Strengths: Super plush travel, easy to use damping and semi-lock out thing, dials.
Weaknesses: Not sure I get the full 105 mm travel. A tad heavy for a light weight XC bike.
Overall: Good value fork with little to complain about, hopefully as durable as my trusty old Z3s. Very plush travel, makes light work of all but the really big hits. Complements my disc clad hardtail perfectly.
Strengths: Responsive and fast to react over the rough stuff.
Very easy to climb on, surprisingly flexible rear end for an aluminium bike.
Sweet colour and tasteful decals.
Well thought out cable and disc hose mounts, all top tube stuff to keep the workings out of the mud.
Weaknesses: No V-brake mounts on the frame, but that does not bother me.
My full susser might get an early retirement.
Overall: I bought the 21" frame and specced it out with a Marzocchi Marathon S Coil 105mm fork, plus XT running gear, Hope XC wheels and Mini Mono brakes plus Easton finishing kit.
It all works great together, the complete bike is sub 24 lbs, it rides great, feels smooth and swift over the rough and is really efficient on the road.
The complete bike was put together for about £1400. With a lifetime warranty on the frame from Merlin Cycles its a Win Win situation.
Considering this would be over a £2000 bike from a major manufacturer I am totally stoked with the result......
Strengths: It props up the old settee well, doubles as a pooper scooper. Chain Reaction had a good advert.
Weaknesses: When the pages are wet its hard to scoop the poop.
Overall: I have not read this mag in two years and now I remember why, Nov 03's edition is quite simply the biggest pile of teenage, freeride, awesome, session this, huck that, drop in, wannabee drivel I have read in years. And I used to read American Mags!!
Written by teenagers for teenagers, utter f*ckin nonsense. There is more to mountain biking than baggy shorts and attitude.
They even had a DH versus XC article just to rub in the differences in our sport. They should drop the sectarian crap and write reasoned articles featuring more than just pictures of Wade Simmons last skidmark!
Strengths: Durable, its survived all sorts of car boot, crash and riding abuse. Its light in weight, easy to install thanks to the small bungy's provided.
Weaknesses: None at all
Overall: Its on my bike all year round, no exceptions, nothing else other than me survives that kind of longevity as a bike bound component.
Why Crud products have not been made standard on all bikes is beyond me, winter riding is never more pleasant than when your bike is wearing one.
Strengths: Light weight, incredibly easy to install through multi sized shims for your seatpost. 5mm Allen bolts perfect for on trail fettling, not that you'll need to.
Virtually no back splash from puddles, mud or any thing else you could conceivably ride through.
Weaknesses: Absolutely none.
Overall: Perfect example of the perfect product, I though the first generation Crud products were good but this takes the cake.
Keeps down cleaning time on the bike and makes life in winter conditions so much more pleasant.
The biggest coup for Crud is the one where a major bike brand actually sells this product as part of a new bike.
Strengths: Looks great, feels great, straps on just right for ma' huge heid!!
Weaknesses: Not as well vented than my old Anaxagore.
Overall: I tried all the high end Giros, Specialized and Bell lids and this was the best fitting for my large bonce. Used to have an Anaxagore and feel that Met fit me just that bit better.
No visor means great for roadys as well as MTBing, can't fault it.
Face it, helmets are a personal choice they either fit you or they don't...
Strengths: The frame is excellent, it really speaks volumes for Specialized that they hold the patent for the FSR design, they have done their homework and it shows in this product.
You can push the bike hard into any situation and know that the rear suspension is working with you, the frame is tight and accurate on twisty stuff and you can confidently 'huck' it off 3 or 4 feet drops without feeling like it is about to pancake on landing.
Standard factory supplied drivetrain and parts are OK, nothing too outstanding, I swapped for Psylo SL forks, which was a personal preference.
The flip/flop link and itch switch help to fine tune the bike to your needs also, combine this to a fork you can compress you have a 4" XC or a 5" freeride hack.
Excellent customer service from Specialized dealers, in Canada where I bought the bike and here for a warranty job (see below).
Weaknesses: This is my second frame, I actually bought last years and cracked the frame in front of the rear shock mount, they've beefed it up for 2003, adding a longer top bolt for the shock and thicker frame mounts.
Specialized insist on supplying their own chainset which will be replaced by an XT when it wears out (10 months and counting).
There tends to be a bit too much chain-suck from the Strongarm chainrings, its probably due to the profile of the grannyring's teeth pulling up the chain now they are becoming more worn.
Overall: This is no superlight XC bike its big, solid and hopefully durable.
Have replaced numerous brake pads, cables and general running expenses, although never had one puncture from the very capable Enduro tyres.
The rear shock's lower bushing was replaced recently, 9 months old, simple job do it yourself, if you can find a shop which will supply the bushings.
I'm looking at a five year life for this bike, I budgeted for it and it remains to be seen how the bushings on the 4 bar linkage will hold up over time. So far its had 4 months in Canadas rockies and 6 months of Scotlands finest mud and winter gloop.
After testing numerous bikes prior to parting with the money for the Enduro Pro I am now sure I got the right bike for me, if you are a bit heavier and like a long day in the saddle with maximum comfort and adjustablity look no further.
Strengths: Cheap, lightweight, easy to maintain and service (thankyou Shimano), nice colour!!
Great to climb on and sprint, comfortable over the bumps mainly due to carbon fork.
105 groupset bombproof, rarely goes out of tune and couldn't be easier to work on.
Weaknesses: Rolf wheels, lack of spokes make wheel trueing a pain.
Also rebuilt the rear axle the other day (Jan 03, first time and a few thousand miles since new) and found Rolf having stamped 'R' on the bearing race, very strange, caused the ball bearings to abnormaly pit and wear on the race.
Also my Cateye computer sensor chipped the paint off the Carbon fork leg. Nothing serious.
Quill stem less easy to work with than A-head set.
Overall: Bought new in March 2000 to help fitness as a mountain biker.
Frame is stiff and easy to sprint and climb on, long enough wheel base for a comfy ride, change of saddle to Specialized BG helped a lot.
Easy to spend 3hrs plus on without going through too much pain and suffering.
In three years I've done minimum maintenance, bought less than £100 in parts and spares and really enjoyed the bike, nice one Trek.
