Strengths: Sturdy frame feels like it could take some proper abuse, quite a 'sprightly' ride for a relatively heavy frame. Simple suspension design that works well - propedal stops bob when seated. Takes big hits quite well.
Weaknesses: Suspension isn't particulary refined and doesn't have the 'magic carpet' ride of some linkage designs. On the other hand you do feel more connected with the trail. Slickers are budget and will just peel off. Seat angle a bit slack, especially if you're lanky like me. Shock gets a lot of crap dumped on it from the rear wheel.
Overall: Got this as a warranty replacement from CRC for 2 cracked tomac Elis. Wasn't keen at first - didn't like the look of the bike and thought the suspension design is outdated. After building it up though I am quite pleased. (RS Pike Uturn coil, XT, crossmax xl, high rollers 2.35). The sigle pivot suspension does work well but the bike feels more like a hardtail at times. Its not brillinat at soaking up the smaller stuff but deals with square edge hits and drops admirably. This makes for quite a good fun kinda ride - the bike pops of hits into the air easily and is pretty decent going downhill. You have to work a bit to get maximum grip when climbing compared to the eli but it does ok. Looks pretty good in a burly kind of way. The seat angle looks quite slack and since I'm 6'4 I have a lot of seatpost. This puts my weight over the back wheel but it doesn't seem to affect much as far as I can tell. Its got a shortish top tube and short chain stays (well, if it had any!) so is quite nippy. Nice tough anodised finish but the decal look a bit of an afterthought. With the coil fork and shock the suspension feels very balanced front and back. Think the pike is a good fork for this bike - the bolt though axle completes the point and shoot feel of the bike. The back end can skip about a bit sometime on the rough stuff but I think thats down to the basic vanilla shock.
Strengths: Grab onto rocks and roots really well. Confident grip on anything other than slimy mud. Solid carcass. Give confidence when hairing downhill!
Weaknesses: Feel heavy, quite draggy on smooth surfaces, mud clearance is average. Can be a swine to get inflated (UST).
Overall: First long ride on these was in the wet clay mud of Kent, in which they didn't fair too well, but then only a dedicated mud tyre would have cut it. Excellent grip from the super-tacky compound on tree roots and smooth stone, even when the tyre was filthy. Good cornering grab and firm or soft ground. Strong sidewalls maintains the tyres shape. Quite high rolling resistance, even in this UST guise and I notice the rotating weight when accelerating. Can be hard to pump up (with a decent track pump) as the carcase is very stiff so doesn't sit on the UST track very well until inflated. Really need a high volume or electric pump to get the air in quickly, or like me, learn to pump a track pump REALLY QUICKLY! I'd definitely say they lean towards the freeride side of things. I think I'll go back to a lighter hutchinson tyre except for downhill/freeride duties.
Strengths: Going uphill Going downhill Going over things Going off things
Weaknesses: 2004 models reported some frames with cracking welds (although this is a review of the seemingly improved 2005 model). Chainsuck (cured with new chainring, chain and cassette). Nooks & crannies difficult to clean (but hey, what dyou expect!). Looks so sweet some swine is bound to nick it! Disk mounts need facing as had some paint on them which meant no amount of faffing with hope shims would stop the rear brake dragging.
Overall: OK, this is my first FS scoot after having been a hardtail man for many a year. Therefore my expefience of FS is limited to this, and quick a go on a SC Heckler and a Kona Dawg. Even so, I had no idea that a FS system would be SO effective. I assumed manufacturers were just 'bigging up' their designs but this bike really does do 'what it says on the tin'. I've ridden some routes that I used to do on my hardtail and have found I'm no where near as beaten up at the end of the ride. A FS system, when done this well lets you ride faster, further and longer over more terrian. The Eli is a great machine that makes you really want to attack the trail aggressively and work the suspension see how far you can push it. I have an RS Pike fork on the front for 'point and shoot' confidence from the bolt through maxle. You can basically forget the rear end as it always follows doggedly. Climbing is a 'pleaseure' - great traction and good weight distribution means you can get up suprising inclines. And of course, what goes up must come down. The bike shoots you through bermed corners beautifully and gobbles up the trail. Eulogising aside, you have to spend a while fiddling with the shock to set it up but the range of adjustment is great and you can really get it dialled. The SPV thing works uncannily well without sacrificing any bump absorbtion ability. Pedal away like mad (seated) without a hint of bob but still with supple suspension. I was worried that coming from a HT I would feel isolated from the trail by rear suspension but its not the case at all. I think you shouldn't really notice suspension working and that is the case with the Eli. Its like riding a HT but much smoother! Great value too - SantaCruz, Ellsworth, Turner etc all look hopelessly overpriced in comparison. Here's hoping the welds hold together!
Strengths: Not too gimpy looking (in the graphite I have anyway) but had enough reflective piping etc to make you seen. You look like an MTBer rather than a commuter. Quite breathable. Mesh liner, vents all over.
Weaknesses: Its not £120 jacket so could be more breathable/waterproof.
