Strengths: Light weight good looks very very fast shifting very ajustable matchmaker compatible if you have avid disks (which I don't)
Weaknesses: Price is that realy carbon fiber or plastic on top
Overall: I picked my bike under what gears it was running or if I could change them as I have been dissapointed with shmimano these are better that any other shifter around worth every penny.
Strengths: Light weight good looks shifs very well
Weaknesses: don't know what I would do if I smashed it (probally cry) it is very expensive
Overall: I have this rear mech extra pimped out with all the bolts changed to titanium for that extra bit of uber cool it shifts perfect every time and is very light but then again so will any well set up rear mech. I didn't atcually buy this it came on a bike but it is a fine rear mech.
Weaknesses: Shimano has a very bad reputation for its rings its a bland looking crank
Overall: If you ride downhill and jump and buy these then you are a twonk as these are designed for trail riding and for the money you could bad your self a good set of race face cranks. These came on my specialized fsr pro was a bit dunious about them but they ride just fine.
Strengths: Simple design why has it taken so long for this to be designed? It is light weight even the most expensive shimano pedals cant compete with the cheapest egg beaters. The looks you get from average joe at your pedals is superb.
Weaknesses: People harp on about bearings but I have yet to witness this problem. The 2 bars can make grooves but if you look on ebay the is a guy selling beater blockers I think they are called.
Overall: A superb pice of kit very light very fast to clip in.
Strengths: Neutral geometry is where we sould start then how about the bling parts everything is top of the range (or second top). No need to change any parts out of the box which is a first for me (except for the seat post see overall) Possibly the best forks in the world fitted and a brease to set up.
Weaknesses: The interupted seat tube (fixed with a maverik seatpost) The disk brakes (magura martas) take a fair bit of bedding in and don't like very heavy long decents (simmilar to alpine type) but work in any other condition. The bike bottle mount is hard to acess as it is very low down I use a camelbak but can see it been a pain. The forks manual and pressure chart is on a cd-rom and is a pain
Overall: It has a nice light feel to it when you ride you sometimes feel feeble as it is asking to go faster but you can't pedal any harder. People have remarked at the £700 price increase but I belive this is because the bike has been specced to be the best and not to a price point which is good for us as the are no short cuts taken I have changed 2 parts on this bike which I see as vital changes: The seatpost to a maveric as you can't change the post height much and helps to keep on riding hard. The pedals to crank brothers candy's
Overall you are buying a full suspension bike that can outpace a hardtail on the ups and downs. I am giving this bike a full marks as it is truly remarkable. If you buy one get a maverik speedball post fitted though.
Strengths: Very light and smooth Fit and forget product
Weaknesses: None
Overall: Due to me now running disk brakes this has now gone on to my road bike and still runs perfect everytime you take a hub like this into a bike shop the mechanic take a good hmm look at it (it is a limited edition camo paint job) I love it
Strengths: Very light weight (The cheapest heaviest weights less that XRT (there lightest design ever)) Will not clog up despite trying to clog up in a experiment with the stickiest muckiest mud lancashire has to offer. Easy to maintain. They are not that badly priced Easy to get into once you get used to them you know to flip your foot forward or back or just clip in. Brass cleats will adapt to you
Weaknesses: Slight rust issues but that happens with most pedals. No platform for tricky down hills I use the candy versions on my trail bike and these on my XC set up
Overall: These are a stripped down version of times pedals and what they have done is marvelous. It's an simple design that once you have experienced you won't want to go back. Like I said in the strenghts bit the cheapest version weighs less that XTR and you can feel that weight difference.
Strengths: Crisp easy 1 finger (well thumb) shifting. Smaller unit than shimano. Choice of brakes (no dual control)
Weaknesses: can mis shift over bumpy terrain with your thumb
Overall: when shimaNO made dual control some things things happend. People still wanted hope disk brakes et al SRAM made these after there X.0 was a huge hit but expensive People bought these in there masses and bike companies started putting them on there bikes SRAM anr no longer the underdogs after shimaNO's biggest mistake ever if you ask me.
Strengths: Ryan "squeeky voice" Leech at his best the most seamless bit of trails riding ever that will have your jaw on the ground. The tricks that he manages to do are unreal and outstanding.
Weaknesses: Aprox half an hour long. Price, it is expensive for a short DVD
Overall: A bike DVD any cyclist and non cyclist must see!
Strengths: Also possibly the strongest seatpost in the world, Looks good very light and very easy to set up.
Weaknesses: None. Don't buy this if your going to be moving your seatpost alot as it would be a crime to scratch the lovely black colour. Some may say it is pricey but the quality of build and abundance of spare parts does make this a truly worth wile investment.
Overall: I have this on a S-workd aluminium hardtail with a SLR saddle I did consider a carbon post but I wanted a fit and forget post this is that. The only problem is that I will never have to buy another post now.
