of the saddle climbs, but use the (change on the ride/fly) lock-out on the Fox Float RL and its perfect again as is the lock-out on the SID Team fork. It has four inches of travel in the back, and 100mm up front, so the bike can take the big hits with no annoying inefficiencies. This bike feature s the new Quad System trail arm.
The Quad system is designed to allow the rear wheel to move up and down early in the travel. As the wheel moves back the effective chainstay length grows, which is supposed to put the rear wheel in contact with the ground more often. Then, later on in the travel, the rear wheel moves forward towards the bottom bracket, shortening the effective chainstay length. This is supposed to eliminate the upward "bounce" motion associated with each stroke of the pedal. Compared with the new brain type inteeligent systems, this works better. You can feel the rear wheel being pushed down into the ground on bumps.
Parts include Shimano XT shifters and derailleurs, WTB Rocket V saddle, Momentum Comp headset and Moto Raptor 2.1 tires. Easton Monkeylite bars with a slight rise clamp to the FSA XC 120 Alloy stem and RockShox SID Team fork. DT Swiss Onyx disc-ready hubs lace to Mavic 225 rims, and finally, Hayes hydraulic disc brakes. I thinks the Mount Vision is only available in black.
The XTR rapid fire shifters are great in that when you're climbing uphill, the gear spring changes UP for you so its no effort to change gear uphill. A great idea but why so unique? Still its a great gear change eitherway. This is the firsts time I could actually control & choose to change 1 or 3 gears. I hit some kerbs and jumped 10 feet and the whole bike feels really strong.
Love it... well actually loved it.
Mine was stolen. It had a Datatag in it (they advertise "you'll always get your bike back"). I discovered no effort on the part of the police and NO ONE checks for datatag ids, not the police, no bike shops, no one. When I put this to datatag they explained by hanging up the phone.
Luckily I didn't pay the outrageous £3,500 retail price for this. I got ,mine for just £400 from myluckybid so I was very lucky but some toe rag thief has been even luckier.
Why can't something be done to make bikes thief proof. A proper frame id that is actually used to trace bikes. Once again you can thank your government for the great deal - whilat collecting your tax with £6 billion IT systems they don't have £10k to spend on a national stolen property register.
Anyway truly a great bike. You will NOT be disappointed... unless it gets stolen.
More details
Price
400
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