Overall: Good value jacket. I was surprised at how much steam/heat the jackwet let out on those wet but warm commuting days. Also a preety good lightweight jackwet for offroad days. Folds up small. Looks pretty cool too I think, even off the bike. Good value I'd say. Can't comment on reliablity yet but construction looks good.
Strengths: Strong but not overly heavy. Look just great! 1 of the cheapest wheels with 20mm thru hub. Can run as normal skewer hub or 20mm.
Weaknesses: 20mm conversion cups annoying as you have to hold them on the outside of the hub when puting the wheel in the fork which is really awkward. Slight movement in wheel on 20mm axle.
Overall: Would be first choice for a good value 20mm hub wheel for freeride type duties. Great looking wheels and look good n strong. Dont seem silly heavy to me. Confidence inspiring in their strength. I've been doing some jumps, trials and street on them with total faith that they wont fold up on me. The system to convert from nomal skewer to 20mm could be better implemented (see weaknesses) but it is nice to be able to switch the wheel between different systems. Finishing isn't brilliant but I suppose thats because they are a cheaper wheel - edge of valve hole a bit sharp etc. Didn't come with any rim tape so sharp drilled spoke holes exposed. There also seems to be a very slight play (<1mm) in the wheel even when tightly clapmed into the fork (the brilliny RockShox Maxle system) so probably not engineered to the tightest tolerances. A minor niggle though.
Strengths: Maxle system brilliant - very stiff. Masses of adjustability. pop-loc remote great. Beefy, dependable look. Fairly plush staraight away. U-turn quite handy and very easy to adjust. PIKE lettering glows reflectively!
Weaknesses: None really but have to be careful when adjusting some things to have the fork on the right setting. eg must be 'locked-out' when adjusting the floodgate. Warning about overturning the u-turn which can damage the system is a bit worrying. Daft name. Might need to get different spring depending on weight as no preload as such (although compression damping adds adjustability there). Fairly heavy (but then it should be!).
Overall: Only had for a few days but: Unbeleivable value fork. Got mine silly cheap from Merlin cycles - they didn't have the black I wanted so thy said I could have a red set that had the poploc adjust remote too for the same price. OK then! Glad to as the pop-loc remote thing is great - still leaves a bit of travel which blows off at an adjustable threshold. SRAM have clearly worked wonders at RockShox! The maxle system is great; the 'point and shoot' feel of the fork really inspires confidence. MY XC bike has some Pace RC36pc2 and that feels like wet spaghetti in comparison! U-turn is proving to be useful too - was doing a spot of jumping up the local BMX track and it was nice to experiment with different travel settings and thus adust the head angle of the bike (coyote dual frame). On the way back did a bit of trials so locked the fork out. brilliant! I think this might be the best MTB product I have ever bought. Other fork manufacturers seem to be overcharging now! Time will tell if reliability becomes an issue but I suspect not.
Strengths: v plush - you really feel them working over tree roots etc at a bit of speed. Nice lookers.
Weaknesses: Not really stiff enough. Construction doesn't inspire trust. Skinny tubes don't look like they'y take a 'big hit' beating.
Overall: I bought mine 2nd hand from e-bay quite cheap. Turns out one lower leg was longer than the other so the wheel wasn't centred when you look from above. Most disconcerting. Have bodged if my jamming a bit of aluminium in one dropout. They are super plush and quite a 2nd hand bargain. Over rutted ground they soak it up superbly. Adjustability means you can get the rebound set spot on for perfect performance. (haven't really needed to adjust compression damping). They really shine when gunning it through english woodland over tree roots, ruts and stoney ground - doing exactly what a suspension fork should. That being said they ain't the stiffest fork out there I'm not confident on off camber sections where the fork feels like its trying to break away. Probably a symptom of the bolted on braces. On the strength of these, I shall probably be upgrading to the XCFR-40 soon. Buy british!
Overall: See my review of the rear. Have realised I own the silvers not the black rims but its all the same hey! I don't have to pump the front up quite as much - maybe only every other day! They do look nice and are v strong.
Strengths: They seem strong and look quite nice. Cheap too.
Weaknesses: With my new hutchinson UST tyres they just don't stay inflated. Have to pump every day. I reckon they're quite heavy too.
Overall: I don't know if the UST system is worth it at this price level. The weight saving of not having a tube is negated by the beefier tyre/rim. I run hutchinons spider ust tyres and have to pump them every day to keep the pressure up. Wish I'd got some traditonal lighter wheels with normal tubes and tyres now.
Strengths: Good all round grip - low rolling resistance. Not too hard to get onto rim
Weaknesses: YOU HAVE TO PUMP THEM UP EVERY DAY!!! AAAARGGGGG
Overall: These tyres are fine if you happen to never want more than 25psi in them orcarry around a track pump everywhere you go. I am severely disapointed to have spent this much on a top end product that just plain doesn't work. I have them on brand new Mavic crossland wheels so they should be ok. Maybe its the Mavic rims. Looks like I'll be going back to tubes or get some panaracers. Good grip in varied conditions though and they run well at lower pressure with little rolli9ng resistance. Haven't flatted in the 400 miles I've ridden them either. I just wish they'd stay inflated for more than 12 Hours!
